10-month-old fluffy Jac left today for his new life with Gillette, in Boston. He will be assisting Gillette with her GI chemotherapy research before they head to medical school together.

After 2-1/2 weeks of seclusion in the safety of their den, Kim’s litter of 8 (4M/3F) by Peter stepped up to the whelping box for the next 3 weeks …or until they are big enough to escape.

0n 25-August, Tweeddale Kim gave birth to 7 new puppies by Peter. After a wobbly whelping, the puppies are thriving with Kim in charge. After an unsteady start, Kim has hit her groove …and so have the puppies –they know how to get mama’s attention!

The puppies’ maternal grandfather is the World Champion, Landfald’s Max. Maternal grandfather is the International Supreme Champion, Clwyd Bob. Maternal grandmother is 3x Scottish Team member, Tweeddale Kim. Paternal grandmother is James McCloskey’s Nel (by his famous Sweep), the cornerstone of my breeding program.

I read this post from Collieology on FB, quoting border collie behavior expert Carol Price, author of many well-regarded books on border collie behavior and psychology.

The theme is what I tell people interested in working collies: every collie yearns for a singular relationship with a (special) human …with whom she / he can bond and co-develop.

UNIQUELY ATTACHED: Today our breed expert Carol Price explores why some collie-human partnerships are more special and whether Border collies really are ‘one person’ dogs
The loyal and faithful nature of the Border collie has long been renowned. And similarly their tendency to bond particularly strongly with their owners. Such bonds lie behind the more remarkable things these dogs will achieve with their handlers in everything from livestock management or Search & Rescue work to any number of different competitive canine disciplines.
You cannot, however, just automatically expect to have this more special bond with a Border collie because you ‘own’ them. It is something that also has to be earned. For until it is earned there can be no real surrender of trust by the dog. And without the trust, there is also no special relationship.
CHEMISTRY
With the best collie-human partnerships, there is nearly always some extra level of personal chemistry involved, too. And I am sure many of our followers will know of dogs they just couldn’t ever fully ‘click’ with or work with, compared to other collies they had owned. Yet put those dogs with someone else with whom they clicked far better and it could be a whole different story. Or vice versa, in that you took on a dog someone else could not gel with, or which was supposed to have a number of different ‘problems’. Which disappeared as soon as they got another owner who could better match or fulfil their needs. Or who could just better understand them, full stop.
What I have always admired about Border collies is their ability to see through you, as a person; all your weaknesses and flaws and inconsistencies of mood or behaviour. Yet still forgive them, if there is enough else about you that retains their affection and trust.
SINGLE PERSON ATTACHMENTS
Border collies can also have the habit of wanting to bond, primarily, with their one ‘special person’. Which should not be that surprising, given that they are dogs who have been bred for generations to respond to one particular handler, while screening out any other competing distractions. Some can be more rigid about this than others, in terms of how hard they may find it to adapt to a new owner, should they have lost the previous one.
If dogs have been ill treated by a previous owner, then that trust that is so vital in the canine-human partnership may have been severely damaged in them, or destroyed, and it may take a long time to get it back again.
When Border collies are got as family dogs, it can be rare for them to bond to every family member with exactly the same level of intensity. There will nearly always be one person whose presence becomes more vital to them, and this is not always something you can control. But generally the person who puts the most time into the dog – in terms of training, exercise etc. – is the one they become most attached to.
BUILDING THE EARLY BOND
Whenever I have a new dog or puppy, I spend an incredible amount of one-to-one time with them during their first year with me, building a strong bond of mutual respect and trust, and sharing lots of adventures and play with them. And it can be extra hard work, when you also have other dogs. But I do it because I know that later, even when they become part of a bigger pack with my other dogs, that earliest bond I made with them will still stick and never be forgotten for the rest of their lives. And it’s the same story for every dog I have owned.
Meanwhile, we’d be really interested to hear about other followers’ experiences of the collie-human bond. Why some relationships with collies worked or didn’t, and whether your collie is also mostly attached to one family member, or half of a couple, or is able to bond with everyone equally. And sometimes dogs are not ‘extra special’ just in themselves. They only became that way through being owned by you. It was just the perfect match.
All text ©Carol Price 2026

There are exceptionally talented young dogs who I just can’t break through to. They move on to their new home, and it is perfect all around. Chemistry and style (how people relate to the dog matters). Different dogs need / thrive on different styles of interaction and control. More reserved pups become fully confident with the right human

I took a 7 mo. old youngster from Ireland this summer who was afraid of anything human and had been through 3 homes. No way of knowing why that was. I gave her space to watch and observe, respecting her distance. Almost 2 months to the day from when she arrived, she suddenly turned toward me and became my best friend, my delight. I can do anything with/to her and she has no fears. As a bonus, she is very talented on the pitch. So, she can stay with me here on the farm. Same dog, different situations.

As breeders, we are morally obliged to find success for every pup or dog. Any responsible breeder will tell you that the hardest part of breeding puppies is finding the right homes for the puppies.

Testosterone begins to kick in at around 6-18 months. 9 month old Berg (Nel x Blu) is turning into a real working dog. With his oversized (long, lean, tall) presence, this babyish puppy is becoming a force at herding, a dog that sheep and cattle respect.

This is why:

• Young working dogs should NOT be neutered –they NEED the testosterone for physical (muscle, bone) and emotional development
• I hold my dogs longer —they grow up to surprise me (in both directions)

16 week old Cap (Sue x Ormond Mirk) joins Diane and her husband on their farm in Vermont and principal residence in Massachusetts. A handsome, strong, well-built, confident dog with a superb temperament off to his new life.

Diane chose the right dog …she had her eye on ‘cuteness’ her first visit 6 weeks ago, but was able to see that another pup, Cap, brother of ‘cute’ was just as fetching but a much better fit to her situation. Congrats Diane, for being open-minded and letting the right dog find you! It really was a ‘mutual decision’: you and Cap chose each other.

Galen and Bridget sent this update on young Fern from Martha’s Vineyard, the pup with 3 legs –but don’t tell her that, she can keep up with everyone.

“Here she is in her favorite place. The raised bed gardens.
She is a cutie!
Everyone falls in love with her.
Cait is thrilled.“

Jullian sent an update on Venti (Nel x Clwyd Bob), who just turned 3. Venti is okay-ish at herding. He excels at performance sports. More amazing because he is a ‘big’ dog.

“I am obsessed with this dog. He pushes me every single day to do better and be better. …His structure, drive, and work ethic are exactly what I was looking for. I’m so happy with how he is turning out”

The three pups I am keeping from the Sue x Ormond Mirk litter

Young Fern is quite amazing. My singleton pup missing her left rear leg below the knee was out with the pack Saturday morning as capable as any 4-legged pup, registering 5 km of x-c running with an unfailing smile that lights up the farm.

Mine for just 48 hours more before she will delight the guests at Lambert’s Cove Inn, on Martha’s Vineyard, it has been my pleasure to have Fern’s presence these 7 weeks. She departs on her 8-week birthday.