New additions 11/11/2020

He is adorable!!
And already looks so good, doing that BC stare! I love border collies!
I'll have to try and upload some photos of the sheep and chickens to the pets section later! But I fear they may be slightly scared going to a show... if Bonnie gets nervous around large crowds I can just imagine a poor chicken trying to flap away!

It depends on your chickens' temperament, they need to be handled from a young (ish) age to be show worthy as no judge wants an unruly chicken

They love a good cuddle but I think you probably could call them slightly 'unruly'- I don't think they could stay still!

Doomer and I loved agility! He was very good at it. Old style and work bred Aussies excel at it, even show breds usually do well. Of course, his favorite activity was herding- and fetch. I can still see him running past a fallen tree trunk with his stick, coming to a screeching stop, dropping the stick, and picking up the log- very impressed with himself he was!

I agree herding breeds/mixes seem to be the best agility dogs. Think it's the combination of still being physically 'normal' and capable (at least many/most of the breeds), quickness, brains and desire to please/work with their handler. Terriers can excel, but may be more likely to do what they want, not their handler. I should think Poodles would do well also.

You did agility!!
How amazing! And what a wonderful, all rounder dog Doomer was! Did you ever do competitions? Sorry, I love agility and I'd love to hear your experiences with Doomer! I've always heard it said, that people who do agility with Aussies and Belgian sheepdogs deny the fact that border collies are the best at it, so I'm sure Doomer would have been very good!
How funny about the fetch, I love it when dogs do that, either a really big log or a REALLY long stick! And I definitely agree about herding breeds, very suited, although I've actually been surprised with our goldies, they don't have the same intelligence as Bonnie but are probably more eager to please and that makes them go much faster! Oh yes and poodles! It always makes me smile when standard poodles weave, the hopping steps they do is very funny!
Sorry about that, once I start talking about agility I can't really stop!
But what a lovely memory to have with Doomer!

I think when you're talking breeds like BCs and Aussies, it's almost more the individual dog than the breed. Of course, here in the US BCs as a show breed are in their infancy- so certainly more BCs than Aussies as a percentage will be top tier competitors. Not so messed up yet. Belgian sheepdogs are rather rare here, I don't remember ever seeing any at matches.

Yes, we did do competitions- though we did mostly fun matches. Money started getting tight and entrance fees could go, plus the several hour drives to judged matches. Same with working competitions.

Funny what you say about intelligence- Doomer was smart, but Pip was scary smart. Doomer was the dog I 'did' with though- he was so driven to make me happy, whereas Pip was 'oh well' if I was displeased. Doomer was such a funny dichotomy, hard as nails as a working dog but absolutely crushed if he thought I was displeased with him.

Besides Poodles, Goldens probably would be the best of the sporting breeds as agility dogs. Like you say, they aren't as independant as some- they love to make you happy. And they're not all distorted in type.

If I find them, I have some old photographs of Doomer and I at a show, think there are some agility ones too. We never had pictures taken of us working.

Yes it definitely is the individual dog, and I'm sure there are many BCs who won't do agility. But certainly working dogs have a much higher chance of doing well, although Bonnie is completely show bred but is taking to the sport really well!
How sweet about Doomer always wanting to please, dogs like that are so trainable, but the perfect dog would be one that combines intelligence (like Bonnie) with that eager attitude like a retriever, that would be the ideal working dog! If you could find a BC like that I'm sure you would be well away!
I would love to see old photos of Doomer, agility or show!