TORY

Toraidhe - the pursuer

Senator Tory was our first experience as Border Collie owners, though we had been exposed to them with our frequent childhood visits to the farm. We had a purebred Bearded Collie 'show dog' and a few half Beardies. Related closely, we're told, and they are, but you'd never know it, living with them.
The world's most intelligent canine, we heard -
probably.

Border Collies take a lot of work, I've often heard since we acquired one - absolutely.

What people see is Border Collies dominating Herding Trials, Dog Agility, Fly Ball, Flying Disc Dogs and Commercials. What they don't see is the work that goes into these dogs. They are the closest dogs to their wild canine cousins. It is the wolf pack instincts that make them the great herding dogs that they are.

They live to work.
The dogs that we see in show rings are not usually very indicative of their breeds. We see calm and laid back, none of them working dogs for the most part.
Dog Shows are the beauty pageants of the canine world.
Lassie was a boy, Really!
Westminster is the Miss America of dog-dom. That doesn't mean that we don't enjoy watching THE WESTMINSTER, we do.

Before buying a Border Collie, do some serious research.
Border Collie Rescue Ontario Net
If you do not enjoy engaging in intellectual warfare, especially with a non-human, a less "perceptive" and somewhat "denser" breed may be in order.

These are working dogs who are extremely active and need to be kept extremely active. It is said that they can run for twenty miles, jump six feet high, and work all day. The fence behind Tory is rail with four foot kennel wire, enclosing a quarter-acre front yard. I don't know about six feet, but the fence is a mental barrier. Tory only jumps as part of human play. He does not realize that he Can clear the fence. The quarter acre provides exercise: chasing cars, joggers, and horses. He also loves to leap high in the air to haul down flying discs (frisbees).

Every time a dog jumps a hurdle, its front limbs are forced to absorb the shock of landing on a hard surface. This places stress on the shoulder region with concurrent compression to the spine.The spine of the dog is constantly being subjected to bending, shearing and rotational forces. Obedience, agility and flyball dogs compress their spines every time they land on their forepaws following a jump. Janet Lalonde, D.V.M.
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As a male Border Collie, Tory, from his first few months, was anxious to challenge the much bigger, stronger Conway for pack leadership. Fortunately, Conway, our old love, was a lover, not a fighter. But a seventy pound Lab isn't to be toyed with. Now that Tory is leader of the pack, he lets Patches lay some real beatings on him.
Patches is deaf and neutered, and easily handled by Tory... when Tory has had enough. So, go figure. Tory is also extremely sucky with his people. The green-eyed monster is ever present between Tory and Patches.

As far as trick training goes, where to begin with Tory? He gets a half an hour a day during poor weather and absorbs it like a sponge. Today was a rain day, it took Tory about two minutes to add 'hands up' to his repertoire; this is after all, simply, face the wall, stand high, touch with both paws. 'Assume the position' might be a more appropriate command, but 'hands up' works for us.
Tory has well over seventy command words, signs, and combinations to draw on. In fact, when folks claim sixty tricks or more for their talented companion, and start giving the count, Tory stands up well. We got to seventy five, and didn't get them all. He still doesn't have a good limp, or a tongue out. We have never wanted a speak. Sssh is a better trick. He doesn't have the evils, see no etc..It is easier to count the tricks that he doesn't have. The point is that tricks are cumulative. String three tricks together to get four. It really isn't about numbers. Adding tricks is easy, if dad is willing to put in a little time and some imagination.

Keeping your companion stimulated, and happy is the real trick. The trick count isn't anything that your dog is concerned about. Is it fun for both of you? It should be. Do you have to keep working up new diversions? Hopefully, you do. For us, trick training allows us to both appreciate and enjoy our companions. And if you want to entertain in schools, or nursing homes, where others can share your joy, then exposure is a must. Tory performs at home, for his family.
Public performances would take a lot more work.
Ask yourself if you are up to it? Campaigning a dog can be gruelling. Committing to public performances can also be gruelling. Yes, it is personally rewarding.
In our case, Tory is very talented, and very capable of putting on a good show for kids, BUT, dad may be the least talented human on earth, and
Mark, my adult son, has not shown an interest. Mark is artistic, very.
Just being in a nursing home is a rewarding experience, and throw in a few tricks, watch the smiles they bring. Like owners of all talented pets, we would love to see our boy in the spotlight, but over the years, we have learned that the more a hobby becomes a job, the less the enjoyment. There is a major difference between wanting to, and having to.

Trivia - the oldest recorded canine was a Border Collie, age 29 years.

- the record for the sixty weave pole challenge has been held for many years
by Border Collies

- Border Collies are the world's premier herding dogs

Tory was assessed by a renowned English judge.
His instincts and drive were strong.
So strong, in fact, that we were told that he wasn't a dog for beginners,
too much dog for the inexperienced.

More trivia- we have seen Tory loosely translated as Bandit.

Name: Senator---- Born: 24 Aug. 2002 Male
Registration# CBCA 2362 - ABC 214716
Breeder:
Tattoo : no
Micro Chip: 132236480A
medium coat black @ white blaze, collar, ft. stockings
owner:
contact:
CERF Tested : yes
BAER Tested : no
-OFA Tested : no

Sire: Brendan ABC 141917 Dam: Shea ABC 128460

GS: Black Magic ABC 27695 * Spot ABC 48381
GD: Black Shadow ABC 53498 * Sue ABC 53242

GGS: Strange Brew ABC 6019 * Hank NASD 36228 * Glen Tweed ABC 34471 * Mick ABC 31970
GGD: Lady ABC 13445 * Tammy NASD 45543 *Nell NASD 47035 * Soundji ABC 29899

GGGS: Mirk ABC 1439 * Ben NASD 39373 * Lad NASD 28586 * Captain NASD 25224
--------Spot ISDS 161819 * Cessnock Yeats ABC 1326 * Jac ISDS 167412 * Moss ABC 27634
GGGD: Brandy AIBC 63177 * Meg NASD 42622 * Meg NASD 23495 * Sass NASD 41436
--------Dot ISDS 191043 * Kei NASD 35527 * Waifer ABC 7387 * Clarkshome Winji ABC 19592
Spot ISDS 161819(International Supreme Champion 1994 / 1991) Sire: Cap ISDS 109820 Dam: Peg ISDS 125220

GS: Ben ISDS 59446 Sire: Ken II ISD ????(Scottish Nat. Chmp) Dam: Meg ISDS 17910
GD: Dryden Bud ISDS 94291 Sire: Mirk 52844(Scottish Nat. Chmp) Dam: Dryden Queen ISDS 70345

GS: Craig ISDS 113444 Sire: Craig ISDS 59425(International Supreme Champion) Dam: Meg ISDS 87526
GD: Jen ISDS 93965 Sire: Roy ISDS 74544 Dam: Nell ISDS 61898

Roy ISDS 74544 Sire: Sweep ISD ???? Dam: Maid ISD ????