This is "Patch" owned by James Collins who has the following to say about him:-
It seems as if I've always had dogs around. The First dog I can remember as a toddler, was called "Bonzo" (yes, well it was a long time ago and I think it was probably quite a fashionable name at the time). He was a mutt, of course, brown, white and orange and I used to sleep on the stairs with him.
Then came Jock, named after my dad, who didn't live with us. He had a rough coat, and I suppose was part terrier (no, not my dad, please concentrate!).
Later, when I had my own dogs, there was "Snooky", who was a collie with a terrier head, then "Gub-Gub" with the beautiful tail, then a lab, also called "Snooky", and her daughter, "Bugle" and finally little "Pebbles". The last two are still with us. So you can see that I know about dogs, or so I thought before we aquired "Patch"
He is not aggressive, in fact he is extremely lovable and quite gentle with our other two dogs, as long as they do what he tells them. "Patch" is a puzzle. If he doesn't want to do a thing he won't. It's as simple as that. He can't be flattered or scolded into doing something because he's not easily impressed.
But there are ways to manage him. You have to ignore him. If you want him to follow you, walk away, you know, like the horse whisperer. It's not because he doesn't relate to us, he loves us totally and he is obedient in his own way. He will sit, go down, give either paw, and "talk" He just doesn't see the point of doing something he doesn't want to!
He has, in abundance, the legendary energy and intelligence of the border collie. I usually take a tennis raquet and a ball on our walks, in a vain effort to tire him out. We live in a hilly, fairly wild part of the Highlands and I only have to say to him, "Patch", that way, or even just point, and he'll be there, waiting for the ball, whether it's up a brae or across a burn. And yet, for all his intelligence and boldness, he is very sensitive and easily frightened. At the first hint of a raised or angry voice he goes to pieces and hides.
Yes, our boy is difficult at times, but always fascinating, and of course we love him to bits:-
It seems as if I've always had dogs around. The First dog I can remember as a toddler, was called "Bonzo" (yes, well it was a long time ago and I think it was probably quite a fashionable name at the time). He was a mutt, of course, brown, white and orange and I used to sleep on the stairs with him.
Then came Jock, named after my dad, who didn't live with us. He had a rough coat, and I suppose was part terrier (no, not my dad, please concentrate!).
Later, when I had my own dogs, there was "Snooky", who was a collie with a terrier head, then "Gub-Gub" with the beautiful tail, then a lab, also called "Snooky", and her daughter, "Bugle" and finally little "Pebbles". The last two are still with us. So you can see that I know about dogs, or so I thought before we aquired "Patch"
He is not aggressive, in fact he is extremely lovable and quite gentle with our other two dogs, as long as they do what he tells them. "Patch" is a puzzle. If he doesn't want to do a thing he won't. It's as simple as that. He can't be flattered or scolded into doing something because he's not easily impressed.
But there are ways to manage him. You have to ignore him. If you want him to follow you, walk away, you know, like the horse whisperer. It's not because he doesn't relate to us, he loves us totally and he is obedient in his own way. He will sit, go down, give either paw, and "talk" He just doesn't see the point of doing something he doesn't want to!
He has, in abundance, the legendary energy and intelligence of the border collie. I usually take a tennis raquet and a ball on our walks, in a vain effort to tire him out. We live in a hilly, fairly wild part of the Highlands and I only have to say to him, "Patch", that way, or even just point, and he'll be there, waiting for the ball, whether it's up a brae or across a burn. And yet, for all his intelligence and boldness, he is very sensitive and easily frightened. At the first hint of a raised or angry voice he goes to pieces and hides.
Yes, our boy is difficult at times, but always fascinating, and of course we love him to bits:-
"His breast was white, his towsie back
Weel clad wi'coat o'glossy black,
His gaucie tail wi'upward curl
Hung o'er his hurdies wi' a swirl'.
Poem by Robert Burns on his own collie called Luath
The beautiful picture of "Patch" on this page was in fact drawn by his owner James Collins, who has his own portraiture web site and this is the link to it Pet Portraits where you can see further examples of his work.
Copyright © 2002 Diggerdog
