Tim's Border Collie bio

Born March 2001 at Pengrogwynion farm, Llanafan, near Aberystwyth in Mid Wales.

Spend puppyhood playing in farmyard, learning to chase sheep, cats, cattle, cars, and trying not to worry about foot-and-mouth crisis.

Start training as Working Sheepdog. Farmer shouts and waves arms but what does it all mean? Sheep scatter. Farmer shouts louder and doesn't sound pleased. Run back to pen.

More training but never seem to get it right. One day farmer goes off and leaves me in pen and that's where I spend most of my time for many months.

Then one day in the spring of 2004, I'm let out and there are two strange humans (only later do I find our just how strange). I behave impeccably and next day they're back with a car and we drive miles and end up at a house which I know perfectly well is only a mile from the farm. So next morning I'm off up the hill back home and thanks for the meal and accommodation.

An hour later they're back again and this time we dispense with the long drive, and walk down to their place and they lock me in. Spend night planning escape, and when door opens next morning, do Superdog impersonation and home in ten minutes.

This carries on for several weeks, and then I decide (a) this pair are so thick they're never going to give up; (b) their dog food is better; (c) they do seem to do a lot of walking; (d) why did I want to live in a pen anyway?

Turns out that they operate walking holidays, so I get lots of walks (good) and meet lots of new people (bad).

In 2007 I persuade them to retire on medical grounds (mine - people-induced psychological damage). We move to Lancashire.

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