Stumbling upon the dog agility competition on TV was a delightful surprise. I was captivated by the event from start to finish, as it evoked fond memories of our beloved border collies. We had the privilege of caring for two remarkable dogs – a tri-color male that we raised from a pup, and a red and white female who had already experienced the joys of motherhood many times when she joined our family.

The dog’s coat was a deep, reddish-brown hue, though it was often referred to simply as “red.” While not as swift as many border collies, the dog had endured numerous challenging years. Despite these differences, the dog was still a quintessential border collie in many ways.

We used to take both of them out on the street, and my wife would get about fifty feet away from me under the pretense of a race. The idea was for me to say, “1, 2, 3, go.” However, the moment I said “1,” the old girl would take off. She cheated, and she knew it.

The young tri-colored dog patiently waited for the signal, even though he suspected his opponent was getting an unfair advantage. Undeterred, he quickly surpassed her once the race began. She always had a confident smile, knowing she had gained an early lead. However, the determined dog smiled back, satisfied that he had ultimately overtaken her.

Molly, the shorter of the two friends, would playfully dart ahead of her taller companion when entering through the front door, slipping underneath with a mischievous grin. Despite their physical differences, the two remained the closest of friends, their bond unshaken by such lighthearted antics.

The one thing of the competition that reminded us of our dogs was the border collies in the competition. Every one of them had big smiles on their faces as they went through the weave poles. They knew they were doing it right and they were having fun doing it.

If nothing else, may it ever be said, border collies just want to have fun, even if they cheat to do it.

I would get two more border collies if I could, but for two reasons. At our age, we would not be able to keep up with them. And they would likely outlive us, which would leave them orphaned.