In 2003 we lost both of our ranch dogs, an Aussie for herding and a Jack Russel Terrier whose job was varmint control. We had been breeding JRT’s but when we suddenly had no dogs we decided to check out both Aussies and the breed that had intrigued us for many years, the Border Collie.

 

With all four children grown and gone we found ourselves very short handed when it came time to gather, sort or doctor the cattle and while one Aussie was a great dog when pushing was needed, we needed both the push (and bite) as well as the gather. We were very lucky that friends of ours sent us to Ann Baumgartner of Woodinville, Washington who had a lovely 3 month old Border Collie bitch that she declared was exactly the dog we needed.    

 

We asked Ann how she came to breed Border Collies. She explained that she grew up in eastern Montana on a 5,000 acre cattle ranch and still goes back twice a year to help move the cattle. Her brother who runs the ranch has Australian Shepherds. When she goes to help she takes one or two of her dogs. She said she will pack a lunch, coffee and a good book and take off with the dogs after the breakfast dishes were cleaned up and the 7 men and 4 or 5 dogs are long gone. She heads out in a different direction leaving the gates open as they continue to the far realms of the ranch looking for cattle. At the last gate she finds a tree, sets her lunch up and reads her book sipping coffee until she hears the sound of cattle coming. She follows the large herd her dogs have gathered, closing the gates along the way. When she gets home she makes dinner, takes a shower and cleans up and eventually the men will come with with noise, dogs barks, cattle bawling and dirt flying. The men, horses and dogs exhausted, filthy and some banged up a bit.

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