Border
Collies can be extremely quirky dogs. It is not unusual for them to be
avid TV addicts. Newt loves to watch TV. A hobby that began at the tender
age of 4 months. I was watching the video of Little Women, when I casually
noticed a freckled faced puppy glued to the tube. He has been captivated
with this form of entertainment ever since that time.
| Newt loves to
watch TV. He either stands in front of the tube snapping
at it...very annoying. Or he politely sits infront of it watching with
rapt attention. Here Newt is watching the Travel channel. |
 |
We
have noticed a pattern to his viewing preferences. I believe the number
one choice of Newt's television pleasures would have to be ice skating.
If we are watching skating so is Newt. He also thoroughly enjoys nature
documentaries, River Dance, motor cross races and America's Favorite Videos
(now off the air) and some westerns. Oh, I almost forgot. He has also been
known to watch Opera and Ballet. I guess he is a cultured Border Collie
too.
Quirk
#2
Superior Excavating Skills
Border
Collies love to dig! Newt watched me plant a miniature rose once, not a
good idea, as I later found out. The little earth mover had me let him
out of 2 a.m. with the guise that he had "business" to do. Yeah, right!?
Newt's "business" turned out to be excavating my poor rose!
In
the photo above, Newt is digging in the soft dirt of the woods behind
our house. It is an extremely good idea if you own a Border Collie
with "shovels paws" to allow them a special spot to dig. Whenever, we go
for a hike in the woods Newt HAS to engage in a "digfest" before returning
home. He loves to dig so much that I made up little jingle to recite that
will make him dig faster and with more enthusiasm.
Quirk
#3
Jumping at...Anything!
One
of Newt's passions is jumping at the front lamp by the driveway. He also
loves to go crouch on our large concrete well cap and wait for the "sssshhh"
sound that sends him scurrying to leap wildly at the poor post. Newt also
finds the night time version of this game a lot of fun too. I guess he
prefers for the lamp post light to actually be on for the evening game.
 |
In
the morning or any time for that matter, if we take Newt
out
to get the paper, he stops at the 'ole lamp post
for an exhilarating moment of "jumping jacks". |
| As
you can tell, the Clematis is hibernating, the white fence Newt broke and
he bit off the little handles just visible in the photo to the left. |
|
The
indoor version of this "jumping game" has extended itself to the ceiling
lights in the family room. Newt starts out by crouching on the landing
at the top of the stairs. He waits patiently. Not a muscle moves. But!
If you just "look", at the silly BC he rips down the stairs, bounds across
the room and leaps energetically into "his" chair. This chair has a special
Border Collie proof covering on it, and it actually is my Dad's chair.
We've never told Newt it isn't "his" chair. Beware of sitting in this chair
once vacated by the BC. Newt will then stand in front of the occupant and
"eye" them into submission or so he thinks. More than likely, the occupant
wanted ice cream or something which is why they left the chair in the first
place. No matter! Newt will quickly assert that once again it's "his" chair.
If
you're innocently sitting in the chair next to him and not paying attention...beware
too. Why? Because you'll be the recipient of ever increased attention.
Newt will stare at you. Next, he'll make odd little noises and strange
whimpering half barking sounds. If this doesn't work, the silly Border
Collie jumps out of the chair to come paw your leg or bump whatever your
reading repeatedly. Now do you really want a Border Collie? I know speaking
for myself,a resounding "yes!". All the quirks Newt has are the very oddities
that endear him to us. These strange character traits make Newt unique.
Kelley, my other Border Collie, has her own set of weird behaviors, but
not at all like Newts. The boy is one of a kind.
 |
Newt
also loves to jump at snowflakes. |
 |
Newt's
penchant for jumping lent itself quite naturally to agility. |
Normal
Dog
Behaviors
 |
Newt
loves to go riding even for a short trip to town. However, I don't believe
it is a good idea to ever allow your dog along for a ride if it is too
hot (70 or above) or too cold (30 or below). |
Dogs
need cool, but not freezing conditions to remain comfortable in your car.
In hot weather, it can easily reach an unbearable 100-200+ degrees inside
a parked car within 1 to 2 minutes. Your dog will surely die a cruel death
if let in those conditions. Be smart and never leave Rover unattended in
a car if the temps are unbearable for you. One of Newt's favorite summertime
hobbies is biting at the water streaming from the sprinkler. I turn it
on for him when the temperature is unbearable and he entertains himself
for as long as the sprinkler is going.
Now
do you still want a
Border Collie??
