Perky's Bio

I bought Perky in January 2000, when she was almost two years old. I’d made a tough decision to spay Kaylie a couple of years before, and now I was ready to start a search for my new dog, whom I hoped would be a quality bitch with breeding potential. I thought so highly of Kaylie and her sire Celt that calling Celt’s owner was an easily-made decision. I told him I was especially looking for a bitch that was a lot like Celt. As it happened, he had a young female that in his words, “looks a good deal like Celt.” (Curious? Email me for comparison pics!)

I saw a short video clip of Perky, made for me by friends who had visited the farm, and she was clearly loveable, and at the very least, marked like her sire. She’d been started a bit on sheep, but unexpectedly managed to get herself in a “family way” before things could progress too far. During that time, a member of the Jagger family fell seriously ill and was hospitalized out of state. It was an impossibility for the dogs to be worked on a regular basis. This unfortunate event meant just the right dog available at just the right time, and so Perky became my dog. I am happy to say after a slow recovery, the family member was well enough to return home.

Half-sister to Kaylie, Perky reminded me that every dog is an individual. Although the two are alike in many ways, they have an equal number of differences. Perky and her gentle nature taught me to be a better trainer and to have more patience. I raised Kaylie from a pup; she now intuitively responds to my commands. Perky was a farm dog, and was not at all used to “structure” and formal obedience. Her desire to please me is probably greater than Kaylie’s, and yet that makes her SO disappointed if she thinks she’s “wrong” when learning something new. I learned from her that the firm tone I use to give Kaylie a formal command was not a “given” or a requirement in dog training. Perky is so biddable that the gentlest of voices, even as soft as a whisper, is generally all she needs in most situations. So after a not-so-smooth start, I finally figured it out. My softening up showed me what a really great problem-solver she is!

When Perky had been with me about six or seven months, I received an offer to buy her, from a friend who adored her and knew that her training at first progressed in fits and starts that I’d found hard to understand. By this time, however, Perky and I were getting along just fine. I loved her, she adored me. I loosened up and let Kaylie and Perky just “be dogs” more often. What a concept!

Thanks to her easy way of working, Perky has been my “teaching” dog for me to learn about livestock. She is started on sheep, and she is SO nice to work; even a livestock novice like me can learn something about stock when working her. I hope that we can learn enough together to perhaps attempt a trial…or if I’m too slow to learn, then I hope to be ready by the time a pup from this litter can start some serious lessons. Not long ago, she earned about the highest compliments I would have hoped to hear. Her sire’s owner, and his daughter — the owner of Andy, to whom she was bred — both remarked on Perky’s working style and how very much she resembled Celt. Her ability and style have nothing to do with me, but how I glowed when I heard each of them comment on the similarity! I think the talents of Perky and Andy go a long way towards my goal and what I consider my “ideal” Border Collie.

Even though herding is considered work by most, we think it’s a lot of fun. We also enjoy other fun stuff. Perky knew about tennis balls from the start, but had to learn about flying discs. She’s now obsessed with them; typical for Border Collies, of course. Also typical, she’s got the talent to be a competitive disc dog. Too bad her “mommy” can barely throw! We have recently started flyball training, and as expected—a natural! Once again, it’s me that needs a LOT of work on MY coordination. Luckily, she doesn’t give up on me!

Perky is a real pleasure to live with. She has an “off” button when in the house, something not all Border Collies have. She is “polite” and respectful, and never underfoot, unlike her sister Kaylie, who tries so hard to get OUT of the way that she inevitably chooses the exactly WRONG place to go. Perky’s positive qualities are many, and worth passing on to a future generation. She is named after her great-great-grandmother, of whom she is a direct female descendant. G-g-grandma Perky was a very successful trial dog owned by Walt Jagger. I hope I can see to it that Perky and her pups live up to this legacy. I am SO glad she is in my life. What a wonderful dog! How much I adore her!!

Back to the Border Collies at Kelliwic
Meet the other Border Collies at Kelliwic: Kaylie, Dare and Branwenn