Borderline Ranch Dogs

Todd and I have been married for nearly 20 years. We have two teenage sons Travis Garrett and Cody James. We live in a small rural community in the Angeles National Forest in Southern California in-between the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys. Todd is a graphic designer/illustrator for a major medical device manufacturer and enjoys oil painting in his spare time. I am a professional Certified Animal Hygienist. I have been working in the pet industry for 30 years. We are all dedicated animal lovers. We currently own three dogs, two cats and a pot belly pig.

I rescued my first McNab Border Collie “Deets” from my friend’s cattle ranch in Tehachapi about 11 years ago. It didn’t take long before I realized his intelligence and willingness to please his humans. I was hooked on Border Collies! I started doing some research on the breed and took him for an instinct test when he was two. He did well and the trainer encouraged me to continue working him with sheep. Soon after his test they closed up shop and moved, so I lost my sheepherding contact. Deets was a wonderful companion and it wasn’t long before I decided I needed another.

I found a local breeder and gave her a call. Soon thereafter I brought home our new girl Belle. She grew to be a very special dog-kid within our family. By the time she was 2 years old and fully developed, I knew that I wanted to breed her. She was an excellent example of the breed. Her intelligence, wonderful temperament and beauty needed to be carried on into the breeding line. I again contacted my breeder, Cindy McCuen of Cspotrun Ranch and told her about our girl. She agreed that my breeding was for the right purpose and had a nice stud dog for a good out-crossing. I committed myself to researching the breeding of these dogs and we proceeded to have a litter of wonderful pups with champion lines in both herding and agility.

During this time while Belle was thriving, I decided I needed my own male to become her perfect mate. So once again I contacted Cindy and surely enough she came through with my boy Jack. When he became 2yrs. we mated Belle and Jack for a beautiful litter of 7 happy and healthy pups.

Although we have an acre of land and my dogs were wonderful companions, I knew in my heart that they needed to do exactly what they were bred to do. HERD SHEEP! Immediately I made an appointment for instinct tests with Janna Duncan, a very well respected trainer and owner of Drummond Ranch. Our dogs passed their tests with flying colors. We moved on to regular classes at Drummond with some of the best trainers in the country. We are now herding sheep every chance we get and preparing for sheepherding trials. Jack is an awesome stockdog thanks to his trainer Paul Hackett, also of Drummond Ranch and Belle is a close runner up.

A DOGS PLEA

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in the entire world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit, for though I might lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

Speak to me often in a pleasant tone, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp, play and work for you and do your bidding, to walk by your side, stand ready willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.

And, my dearest friend, when I am very old and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun. Please see that my trusting life is taken gently. I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.

---A Dog’s Friend

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