What Owners of HiQ Dogs are Saying!
Below are some of the corespondences that we have received over the years.
Here is some very exciting news! Bogey and Craig have been selected to represent Canada in the IFCS World Cup in Belgium in May!!!!! (one of 12 dog and handler teams) And everyone thinks we just play with our dogs.... This is like doggie Olympics. Craig is over the moon! I am so proud of them! Did you know they came 5th in Phoenix at the USDAA Nationals? It's been a heck of a year.
I think you may recall Craig never had a dog before Bogey. Actually he was a bit timid of them. Our next door neighbour had an older Border and Craig fell in love with him. The rest is history!
Robin E. Ontario, Can. (Bogey – Q X Kyle)
BOGEY AND CRAIG
Our wonder dog got his ATChC yesterday!!! They had NO title ribbons!!!! I was wanting the huge honking one...you know, with flashing lights and sequins...the kind of ATChC ribbon befitting a Diva Dog! Now I can relax a little and just have fun....well almost anyway. One more Standard Q gives him his Bronze!! This really is an addictive sport!!!
I hope you realize that you bring so much joy into peoples' lives by breeding such great dogs! We have so much fun with our Fergus and we never go to a trial without someone coming up and commenting on what a great dog he is. We are so grateful to you.
Susan K. Ontario (Fergus – Q X Kyle)
I have been meaning to email you for some time now. Thanks for touching base. 'Dilemma' is such an outstanding addition to our family. We absolutely adore her and could not be happier. She is so much fun to train and has such a wonderful 'cuddly' personality. She is also delightful with our 6 month old daughter Jessica. She is the most beautiful dog, and we often receive many compliments on her appearance and her sweet disposition.
She is everything we hoped for and more. Thank you. We wouldn't hesitate to get another HiQ puppy or to recommend you to others.
Melissa, Ontario (Dilemma – Twizz X Tripp)
DILEMMA
I just thought it was time for another update on Rosee.
She's such an awesome puppy, everyone that meets her love her!
Amanda C., Ontario (Rosee – Twizz X Tripp)
ROSEE
I thought you might like to see this picture of Flynn and Murphy at Christmas. Flynn is a little bit taller than Murphy at 7 months and longer. He is a wonderful dog and we love him to pieces.
Hope you had a happy holiday - all the best for 2007!!
Bett M., Ontario (Flynn – Tribble X Tripp)
FLYNN
Last night I told Mellie to kennel up. Except, her crate door was closed (not latched). She very obligingly pulled it open with her mouth and paw so she could go in. Please reserve me another dog in a few years. :)
Greta, Oregon, USA (Mellie – Tribble X Tripp)
MIND MELD (MELLIE)
Just wanted to let you know my superdog earned his bronze lifetime achievement award this weekend!! We went up to Muskoka Agility and had a fun weekend. We are very proud of our Fergus!
Susan K, Ontario, Can. (Fergus – Q X Kyle)
FERGUS, his mom Q and his grandmother TREKKI
Dash did his first agility trialling this weekend and Q'd 4 of 6 classes.
Janine, Calgary (Dash – Tribble X Tripp)
DASH
I have more pics to send. Pete is GORGEOUS. Still not neutered but he's doing great with that. I'm trying to hang onto those hormones as long as I can. His structure is incredible, muscle tone superb and his coat is to die for.
He's a very soft boy which I like a lot
- exactly my kind of dog. I adore him a LOT. As in more than a LOT! As in a WHOLE BUNCH. :D
Lynne K. Pennsylvania, USA (Pete – Tribble X Tripp)
PETE
It has been almost 5 years since we spoke last. How are you?
Hunter turned 7 years old last Dec12th and is healthy and still filled with lots of energy.
He is a great companion and a big part of our family. We all love him.
Michael A. Ontario, Can. (Hunter – Q X Kyle)
Indie just had her annual check up yesterday with all her shots. She's so good.
I have a great photo that was actually printed in the local paper. It's her and Willie at the golf course with Neil.
She goes regularly, (has a part time job chasing geese!!! and she's really, really good at it too!)
P.S, I will send more photos of Indie in action at the course hopefully some shots of her chasing the geese.
She's so fast it's hard to catch sometimes but we will give it our best shot.!!!!
If they need a good looking border collie for that calendar you sent me a picture of, Indie is always available!
Natasha T. Ontario, Can. ( Indie- Twizz X Tripp)
INDIE AND WILLIE
Champ is doing really well. She has become quite the family member. She is a petite Border collie, with a small fame
(we think this is what makes her so agile!). She weighs about 35 lbs. and is about 21 inches tall.
Since bringing her home, she has completed training through Grade 4. We plan to do an agility class next. She has a great temperament and LOVES her owners. She is extremely affectionate..always snuggling and giving kisses. She adores the park and becomes so focused on her ball that she couldn't care less about anything else going on in the park...including all of the other dogs. Funny enough, she enjoys vet visits too. I think that is because she is just so darn cute that she gets tons of attention when there. She is a wonderful pet and we feel blessed to have her in our lives. Thank you! We have attached some pictures for you.
Ontario, Can. (Champ – Twizz X Tripp)
CHAMPAGNE (CHAMP)
Blaise has grown to about 25 lbs. Her appetite is incredible and she is a bundle of fun. She certainly keeps us all very active. We just returned from a two week camping trip and she was introduced to the water…which she took to fairly quickly. There was a “doggie beach” and not sure if she enjoyed the water as much as she enjoyed all the other dogs that were there with her. She has amazing temperament and has met hundreds of people and is always eager to snuggle up for a tummy rub…everyone thinks she is the cutest dog!!! She is also incredibly agile. She got all excited one day and in a second had jumped from the ground to my father’s shoulders (he was sitting on the sofa at the time)….she seems to have a “spring in her step” when we take her to the park for a run.
I have attached a picture of Blaise taken back in May.
Daniele M. Ontario, Can. (Blaise – Twigg X Stampede (Vash))
BLAISE
….Rosee’s such an awesome puppy, everyone that meets her love her!
Amanda, Ontario, Can. (Rosee – Twizz X Tripp)
ROSEE
I had one of Trekki's pups until recently (Boscoe was the father).
Our Ben would have been thirteen next month - my wife (girlfriend at the time) and I bought him from you when we were starting university. He lived half his life in Toronto, as one of the city's great cultured urban dogs, and an outdoorsman to boot. He came everywhere with us in the city, acted in plays, climbed the highest mountains in eastern North America, guided on countless mountain bike rides, and paddled all the major rivers in S. Ontario. He was a gentle, welcoming friend to everyone. For the last 7 years, we've lived in Nova Scotia on an old farmstead. He loved the beach, the kids that came along in our lives, and was a great mentor to all the BC rescue cases that have come through our house. We knew his time was coming - Ben enjoyed a last trip to Toronto recently to see his family and died of heart failure at home 3 days after our return (he had tumours around his heart).
Thanks for all of that. He was a super guy.
We have another lonely 12 year old BC pup who needs company, and I see you are expecting a litter in a few months. We're interested in finding another BC, but probably can't make the trip between January and May.
I popped your old videotape in the VCR the other day - I'm glad we've kept it all this time. It was neat seeing his parents.
If you don't have any puppies, no problem - I mostly wanted to thank you for a great companion.
Dave R. Nova Scotia, Can. (Ben – Trekki X Boscoe)
BEN- WE ALL MISS YOU
I showed off to Christine two weeks ago how she would find my keys. I demo'd this in a busy hotel where she had never been before and she did some easy finds. So tonight, I saw her dragging my keys around and promptly rewarded her with a "find the keys" game. I had to help her a little when I put them on a dining room chair and in the broiler. :) Then I decided to see if I could change objects.
So I put her in her stay spot on the bed and brought her an item, a plastic clamp I was using for a color matching experiment a while back. I showed it to her and then took it and did an easy hide. She went to where I had been and brought me the clamp. Then I did it, slightly harder hide, with a pancake turner. She found this easily and rushed back to me. Then I hid a pair of needle nosed pliers and she effortlessly located these and brought them to me.
The hides were all out of sight, typically around a corner so she had to quarter to see them, but not inside or under things (unless you count the open broiler drawer). At then end of this I tugged for a few seconds with a toy. (She did pick up and offer me toys she found lying around since I often ask her to bring me a toy, but I'd say, "no, not that," and she'd spit it out and go on searching for the thing I'd shown her.)
I just want to add that last time I played the find the keys game was two weeks ago, and before that, when she was six months old, or nearly two years ago. And she has never been taught scent discrimination so the concept of "find the hot scent on cue" should not be a familiar one.
Part Two
OK, just for kicks (my nose is running so who can sleep), I tried this as a match to sample. Here's what I did.
1. I had her do a search for a single novel object to remind her of the game.
2. I got two spoons. I hid one, then came back and showed her the other. I then told her to go look. She found it within a few seconds and brought it to me.
3. I got two chopsticks and did the same. Same result.
I did encourage her to go keep looking when she turned back to check with me, and once when she was going the wrong way down the hall, just to narrow down the search. But this just kept her in the "great room," i.e. the kitchen/ dining/living room area (about 400 square feet), so still plenty to search.
So -- she can match to sample AND do it in a search.
Greta, Oregon, USA (Mind Meld (Mellie)- Tribble X Tripp)
MELLIE
Tom and Saunders earned their NATCH June 2005. Tom and Saunders have made an amazing team over the years, from the early days at their first trial. Here are the titles they have achieved:
Agility Dog of Canada (AAC)
Advanced Agility Dog of Canada (AAC)
Master Gambler Agility Dog of Canada (AAC)
Basic Disc Dog (CDDA)
Retrieval Proficiency Test (CDDA)
NATCH: NADAC Agility Trial Champion
CKC Herding Started
Saunders and Tom also came 1st in Gamblers at the Ontario's Regionals for AAC in 2005, and 8th overall at the Regionals. We went on to the Nationals that year in Saskatoon, had a wonderful time, and Saunders placed not bad around 32 or so, around the middle for his jump height, we were pleased as this was their first time competing at the National level. It was a very fun experience. Lagan also competed at the National level last year, and I will forward you some details and pictures of Lagan in a day or so.
We just wanted you to have an update on our boys. I am sure you know how very much we love them both, and have enjoyed over the years every wonderful minute with them! Saunders has always been such an honest, loving, dedicated, and determined dog. Lagan idolizes him even now. And Lagan is so loving, gentle, soft, and such a peacemaker, quite like some of yours we know! (Q?) Both our boys, as you know, have been and are every day, our joy and treasure. Whenever we learn that someone is looking into a Border collie puppy, we speak very highly of you, and send them your way.
I will send a follow up on Lagan soon. Have a wonderful holiday,
Sylvia F. Ontario, Can. (Saunders – Trekki X Tach) (Lagan – Trekki X Boscoe)
LAGAN
Mellie ran her first tournament this weekend!
*Earned Top Flight II title;
*Best split time 4.17;
*Ran VERY clean, made almost no mistakes; *Ran every single heat; *Contributed to our team's new best time of 20.36 seconds (previous record was just over 22 seconds, so this is a gigantic improvement); *Contributed to winning our division, Div. 2, on Sunday. We have never before finished better than next to last in our division.
*Received many unsolicited compliments on her speed and her box turn; *Screamed MUCH less than expected.
Her focus/fixation is pretty intense and impressive! She was obviously born to do this.
Greta. Oregon, USA (Mind Meld (Mellie) – Tribble X Tripp)
MELLIE
I went to a Stuart Mah agility seminar. I have wanted to go to one of his seminars for a long time.
I didn't work, just audited.I *am* still very much a newbie in this sport. I do use Linda Mecklenberg's methods and will be at her place with Pete at some point. But Stuart gave me some very important missing pieces. After the seminar (I sat thru both sessions) I just had to take Pete out and try at least the first 2 exercises. Oh My God. As in OMG! I have barely taught him anything but he is so perfect, so perfect. He charged around the loop over the 2 angled jumps, then the tunnel, then 2 angled jumps, tunnel. Sounds simple but trust me, this was a HUGE sequence for him. Then I did the actual exercise: I turned him off the tunnel using stuff that I know, and Stuart taught, but I never tried it with him: body language (speed transition). So Pete did the exercise perfect! And man is he fast.
If he's this fast as a novice, what's going to happen when he's experienced? ya!
All of the strangers that met him loved him. And again I got asked if I were going to bred him. I have no plans to but it's like the ultimate compliment in my mind :) He was perfect with all of the dogs, perfect with people, hung out with me and watched a little, perfect in his crate waiting... just, well, Perfect.
Can you imagine what's going to happen when we start running in actual trials? I think I might explode!
Dawn - thank you for trusting me enough to let me have this boy (and for creating pretty much perfect dogs!).
Pete is so perfect he gets to go play with puppies
today. :) Have I mentioned how much I love this
dog?
Lynne K. Pennsylvania, USA (Pete – Tribble X Tripp)
PETE
FYI HiQ Bogey finished 2nd in Ontario Regionals and is currently in 5th place in 26 regulars in USDAA. Bragging rights go to Craig. Fergus and Bogey are running team together this week-end in Muskoka. Should be fun. Just thought you'd like to know!
Robin E. Ontario, Can (Bogey – Q X Kyle)
Just wanted to forward a couple more pictures of the boys, below. They are of Saunders and Lagan at the Ontario Regionals 2006 in Orono. I notice in yesterday's note that I didn't add that Saunders was first in Gamblers at the 2005 Regionals on the Saturday. Also, he was 8th at the 2005 Regionals. He was 11th this year (2006.
Lagan is doing well too. He placed 28 at the 2005 Ontario Regionals, and ran at the Nationals. This year at the Regionals (2006)he did really well, and placed 4th. So Lagan got a placing medal, which is around his neck, below.
Best wishes for a wonderful holiday.
Sylvia F. Ontario Can. (Saunders – Trekki X Tach) (Lagan – Trekki X Boscoe)
