Three Border Collies and Me

Tuffie tugging

2012-02-01T04:47:00.000-08:00

Tri-pod tuggin' and Tuffie looking on

Hey, I think I need to charge an extra "training" fee to these pups....hahahahaha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbE8VzgpBhg&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
A threesome, a foursome!

Six weeks old today

2012-01-31T04:49:00.000-08:00

The temp was in the 30's when I took this video yesterday morning. Actually, they had been already playing a good 40 min. before I took this video. All of the pups are getting much braver about heading out on their own across the yard.

TWO dogs to a crate COLD this morning!

We keep our house cold in the winter. 58 degrees inside this morning at 9 am. Trouble says, "I'm keeping my coat on and sleeping with old Xena for warmth." Can't say I blame her!

Smarty pants Trouble

When the sun came up, Trouble went into the kitchen and took a chair pad off the chair and placed it in the sun where she then placed herself to catch the morning rays. I LOVE my JRT.

Yoko's nose was out of joint this morning, so you will not see her in this movie. I'm not sure what her problem was, but I think it starts with the letter "J" for JEALOUS! I will spend some private special time with her today.

Jealous Yoko

Old Xena is getting a real kick out of the pups now. At first, I'm not sure she could make out what they were when they went outside to stay. I know she can smell them, but her eyesight is failing now. They are used to her giving a big play WOOF now. It still startles a few of them. :0) Xena is the closest thing to a 'gentle giant' that there ever could be. When she leaves our pack, it will be the saddest day.

Xena asking Rumble to play

Naughty Champ thinking about grabbing Xena's tail

Trouble is still loving every minute with them. The pups are almost as big as she, but she is still doing run downs and enticing them to play with her. She lets them crawl all over her. The puppies love to "feel" the texture of her many coats. She occasionally bowls a few over in the dirt as she teases them, but they are rebounding pretty well to her antics.

Trouble doesn't mind the pups jumping on her. It's a free massage.

The pups like the feel of her coat.

Jet wrinkles his nose in a warning to the pups and on occasion gives them a bit of an "air snap," just to let them know that he is the elder. Jet is the most amazing dog I'm sure I will ever own. He is fabulous with everybody, everything....always has been.

Nose wrinkle - warning

Jet gently takes the pup's whole head in his mouth

Kilt is still keeping fit doing her extended dressage trot for hours around the yard. Her daughter, Fly, continues to trot with her "On the Fly." No doubt, she is going to have her mother's athleticism. She has a bit of her mother's independence, also. I'm anxious to see how she will turn out as an adult.

Fly being playful

Trouble trying to get Fly to chase her

Tuffy, who has been tentative to new situations from the get-go, is warming up. She is venturing out and playing with all of the big dogs now. She has soft side and a tough side to her. I have been giving her a bit of "extra" time enticing her to be more playful. She took to the clicker amazingly well.

Tuffy and Trouble exchange a few secrets.

The tri colored boys are the monster kids. Both are extremely biddable. Tri-pod who was quite pushy at 4-5 weeks, has developed a soft side to him that I really like now. They are tough on each other, but all respect their elders and will avert their eyes when given a warning. I like to see that.

Tri-pod (still nameless) Come on Mel. He needs a name!

Tuffie playing ball with her sister, Fly

I can call all of the pups with a clicker and "puppy, puppy, puppy" to their night time kennel with a HUGE reward......MAMA Kilt. Kilt is still nursing them for a few minutes now and then.

Kilt with her tail up standing on her tip-toes gritting her teeth.

Champ still remains the quiet male, but he has a sense of humor about him. He is testing the waters. He is a funny bunny and I haven't a clue as to what I have chosen to remain with me. Won't it be fun to see how he turns out?

Champ, ready for some playtime

Clicking the pups

2012-01-30T04:55:00.000-08:00

I see I am blogless for tomorrow. LOL
So, maybe while I have a few sips of wine after doing back to back 12's in DOU and ICU, I'll tell you what we have been doing with the pups.

Click/treat Click/treat Click/treat Yep, that's what we have been doing. We are creating food driven maniacs. We basically started with just a click followed by a treat. They never flinched at the click. Funny thing, for the first few 3-4 days in their 5th week, they couldn't find the food you were holding in your fingers. They were like baby birds holding their mouths open waiting for the mama bird to put the food in!
Tomorrow (Monday) they will be 6 weeks of age. They are catching on now. They are frantically looking for the treat. Of course, we only use the best of treats....chicken! We call them and as soon as they turn towards the voice calling them, they are clicked and treated. They are good for only a few minutes.

I really missed them this weekend, but visited them individually when I arrived home from work after 8 pm.
I can't wait to play with them tomorrow. While I was at work today, Melodie and John Sudick came over and played with them. Mel and Wayne did some clicker recalls with them.

Plus, the other day, Wayne took the pups in their first crate ride in his truck. He had to go to Lockheed to work for 4 hours while I was working at the hospital. He was worried he wouldn't be able to feed them lunch on time. So, he took all their lunch fixings and ALL 5 pups to work with him. He fed them in his truck at work. Nobody got car sick, but I heard that Champ was a little bit foamy at the mouth. :0) Okay, first truck ride out of the way.

Tomorrow, I will put a tunnel out in the back yard for them and find them some fun stuff for them to check out. They are getting very curious. It's just difficult at times to get the other FIVE adults away and out of the action. Everyone wants to be in the spotlight. At night when we are clicking and treating in the house, the other adults are quarantined to the kitchen. Since all of them wanted to visit with Mel and John, they eventually all had to put in one of the kennels. It's too much of a madhouse with 5 adults and 5 pups all running around together!

If I don't answer the phone, just leave a message. I'm outside playing with the puppies!

AHBA Ranch Trial

2012-01-29T04:02:00.000-08:00

1st place, Jet 96 1/2 2nd place, Yoko 94

(both pictured looking for more sheep)

I got up early and did all of my chores including cleaning the sheep barn, cleaning the dog yard, feeding the pups, playing with the pups, put everyone where they needed to be and called to Jet and Yoko to get in the truck. Kilt was really miffed, but she still needs to stay with her pups.

And, with Kilt not in the competition it gave Jet and Yoko a chance to come out on top :0) Thankfully, it was a local ranch trial, so I knew I would be home by early afternoon for the pup's second feeding. This was the best ranch trial yet. It had 13 elements to the course and we were up against some fine competition.

I figured old Jet should come and redeem himself for Wayne's showing of him in the time and fault trial a week ago at the club's play day. Redeem himself, he did. He was right on. Finesse and as smooth as silk. There is nothing like running an old dog with that much experience. I loved it when a sheep challenged him on the course and then again at the stock trailer. He loaded them in with patience and just the right amount of pressure. When he jumped in the stock trailer to bring them out he nailed the black faced sheep that had been challenging him right on the nose. And, he did it when the judge couldn't see it. The rest of the course, his sheep worked for him as easy as taking candy from a baby. That's wisdom.

Yoko did a pretty nice job, too. I told her my objective for her was slow and steady and no gripping. We almost accomplished my wishes. When she brought them out of the take pen she got a "What are you thinking" from me when she did a fly by. Everything was smooth until the stock trailer where one of the freckled faced ewes ready to lamb stood her off only for a second or two. But, it was enough to make Yoko mad. When she jumped into the stock trailer to take them out, she gripped that ewe outside of the trailer right where the judge COULD see her. LOL She got another "What are you doing?" from me. Then the rest of her course was as smooth as silk. Funny, how the dogs know who they need to put in line to make the rest of their work easier for them.

It was a nice break for me and my dogs. Next time, Kilt will be able to come along. She actually looks like she may have gained a pound. Two weeks ago, I could count her every rib. And, she has been eating three very healthy meals a day. But, she is in good condition, because Kilt is never still. When she is outside, she is doing a steady trot around the yard. She is not a bitch to lie around and rest. She has unbelievable stamina. That is just one of the qualities I love about her. I missed not trialing her, but she would tell you, and me, too....she probably would have beat both Jet and Yoko! But, don't tell them that. :0)

TV time

2012-01-28T04:42:00.000-08:00

All of the pups have been coming in at night for a little one on one TV time with us. They are now getting their last feeding at 9-10 pm and sleep through the night in their dogloo outside. I get up at 6-7 AM to feed them breakfast. They get 2 more meals during the day. Kilt is still nursing them about 3-4 times a day (for short intervals) because they are so rough. Kilt is a five star mom.

Viv titled this "A lick and a promise"

How sweet.

Kilt loving her daughter (Dorothy's Tuffie)

Note to Dorothy Tierney-Dunlap who will be the new owner of Tuffie. This pup is a tugging fool. Of course, when she tugs she GROWLS the whole time. I think you better call her Tuff!

Melodie's boy (Tri-pod) enjoys a new toy

Melodie Sudick....you best put on your running shoes. This pup weighs in at 8 lbs. at 5 1/2 weeks. He is a tugging maniac and he is the FIRST to be totally fascinated with the sheep!

Wayne and Champ hugging

Thank-you Wayne for not fussing about having six dogs. I know you love that little snuggler.

What's another dog when you have five. Though, I do promise to spay Kilt in another 3-4 months. :0)

Our last babies and our last baby. Promise.

Dr. Pam's Fly watching American Idol

Pam Mueller DVM you will have your hands full with Kilt's Mini-me. This little gal is on the go and has no fear. If I were to pick any one of the pups to fly across country, I know "Fly" will do just fine. She is going to be an EAST coast girl! She will have SPEED...but will you be able to keep up with her?

Laura's Rumble, the big tail wagger of the group.

Dear Laura Jones, I hope you will love Rumble as much as I do. He has a recall clear across the yard at 5 weeks. He has FOCUS, looking directly into your eyes. He is going to keep you busy. There is "special" written all over this big boy.

I told you. I'm going to need an anti-depressant when I let these pups go to their new homes. I get teary eyed even thinking about it. I have had so much fun with all of them. They have been such easy keepers.

Friends

2012-01-27T04:07:00.000-08:00

We've got a lot to learn from our dogs.

Champ "testing the waters" with old Xena

We are very lucky. ALL of our dogs, no matter what breed, are extremely tolerant of the little ones. Plus, they are fabulous "mentors." It only took a few gruffs at the pups from Xena to teach them

that she didn't really care for their shenanigans. They all understood. When Xena is sunning, don't pull her ears or bite her tail. Let sleeping dogs lie.

This is the dog that changed my life

Jet

Trouble and the kids

2012-01-26T04:51:00.000-08:00

Trouble liking Rumble paying attention to her

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XWaW4ESk4Q&list=UUKovZiBJw-minsOUOAtMKsg&index=2&feature=plcp

The heathens are warm in their dogloo. They have two snuggle safe heat discs in their blankie making it super toasty all day plus a furniture pad over the top of dogloo to keep any cold breeze out. They drag their toys in there to play with....

I open the kennel gate having them eat outside of the kennel so they don't get cedar shavings in their dinner. They are eating Solid Gold puppy chow now mixed with a little goat yogurt, goat milk and a bit of hamburger. They don't leave anything.

Trouble being mobbed by the pups. They like her and her new winter coat.

Giddy up Troubie. Trouble is NOT amused.

Okay gang, let's remember who the adult is here.

I love you Trouble. "Thank-you, but.......

"As soon as you guys are 6 weeks of age, I'm gonna kick your asses!"

The DIFFICULT part

2012-01-25T04:06:00.000-08:00

The difficult part is not really raising the puppies, but deciding where each pup should go. That's why I don't like to breed. There are tons of pups and older dogs out there that need to be rescued. I really think two litters is enough for me! Can you tell that I was a "population zero" girl from the 60's and 70's? I have one son. Period. Even though it was my dream to have 6 sons. I have always been worried about future generations and the exploding people population. I'm also, worried about the over populated dog industry. Silly, maybe, but it's just me.

I try very hard to match the right pup with the right person. Obviously, I can't do it by working ability. They are too young for anyone to know. We will all have to rely on the parent's genetics. But, I do try to match puppy personality and overall eye appealing. What do I mean by that? Well, the big tri boy (Tri-pod) is very confident and stands up for himself. I put him with my girlfriend who has a "pushy' German Shepherd bitch. The pup that stole my heart (Rumble) I am placing with a 'world team member' agility gal. He is biddable, handsome, and outgoing. I expect to see him in the limelight with lots of photos taken. The 3rd male, the short, stubby, slinky, only pup not a raven black in color, smooth coated male with the shorter tail than the rest, I am holding onto for myself. Why did I choose him? Not for looks. haha Because, Wayne and I just have a "feeling." I'm only interested in stock dog work. I'm hoping this is Suzy's Hap reincarnated (Buzz's sire). He's a bit quiet now, but that will change with age.

Walk-Up Champ

You can see why he was originally named Diamond boy. The diamond on the top of his head is now fading.

But, he still reminds me of a little boxer (fighter), hence, the name, Champ.

The girls are as different as night and day. The boys are fairly similar in personalities. The Mini-me girl is similar to Kilt. She is very independent and of slight build like her mother. I am placing her with a Veterinarian back east who has always loved Kilt and wants a very fast, outgoing bitch. She will be doing agility and some stock work. Her name will be Fly.

The other female has a rough coat, beautiful build, but a bit of a different personality. She can be outgoing, but is slightly tentative to new situations. She may need more socialization than her sister. She will be local with a stock dog person. It will be nice to be able to watch her grow up.

So you see, folks...it's not an easy task...breeding. I love them all and it's pretty much a "crap shoot" as to how they will turn out as adults. A lot depends on how they are handled as they are growing up. And, of course, genetics plays a big role, too. That's why I try to expose them to as many new situations, sights, and sounds as I can while they are here with me. It's a full time job!

AVSC Play day

2012-01-24T04:51:00.000-08:00

A blustery (you can see by the chairs turned over) cold (low 40's), rainy off and on day for the Antelope Valley Stockdog Play Day. That's Bryan White and Scoop awaiting their turn at the time and fault trial.

Terry's trailer on the left and my trailer on the right. Wayne brought the trailer over the night before so I could get a night's rest away from the pups. I slept through 60 mph gusts just like a baby. I must have slept 9 hours with Jet and Yoko keeping me company.

0830 Melodie and I sharing some coffee in the trailer where it is warm.

See everyone out there in the rain?

We welcomed everyone into the trailer to warm up. I laid tarps over the carpet. There were 3 arenas and a field with stock to work, so all braved the elements to get in some stockwork.

Wayne and Jet being good sports for entering the time and fault trial. 8 obstacles. Time limit of 7 min. You had to attempt all 8 obstacles to qualify. You couldn't do any back to back obstacles. But, you could do as many as you could do in the 7 minutes allowed. Wow....Jet was on fire. He had to be because Wayne gave him so many strings of wrong commands I could hardly watch. LOL Jet tried to obey everything he said. Jet is worth his weight in gold. I'm not sure what Wayne is worth his weight in.....

Scoop taking the sheep through the Z chute. Besides a Z chute, there was a hold pen, an open L chute, a maltese cross, Y chute, a stock trailer to load and unload, crossdrive panels and a set of 4 weave poles.

Sally and Ms. Babe doing a damn nice job loading sheep in the stock trailer.

Stacie and Molly....next up.

Chili time. Everyone came in for a hot bowl of chili and then we rotated them outside so the new group could have chili and get warm. Glad we brought the trailer! It was lots of fun.

Melodie's Ty working goats.

Beth and Hula making the maltese cross look easy

Wayne and the guys shooting the shit (what's new)

Look! Finally, blue skies in the late afternoon.

Adding fuel to the burn barrel.....Brrrrrr, but we all had lots of FUN!

Mike Burks designed the time and fault trial which proved to be challenging and fun. Kyle Trumbal won the cash prize. Yoko and I entered. Yoko took a wrong flank at the open L that cost us and she had a stupid group of sheep with a high headed white one that was ready to lamb. She wasn't happy about loading in the stock trailer. Yoko got to rock and roll and "heel" them in. That was a ton of fun for her and for me.

Hodge-podge

2012-01-23T04:46:00.000-08:00

The boys posed for me when I got off work :0)

4 weeks, 6 days old

Champ, Rumble, and Trip

Mini-me

Kilt's look-a-like daughter. She is built slender like her mother. If she has the "speed" of her mother, she will be a blazer!

Tuffie

Tuffie doesn't have the angular head of the other pups. She has a softer rounded topskull with a deeper stop. I will be interested in seeing what she looks like as an adult. She sure is a cutie, but different from the others.

Yoko unloading the sheep

2012-01-22T04:39:00.000-08:00

I have seven great ewes now. Four Dorpers and three Barbados.

They have been wonderful to trailer out to the desert. Not too light, not too heavy. Plus, with the Barbs in the group, they shed easily. And, now without the big wether with them, they don't try to run you over to get back together in a group. Not too hot, not too cold....just right. :0)

I wish I had a tenth of the MUSCLE that Yoko has...She is like a body builder.

Plus, seven sheep is easy on our feed bill. I have very little space to work them on our mountain top. I can work them in the riding arena and graze them on the hillside. But, mostly they are for trailering out to the desert in the winter months. They have a pretty good life.

Walk-Up Yoko

Yoko has discovered that if she runs around the puppy kennel they will chase her from on the inside. Things are getting fun around here!

Yoko meets the pups

2012-01-21T04:24:00.000-08:00

Rumble gives Yoko his "stink-eye"

This was the pups first day outside of their kennel. Yoko was a bit excited at first, but she settled down pretty quickly. She allowed the 4 1/2 old pups to crawl over her back, kiss her ears, pull her fur, etc. I was impressed to say the least!

Yoko says hi to Tri-pod

Mini-me says hi to Jet

Good girlie Yoko

Bad to the Bone

2012-01-20T04:09:00.000-08:00

Not really :0) Today was such a lovely day outside that I moved the puppies to a kennel further away from the house. This will give them more room to explore. Kilt came and nursed them on the dog bed to make them feel welcomed and then barked at me to let her out of there! There is a coolaroo in the kennel that they are having fun with going under and over. They have their first water bowl which Wayne will take out as soon as he gets home. Why? Because he will be sure they will drown in it. It's a spill proof water bowl and I give them more credit than my husband. It's only a few inches deep. I have a sheepskin rug and a large pail of water on TOP of the dog house for Kilt. She needs to be able to get away from the puppies when she needs some peace and quiet. The pups have a better view of the dog yard watching the other dogs play, plus, they can look down on the sheep. Come five o'clock the sheep will come to them. They come to the top fence to let me know they want to be fed. :0) That ought to be an exciting event for them!

I only wish I could get a good night's sleep like Tri-pod.

Pups are now eating moistened Solid Gold puppy chow with goat milk and water. We are cutting way back on the rice cereal now. Their teeth are in and they are using them! I'm hoping my 'hot discs' show up by UPS today, so I can start leaving the pups out during the night. I can't even go to the bathroom tip-toeing back in the bedroom WITHOUT five sets of PEEPERS staring at me. It makes me laugh every time. But, then it takes another half hour to get them to settle.

Happy Birthday to me! And, Yoko.

2012-01-19T04:34:00.000-08:00

I'll have a beer on that note! Yoko, wanna cookie?

4 week old pups

2012-01-18T04:24:00.000-08:00

A few ramblings this morning. Pups are 4 weeks, 2 days as I write this. They are getting way too active to be in a whelping box at night in our bedroom. They sleep a couple of hours and then they are up playing for 30 min. ALL night long. Kilt has been the BEST mother ever. Her mother and sisters are the same way. Five pups are perfect. If she had double that size, it would have killed us both ;0)

Jennifer Clark-Ewers suggested I get some heat discs for the pups and get them out of the house. I have been worried because the nights have been in the 20's. I just ordered 2 of them from Valley Vet Supply,
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=e53aaf66-347a-4789-afcc-5d6fa77ed8b6

They say to pop them in the microwave and then put in the pups bedding and they will keep everything toasty for some 10 hours. I ordered TWO, because Trouble would like to have one. She has to wear a coat indoors during the winter. We keep our house at about 60 degrees. Propane is just too expensive, plus, I'm a firm believer cold is better on your health than hot.

I hear that the little heathens are up. Time to make them breakfast!

The "Montessori" kids

2012-01-17T04:41:00.000-08:00

Oh my. The little heathens are 4 weeks old today. Where does the time go? I call them my 'Montessori' kids. They seem to have a jump-start on everything they do.

Tri-pod 'Leave me alone. I'm trying to sleep'

Handsome Rumble

Mini-me

Tuffie

Diamond boy...here's my smooth coat puppy (I can tell now)

No rest for the weary NOW. These guys and gals are on the move. They are eating 4 meals per day of their gruel and organ meat.

Tasty, eh?

They nurse on Mom about every 3 hours. Kilt has decided standing is better than lying down at this point. They are just too big. They are hanging off of her catching a meal as she goes by. When I told Kilt to lie down to let them nurse; if looks could kill! I got a look from her this morning that clearly said, "You lie down and see how you like it." I am keeping my mouth closed now. Mother knows best.

It pays to be tall (Tri-pod)

Kilt has also decided that the other dogs may come in our bedroom at night. I'm sure she is thinking...please, you and you take care of them. Just give me some rest. I'm thinking the same thing. LOL The pups are still brought in at night, since it is in the high 20's and low 30's outside.

Yoko and Jet are thinking that the pups are eating better than they are...

They would probably be thinking correctly.

They have cedar shavings and an igloo in their chain link kennel outside for during the day. They are sheltered from the elements. Even if they cuddle together in their igloo they still can listen to chain saws, barking, cows, sirens, etc. Welcome to your new world. When they are 5-6 weeks of age, I will transfer them to the kennel that overlooks the sheep pen. They can look down at the woolies. :0) Also, when they get to that age they can follow me out to the agility arena when Wayne is home to help keep track of them. They are never out alone, because we have predators here on the mountain. They are always supervised or in topped kennels.

Jet, the kindest dog on earth LOVES the puppies, EXCEPT when they try to nurse...you know where!

I brought home a cheapie hospital brush last night and gave them their first grooming. They loved it. I keep putting new toys in the box for them to play with when they are inside. They like to tug and roll the balls with their noses. I gave them a toy Trouble owns that is a battery operated. It is a hard ball with a fur tail. Tri-Pod (the big male) loves this toy. He is always grabbing the fur tail as it rolls by and dragging it off to his corner. I have made them cardboard wobble boards (Buja boards) to romp on; anything I can think of to give them new experiences.

Tri-Pod with his favorite toy

Puppy Jail 4 weeks old today

I'm still amazed at my "accidental" finding. I put a hospital chux (blue pee pad) in the box one day when I was washing their rug. They all went to the chux to pee. So, now, I keep one blue chux in the whelping box in the corner at all times. The majority ALL go to the pad to pee. Now how cool is that? It doesn't take much to make my day :0)

The other neat thing about these pups is that no one has had ANY diarrhea. Not even with worming them. Can't say the same for their mother, but the pups have all had soft, pasty, formed stools. That really helps with the clean-up.

Kilt taking a break while I feed the sheep and clean their barn. Kilt is still eating 3-4 meals per day. I think she may be putting back on some weight.

Today, I may have to go out to their kennel (somebody force me, twist my arm... hahaha) and introduce them to a clicker. This place will be way too quiet when they leave for their new homes. I may have to go on an anti-depressant. Not...just kidding. I am having so much fun with them. I'm still debating over whether to keep one or not. Everyone is telling me I would be a fool not to keep a pup. But, I don't want to upset the applecart. I have 5 wonderful dogs. That's a lot to care for, especially with 3 that are aging. ELDER CARE in progress. I should put a note on the door like my brother did for Pop. Elder care in progress. Please don't knock. Call such and such. Hahaha

Puppy breath...Y'all come back now :0)

Dementia

2012-01-16T04:43:00.000-08:00

There are many forms of dementia...mild, moderate, and severe. My father had moderate to severe dementia. He could still recognize us even if he couldn't say our names 'all' of the time. Sometimes he even forgot who he was or where he was. BUT, he was happy. Happy to be alive and gracious (most of the time.)
Once in awhile he would forget to open his eyes and frantically call out, "I'm blind. I can't see!" All Jim had to ask him was, "What time is it, Daddy?" He would look at his watch and say, "A quarter past 10." LOL

He wasn't able to tell you where he felt bad. Quite frankly his short term memory loss was severe. He wouldn't remember something moments after you told him. Once in awhile he would have a flash back and remember names and people. That was cool. Just when you would least expect it.

He would ask a zillion times when he went in the car where he was going. It was worse than a toddler. Jim and Linda made him flash cards. They would put, for example, 'Going to the doctor.' When Pop would ask, he would be told to look at his flash card. That worked well for them.

The doctors sometimes would make Pop wait a long time to see them. That is NOT a good thing with a dementia patient. They can't remember why they are there. It makes them anxious. I wish doctors were more aware. Jim made them aware. And, those that didn't seem to care, well, Dad never went back to see them. If any health care provider talked to Dad without respect thinking he wouldn't know what he was saying...bye-bye doctor. There is nothing more distasteful than lack of respect.

Linda and Jim did everything for Pop. His meals were placed before him. If he didn't like certain foods, he would be offered something else. His taste buds seemed to change all the time. For awhile he would like one type of food and then he would dislike it. Thankfully, he always liked his chocolate Ensure.

His clothes would be laid out for him and his shower days scheduled with assist. He wasn't able to use the roll on deodorant, but he could do the spray deodorant by himself. He had podiatry appts.monthly and we kept his fingernails trimmed and manicured.

There was a note on the front door that said, "Please don't knock. Elder care in progress." It gave a phone number to call. Pop liked to answer the door. He might let anyone in the house with a good story!

They never could watch a movie all together, because Pop couldn't stay with the story line more than a minute. So, when we all got together we would watch Funniest Home Videos. Dad liked that. He also liked the nature channels. One time we watched a Grand Prix jumping event from Palm Springs on TV. It triggered lots of old memories of me showing my horses when Dad would be rooting me on as my greatest fan. He yelled out, "Lookie here judge." "That rider has a deep seat and a far away look." I remember grinning with delight. I had my Pop back, even for just a few moments.

Jim always made sure Dad had money in his wallet. He wanted him to have a feeling of self-worth. When Jim would order food from a restaurant, Pop would hand a $5 or $10 dollar bill to help out. It made him feel like he was contributing. He most surely was. He will never know how much! I think we all became better people for making the last of his life as pleasurable as possible.
Pop was well taken care of, that's for sure. I have tried to teach my son and grandson that the greatest gift they can give back to their parents and grandparents is respect. Honor them in their old age. It was our privilege to care for our father.

My brother Jim, me, and Pop

Bill Bew, 94, passed away on January 8, 2012 at Treasure Coast Hospice in Stuart, Florida.

Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, he previously had resided in Canyon Country, California before relocating to Sewall's Point 22 years ago.
Mr. Bew graduated from Duke University where he met his wife Betty. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.
Mr. Bew was a Manager of Engineering for 35 years at Transworld Airlines.
He proudly served our country in World War II as an Army Air Corp Captain.
Mr. Bew was an officer, a gentleman, loving husband, and the greatest father ever.
He is lovingly survived by his son, James W. Bew III (Linda) of Sewall's Point, Florida; daughter, Suzanne de Merci Anaya (Wayne) of Green Valley, California; sister, Marie Ann Somers of Tarpon Springs, Florida; three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Betty and his brother, David.
There are no scheduled services at this time.
Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to Treasure Coast Hospice, 1201 SE Indian Street, Stuart, FL 34997.

Tough girls

2012-01-15T04:32:00.000-08:00

Everyday I try to give them something different and new to play with. So far, they have shown no fear to anything I give to them. They love to climb on stuff. The boys remain fairly laid back. Can't say that about the girls though. :0)

Someone asked me what we feed the pups? This is week 3 and they are VERY excited about their 3 or 4 meals per day. They receive rice cereal with water added, goats milk, and goat yogurt. They digest the goat products wonderfully. They get an occasional egg yolk and a couple of tablespoons of ground organ meat.
Next week when they are 4 weeks of age we will introduce Solid Gold puppy chow into the mixture. By the time they are 5 weeks or so they can free feed on puppy chow.

I just wormed Kilt today. I bet she barely weighs 30# Her fighting weight is 34# The pups will get wormed tonight and have their toenails trimmed for the third time. Normally, around here, I don't worm anyone, anytime, after a year of age, unless I see just cause to do so. No need to...all are healthy. But, with mama and pups, it's almost a necessity. Even if the mother does not have worms, it is likely she is carrying roundworm larvae in her tissues which can be passed to the pups ( that's why lots of pups have worms.) The pups will be wormed at 3 and 5 weeks. I will wait till 6 weeks to vaccinate. I didn't CERF my last litter. I may CERF this litter if I have the time. Buzz is DNA clear and Kilt has a CERF from a few years back. I believe the CERF certifications are good only for a year if I remember correctly.

I'm trying to work EVERY weekend, so I can be home during the week with the pups. That gives Wayne a break. I'll miss a few trials, fun things....but, all's well that ends well. :0)

The "TUFF" girls looking innocent on Trouble's living room couch.

Hospice Care

2012-01-14T04:44:00.000-08:00

I'm going to give you my take on Hospice care. Pop was placed on Hospice a few weeks before he passed away. He was starting to require more care than usual. He needed assist to the bathroom, he had some falls at home (even under the close scrutiny of my sister-in-law and Jim) He had moments when he wasn't himself, plus, his appetite was dwindling. All signs that the family needed help and "advise."

Hospice evaluated Pop and I, as his health care surrogate, signed him up. They brought in a hospital bed, wheelchair, raised toilet seat, oxygen (if needed), medications as needed, and a baby-like monitoring system put in place which came in handy for nighttime monitoring. Of course, I'm sure Jim and Linda didn't get much sleep listening to the monitor, but at least they knew when he would stir and be able to get to him before he got out of bed on his own. For awhile, Pop was doing pretty well on just a Tylenol #3 at night for pain. Why did he have pain? He had just finished 7 days of spot radiation for his skin cancer on his face. The radiation, even though only 45 seconds or so a day, knocked him for a loop. The tumor shrunk, but it had spread to the inside of his mouth into the salivary glands.That is when he had his first fall. That was the start of his "big" decline.

Pop's hospital bed overlooking the Indian River

One of the docs prescribed Ativan for him. This was to ease his anxiety. But, remember, Pop has dementia. The Ativan made him hallucinate and PICK at his face even more than normal. Some of the side of effects of Ativan are restlessness, inability to urinate, increased agitation, inability to sit still, etc. These are not normal everyday side effects, but with dementia patients you have to really careful what you prescribe.
Linda and Jim stopped the Ativan immediately. It seemed like a good idea, but it didn't work for Pop.

Nurses came to the house several times a week and evaluated how Dad was doing. They told Jim and Linda that their goal for Pop, who was an aeronautical engineer, was to make sure that when it was time for him to land the plane, that it would be as smooth as possible. Good on them. I like that.

Hospice didn't come without a glitch or two. Nothing in life comes absolutely perfect. There were a few bumps in the air. Fasten your seat belts. Several days before Dad was placed on in-patient Hospice care, the nurses didn't assess his level of anxiety correctly. If I had been there, we might have kept Dad at home. He needed some big time anti-anxiety medications and something stronger for discomfort. Dad was NOT able to tell you how he felt. The man NEVER complained. But, he did say he felt LOUSY and kept asking Jim if he was dying. He had pretty much stopped eating and Jim and Linda held his routine medications from him, because they were too difficult to get down him. These were RED flags, no doubt.

Harper Hospice House

Finally after some 48 hours of no sleep for anyone in the house, Pop was transferred to inpatient Hospice care. I called and spoke to Jim, then spoke to Linda, then spoke to the doctor, then spoke again to Linda. Easy assessment. TIME for me to come. Plus, I had a vision the night before that my Dad was calling me to help him. All of the women in my family back to my great grandmother have some psychic intuition or whatever you would like to call it. I have learned to LISTEN to it.

When I arrived, Pop looked almost comatose. It was a bit frightening, even to me, as a critical care nurse. And, upsetting, because I didn't know for sure that he knew I was there. We sat down with the Doctor, social workers, etc. and asked that the medications be administered on a PRN (as needed) basis instead of routinely. Hospice is (to me) like a "legalized" Dr. Kevorkian. Now, I'm not sure they would like me to make that analogy. But, I'm here to tell you folks....this is the way to go. They promised a quiet, safe, and smooth landing and that's what my father received. Hospice is NOT there to fix the patient; they are there to help the patient pass comfortably. They are there not only for the patient, but for the family. They are there to help the family understand the dying process. God Bless them.

No IV's, no oxygen, a urinary catheter to keep him from wetting himself, Roxinol (liquid Morphine) taken by syringe sublingually and Haldol (anti-psychotic/anti-anxiety drug,) also, taken by syringe inside his mouth.
We held the Ativan. They normally would use that drug, also. He was turned every few hours and Linda and I would do his mouth care. Towards the very end they administered a few drops of Atropine to help dry any secretions.

Pop woke up the next morning. He smiled at me and gave me his normal "Thank-you" when I told him he was the world's best father. We showed him an old picture of my Mom. He took the photo and clasped it to his heart. He had his Duke University hat right next to him. He never went out without it. The Doctor came into assess him and he kicked the Doc out of his room (My most favorite part other than putting Mom's picture to his heart). He said, "I want you OUT of my house and OUT of my house now." The Doc left. :0)

We gave him another dose of Roxinol, turned on some Big Band swing music that he so loved and he landed his plane without a single bump! He just stopped breathing as I held his hand. Folks...it doesn't get any better than that when it is your time to go. Big thanks to Hospice. And, I will never be able to THANK my sister-in-law and brother enough for caring for Pop for the last 3 years in his own home. God Bless them.

Rest in Peace, Pop

Tell me Thursday

2012-01-13T08:58:00.000-08:00

Allrighty then. This week's questions:
http://blogs.dogtime.com/crooks-and-crazies

1. Stopping your dog - what do you prefer? On their feet? On their belly? Some combination?
I like to allow the dog to choose what is best for them. Personally, I like to see a dog on his feet. But, if the dog has a lot of PUSH (like Kilt) a stop on her belly is best. Less pushy dogs like Jet and Yoko, I prefer them to stand on their feet. It looks prettier and is less likely to spook sheep going from a belly flat down to walking up. Old Jet will tell you that stopping on his feet going on 12 yrs. of age is a heck of a sight better on his old bones.

2. At what point do you start teaching this?
As soon as they are able to compute it. Most of my dogs are reliable on a sit/stand/down by 4 mos. of age.
I always teach my pups early. If I waited till I put them on sheep to teach them, my household would be a pretty unruly place.

3. Do you have a favorite dog? I won't tell.
Don't tell old Jet and his daughter Yoko, that KILT is my favorite dog to work on stock. Why? Because she is an independent thinker and takes no shit from any livestock. Jet is my favorite dog to travel with. Yoko gives the best hugs in the world. Trouble doesn't take up any space. And, 13 yr. od Xena has the BEST personality of the bunch. She is just happy to be alive everyday.

4. What is the #1 thing a dog can do to push your buttons?
Without a doubt...manic barking. I don't allow it. I won't stand for it. My dogs best be able to lie quietly, off lead, and wait their turn to work stock. Period.
Yoko is a bit incessant looking for cattle from the truck. That is starting to get real annoying. If she annoys me enough, I make her get in a crate.
Jet does quite a bit of singing in the morning before I have my coffee. I'm not real keen on that. Shhhhh!
If it is raining or snowing Trouble (my JRT) will pee in the kitchen on our rug. BAD, small dogs. Love her to death, but she will be our last small dog.

5. Brrrrr... it's winter. What is your favorite soup recipe?
I sure as heck don't make my own soup especially when I can go to Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. The other day I made beef stroganoff in the crock pot. Geez...that was the first time I have really cooked in a long time! Who has time when there are so many other FUN things to do?

First day outside

2012-01-13T04:19:00.000-08:00

Everybody OUT! Trouble is finally one step closer to playing with the hellions. They were happy to get out of our bedroom. New places to explore. Kilt was a wee bit protective, but she will get over that. Pretty soon she will be glad for the babysitters.

I decided to sit down inside their kennel in the cedar shavings.

Whoa.....they came at a full run.

This little girl (Tuffie) is hard for me to get a picture of...she is always on the go. Here she is with her "oatmeal" face.

I'm guessing rough coat, prick ears.

Rumble and Diamond boy. Rumble was the first one to crawl up me as soon as I sat down. I think he was the most worried about his new environment.

First outside picnic!

Awwwww...cuteness award. Asleep (almost) in my lap.

Do I know who has a rough coat versus a smooth coat? Nope. Tri-pod, the biggest male, has the longest ears. Diamond boy, has a bit shorter tail than the others. Diamond boy and mini-me have the most beautiful heads. Rumble has brindle-like coloring on his back legs. Tuffie is the most independent. Of course, this may all change next week. All are about 4 lbs. and a couple of the males are 4 lbs. plus. I'm thinking maybe....a big maybe here....that the girls are the rough coats. Still too soon to know :0)

Good to be home

2012-01-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

Look at the 3 week old monster kids (speckled with oatmeal gruel)

The pups are so big now, Kilt has to lift front and back legs to accommodate them at the milk bar.

Jet's pups were ladies and gents; Buzz's pups are little heathens!

Kudos to my husband, Wayne. It hasn't been easy with me in Florida. He started back to work and would have to leave work at lunch time to come home and feed Kilt and the puppies. He still gets up in the middle of the night to feed Kilt and make the 4:30 AM gruel for the puppies. He told me he has them on a schedule. He has a bit more OCD than I have. LOL But, God Bless him. He is doing a wonderful job.

They are tearing up the place. Pictured is their biscuit tunnel :0)

They were already climbing out of the whelping box at 2 weeks. Now as soon as they hear us or smell Mom they go nuts. I will introduce them to the great outdoors today.

I think we are about done with our social time on our bed. The pups are way too fast now. They want to get out and explore. Are we going to keep one? I still don't know. Wayne and I are both in love with the same pup. Wayne calls him "Rum-Rum, Dum-Dum." He is an over achiever already offering his paw to shake. Geez...I'm trying hard not to take one. They all have lovely homes.

The "pigs"

Sheep down. The gals who want girls better be prepared.

These are TOUGH girls.

A New Chapter

2012-01-10T09:53:00.000-08:00

I woke up early to catch the sunrise over Captain's Cove. I didn't walk out to the end of the bulkhead where there is a stool to sit and fish. For some reason it seemed like it should be left empty. All of the surrealness of the last few days appeared to me as serene now. Big Blue was bobbin' in the shallows. A mother fox and her kits earlier were playing under the house. Ozzy AKA butterfingers, the clumsy Osprey was just starting to fish for breakfast. All was as it should be. Pop is where he should be....with my mother.
I think the biggest accomplishment in my life thus far was the birth of my son and that I was blessed to be holding the hands of my mother and father as they passed.
My brother, Jim and I drove over to All Saints Cemetary. I said a few words to Grandma and Grandpa who are buried there and then paid my respects to Mom and Dad. Even though Dad hasn't arrived, I'm sure he was there in spirit. There will be no service. There will be a small funeral when they place his urn beside Mom's.
Jim and I went down to the Beach House Restaurant on the water for a Bloody Mary. A man at the bar said, "You two are the best looking couple I've seen all day. I'm assuming you are a couple?" We let him know we were brother and sister. He laughed while saying that's why we looked so much alike. :0) From there we took a drive around the Jensen Beach causeway and fondly remembered all of the places we have grown to love.
One last trip to the house and now I'm at the Palm Beach airport, California bound. I look forward to seeing Wayne and the pups. I'm sure I will have more posts in the near future to help me reflect.
For now, I am moving on to the next chapter in my life....as it should be.

Kilt with the red ball

2012-01-10T02:59:00.000-08:00

Blk/white diamond boy in a cute pose. Look at his little foot on Mom's nose.

Snoozing on the bed.

Diamond boy again. Belly up to the bar, boys.

The most content litter ever

In memory......

2012-01-09T04:49:00.000-08:00

O CAPTAIN! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won.

Rest in Peace, Pop. 7/1/1917 - 01/10/2012
Captain in the Army Air Corp WW11
Graduate with a Masters Degree from Duke University
Aeronautical engineer with TWA
An officer, a gentleman, a loving husband, and the best father ever.

Pop passed listening to old time swing(Big Band)music that he loved as I held his hand and lightly laid my head on his chest. He knew I was there with him. When I told him how much I loved him he looked at me, smiled, and said "thank-you." I told him to dance right up that staircase to Heaven where Mom would be waiting for him. I know she will give him heck for taking sooo long to join her. It doesn't get any more peaceful than that. Godspeed Pop.

It's been a bit surreal. My heart is broken. I have lost my hero, my Pop.

Thank-you all for your kind words and support. I'm homeward bound. Suzanne

It's not easy....

2012-01-08T05:50:00.000-08:00

While sitting on the upstairs porch staring at the Indian river which is some 25 feet from where I am sitting, the tears began to flow. This is where my father would sit with me. Sometimes we would say nothing...just watch. We would love for some big amberjacks to splash against the cement cove water stirring up the bait fish and on occasion a couple of manatees would come into the cove much to our delight. I think tears are flowing out of selfishness. You can't imagine how much I look forward to sharing these special quiet moments with my father at my side. Oh, how I will miss looking forward to my trips to Florida.
Oh! What is that? OMG It's Klondike. I have heard lots about him, but I have never seen him. An otter appeared out of nowhere on the sidewalk next to the dock which is no more. The last big storm tore the dock piece by piece from the bulkhead. Wow! Klondike must be 50-70 pounds. He is huge. And, me without my camera. Jim has told me about him, but I have never seen him until this morning. I'm sure my deceased mother made that happen to take my mind off my grief for the moment. Thanks Mom.
Linda and I drove to hospice last night and checked on Dad before returning home to bed. His breathing was long and deep. He looked as comfortable as he possibly could. I could check inside his mouth with a flashlight while he was mouth breathing. The skin cancer had spread to his salivery glands and had left deep crators in his gum lines with pools of blood. Damn cancer. Who would have ever though skin cancer would be Pop's demise. Not me.
Big Blue heron is sitting on the neighbors dock and Great White is fishing out on the bulkhead point. These are all friends of the family.
Jim just arrived home. I think he went to bed at 7 pm last night. Stress had taken it's toll on him. He was over at the Hospice house at 6 am to see Pop. He had some private conversations with Daddy (as he calls him) while he slept peacefully.
I will shower after my second cup of coffee and go to see him.
Oh look....Ozzy, the clumsy Osprey is fishing. He has been a resident here for the last 6 months. He is always dropping his fish. One time Jim scooped out his dropped fish with a net and set it on the dock for him. He was appreciative. He circled for about 5 min. And then came and got his slippery catch. Now he does fly bys the porch with gratitide. :0)
An attitude of gratitude. That's how my father lived his life. Just like that, 62 years of my life is going to leave me. A huge part of my heart is breaking. The tears are flowing again. Bring it on God. Let him go peacefully. I don't know anyone I respect more than my father. Do him that justice, if you could, I pray thee.

Pop

2012-01-07T13:15:00.000-08:00

Pop is heavily medicated. I have shed a few tears. I have been at his side for the last 5 hours. And I think he had a glimmer of recognition. My brother, his wife, Linda and I sat down with the weekend Hospice physician doing rounds. I posed many questions and different scenarios. It was important to me that Jim and Linda as Dad's primary care givers understand what hospice has to offer and what they can't do.
It's hard to tell if Dad is in the dying process or if that he is just heavily medicated. He has an indwelling catheter in place. I asked that a urine culture be done. His routine medications were stopped a week ago. It is just too hard to get them down him anymore. I asked that his pain and anxiety medications be made PRN (on an as needed basis). Because, quite frankly I don't know if he is ever going to wake up. I would so like to have a last bit of a coversation with him AND know for sure that he knows I am here. Gosh, this is tough.
I did sign a form to turn off his internal difibrillator. His pacer will continue, but there is no need to be shocking Pop at this point if he has any arrhymias.
I'm not sure if Pop will get to return to home. At this moment of this writing, it would only make a difference to us, his family. He would not know. :0(
It's a combination of old age, skin cancer, and a failing heart. I know it is his time. But, it doesn't make it any easier. When he passes we will have lost an officer, a gentleman , and the world's greatest husband and father.

I should be in Florida by the time you read this.....

2012-01-07T03:07:00.000-08:00

I had a dream Thusday night that my father was not doing well. I hugged him and told him how much I loved him in my dream. I woke up at 6 am to take Kilt outside and told my husband, I have to call Florida. I decided to wait a couple of hours to make sure they were all up for the day. At 8 am (my time) my brother called and said Dad was not doing well. He couldn't give me an accurate history, but said, "We have been up some 40 hours with him. Hospice has assessed him and would like to take him by ambulance to their 12 bed hospice unit in town." I had Jim put the phone up to Pop. I asked him how he felt. He said, LOUSY." I could hear the stress in his voice. That sent red flags up for me. I told him I loved him and that he was the greatest father in the world. He replied, "Thank-you."

I made a few more cell phone calls (unanswered), but Jim and Linda were waiting for the MD's assessment of Pop. Plus, Pop was anxious about the new surroundings. Third call, Jim put the Doc on the phone. He said Pop's vital signs were fine, but his bladder was distended clear to his naval. I replied, "Catheterize him." The Doctor said, "We have to be careful catheterizing patients wih dementia. Plus, your father has been hallucinating the last 24 hrs." I tried to sound kind and patient, and asked the Doctor to please just do and in and out straight cath to give him relief. I told him I would be hallucinating, too...if I had to pee that badly. Geez....

Even though Jim and Linda sounded as if they didn't want me to fly out at this time, I feel it is a necessity. I want to meet the Hospice group managing my father. I'm not quite sure why an RN couldn't have palpated Dad's bladder and received an order to cath him right at the house to give him some relief. I don't know their protocols, but aim to find out. It disturbs me that he had to take an ambulance to a strange unit if it was just because he couldn't pee. It may be more than that. I'll have to assess the situation when I get there.

Hopefully, I can give Jim and Linda a little respite care. A hospice should have a bed for family at bedside, right? I'm planning on sleeping next to Dad. I certainly don't want him medicated if not necessary. He has moderate to severe dementia now. Plus, I can check out how everything is at his house. They have a hospital bed, wheel chair, high commode, etc. at the house now. They even have a baby monitoring system. It's kind of like having baby puppies around the clock you are listening to...my brother and his wife are saints!

I am coming home Tuesday night so I can get to work on Wed. morning. HA...I can do it. I've done it before and I can do it again. I was so worried about the pups, but Wayne has garanteed me he can take care of them. Bummer he starts back to work full time on Monday. He is out buying cedar shavings, fixing up their covered puppy run, buying puppy food, etc. etc. He will come home at noon time (hour round trip) to feed them and Kilt on his work days. He can feed them in the AM and again in the PM when he gets home. Thankfully, the weather forecast appears to be fairly nice for the next 5 days.

Hey, I only have ONE father. If I didn't go and something happened I would never forgive myself.

P.S. The pups can get out of the whelping box now and they aren't even 3 weeks of age. The little heathens. I got to give them their first meal last night before going to the airport. They had a little rice cereal, schmooshed puppy kibble, and goat yogurt. They licked the plate clean. :0)

Sixteen Days

2012-01-06T04:12:00.000-08:00

Poor Kiltster.....can't a mother get any rest around here?

All FIVE angels

Three amigos...two boys and a girl

I got lucky as these three pups started towards me at the same time. :0)

Last of the "daily" weights. They are all two pounds plus.

Interesting, that all of the pups like the sling. It must be very comforting. They all know Wayne. I swear he handles them more than I do. Wayne LOVES the puppies.

Kilt and Wayne thinking....finally, we get to sleep.

Kilt's not too spoiled ;0)

Do I have a favorite? Yup. Rumble.

He has an offset blaze and a bit of a different head than the others.

Should have I named him? Nope. :0(

Keeping busy while Kilt is with her puppies

2012-01-05T04:33:00.000-08:00

Pretty boring around here with Kilt upstairs nursing puppies (aliens). Thankfully, Yo's next best buddy besides her Mom is Trouble.

!3 year old Xena bean was feeling a bit left out. She got an early Christmas present.

Jet on day two says, "Hmmmmm These pups aren't MINE."

Jet is still the only dog with a carte blanche puppy pass to visit the pups.

Kilt is too smart...he is the only one, besides Xena (Lab) , with impeccable manners.

Okay, okay...I already heard from Suzy Applegate...What? After all this work? You are NOT keeping a puppy?

Come on people. I have FIVE dogs. THREE of them this year are 10, 12 and 14 yrs old. I adore my old dogs. I want to spend time with them.

As my friend, Melodie said, "It ain't over till it's over. We'll see.

ENJOY!

2012-01-04T04:10:00.000-08:00

OMG...don't let me take my camera up to the puppy room. Hard not to when it's your bedroom. :0) They are just so darn friggin' cute at 2 weeks of age now. They are sitting like real pups and barking. They are investigating new textures and sights. Their noses work well. As soon as Mom enters, everyone is on the full run now! Wayne is outside as we speak putting up the puppy kennel outside. Sometime around 3-4 weeks they will learn about the great outdoors. Hope we keep having this magnificent weather for them.

Mom, I see a sheep over there. (First born boy)

Go back to sleep little boy (I call him Rumble) I know..I know...I shouldn't name him.

But, Mom...wake up. Look!

Hi Mom, did you seee a sheep around here? (Kilt's mini me female)

They are up and about at 15 days getting used to new sounds, new textures, a few toys, and a box for a tunnel. They are getting more "hold" time and lots of snuggles.

Kilt watches as the smallest male creeps up on the sheep

Go to sleep Mom. I'm a sheepdog. I'll keep guard. (Diamond boy)

Tri-pod (largest male) investigates.

Wake up Mom! I saw a sheep!

That'll do daughter. There will plenty of time to work sheep later.

Getting pretty social

2012-01-03T12:25:00.000-08:00

A favorite photo. "Hi Mom. Are you awake? I am!"

The pups had their first planned social hour at 14 days of age. They received tummy rubs and lots of petting. They had their toenails trimmed for the second time in a week.

Melodie Sudick came for her second visit. First visit they were too small to really hold and enjoy. They welcomed the social hour today. It's gonna be a hard decision, Mel.

Oh, puppy kisses and sweet puppy breath!

We found the sweet spot on their chests to make them fiddle. They got lots of rubs, scratches, pets, and holding. They were pretty darn amiable.

Whelping needs

2012-01-03T04:51:00.000-08:00

I broke down and bought a digital thermometer. I was still in the dark ages with my glass thermometers. The digital thermometer made taking Kilt's temps so easy that Wayne did most of the temp taking :0)

Having a few micro-fiber towels for waxing cars (wax on/waxoff) turned out to be PURRFECT for whelping. The grip of these towels on a slippery pup trying to make it's entrance into this world was nothing short of fabulous. Wayne wasn't real thrilled, but Mel and I told him we would buy him a new package of them.
Forceps, dull scissors, and betadine. Last whelping Kilt had several of her pups on her own. We lost a stunning male due to a huge umbilical hernia to septicemia (blood infection). This litter I wasn't taking any chances. I cut all of the pups cords for her. Forceps at a half inch up from the pup, dull scissors to cut the cord on the placenta side. After they were all birthed, we used a Q-tip with betadine to swab each of the cords.
A chart to mark down which pup came first, times of delievery, and that each placenta was accounted for. Next time with an older bitch, I'd have some Oxytocin on hand (just in case). Kilt had a hard time delivering that last large male pup. She was tiring. Plus, if you take your dog to the vet's for a post whelp check up they are going to give her a shot of Oxytocin anyway to make sure she has expelled everything. I avoid the vet like the plague. It's a long ride from our mountain top to any vet and I hate to expose the Mom and pups to that environment.
Most bitches get diarrhea after whelping. I only let Kilt eat two of the placentas this time, but she still got raging diarrhea afterwards for days. I am treating her holistically with pumpkin, goat yogurt, and organic whole coconut flakes. There aren't too many meds you can give the bitch that don't flow right into the milk.
I asked Suzy Applegate about what to do for her diarrhea. She uses organic whole coconut flakes. We are tryng that this time. Kilt loves them. Day four and she still has some runs. But, no where near like day two.
Day seven her stools are firming up.

A cheap puppy scale. I bought the cheapest scale from Durawhelp. It's just a sling that weighs in ounces. The digital scales were more expensive. It is important to monitor the puppies weights. Kilt appeared to have little milk, so it is necessary to make sure the pups are gaining weight by day 3. They all lose a little birth weight on day 2. They should after day one/two to begin to gain a couple of ounces each day. That's why it is important to weigh them.

Fabulous meals for the bitch. We feed 3 small meals and one regular meal per day to Kilt. We offer a small bowl of water with low sodium beef or chicken broth every few hours just after whelping. We know she is going to get diarrhea, so we want to keep her hydrated. She gets one regular meal with the other dogs at night. The other 3 meals vary from a little cottage cheese and liver, chicken and rice, goat yogurt and canned pumpkin, etc.

When the pups start their gruel they will have goat milk and goat yogurt added to their rice cereal. They digest the goat products very well. It's expensive, though, unless you have your own goats!

Lots of cardboard boxes broken down. Say what? We use these under the rug in the whelping box. As soon as the pups get older, things are going to get WET in the box. The cardboard soaks up the liquid, is easily thrown away and replaced.

I'm sure lots of you that have had litters, have some special secrets you could share????

Trouble and the pups

2012-01-02T04:30:00.000-08:00

Trouble is very interested in the puppies

Wayne is afraid she thinks they are rats and will eat one

Trying to look from another angle

Wow..that big male would an excellent entree!

New Years Day

2012-01-01T03:51:00.000-08:00

Two newcomers on the ranch were less than thrilled with Yoko

This hearty gal did quite a bit of stomping.

One thing I have learned with Yoko is to give her time to think things through. She gives her sheep time to change their minds. She will walk them backwards a bit if they are confronting her allowing them to have a chance to turn. If they don't, she doesn't do a face bite unless in close quarters. She will grab a heel. As far as farm/ranch work goes, that is fine with me. Probably not a pretty picture on an ISDS course, but for ranch work, it's A-okay in my book. She is going to get the job done in the way she knows how. I can tell you from experience, sheep and goats do NOT like to have their pasterns bit. They will definitely get a move on. Yoko knows this will work for her with obstinate stock. Yoko may not have the style, eye, finesse, and drive, but she would be ANY farmer's delight.

Yo was on it. She had them covered.

It's been a dry winter as you can tell from this picture.

The other thing I have learned with Yoko this year is to stop her when she is doing something I don't like with a soft, "lie down." Normally I would use a GRUFF voice. It's just a habit. All that does is rattle Yoko mentally. This little girl doesn't have any quit in her, but if she gets rattled, she can't think straight. I am trying to be a little kinder with her. She is a nice blend of her dam and sire.

Yoko says, "Time for you two girls to join up with the rest of the flock."

Wayne helped me put things into perspective. If I had kept a pup from Kilt's litter I might not keep working as diligently with both Yoko and Kilt. He doesn't want me to give up on Kilt. We may be inconsistent because I haven't the keys needed or the experience needed to unlock some of the doors. We already know she has the talent. I have a lot more to learn from her and more training to do with Yoko. I am proud of the work I have done thus far. Onward and upward to a great 2012.

Happy New Year

May your dog be clever,

a terrific listener too

May the judge point

the other guy's faults

and never notice you.

May your draws be lucky

with exactly one

sheddable ewe.

May you take confidence

from your dog

and he the same with you.

And might be you'll spare

a kind thought this year

(as around the circuit you roam)

for those.....your neighbors,

kinfolks, and friends....

doing all the honest work at home.

Donald McCaig

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T04:27:00.000-08:00

I have decided to do only about 6 sheepdog trials this year. I will take both of my girls with me and Jet can travel as a mascot with us. Two trials will be out of state, since I do love to travel. I'm hoping to go to New Mexico and to Lacamas again this year. We will make it a family vacation to Lacamas in Wa. meaning Wayne will come too, and we will travel in the toy hauler.

My son won't be in WA. for us to visit this year since he will be deployed on a ship (FIRST time ever on a ship after 17 years in the Navy). He will be stationed in Japan. Since Wayne spent some time in Japan in the Marine Corps, I'd like to save some money for him to travel to Japan to visit Dustin. :0)

Oh, how I would love a new pup to train and especially a Kilt/Buzz pup, but I need to be realistic. I have 5 dogs and I want to spend more quality time with my older dogs. And, Wayne is right....I need to keep learning from my "girls." There is always more to learn and more to train with the dogs I have. Yoko will be 4 yrs. in January and Kilt is now 7 yrs. old. Plus, a few of Kilt's pups will be local and I will be able to monitor their progress. Kind of like having grandchildren. They always go back home to their parents. :0)

I'm hoping to buy a new Nissan Van this year and have Sportsmobile West trick it out a bit for me. I want it kept "simple." I am selling my 18 foot trailer. I don't care for pulling a trailer. A simple cargo van with a few small additions will be perfect for me.

Plus, I have two trips planned to see my father in Florida. One in March and hoping with fingers and toes crossed that he can make his 95th birthday, July 1st. Here's hoping :0)

I also have another fabulous 10 day WINE cruise in September planned that I am taking with a girlfriend. It starts out in Canada and ends up in San Diego. We have already received several upgrades. We now will be sipping wine on a "balcony." Now, that's way cool.

I'm still constantly cleaning and trying to get rid of "things." Things that I really don't really need anymore. Things that I have been hanging on to. Things that just seem to pile up. You know what I mean. It's a constant battle.

Family, good friends, good dogs, and GOOD HEALTH! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Jeepers Creepers

2011-12-30T04:05:00.000-08:00

Here is your puppy fix for today....

The girls just starting to open their peepers

The tri boys

Diamond head boy with a peeper open

We hope they get their mother's beautiful peepers :0)

This is my story (Part 1)

2011-12-29T04:03:00.000-08:00

Ben Breedlove was an Austin teenager who had a popular YouTube channel ("OurAdvice4You") where he gave dating advice to viewers. He also had a life-threatening heart condition he fought every day growing up.

The brave 18-year-old lost his life on Christmas night from a heart attack. The week before, he recorded the below videos where he shared his feelings about death, after "cheating" it three times.

He also shared a vision that came to him when the paramedics were reviving him at his school: he stood in a white room, wearing a suit, and was joined by his favorite rapper, Kid Cudi.

"I then looked in the mirror, I was proud of myself of my entire life, everything I have done. It was the BEST feeling," he wrote.

Cudi posted the following message on his blog in response to the news of Breedlove's death: "I am so sad about Ben Breedlove. I watched the video he left for the world to see, and him seeing me in detail, in his vision really warmed my heart. I broke down... To Ben’s family, you raised a real hero, he’s definitely mine. You have my love."

Pretty POWERFUL.

One week old pups

2011-12-28T04:45:00.000-08:00

I really have to study the pups to know who is who in the zoo!

Wayne has been a great help. He monitored Kilt's temp before her due date. He made her whelping box. Now, he monitors the puppies weights daily and I keep track of them on a written log. They all have gained a couple of ounces every day. Some more; no one less.

Girl - KK's (mini me)

Girl - (hill dog)

Boy - tri color (Tri-pod)

Boy - smallest (Diamond head)

Boy - tri color, (first born)

Next time I will hold all 3 boys up together and the 2 girls up together. I believe both the girls are blk/white and the smallest boy is blk/white. The two big boys are tri colors. I hope I have that right!

We are having so much fun watching them grow! Sure glad there are only five, because where would you put any more than that? Can you imagine what they will be like at TWO weeks of age?

My grandson

2011-12-27T04:29:00.000-08:00

Dustin and his fiancee, Jenee, flew in from Texas over the Holidays. They came to visit us the day after Christmas. Dustin is stationed in San Antonio, Texas at the moment while he is in school with the Navy studying radiology. He loves it. :0)

The dogs went absolutely NUTS when they finally realized it was Dustin who came to visit. We sat around having a few beers and some ham sandwiches for lunch. Then we visited the sheep and let them out on the property a bit. Next, we strolled the old dogs around the property and below it for a bit of a walk. The weather was sunny and in the 70's. AWESOME.

Wayne went down to the RV to get some more chairs while we sat around in my observation point and chatted. I'm glad I had suntan lotion on. It was downright hot.

This is my hammock. I love to come here and meditate while looking down San Francisquito Canyon.

I took this picture of Wayne from my hammock looking down the canyon.

Wayne...he's good at making everyone LAUGH!

We didn't have time to do any big hikes :0(...since they were expected for dinner at Dustin's mom's house. I miss him already. I am so very proud of him and I'm so very happy that he is HAPPY. He is such a bright young man with a great future ahead of him. And, that's not just his grandma talking. He's just a super person!

The wild bunch

2011-12-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

Yep, that's what I call them. This is a happy, healthy bunch of pups. Glad there were only five! From day one they have been all over the box. Honest to God, today they will be a week old and they are trying to walk. They are everywhere in the whelping box. Kilt is constantly trying to regroup them until she tires of "counting" to five over and over again. And, yes, she does count.

I know Kilt...this is hard work. Us Moms' know all about it.

Up and over Mom's back

Tuck and ROLL

Pic taken on day two. Life is Good. Kilt's "mini me" daughter.

Do I have a favorite you ask? Oh yeah. I have a favorite boy and a favorite girl.

This is my favorite girl. You can't see it in this picture, but she has a hairline blaze. Agility champion in the making. She is a "hill" dog for sure.

My favorite male. Kilt monitoring his sleeping habits; half on her back and half on the pig rail.

First born tri male.....LOVE.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T04:55:00.000-08:00

Along with 4 best buds and 5 little aliens.

Politically correct Santa

2011-12-24T04:53:00.000-08:00

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...

How to live in a world that's politically correct?

His workers no longer would answer to "Elves",

"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves.

And labour conditions at the North Pole

Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.

Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety,

Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.

And equal employment had made it quite clear

That Santa had better not use just reindeer.

So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,

Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

The runners had been removed from his sleigh;

The ruts were termed dangerous by the C.A.A.

And people had started to call for the cops

When they heard sled noises on their rooftops.

Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened.

His fur trimmed red suit was called "Unenlightened."

And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows:

Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose.

So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife,

Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life,

Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz,

Demanding from now on her title was Ms.

And as for the gifts, why, he'd never a notion

That making a choice could cause so much commotion.

Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,

Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her.

Nothing that might be construed to pollute.

Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot.

Nothing that clamoured or made lots of noise.

Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys.

Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.

Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific.

No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth.

Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.

And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,

Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.

For they raised the hackles of those psychological

Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.

Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passé;

And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.

So Santa just stood there, dishevelled, perplexed;

He just could not figure out what to do next.

He tried to be merry, tried to be gay,

But you've got to be careful with that word today.

His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;

Nothing fully acceptable was to be found.

Something special was needed, a gift that he might

Give to all without angering the left or the right.

A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,

Each group of people, every religion;

Every ethnicity, every hue,

Everyone, everywhere...even YOU.

So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth...

"May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth."

Questions from Ann

2011-12-23T04:04:00.000-08:00

Answers to questions posed by
http://suntripsamoyeds.blogspot.com/

Sitting down with a drink in hand by a toasty fire....here goes :0)

What is your perfect dog?
Pretty to look at, a ton of "want to," a team player, lots of come forward, loves to drive, stops on a dime, will move any confronting stock,comes with a natural pear shaped outrun, a dog I can ask and he will try...
yadda yadda yadda.....

What Kind Of Handler Are You?
Pretty laid back handler. Probably too laid back to be really competitive.

Do you like a dog that is really on the muscle?
Yes and no. Drive, yes; run through my commands, no.

Do you like a dog that needs a steady stream of whistles?
Not necessarily. They all are different. Some dogs like to be micro-managed; others not.

Are you a maximal or minimal whistler?
A "midler." Bette Midler ;0)

Do you like a natural dog that feels the sheep and just needs a little direction here and there?
Who wouldn't?

Do you like a dog that prefers certain type of sheep?
I want a dog that can work ALL types of sheep AND all types of stock.

Do you like a dog that wants to partner up and be a really good team player?
I believe that's what it is all about. We are all looking for that perfect partner, 2-legged and 4-legged.

Do you like a dog that really knows what s/he wants and you, as a handler really has to manage?
Doesn't matter. They are all different. I LIKE a dog I can trust.

Do you want push?
Push and drive are good. Stylish is neat to look at. Yoko is upright and laid back, but if I need her to MOVE stock, she will get the job done. I do like my dogs to have some power. No likey "wimps." :0)

Do you want a good listener?
Yep.

Do you want try? (Not tri.)
Absolutely! All my dogs get an E for effort.

Do you like a dog who gets the job done, no matter the sheep, but it’s a big job to get that dog listening?
A-okay by me, but a bit difficult on the trial field. :0)

Do you want it all?
Nope. Only want to have a GOOD time. And, for my dogs to enjoy what they are doing. And, to get the job done. An occasional blue ribbon doesn't hurt either.

Can you have it all? Since I don’t know enough to know what I don’t know, what do you want? What do you like?
I think you can have it all...but it's kind of like a crap shoot. If this were my "profession," I would sell off the dogs that I didn't care for and keep only the perfect partners for trialing. Since my dogs are my pets first, if they don't have exactly what I want, they are staying with me regardless. I neuter/spay the ones that don't have exactly what I would like to see in a working dog. I can learn something from ANY dog. It's all about the journey. And, sometimes getting something out of a dog that showed little talent in the beginning is quite satisfying. This is not my profession. It's a much loved hobby.

Poops

2011-12-22T04:31:00.000-08:00

Way to go Kiltster. 5 pups in 2 hours. Our Kilt always does everything FAST!

I was away at a judge's seminar for Kilt's first litter. My husband was busy working around the homestead. He noticed she was nesting when he went to take the workers back to the city. When he arrived home Kilt had already had several pups. So he was NO help in telling me how she did with her first whelping. Men!
Actually, it was a HELL of a lot easier the first time :0) Not watching is a good way to go.

During the first stage of labor when Kilt was dilating she nested quite frantically at times. I missed the short videos of her grabbing the blanket in her whelping box growling while she was tugging on it. I laughed! Plus, Kilt was giving me hell (I'm sure) as she barked at me to let me know how she felt about the predicament she was in. Only Kilt :0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkXJwKPypl0&list=FLKovZiBJw-minsOUOAtMKsg&index=1&feature=plpp_video

Her water broke at about 5:45 pm. She was having mild contractions. Turning, raising her tail, and looking at her vulva. After close to 2 hours later I called my Vet. He double checked her x-ray. He said she "could" go up to 4 hrs. after the water broke without a pup. After 4 hrs. he suggested bringing her in. He gave me an Emergency vet number if I needed it for after hours.

Two hours later she started with BIG contractions. Kilt was in some pain. When she laid down to rest in between she would lick her toe and stick it in her ear. She does this without being pregnant, but it was funny to see her do it now. I thought she was going to make her ear bloody she kept sticking her paw so frantically in her ear. Finally, we saw two little feet and a tip of a tail hanging out of her. She was walking in circles, because it was easier to stand and push rather than lie down and push.

This went on longer than I could stand. She kept pushing and I couldn't see anymore than feet and a tail. You aren't sure if the pup is still attached to the placenta. There is no movement from the feet or tail. You are thinking the worst. But, you know she needs some assist and surely if the pup is a goner, you want it out of there so the others can come. Not a good feeling! I finally lubed up her vulva and got a microfiber towel (for waxing cars) for "grip," grabbed as much of the pup as I could and pulled downward with each contraction. I can't believe Wayne's AICD (defibrilator) didn't go off! He was so upset. The look on his face. He was so worried for Kilt. He held Kilt's collar while I pulled while she was contracting. It took many a contraction to pull the beast out. Finally he arrived. He was a toughie and a biggie. He immediately grabbed a nipple and started nursing as soon as he could. This is my favorite pup thus far. He has a wide offset blaze, deep copper on his face, legs, and under his tail. He has white back tippy toes like Buzz. Where the heck did that copper come from?

Monster butt (male) number one pup

Pup number two was another male. He was average size and has a wide Kilt blaze. He arrived making a racket. Wayne said he wanted to run down to the sheep corral and start working NOW. Raven black and white. Wow...are these pups ever glossy black. Easy delivery.

Knee sock, diamond head (male) number two pup. Possible tri, also.

Pup number 3, a smaller female arrived without a fuss. Kilt had the first 3 pups in 30 min. This female has a small collar and a hairline blaze. She arrived breech, too. I read that almost 50% of most litters are breech. I didn't know that. I do now. I had my ipad in the whelping room and let me tell you I was reading as much as I could and as fast as I could!

Hairline blaze (female) number three pup

Pup number 4, another female. She is a little bigger than the first girl with a wide Kilt blaze. She is very striking. She beat a path to get over to nurse on her mom. Wayne said he is always amazed how instinctively they know where to go. ;0)

V blaze, half right collar (female) number four pup

Pup number 5, the monster male. "Walk-Up Tripod." Just joking. He was hell to deliver. He came a full hour later after the other 4. Kilt had to give about 15 huge contractions walking in circles with this beast's head showing and then he would suck back in. Next contraction, his partial head would come out and then when the contraction was over he would slither back in. Wayne and I BOTH almost had heart failure. His mouth and nose were purple and each time he would come out a bit, I would suction his mouth and he would slide away back into darkness. We really thought he was a goner. Kilt was almost throwing herself in a standing position against the whelping box trying to push him out. I thought the pup would get a concussion. I blame it all on Buzz. The pup has a monster head! I lubed up Kilt and finally I saw ONE purple foot and grabbed hold when I could catch the shoulder and both Wayne and I pleaded with Kilt to push. You would have thought she understood everything we were telling her. I'm saying, "Please PUSH Kilt and Wayne is coaching her in almost tears, "Kilt, Come on, you can do it." It was DRAMATIC. Also, it might have been a good time for a little oxytocin, but we didn't have any. Wayne said we needed a "shoehorn" to get him out. I, finally with Kilt's help, got the pup delivered. As soon as I grabbed hold of him pulling downward, I cried, "He only has THREE legs." I heard Wayne say, "What?" I said, "He is missing a leg." OMG.....With the next contraction we saw that his left leg was folded back up against his tummy. As soon as he got out and dried off he started crawling. DRAMA. He pinked up very quickly and joined the others to nurse. Thank God they are pliable, eh? Mr. Tripod. He's a beautiful pup with a wide Kilt blaze and may be a tri color, also.

(Tri-pod) Monster head, half left collar (male) number five pup

All placentas accounted for....pwee Thank-you Lord. We are so glad that is over. I do very well as a critical care nurse for HUMANS, but when it is your own dog, that is a different story. I was tougher than I thought, though. Anything for my Kilt. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that bitch.

Happy Mom and a good Mom

Yoko says....

2011-12-21T04:38:00.000-08:00

There's some funny business going on in this house!

Everyone is acting strange.

I'm not allowed upstairs.

I'm getting a bit worried.

Weird things and sounds are happening.

Trouble told me some aliens have landed!

Day old aliens

Buzz/Kilt

2011-12-20T04:43:00.000-08:00

Too tired to write about it, but Wayne wins on ALL accounts. I need to start taking him to the race track more often. :0) Five puppies born in a couple of hours, 3 boys, 2 girls.

Fat and Sassy

3 boys

2 girls

I have a had a few requests to put the pedigrees up for Buzz and Kilt. Here they are. :0)

Buzz: CEA/DNA eyes clear, elbows normal, OFA hips good
Kilt: CERF eyes clear, elbows normal, OFA hips excellent

http://www.hoofandpawfarms.com/stud.htm Suzy Applegate's Buzz (click website for pedigree)

Kilt's pedigree

Imported Keen

By of Aled Owen's Bob, International Supreme CH.

Out of Aelwyn Owen's Lil by Bwlch Hemp

Keen-Eye Teag

2006 High Score Western Canadian Finals

British Columbias Top Open Sheepdog for 2006

Calgary World Championship winner 2007

Cody

by Dennis Gellings Chub, out of Gelling's Jiff

British Columbia's Cattle Dog of the year in Pro-Novice at one year of age

British Columbia's Open Sheep Dog (arena) 2005

Boundless enthusiasm and power, Performer at many rodeos and fairs

Shian

Foundation bitch for the Keen-Eye line

Top 10 in the 1999 Canadian Championships

Shian has produced many offspring with her genetics of honesty, high desire to please, and a lot of working talent through the Keen-Eye line, with MacPherson's Zac, Longton's Gyp and Bosworth's Coon in her linage. Diana describes her as the ideal companion and working dog on sheep and cattle.

Natural births

2011-12-19T04:09:00.000-08:00

I just got home from work. Kilt jumped up on the couch next to me. I hugged her and told Wayne, "Hey, Kilt's body temperature is down." He took her temp and sure enough, she was 98.8. Kilt's belly has dropped and she looks so beautiful. Dang...she's a pretty girl. Her demeanor hasn't changed yet. She is still tossing toys up in the air, having a fine time. I predict, not for long, though.

I think that's pretty cool that just by feeling Kilt, I could tell her body temperature had dropped. I used to breed Aussies many moons (decades) ago. I always watched the moms very closely. It was the reason I wanted to have a natural child birth for myself. I studied how they behaved during their labors. I noticed when they would rest and when they would labor. I saw no reason if they could do it, that I shouldn't be able to do it.

Little did I know my labor would 20 plus hours long. And, my husband would be leaving my side to run home since we had a bitch due to whelp while I was birthing. At about 16 hours into hard labor, they placed me on a Pit drip (Oxytocin) to speed up my labor. Whoa baby....that took some real meditation. The contractions came faster and harder. It was all I could do to catch my breath. I practiced my Lamaze and stared at my turquoise pendent at the foot of the bed and did my breathing exercises.

I always laugh in that I remember thinking during the HARD labor, if someone had shot me in the gut, I wouldn't have felt as much pain as I what I was feeling at that particular moment. But, I have always done that. I always think of someone, something, worse off, and then I feel a bit better. :0) Twenty some hours later, my son was born naturally (with the exception of an episiotomy). All we had back then was a still camera and a tape recorder hanging on my IV pole recording his birth. On the tape I say, "I want to thank you ALL for holding me through this." It was tough, but I did it.

I credit my "love of my dogs" and my "learning by watching" with my natural child birth. Truly, I do. I always tell everyone that the GREATEST moment in my life, thus far, was the birth of my son.

Here's hoping Special K that your birthing will go smoothly without any complications. Amen.

The littlest Christmas tree

2011-12-17T04:45:00.000-08:00

Last week, this little tree growing on the side of our our canyon road, San Francisquito, appeared with one bow.

Over the next few days, more bows appeared. Then some garland. The winds have been blowing strong, but still most of the bows have remained.

I love things like this. I may have to make a top ornament for this tree to share with all of the people coming and going on our canyon road. :0)

Funny PG Kilt

2011-12-16T04:32:00.000-08:00

Kilt just cracks us up all of the time. She has such a great sense of humor. I took her to the Vet today. I think she has been to this particular Vet clinic about 4 times. She walks in like she owns the place and goes and gets on the scale by herself. She stands there waiting for the front office person to call out her weight. When she calls out her weight, Kilt immediately takes her seat at the front desk. She puts her paws on the computer. The phone rings. I'm surprised Kilt didn't pick up the phone! But, she had ulterior motives. When the office lady picked up the phone Kilt reached over for the last of her coffee cake. Bad girl Kilt. Gosh, I love this dog!

When Kilt was shipped to us from Canada at 3 1/2 mos. of age (after) 15 hours of flying here and there with layovers, she got out of the crate throwing a tug toy in the air. Yep, that's our Kiltster.

Yep, we've gained a bit of weight

From her fighting weight of 34.6 lbs to 42.8 lbs....8 pounds heavier.

What? You want your seat back? I can't have the last of your coffee cake?

I'm counting today as day 57 from the last breeding. We bred her AI a week earlier due to a Vet's recommendation. She was in full standing heat a week later and I had to drive back to Sacramento AGAIN. The Vet actually credited my account after I wrote him a (not nasty, but informative) note about his hasty recommendation and his stand alone vaginal cytology without progesterone testing.

We would like to wait another 4 days. I'm guessing she took on the last breeding, my 2nd trip to Sacramento. The things we do for our dogs, eh?

We think we count 5 puppies in the oven. Really, Kilt is not as big as she was with 6 puppies in her first litter. But, the last few weeks she has been packing on some tonnage. It hasn't affected her play time, but I sure did see her slow down working her stock. I had to shhhhhus her the first time ever driving her sheep!

LOL at Laura who is in line for a puppy. When I emailed her the x-ray she said, "All I can see is a duck!"

You know what.....I think I see a duck in there, too :0)

Suzy Applegate said, "Let's take bets on her due date." I don't think I want to bet AGAINST my husband. Wayne said she was EIGHT pounds heavier and with FIVE pups. He was right on the money. He believes she will whelp on Monday the 19th. We'll see. Suzy guesses Tues. or Wed. Any time AFTER the weekend will be fine with me.

With Kilt's first litter, she started having pups with just a couple of hours of panting before hand. We plan to keep a closer watch on her this time!

Are you ready? I'm not.

Shit happens

2011-12-15T04:02:00.000-08:00

Yep...shit happens and then before you know it becomes piled high and deeper. I think it's called getting older. It ain't for sissies. That's for sure.

Jet...you had the right idea. We should have just stayed in bed today.

As I was almost out the door this morning to see the orthopedic...checking up on my Achilles heel tendonitis and a cyst on my wrist, the phone rang. It was my brother. Pop wasn't doing well. They had hospice at the house. Dad has received about 7 sessions of radiation to his skin cancer on his cheek. Jim and Linda said he has been doing well. As a nurse I never thought much about radiation either. Chemo always seemed to be the dreaded cancer treatment. I know better. I have had both. I thought the radiation would kill me. I knew even though Jim and Linda said Pop was doing well there was a good chance that it would hit him like a ton of bricks. It did. They found him on the bathroom floor several days ago at 2 a.m. Thankfully, they are light sleepers. They got Pop back to bed, but he he was almost comatose for another day. He couldn't dress himself, feed himself, nada....zero. This morning he snapped to and seemed to be close to his norm. Hospice was at the house. It is time. He is almost 95 years old.

Before leaving the house, I received the hospice information via email. I signed the papers since I am Pop's health care surrogate. I spoke with the hospice nurse. My wishes for my father is that he be kept comfortable and be able to die in his own home. The one thing I still regret was that my mother died in a hospital. Yes, I was with her. But, I knew she wanted to be home looking out over the Indian river from her bedroom. Everything happened so fast. By the time I arrived in Florida, I thought it would be too stressful to try to move her back to home. Before she died, she said, "I love you. I love all of you." I laid my head in her lap and she died very peacefully. But, deep in my soul, I wished that she had been in her own home.

I stopped at this pond after my visit with the ortho doc to meditate. I am so very fortunate in that my brother and sister-in-law live with Dad in Florida. They take unbelievably wonderful care of him. My father is the dearest person in the world. I can't imagine life without him. But, we all have to endure the pain of losing loved ones. I'm just so glad he has lived a long and rich life.

I meditate a lot. It keeps my sanity. When I find it difficult to clear my thoughts, I just flow with it and reflect. Reflection makes me feel so blessed.

I'd like to drive to this pond and see the lights and the trees lit up at night. Maybe I will talk Wayne into that tomorrow evening. I bet it is so pretty. I wonder if the Ducks all hide in the reeds or if some swim around with the lights reflecting on their pond? I'll have to find out.

Life goes on.

Getting ready

2011-12-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for what?
For pups. Notice I said the pleural. I was so worried that Kilt was only having a "singleton." But, I can feel more than one. I say three. Wayne says five. On the other hand she is no where near as big as she was when she whelped 6 with Jet. I will take her Thursday for an x-ray. I have her due date as Dec. 21st. We both feel she will whelp on the 19th. Last litter (day 61) she had pups Jan. 19th, on my birthday. :0)

"I'm sure everything I can't find is in a safe, secure place, somewhere."
It's been almost 4 years since her first litter. I "had" the most gorgeous Durawhelp box and set-up for the pups. Now that we are down to T- minus less than a week, we can't find the whelping box. It folds up in a box, but it is nowhere to be seen. Panic time! We have looked in all of the storage sheds, trailers, loft, etc. I have even looked under our bed. Wayne says he can make one, no problem. I'm his wife. I know it will be a problem. Aaahhhhhhh. Though, he may have a chance to prove me wrong (like in the next couple of days)

Thank-you to Erin Swanson for offering her whelping box to us. Unfortunately, her box is 5 ft. by 5ft. We live in a tiny partial A-frame. 5' by 5' is too large for our itty bitty cabin.

I have been proven wrong! YEA! He did it in a few hours and it's PURRFECT!
I know it's because he loves Kilt so much. :0) It has a beautiful rounded pig rail and a nice hatch that folds down so she can jump in and out. Good work dear! Wayne has been spending quite a bit of time with Kilt in her new whelping box this evening, so she feels comfortable. Kilt, now please don't have your pups on our bed this time!

Christmas puppies coming soon!

Colorful desert

2011-12-13T04:46:00.000-08:00

I added a little color to this short video. Just playing around. But, it was a most beautiful day in the desert. Stacey and I went up up into the hills. I only took Jet and Yoko. Kilt is a bit lazy with pups. Pictured above is Stacey's Molly just motoring along on her drive. She has such a nice pace. Yoko did some good stuff and some not so good stuff. Jet just came to do a bit of shedding and help out with setting.

Ted Ondrak was kind enough to take my big weather, Palomino. I also threw in my 20 mo. old ewe, Blackie. I'm not fond of 'black' sheep for the hot West Coast sun. Plus, Palomino was a pain to take to the desert with the girls AND a pain to try to leave behind. When we would split the sheep up in the desert, Palomino would actually HONK to the other ewes making it impossible to work two sets.

So we are now down to 9 sheep, all ewes. Six dorper crosses and the 3 barbs. The barbs make the group of nine easy to shed. They move along at a medium pace. Looks like an enjoyable group for the winter. :0)

The long and winding road

2011-12-11T04:51:00.000-08:00

About 10 yrs. ago part of our canyon road to get to our house started to erode in many places due to the river bed that fills up with plentiful rains. They eventually closed 3 miles of the canyon road.

The new road is that semi curved line mid way in this photo. Building a brand new part of the canyon was more cost effective than trying to repair the old canyon road over and over again each year with the rains.

Wayne and I were looking for a 2 mile hike on a level surface. We had not walked up the old road since it was closed off to traffic. Now people use it for a myriad of things, biking, hiking, graffiti, swimming, and so forth. This picture is of the "Bee Hives." an interesting rock formation in the canyon.

This old dead Oak would make a great Halloween tree. I'd love to hang scary ghosts, etc. on it. But, sadly, no one would see it.

This is "Indian George." That is what we call this rock formation. Looks like the silhouette of George Washington to us one side and of an Indian on the other.. We have on several occasions hiked to the top and spread a blanket looking out over the Angeles forest. Quite a magnificent view.

Wayne wanted to walk all the way to the narrow bridge we use to travel. Many an accident happened on the winding road by this bridge. This is just where it would to begin to snow on the way to our house. The road was pretty treacherous in several places. A couple of times I had to ask the collies to "follow." I didn't want them plummeting 30 feet off the road's edge into the river bed.

All 3 collies were happy to find a swimming hole. Jet did a little wading.

I asked Kilt not to go in due to her pregnancy and that the water was just above freezing. Here is Kilt with a big log in her mouth swimming. She got in trouble by me and had to sit on the side lines after that dip.

Some of the prettier graffiti on the bridge. It always amazes me that no matter where you walk, there are always interesting things to see if you look closely enough.

Yoko (the Beave) having a fine time in the swimming hole.

Under the bridge there was an array of swallow nests.

I enjoyed the rock formations with water cascading over them.

"Look Mom! Too bad you have to sit this one out."

There was even a little cascading water fall that Yoko found intriguing.

The long and winding road back to the truck. :0)

Smarty paws.....Kilt

2011-12-10T04:16:00.000-08:00

My husband said, "Was that really a necessity?" "Well, nooooo, but, the dogs will have fun with it."
Wayne says, "Good God, it's morning." I say, "Good Morning God!" hahahahaha

A Lucky Yuppy Puppy Treat Dispenser

Yep, that's the name of the toy I bought for the dogs. It is a cold, windy day today and we are doing housework, bills, and stuff we have to do, so I broke out the dogs new treat dispenser. Yoko was the closest to figuring it out. Trouble did a lot of yapping and clawing. Xena said, "Just me toss a treat for looking at it." Jet became quite frustrated and started singing and dancing around it. Kilt came in like she was the SALESDOG for Yuppy Puppy. It only took her a few seconds to get it.

Below is Kilt's first introduction to the new treat dispenser. Easy Breezy when you are a hungry pregnant mama.

Tell me Thursday on Friday

2011-12-09T04:06:00.000-08:00

http://crooksandcrazies.blogspot.com/
Yea....TMT is back!

1. What are your plans for the holiday season?
I am working at the hospital on Dec. 24th and 25th & Dec. 31st and Jan. 1st. We have no family close by, the kids are grown, so I like to think of every day on the mountain where we live as a Holiday. I really ENJOY working at the hospital on the holidays. If I can make someone's holiday a little brighter....that is 'gift' enough for me.

2. Do you decorate? If so, what have you done so far?
Not a whole heck of a lot thus far. Really, we look like Christmas year round in our living room. We stripe the front porch poles and put up a string of lights each year. We have a year round bear tree. Sometimes I hang a few ornaments on him.

I didn't even notice Jet was in this photo :0)

Excuse the unfinished fireplace

The dog porch

3. a. Favorite recent dog photo?

All 5 of our dogs on Thanksgiving Day at the Kern river

b. Photo that shows your mood today (or one word)?

4. There's been a discussion on the BC Boards about "don't train for the novice classes... just train for open and the rest will fall into place." What are your thoughts on this?
Isn't that what everyone does who would like to trial in USBCHA?
Unless you don't want to go any further than novice :0)

5. What are your top five cannot-do-without-them dog items?
HOLY ROLLER (for Kilt)
Winter wear for our JRT, Trouble
Basket ball (for yard play)
SHEEP
Emergency dog box for traveling

Friends helping friends

2011-12-08T04:14:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy having friends come to the desert to work their dogs while I work my dogs, too. And, I never mind constructive criticism and I don't think my friends mind me throwing in my two cents either. I think it helps to have others watch you handle. They see different things that you may not see in either how the dog is working or how you are handling. It's really helpful to me. I'm always open for suggestions.

Both Stacey and Melodie are just starting their whistles. I noticed last Sunday neither were using their whistles. I probably should have broke out a bit of Bailey's and coffee for them :0) I encouraged them to USE their whistles. That is the only way it is going to HAPPEN. And, I understand it is embarrassing at first when you blow squeaks and sqwacks, but you can't learn any other way.

I am the worst whistler ever. Most pro's when I take a lesson now and then, say "what whistle was that?"
I can't carry a tune and I am tone deaf. I mean really tone deaf. I used to have to ask my husband when my son was an infant, "How does Rock A Bye Baby go again?" LOL That's hard to believe!

But, it's okay to be a bad whistler. It's better than no whistle at all. Your dogs WILL understand your whistles...no matter how badly you chirp away at them.   Only rarely one of my dogs will not take a whistle and possibly look back at me with a quizzical look as if to say, "Could you try that whistle again. I'm not sure I heard that correctly." Thank goodness they can't talk, eh? Or they might call me a few unpleasant names. God Bless our dogs :0)

And, I love it when some of the guys come out to the desert with me.   Since they are further along than my girlfriends there is lots of chatter, different perspectives on how certain tasks should be accomplished, etc. I always find it very entertaining. And, sometimes we do those really LONG outruns. It helps to have someone at the top of a 600 yd. outrun to raise their hand if the dog is cutting in or not going deep enough. It's a hell of a long way to run for the handler, but they can blow a down whistle and get a run on. :0) Most of the time the dogs on an outrun that large will be right on...if anything wider than you might want them.

It seems to me that once you have a correct outrun at 100 yds. you can stretch it fairly quickly to 400 yds. But, you better have a good 100 yd. outrun. Don't stretch it until your dog knows it.  The longer outrun gives the dog more time to watch and THINK. They seem to understand easier where they should be on a longer outrun.

Several friends with fairly novice dogs have come to the desert with me with narrow running dogs on the outrun. Once they had a chance to use their brain on larger outruns, they just GOT it. It's fun to see the light bulb go on. The sheep enjoy the open land. And, the dogs enjoy the desert. And, the humans always have a nice time, too. Sometimes you can sit in your chair and not hear a thing. It truly is zen-like. :0)

Yoko just before she was two years of age. I know some trainers don't like to let their pups to blind outruns, because they can't be there to correct them if it isn't done the way they would like it. Me, I'm 'not' all about trialing, I get pure enjoyment out of watching my dogs figure things out. I love TRUSTING the dog to find their sheep and bring them nicely.

Two weeks post ICD implant

2011-12-07T04:28:00.000-08:00

Geez...they really beat Wayne up on the table putting in his AICD (automated internal cardiac defibrillator). Plus, the Doc isn't very particular about straight lines with his super glue. :0) Wayne was awake for the procedure. They didn't want to put him under, so they just twilighted him. Wayne is a "talker." My guess is they had to give him a bit extra to get him to stop talking.
They put the ICD in because of the idiopathic heart failure. His ejection fraction was 20%. Normal is 55-60%. Basically, this means his heart was NOT pumping well. Fluid was backing up into his lungs and extremities. He was having small runs of V-tach (fast heart beat).

Wayne has been doing well since out of the hospital. He has lost almost 30 pounds since being hospitalized. Don't worry, a good amount of that was water weight he has been carrying around for some time. He has no shortness of breath now. His blood pressure is good. He is dialing in his blood sugar shooting for a reading of 100. This will take some experimenting with knowing how much insulin to give himself according to how much food and how much exercise he gets.

The hardest thing is being on a 1500 mg sodium diet. Thankfully, Wayne doesn't have my sweet tooth and he never puts salt on his food (like I do). Even so, when you start reading labels, it is really HARD to limit yourself to a 1 1/2 gram sodium diet. Even celery has salt in it. Our food bill is going to be a whopper, because now we are doing most of our shopping at Whole Foods. Almost everything has to be fresh for Wayne. No canned, and few boxed goods. They seem to contain lots of sodium.

Wayne hasn't lost his sense of humor through all of this. He kids me that now he couldn't DIE even if he wanted to die. His ICD will shock him back to life. I tell him not to piss me off or I will put a magnet to it in the middle of the night to turn it off. Just our sense of humor. Getting older isn't for sissies, that's for sure. If you can't keep a sense of humor about it, life would get depressing rather quickly. :0)

P.S. I'm really proud of Wayne who went to town today to buy on sale a blood pressure cuff (for WORK) and a watch that reads his heart rate. He doesn't want to take a chance in being shocked while exercising....LOL I can laugh. I'm a nurse. I have had my hand on someone's arm when their defibrillator went off. Rather shocking. hahahaha

Desert fun

2011-12-06T04:08:00.000-08:00

Way in the distance is Stacey working Molly. I think that is Kilt watching. We went to the desert this morning prepared for COLD. It was in the 30's, but without a breath of wind. That made it feel about 50 degrees. I chose to go a flat area of the desert instead of the hills where I normally go. Why? Because I have developed Retrocalcaneal Bursitis in my right heel. OUCH. It's kind of like a tendonitis of the achilles tendon. I think it is from living in my Ariat boots. Thank God, I wear clogs at work. Walking hills is out of the question for awhile, until this bursitis settles down. Shit, I'm OLD. I hate crap like this. But, I will roll with it. I'm used to rolling with the punches. :0)

Jet and the girls watching Melodie and Stacey work their dogs. I love having friends come work with me in the desert. The only thing I ask is that someone bring lunch or breakfast...doesn't matter which...just bring something to eat. Payment in FULL. :0)

We are eating lunch while Yoko, Jet, and Kilt watch the sheep. Later I worked all 3 of my dogs on the flock in a circle around them at the same time. I am working on all of them giving me more of a "bend" out when I flank them. I know, I know...sheepherding 101....who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? LOL

Stacey enjoying the show while having lunch.

Wayne welded a rack to put my panels on the stock trailer. Tom Spencer made my panels. I LOVE them.

We had fun doing some long outruns while working on our fetches. Plus, later we did figure eights around the fetch panels. This is a GREAT exercise. I believe Stacey said, "Hmmmmm, you made that look so easy." She got it together very nicely with Molly, and Ty did well, also, with Mel.

Good friends, Good weather, Good food, Good dogs....doesn't get much better!

Dear Santa,

2011-12-05T04:30:00.000-08:00

Love, Xena, Jet, Kilt, Trouble, and Yoko

Special people and special dogs

2011-12-04T04:22:00.000-08:00

Yep, I finally broke down and had a lesson with Yoko. Well, actually TWO lessons this year. I had a short lesson with Suzy Applegate when I was breeding Kilt to Buzz. And, on Thursday I drove to Pine Valley with a friend and had a lesson with Wilda Bahr.

I have always admired Wilda for being such a nice person. When I went to Sonoma the very first time by myself several years ago and parked at a campground sleeping in my truck, Wilda befriended me. She invited me for appetizers and drinks and introduced me to many handlers. She also said, "I don't understand how you look so good in the morning after sleeping in your truck." She came over to view my sleeping/organization of things in my Avalanche. I have never forgotten her graciousness. She also checked in on me at the trial each day and asked how my dogs were doing. These are things you don't forget. These are special people. Just as I will never forget Diane Pagel's graciousness at LaCamas (Washington) when my ribs were broken. I was in agony trying to suck it up, because I had come so far to trial Yoko. Diane fed me, and gave me her bed while she slept on her trailer couch. She took time to even take some pictures of Yoko and I trialing at LaCamas. I never forget friends like that. Thank-you for being you.

Back to Wilda....one thing I have admired is the ability of her dogs to be able to take wide, sweeping, square flanks on the fetch when needed. I have not mastered this with any of my dogs. My dogs "if" they give any ground on the fetch give only a bit of ground. This tends to speed up the sheep versus catching the lead sheep's eye.

Yoko is a loose eyed dog. I don't ask her for square flanks, because of her lack of eye. She gets along with a slicey type of flank driving. She kind of works like my Aussies I had in the past. When she brings the sheep on her fetch when "trialing," she says, "I have them and I am not letting go of them." I stop her and try to flank her to no avail. I'm lucky if she gives me a few feet which tends to make the sheep go even faster in the direction they are going. Luckily she balances quite well, but there are those instances when the sheep have a strong draw that you need a wide square sweeping flank in order to catch the lead sheep's eye to turn them to make the fetch panels.

This is what I wanted to learn. Wilda took time to get to know Yoko. I really appreciated her "read" of her. Yoko is sensitive, always wants to be right, and gets excited and stressed, if she thinks she might be wrong, type of dog. Once she is stressed, she will try many behaviors as fast as she can to see if that's what you want without really "thinking." When she gets to that point, she needs a time-out to get her head straight. She is a difficult read.

Wilda watched Yoko's reactions to our corrections on our first go round. The second time out she figured her out nicely. She knew we couldn't ask for square flanks driving, or Yoko would go into orbit on the outruns. She is a naturally wide outrunner. We only are asking her to flank squarely with distance on the fetch. We send her on her outrun, let her bring them on, stop her and ask for a flank. If she doesn't give enough ground, squarely at a 45 degree angle, I stop her and very quietly point my wand at her while walking into her and ask her for another flank making sure she turns out away and gives ground. Then we flank her the other way around her sheep and do the other side, all of the time only on the fetch.

This may be sheep herding 101 for many of you, but it is something I have missed along the way. Anyway, I am looking forward to trailering out to the desert this weekend and working for a few minutes now and again on this exercise. As most of you know I have never been sure that Yoko would make it this far as a trial dog. She is what I call a "sleepy" dog....slow to mature. Plus, she lacks eye and push. But, she is the sweetest pup ever and I enjoy working her. That's what counts. :0) I'm setting my goals on open next year.

Gobble Gobble

2011-12-03T04:46:00.000-08:00

Stacey and I braved the winds and drove to Pine Valley to work sheep today. Not a breath of wind 4 hours south of here. We passed big rigs and RV's pulled over and one on it's side due to the high winds around the Inland Empire area.

Yoko and Molly enjoyed the new fields to work.

All 34# of Yoko makes her look like a midget next to 52# of Molly.

Yoko rode in the front of the stock trailer. Ohhh...scary. :0)

Yoko says, "Can I ride in the top crate on the way home?"

What a beautiful setting to work dogs

Fabulous fields to work...some snow flurries in the AM, a few rain drops in the afternoon.

Some of the players

Yoko spotting her sheep

Molly heading down the lane to the stock trailer

Hmmmm...Those aren't sheep? Antennae UP!

Yoko doing the "turkey trot"

Yep, wild turkeys...pretty good at blending into the scenery.

Yoko on the FULL "turkey" RUN

These turkeys may have survived Thanksgiving. But, I'm not sure they will survive Yoko. My "Lie down" fell on deaf ears when it came to the wild turkeys.

A very colorful collage of mushrooms

Some thick foliage. Hope that isn't poison oak I was hiking through!

Yoko had a great day hiking, working sheep, and hunting turkeys :0)

GOBBLE GOBBLE

WTF Friday

2011-12-02T20:47:00.000-08:00

http://jorbar.livejournal.com/59794.html    Bloggerdom's WTF Friday from Jorgen

What handler do you strive to be like, or handlers if you have Schizophrenia?
I enjoy watching EVERYONE handle. We are all so different, but if I HAD to narrow it down to ONE, it would be Alasdair.

How do you change your handling style depending on what dogs you trial?
Exactly as you state....it "depends" upon the nature of the beast. Some dogs are pushy and independent, some are sensitive and soft. Some are strong eyed and sticky and some loose eyed. My wide running loose eyed dogs (Jet and Yoko) I always let them stand as they would like at the post. If anything I let them take a step or two straight ahead of me looking up the field before I send them. I know they are going to blow out into a wide pear shape as soon as they get to the 3/4 mark on their outruns. Kilt, being stronger eyed I might ask her to give a bit of ground at the post before sending her. I have to watch that she doesn't stop short. Her eye will draw her in. I am ready with my whistle if needed. Jet and Yoko have soft, polite lifts.  Most of the time I will let them find balance or maybe assist with a "there" whistle, but I don't ask for a down. With Kilt, I insist on a down at the top and have to count to 5 before letting her up.  And, so forth :0)

How do you change your handling depending on what trial you are running at?
Smaller areas are more difficult to work than larger areas to me. Smaller fields seem to require more frequent commands due to shorter distances. I'd rather have a 150 yd. crossdrive versus a 50 yard crossdrive. It gives the dog time to settle into a nice pace and time for the handler to iron out any wrinkles. Large fields require less commanding. I'd rather have a 400 yd. plus outrun versus a 200 yd. outrun.   Arena work requires more mechanical handling due to the pressures and small area worked. You have very little time to screw up. One goof and you may ruin your whole run.

Sleepy pups

2011-12-02T04:54:00.000-08:00

I took this article from a recent post I found on facebook. There is lots of truth to it. I know I can relate to this article and I bet I have a few friends that can relate, too. :0)

Talent and Puppies

Posted on November 25, 2011 by dfenzi

Talent is innate.

In dogs, we increase the odds of having talents through selective breeding. If two dogs show talent for a given ability, then the odds increase that their offspring will also show that talent. No guarantees, but certainly better odds.

At what age will that talent emerge? How will environmental influences encourage or discourage that talent?

Many trainers expect puppies to express their talents from the day we take them home. If the trainer has had prior dogs that showed their talents early, then the expectations will be even higher.

In the sport of Schutzhund, we talk about “sleepy” puppies. That is how puppies are described that are slow to mature; slow to show any real interest in the work required in the sport. But sleepy puppies have a way of waking up if the genetics for work are there. These puppies are something of a gamble, and many in the dog sports want a sure thing. Let’s face it; it can be hard to put energy into a puppy that seems unable to do what others of the same age (or even littermates) can do.

Fast maturing dogs who show their talents early are prized – they are trained with joy and energy because their responses to our efforts reinforce our training. Sleepy puppies are trained less well. We have fewer opportunities to celebrate and more opportunities to express our frustration. The lack of positive feedback for our efforts, and the slow progress that might be made, lead to a vicious cyle. We train less, celebrate less, and give less. With my students, I’ve noticed that sleepy puppies do best with novice handlers. In most cases, they don’t even know they have a sleepy puppy. When the puppy starts to show it’s talent, the owners are delighted as opposed to relieved. The lack of pressure allows the puppy to flourish.

Slow maturing dogs with experienced handlers can be a trainer or breeder’s nightmare. Their owners are frustrated, disappointed, and pushy. They worry….the winner they were hoping for isn’t panning out. If that person spent a lot of time identifying a litter that showed great promise – great parents with a great pedigree, the problem will be even worse. They “did everything right” and the puppy turned out wrong.

As a breeder and trainer, I find myself hoping for early maturing puppies. Not because I believe it’s better, but because I’ve seen what happens to goal driven trainers who develop doubts. They ruin their working relationship with their dogs. There is no worse combination than an ambitious trainer with goals and a “sleepy” puppy with normal ups and downs.

If your puppy is temperamentally sound and you have a reasonable belief that the genetics for work are there, don’t give up on your puppy. Don’t pressure her to grow up faster.

Tell Me Shit Thursday

2011-12-01T04:06:00.000-08:00

You gotta love the land of bloggerdom.

http://zeke.typepad.com/eyeherdewe/
How has sheepdog work changed you as a person OUTSIDE of the work?

I'm not sure if it is the sheepdogging or the aging process that has "mellowed" me. I can still party hardy (3 broken ribs proves that), but there isn't too much that riles me up anymore. Not even a friend who I thought was a friend who turned out to be a real jerk. I just turned the other cheek and continued to enjoy myself. So, I guess I have developed a "tolerance" of sorts. I don't have to say anything bad. I know there are "sheep whores"...that's what I like to call them. People that are super nice to your face in order to try to get to work your sheep or be what they think is the "in" crowd.

That most definitely is NOT me. I'm honest to a fault. I'm NOT part of the "in" crowd. I never have been and don't plan on "pretending" to other people's faces. It ain't in me. I have just as much fun trialing in USBCHA as in AKC or AHBA, or at fun days with all of my friends and different breeds. I don't fit in as a BC snob, that's for sure. Fun is fun. My dogs don't care which organization we go herd sheep in. They are just happy we are doing it.

I'm not sure if it's because I have endured cancer (chemo and radiation) and the realization that I might die earlier than I want to OR if it is the "zen-like" moments at the post and in the desert that have taught me the true joys of life. Some people meditate. I work my dogs. It's the closest I can come to "meditation" without meditating. That and hiking. It always amazes my husband that I can go work my dogs in any type of weather. Heck...while receiving continuous IV chemo I was out in a snowstorm working my dogs. (Little did I know that my chemo was temperature sensitive). Working my dogs makes me feel good mentally and physically. I hope my dogs enjoy the experience just as much as I do.

I can "whistle" now. I have never been able to whistle with or without my fingers. I have met some truly genuinely "wonderful" people in the land of sheepdogging. I like how everybody roots for everybody, win or lose. Sheepdog work is "teamwork" like I have never known before in any other dog sports I have competed in. Plus, in sheepdogging I have learned to "trust" my dog. You learn when not to interfere while watching the turn of events unfold while trusting your dog. Now, that's just too cool! I can't imagine my life without it. :0)

Winter time

2011-11-30T04:06:00.000-08:00

I am such a winter person.....well, since I live in So. California. :0) I love cold weather...to a certain degree.

The other day, Melodie, Wayne, and I went to the desert for the first time this winter. It has been an unseasonably warm winter thus far and with Wayne being ill and with work, I have had no time to trailer out. Finally, we had a chance to load up the sheep and go. Oh! What fun we had! The sheep were seriously excited. They loaded up in the trailer in 2 seconds. They couldn't wait!
When we reached our destination, the sheep ran and jumped in the air like kids at Disneyland. I had to get two dogs out to flank each side immediately to make sure I didn't lose them. It took them about 10 minutes to settle down.
After they realized the game plan, they were happy to oblige. We chose a place that has a dirt road that goes for about a mile to nowhere. What a great road for teaching Mel's novice dog, Ty to drive. Plus, a great road for Yoko to stay on the straight and narrow behind her sheep. We worked with Ty on some outruns and started his inside flanks. He's a smart cookie and oh, so thoughtful. Kilt held sheep for Ty and enjoyed being out in the sunshine (on sheep).

Still watching and waiting on Kilt. She is due Dec. 21st. Much to our dismay, if she has more than just a couple of pups I'll be surprised. We were so hoping for another litter of six like she had with Jet. She has filled out a little, her nipples have enlarged, and she is being quite maternal in nature, but she is still whippet like around her waistline. :0( I opted not to ultra sound her and most likely will x-ray around day 57 to see what's up. Hopefully, there is not one huge monster in there. Such a shame because we have six wonderful homes lined up for her pups by Buzz. Three more weeks to go. Watching and waiting.

Just starting to look at the USBCHA site and deciding where I would like to trial in 2012. I already put in for vacation for Sonoma in March. I'm so sad that I don't see Zamora on the USBCHA trial schedule. I have NEVER been to a trial that I like more than Zamora. The outrun at 700 yards there in the green pastured hills is incomparable to all of the other trials I have been to. And, quite frankly, I was thinking about running Yoko in open and letting her do the 700 yard outrun. I know she can. :0) Also, I'm thinking about going to Colorado and New Mexico in May. And, then possibly Lacamas in August. I had a great time there last year. I don't think I'm a whole lot of competition for anyone, but quite frankly, I do it for the FUN. Gosh, I LOVE my dogs. I do my own training and have a blast with them, win or lose. :0)

Enough blogging...time for me to start decorating for the holidays :0)

Part Three: The Good Lord Intervenes

2011-11-28T04:58:00.000-08:00

I tell Wayne just to go back to the truck. I give him my cell phone. I say, "If you have any trouble, just let Jet loose and tell him to FIND me." I tell him I will blow my dog whistle if I find the keys.
I take Yoko and Kilt with me. Now I am on my way to marker #18.....what? Again? For the third or fourth time now? And, it's an eighth of a mile between markers. I make it back to the bench at marker #18 and repeat the whole looking around the area again. I even ask the girls to FIND the keys without any keys to be even able to show them. They think I'm nuts, but are having a good time sniffing on the trail.

At about marker #15 I see Jet running FULL speed towards me! Holy Shit...my mind starts racing that Wayne isn't feeling well. As soon as Jet reaches my feet limping fiercely, I hear Wayne yelling in the distance. I'm thinking I would like to be anywhere but here at this very moment. I may need a pacemaker if we ever get out of this predictament!

Wayne FOUND the keys. Must be some sort of miracle. A devine intervention. They were in some soft sand covered in leaves at about marker 14 where I put his fanny pack around Yoko's neck. When I leaned over, they must have fallen out of my pocket. And, since I was carrying a bag with an apple and food in it along with a leash, I didn't miss them. As I am walking along towards Wayne I take a picture of the sky. This is what I see. Oh yeah....why is Jet limping so fiercely? Because he has a cockle burr stuck in his right pad. I remove it and he is his ol happy self again. Back to the sky.

I felt that the Good Lord had heard me. It looked as if his arms were reaching out to us. Viv, my FB friend across the pond calls these types of clouds...Mare's tails.

I did stop and get ONE more picture on the trek back to the truck much to my husband's dismay. The sun was going down quickly and we still had an hour drive to McNally's. But, how could I resist this beautiful log to get a photo of the Anaya Five :0) The "dogs" happily obliged me.

I lied....TWO pictures. Trouble posed next to the river and looked so dang cute.

I fibbed...this is the last photo before the truck. HAPPY BC's and the sniffin' Jack and Lab.

As soon as we got back to the truck, they all had another round of Jack in the Box hamburger patties.

And, thankfully, they were "dog-tired".....but not as "dog-tired" as I was.

On our way to McNally's now. I called and changed out 4 pm reservation to 5 pm. We raced up the North Fork of the Kern trying to get to McNally's before dark.

YEA! Made it at 4:45. Still light enough to get a few pics. Brand new sign with Johnny's brand on it and a little history of the place. LOVE it.

Out back looking towards the bridge over the river.

The bridge across the river. Lots of fun memories.

Fall colors looking UP the river

Yea! Our favorite waitress, Mercedes, and our favorite seat at the window overlooking the river. Let the feast begin. Thank-you Lord.

All of the walls are covered in deer and elk.

Wild turkey, pheasant, and quail with all of the trimmings.

Trust me. We are thankful for another year!

Part Two: Yoko Saves the Day

2011-11-27T04:06:00.000-08:00

Yoko is happy that her Mom is jogging. She runs ahead and takes a few detours in the river. Mom is not happy that she is jogging. I used to run, but now at almost 62 yrs. old I'm a walk/jogger. One thing I am very thankful for is that I see I left Wayne at marker #18. The next marker was numbered #17. That's a load off my mind and body. I'm thanking God right about now, because I'm not sure how many miles I'm good for. :0)

Yoko makes me smile between panting (my panting). She runs ahead and balances on a sign indicating what type of trees we are passing.

"Look Mom...See what I can do!"

We (Yoko and I) are at marker #5. I can see the sun is getting lower. Speed it up Suzanne. I'm starting to imagine all kinds of things now. I'm hoping Wayne will be upright by the time I get back to him.

We arrive at the truck, the only vehicle still at the conservatory. I knock on the conservatory door hoping someone will be there knowing full well that no one is there. They are somewhere else having Thanksgiving dinner. I try anyway. Maybe they have a 4 wheel drive vehicle and can rush some hard candy to Wayne. No such luck.

Okay Lord. Watch over him. I get out his insulin fanny pack with hard candy along his glucometer from the truck. I grab an apple and two hard boiled eggs that are in the cooler and Yoko and I start the journey back to marker #18.

Around marker #14, I decide, I'm sucking wind and I need to get things rolling faster. I strap on Wayne's fanny pack around Yoko. I tell Yoko, "Where's Wayne?"

Happily, she hears the "W" sound and splashes into the Water! "NO, Yoko," I yell. I repeat in a different phrase, "FIND Wayne."

Yoko starts down the trail with Wayne's fanny pack around her neck.

Yoko gets it. She is galloping down the trail.

Now I know a lot of you think it's silly to teach your dogs stupid dog tricks. I'm not on the band wagon with you. All of my dogs fetch, carry, hold, find it, etc. etc. And, today I was proud of Yoko!

Yoko delivered the goods. She and her father are running back up the trail to find me.

Good dogs.

By the time I get to Wayne he has taken his blood sugar and is munching on hard candy.

I sit down with him and watch him chow down an apple.

Special K stayed with Wayne right at his feet. Good girl Kilt.

Xena wasn't sure how long she would be in the woods. She curled up for a nap.

Jet is the smartest dog I have ever owned. I left him with Wayne OFF leash, because I knew if there ever was a problem and if Wayne slumped over, he would be able to come find me on his own. This dog is my heart and soul...I am so lucky that Patrick Shannahan picked him out for me.

Sweet Trouble. We always dress her in camouflage when we walk in the woods. Less chance of her disappearing as someone's dinner.

With Wayne feeling much better after "eating" and receiving a short lecture from his now very tired and stressed out wife about always carrying hard candy with him, we start back to the truck. Only 17 markers to go. It would be nice to get up to McNally's to sit by the roaring fire over looking the river.

At about marker #15, I say, "Do you have the keys?"

Oh shit, oh dear. The answer is, "No, you do."

"You have the leash I was carrying and I know I had the keys and the leash in the same hand UNLESS I put them in my pocket and they fell out when I put the fanny pack around Yoko's neck."

I think this is where Wayne said some very unkind words to me. And, I said out loud, "Find a younger wife."

I jogged back to the bench at marker #18 (it was better than listening to my husband). I swept the area with a branch. No keys. I walked looking at the ground scuffing leaves with my feet back to marker 8. Nothing. I walk back to my husband who I left at marker #15. Now my husband is questioning me to remember exactly what I was doing on the way back to him at marker #18. Quite frankly, if I had been carrying a fire arm, I think our wedded bliss would be over and I would be in jail.

Silence is golden right about now.

I mention to him, at least, I was smart enough to carry a cell phone and that we are lucky enough to get 2 bars on it. Actually, at this point I was so tired and stressed out that the only BAR I wanted was at McNally's. I told Wayne, instead of ragging at me, start thinking about what we were going to do or who we were going to call on Thanksgiving in the middle of the woods with 5 dogs, and a locked truck! Not to mention the temperature would be in the 20's come nightfall.

Part 3 coming tomorrow

Big time praying going on by me.

We need a divine intervention.

Part One: Sweet Jesus

2011-11-26T04:34:00.000-08:00

Nope, I'm not taking the Lord's name in vain. Instead, I'm thanking him. What could have turned out to be a disastrous trip on Thanksgiving had a good ending.

Wayne and I decided since we were by ourselves this Thanksgiving to go to the next best thing other than family, to Johnny McNally's for a Thanksgiving feast on the Kern River. We have been coming up to McNally's for years. We had lots to celebrate and be thankful for this year with Wayne just getting out of the hospital.

Yes, Wayne just got out of the hospital, but his cardiologist (who I will introduce in another blog, because he is so special) told Wayne he could walk on the "flat." Even said, to push himself a bit walking. So, of course, being the "Anaya's"...we always seem to push ourselves a bit much. :0)

We decided to go to a favorite place of ours on the South Fork of the Kern to do a nature walk with all 5 of our dogs. Several years ago we took the walk and somewhere on the trail Wayne dropped my new BEST leash. I sent Wayne back to the truck and used Jet to "Find it" and dang if Jet didn't stop right at the leash and wait for me to pick it up. The leaves on the trail are about 4 inches thick, so finding lost articles is nothing short of a miracle. I tell you this now, because it has significance for the rest of this journey.

Coming into the South Fork of the Kern, a few clouds, and temp about in the 50's

No one was at the preserve on Thanksgiving Day. We had it all to ourselves and our 5 dogs.

Cattle grazing on our drive in to the preserve. Kilt and Yoko gave them a bit of a Grrrrr as they approached our truck.

We passed some old barns on the land the cattle were grazing.

Took this going across an old bridge. South Fork of the river can be dry at this time of the year. But, the water was running well this Thanksgiving.

This sign tells about the some 200 species of birds, etc. seen at the preserve. Can't say I saw many of them, because what turned out to be a delightful stroll 2-3 miles turned into quite a stressful ordeal.

The dogs had the first part of their lunch. Everyone had a Jack in the Box hamburger patty. You can see some tongues saying lip-smacking good.

We have never taken the whole walk. We decided to start at the end this time, since we had never been on this part. This road led to grasslands and then into a deep wooded area. The temperature was ambient and we were just strolling.

Here Wayne and Trouble are taking a break together on a bench. About every 8th of a mile was a number marker on the trail.

While Wayne rested the dogs found plenty of water to keep them occupied.

Wayne back up and walking down the trial

The girls found plenty of water to play in. That plume of a tail Yoko has is half that size today AFTER I cut out the many cockle burrs that were matted in it. Yuck.

I can see that Wayne is feeling poorly. I immediately ask what's up? Heart? Blood sugar?

He feels he is hypoglycemic. He is on a new regime of insulin. I ask if he has hard candy on him? Of course, the answer is, "No." He ate fresh pineapple and a chicken breast for lunch while in the truck.

He is getting really good about eating 3 meals and snacks. Anyway, he is sweating big time. I 'm looking for a bench or log to sit him on.

Sit. Stay. I leave him with the old dogs, 7, 10, 11 and 13. We are at marker #18. I start jogging with his keys back to the truck with 3 yr. old Yoko gleefully running with me. I know we are the only people here at the preserve. Wayne's sensorium is good. He knows where he is, so I'm not too worried. I just told him to stay put and I would be back (sometime, somehow, someday)

I'm thinking as I am jogging down the trail that Wayne needs a younger wife. I just finished a 12 hr. shift at the hospital yesterday and was looking forward to a relaxing Thanksgiving on the Kern. I'm also talking to God...asking for a few favors now.

Part 2 to follow tomorrow.

Yoko saves the day!

I smell a rat

2011-11-25T04:20:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what Yoko is doing in the wheel barrow. I think she remembers riding in EveLynn's wheel barrow when she was a puppy. She hopped right into it as soon as she saw Trouble in the hay shed. Trouble has other things on her mind other than having her picture taken.

Trouble smells a rat...or maybe just a mouse

Hmmmmm No luck this time, but she knows they are there.

So...an afternoon roll in some sheep manure on a sunny day is just as fine.

It's tough being a Jack Russell :0)

Happy Turkey Day

2011-11-24T04:24:00.000-08:00

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so let us all be thankful."

Buddha

Be thankful for what you have today

P.S. What happens when you cross a turkey with a centipede?

Everyone gets a drumstick on Thanksgiving :0)

Working dogs

2011-11-22T04:14:00.000-08:00

We try to keep our dogs mentally "busy." Most of our gates have cords attached so that the dogs can pull the gates open and closed. Everyone works them just fine (including Trouble) with the exception of Xena. She just pushes through with her weight and then waits for one of those silly Border Collies to let her back out :0)

Come on guys. What are you waiting for?

Xena, you don't want to work sheep? Let me get the gate for you.

Bye bye Xena Bean

Like father / like daughter

Jet closing the gate, time for dinner!

Wayne is home

2011-11-21T04:39:00.000-08:00

That was a looong 13 days in two different hospitals. I don't know who it was more stressful for....Wayne, me, or the dogs! But, we sure are glad he is home now. That is better than 6 feet under.

I always tell everyone to thank the Good Lord for each day you wake up. One never knows what each day will bring. Being thankful is so much better than being miserable.

I thought I did good to marry younger. Haha I told Wayne (after this) he needs a younger wife. But, I have to admit even though it was a scary ride, he kept his sense of humor through it all.

Diagnosis: idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Viral? Chemical? Hereditary? Anyone's guess. Idiopathic means they don't know the cause. They did a right and left heart cath and all of his coronary arteries were as clean as a whistle. Unfortunately, the unknown newly diagnosed cardiomyopathy had been treated in the past as recurrent pneumonia/asthma did some major damage to his heart. His cardiologist said he is lucky to be alive. We are looking at a whole new lifestyle change.

But, "now" he has the very best cardiologist (USC) and the very best endocrinologist (UCLA). Plus, kind of funny that he is an electrician who works in electronics that now his his own generator monitoring his heart. They put in an AICD (automated internal cardiac defibrillator).

Wayne was as witty as usual through all of the procedures. He told the cardiologist in the cath lab (when I mentioned that for the past few years he always hiked some 25-50 feet behind me) that it used to be.... because he liked to look at my ass, but now he couldn't catch his breath to catch up with me!

Wayne had everybody laughing...especially when his ICU RN turned out to be one of my past 1st semester RN students. We (my past student and I) both kind of figured it out at the same time. He was my student over 5 years ago. We shared some good laughs on the way back down to the heart cath lab.

It wasn't all funnies. Lots of tears were shed. Wayne had to give up a lot of control issues. He understands that what ever the future brings to him, he has to manage his health. I believe he said, "Twilight last gleaming." He gets it. I'm so sorry it turned out to be this serious. Diabetes seems simple in comparison to heart failure at age 54.

We stopped at Walmart for ALL of his new medications. When Steve the pharmacist brought over the BAG, he said, "Let's see what we have here." I said, "Steve....I'll tell you what we have here. We have a SHITLOAD of meds." I thought he was going to choke laughing.

Lucky us that we have the BEST friends and BEST co-workers ever. Everyone offered to help out. I hope I have thanked each and everyone of you. If not, please let me say thank-you again.

Now onward and upward and back to living :0)

Frank Friday

2011-11-18T04:36:00.000-08:00

Many people think 'any' open trial dog can get the 'ranch' work done. Key word is 'any.' Most open dogs are very helpful with farm/ranch work. But, I believe there is a difference in trial 'finesse' and ranch 'grit.'

I am learning all the time. And, over the past year or two I have learned that many ranches have a "chore" dog. This chore dog may be just as or more talented than the open trial dog.....BUT.....the chore dog figures lots out by himself and knows how to get the work done effectively. How the chore dogs works on the ranch, may not be exactly what you would want to see on the open trial field.

I think Kilt falls into that category...chore dog. She finds trialing a bit boring. But, she is my right hand/arm for anything to do with ranch work. She is a "thinker." I love to take Kilt with me to the barn in the morning to feed the sheep. She never riles the sheep. She stands nose to nose (maybe an inch between, if that) with our big wether and holds her ground. She is quiet and slinky. She is the best pen dog I have ever seen. When any stock task is too big for the others...Kilt will take on the job. She loves a challenge.

We are all different. Dogs are all different. You have to know what is important to you. Kilt is my partner. I would be hard put to replace her.

Special "K"

Miss Kentucky

2011-11-15T04:18:00.000-08:00

This is the new Miss Kentucky...The picture that will stay with her for the rest of her life:

Make-up and hair style ................... $500

New dress for the show ..................$700

Giant stuffed bear ............................ $300

Not knowing how to hold the bear with a microphone in her hand .....Priceless!

Yoko has a break-through

2011-11-14T05:54:00.000-08:00

Yoko tends to be a bit soft to correction. She detests flags, hats, and most anything that is waved at her and makes noise. She has never quit on me, but she sure gave it a second thought the other night. I use Yoko to put the sheep up at night. They barrel down the hill and put a ton of pressure on her. When I would ask for a flank, she wouldn't give it. It was like she was paralyzed by the pressure. When I worked her for Suzy Applegate on her range ewes they confronted her. I asked her for a flank and she blew me off. She stood there eyeing them up. Suzy told me not to let her get away with that. She was right. And, while I was at the Porterville trial when she had to jump into the sheep to get them lifted, then, she wouldn't take the flank I was giving her due to the pressure she was feeling.

So other other evening I had a plastic kitchen trash bag in my pocket. Nothing I thought out. It was just in my pocket. Kind of like a devine intervention (LOL) I asked her for a flank as the sheep barreled down the hill to their barn. Yoko laid there frozen. I took out the bag and gave it a small wave. She went a few feet. I had to wave it at her several times, before she would give me a flank. We had about a 10 minute session. At one point, she was so pissed at me, even though I was working her very quietly, that she wanted out of the sheep pen. No such luck. She was stressed. I knew that because she was trying to take the wrong flanks. I just stopped her and didn't let her get away with that either. A few more minutes of flanking under pressure and we ended on a good note.

I told my husband that night that I thought I had broken through a barrier with Yoko. Next day I had Yo entered in a small field trial at EveLynn's. The sheep are notorious for putting a ton of pressure on the dogs. They have a huge exhaust draw. I sent Yoko on a come bye and just as I sent her the sheep booked towards one of their pens. Yoko handled it like a pro. She kept an eye on them and broke wider at the top to catch them coming at her. She pushed them back up the field towards the set out hay and when I asked for a flank, I got it. She balanced them straight up the field back on line. Can you say HAPPY? I sure was!

That night when I got home we went down to the sheep pen to put them up before dark. I asked for a flank as the sheep bore into her. She gave a few feet. I asked 'sweetly' again...bing badda bing, she gave me a huge sweeping square flank. Good girlie Yoko!

Sometimes I worry that I am putting too much pressure on her when it might be true of the opposite! I'm probably letting her get away with stuff. I need to find the right balance. Gosh, I love working my dogs :0)

"Ugh Oh...Mom's on to me"