Go Peg
Let me just say I hope to be as vibrant and active when I get to be the same relative age as my Peg.
According to a Google search the average lifespan of Border Collies is 12 years. Our Border Collies have lived to 14-16 years.
This past weekend we were in very rural Highland County VA competing at a sheepdog trial (for those interested we were here: 38.211497, -79.546312). Four commercial wool sheep were set-out 500 yards away and we had 13min to complete the large course. About 50 dog/handler teams competed and these teams were from VA, MD, PA, NC, GA, NY, NJ, CT, and Ont. Several of the teams are highly ranked in North America; 1st - 4th (out of 600 teams) were present as well as other highly ranked teams.
On Saturday Peg and I placed 3rd (won the tie for 3rd) with a run that was highly competitive with the top teams in North America. My Peg is 12 years old running against dogs about 1/2 her age.
Sunday we had an uncooperative group of sheep (very tough) and when it was obvious we were not competitive I retired us to save Peg from running hard in the heat.
I don't know how much longer Peg will be physically able to compete at this level; I will enjoy our time as long as she can run and look good doing it. Clearly she is not yet ready to retire.
According to a Google search the average lifespan of Border Collies is 12 years. Our Border Collies have lived to 14-16 years.
This past weekend we were in very rural Highland County VA competing at a sheepdog trial (for those interested we were here: 38.211497, -79.546312). Four commercial wool sheep were set-out 500 yards away and we had 13min to complete the large course. About 50 dog/handler teams competed and these teams were from VA, MD, PA, NC, GA, NY, NJ, CT, and Ont. Several of the teams are highly ranked in North America; 1st - 4th (out of 600 teams) were present as well as other highly ranked teams.
On Saturday Peg and I placed 3rd (won the tie for 3rd) with a run that was highly competitive with the top teams in North America. My Peg is 12 years old running against dogs about 1/2 her age.
Sunday we had an uncooperative group of sheep (very tough) and when it was obvious we were not competitive I retired us to save Peg from running hard in the heat.
I don't know how much longer Peg will be physically able to compete at this level; I will enjoy our time as long as she can run and look good doing it. Clearly she is not yet ready to retire.
