Micki

(Micki) is a wonderful dog-the kind I always dreamed of having when I'd watch Timmy and Lassie! Well this dog is truly a great farm dog, protective of her family, easy to train, wants to please but has that stubbornness that a working dog must have to be able to think. I really appreciate her, and I know other people would want these dogs if they knew they could have a calmed down border collie that loved everyone.

I never did want Micki to herd sheep, as I wanted more of an all round farm dog that could guard the sheep against predators but would be able to move them from one paddock to another on command. Well, she's only two, and I haven't practiced as much as I should have with her, and I have had to change her basic nature to herd by nips and circles like a border collie, because what I wanted was for her to drive the sheep. She now has the hang of it, and she will hang back (doesn't want to, but will) and bring up the tail end of the flock. I know if I had just let her train herself she probably would have done a bang-up job of herding just out of instinct.

She also had the instincts to hunt and tree animals, and chase chickens. She very quickly learned that all living things are to be protected on this ranch. A typical Lassie story that left me with my mouth hanging open was the day Micki came and got me just like Lassie, and took me to the barn. I could hear a bird peeping in distress when I approached the barn, and Micki showed me a little pidgeon that had fallen out of the nest. Come on now! Any other dog would have had squab right off the bat, but Micki knew it needed help. We put it back in the nest and then Micki was content to go about her business.

Same idea when any unusual farm animal noise is made, baby lamb in distress or mother calling for her lamb, Micki will prick her ears up and check it out immediately. What more could one want from a farm dog? And being calmer she often sleeps right with the sheep and never hassles them. A border collie would be trying to round them up at every moment.

So my advice would be, someone should start a registry for these dogs, I really don't want to see them dissappear. I have looked all my life for this dog! And that's my story.

Yours Truly, Val Dambacher and Micki

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