Spin, One Year On
It was a year ago when we left for Espoo in the early afternoon. We first took Merja's sister and her boyfriend to the harbour (in Helsinki) before going to Cabaroo and Ms Katja Tamminen's. I was tremendously excited and could not wait to get there.
Once at Cabaroo's I forced myself to concentrate on what Katja told us. There were plenty of things I, too, wanted to ask. Nonetheless, I did steal a glance or two at Spin after every few sentences. Finally we were ready to leave.
Spin slept calmly on my lap while Merja drove. He slept most of our two-hour drive back home. We nonetheless stopped once to allow him to walk a bit and he was very excited of what little snow there was on the ground.
When we arrived at home our shelties looked worried. Maybe they were afraid of having to share their meals with a third dog. Greedy small dogs they are! (And right there were, too!)
First Spin took his time to check out the premises. I suspect there is not a single place in this apartment which he did not sniff out. Only when his new lair was sniffed through did he get acquainted with the dames of the house.
Our first few weeks went fast as we were learning to live with a young Border Collie and he was learning to live with his new pack. We were really worried when Spin had a diarrhoea but fortunately he overcame the illness in a few day's time.
I first taught him to play with me and to listen to me speaking. Fetching, or bringing toys to me as we did it then, was extremely difficult. He did enjoy playing and did get the toys -- for himself! It took me weeks to teach him to bring me anything.
We took part in one of Ms Paula Speers's, the owner of Spin's father Casey, puppy courses. It was great fun and we both learnt a lot: Spin new places and dogs, I tricks and hints about training a puppy. It was great fun!
During the spring and summer we spent our time playing and training obedience. There was a difficult period from May to June when both me and Merja began to work full-time and Spin had to spend the office hours at home with only Penni to sleep him accompany. I still have not repaired all the gnawed walls... Fortunately, I had a four-week summer holiday and thus more time to spend with Spin.
In the early autumn we participated another course by Paula. Again we both learnt a great deal. During the course Spin became more accustomed to work with me in the presence of other dogs and, sometimes, considerable disturbance. In turn, I got plenty of new ideas for exercises and hints from Paula.
We joined an agility group in November after Spin turned full 12 months of age. The training has been badly disrupted by a virulent tracheobronchitis that has reached nearly epidemic proportions in our area. Hence, ATT has cancelled all groups until January 10th. But will start anew once it is safer again to train in close quarters.
Our first year has been eventful and I have enjoyed a great deal. More importantly, though, I have learnt a lot. A Border Collie is a very demanding breed and I am very happy that we had dogs to learn from before Spin. I am not saying that any other breed would necessarily be easier as ultimately it is down to individuals. Nonetheless, a Border Collie, or at least Spin, has so much energy and need to work that he would be extremely difficult to live with did we not spend so much time training and playing.
Another important thing is the breeder. I cannot thank Ms Katja Tamminen enough for all the help and guidance I have received during Spin's first year with us. And I really hope that she will continue to help us in the future, too. Moreover, while not Spin's breeder, Ms Paula Speer has also provided me with loads of instructions and ideas every time I have asked for them. I am deeply indebted to you both for all the help you have given to me!
My greatest regret is that I cannot offer Spin a farm and a herd of sheep to look after. Spin has strong instincts and, particularly, his instinct to herd is evident in everything he does. The instinct is there whether he plays with Penni or trains with me. And no matter how tired he is after a long walk in the forest it is always there. Thus, I feel sorry for him every passing day that he does not have a chance to work with the sheep. My wolf is also my shepherd!