Magnus-Matoaka PUPPIES

WORKING BORDER COLLIES

HERDING ABILITY:

With a goal to follow the example from generations of shepherds who originally developed this amazing breed as a valuable and necessary partner in the sheep industry, I put working ability first. Before I consider breeding a dog, he/she must have extensive training on different classes of stock. This is the only way you can truly see his strengths and weaknesses. Does he have a clean nose bite? Will he heel? Is he showing radial feel? Pace? Natural flanks? Eye? Push? Inner strength? Biddability? Drive? Stock read? Grit? The genetic components that make up herding behavior are critical for a truly good working dog. He must be able to handle cattle, cow calf pairs, ewes with new lambs, and also be able to listen well enough to handle ducks. He must have the drive to really want to do the job, even with distractions and/or aggressive stock.

HEALTH:

The dog needs to be healthy to do a good job. Parents are OFA hip tested, as well as DNA panel tested for genetic disorders. Parents and pups need a high quality diet to be able to perform their duties on the ranch.

TRAINING:

Besides herding, I enjoy competing/training in other venues such as scent work, agility, and trick dog. This helps build a greater bond, as well as well as an increase in learning capacity. Taking the dogs to different places, and in different situations builds resilience and shows me what kind of dog they are. Even with a dog that is primarily a herding dog, this helps the overall dog in day to day work.

STRUCTURE:

This truly varies considerably in the breed. The best judge of structure I have seen doesn't come from a person in a ring with dogs trotting around. It comes from real work over years. Endurance level is critical through hard work in all seasons. How well does that dog get through mud, water, jumping over rough areas, and keeping up with whatever he is asked to gather from the fields.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Magnus has earned:

HTADIII CATTLE, HTDIII CATTLE, HTADIII DUCKS, HTDIII DUCKS, HTADIII SHEEP. with multiple high scores and High in Trials. He has 8 points toward his AHBA herding champion title. He has also earned Trick Dog Intermediate, Canine Good Citizen, Scent Work Exterior Novice

Matoaka has earned:

HTDIII SHEEP, HTAD SHEEP, HTAD CATTLE, HTAD DUCKS, She has 7 AHBA herding champion points with multiple high scores and high in trials.

Herding Excellent Arena sheep, Scent Work Novice, Scent Work Exterior Advanced, Trick Dog Novice, Canine Good Citizen