Kirbyholme Border Collies | Breeding and Dog Training 2007.

Hi, my name is Cora and I am the proud guardian of six wonderful Border Collies, all of which you will meet later. Firstly though I would like to take you on a short journey back to when my love for the Border Collie manifested many years ago while growing up in Cumbria, England. It was sheep country and the home of many working Border Collie. I would watch in awe as the shepherds whistle would carry across the fells to the ears of a magnificent working Border Collie, which in turn, would, like magic weave his flock down the craggy hillside to his masters side.

The working Border Collie that I had the privilege to grow up with did not look quite like the handsome Border Collie that we have today. Instead they were lithe, long legged, smooth-coated with pricked ears and many miss marked. Their appearance was of little concern as they were strong-eyed dogs, quiet but powerful, biddable and good natured with a passion to work. The sheep responded well to them. I just loved to watch. There were of course some ‘showy’ looking Border Collies with longer coats and classic markings that could work just as well. To me, they were all mesmerizing to watch. Unfortunately I could not whistle and my first farm-bred Border Collie, Bonny, had to learn to respond to my voice and hand signals. We never mastered the art of sheep herding but had a lot of fun along the way. Instead we formed a bond that I know the shepherds would have had to have shared with their dogs, it was special.

We arrived in Australia in 1983 and after settling in Wellington Point we purchased a handsome young man called ‘Cannyben Cumbrian Mist’, from Janice McKeiran of Cannyben Border Collies. He was affectionately known as “Bodie”. A girlfriend soon followed, rescued from certain death, “Borderland Shesa Beauty”, fondly named ‘Bindi’. And so Kirbyholme Border Collies was born.

We have always strived to breed true to type, healthy, happy Border Collies that are loyal, loving companions and ones willing and eager to please. Even in those early years hip X-rays were something we did automatically as hip dysplasia, although in some cases treatable, was not something I would have wanted to breed in our Border Collies. Hip dysplasia is not just hereditary but can also be attributed to environmental factors, such as over-feeding, over exercising, allowing pups to run on slippery surfaces, or encouraging young pups to climb stairs or jump into the car etc. Elbows are now x-rayed and DNA testing for eye disorders and TNS testing. Please browse the link Health Issues.




















								You can tell a dogs emotions and intentions by observing its body language…how it holds its head, ears, eyes and tail?

	ABOUT US Hi, my name is Cora and I am the proud guardian of six wonderful Border Collies, all of which you will meet later. Firstly though I would like to take you on a short journey back to when my love for the Border Collie manifested many years ago while growing up in Cumbria, England. It was sheep country and the home of many working Border Collie. I would watch in awe as the shepherds whistle would carry across the fells to the ears of a magnificent working Border Collie, which in turn, would, like magic weave his flock down the craggy hillside to his masters side. The working Border Collie that I had the privilege to grow up with did not look quite like the handsome Border Collie that we have today. Instead they were lithe, long legged, smooth-coated with pricked ears and many miss marked. Their appearance was of little concern as they were strong-eyed dogs, quiet but powerful, biddable and good natured with a passion to work. The sheep responded well to them. I just loved to watch. There were of course some ‘showy’ looking Border Collies with longer coats and classic markings that could work just as well. To me, they were all mesmerizing to watch. Unfortunately I could not whistle and my first farm-bred Border Collie, Bonny, had to learn to respond to my voice and hand signals. We never mastered the art of sheep herding but had a lot of fun along the way. Instead we formed a bond that I know the shepherds would have had to have shared with their dogs, it was special. We arrived in Australia in 1983 and after settling in Wellington Point we purchased a handsome young man called ‘Cannyben Cumbrian Mist’, from Janice McKeiran of Cannyben Border Collies. He was affectionately known as “Bodie”. A girlfriend soon followed, rescued from certain death, “Borderland Shesa Beauty”, fondly named ‘Bindi’. And so Kirbyholme Border Collies was born. We have always strived to breed true to type, healthy, happy Border Collies that are loyal, loving companions and ones willing and eager to please. Even in those early years hip X-rays were something we did automatically as hip dysplasia, although in some cases treatable, was not something I would have wanted to breed in our Border Collies. Hip dysplasia is not just hereditary but can also be attributed to environmental factors, such as over-feeding, over exercising, allowing pups to run on slippery surfaces, or encouraging young pups to climb stairs or jump into the car etc. Elbows are now x-rayed and DNA testing for eye disorders and TNS testing. Please browse the link Health Issues.