Captain

Herding Dog

Captain is a red Border Collie.  He was born in the late Fall of 2018.  I bought him untrained from a sheep rancher in Loma Rica at about six months old.  Captain is the first herding dog I have ever owned.  I knew with the numbers of goats I was raising and grazing, I needed a good stock dog.  I was also very ambivalent about investing in one.  I had seen many herd dogs with good blood lines that did nothing but lay on the rancher’s front porch, or ride around in their pickup.  Rarely had I seen a good stock dog working.

Buying an untrained stock dog is risky, but I got lucky and found an excellent local trainer.  Tom Duffy has over 40 years of experience breeding, raising, working, and training herd dogs.  

When I started lessons, I quickly learned that about 80% of training a Border Collie is training the owner/shepherd and 20% training the dog!  Captain has amazing instincts and intelligence.  He is also as fast as a bolt of lightning. 

With Tom’s help, we’ve turned Captain into a valuable member of the team.  I never have to worry about a goat getting away from me.  Captain will bring them back to the herd.  I can drive my goats without fences over significant distances to new pastures or loading pens with confidence.  I’ve learned new skills as a trainer.  I have a new respect, admiration, and sense of awe about herding dogs and shepherding.