Fleck's Story
by Fleck's Mom, Paula
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On April 20, 2002 a good friend and I loaded into the car to make a three-hour drive to pick up a new little joy for my family. On that day, Sampson (later renamed Fleck) entered my life. For about two years I had been resisting the urge to add a Border Collie to my pet family of two Golden Retrievers Annie and Oakley. They were just under a year old at that time and I felt it would not be fair to them right then. |
I also did not have a fenced yard at the time and felt a Border Collie's energy level almost required a fence. My Goldens would get the exercise they needed through the long walks we took and Oakley, my high-drive dog, wouldn't leave the yard as she was more focused on my throwing the Frisbee than going wandering.
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Anyway, because of these reservations, I postponed my search for a Border Collie until better timing. Well, in December of 2001 we moved to a new house that had a very large backyard complete with a 5' fence all around. When springtime arrived, I decided that maybe the time was right. I was very busy with training the girls, especially in agility, but decided it wouldn't hurt to check with trainers I knew and also to check the rescue sites on the Internet. So every couple of weeks I would check the web sites for Border Collies. As I checked, nothing really caught my eye and I forgot about looking for about a month. |
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Then one night in late April, I was sitting outside playing with Annie and Oakley and decided to go in and do a quick search of the rescue sites. I pulled up the East Tennessee Border Collie Rescue and there they were -- four 8-week-old purebred Border Collie puppies. I immediately requested more information and Karen Lively quickly responded. I emailed my application, headed to Knoxville, and instantly fell in love. I originally was interested in a little female but it was Sampson who stole my heart. I was somewhat amazed at how good he was as I had had some reservations about the challenges of living with a Border Collie. I knew I wanted the high drive of a Border Collie because of my involvement in agility but had some doubts about how upsetting a Border Collie could be to our somewhat serene home life.
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Well so far, Fleck has been a complete joy. His intelligence is incredible and somewhat frightening. Have you ever tried to live with three dogs of higher intelligence than the human pack leader? It can be disconcerting to say the least. But I feel quite drawn to the challenge of training these wonderful creatures to reach their highest potential. I have always felt a strong sense of humility at being so fortunate to get to share my life with the dogs I've had the chance to own, and now with Fleck, it is so very exciting to spend each day watching him learn and grow and explore his world.
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I want to savor the days of his puppyhood but at the same time, it is exciting to try and imagine what he will be like as an adult. But for now, I am just going to enjoy watching him experience his world. At this very moment he is lying in the grass chewing a stick with all the gusto of a dog eating beef tenderloin. From time to time, he glances up to watch as a bird flies overhead or the breeze lets a single leaf float to the ground in front of him. At first he watches with curious reserve, then, in a split second, he pounces, chomps, and the leaf is gone. At other times, he wanders around sniffing with what appears to be aimless pursuit; then all of a sudden, he starts frantically digging - dirt flying, and his little head pops up with a dirt-covered nose and a big fat worm dangling from his mouth. Then he flips it and plays with it until some other wonder catches his attention.
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Fleck's First Agility Show
On the second morning of Fleck's arrival to our home, he is loaded into his crate and into the car along with Annie and Oakley for his first trip to an agility show. He spends much of the time in a wire exercise pen napping and watching all the activities surrounding him. He is a very good boy and gets his reward of being taken around the show grounds to visit with all the people and other dogs.
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He discovers first hand what a fun experience this can be.treats from so many people, lots of petting and hugging and getting to romp all around. Every so often a dog on course will catch his eye and a look comes over him that tells me that someday I'm going to be running out there on course with one fast and agility-addicted little dog. I just pray that I can meet the challenge to train him where he will be responsive and fearless. But for now he's just a little puppy watching from the sidelines.
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Fleck Settles In
The house is still and dark and all that can be heard is Annie and Oakley.s soft breathing. The puppy seems to be in a sound sleep and is unaware as faint streams of light begin to slip into his consciousness. When the first footstep hits the floor, Fleck is instantly awake as if he.s been quietly, patiently waiting for some sign of activity. His tail begins thumping the small confines of his crate and his little nose pushes at the door.
With the words "Do you want to go out?" he is a loaded spring waiting to be released. He and Okie race to the door, Fleck in the lead until the steps. There Okie bounds out on top of him. Accepting of his position, he manages to avoid her heavy footsteps and races into the yard. His eyes scanning everywhere, you can almost read his thoughts: "there.s a ball, there.s my rope pullie thing.there.s another ball--there.s that rollie giggly ball--oh what to play with first. But uh oh what.s this other urge--oh I can.t stop long enough for that!" Another day begins in the life of a puppy.
It has been a month since Fleck came to live with us. He has settled in and shows all signs that to him this is home.
His day is a flurry of activity. Annie and Oakley have accepted him as a happy new bundle of energy for the pack. Annie at last has someone to play with and at times, Okie seems to forget that she is NOT going to play with that intruder. If you don.t let her see you watching, at times you can catch her tempting Fleck into a game of tug or you can almost catch a play-bow just inviting a game of chase. But if she sees you watching, she indignantly walks off like "Who me? No I wasn.t playing with him."
In the afternoon, Fleck loves his chance to show Annie and Oakley the correct way to do agility. He has mastered that ol. tippy thing Mom calls the teeter. Up he goes, but wait, it.s falling-- "Wheeee I.ll just ride it down and off I go for another turn. Ok Annie here I come. You.d better go on, oh you.re too slow." Zip--right between her legs he goes and tips the teeter for both of them. After getting their treats of Easy Cheese, they run to the weaves. Annie gets there first but again, too slow for Fleck, he rushes past and in out in out in out he zips through and runs to me for his cheese. Then up and over the dog walk, "Whoa! This is pretty high, but I can do it!" Before he knows it, he is standing at the bottom in the yellow zone getting more of that yummy cheese.
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Now the tunnel is a different story. There.s no need for reward here, just getting to chase Annie in and out and around again and again is reward enough. He just loves to get her to chase him in, then midway turn and surprise her and run back out the same way then run around and go back in.
Some days, Fleck is in for a real treat. Cheryle brings Lake and Lilly, her Wire Fox Terriers, to play "AGILITY TRAIN". She runs with the pack and through the weaves they go-- "wait, get some cheese"--then up and over the A-frame "what.s that--oh come on Lake you.re holding up the train! Okie why don.t you forget that Frisbee long enough to join the .AGILITY TRAIN?"
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"Come on guys lets do the teeter, dogwalk, and tunnel. Come on, Lake, we.re doing the teeter now, not the A-frame!" With all this running and fun and cheese, I notice Cheryle is the only one huffing and puffing and tired! Now for a rest in the shade and a chance for Lake and Lilly to run to the door and tell those pesky cats inside what would happen if only they could get that door open!
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With the visit over, Fleck is content to have some dinner and a little nap. Three tired pups stretch out on the cool floor, and one time Fleck will choose to cuddle up to Annie.s tummy and another time, he will curl up using Oakley.s strong hip as his pillow. After a nap-well, Mom says she has to get some work done today- it.s back outside for more play and training. Fleck hasn.t quite gotten it clear where the play ended and the training began and vice versa, but "training" is what Mom seems to call some of this time. But to this little firecracker dog, it.s all play. |
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After a long hard day of fun and games, everyone begins to settle for the night. Well, not quite everyone. Fleck says, "Hey, this is a great time to just go wild!" He runs through the house grabbing first one toy then another. Of course there.s always a chance to grab a mouth full of kitty hair as he goes by. Then, "Lets go attack Annie and grab a bite of her long soft hair. Ok now I.ll quietly lay here under the table. No I can.t stop just yet -- one more tug game with Annie and just pleeeaase let me pester Okie just a little more. She has the deepest growl I.ve ever heard and I just love to hear it. I can really get her going sometimes. I just hope she doesn.t get too mad and bite me. I.ll lick her lips and roll over on my back under her head and push against her in my best 'I.m-just-a-little-puppy-so-please-don.t-hurt-me' act. You know what? I think she really likes me. I guess she just thinks she has to get tough so she can be the leader. Well that.s ok, I.ll get her someday! Uh oh, here comes Mom; .Into your crate you go, lights out, nitey nite!"'"
Fleck came to visit us at Agri Feed on
September 21, 2002 - he's a big boy now!