Winthrop New Adventure FDE, "Ritter" (Farm Dog Extrordinaire)
Chris and Ritter
Chris Kleman had e-mailed me that she wanted a moderate temperament, smooth coat female as her first Border Collie. Wouldn't you know, she fell for the sweet, rough coat, Blue boy! Chris has competed quite successfully in herding with her Sheltie boys, and plans to work with her new boy in herding as well. His name is Winthrop New Adventure, call name "Ritter" (after John Ritter, the actor.) Chris reports (and I have also heard through the grapevine) that Ritter is settling into her household very well, and has even won over her husband, who "is not really a dog person." We always knew he was a smart puppy!
Now 6 months old, Blue boy "Ritter" is progressing in his herding training, trying sheep now as well as ducks. Chris reports: Ritter is doing fine. He's starting to fill in a little more. He still looks more like Myrrh in the face. I'm only guessing but I have a feeling he's around 19" - 20" tall. Ritter has started to use his eye to intimidate the Shelties. The Shelties so far have backed down and let him have his way. When his was going out in the yard with the Shelties he would try and control everyone. Claudia advised me not to let Ritter out with the Shelties any more. She said that he is using his herding instincts to control the Shelties. She said if I didn't stop this behavior it would be more difficult to get him to listen to me when he and I start training seriously on the sheep. He also will try and use his eye to get what he wants from the Shelties when they are all in the house together. I'm always on the look out for that and stop it when it happens. I'm not concern about his behavior as I realize that he is going to through normal behavioral changes. He's still very respectful of me and loves to try and sit in my lap at night. Of course that doesn't last to long since he now takes up all of my lap. I think his ears are in their permanent positions which is semi tipped on both. He looks so sweet with those big brown eyes and the tipped ears. Makes it hard to get mad at him. That's all for now. Here is Ritter:
Here's Ritter at 1 year old, doing what he loves:
Ritter at 18 months 
I give Ritter a job to do every day. I have to lock my sheep up in the barn now because I've started turning the ducks out into the sheep pasture. The reason I lock the sheep up is if I don't they will eat all of the ducks food. At night when I put the ducks up in their pens I turn the sheep loose to graze in the pasture. Every morning now Ritter has to go gather his sheep up and take them to the barn for me. It's not a huge area. The pasture is about 300' X 200'. but Ritter is in heaven. He gets so excited before we walk into the pasture. He stays with me fairly well. We work on walking to the barn door TOGETHER. Some days he's better at it than others. He knows now that he won't get his sheep until I'm ready. We get to the barn and I wait a few minutes more so he settles. I send him and he takes off like a rocket and comes in behind and walks up on them and lays down. He's really starting to listen. He brings them to the barn and lets them go in the door. I tell Ritter "that'll do" and he stops outside the door and waits until I feed the sheep and close the door. He is so proud of himself. You could almost see the smile on his face.
May 2009--
Ritter had a fun day at a club Herding Match on Saturday! I was just going to work with him on the ducks in B Course but changed my mind and let him work the sheep too. Ducks went well. I had him fetch them around the course and then do the pen. He did it with no problem. I then let him try driving them around the course. He did that pretty good with some adjustments. His outrun was rather flat and tight. I attribute that to the fact that it was at a new place with lots of distraction. I know it will come with practice. We didn't try the shed. I haven't worked on that yet but I will. On the sheep Ritter was a little hesitant on bringing them down to me. I'm sure working sheep in a new place was making him hold back. I encouraged him to get up which he did and brought them down to me. I did parts of the course fetching and driving. Fetching went well. Driving he was feeling the pressure more and was little uncomfortable. I didn't dwell on the driving to much. Just few minutes at a time. All in all I'm very encouraged that Ritter will do just fine in the fall.
June 11, 2009--Happy 2 yo Birthday!
Ritter sends his regards to all his littermates. I agree they are no longer
babies. Ritter has matured so nicely. He's very handsome and tall (I don't
mind). He's maybe around 25" at the shoulder now. He's filling in and looking
more mature. I'll have to send a picture soon. He continues to make progress in
his herding. He enjoys helping everyday to move my ducks to their pens and
separate the sheep so I can work with my other dogs. I have 3 somewhat combative
young sheep. Don't know why they are like that since I will not allow dogs to be
rough with the sheep. I'm thinking it's their personality. Anyway, it's a good
experience for Ritter to learn how to work them. Earlier this winter he was very
hesitant on moving them and tried to avoid them at all cost. Well, after working
them on a regular basis Ritter has gained confidence and no longer has a problem
working them. He's so cool to watch. He gets into the typical Border Collie
crouch and moves in slowly to back them way. The sheep will not challenge him
anymore since Ritter has learned that a quick nip will stop it. The end of this
month I will be going to Florida for short vacation. Ritter will get to go on
his own vacation by staying with Denise Teal during that time. I know Denise
will have fun with him as do.
Chris
September 18 &19, 2009--Ritter went to his first AKC herding trial, earning 2 legs towards his Herding Started B Course ducks title.
Tragically, about one month later he died. Our hearts go out to Chris, who says Ritter was "the most loving and wonderful dog I have ever had."