Harder than putting pantyhose on a kangaroo

My dogs hate having their picture taken. They think it is some form of abuse if I try posing them. I've tried biscuits, words they know and like but they always come out looking like they're in trouble. except Crue of course. He loves having his picture taken. He loves my grooming table and jumps up on it any chance he gets.

Note the only dog here that looks happy.

Happy Holidays!

Crue wants to wish everyone a very Happy and Safe Holiday Season!

Pit Bull scare

We had a scare here with a Pit Bull. The house behind the shop has a Pit Bull that is usually tied up to a dog house. They've actually had quite a few dogs in the year I've been here, none left. Their house is about 150 yards or so away. The back lot is only partially fenced. The woman who lives there had the dog by the collar I guess, and when it saw my dogs come out of the shop it got away from her and ran like a bullet to my dogs. Jenna tried to frantically call them in but they don't listen to her as well as me so they pretty much ignored her. The Pit bulldozed into Seth, knocking him flat. Before Seth could get to his feet and into the shop a very strange thing happened. Mike, who is generally a pacifist went running out and gave that Pit the Border Collie stare. Mike has a good stare because he is tri color and his eyes are very light almost golden. So he has a very intense stare. Kitty hates it. Anyway I guess that Pit Bull was a bit intimidated not sure what to make of Mike and took off running home. Yay Mike! Yesterday when I let the dogs out in the morning I made them all stay in till I made sure the coast was clear of Pit bulls. Mike did not come out with the other dogs. Not unusual as he takes any chance he gets to stare at Kitty. The  other dogs were running around and that Pit Bull, who was tied with a rope at his house saw them and started barking. Mike came charging out of the door head held high scoping the area making sure "his" pack was all safe. Its so unlike Mike to act like this. Seth actually walked by him, giving him a quick kiss. Seth and Mike used to hate each other. Anyway, Mike is the hero of the day here. Funny how just that morning at home I was ready to disown the noisy, stubborn, trash stealing fool. What a difference a day makes.

Crue's first snow

We got a bit of snow today. Crue was puzzled by it at first but then he went crazy running and throwing his toy in the air. Later I let them all out at the shop and took some pics. My dogs love the snow. Seth thanked me for giving him snow today. I know he thinks I have control of the elements. I mean I control the biscuits and the sheep so he's sure I must control the snow too. Anyway, they had fun!

Long Dog

While going through some old pictures I found this one. It's definitely old as my daughter in the pic is now 23 yrs old. But I always thought this must be the longest dog in the world! Actually the front half is Rottweiler and the back half is my Great Dane puppy, Ruger. It always made me laugh to look at this picture. I hope it does you too.

Dogs in my life

Life would be so much easier without dogs. I would have a job, get up shower, eat breakfast, drop my daughter by school and go to my job. I would work for 8 hours, collect a paycheck here and there then go home. I would play on the computer, maybe watch some tv, eat dinner then go to bed.

My life is not like that.

I get up (early) I go let the dogs out to run and potty. I hose down kennels and fill water buckets. If its below freezing I do what I can, which means going into the house to get water for the dogs. I stand out in the elements and let them finish their business, then I put them back in their kennels. I go in, shower, eat breakfast, get dressed. Then I go out, let the dogs out of the kennel and put them in the back of the truck. I drive to my shop, go in turn off the alarm, go back out let the dogs out of the truck and into the shop, making sure I get in there fast enough myself to keep Meg out of the biscuit tub. Then I go down to the basement and put Seth, Mike, Meg, Reign and Torka into their crates. I go upstairs and put Crue into his, then I get back into the truck and drive my daughter to school. I get back to the shop and let all the dogs out back to run and potty. I bring them all back in, yelling at Mike for harrassing Kitty, then I put them all back into their crates. I open the shop, groom dogs and sell stuff all day. In the afternoon if I haven't already I let the dogs all out back again. Then I put them all back up and go pick up my daughter from school. I come back to the shop, groom at least 1 more dog and by then its almost closing time. I feed the dogs their dinner, let them all out again then bring them upstairs to run around while we get everything ready to leave. I back the truck up again and open the tailgate (I have a shell) and make them all lie down and wait till I call them to jump into the truck. I drive home, let the dogs out and clean the kennels if I didn't in the morning, fill the waters and put them away. I go out again in a few hours and let them out for a longer run and then put them up for the night. Oh and sometime during the time at home I walk the yard picking up all the poop, which goes in a bag to be taken to the trash at the shop during the week. I haul bags of dog food home, I kick the ball, throw the sticks and take them out for walks. If I didn't have dogs my life would be so much easier!

But it would be empty.

Mayberry

My daughter (Jillian) and I took Seth and Crue and went to the Rural Hill Trial in NC over the weekend. It was fun and a nice site for a trial. Seth watched all the runs and I'm sure he had a good time. Crue was really good and wasn't nervous about any of the stuff going on nor the many many dogs there. We looked around at all the interesting sites and had a good time over all. We spent the night as the drive was too long for a 1 day trip.

When we drove home we decided to stop in Mt Airy, which is where Andy Griffith grew up and based the town of Mayberry on in the Andy Griffith show. We had a really good time there. Here is Jillian wondering what is taking me so long.

We went for a tour in a mule drawn wagon and met some really nice people.

They had these mock up sets of the Mayberry jail in a store. We took pictures of each other in jail.

When we got back out to the truck to give the dogs some fries (Seth's favorite food in the world) I snapped this pic of the dogs in jail in Mayberry.

Then I took a break and relaxed in a swing on Aunt Bee's porch.

And of course no trip to Mayberry would be complete without seeing Floyd's Barber shop

This was the statue of Andy and Opie going fishing that is in front of the Andy Griffith Playhouse which I guess used to be a school that Andy went to when he was young.

All in all we had a very good weekend. If you ever go to Mt Airy be sure to go to Opies candy store. They have zillions of big jars full of every kind of candy imaginable and you can mix up anything you want in bags. I made a mixture of all kinds of licorice and Jill made a huge bag full off all types of chocolates. It was too good and I ate too much of it!

Oh and one other milestone note. Crue lifted his leg and marked a bush for the first time. I was very glad because it makes it so much easier to take dogs out when you are staying in a hotel if they'll pee on a bush. He's a big boy now!

Kitty scare

Had a bad scare this morning when I got to the shop. I went to the basement to let the dogs out then was getting some breakfast and I noticed Kitty (Captain Jack Sparrow) was nowhere to be found. I called and called and he always comes when he's called, or at least answers you. I got Meg out and asked her to find Kitty. She went to all his usual places, but no Kitty. We got Kitty when he was too young to be taken from his Mom, but there were three litters of kittens and only one surviving Mother (coyotes). My son brought him home because there were too many kittens for only one Mom. He had very gunky infected eyes and I did my best to clean them and they did heal, but he was left with little sight. The third eyelid comes up partway but he just doesn't see well anyway. He runs into walls and stuff all the time. He has the run of the shop and has always been an indoor cat. He will venture out onto the little porch area when I let the dogs out to run, but he never goes farther than that. Well I figure maybe he went out and nobody saw him and when we brought the dogs in he was left out. I went outside a couple times and called but heard nothing. I took Meg out there but when I said find Kitty, she ran back in and checked out his usual places inside. I couldn't stand just sitting here so I went back outside and this time walked around beside the building where there are some boxes and assorted junk to be taken to the landfill. I again asked Meg to find Kitty. She did start sniffing around among the boxes and I noticed an old piece of ducting that had been thrown there. I called Kitty again and lo and behold he answered! He had obviously hidden in the ducting all night. He came out and I brought him back in all safe and sound. But now he won't eat the really great food I gave him thinking he must be hungry, he is just sitting by the back door and wants back out!!!!!

good boy Crue

I've always said Crue is a very good dog. Well today he really proved me right. He's not perfect, but he's young and mistakes are going to be made. But for the most part he's a very good boy.

I took the dogs out back of the shop to run and decided to work putting up some more fencing. The back property behind my shop was not fenced for the most part, which is why Mike took off one night right under my nose, in the pitch black. We got fencing and t-posts after that and ran it up one side. The side with the poison oak. We just sat the rest of the roll of fencing up against the chainlink that runs alongside the road. Today I went out and cut the fencing from the roll and wired it to the chainlink.

Its still open on the otherside however.

I started walking over towards that spot to see how long a piece of fencing it would take to start blocking at least the way to the road and I had Crue and Reign with me. Crue is now 8 mos old, never been on sheep and only knows a few things like sit, down and shake. I do make him wait at the door before loading up in the truck and again getting out. He's good but its all he can do to keep from jumping before I say to. Well as I was walking over to the open side of the fence with Crue with me a rabbit jumped up out of the brush right under us. Crue immediately gave chase. I yelled Crue, that'll do!! And he actually stopped and started to come to me. He really didn't have his attention on me and didn't come all the way back to me but kept looking off where the rabbit had gone. But he did stop and he did come back and after a little bit he came to me and wagged his tail. He got lots of praise for that! So I know now I can call him off a rabbit..LOL

I went back down later with all the dogs and Mike found a big tree branch and started dragging it around.

Pretty soon everyone got involved and it turned into a big tug o war.

Water Cress Farm sheepdog trial

A friend and I went to the Water Cress Farm sheepdog trial in Limestone, TN last Sunday. I took Crue and Seth. I wasn't entered. I didn't figure it was the best thing to do as Seth hasn't worked sheep in almost 2 years and can be a butthead at the best of times. Plus he's going on 10 years old and isn't in the best shape. Crue hasn't seen sheep since he was a wee pup so entering him was out of the question. We just went to spectate. What a beautiful setting for a trial. The view was breathtaking and weather was perfect. A tad bit coldish, but sunny and bright. I got to meet a lot of people that I only knew by name. Debbie Bailey and Alice Urquhart were absolutely wonderful introducing me to everyone. It was nice to be among sheepdog people again. It felt like going home. Thankyou you guys!

I took a few pictures. My camera isn't the best quality, but a few came out fairly good I think.

First the view. East TN is sure a beautiful place!

The trial field looking from inside my truck (I was cold and lazy, what can I say?)

I'm sorry I don't know what dog this was. It was one of the first pictures I took and I had no running order. Not sure what dog this was either.

Same dog

Alice Urquhart's Dirk

Seth feeling very good back in his element. He was the happiest I've seen him in a long time.

Crue with his new buddy who is a couple weeks older than him. (I'm sorry Debbie, I can't remember his name) These two played and played. And I noticed Crue came home with some new play methods that he used on the other dogs. Mostly using his paws a lot more. Meg didn't like it much and body slammed him. He decided to go back to his usual play method with Meg. On his back with her gnawing on him. He loves it.

We had a very good time and I'm looking forward to going to the Rural Hill trial in a couple weeks! I'll take Crue again just to get him used to the atmosphere and noises.

More Crue

I took some more pics of Crue today. He has to be the easiest dog I have to get good pics of. He just stood there for a long long time and let me snap as many as I wanted. Then he caught sight of Kitty so I got some good intense expression pics. Hopefully soon I'll get to see his expression on sheep.

Not much going on

Just thought I'd post a new pic of Crue. He's such a good puppy. Very obedient although he does have just a smidge of a stubborn streak. I like that in a dog. His is nothing compared with Seth. Seth is not just stubborn, he's is a mischievious practical joker. He loves teasing all the other dogs. He makes a career out of making everyone mad. Crue is the opposite of that and all the other dogs seem to just love him. Meg plays with him all the time and Meg NEVER plays with other dogs. I will be taking him to the trial this weekend so he can refresh his memory of trial sights and smells. I hope he remembers.

I think he has a sweet face.

Aarrhh Matey!

Torka is ready for trick or treat! If his small dog syndrome wasn't bad enough, now he really thinks he's tough stuff!

Crue's Famous Daddy!

So, Crue's daddy is now the USBCHA Nursery Champion! I printed out Scott and Don's winners photo and showed Crue. He was very impressed! He said one day he would like to be in that winners circle himself. Here he is appreciating his talented Father.

another day another no show

I hate people who don't show up for their appointment and don't call. Today I had a woman who called, kept me on the phone forever while I had other customers in the shop patiently waiting for help while this woman rambled on and on about her dogs. I politely said we could talk about her dog's characteristics etc, when she came in for her appointment. She kept on talking and talking. Finally I got her off the phone. So after all that today, she doesn't show up or call! What is it with people? That was a two dog time slot I could have filled in with other customers but now its too late to call them as they've already scheduled for other days. And I'm sitting here with no dogs to groom for a couple hours, hence, no money coming in. Arrgghhh!!!

Bath Time!

Awww...poor Crue!

Slow days

Business has been kinda slow lately, so that gives me more time to play with the dogs. Crue is starting to mature a bit and is becoming less obnoxious to the other dogs, which they are very happy about. Reign was playing with Crue yesterday morning and actually wrestling with him. At first I thought how nice he's wanting to play, but then after watching for awhile I'm thinking Reign was just trying to tire him out. Either way he did a good job of it because Crue finally collapsed panting and I swear Reign had a big grin on his face. Mike was hiding behind me the whole time. Crue is still attaching his teeth to Mike, either his neck or his face and Mike just won't do anything about it. I've tried correcting him myself, but if I'm not right there at that moment it doesn't do any good and with 6 dogs running around I can't always be right there policing everyone's moves. Mike waited until Reign and Crue were done doing laps around the house and Crue finally settled down before he ventured out from behind me. Of course Crue is never obnoxious to Meg. Meg will all of a sudden just run out and tackle Crue to the ground and pin him there for a while. Meg is the only one that seems to have any control over him. He doesn't bother Seth though. I think it is because Seth just ignores him. But anyway, I think Crue is growing up. He's calming down and starting to listen to me. He's very obedient and even if I yell at him across the way for something he will immediately come to me and apologize. He's biddable but also seems very confident of himself. He never cowers no matter what is going on. He greets all the customers..a bit over exuberantly at times and just seems very happy. I can hardly wait to see how he is on sheep. But the advice is to wait till he's closer to a year before starting him, so I have to be patient myself. He is only just 6 months old so he has a lot more growing up to do. I took some more pics of him and Reign this morning. Again Reign thinks cameras are punishment and he just won't sit, but Crue seems to like having his picture taken.