#2000 – Sabrina
3-4 year old white-factored tricolored female
Sabrina (left) with Tasha
Good news! Sabrina had a very successful car ride out to herding last week with the help of Rescue Remedy - a homeopathic mix of flower essences. It really helped her anxiety and she did not get sick on the ride out to the farm (about 1 hour). Again she was fabulous with the sheep and loves to herd!
Update, July 12, 2005!
Sabrina is so very affectionate. She gives me lots of kisses and likes to be touching me in some way when she is resting. She is such a happy girl and wiggles all over with excitement.
Intake bio!
Sabrina is a 3-4 year old Collie that had been adopted out and returned to MWCR through no fault of her own. Her unique markings are called white factored tri-color because of the white marking above the stifles of her hind legs. She also sports a lovely diamond of black fur over her shoulders in the middle of her white mane. Like other tri Collies her fur is very silky and soft.
Sabrina is an extremely smart and active, but sweet girl. She craves a human leader who will take her to obedience training, provide benevolent leadership, promote her need for activity and stimulate her mind with a daily job. If one has her respect - she will go very far to please. If not, she will take over and act out in a very unappealing fashion. However, with the right person, she will make an amazing companion and give her complete devotion. Don't expect this dog to be a couch potato. Following a good workout she is content to nap - but don't even think that the workout can be skipped! A daily walk on a leash is not enough for this girl - Sabrina needs someone to embrace her activity level and provide outlets for her to work off this excess energy. She would probably really enjoy agility classes to help stimulate her and help her bond with her owner.
Sabrina knows sit - automatically gives paw. In her foster home, she is recalling the Nothing In Life is Free method of learning her place in pack order and doing very well. She crates up very nicely and occasionally lounges in a crate with the door open - sometimes on her back with her legs splayed! She walks very well on a leash. She is a bit shy of people at first, but warms up quickly and has received many belly rubs from strangers at the park. She gently mouths hands and ankles when she is excited and sometimes carries her own leash.
Sabrina likes children, but will herd, chase and nip them when they run and scream. Because of this herding behavior, she would be better placed in a home with no young children. She is very good with cats.
Sabrina's downfall is that she gets car sick. Poor baby drools like mad and then vomits - but she is better on very short trips. We are trying to find a solution to this problem. Dramamine doesn't seem to have an effect - so I'm thinking that it has more to do with anxiety. Since she had been found running on a very busy highway before coming into MWCR she may have an association with being thrown from a car or of traffic in general which may produce the anxiety. She very willingly gets into the car though. Poor baby. We are working hard on making the car produce good things - trips to the dog park and herding.
Sabrina has met sheep at herding lessons with us since one of my own Collies herds. Sabrina is a natural. She lit up like a Christmas tree when she was in with the sheep. We had been learning "stop" and "sit" at the dog park and it translated nicely when she was in with the sheep. Tasha was not pleased to have to share the sheep with that young upstart! Like many Collies with strong herding instinct (prey drive), she would love to chase down that motorcycle, truck, bicycle, jogger and has an affinity for any motorized engine. As with the case of Collies with this strong work ethic - the saying "A tired dog is a good dog" is especially true. As long as she is getting enough exercise, she is very manageable with neighborhood distractions and is easily and calmly called off. She will need a fenced yard to keep her safe.
What made me suspect that Sabrina would enjoy herding is that she loves to run and chase. She will try to goad other dogs into play by nipping at them in hopes that they will chase her. When stimulated she will bark - as Collies do and needs a proper place (dog park) to get both the barking and herding/chasing out of her system.
She is very affectionate and loves to be with people. She is rarely very far away from me when I am home. She watches my every move and is very curious. Sabrina is said to have a history of periodic seizures, however, she is not on any medication for them because they have not been frequent enough to warrant any meds.
Sabrina is a fabulous and beautiful Collie girl and has the potential to be a wonderful companion for the right family who will continue to work with her. She is one that I would keep if I didn't already have so many dogs in my home. Sabrina is one of those Collies that recalls the job that her ancestors were bred to perform; to travel miles and miles over the Highlands in Scotland moving sheep. She has the stamina and the desire to work and to please. She just needs someone who understands her "need for speed" and who will provide leadership.
Sabrina is being fostered in Minneapolis, MN.
