Great news, hope it all works out

Awww BC pups I do hope there is one that captures you heart I also hope the farmer is good enough to hold on to one for you until you are ready. Do you have any idea of how long that might be?

Pics are a must please!

brilliant merle hey smashing snori

The ad was in Thursday's paper, by yesterday, they were all spoken for except one: I'm waiting to hear whether or not he'll be available, as there's someone else after him - a little merle boy, whom I hope will come to be "Thorgeir the Lawman" (Sagas again - first Speaker of the Icelandic parliament, or "Althing"). Fingers crossed!

The re-entry date for our house appears to be subject to "slippage"; i.e. the b*ggers have done enough work to lay claim to the job, then b*gg*red off to do someone else's job. Initially, it was to be Xmas, then it was the end of January, now they're threatening the end of March.

When we went out to bury Snorri, I was worried about the possibility of breaking down in front of a bunch of builders. But I needn't have worried, there was no trace of a builder at all.

My "Care in the Community manager" assured me that the builders in Orkney don't do that when it's a Council job, but I think he needs re-educating!

Snorri

Oh hon, I do hope he's yours.....

Keep us posted please x0x

ummm...am I reading this right ? ...are you really going to buy a pup advertised in the free ads and bred by a farmer ?- what about health checks ? - what about temperament ? what about knowing how the pups were raised and socialised ?

is'nt this exactly how NOT to buy a puppy ?

A) not the free ads

B) this is a farming community, and nobody "breeds" border collies up here - they just happen

C) This is how I got my Kali (and, indirectly, my Snorri-dog).

The ultimate health-test here is whether or not the puppies survive, especially at this time of year, because they will have been born and reared out in a barn.

The local attitude here seems to be that if you have (eg) a spaniel, you have a spaniel. If you have a border collie, you have a beast. I got asked once why I took my Kali to the pub with me, I wouldn't bring my cow, would I?

The only health problem I've had with an Orkney farm dog was epilepsy, and you can't pre-check for that, anyway.


Snorri

I think Snorri's position is slightly different to most of us, as he lives on a small island and finds it difficult, if not impossible, to travel due to his disability. (Please put me right if this is wrong, Snorri).

I would also say that there is nothing wrong IMO from buying a collie pup from working stock, so long as you have a good home to offer the pup, as well as being able to meet the dog's mental and physical needs.

Moobli has hit it pretty much bang-on re getting off-island: I get 2 free return trips a year on the ferry (Scottish government service for the disabled) and would need to be looking at several pups in a trip; plus the kerfuffle involved in finding wheelchair-friendly places to stay.

Working-stock collies are usually as tough as old boots, in any way: you'd expect this, as their parents have probably worked their butts off in vile conditions for years.

A couple of years ago, I asked our vet nurse about hip-scoring. She didn't have the faintest idea what I was on about.

When I see this pup (if ever), I'll do my own hip-testing - by hand!


Snorri

Snorri, I hope you get the pup, I have everything crossed for you and couldn't agree more with Kirsty's post and your post about the farm dogs on Orkney. Very exciting. Very few pups are as cute as Border Collie pups...lots and lots of pics will be required please!
Good luck Snorri, let is know as soon as!!!!!!