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Recent Battles
Queen Victoria
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Juicing The Sheep
09 April 2009 11:11 AM | No CommentsThe Journal of Queen Victoria Thursday, October 21, 1868 “Juicing the Sheep“ At a quarter to twelve I drove off with Louise and Leopold in the waggonette up to near the “Bush” (the residence of William Brown, the farmer) to see them “juice the sheep.”...
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Queen Victoria’s Border Collies
26 January 2009 4:40 AM | 18 CommentsFor well over a century the “Collie” name has been co-opted by show breeders who have created a monster whose face looks like a door stop with beady eyes set in triangular slits. These same people have co-opted the notion that Queen Victoria was deeply...
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Show Me the Collie
22 January 2009 3:38 AM | 1 CommentHaving established that Queen Victoria’s direct influence on the proliferation of the show Collie is insubstantial at best, let’s explore what impact the Monarchy may have, in fact, had on the culture of dogs during her reign. Five. If the show Collie owes more to...
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The Queen and the Collie
20 January 2009 2:57 AM | 2 CommentsThe old wisdom on the rise of the show Collie is that Queen Victoria met them on a trip to Scotland in the 1860s, became infatuated, acquired them, sponsored them in shows, bred them, and her abundant trend-setting prowess lead to their bountiful rise to...
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The Victorian Collie Myth
19 January 2009 8:03 PM | 5 CommentsThe prevailing creation myth among show Collie enthusiasts is that Queen Victoria’s infatuation with the breed set the ball in motion, elevating the humble farm dog to aristocratic splendor. Queen Victoria saw her first Collies in the 1860′s, and she enthusiastically began to sponsor them,...
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Juicing The Sheep
Archive for December, 2007
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A Year In Review
Posted on December 31, 2007 | 3 CommentsSince it’s fashionable for everyone to get all mathematical and tabulatory at the end of the year, here are some fast stats about the Border Wars Blog: Days in Production: 131Posts: 99+this oneTotal Unique Visitors: 5,500Returning Visitors in December: 300New Visitors in December: 1,000Page Loads... -
BC/R&F: Ellen DeGeneres
Posted on December 28, 2007 | 1 CommentFor the inaugural Border Collies of the Rich and Famous, I’d like to start with perhaps the most infamous and disastrous (and thankfully former) Border Collie owner: Ellen DeGeneresThere are many reasons to dislike Ellen DeGeneres, and most people do so for all of the... -
Border Collies of the Rich and Famous
Posted on December 28, 2007 | No CommentsBorder Collie Royalty Buddy and Kingsley Border Collies are an attractive, but not particularly glamorous breed. More rural and suburban than metropolitan and certainly not inner-city urban. They exude a farm and ranch sensibility; are more working class than high class; and no matter how... -
McCaig’s Advice to Novices
Posted on December 28, 2007 | 1 CommentWhile the dog sport world might be filled with Gen-X and Yers who make their pets a significant part of their lifestyle, there are also a lot of younger folks involved in animal husbandry. One site that is catering to that market is Dogged Juniors:... -
Sorting Out Animal Acronyms: HSUS
Posted on December 28, 2007 | No CommentsFor being a country of animal owners and lovers, nothing seems more fragmented than the myriad organizations that exist (supposedly) for the benefit of animals, especially pets. Registries, Breed Clubs, Shelters, Rescues, Breeders, Enthusiast Clubs, Activity Clubs and Organizations, and the various Religions that dictate... -
PeTA Puts Out
Posted on December 28, 2007 | No CommentsYou know, I have a pretty good litmus test for a cult: If the existing membership will have sex with potential converts to get them to join: spreading one’s legs to spread the word. The “Children of God” or “The Family” cult is perhaps the... -
He’s NOT the "Reason for the Season"
Posted on December 25, 2007 | 2 CommentsI have to laugh when people complain each year that Christmas has become so commercial. As if at any time in the past it has not been. And by “at any time” I mean right back to the beginning. While such complainers are just bemoaning... -
NYT Attack Dog Shot, Dowd Safe
Posted on December 19, 2007 | No CommentsAs an avid student of the Classics (I studied Latin in High School and was the Colorado President of the Junior Classical League: the largest student organization in the world), I am enamored with all things Roman. Roman advances in culture and technology were brought... -
Redemption: Eyes Open and Crying
Posted on December 17, 2007 | No CommentsI’m not a bleeding heart type. Most people would consider me an asshole. I speak my mind, call it like I see it with no regard for PC pleasantries, and I make an effort to clean my own house before I bitch about the filth... -
Buy From A Breeder. Never Adopt.
Posted on December 17, 2007 | 8 CommentsThat’s right. I said it. Don’t “rescue” your next pet, buy one from a responsible breeder. The “shelter” establishment in this country is a disgrace, filled with wack-job people who kill animals to “save” them. Animals that are only killed because the shelter industry is...
Queen Victoria's Border Collies