I well remember the night that Gail Smith showed up to teach agility class with the most beautiful dog that I had ever seen at her side.  It wasn’t only his physical beauty, with his glistening black and white coat under the lights, but his presence, focus, and willingness that caught my eye.  I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him, even as he just stood quietly at her side. His name was Scheme.

While I loved running agility with my corgis and Willie the doxie, I dreamed of a dog that could do it all, play all day, run and train as much as I needed or wanted, a hiking companion, and a partner for other dog sports.  When Gail suggested that I contact Jan DeMello of Hob Nob Border Collies, I couldn’t really believe that there might be such a wonderful dog for me.  After meeting Jan and Swizzle, the mom to be, whom I fell in love with, I was afraid that there wouldn’t be a puppy for me…and the waiting and anxiety began…and then the wonderful news!  The moment little Poster Boy crawled into my lap, wagging his tail and looking me in the eye, my heart was gone.  MY PUPPY!

How much fun it was training and working with that marvelous puppy!  I would sneak out of work early, just to get home for more amazing adventures.  Jan’s ideas and approaches to training amazed me, and her insight into the minds, actions, and responses of her border collies was such a blessing for me.  I didn’t always understand what or why I was doing certain things, but under her guidance I laid such a wonderful base to draw upon and use to build a relationship with Scanner. 

What a journey!  The exhilaration, and yes, occasional terror, as I learned to work with and train my “bullet boy”!  And then it all began to come together, on the agility field, doing obedience, and even those amazing experiences our first times working with sheep.  Soon Scanner was teaching me as much as I was teaching him. 

Scanner is always eager to please, and seems to delight in making me laugh and cheer…who would have thought my partner would be the incredible son of that dog that had taken my breath away, shining in the lights that night at agility class.  Life is good.

Thank you Jan, for giving me a chance, and Gail, who had faith in me.     Carol Narr, CA 

  Click here to view his litter page.

Carol & Scanner made their AKC herding debut in the Started class A course sheep.  It was a smashing weekend for this team as they posted identical scores of 95 (out of 100) taking first place and High In Trial honors both days!

A few weekends later this team  captured 2nd place on troublesome sheep to earn their HSAs title.

Carol is now bitten by the herding bug and will have to make time for herding and agility both!

Speed and Teamwork epitomize Scanner as he runs a very fast course with the patience needed to teach his new Border Collie owner Carol Narr!

Swizzle is Scanner's dam and his sire is Scheme