Border collie Jack passed away on February 28, 2022

[Autumn]

Re: Jack - lumberjack retriever

Wow...Jack is so adorable!!! Congratulation Natalie!! Jack is so fortunate to have you as his Mom.

I can't believe I missed this post, time and time again, reading forum. I'm so happy for you all! Sounds like Jack is having a ball. His life is so incredibly wonderful because of you, his new family.

Audy loves chasing squirrels too! That's how I know....yep... BG are ok at the moment.

LOL, Jack ran through your screen 2xs. Audy did this back in May.

I apologize if I missed the post. Did the DNA test come back on Jack? Thinking to do DNA on Audy. It is so amazing to be able to get this information like this.

Congratulations and Enjoy!
Anna

[k9diabetes]

Re: Jack - lumberjack retriever

The DNA test came back and Jack is 100% border collie! I was vaguely disappointed he wasn't a mutt! But now having seen some smooth coated border collies, they are lean and leggy like he is. His main variance from other smooth coated BCs I've seen is that he's definitely on the large side - 51-53 pounds.

Natalie

[Autumn]

Re: Jack - lumberjack retriever

Jack is 100% border collie! I was vaguely disappointed he wasn't a mutt!...LOL!!

Congrats! How wonderful it is that you know Jack's breed! Jack is a big boy too! It's so amazing that you can get this information!

You have encouraged me to look into the DNA test with Audy. We know positively she has Doxy in her. I'm so curious if she has the other breeds in her that we suspect. It's interesting how Autumn does has the trait of lifting her rght front leg and standing exactly like a Pointer does, when she is curious, sensing a critter. It is so incredible that we may be able to find out.

[k9diabetes]

Re: Jack - lumberjack retriever

We did the DNA test on Chris as well, two of them actually because the first one, which was new, was taking so long to come back. In Chris' case, both tests came out inconclusive - they couldn't identify a single one of his breeds! We always knew he was a mutt of mutts but didn't realize just how mixed up he was until we did the DNA test.

With Chris, we did this one, which requires a blood sample:

http://www.whatsmydog.com/

And this one, which requires only a cheek swab and you can return by mail:

http://www.canineheritage.com/

The cheek swab test is the one we did with Jack.

We did the DNA test with Jack because, thinking he was a mix, we wanted to know if there were other significant personality contributors besides border collie. Jack hadn't started to do the BC crouch yet.

Natalie

[BestBuddy]

Re: Jack - lumberjack retriever

I've just found the BITSA (great name) test for doggie dna here in Australia and I plan to get Luke checked. It is also the cheek swab one. I am guessing it will show Poodle/Whippet. Any betting people out there?
Jenny

[Dollydog]

Re: Jack - lumberjack retriever

Hello,
Jack is such a beautiful dog and that's so interesting that you can find out what breed he is. I've never seen a smooth-coated border collie and known that's what I was seeing. No wonder he's got so much energy!!!
Jo-Ann & Lady

[snow]

Re: Jack - lumberjack retriever

The DNA test came back and Jack is 100% border collie! I was vaguely disappointed he wasn't a mutt! But now having seen some smooth coated border collies, they are lean and leggy like he is. His main variance from other smooth coated BCs I've seen is that he's definitely on the large side - 51-53 pounds.

Natalie

I wanted to do a DNA test on Devon when he was younger but I figured I'd get the same answer as Chris did - "too muttley for us"

So he's a shepalabragoldendobierottachow. Those are all the ones I can figure out for sure. He's got mega webbed feet too, swims like a giant silent otter.

Border collies are so much fun to watch, they never get tired and are so graceful when they retrieve. I don't have the energy to keep up with them, thank goodness Dev's a couch potato. BC's wear me out just watching them,

snow<--person
Devon<--paddlefoot

[Autumn]

Re: Jack - lumberjack retriever

Thanks Natalie!
I have to decide which one to do. I will read through the links tonight. I wonder if the blood test DNA is more accurate. It's great to be able to do this.


Snow....shepalabragoldendobierottachow......LOL!

[k9diabetes]

Re: Jack - lumberjack retriever

The company that does the blood test I listed has been around longer than the one that does the cheek swab test.

We originally did the cheek swab with Chris cuz we didn't want to put him through a blood draw for that. But they were just starting up and it was taking a long time to process the results and... well... we knew Chris did not have a lot of time. So we went ahead with the blood test.

So with Jack, because we were mainly just curious, we just went with the quick cheek swab. The company that does that one is just down the road from us.

Natalie

[k9diabetes]

Re: Jack - Back in training

After two incidents with Jack, we are back to working pretty intently with a behaviorist to manage his fears.

The first incident resulted from someone who took it upon himself at our front door to grab Jack by the head just behind his ears and pet and scratch him pretty vigorously. I told this person Jack was a rescue with issues, especially with men, but he did it anyway.

The second incident was with a neighbor child who Jack has met before without incident. I think she startled him and he was on our property instead of across the street.

So Jack is off limits to people, period. We don't have a lot of visitors but I think we will be using a muzzle in addition to conditioning his acceptance of visitors with treats, just to be safe.

He's worse at home, worse when he's tired, and worse when something has ramped up his anxiety - loud engines, noisy mechanical kites, light poles, flapping signs, someone throwing something around in their hands. And he definitely does not trust men, especially if they are in their 20s or 30s. It's hard because he doesn't give much warning that he's scared and because he can be okay with someone until they do something that alarms him.

The trainer very kindly brought someone to video our recent session so I can review it, which is really helpful.

He did okay at the vet surprisingly... his anal glands had to be expressed and despite all of that experience he was pretty calm even after. We are in the process of trying a female vet as our current vet is scaling back his hours so he can semi-retire. Jack seemed to think she was okay and so did I. I definitely think he would be best off with a woman. He was quite intimidated by our male vet.

The trainer tried pretty hard to provoke him when she was here. He likes her and knows she comes in with a bag of treats strapped to her waist!

Poor guy... he's such a sweet dog and it seems a shame that he has to be limited this way.

Natalie

[Margaret Boyle]

Re: Jack - Back in training

After two incidents with Jack, we are back to working pretty intently with a behaviorist to manage his fears.

The first incident resulted from someone who took it upon himself at our front door to grab Jack by the head just behind his ears and pet and scratch him pretty vigorously. I told this person Jack was a rescue with issues, especially with men, but he did it anyway.

The second incident was with a neighbor child who Jack has met before without incident. I think she startled him and he was on our property instead of across the street.

So Jack is off limits to people, period. We don't have a lot of visitors but I think we will be using a muzzle in addition to conditioning his acceptance of visitors with treats, just to be safe.

He's worse at home, worse when he's tired, and worse when something has ramped up his anxiety - loud engines, noisy mechanical kites, light poles, flapping signs, someone throwing something around in their hands. And he definitely does not trust men, especially if they are in their 20s or 30s. It's hard because he doesn't give much warning that he's scared and because he can be okay with someone until they do something that alarms him.

The trainer very kindly brought someone to video our recent session so I can review it, which is really helpful.

He did okay at the vet surprisingly... his anal glands had to be expressed and despite all of that experience he was pretty calm even after. We are in the process of trying a female vet as our current vet is scaling back his hours so he can semi-retire. Jack seemed to think she was okay and so did I. I definitely think he would be best off with a woman. He was quite intimidated by our male vet.

The trainer tried pretty hard to provoke him when she was here. He likes her and knows she comes in with a bag of treats strapped to her waist!

Poor guy... he's such a sweet dog and it seems a shame that he has to be limited this way.

Natalie

Natalie,
Poor Jack I feel sorry he has to be limited. These people really annoy me especially when you told him about Jack and he went ahead and man handled him, so he deserved all he got.

I think working with the behaviourist will sort out some of the issues, as he seems to like her.

Who knows what goes through the wee guys head Natalie. You don't know if he was badly treated or not Natalie? He trusts you and your husband but it will perhaps take him a while to build up trust with other people.

It sounds as if he is going to be fine with the female vet which is a really good starting point.

Stick with the women then gradually work up to the men, he will be fine Natalie.I think it has all to do with trust.

Hope the behaviorist can help him as he seems as you say a sweet dog.

Hugs to you all

[BestBuddy]

Re: Jack - Back in training

Hi Natalie,
I hope it is just a matter of time before Jack is trusting again. I am having a few problems with Luke too and as he is my first rescue I'm not sure of how to help him. Keep posting about the progress because you may also have some answers for me too.
Jenny

[Jody]

Re: Jack - Back in training

Hey Nat - reading up here on Jack and his escapades. Poor guy! It's so hard to know what they've been thru - if only they could tell us. Keep working on it - if anyone can get to the bottom of his issues, it will be you.

Are you still keeping him away from your cats? Need to look for an update on your Gus too. Take care - Jody

[eyelostit]

Re: Jack - Back in training

Hi Nat,

I can relate, Niki appeared at work one day, she would not come near me for about 4 hours, I went a bought biscuits, she wanted nothing to do with me petting her and had no use for the guys I worked with.

It took her awhile to get close to my husband, anyway Niki has never wanted anyone strange to pet her even before the diabetes, she loves my cousin who walks her when they visit and only likes a few family members who stop by alot.

I don't think she was around kids or if so they abused her, she has a slight crack in her backbone no doubt from abuse and thats why she appeared at work that day. So she don't like kids at all and men, I don't blame her

She has had a woman vet all these years, when I went to the vet who is closer, she suggested that her husband could see Niki also as this vet did not have alot of hours, so I could not go there and stayed with my current vet.

I left her in the car years ago when I had a tire changover, I told them she was in there, I get paged over the store, the guy opened the door and went into the glove comp to get my manual out, well Niki nipped him and he realized he should not have done this and was not upset and said Niki was just doing her job.

I hate when people want to pet her and I have to say no, sometimes at the park she may let a lady pet her who has a dog minus the dog, Niki smells the dog on her, I tell the gal you may try but I do kneel down by Niki while the gal pets her to be on the safe side, usually that goes ok as dogs can sense people.

In this world people do not think, usually I ask a person if I can pet their dog.

I would not want an unknown person to be here when we get a storm and Niki starts scratching the floor and hides under the table, she never did this until we moved cuz we didn't have many thunderstorms at my old house and she lived there for 5 years. That upset all 3 dogs once we got here and they were always scared.

Someone had just been cruel or upset poor Jack in his past.

When I had Chief he never liked being petting from the front on top of his head, when you'd go to pet him that way he would scrunch down a little and blink his eyes, no doubt the prev owners where smacking him on his head, he was only 1 yr old when we got him and he never forgot about it.

So I'd be done with people in a way also and use the muzzle if you need too. I know how your feel but what else can you do sometimes.

Dolly

[k9diabetes]

Re: Jack - Back in training

I'm prepared to be quite rude to anyone now who feels like they should handle Jack without asking!

We were following a guy and his dog out on a walk the other day and they were stopping every six inches so the rottie could sniff every shrub. This rottie was straining at the end of the leash every moment and getting excited about Jack's presence. So Jack and I passed him, making a big wide swing away from them. As I went by, the guy wanted our dogs to meet and said "Oh this guy's really friendly; he's just a big baby!" And as we kept walking I just said, "Well, unfortunately, my dog's not." Kind of caught the guy off guard and left him speechless. We were giving tons of signals that we did not want to meet them but they were flying right over his head.

I think in part Jack just has a nervous personality. He's been really wound up the past four or five days. I don't know what's gotten in to him! He's like a lava flow!!! You block the lava's path and it just moves over and comes out somewhere else... I've been blocking all kinds of aroused behavior at home and I swear it's just building up and looking to blow out!!

We will work on his stuff so far for another couple of weeks and then get together with the trainer again. I need to spend some more concentrated time with him but life has been an absolute zoo lately.

Jody, the dog and cats are totally separated right now. Lately Jack has been the main offender and we are working on that along with all of his aroused behaviors in the house. It's just kind of dropped to a lower priority, not only because of the more severe issues to deal with but because we have found an arrangement where Katie is pretty happy staying in the back half of the house so she's not miserable where she is.

Our trainer, Sophia Yin, says we need to train the cats. I know she's trained everything there is but honestly, if she can train THESE cats, I will be very seriously impressed. I might have to let her try it some day.

Sophia's really great. www.askdryin.com.

Natalie