Sapphire is one of Cherish's nine puppies who we rescued from a high kill shelter. Some of these puppies don't look anything like their momma so we're not sure if they had the same daddy or not. In any case, these puppies are precious!
Smudge and Sapphire are my favorite fosters ever!!!
Sapphire has been raised in a home with kids, dogs and cats. She does great with everything and everyone.
Everyone thinks Sapphire is a Saint Bernard, but she is not nearly large enough at this time to be one. I don't know for sure exactly what kind of dog Sapphire is, but I do know that she is super sweet, even tempered, snuggly, smart, active and loads of fun. I think she will be at least 50 or 60 pounds, and very active, so will not be suited for apartment living. She will be very active and will need lots of exercise - a fenced backyard for ball playing is a plus. She would love to have another dog to play with.
Puppies need a great deal of socialization and you need to be able and willing to spend the time and energy it takes to be raise them to be be good canine citizens. Young puppyhood is a critical developmental time and you need to be able to spend the time with the puppy to help her grow to her potential.
According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the Border Collie originated in Northumberland on the Scottish/English border. The breed is descended from old British droving breeds with some spaniel added. An outstanding herder, this hardy, agile, untiring sheepdog, is capable of mastering any type of herd. It is said that the Border Collie has an eye that can hypnotize cattle. He crouches down and mesmerizes the animals with its intense stare. One of the most trainable breeds, the Border Collie also serves well as a narcotics and bomb detection dog and is a frequent high performer in obedience, agility, Frisbee(TM) trials, police work, search & rescue, Flyball, performing tricks and competitive obedience. Some Border Collies have been trained very successfully as blind guide dogs. Currently very good results are obtained with them for general assistance to the handicapped in The Netherlands. The Border Collie is a very intelligent and responsive dog. They thrive on praise, are sensitive and very trainable. The Border Collie is highly energetic with great stamina. Provided it gets sufficient activity to keep it occupied and ample exercise, the Border Collie will get along quite happily with other dogs, and children, however the Border Collie may be aggressive with other dogs of the same sex. They should not be trusted with small non-canine pets, however there are plenty of Border Collies that live and get along with family cats. This breed should be very well socialized as a puppy to prevent shyness. To be truly happy, it needs a lot of: ongoing attention, extensive daily exercise, and a job to do. For those who wish to reach high levels in dog sports, the Border Collie is a gift from heaven. Farmers (for whom the dogs perform work for which they were bred) are also happy with them. It is not surprising that at competitive levels in various sports such as: agility skills, obedience, and sheepdog trials, the Border Collie is represented among the leaders in the sport. They are perfectionist with a permanent will to please. This breed lives for serving you day in and day out. They are not ideal pets for people who have no plans to spend a lot of time with them. These dogs are too intelligent to lie around the house all day with nothing to do. Prospective owners who are looking for just a family pet should consider other similar but calmer breeds, like show line Australian Shepherds and Shetland Sheepdogs. If there is insufficient activity then it will find its own work to do, and that may not be what YOU had in mind when we say the word WORK. They can become destructive if they get bored or if they are ignored. They can become neurotic if they are left alone for long periods, leading to many behavior problems. This breed is known as an escape artist. Because of his strong herding instincts, the Border Collie may be snappish with children and strangers. They do best with an experienced owner that has lots of time to spend with the dog. The adolescent Border Collie often goes through a phase where he challenges his master's authority. Some are highly reactive and sound sensitive, making them a poor choice for families with young children. Dominance level is highly variable in Border Collies. They have a life expectancy of 12-15 years.
