Cleone
ABCA Registered
Blue Merle
18.25" tall at shoulder, 40 lbs.
OFA Official Hip Score: Good / OFA Official Elbow Score: Normal
CEA: Normal (clear) / MDR1: Normal / SN: Normal
NCL: Normal / IGS: Normal / Glaucoma: Normal
Cleone is my first ABCA Border collie and has kind of become the gold standard for what I am looking for in a dog. She is a wonderful example of the breed: loyal, has boundless energy, agile as a cat, a workaholic, and extremely intelligent. She is one of the most affectionate dogs I have ever known, and loves our family devotedly. The one bad habit we have not been able to wholly break her of is licking. If you come to visit the farm, beware: she will give you a bath if you let her!
Training her was such a learning experience. She has way more natural talent in herding than I have in training, and I know I was not able to train her to anywhere near her full potential. But though she will never win any trials, she can sure make our animals straighten up and go where they need to be!
Cleone loves to work our Jersey cows. She made them respect her when she was only a few months old, and now the cows will do almost anything to avoid her intense stare and quick, sharp nips. Sometimes our bull still gives her some trouble, but once she gets him moving she can keep him right next to me and make him follow me just about wherever we need to go.
Overall, Cleone is a great example of both a working dog and family pet. She is a great dog, and I just wish I knew how to train her to her full potential.
Enjoy the video at the bottom of the page for an example of how she works!
Training her was such a learning experience. She has way more natural talent in herding than I have in training, and I know I was not able to train her to anywhere near her full potential. But though she will never win any trials, she can sure make our animals straighten up and go where they need to be!
Cleone loves to work our Jersey cows. She made them respect her when she was only a few months old, and now the cows will do almost anything to avoid her intense stare and quick, sharp nips. Sometimes our bull still gives her some trouble, but once she gets him moving she can keep him right next to me and make him follow me just about wherever we need to go.
Overall, Cleone is a great example of both a working dog and family pet. She is a great dog, and I just wish I knew how to train her to her full potential.
Enjoy the video at the bottom of the page for an example of how she works!
This video was taken when she was about 16 months old. I had given her almost no formal training for herding.