Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
*COURTESY POSTING *
Name: Flicker
Breeds: Border Collie
Age: 3 years old
Sex: Male
Size: Medium (45 lbs)
Flicker is an almost 3-year-old neutered Border Collie (3/31/22) that has been living with me since May of 2023. When I first got Flicker, he hadn't had the greatest start to life and had a lot to learn. I never intended to keep him, but have been lax on attempting to place him as I was strung along by several "interested" parties and ghosted more than once, so put placing him on the back burner. He's easy, happy and healthy here, but I do believe there is a better home out there for him that will allow him to really flourish.
Flicker has participated in UpDog, FastCAT, CAT and has started dock diving foundations and is jumping off the dock for toys. He has not actually competed in dock diving yet, but I hope he will at some point in the near future. Flicker did have several months of flyball foundations summer/fall 2023 and picked them up quickly and seemed to enjoy it, so I would think he could relearn those skills and be a successful flyball dog should his handler choose. Flicker has his BCAT, CA, CGC & FTN- although I have not submitted the latter 3 to AKC for official display on his Canine Partners registration. Flicker LOVES fetch- whether it be a ball or frisbee, he will gladly retrieve it for you. I am not a Border Collie person and I believe our lack of success at disc events lies solely on me - he has played UpDog games with pro handlers and has placed in pro division games with them. He and I just don't jive super well and we are not that successful as a team, so I make it a point to go out and have a great time, even if we suck scoring wise He is easy to hand off to play for other people at events. He has lots of disc "aunties" who play rounds with him.
Flicker is a typical soft BC, and he needs very minimal correction, if at all. A slightly raised voice usually is enough to stop what he is doing. He lives to worship his person. He knows sit, down, kennel, stay, around, out & place. He has lived with a variety of dogs- including intact males and bossy female APBT and numerous fosters. He has tagged the other dogs while running in the yard, but indoors ignores them for the most part. He does live with cats, but I truly believe a home without cats would be beneficial as he does feel a need to stare and try to herd them any time he is around them, which makes it difficult for him to relax. Even on place, he will not take his eyes off of them. I would prefer he go to a home without cats but that is not a deal breaker with a savvy handler.
Flicker had OFAs done for hips (excellent), patellas (normal) and elbows (normal) for my own peace of mind as I got him as a rescue and did not know anything of his lineage / possible structural issues he may have. As far as health goes, he's been great here. He is 43-45lbs and has gotten clean bills of health since I've had him. I have not noticed any food sensitivities. He is also fantastic for all grooming procedures and has never shown any issues with handling.
Flicker's one "downfall" is he will go through periods of seemingly forgetting what being housebroken is. He will go months at a time clean in the crate and indoors, not a single accident, and then all of a sudden will have a stint of approx. 2-4 weeks of regular accidents (both urine and feces) and he does not seem to care about whether or not he lays in it etc. It is not a UTI, I think it is behavioral. I am confident an indoor/outdoor setup would solve this issue. It is also entirely possible he would be fine in a home with less stimulus- as I believe that may play a factor in this behavior as well. Flicker crates well (barring the stints of accidents) and crates nicely in the car. He has been environmentally stable everywhere he has gone with me.
I am not pressed to move him, he can stay as long as needed. I have debated this over and over for the past year and a half but I truly believe there is a home out there that loves the breed and would cherish him. I admittedly have struggled to bond with him, and that is not his fault at all. He's a great dog, I just have a background in bull breeds ... Which is a lot different from a herdy one.
I am asking a reasonable rehoming fee and will send his crate tag, rosettes and flat ribbons, title certs, vet records, collars/tag, sport stickers etc with him. I really would like to see him go to a sport home, he makes a lovely entry level sport dog but also has shown that he is capable of performing at a higher level with a handler that understands the breed. However, I am open to considering an active pet home as well.
Requirements: **SPORT HOME PREFERRED**
Interested in adopting? Fill out a preadopt application here: https://form.jotform.com/203104540557144
This dog is located in MN
