Hi Everyoen -
        This is an update on the gorgeous "farm collie" down in North
Carolina with BC rescue. He's on the ES rescue page also. He's listed as
"not cat safe" there but that appears to be incorrect.
>
>I've finally been able to pick up Wyn.  He's everything a person would want in
>a dog (well, except someone looking for a sport dog (c: ).  I think he's a
>tiny
>collie - just carelessly bred.  His temperament is all collie, only I think
>he's on the top of the collie intelligence scale.  (c:
>
>I introduced him to my cat today.  Keke's a good test subject because he
>assumes the dog is friendly.  He's the kind that actually enjoys being chased.
>Wyn spotted him, flagged his tail and raised his ears - I thought, "Uh,
>oh" and
>prepared to intervene.  Then he walked over and sniffed the cat in the rear!
>Keke gave him a rub and went about his business - Wyn went looking for me.
>
>I suspected this when I couldn't get a straight answer about specific
>incidents
>of cat-killing.  I think the real story is that one of the dogs that belonged
>to the "foster home" was killing cats, but Wyn is very dominant and always got
>to check out the kill first.  I don't how they could have ever known for
>sure -
>they had twenty dogs!  He has also shown NO interest when the other dogs
>indulge in squirrel-chasing.
>
>Other observations - I took a shedding rake to him and he stood patiently
>while
>I pulled out pounds of undercoat. I'd still be cautious about homes with
>really
>young children, but he's fine with the 4+ crowd.  He is definitely in need of
>some socialization, but he's not naturally shy.  He's got a good even
>temperament that allows him to "come around" quickly in new situations.  He's
>really smart and sensitive to suggestions (and correction).  He does NOT like
>the leash and cowers when I handle him by the collar.  I put a harness on him
>and used that until he got used to me.  Now he just follows me wherever I go.
>I've started him on the long line.
>
>He is fine with all my dogs - even my neurotic little fear-aggressive
>psychopath doesn't phase him.  He is SO dominant that he just raises his tail
>and the others fall down and worship him - not a growl or raised hair on
>anybody's part.
>
>Once he's familiar with you (takes about a day with good treats), he loves to
>be petted and shadows you everywhere.  He's fine in the house except he does
>mark.  He hasn't since I caught him in the act and yelled at him, but it would
>probably be a problem in every new situation - he LOVES to mark.  He has been
>neutered for two years, by the way - I can't imagine what he was like
>before he
>was fixed!

                jan

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National English Shepherd Rescue
http://www.uvm.edu/~jhilborn/rescue.html
CUR Station #117