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Career Dogs In this highly automated and computerized world, most dogs have been nudged out of their original "jobs" by advances in technology. It's the rare Labrador Retriever, for example, that still works as a fisherman’s helper... Irish Wolfhounds no longer chase wolves through the countryside... And when was the last time you saw a Dalmatian riding out to battle a blaze with a crew of fire-fighters?
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| Still,
even in this age of high-tech wonders, a few dogs are so good at their
jobs that they continue to have careers outside the role of family pet and
companion. Pet Supplies "Plus" recently visited three facilities
dedicated to training dogs for different jobs.
click below for... "Employment
Agency" For Border Collies
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"Employment Agency" There are employment agencies for accountants, nurses, truck drivers, and just about every other occupation, so why not have one for the "world’s hardest working" dog breed? This sums the philosophy of Dr. Nicholas Carter, director of Border Collie Rescue, a group based in Melrose, FL.
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Dr. Carter's 16-acre shelter accepts over 200 border collies that owners every year. Some of these dogs are placed with new families, a few are kept at the shelter as permanent residents - but the vast majority are trained for a new life as a career dog. Border Collie Rescue has placed dogs in jobs at golf courses, air force bases, airports, corporate office parks and commercial fish farms. Even Walt Disney World has contacted Dr Carter about hiring his shelter’s "graduates." Although the nature of the dogs' work varies depending on the type of location, their "job objective" is pretty much the same - To keep birds, deer and other unwanted animals off the premises.
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| "Believe
it or not, a golf course can be home to up to 600 thousand Canada
geese," said Dr. Carter. "I've been to courses where you
can't even see the greens for the geese. Airports and air force
bases are worried about birds or deer getting in the way of aircraft
that's landing or taking off. A 30-acre fish farm can lose $100,000
of fish a year to predatory birds. AIl of these places value
the herding skill of a Border Collie."
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A Border Collie can remove animals from a facility without hurting them, because it was bred to herd, not kill, said Dr. Carter. "It wouldn't do a shepherd any good if a Border Collie hurt sheep," he said. "We train our dogs to herd birds and geese into a smaller and smaller area, until they decide that it isn't worth hanging around anymore." |
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Dr. Carter's non-profit rescue group charges employers a $150 adoption fee plus the cost of training for a Border Collie. In addition to placing dogs at golf courses throughout the country (they usually live with the groundskeeper), he counts the air forces of the United States, Canada and Israel among his clients. The number of surrendered Border Collie coming into Dr. Carter’s shelter keeps pace with the demand for the trained dogs that complete his program. '"There are always people calling, wanting us to take their Border Collies," he said. "I grew up with this breed, and they're excellent dogs, but they aren't for most pet owners. Border Collies are the ultimate 'Type A’ dog. They're very smart, very intense workaholics."
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| If you put a Border Collie in
the average suburban environment and throw a Frisbee around with him a few
minutes a day, he's going to become very bored and nervous, according to
Dr. Carter, "it's like taking a marathon runner and locking him up in
a closet," he said. "These are dogs that were bred to run 50
miles chasing sheep and the they go on to the next job. They aren’t
happy unless they're actively involved in something."
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The same traits that make Border Collies challenging as pets, also make them excel as career dogs. "These are tremendously talented dogs," said Dr. Carter. "If you provide them with the right environment, they make great workers and wonderful companions." Dr Carter ought to know. In addition to running the shelter, he has five Border Collies as his personal pets. For more information call 352-473-0100, or visit the website at www.bcrescue.org
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"Best Friends"
is published five times a year by Pet Supplies "Plus" |
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