Zoey: The Almost Mine Border Collie
I've wanted a Border Collie for a long time. At one point, I thought I had found one.
Several years ago I made the decision to purchase what would have been my first Border Collie. I spoke to the breeder a few times over the phone about what I was looking for in a puppy, filled out an application, had my references checked, ect. The process seemed to go smoothly. I told her I was looking for a merle female, very high drive and an excellent prospect for the obedience, agility and flyball. This particular puppy was sold on full registration (AKC) and was sired by a import (Ireland) bred male and out of a working ranch BC.
To make a long story short, Zoey arrived and appeared to be everything that I had asked for. At first I chalked her indifference to noise to just being a new arrival, but the first time I realized something was really wrong was when I clapped my hands for her while sleeping and she showed no indiciation of having heard a single thing.
After my vet confirmed that she was hearing impaired (although she would react to two or three specific high pitched noises) I contacted deafdog.org and a Border Collie forum for advice on working with her. I'll admit - a first time Border Collie owner, and having to teach sign language for the first time was a bit intimidating for me. Obedience was my primary focus with her, so I started teaching her hand signals. She was finished with sit, stay and down before my parents and I decided it was best to rehome her into a pet home and try to get another puppy.
I contacted her breeder to discuss getting a refund - the breeder agreed under the understanding that she would rehome Zoey for me - I did not have the time to work with two puppies, and I felt that Zoey would make an excellent pet for an active family. That breeder than admitted to me over the phone that two other puppies in the litter were hearing impaired, and a third was dying of a rare birth defect. Talk about being surprised! After a few conversations I decided to rehome Zoey myself, and after a month of looking, placed her with a family in Iowa under a spay contract and requirement that they take obedience classes with her. They still update me and I'm happy to say she is now a great pet for them and companion for their Golden Retriever.
My experience with Zoey taught me the importance of finding a reputable, honest and ethical, breeder... I'm running on two years of research now, and still not sure when I will take the leap.
and now
Several years ago I made the decision to purchase what would have been my first Border Collie. I spoke to the breeder a few times over the phone about what I was looking for in a puppy, filled out an application, had my references checked, ect. The process seemed to go smoothly. I told her I was looking for a merle female, very high drive and an excellent prospect for the obedience, agility and flyball. This particular puppy was sold on full registration (AKC) and was sired by a import (Ireland) bred male and out of a working ranch BC.
To make a long story short, Zoey arrived and appeared to be everything that I had asked for. At first I chalked her indifference to noise to just being a new arrival, but the first time I realized something was really wrong was when I clapped my hands for her while sleeping and she showed no indiciation of having heard a single thing.
After my vet confirmed that she was hearing impaired (although she would react to two or three specific high pitched noises) I contacted deafdog.org and a Border Collie forum for advice on working with her. I'll admit - a first time Border Collie owner, and having to teach sign language for the first time was a bit intimidating for me. Obedience was my primary focus with her, so I started teaching her hand signals. She was finished with sit, stay and down before my parents and I decided it was best to rehome her into a pet home and try to get another puppy.
I contacted her breeder to discuss getting a refund - the breeder agreed under the understanding that she would rehome Zoey for me - I did not have the time to work with two puppies, and I felt that Zoey would make an excellent pet for an active family. That breeder than admitted to me over the phone that two other puppies in the litter were hearing impaired, and a third was dying of a rare birth defect. Talk about being surprised! After a few conversations I decided to rehome Zoey myself, and after a month of looking, placed her with a family in Iowa under a spay contract and requirement that they take obedience classes with her. They still update me and I'm happy to say she is now a great pet for them and companion for their Golden Retriever.
My experience with Zoey taught me the importance of finding a reputable, honest and ethical, breeder... I'm running on two years of research now, and still not sure when I will take the leap.
and now