Looking for Border Collie Pup

[Shagbarkmtcatle]

I am looking to buy a BC female pup. I would like her to be under 35lbs full grown and color doesn't matter.

But most important of all, I need her to have the grit to work cattle. I figure if the parents are working cattle, than most likely their offspring will. If you know of or have one that fits my criteria, please contact me.

Thank you-John

[ErinP]

How "gritty" would you like?
Most borders in my part of the world are bred for cattle. And I know of one breeder who ends up with a lot of bite.
(Personally, I want my borders a little softer. That's why I don't have heelers, afterall...)

I can get you a couple of phone numbers if you'd like, but I don't know if you want to drive clear out here for a dog...

[cowbelle]

You can also look at www.cowdogcentral.com - there are quite a few breeders there and they all breed for cattle work. Why do you want such a small dog? Most of the cattle dogs are bred to be larger - working the larger stock that kick generally needs the larger dog.

[ErinP]

I disagree. (For that matter, so does your link! lol)

Cattlemen in this part of the world are pretty split on heelers and borders. (Aussies are less common, along with other breeds like Kelpies, McNabs, etc.) And for whatever reason, almost all of the day work/day cowboys I know use border collies. Us included.
I think they're more intuitive than heelers, and a heck of a lot less hard-headed. They're also gentle(r) with kids.

My husband ran a 700 head cow-calf operation by himself for six years. Most of the time when he'd be moving cows (200-300 in a bunch wasn't uncommon), it'd be just he and one or two border collies.

[ErinP]

PS: Both of our current border collies are under 35 pounds. The male has always been a bit softer and more dependent upon his person. But the female is utterly fearless and is a force to reckoned with. I don't think border collies know when they're small or large. To be sure the cows don't!

[cowbelle]

You're absolutely right about "the size of the fight in the dog" - but the larger bones don't break as easily as the fragile ones - and your gritty dog is going to be in close enough to get stomped on sooner or later. Joe & Laura Stimatze in central Kansas have outstanding dogs, and also give very good clinics on using the dogs. Their info is on that website.

[ErinP]

Most border collies I've known over the years were 40 lbs or under. Particularly females.
I've not noticed them to be more "fragile" than any others...

[haypoint]

Glad to see you actually have a job for your Border Collie. I would warn anyone against getting a Border Collie unless they have a lot of work for him or are willing to devote their entire life entertaining their dog. Very high energy, smart dogs. Far to many end up in dog pounds or dog rescues because these working dogs didn't make good pets.

Hey, there's an idea. Check a Border Collie Rescue web site.