Brynn's Sheep Teaser

Dave Viklund from from Brigands Hideout in Battleground, WA was an instructor at Fido's Farm Sheep Camp last week. On the last day of instruction I asked him to test Brynn on sheep.

Brynn is showing signs of being very 'sticky' and eyeing up strongly on the sheep. She gets sucked into the heads of the sheep and sticks there. Dave's goal during this 'test' was to keep her moving. Dave is doing that by tapping the ground lightly with the flag to help 'break' her eye then to prompt her to circle around behind the sheep, rather than come right into their heads.

Due to Brynn's sticky tendency I have limited her exposure to sheep (other than a little teaser here or there) and will continue to do so until she is much older and ready for serious training.



Brynn's tail is consistently down. From the first moment she sees the sheep it is serious business. Occasionally her puppy brain kicks in and she gets a little goofy, especially when I talked from the side.

I have decided that I am going to send her to a trainer who can start her correctly. Now I just need to decide which trainer!

Decisions decisions... *sigh*

Foot Note: I am messing around with my blog lay out, colors & a new header photo. Things might be wonky until I get things just right. Sorry if it looks wierd right now. The creative process is never easy... :-)

Sheep Camp Update

Today was the hottest day in Western WA...ever. Yes, I said EVER. Seattle topped out at 103 degrees. When I got home today it was 106 in my driveway. They have been keeping temperature records in Seattle since the 1800's. We have NEVER had temperatures this high before EVER. Let alone an entire week like this.

KOMO News - "Welcome to the Hottest Day Ever in Seattle"

Many of you are thinking (especially the Idaho folks) "Ahh that is nothing". But you have air conditioning. Most people in Western WA do not. We are not prepared nor have we ever experienced anything like this. We are heat wimps

The hottest week in Western WA history....and it just had to be the same week as sheep camp.

*sigh*

I would love to post a bunch of awesome pictures from sheep camp. But I haven't taken any. I am planning on changing that tomorrow. Our schedule has been so tight and I have been so hot, tired & grumpy pictures have been the last thing on my mind.

We start class's at 0630 and are done with sheep for the day at 1200. By 1030 it is oppressively hot and the sheep are open mouth panting and we are limited to working 5 minutes at a time. Poor beasties.

We have had some fabulous classes! The afternoons have been filled with lectures in the barn arena. Today Karen Child lectured on training exercises with demonstrations. I have filled my note book up with diagrams and notes that are going to be incredibly helpful.

After Karen's class today I decided that I am going to keep a training journal. Prior to going out in the field I am going to write down my plan, decide on what we are going to focus on, review the diagrams of exercises, work my dog then come back and make notes on area's needing more work or focus. This will really help me with each of my dogs.

Karen was very impressed with the progress Beth has made since spring. This morning I sent Beth on a complete blind outrun. She left my feet like a bullet, ran clear down to the fence line, then swept the entire field until she spotted the sheep in a ditch along the far fence.

Karen looked at me and said "Think she will go in the ditch?"

I said "Yep" then Beth disappeared. Next thing I could see was sheep popping out of the ditch. Karen told me to give her a correction because Beth was goosing the sheep & 'hot-rodding" a bit. Beth stopped, calmed down then to my amazement looked back, took the flank and gathered the rest of the sheep that split off, bringing them all together and right to our feet. Karen looked at me and shrieked "That was AWESOME!" I was so proud of Beth.

The next class I took Bonnie out for the large flock class. We went on walk abouts with huge mobs of sheep.

I am struggling with Bonnie's lie down. She has been REFUSING to give me a lie down AT ALL. This has turned into a very negative thing and I need to change the way I am approaching it (more on that later) because she is starting to shut down & leave the field again.

Bonnie did a very nice gather, and got all the ewes (approx 40 head) together and brought to me, then we started walking. Shortly after we were moving one of the ewes stepped on the back of my shoe and whoosh it was gone and I face planted on the ground, bouncing off one ewe on the way down. I tried to get back up, but the ewes kept crowding me because Bonnie kept pressing them closer and closer up against me.

Good news, I found my shoe but my legs are covered with bruises. Ewes are not nice to you when you are at eye level. I was also more up close and personal with more sheep dingleberry's that I ever want to see again.

I learned one very important thing. If you are on the ground in the middle of a flock of sheep, screaming for help...won't help! No one can hear you.

After I got back on my feet, I was mad. I was mad at the sheep, I was mad at Bonnie and I was mad at myself.

I called Bonnie to me. I didn't want to freak her out because she has been acting 'spooky' again, so I patted my leg and said "come'mere Bonnie lets go!". That was my second big mistake.

It was like a replay of the other day. She came flying at me then launched into the air and WHAMMO hit me on the side of my thigh AGAIN! My knee gave out and I crashed to the ground sideways.

In the process of falling, I ended up stepping on Bonnie and landed partially on her. She yelped and bellowed like she was dying. I screamed as I was falling. You would have thought something was being slaughtered.

I am sore, it hurts to move. I wrenched my knee and my wrist. I have bruises on top of bruises. I think I have scorch marks on my face from the heat.

But I am happy, my dogs are tired and content...and we ready for more sheep camp at Fido's Furnace tomorrow.

Post Clinic Quickie

This weekend was the Scott Glen clinic at Fido's Farm in Olympia. Amazingly the weather wasn't too horrible. The clinic was full of information and lots of laughter. Scott is an excellent instructor.

This is going to be a shorter post than I wanted to write. Typing is difficult right now as I am fighting an infection in my hand and I have had a fever all weekend. I feel yucky.

I was able to download over a 1000 pictures and 8 gigs of video I shot. I need to sort through and edit the good stuff. I should have it done in a few days, doG willing, then I can share it here.

I learned several important things about myself and Beth this weekend. The Beth I work in class or clinics - is not the same dog I work in the field alone. She is a little Miss Jekyll & Hyde. *sigh* She is sweet, timid, demure, lopes slowly on every outrun, constantly looking back for direction. Basically she acts like she is completely whooped when I am with an instructor. It was particularly noticable with Scott. There have even been a few times I have been out there with Chris that Beth will quit working and head for the gate. It appears she is shutting down under any pressure from someone she doesn't know. I am not so sure that's what happening...

After watching her do this through three sessions with Scott and listen to Scott tell me that I need to work on building her confidence - I started to doubt myself. Scott assumed I over corrected her 'mistakes' and wasnt allowing her to build enthusiasm. He said I needed to ignite the spark to get the right attitude and let her have fun. To his credit - he is right, from what he saw of Beth. I can understand exactly why he was saying that & I am no one to second guess his assessment. Given what he observed - Scott rightfully felt that I had been over correcting her and created this shy timid scared dog.

Right before lunch on Sunday while other clinic participants were working their dogs I decided to take her out in the field she was familiar with and let her rip. I didnt correct her, I just let her "ingnite her spark". Suffice it to say I had to pull wool out of her teeth a few times & once ran like h*ll across the field when she slammed sheep up against the fence.

When I am in the field with her alone she is a B-R-A-T...She flies around the field like her arse is on fire, cuts in on almost every flank, hits the sheep like a wrecking ball & flosses her teeth. I can get control over her and eventually get some really pretty work but it does take a little bit. I am overwhelmed with controlling her and since I have not gotten any instruction on how to handle her acting like this I am lost most of the time. It is frustrating...

I went to lunch late and brought the tuft of wool to Scott to show him. I explained that Beth has no lack of 'spark' or enthusiasm.

That afternoon Scott had me take Beth out into the field alone while he sat in the tent to observe. Beth showed her true colors - shot across the field like a bullet, cut the top off her flank and scattered the sheep like a cluster bomb & grabbed ahold of one for a little ride. Scott said "That is the attitude I was talking about". Then Scott showed me some drills and exercises I can do to help her. He also told me trying to trial Beth would be a complete disaster. Good thing I didnt intend on trialing her....ever. I am very discouraged.

I am going back to basics with Beth until I get a grip on how to handle the schizophrenic firecracker. We cannot progress until I solve the flanking issue. I think Beth isn't the one who needs to build confidence. It is ME. I need to feel good about what I am doing and what I expect from her. My confidence will build her confidence and then we can get past this passive/agressive attitude of hers and progress.

We are going back to Fido's tomorrow to watch shearing and get some more practice in. I am also going to start seriously training Bonnie this week. My goal is to work the dogs every day for the next seven days - so I can build on the things I learned in the clinic.

While talking to fellow clinic participant (another novice like me) I learned of clinic in Caldwell Idaho organized by Diane Deal with Patrick Shannahan aimed at novice handlers and young dogs/puppies. I called today and signed Bonnie and myself up. It is May 3rd & 4Th.

Next month is the clinic with Karen Child that I have been anxiously waiting for.

Is it possible to attend too many clinics? Sometimes I think all the knowledge is good - but then I wonder if it isn't confusing me on some level? I would love to hear from you if you have taken many different clinics from different instructors. Was it helpful or detrimental?

Another Sheep Weekend

Each weekend I spend at Fido's Farm just seems to get better and better.

It didn't start out the best. Since we have a long drive - I wait until I get there to put on my boots. I was standing at the tail gate putting them on and talking to John. While bending over trying to tuck my pants into my boots Beth suddenly decided to leap into the back of the vehicle. She jumped when I bent and her hard forehead hit me directly in the mouth. While checking her head to make sure she wasn't hurt I kept seeing blood! I couldn't find where she was bleeding & started to panic a bit. Then I realized it was coming out of my mouth. My lip was split open and my front tooth was chipped. *sigh* Our lesson was in a few minutes so I grabbed a tissue and went out into the field looking like a vampire who just guzzled a pint of blood.

The walk out to the field was peaceful. (I only had to stop a few times to spit blood). A lovely light white blanket of fog had settled into the valley. John was along to shoot some video. This will be one of his last weekends off from work for a long while. Some clips from the video he shot is below.

(YouTube had a glitch last night and my video was stuck in processing. I have deleted it and reloaded it - hopefully it is unstuck now! Sorry about that!)



Later in the morning John went to take a look at an electrical problem Chris is having in one of her outbuildings. While he was doing that I took Beth back up into the same field the lambs kept escaping last week. Chris had put up a new gate. (YEAH!) When we first got out there the lambs were stuck like glue to that gate again. I remembered something SheepKelpie told me HERE about walking up to the sheep. So I leashed Beth and together we walked down the narrow pathway to the gate, slowly and steadily circled around behind the sheep and lifted them quietly off the gate and drove them down the pathway out into the field.

Then I let them go back to the same spot. We did it again, and again. On the fourth time, I didn't leash Beth. She confidently walked right up to them and orderly scooped them up and drove them up the lane with me walking behind. It is so cool to see your dog have a light bulb moment.

I found that she is challenging me on just about everything. She refused to lie down. She would stop, but refused to drop. She was being very naughty. So we went back to 'sheep sandwich' and just some circling drills until she got it through her pretty little noggin' she wasn't getting the sheep without behaving. After that I set her up for a few longer outruns - which were very nice and ended it there.

While on break I had a wonderful chat with Dee & Jeff Morroni about learning how to 'drive'. Jeff gave me some excellent tips. He said that I need to spend time walking the pasture (along side a fence to start) with Beth parallel to me (on leash) and follow the sheep around. Then after a bit, off leash, gradually let her get further and further ahead. He said I should be doing this almost every time I work her. It is a nice way to break up your training sessions.

Today (Sunday) I took Beth back to Fido's and back to the same field we worked in yesterday. She was being a brat again. So we went back to basics. She was darting in on the sheep, once she even flossed her teeth. For the first time ever I threw my stick at her & I hollered "WHAT ARE YOU DOING! LIE DOWN". After that she stopped the darting around and ignoring me. I felt utterly terrible, but it was necessary.

It didn't slow her down at all. Why when John works her she moves slowly and deliberately, then when I am working her she zips around like her arse is on fire.

When she finally settled down a bit we worked circling drills (turning the clock as we went), a few outruns, triangle gathers and walking up to the sheep together like Jeff told me Saturday.

While walking behind the sheep with Beth I was concentrating on the sheep's heads and Beth, all the while not watching where my feet were going. Hitting the dirt with my chin took me by surprise. My lip didn't split open again but I did bite my tongue. Top it off I twisted my ankle in a hole - the worst part I broke my training stick in half on my way down. *sigh*

I limped my way back to "sheep central" for a break. There I had the pleasure of talking to a few wonderful women (Gael, Carol & Corrine) about dogs, herding, agility, whistles & various other things. Corinne is the agility instructor at Fido's. Her dog Tae (hope I spelled that right) is amazing. Tae's brother, Chili (Gael's dog) is equally impressive. I truly enjoyed watching them in the big field taking turns driving & fetching the sheep back and forth to each other, through panels etc. It was better than anything on TV. (Well, not better than drooling over Burn Notice but a close second).

Toward the end of the day it sunk into my brain what I am doing to cause Beth to cut in on the top of her outruns. I stopped using any verbal cue's and just sent her with my stick (correctly) like Karen told me. When she gave me what I wanted, then I gave it a name. I think it may be working.

Beth and I ended the weekend on a good note, back with the same 24 lambs we started with Saturday. A few nice outruns (with distractions) that were reasonably straight. One where she was being a complete brat & cut the top off completely then barreled into the flock from the side scattering them like a cluster bomb. However she did a very nice job cleaning up her mess with a beautiful 'look back' and brought them all to me in a straight line. All in all I was pleased.

I can't wait to go back on Wednesday, then Friday, and Saturday, and Sunday....

Sunday Lesson with Karen Child

I love weekends like we just had. There is nothing better than spending the day with the man you love (yeah he is a keeper, even when he is annoying me) and the dogs you adore.

To wrap up three solid days of lessons we closed with Karen Child on Sunday afternoon. While John has had several lessons with Karen, this was my first working Beth.

I cannot say enough about her. She is an incredible instructor! I love the way she can correct you without making you feel like a doofus. She stuffed my brain so full of information I cannot possibly retain it all. Which is why it is especially helpful to have these lessons on video so I can watch them again and again before going out to practice.

For me, the videos are more effective than notes and I can clearly see what I am missing when on the field. For example. I am forgetting to use the "that'll do" instead I am saying "come". I need to work on that.

Here are a few of the rainy highlights.



Karen discussed having John in the field with me while I am working Beth. She said it won't be a good idea. It is like changing dance partners in the middle of the dance. Poor Beth will wonder who she is dancing with. When I am practicing John needs to stay out of the field. She also said that for now I need to be the one working her. She shouldn't be bounced back and forth between us until John can work her regularly again.

Beth looks wonderful. It is all due to John's hard work and devotion in training her.

Lost Sheep - Part Two

Saturday we had another lesson with Chris. Since John didn't have to work he wanted to come along. We previously made the decision that I was going to work Beth the next several months due to his upcoming overtime schedule.

It has been a hard for him to let go. I don't blame him, he started Beth and brought her this far. Putting Beth on a training hiatus now wouldn't be fair to her. My taking Beth for now is good for Beth and also good for me. Since I have gotten up to speed with Rosie (Chris's Kelpie) I am now at a point now that I can move forward with Beth. When John can work her again he will be able to step right in with a little catching up. It is a win-win situation.

During the lesson John trailed behind Chris and me. It was a little confusing for Beth to have three people out there and a few times she just plopped her butt down in the grass and quit working.

We were working in the same field I lost the lambs in on Friday. During our lesson Chris made sure we had all six lambs. When we wrapped up our lesson she said clearly "Keep working the lambs, but if they go up to the same place they escaped yesterday - just walk away and don't try to get them out - they will eventually come back down. We haven't had a chance to get that fence fixed yet".

After the lesson and resting a bit John and I took Beth out for some more practice. I was glad to have John with me because I could use his guidance. We had a wee bit of a power struggle in the field (okay, not a 'wee' power struggle - this was of epic proportions manifesting itself in a passive/aggressive escalation of irritation).

John kept barking commands at Beth and correcting me when I was holding the stick and working her. At first I was sympathetic to how he felt (he had already admitted to me that he wished he could keep working her). I knew this was hard on him. I used mental imagery to keep calm. I fantasized about beating him over the head with the stick which helped me refrain from screaming at him to shut the h*ll up.

Soon, the lambs made their way back up to the top of the field. Dangerous territory. I turned tail and walked back to John at the gate (where I banished him) and said "I am stopping, if I put any pressure on the lambs at that gate they will escape again, like they did yesterday"

John said "Let me take Beth, I can get them out".

I said..."Not a good idea, Chris said not to".

John didn't listen...

I stayed at the bottom of the field, shaking my head and taking pictures. The chance to photograph a "I Told You So" moment doesn't come around to often.

John and Beth are walked up to the top of the field where the lambs were gathered at the gate.



Just over the hill is a small draw with a creek and a 'land-bridge' leading to the broken gate (leaving a three food gap if they push it). The other side of the gate is a field full of the ewes. The dog needs to know how to carefully get between the lambs and the broken gate and bring them down the narrow path back into the field. This is beyond Beth right now.

John is setting Beth up for an outrun down the path to the gate.



John's turn at the 'walk of shame'



They escaped



"Hey, John...are you missing some sheep?"



I made John tell Chris. Chris didn't smack John. I think she felt sorry for him since his wife was wiping tears from her eyes from laughing so hard.

On the drive home I mentioned I had excellent material for my next blog post. He said if I posted any mention of this to my blog I was going to regret it.

If you don't hear from me again - I am taking lessons from the Big Hat in the sky.

Lost Sheep

Today we lost our sheep. The little buggers found the hole in the fence near the gate and escaped to the big field. I could hear them laughing at us as they ran away. Wooley idiots.

We started out our lesson with Chris with six lambs. Three disappeared at the beginning of the lesson (jumped the creek). We didn't have time to get more separated from the larger flock. So we worked with the three that were left.

When Chris left us to work on our own we did pretty good. But we just didn't seem to be clicking. Beth was off her game and I seemed to have forgotten how to walk. It went down hill after I fell arse over teakettle in the mud.

After a quick bathroom break in the barn we went back out - and the stinking lambs were up against the gate again - trying to get through to the larger flock. Beth very carefully lifted them out to the center of the field. But they kept heading back. It was fascinating to watch her work through this in her mind. These lambs were really challenging her. Facing her, stomping their feet. One of the braver lambs charged at her several times. She held her ground and very slowly and firmly put pressure on them. She was using her noggin. Then when things just got a wee bit complicated the darn stupid lambs found the hole next to the gate and whooosh....they were gone.

Beth shot through the same gap and tried to get ahead of them in the field before they got to the larger flock. I bellowed "lie down" I could see her sigh, then she gave me a guilty look. I patted my leg and said "that'll do" & gave her some lovin' .

Then we walked the path of shame out of the field.

Tomorrow morning we have another lesson with Chris. Sunday we have a lesson with Karen Child. Perhaps by the time Monday morning rolls around we might actually have our act together.

Anything is an improvement over today...

Descent into Obsession

I think I am riding the slippery slope from hobby herder to obsessed herder. Yes, I have succumbed to the magical pairing of handler and dog. I wake up at night muttering "away", "go-by". I don't count sheep - rather I see them dashing through the field being trailed by little black dog.

Since Bonnie is still to young to train seriously I have been laying awake at night plotting ways to steal Beth from John. Perhaps getting rid of him entirely - so I can have her all to myself. Maybe that is going to far. I wonder if I would get Beth in a divorce? Hmmm...that is a possibility. On second thought, I wouldn't be able to afford the cost of the classes without his income. *sigh* That means I need to encourage him to work MORE overtime! Yeeehaaa! That'll do it!

Given this obsession I am heading down to Fido's Farm for more practice this afternoon and tomorrow. We won't be able to go Saturday, since we have a fantastic class through PNW Border Collie Rescue we are attending at Packworks

I finally got the video put together of me working with Beth last week. As you can see we are still beginning but things are starting to come together. She is much further ahead than me and we are working on our communcation. We had a few wobbly moments but in general they turned out okay. I would love to hear what you think of it...and any suggestions on things I may be missing or need to focus on.



And finally, just for Sheepkelpie over at I Love Lucy & Friends I put together a video of one of my first lessons with Chris Soderstrom and her Kelpie Rosie from December. (Due to the snow storms we were in the arena working).



Enjoy!

Weekend at Fido's Farm

Yesterday (Saturday) since John had to work overtime Chris worked Beth & I had another session with Chris's Kelpie Rosie working on driving.

Today (Sunday) we went back to Fido's for some more practice. Since John is going to be working mandatory overtime over the next several months. I am going to be working Beth most of the time.

Chris took Beth out into the BIG field with lambs and set her up on some very long out runs with more snarky sheep. Beth is responding nicely to pressure, stopping and dropping to correct cutting in on a flank, and reliably looking back. She said Beth is doing everything perfectly, she just needs to build on her confidence - which will increase the speed.

Beth has already come so far in confidence it is amazing. That was our objective in beginning herding with her. To bring her from this....




To this...


Today when I worked Beth she challenged me a bit. I really hate to admit this (because I have been working on it for so long) but I still have a heck of a time remembering which way is "away to me" and "go-by". I kept trying to practice on the mole hills in the field - first facing it "away" and "go-by" then turning my back "away" and "go-by".

Good intentions however...still can't remember it. 'doh. Truthfully I have a hard time remembering right from left without pretending to hold a pencil in my hand.

I screwed Beth up a few times today. I need to remember the commands are based on the dog's relationship to the sheep - not mine. One time I told her to 'look back' and sent her on 'away' realized that it was actually 'go-by' and Beth turned around - looked at me in confusion and promptly laid down in the middle of the field (I think she was swearing at me in her head). She told me by stopping in her tracks that I was WRONG! It gave me a chance to correct it.

Another time I hosed a command she turned on a dime and ran in the other direction around the sheep and drove the sheep right into the fence *UGH* - she was doing what I asked - even though I was wrong AGAIN. It really drives home how dangerous this can be for the dog and the livestock - and the awesome responsibility you have on your shoulders to keep them all safe. One wrong command can seriously hurt an animal.

All the work I have been doing with Rosie (Chris's Kelpie) has paid off in technical knowledge(sorta). Now I just need to spend time in practice so it can become second nature. I shouldn't have to wonder....is that 'away' or 'go-by'?

The only day John is going to be able to work Beth will be on Sundays which is also the day that Fido's has Corinne Berg teaching agility. I watched part of the agility class today and really liked what I saw. Agility at Fido's with Corinne Berg Next Sunday when John is working Beth I think I am going to take a class with Ranger.

Ranger and I are already in agility at Dogs World Training in Sumner, WA. I hope they won't have heartburn about me taking classes at Fido's too.

Mr. Happy Update: Happy saw the vet this morning too - they said he is in perfect health other than being a chunky monkey. The vet said that his missing teeth and jaw seem to be nicely healed. The vet absolutely LOVED him. She said she might know of the perfect family for him. She said she was going to call me this week. *Keep your fingers crossed for Happy*

Herding Clinics - WOOHOO!

HOORAY! Scott Glen is coming back to Fido's Farm March. The All Breed All Levels Clinic is March 21-22. Private lessons are available the week prior.

Shhhhh....Don't tell my husband, but I enrolled him & Beth for two private sessions with Scott and the entire weekend for the clinic. (John, if you are reading this...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!)

I am going to audit the clinic again and I am going to have a private session with Bonnie! WOOHOOO! She will be ready to start seriously training by then. (If it all goes as planned - I will be able to walk backward with out falling over by then too).

Then April 11-12 is a Karen Child Handling Clinic, "Tips & Tactics for Success on the ISDS Trial Course". By popular request Karen Child is once again offering her handling and rules clinic for novice, pro-novice and open handlers. I enrolled us both in this clinic.

"During this clinic you will run the ISDS course with Karen Child at your side. Through discussions, demonstrations and hands-on working sessions you will hone your handling skills, learn trial guidelines, gain knowledge of how to work around a tricky situation and find out how to get the most from your team during trial runs. As the clinic finale you will run a trial course while Karen scores your run.

That gives me until March to save the money to pay for it all! I have a new "Herding Fund Accumulation Strategy". Every time I go to to the grocery store, Costco or anywhere that allows me to get money back when I use my debit card - I am going to take $20.00 or $40.00 and hide it (hopefully I won't forget where I hid it this time). I figure by then I can pay for this without having to fore go paying for any of the kids braces, food, shoes or coats. (I know... my priorities are wee bit misaligned eh?)

My favorite picture of John & Beth


We are so blessed to have two incredible instructors available to us.

I love Fido's Farm....When I die I want my ashes spread in a sheep pen.

Fido's Farm - My Nirvana

"Uber Dog" & Oliver

Yesterday John and Beth were asked to help with 'sheep chores' which included moving the sheep from the upper pastures into the barn for feeding. Beth was on over 100 sheep at once. She calmly & beautifully moved the herd through multiple gates and across fields to the barn. She did this all with a young squirrelly dog (belonging to one of the open handlers) trailing behind her. Sylvia (one of the instructors & farm manager for lack of a better title) called Beth the "Uber Dog".

After a hard day of herding Uber Dog enjoys chillin' in her crib with a chew

Update on Oliver: We received an application to adopt Oliver. The family will be coming to meet him on Friday evening. They sound like nice people on paper and what little I spoke to them on the phone.

Oliver is such a sweet, honest dog. I am excited about the potential home for him - yet on the other hand I am sad. I have guarded my heart to keep from falling in love with Oliver because eventually he was going to be adopted. It is such a bittersweet feeling...hard to put into words.

How can you not love this face?

Ranger doesn't.

Ranger isn't taking this whole "foster" brother thing well. He has been acting like a bit of a spoiled child. I think his rank in the pack was usurped. He has been spending much time in front of the fire - in what appears to be a petulant sulk.

Oliver thinks Ranger is being silly.

Bonnie said that Ranger needs to get over himself - he never was top dog - it has been her all along. The prettiest girls are always the top...

The Bonster's Body Double & Other Drivel...

Check out this new listing on the BC Rescue Site

That is Millicent in Kennewick, WA. Here is her actual listing (copy and paste it into your browser - I still cant figure out how to be a link to show up on this blogger) http://www.pnwbcrescue.org/show_bio.php?ImageSize=2&DogId=2703

Now look at Bonnie

Spooky eh?

For a moment there I was thinking about sending an email to Millicent's foster mom about adopting her. But I thought twice... There is a reason why we call Bonnie the Speckled Monster AKA 'Bonster'. I cannot imagine having TWO OF THEM!

Egads I just found this shot...it is SUMO BONNIE! (she really isn't that fat!) Wow, that is a bad angle huh?

Doesnt Ranger look like he's had a bit to much to drink?

I love sheep

She loves sheep too.

We are heading off to Texas Thursday. The pups will be boarding at Fido's for the weekend. Bonnie seems to have a slight cough, so like any paranoid mom I hauled her to the vet today. He thinks it is a 'doggie cold'. Dr. K is going to check her out again tomorrow when she is in day boarding (still healing from her spay surgery). Lets hope that is all it is...he also said it might be a little bit of "Swiffer Duster" stuck in her throat from their Pantry Raid yesterday.

*sigh*