In the cold he will be miserably cold. Coat is not built for water. Had a guy with a springer a few years ago who put his in some icy conditions in late season and that dog won't even DRINK cold water anymore! Let alone swim in it! LOL

http://vid328.photobucket.com/albums/l33...zpsseh7ky5t.mp4

We have been working on retrieving across the water and retrieving back through the water. Took a while (since I don't use a e-collar) and some advice from wildrose kennels, but finally got him coming back straight. Now we are slowly working closer to the shore line. Continue to work on casting with baseball drills and long blinds. He is picking up multiple marks with very little lining up. And I have talked to my vet, and she said with a neoprene vest on, feeding him higher calorie food, and letting his coat grow thick, that he should tolerate most weather. Dogs safety is #1, but if you think fatigue is an issue then you have never met a BC.

Good luck. It might work in the right conditions. Make sure he doesnt mind guns and likes feathers.

Update: Archer is doing great. took him to the range and worked our way into the gun. Within a few minutes we had him heeled under the gun going after bumpers on command after gunfire above him. He is picking up frozen birds and wings with no hesitation, working on casting and blinds. He picks up multiple marks with little to no lining up. Couldn't ask for more out of my dog. Gonna try to find some live pigeons to increase his drive, practice with some decoys around, and keep on working.

If they're any thing like my austrailian shepards fatigue isn't a issue. I have to make mine stop and take a drink when were working cows. They'll work day light to dark if you let them. The 10 yr old shepard ive got is retired now but in her prime she'd work a 10-12 hour day then want to fetch when we got home for a hour

I think they are talking about cold water/swimming fatigue

http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l333/...zpswwwmh097.jpg

Update: Archer did great during teal season. Was the best behaved dog in the blind out of 3, and is a quick learner. Taking him to an HRC test soon to get a feel for what others are doing to prepare their dogs. But we are doing multiple marks in cover and water. Short cold blinds, and have started doing long T drills out to 100 yrds. He has a feel for feathers and brings back my wing wrapped bumpers first in a pile. Hunts in cover with his nose and uses the wind to help. He's 100% with gun fire, decoys and terrain. Bought a Mud River 9mm neoprene vest for warmth in the winter. Gonna be a great dog.

I'd love to have a puppy out of him and a good GSP. BCs are crossed with curs and hounds to make some of the finest squirrel/coon combination dogs there is. Keep us updated on his progress.

http://vid328.photobucket.com/albums/l33...zpsicfwjvoh.mp4

Archer passed his first started hrc test. Oddly no other border collies at the test. On to seasoned.