The Dogs of Fall

Because I feel guilty for not blogging for a few days - seriously - I have nothing to say.  *GASP*  Can you believe it?  Really.

Mind you, I am not speechless - just ask my husband - his ears are still ringing from earlier this evening.  I am just a wee bit stressed out.  I have been sick &  we are still anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first grandbaby.  I believe my daughter  is holding her hostage.  The baby was due yesterday.  I could spew a bunch of stuff about how as a child she was late for EVERYTHING.  But I won't, because it would be my fault...since she was even late being born herself. 

Since I have a some doggy autum leaves shots to share and I am unable to string together more than a few coherent sentences -  I am taking the easy way out and sharing a favorite poem of mine about Autumn.

Enjoy!

Merry Autumn

It's all a farce,—these tales they tell

About the breezes sighing,

And moans astir o'er field and dell,

Because the year is dying.

Such principles are most absurd,—

I care not who first taught 'em;

There's nothing known to beast or bird

To make a solemn autumn.

In solemn times, when grief holds sway

With countenance distressing,

You'll note the more of black and gray

Will then be used in dressing.

Now purple tints are all around;

The sky is blue and mellow;

And e'en the grasses turn the ground

From modest green to yellow.

The seed burs all with laughter crack

On featherweed and jimson;

And leaves that should be dressed in black

Are all decked out in crimson.

A butterfly goes winging by;

A singing bird comes after;

And Nature, all from earth to sky,

Is bubbling o'er with laughter.

The ripples wimple on the rills,

Like sparkling little lasses;

The sunlight runs along the hills,

And laughs among the grasses.

The earth is just so full of fun

It really can't contain it;

And streams of mirth so freely run

The heavens seem to rain it.

Don't talk to me of solemn days

In autumn's time of splendor,

Because the sun shows fewer rays,

And these grow slant and slender.

 

Why, it's the climax of the year,—

The highest time of living!—

Till naturally its bursting cheer

Just melts into thanksgiving. 

~Paul Laurence Dunbar

Bonnie Stays

Thank you to everyone for the thoughts and opinions expressed privately through email, facebook and comments. 

After 24 hours of examining all my motivations I have come to the following conclusions: 

Placing Bonnie would be "easy" but not the right thing for me. I believe I was trying to justify my reasons.  There are no justifications other than the interdog aggression (Beth/Bonnie).  Presently, that is manageable. 

Bonnie is my family. I love her and as a good friend pointed out...her loyalty is to me.  So, my loyalty needs to be to her. 

When I adopted Bonnie I hoped she would work sheep.  When she got a bit older, it looked like she wasn't going to fulfill those hopes.  So I adopted Brynn.  Now I am working Brynn and Beth...and in a short year I will be working the new puppy.  I love each of my dogs for who they are. Love is not conditional on sheepdog work

To be completely honest -  I could not live with myself if I were to re-home Bonnie.  No matter how many things I say to justify it...I can't.  I made a promise to her and to myself to give her a home forever - even if it meant she did not work sheep. 

The blog will be changed to BCxFour + 1 More. 

Nuff said...

The Freckled Monster stays.

My goals for Bonnie need to change and grow.  Life does not revolve around sheep. 

Question: What Would You Do?

I have been training Bonnie to be a therapy & service dog.  She is wonderful at it, she loves people,  especially children.

Hypothetical Question:  

Lets say I have a hypothetical friend who is looking for a dog to work in her practice with children and adults. She would have a wonderful home with caring, loving people & a job she would love. 

If I were to re-home her with my hypothetical friend, Bonnie would go to work with her every day.  She would be this friend's constant companion and a valuable aid her in her practice.

Remember that Bonnie does not get along with Beth.  We have constant tension in our house already & the worry that the tension will escalate into another tooth slashing fight.  She does not work sheep regularly, and she does not really have a job, other than being a happy house dog.  When I take the dogs to work sheep she is left at home more often than not. 

I love Bonnie. I raised her from a puppy and if she were to go I would have a big gaping hole in my heart.
She has a happy contented life with us already.  I do not want to place her.  I am fully committed to her, regardless of the tension between her and Beth.  She has a home with us for life.  No question about it.....

But...would she be happier as a full time therapy dog?

Do I owe her the chance to see?  

What would you do?  Why?  Why not?

Let me emphasize I DO NOT INTEND TO PLACE HER...EVER.   However, I have a problem with guilt.  I worry that wanting to keep her is selfish - and she might be much happier elsewhere where she can be the only dog.  Bonnie is very much a princess - she would thrive in that type of environment.  Is it selfish for me to keep her when I know this?    What would be in Bonnie's best interest? 

Thanks in advance for your time and thoughtful answers!

Sheep, Brynn & Videotape

Last weekend we went to a training 'trial' at Fido's Farm in Olympia.   A trail field was set up and sheep were held for you.  Your runs were timed and you could do anything you wanted in that time.  The panels were set up in as an open course.

It was extraordinarily helpful for showing me where our problems are.  When Dianne is here next weekend I will have a better idea what we need to work on.  I am sure she can get a handle on the issues with Brynn.  The issues with me, well that is whole 'nuther problem, which cant be fixed in a weekend of lessons.  It might require large doses of ADHD medication and a baseball bat - upside the head. 

For example:  The other day when I was working Brynn, Cindy brought it to my attention when I called her in for an inside flank I was not actually giving her a flank command.   Just saying "here Brynn, that'll do" then nothing after that.  Apparently Brynn is supposed to read my mind and know which direction I want her to flank.  She is that smart, don't you know.

Not.  Apparently, neither is her handler.

I know this a journey of time and miles.  I can look back on video's of me working Beth two years ago and really see the difference.  (Most obviously in the size of my back side.)  Truthfully, I am happy with how Brynn has continued to progress rather than slide back after she came home from Dianne. 

While the outrun/lift/fetch  has gone to hell in a hand basket her driving is moving along nicely.  The stickiness is fading and she is beginning to hold pressure and keep the sheep on line.  There is still some over flanking going on, we haven't quite grasped the idea of a small flank yet - but she is getting there.  With the progress in driving I have broken her 'lie down'.  I am supposed to use "stand" for driving, as opposed to 'lie down'.  Since I am handling impaired I continue to use "lie down" to get her to stop...and then when she doesn't I don't say anything.  I can't get mad at Brynn for my consistent error in communication - the broken 'down' is on me.   *sigh*    Even with all that I am still as happy as a pig in slop with her progress.  

I was wishy-washy this week about sharing this video - mostly because it isn't that great.  I clearly have some handling issues, my commands are late, off time or just plain wrong.  I am happiest with how Brynn is listening to me.  The flow has improved significantly.  She is nicely tucking the trailing sheep in and is starting to hold the pressure nicely.   What I am reminded of when I watch this is how very much she wants to please me, she is such an honest little baby dog.  

Please forgive the jumpy nature of the video - when it gets really hard to watch, just look away, I promise it does improve.

I love the entire journey I have been on with the dogs.  I never imagined myself standing in the middle of a field, with a big smile on my face, tears in my eyes while I watch a little dog move sheep around...experiencing that perfect moment, when I am at one with my dog ...where nothing else outside of the teamwork between myself and Brynn enters my mind.  Ahhhhh....perfect.

Footnote Giggle:  When previewing this video Brynn came running into the room, whined at me and raced to the back door.  I let her out and watched her run like a bat out of hell around the side of the house, and begin to frantically search for something in the back yard.  When she didn't find it she came running back into the door and dashed back into my office.  I followed her and found her front feet on my computer desk, her head tilted, looking at the speakers....she was trying to figure out where my voice and whistles was coming from - I giggled and giggled.

Do you have any idea how hard it is for me not to keep playing this video over and over again?  Oh, so hard indeed. 

Puppy Attack!

One of these puppies...is gonna be OURS!

Below are the Bett x Riggs Black & White Females.  

And the two Tri-Colored Females.  The one on the left looking at the camera sent me telepathic, or should I say 'puppy-pathic' messages telling me she wants to live with CameraFace.  Already, at this young age, she knows a camera lens and is posing.   I love the serious little attitude she has going on...in this picture at least.  As much as I know she could be hell on wheels - which is why I am leaving Dianne to choose for me.  She knows the puppies, my family and our pack of dogs already.  I can't tell anything really from a picture.  But I can pretend I do...which is half the fun. 

Does she look like a Bliss or Bea?  I don't know if either name fits.  *sigh*

I admit, I am feeling a wee bit of panic.  I have an occasional "what have I done" thought bouncing around in my brain.  Not unlike that feeling of panic you feel in the 9th month of pregnancy.  When the inevitable day comes that you must shoot the baby forth from your womb.  During labor I really wanted to undo what I had been done - and kill my husband - which I tried to do, according to our labor nurse.  I can't remember anything other than his screams of pain which seemed to drown out mine. 

Of course, you love the baby and can't wait until you hold them in your arms, smell their heads and count their toes...but panic does overtake you here and there, especially when you realize how much childbirth is going to hurt like a mother *insert bad word here* which is why I requested copious amounts of drugs.  Pain drugs are good, however I do not think drugs will assist me in puppy potty training.

It is a massive commitment.  Not unlike a child, when I bring a dog into my home...be it one of the four rescue dogs I have now and the others that preceded them.  Or the first puppy I have ever bought from a reputable breeder - I make a commitment to that dog for life.

Our pack grows and adjusts.

Like Beth.  In the past three years she has raised two puppies.  Once upon a time Beth adored Bonnie. She would lick her & snuggle with her.  My, how time has changed.  The only reason why they do not try to rip each others faces off -  they are more afraid of the consequences from ME than anything else.  That and very careful management and exposure our pack has found a peaceful routine. 

Beth adored Brynn, still does to this day. 

This pair never fights.  Brynn would hang off her face.  Beth ignored her.

I am not worried about Beth with a puppy.  I am however a tad bit concerned how Brynn will handle one.  She will be fine once she realizes this little thing is a dog - not a monster out to eat her paws.  I am sure there will be jealousy and an adjustment period. 

Last week when we were staying with our friend Erica in Walla Walla for the Fire Ridge trial Beth and Brynn met her five month old puppy Q.

Q is his name, fun is his game.  He stalks his next victim. 

Gotcha!  Brynn never knew what hit her! 

Ahhhh a puppy!  

"What is this little thing buzzing my face?" 

"You are annoying" 

"I am outta here! "

"Gotta shake this puppy!"

 

"Going to run, far and fast.....out of sight, out of mind"

"Ha ha ha ha!  You cant catch me!  I am footloose and puppy FREE!"

Q awaits his next victim

He spots her!

The chase is on...

Over hill, over dale...

Beth cant shake the puppy tail...

...as the puppy goes trailing along

Oh boy....

Does she look annoyed to you? 

She has the patience of a saint...with puppies.  

Yep, I see something coming soon.   

Gettin' time to teach an annoying puppeh a lesson of respect.  

She turns away....to no avail

She darts....he weaves...then nips at her ear. 

Smack down!   Beth tells him to knock it off.  He yelps and all is forgotten. 

Q sits for a moment....evaluates his options. 

He wanders, chases a leaf...then selects his next victim.  

There he is...his new older brother, Tater. 

He knows better than to harass his older sister Zoe.  She does not tolerate puppy foolishness.  

"I do not do puppies.  They are beneath me.  I am far too beautiful for immature boys."

He stalks...

Attack! 

"Leave me alone you little freak!"

 

"Please take it with you when you go home?"

I am sorry Tater Man, your momma would kill me & we have our own puppy coming home at Thanksgiving. Hang in there, one day Q will discover sheep and your life will improve.