Bill McCarthy wrote:I feel sad when I see a Border Collie on a lead in a town. They are indeed extremely intelligent dogs and they come into their own when they bring sheep to you or drive them on to fresh pasture. The brightness of their eye and the alertness when working with sheep is hard to describe - they are in their element.
They're quite adept at herding children as well - exactly the same reaction and instinct, which is funny the first time you see it - but less funny when you realise their "nipping" instinct puts holes in
every single thing the kids wear
I haven't had the chance to take mine to a "sheep herding event" - damned Covid - but he gets practise herding the guinea-pigs from their outdoor run into their indoor enclosure (even the piggies are used to the routine by now, and there's always one that does her best to hide...and loses...although sometimes I have to tell him where she's hiding). I am definitely looking forward to him being at a proper sheep herding meet.
If Border Collies have been brought up from very young to visit town on a lead, they're fine - they quite enjoy it. They know what humans are "their friends" - and love the interaction with new friendly humans + associated canines if they have any in tow.
*edit...
Oh, and getting back to the pilot health subject - I once knew a young FI who claimed he mastered his RT by combining "high intensity interval training" with RT flashcards (cards giving a situation, he'd have to figure out what from that). His hypothesis was that the increased heart rate/adrenaline and speechlessness were the "worst case" conditions he'd have to use RT - I could kinda see where he was coming from, but never vaguely came near to trying - but am only reminded of it now cos I'm devouring the fantastic "Huberman Lab" podcasts, and tbh I now think would make "workouts" a lot more intellectually stimulating!