I've got a puppy

It was Jasper's first birthday at the weekend. He's gone from this, when we collected him at 10 weeks old:

<img src="http://s9.postimg.org/j8nk25jzj/Jasper1.jpg">

to this:

<img src="http://s22.postimg.org/6p2e3ssch/Jasper2.jpg">

I stand by everything I wrote, he's the biggest pain in the arse I've ever met. But, of course, now I love him. Was bound to happen really, I spend more time with a chuffing dog than I do with any human being. So now, not only does he drive me to distraction, I'm also worried sick about him all the sodding time.

He likes to play ball. That's what he lives for. If I chucked it for him to fetch every single second of every single day he'd be the happiest dog in the world. But he doesn't stand at my side while I throw it, chase it, catch it, and bring it back. He runs off and hides behind a tree, or a park bench, or a wall, or a dip in the ground, or anything really, and waits for me to chuck it to him. So everyday we play this weird fetch/hide and seek game for hours on end. No one else has ever seen this kind of idiosyncratic behaviour from a dog before and it endears him to everyone who sees him. Everyone knows his name and everyone says hello to him. No bugger knows my name or says hello to me. He's only been alive a year and he knows more people than I do. He's got that many friends I've become surplus to requirements. He'd be quite happy to go off with any of them he sees in the park and be just fine and dandy-o thank you very much.

Never get a dog. If you're thinking about it, don't. It'll drive round the bend and when it finally wins you over with its charm, it'll break your bleeding heart.

 

What a handsome lad he is. And you're bang on regards playing catch/fetch. Our Bailey never gets bored of it. Always something in his gob. He came out of a bush with an old Hi-Tec flip flop last week. The wally.

 

Me feel the gentleman doth protest too much....

 

Jay, you should feel honoured to have been chosen to be the daddy of that wonderful looking boy.
Border collies are fabulous animals, I've had a few, and personally I wouldn't have any other type. They drive you mad but they are the most intelligent, loving and playful of dogs.
My Brad used to be **** of the village up to a few years ago but now at over 14 he's the most steady, loyal friend I could ever have.
Enjoy the looney times you have with him now, time flies and it won't be long before he settles down and you wonder where all those mad times went.
And I too worry about Brad constantly, I think so much of him.

 

Belter! I'm jealous

 

Marvellous.

 

I do dogs.

 

Has he got you house trained, yet?

 

advertising again Paul!!

I might have to get a couple of pictures out of my whippets for you to have a doodle at!!
and no thats not a euphemism!!

 

Of course, they don't market themselves!!

 

Cats > Dogs

Any day of the week!


Sent from my iPhone

 

You've just brought tears to my eyes Jay. My dear departed Alfie used to play a similar trick with a ball. I'd throw it, he'd chase it pick it up then f*ck off down the garden and hide it. Then come back to me with (I swear) a big smug grin all over his face and sit waiting for me to go and find the ball.

Problem was he never remembered where he put the buggers so if I didn't find em nobody did. I've found half a dozen since he died a year ago. I couldn't count the number of times I threatened to strangle the little *******, but god - I don't half miss him.

 

He looks a fine specimen (or should the correct word be speciman - singular, not plural) Jay. Mine, when I chuck a ball gets it and won't let go until he's destroyed it - can't let him loose anywhere near kids playing football. It's the same when we play fetch with a stick - he chucks it and I destroy it.....no but seriously I bet he's great company, especially in the evening when it's time to cosy up to the better half......mine just gets between us and goes to sleep, snoring is de rigueur.

Oh and yes it is common place that people know the name of the dog rather than the owner - I'm forever to be known from hereonin as Scooter's dad....

 

Hehe

 

Matey, with some of the folk on here, I would actually prefer cats !! This is coming from a man that hates cats !

 

No the dog would definitely eat you as well, they are related to wolves.

 

I too am the very lucky owner of a Border Collie.
Our Charlie does exactly what your Collie does with the ball Jay.
It must be a Collie thing.
They are without doubt the most wonderful breed.
We've had five rescue dogs, Chatlie is the fifth, they've all been fantastic all are still in our hearts.
Charlie is the most loving, affectionate dog who' had a bad start in life.
We adopted him at 7 months and it was hard work as he'd never been socialised.
He goes everywhere with me and on all our camping trips.
Never known a dog so clever, he has jobs to do in the house and takes them seriously.
When I broke my leg a year ago he wouldn't leave my side and had to be dragged away for walks
I couldn't imagine life without a dog!.

 

Ah, I see the problem straight away.

What you have there is a collie. Not a normal dog. Bred to work all day everyday in all weathers. They love being on the move and having their brain active.

Get her into a dog agility or flyball class or walk the ******** off him before lunchtime.

He have a collie/labrador cross just over a year old.

She will play fetch all day if you let her, but if you don't join in, she'll happily take herself off and sleep.

But we have her in dog agility and we take her to the park with a ball thrower - 15 minutes retrieving the ball at full pelt and she's begging for a rest.