Bond is a year old dog that I bred out of (New) Moss and Gyp Bond's Pedigree... Both parents are open trial winning dogs as well as work dogs.
Click here for Videos of different stages of Bond working.
Moss (pedigree) is a very quick, sharp, and altheletic worker. He's very"high drive" and needs handling as he's one that just wants "to get the job done' and will push to hard if not reminded to take time. He also tends to flank - hard and fast - good when you need fast flanks ... not so great when you need easy, smooth ones. He's a great listener and when handled is suited for most any course or type of sheep. Good outrunner ... looking for his sheep the enitre way. Medium eye with plenty of walk up. He's flexiable and listens so well you can put him anywhere you need him but can also balance nicely..
Gyp (Pedigree) is a smooth flanking, calm, thinking and very natural bitch ( and sheep just love her). She doesn't need a lot of handling but does need encouragement - she worries about getting in trouble. Good outrunner with a lot of feel for her sheep. A little strong eyed but has enough forward in her to keep her from getting "stuck". She has a nice quiet way of handling her sheep with plenty of courage. I've seen a horned ram go after her ... she sidestepped and then from the side reached under to grab his nose. He jumped up, with her still attached. Then stood there and eyed him - he got the hint and moved off to the rest of the flock. .Bond turned a year in Feb ... so not a good Nursery age but then I always train with a Open dog "in mind" ... and if they "happen" to make Nursery that's great. Sometimes, having a Nursery dog tends to make "one" push harder to finish instead of just letting *talent* develop. It's easier when they are "the correct age" but even then some dogs don't "suit" Nursery (slower to mature) which is fine as long as they have open potential. So far, Bond seems to have picked up the best from both parents. He is smooth flanking like Gyp but quick and responsive like Moss. Sheep seem to trust him (like his dam) and will relax and lean back on him. But if encouraged he has a "great engine" (like his sire) and pushes on nicely. Only time will tell ... I will update "as time goes by" :~) Oct 18th 2009 He is really beginning to understand driving and shedding (and I've updated the video page with him driving). Getting more fun to work all the time as he's understanding the *task at hand* and trying to fix things before they go wrong instead of making them go wrong and then fixing them :@) I'm just now starting to "grind him down" into a more refined version of what he is now. Still not in a hurry as I want to make sure I don't take too much out ... he's still really young.
