Monday, December 22, 2008

Princess Skarlet

Our year long project has been to build a dog room.  We have one area of the house that was not practical to use as a living area.  It is totally cut off from the rest of the house.  The people before used it as a dining room and living room.  Murray put up a new wall and made an office for me that connects to the kitchen and the rest of the house.  On the other side of the wall (through the door) is our dog room.  We have tiled this room and I just painted it not too long ago.  We have had to do it in sections as we didn't always have the money to do it all at once. Some is better than none.  It is about 7/8's done as we only have the entry way to tile (coming from the outside door on the porch).  We do want to put a door in that would lead to the backyard, but that is in the future.
This room has kicked butt this winter because I can bring all of the dogs in here and let them dry off after playing outside.  All of the snow and dirt falls off in this room and then they can come in the rest of the house after that.  They seem to have relaxed in there now.  I came into my office to see Skarlet through the door.  There happened to be a dog bed on one of the wire crates.  Skarlet had hopped up there to look out the window and later fall asleep.  I did move the dog bed to the top of the plastic crate because the wire crate was starting to cave in.



Will It Ever STOP Snowing

Like most places in the Northwest, we have had snow falling continuously for a week.  Now all that we can do is have fun and take pictures.  We have settled into a routine of doing chores for over an hour each morning, running, eating, sleeping, going potty, going for a walk, doing chores for about an hour each night, running, eating, going potty and then going to sleep each day now.  The dogs seem pretty content with this routine.
I did see that we are supposed to be staying in the double digits (high and low) for the next few days.

I needed to change it up a little today, so I took some pictures of the dogs.  I am getting really used to being out in single digit temperatures now.

This is Singe the Snowman


If that look of Lash's could talk.  I wonder what she is thinking.


Skarlet is forming some nice whiskersicles on her chin.


Kate says "You can catch snowflakes if you stick your tongue out far enough".

Fusion looking cute as ever.  The snow does not phase her one bit.


This is a picture of Smith Rock from our property.  What a view we have, if I don't say so myself.

The next 3 pictures of of the dogs having fun.  Our snow is soooo dry that is just kicks around like dust.  We have about 2 feet of snow on the ground.




Nan reminds me of sheep wool.  The snow just sits on top of her coat like it does on a sheep's wool.



Thursday, December 18, 2008

I've Been Tagged

I have been tagged by Phantom Ridge Border Collies for a 6th file 6th picture story.
Here is the picture and the story is below.

The black BC is my main BC Mick and the red BC is Risk.  This is right after I got Risk.  Mick was such a young boy here and it is really fun to go back and look at pictures of him when he was a young punk.  Mick is still the main man here on the ranch, but Risk and Skar are coming up behind him.  Mick is the type of dog that you can grab to work in any situation, so that is why he gets used so much.

Most of the people who follow my blog or who I follow have been tagged, so I think my list is going to be short.

I now tag: (not sure if they will see it though)




Saturday, December 13, 2008

What Keeps You Grounded?

My dogs keep me grounded.  We have been going through some ups and downs here with both of our Grandmas not doing good.  What is nice is I always have the dogs to make me smile.  If it is working them in herding, agility or just watching them be dogs, they always bring me back down to earth and say "It is OK".

This is a normal morning with Skarlet on my chair and Singe in the couch.  Miss Skar loves to get in my chair as soon as I get up to do something.  Singe can either be found on the couch or in Murray's chair.




I love these next 2 pictures because they involve Kate still playing with the pack.  Kate is 10 1/2 years old and has come into her second puppy hood.  She and Lash have this game, I can not explain it to a tee, that the play when all of the dogs are running.  Lash goes behind me and takes off with Kate on her behind.  They then meet up and do this mouthing thing, all in play.  If you saw it as an outsider you would think one of them is mad at the other.  This is Kate's way of playing with her grand daughter.


Skarlet doing her famous watch over Havoc.  You can not see Havoc in the picture, but it is usually Havoc laying by my feet and Skar waiting for Havoc to take off running.  Game on!!! One day I will actually capture it on camera or video.

Run Nan, Run!!!! (Jen x Singe)

Risk escaping the pack of wild dogs on her butt.



Lash does this mouthing with Lash too.  It is the same game that she plays with Kate.  Lash and Havoc are 1/2 sisters.



Rosie is running so fast that her tongue won't stay in her mouth.



Oh no, the pack of wild dogs are on Risk's butt again.



I love getting pictures of pack line ups.  This is part of our pack and it is truly a line of pack order.  Yes, we are missing a few dogs, but I can basically insert them into the line if need be.
Line up goes Singe, Mick, Lash, Havoc and Skarlet.  If the other dogs were in the line up then it would be Kate before Singe, Jen after Mick and Risk after Jen.  Then there is little Fusion running around the dogs.  I have a sneaking feeling that Fusion will be somewhere at the front of the pack.  Oh Lord have mercy on me!


Singe always seems to have fun no matter what he is doing.  I wish I could have his attitude in life.


I have been having a good time training dog is herding and agility.  I am hoping to set up the tri pod next week during some agility training.  Maybe I can talk Murray into breaking away from work here (so much to do) on the weekend and video taping Skar and Risk training on sheep.

Til' Next Time,
Brittney

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Godspeed Luke

I received very sad news this morning.  Misty's house burnt down yesterday.  She was able to get her other dogs out, but Luke would not come out from under the bed.  Misty tried, but the flames and smoke were too bad.  Luke did not make it out.  Luke was from our Piper x Sinner litter.
There are no words that can say how sad I am for you Misty.  Luke will always be remembered and will remain in our hearts.

Below are some pictures of Luke growing up.

Luke as a happy puppy.

Luke always loved the water.  He would then make a nice muddy mess after he swam in any water he could get into.

This picture was taken the first time he saw sheep.  He was a handsome boy.


Luke's first time on sheep.

Luke with Grandpa Mick.

Luke was one of those puppies that was always happy.  You can clearly see it in his face.

Luke's first snow.

Luke is pictured here 1 1/2 weeks before the tragic loss of his life.  He was a very handsome boy.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to
someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can
run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and
comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored
to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong
again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each
miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when
one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent;
His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying
over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend
finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted
again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the
beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet,
so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....


Author unknown...





Wednesday, December 3, 2008

What A Nice Couple Of Days

As you can see by these photos our sunsets have been gorgeous here in Central Oregon.  I was out feeding the sheep tonight with Connor and as we were walking back to the house I noticed the beautiful sunset.  At the time Connor was in the wheel barrel  and thought it was cool when I started pushing it faster and faster.  I got to the driveway and plopped him on the ground as I ran in for my camera.  He then thought it was funny that we were running back towards the sheep with 8 Border Collies also thinking it was cool that we were playing chase.  I was able to snap these pictures right before the sun set.  I even got one with our Alpacas in it.





I have had a great week training dogs.  Today was the only day that I did not train any of the adults.  It doesn't hurt to have a day off.  :-)  I concentrated on the puppies here.  I video taped Nan and Rosie's sessions.  All of the girls are working on different things, so it is really fun.  Both Nan and Rosie are looking for homes.  

Rosie is working on backing up and I also started showing her heel position.  She started offering me back up yesterday, so today I decided I would video it.  She is up to about 5 steps back.  


This is Nan's session with down.  She offered me a very nice folding down in our session this morning, so I went with that and marked it each time she offered it.  By this afternoon the was continuously offering me a nice down.  I did click once for a down that started with her butt first.  It was the only time and I said ooops, more for my own mental negative marker.


Our other handling skill we are working on is the beginning of rear crosses.



I really hope the good, dry, weather stays around as it really keeps me in the mood to train the dogs.  It is really hard to drag a 3 year old out to the sheep or agility field when it is freezing or raining.  Connor is at the age where it is really starting to interest him.  He ha even taken to training Kate now and asks to train her.  We are working on downs with her.  I am trying to get her to pay attention to his commands and not wait for me to tell her a command.  I am also working on Connor's delivery of the treat.  Kate loves food, so sometimes she is a little too excited to get the treat.  I will have to get some video of him training her as it is really cute.  I am hoping that he will be able to run her in Juniors next spring and summer.  Kate is 10 1/2 years old now, but is still going strong.  Connor is 3 years old and I want him to start with a dog like Kate as she is SOOOOO biddable and LOVES to work.

Till Later