Can I see the dog working or see a video?
You are welcome to visit by appointment to veiw the dogs working.
A video can give the wrong impression of the dog and usually shows the dog working at a distance but not how the dog interacts with the stock as a photoraph can do.
We are unable at this time to be able to provide video's of the dogs working. We cannot send our normal Uk videos as they will not play on many videos from other countries. We are investigating placing film onto DVD which should play on most computers worldwide.
We try our best to photograph the dogs in all the work modes so that it appears, on a slideshow, that the dog is moving for you. We have also built a reputation worldwide for providing dogs which do and act as we say they will.
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Do you Export Dogs Worldwide?
Yes, we are able to ship adult dogs worldwide.
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What is a dog showing on sheep?
A dog of any age but usually under 12mths, that is showing interest in stock. To be more precise the dog must show good strong instinct to herd/chase stock establishing in no doubt that the dog has eye, style, gather etc.. It may or may not show tendancy to grip or single, drive or gather. The dog may be ready to train or not depending on its maturity (mental and physical) and confidence.
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What is a dog started on sheep?
A dog of any age, though usually around 12mths, this dog has been encouraged to show proper balance, keeping the stock at the handlers feet no matter which direction the handler is walking/standing. Whilst the handler is in close proximity this dog will take sheep off the fence, lie down or stand on command, will go left and right according to the body movements of the handler, will be starting to learn the direction commands and will start to pace behind the sheep. Will have a good call off the stock on the same side as the handler and will still be working with a long line.
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What is a dog part trained on sheep?
This dog will now understand the direction commands, will be starting to drive with the handler still close by, the outrun will be to a distance of approx 150metre, the dog will stop on command and recall off sheep in 95% of circumstances irrespective of where the handler is.
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What is a dog trained on sheep?
This dog will now most probably be on both voice and whistle commands, will gather around 400 metres with the stock in sight, will drive sheep competantly around a trials course, penning and in most circumstances will still be learning to shed sheep and turnback on command. This dog will not nesseccarily have any flock experience. This dog will be capable with "help, patience and guidance from the handler" be able to gather flocks of sheep seen and unseen. Drive and gather at 400 metres or in any direction. Shed and turn back, work in the handling pens and load transport vehicles. Will have some flock work experience, and be ready to go to the hill. May have started a Nursery or Open trials career.
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What is an experienced dog?
This dog will have all of the above with the additional benefit of having experienced different flock, hill and most likely hill work situations. This dog will also most probably have done at least one outdoor lambing season. This dog will be aged from Two years to Ten years.
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What is a Trials dog?
A Trials dog is nothing more or less than an extreemly good flock dog. It will usually have far better command obedience and will work on strange ground as well as it does on ground it knows
A trials dog is usually more pliable with the handler being able to place the dog exactly where he needs it for quiet confident money making stock movements.
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What is an open trial?
An Open Trial is one open to all comers. The dog being capable to running out up to an average of 500 metres to gather sheep at a steady stressfree pace to the handler in as straight a line as possible, he must then guide his sheep around a driving course of approx 350meters away and across from his handler and return them to the shedding ring where he assists the handler to shed two sheep from his small packet of five, put them back together and place them in the pen. Sound easy? Go on have a go at home and compare yourself to the competitors on "One Man and his Dog"
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What is a Nursery Trial?
The same as the above but the distances are a great deal shorter, and there is usually an age limit on the dogs competing depending on which area you happen to compete in.
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Will a dog trained on sheep work cattle?
Many dogs will work sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, ducks, geese and anything else that moves, if given the chance and encouragement.
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What is a dog? trained only, for farm work
A dog which has "been trained" only for farm work is usually a very natural dog which has learnt to become an aid to the handler, or one more usually that has for some reason or other not made the grade as a trials dog, because perhaps it could not take the presure of the extra tuition a trials dog requires.
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What are the universal sheepdog commands?
The following are standard commands developed by the shepherds of old and are traditional to the UK.
Lie Down/Stand : asked the dog to stop.
Walk on : asks the dog to move directly to towards the stock.
ComeBye : asks the dog to move in a clockwise direction.
Away (to me) : asks the dog to move in an anticlockwise direction.
That'l do : asks the dog to stop work and return to the handler.
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What are dogged/trained sheep?
Dogged/trained sheep are very used to being worked by young dogs with an experienced handler. The sheep have learnt that being with the trainer is the safest place to be and will follow the man sticking close to him for protection. Trying to train a young dog without dogged sheep is a recipe for an unhappy trainer, a bewildered, probably griping, dog and very stressed sheep.
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What is your interpretation of Power in a dog?
My interpretation of Power in a dog is very simple.
Power is the confidence inside the dog and its own belief of its ability to move stock.
If the dog is lacking in confidence in either himself or his handler the dog will be what could be considered weak.
A confident and knowledgeable handler can improve a dogs confidence and thereby its Power.
A bad experience with stock can destroy a dogs confidence and subsequently its Power.
Power will also go hand in hand with an invisible (to humans) but (to stock) instantly recognisable aura that the dog IS born with. In my veiw this is a form of animal communication that humans are not a part of.
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What are the most common injuries/illnesses to a sheepdog whilst working
Common injuries/illnesses to a sheepdog whilst working:
in order of commoness some of which lead to death and most can be avoided completely.
- Heat Stroke. Death is entirely preventable and the ailment can be reduced through feeding and excercise.
- being run over by a vehicle is entirely preventable and an in-excusable death or injury to the dog if the the vehicle is being used for herding stock.
- burnt feet pads occur in the hot summer on dry ground or during lots of road work.
- broken toes, unfortunately very common but unlikely to cause death or severe injury.
- Spinal injuries are often missed completely in the working dog, often a lameness or refusal to go in one direction can indicate injury to the spine. Dogs turning summersault, caught on a fence, leads incorrectly and cruely used, are just some of the causes,
- broken leg, various causes, cattle kicks, jumping fences, crushed against walls by charging sheep are just a few of them. Proper training can reduce the incedence.
- poisoning entirely preventable, remove and protect all rat poison, foot bath treatments, sheep dips, anti-freeze.
- cruciate ligament injury is unfortuntely an expensive and painful and usually longlasting injury, requires complete rest usually after a major operation.
- hanging on a chain, results in death, preventable, be aware of the length of chain and the siting to prevent the dog from jumping over an obstacle.
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Will a trained dog work for someone else?
It is very rare for a sheepdog to refuse to work stock for any person other than the person who trained them, because it is the instinct to work which makes them trainable in the first place. However, very occasionally there will be a dog which is either so well trained or loyal that a new handler will not be able to override the training the dog has recieved and kick the instinct back to work.
The Question should be not if the dog will work but how will the dog work??
Most dogs will if given the chance revert in a split second into the untrained deliquent it was as a pup, and will show all the good and bad habits that may not have been evident when first veiwed.
A trained sheepdog needs to understand, trust and respect any new handler before working proficiently for them.
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What guarantees are given with the adult dogs?
A Sheepdog trained to any standard, may or may not, work in a proficient way for its new handler, there can never be any guarantees on compatibility due to the diversity of human and canine temperaments.
A trained sheepdog needs to understand, trust and respect any new handler before working proficiently for them.
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PRA and CEA Guaratees?
CEA (Collie Eye Anomalie) a genetic defect that the puppy is born with, both parents must carry the gene as carriers or affected for CEA. For more information visit www.optigen.com
PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) is, as it states, a progressive disease, in the Border Collie it is not considered to be hereditary but rather an environmental factor that has in the past caused the disease.
- All dogs over the age of Two years will be certified physically free of CEA and PRA
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Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is becoming a recognised problem within some lines of Border Collies. Iit is not yet common within the ISDS members and handlers to examine and score hips. We appreciate that Hip Scoring is a concern with some customers, but it is not yet our policy to xray dogs for sale en masse, as there are only a small percentage of customers requiring this service. Therefore we offer the following solutions should HD be a concern to you:
- 0. If you are in no hurry you may wait for one of my own females or males to complete their training.
- you can then either purchase the dog (this way you are guaranteed your choice of dog) and leave it with us to continue and complete its training at an agreed training fee, during which time it will be Hip Scored. Dog kept at owners risk.
- or wait until after it has already been hipscored before making the purchase.
- 1. We will however have the dog physically checked and certified by a Vet at no extra charge prior to purchase.
- There can be no comeback on this if the dog is hip scored in the future and confirmed with severe HD to prevent it from doing the job for which is was purchased.
- 2. Once the dog has been purchased by yourself, we are happy to have the dog xrayed on your behalf, as this will involve an aenasthetic any risk must be bourne by you the new owner. The approx. cost of xray, and aenasthetic is. £135.00.
- A verbal but not certified confirmation given by my veterinary surgeon as to the state of the hips immediately after xray, immediate shipment of the dog may take place. There can be no comeback on this if the dog is hip scored in the future and confirmed with severe HD to prevent it from doing the job for which is was purchased.
- 3. Once the dog has been purchased by yourself, we are happy to have the dog xrayed on your behalf, as this will involve an aenasthetic any risk must be bourne by you the new owner. The approx. cost of xray, and aenasthetic is. £135.00.
- Should official results be required prior to shipment, a period of approximately one month is required by the panel of experts at the BVA as there is an extensive waiting list and the panel only meets twice a month for a few hours.; Unbelieveable but true.
- Kennel costs will apply to those dogs which require official confirmation of the HD result before the dog is sent to its new owners.
- The dog is kept at the purchasers risk.
Should the Hip Score be outside your acceptable score, Astra Sheepdogs will be available to carry out your instructions as to what to do with the dog.
ie resold to recoup your costs. (there will be a commission charged on this sale)
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