For Sale

I chose the two pups I am going to keep. Henry and Rose are for sale. $500, will be ABCA registered. There was no real reasoning in picking which two. The litter is very even. They are all very nice. They all want to work and they all have solid temperaments. John seems to really like hangin with me and Nora is just so dang pretty... So see, no real reason. Rose would be an awesome "cross over" dog. She should have plenty of herding talent, but she is the fastest little thing and she is super intense. She'd be a great agility or other sport prospect. Henry is a good boy that is going to be on the large size, imo. They're 8 months now. They're crate trained and have recalls. The pups are HatsOff X DelMar bred. Cruz and Gwen will forever be my two favorite dogs! Both on and off the field.

Because my life is going to so drastically change, I am also selling Ivy. She's a 2 year old "sibling" to the above puppies. She has a rock solid temperament. She's fun and easy to work, and is good to her stock. She has a fair amount of eye, but we were moving right along thru that back when I was actually working dogs... She'd be a nice all-around dog for someone. She's ABCA registered. $500.

I am also having to part with Toss and Deal, but I'm hoping to have that worked out thru a friend. However, if you could provide them a wonderful home with WORK, we can work something out. I would never get what they are worth in today's world, but if I KNEW they were going to a stable, forever home with work to do, I would be very reasonable. Toss and Deal both have write ups on here, just click on their photo.

Life

Well long time no write. So much has been goin' on in my life. Who would think that almost 38, being married for 15 years, and having children that 14 and 12 you would be so up in the air about your life. But I am.
My job. I love my job most days and I love most of the people I work with. Some days only having those people in my life has kept me from completely shutting down. They are truly my family. Not all of them, but a good handful. A good handful really care about me, and I them. That's not something everyone finds on the job. I'm blessed. I have wanted to throw in the towel more than once and they have been there to support me and tell me that's not the right path...
The dogs. I hardly have time anymore. I'm very uneasy and on edge about what to do in this area of my life. My feelings towards them has not at all changed, but the reality of working full time, plans of school and assistant mgr training for work, along with the the fact that we are living in a house that needs our every dollar and every available free moment... with a truly heavy heart I think I have to give up training and trialing. It's the only give in the equation of not having enough time. It's breaking my heart to see several of my die hard working dogs just hangin' out. But at the same time it would break my heart to let them go... I suddenly find myself at a very different place than just a year ago. I can no longer stand to live in a house so tore apart with no progress being made and I can no longer let myself completely depend on someone else to make all of the money and all the important decisions. What that will lead to in August when Ben returns I don't know.
Growth doesn't always come easy and that's what I'm clinging to right now....

Hooray

for warmer weather and dog work. Yesterday was a pretty pleasant day- not perfect, but very doable. I got all of the dogs worked, which always feels good. I didn't have a lot of expectations because they have gotten quite little for work in the last 6 weeks or so. I started with Ivy, and she was delightful- the best she has been. I didn't fret when she would lie down. I would simply move to the side and once she kicked up, I lightly said "walk up". She can't resist a flank to cover, so moving to the side is the best way to get her up. It was very slight this time, and the idea of "shaping" her walk up cue began working in just that one session. Towards the end she was actually getting on her feet on just the verbal command- I didn't have to move to the side. In hindsight I am a lot less worried about this than I was 3 months ago. For a few reasons. One being that she is going in the right direction. The next being that I'm starting to see that she is simply a control freak like her mother, and because she was (is) too young to have a lot of natural pace, she was simply planting herself and then flanking to keep control, rather than walking on. She knew at the speed she would walk/trot on that she would push them passed me. So the smart little thing did her own problem solving and decided that simply flanking to cover and hold was the way to be. Is she going to be a bubble protector like her mother? Yes, I'm sure she will be- but I will take a dog that has wonderful feel for her sheep over one that just walks right thru it. The trick is getting them to trust that it IS okay to push that bubble if so asked. Gwen learns this more and more each season. Heck, I've gotten her to get in there and grip when she's taking and keeping them off the grain feeder. Her driving continues to get quicker and quicker and she is more and more willing to keep pushing without needing a bump flank to free her up. Interestingly, what I do with Gwen on the drive is the same thing I am doing with Ivy on her fetch in a sense. I was told about a year ago by Carol that to help Gwen with her driving I needed to give her little bump flanks when she would stall out. Rather than walk up, I would bump her, which gets just a bit of sheep movement, which would free her up. It worked like a charm. The bumps get smaller and smaller and less often as her skill and confidence grows. Another thing I have learned with her is that more I toot my walk up, the more she clams up. I think this is something she needs to wrap her own head around, and me tooting "walk up, walk up" is hindering that. Well, guess I just covered Gwen's day too. She continues to only get better and better, and pretty soon a Ranch level drive will be a cake walk for her. :-)

I also worked Clare. The girl that wanted her can't do it right now, and honestly I'm not upset. I jumped the gun with Clare and I'm quite pleased that she is staying. She has outgrown her somewhat handler-worry and is such a nice young dog on sheep. (which she's always been, I was simply concerned that I was "too much" handler for her) She has a very quiet, but powerful way about her and she is almost boring because she "just does it". No fuss, no muss. She does have Deal's eye and being that she is on the softer side, I will have to walk the fine line of keeping her square, but not give her reason to think I am being unfair. Like any good stockdog, her keeness to work is going to outweigh any worry she has about me. Waiting until the age she is now was good for her, she and I have a nice bond now and I feel like she trusts me. She took my "suggestion" of being a bit more square quite well. No matter how I set it up she was nearly perfect to the left, but not as free to the right. She has nice pace and uses her head. I have another nice dog the same age as Clare in mind for the girl who wanted Clare. I'm sure it will be a lovely fit when she can make the trip to pick her up. :-)

Toss and Deal were both very good. Toss seems to have retained his newly learned (but long since used!) whistles, so that's good. He was more on than I expected from him considering the time off they have had. He's going to be a really nice trial dog and now that he has matured, he is also a wonderful farmhand. He is still, and I suppose always will be a lot of dog. He is very come forward, and although he has stock sense and balance, he does not have the eye that most of my dogs have. He's a fun dog to work. Deal has never looked or listened better. She is quick to respond and willing to listen. We have come a long way team-work speaking. She is a wonderful dog and I enjoy her even more now in her "biddable years"! LOL!

I played with Emma for bit. Good Lord I have never seen such a drop dead serious dog at her age! The world truly melts away when she gets her sheep. She is straight on like her grandfather (Toss). She tore into them and then was confused at my dissatisfaction. I'm willing to let a pup go with gusto until one gets split off and kept off. Then I have a bit to grumble about.... She froze (locked on, but frozen) and I had Cruz move them around to get her back moving again. I couldn't get her cover. If I stepped too close her way she was worried about me. (never stopped looking at the sheep, but I would get that very low, wag, wag, wag) But if I stepped too far back she would mostly likely make a mess. (with gusto) (so really she is not ready at 9 months and it'll be another month before she gets another short go). So I quit trying to get her to cover and just walked with her, patting my leg. Sure enough, she drove. She very much enjoyed walking about 15' straight across from me- and with wonderful pace and control. We walked together and twice, thanks to the flow of the sheep I was able to step to the side and "flank" her. She's going to be a powerful, all business dog. :-) She was SO happy she got a turn yesterday. (she moaned and groaned with her head stuck between my knees while I oogled over her afterwards). She wants to be a big dog really bad. I gave her mama, Kit a short turn at the end and she did very well. Her sends are getting better and better. Everything else is there. With her, it's just simply stretching out what she does so nicely close at hand.

Tomorrow Ella will be here, so everyone will get some work again tomorrow. The dogs are staying in pretty good shape even during this dreary winter thanks to the 4 wheeler. Now that it's staying light longer I can take them for a run nearly each day after work. Right now they get a 5 mile run (2-3 minute breather/drink break at 1 mile, 2.5, and 4) once or twice a week and a quick 2 mile run 2 days a week. (yes, my 4x4 has odometer) I'd like to get them a run each day. They don't need 5 miles each day, but I'd like to do 5 miles twice a week, 2.5 miles 3 days a week and 1 mile 2 days week. Maybe 5 mile, 1 mile, 2.5 mile, 2.5, 5 mile, 1 mile, 2.5 mile. Or maybe on the 1 mile days play ball instead. They're happier, healthier, and smarter to train if they get that "burn off" each day. I always know when I've gone too long as that's when the yard is suddenly decorated with holes and littered with pieces of things they have gotten from somewhere. It's also when they seem a little bitchy with each other. I feel bad when that happens, so I need to get them on a non-working routine as much as they are on a working routine. Because lets face it, if they were pooped out and mentally satisfied after only a few sessions of stockwork a week they wouldn't be the dogs I love! A full time job during the winter pretty much sucks the life out of dog work. Dark until 15 minutes before I leave, and dark when I get home. Pretty much limited to my 2 days off. But... the days are longer now. The darkest months are gone for another year! :-)

Me and My Boy

My 3 month old moose!

He is the best cuddler! He is always up for leaning in for a snuggie.

It's amazing the bond we have already. He has a huge hold on my heart and looks at me with that gaze of true love. Cruz means the world to me, and I adore Gwen like I have never adored another dog. In Cruz's eyes I'm his world, and it sure seems that Henry is going to follow in his father's footsteps. I can only hope I am that blessed!

World's Best Pup

Winter

This seems like the longest, sloppiest, ugliest winter we've had in Virginia since we've been here. We just can't seem to catch much of a break. It's either rain, wicked cold (for the SE), rain and cold, snow, wind, wind and rain, and so forth. Since about November. I'm over it. The dogs are over it. The ewes have had their lambs are they are big enough to tag along during training- that is if I could ever catch a decent day on my days off. I can't wait until the sun is in the sky until 8pm! Patience I guess, but I'm tired of the gloomy, cold, wet days! It's supposed to be in the mid 50s early next week, but not without rain on a few days. I guess that's better than 39 and rain... The kids had a two hour delay this morning because of snow/slush overnight. They have had more snow days this year than I think they've had in their 8 years of schooling combined! Some of the school systems have added 20 minutes to each day until the end of the year, others are shortening breaks, and having school on holidays they would normally have off. I hope we have a spring. I hope we don't go from running the heat to blowing the a/c! I'd like to have a little open window weather! I imagine not having my husband here doesn't much help. It can make for some really rough days. I miss him. July seems a forever away. Weather slowed the crate training process, as they continued to need an inside area, an area in the insulated garage (aka, kennel building), as well as their covered kennel with a dog house. Their inside area was "converted" to their crate area on Monday. They had been doing very well in their area at night, sleeping quietly all night and very few poops in the cedar chip end of the area. So Monday night they slept in their crates- away from each other for the first time. (except for Henry due to the issues him and John were having so Henry had been in a large wire crate for a few nights prior) They fussed very little. They each kinda took one short turn. Well... maybe John's turn was a little longer. I got up once at 1am and let them all out to pee. I've continued to only get up that one extra time, and have slept peacefully all 3 nights. :-) I'm very proud of the babies. They have taken to this new step in growing up just as they have with every other "milestone". They are the most incredibly bright and easy to get along with pups. I'm so excited for nicer weather and longer days so I can start doing some fun stuff with them.

Lost, Tossed, and Too Much Cost

Tuesday was orthodontic day 60 miles from home. It's a drag to have a day off eaten up by those kind of obligations, but what can ya do. The boys and I made a day of it by running some other fun-type errands including hair cuts for Charlie and I and some new (some were new/used) clothes for mostly my growing monsters, but also a new sweater for me at work. I'm phasing out the t-shirts and trying to wear more professional shirts and sweaters. I don't do much "grunt" work at work anymore, so I can wear nicer clothes now. We had lunch at Cracker Barrel, which is a rare treat and was very good. Charlie had a 4" thick slice of meatloaf and all 3 of his sides were the mac n cheese! LOL! Dylan had probably the best country fried steak he'll ever eat and just raved about his applesauce (simple pleasures). I had a grilled chicken sandwhich that was to die for in taste. :-)

We stopped at the PETCO to get feeder mice and look around at dog/puppy toys. I couldn't justify the prices. :-( I spotted a really nice rubbery type frisbee that looked like it would both fly and be teeth/gum friendly. 19 flippin' dollars!! What? And because it's $19 you know what would happen? I'd throw it once and it would end up on the peak of this two story farmhouse! Just like when I did agility I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED those heavy duty fabric frisbees Clean Run sold. They flew, they held up to ridiculous tugging, and you could shove them in your pants. (Oh how I miss grass and grit in my under-britches!) I had one, loved it. So when it came time for a new one I ordered it. They were not cheap, but it was a tool and it was worth it. I used to always ensure they didn't get left in the yard- hence the tool aspect, additionally although they held up to training, all day teeth work probably not so much. One day, proud of myself for NOT leaving it out, I plopped it onto the roof the van. Yup. You already know where this is going don't you? Yes, yes I did. But what's *really* sad is that I actually drove around LOOKING for it when I realized what I had done! Then there's the Go-fer balls (we call the "launcher balls" 'round here). They are my dogs' absolute favorite. They are a weird texture of a ball, somewhere between ratchet ball and foam. They are tennis ball size and have a loop of surgical tubing attached. Like I said, "launcher" ball. And they fly! Again, not a cheap toy and I could only find them online. But they were enough fun to be worth it. My problem? (no, not leaving them on the van- that's only frisbees) Two things. Launcher control and trees. Did you know that a 20" loop of surgical tubing, when attached to a ball and thrown can tie itself into 40 knots in exactly 1.2 seconds? Yup. There ain't no gettin' those suckers down! And we have tried. Ever watch a 6' tall man trying to control 25' of pvc while 10 revved up Border Collies are dancing around his feet? It's funny video worthy. Also funny video worthy are grown adults throwing just about anything they think just *might* break off the 1" diameter branch that suddenly seems as though it's made of unbreakable material. I think even bee-bee guns have been used. Remember this is a toy more expensive than it should be and is desired enough that it has been ordered.... I think one year I had 3 launcher balls proudly blowing in the breeze long after all the leaves had fallen. Only once the sun and the rain have eaten away all of the surgical tubing's stretch do we get our launcherless ball back- and then... well it's just another tennis ball. (insert raspberry and the look of 12 forlorn pitiful Border Collies here...) So even though my thought process was that it would be a fun new toy for all to enjoy, I remembered my past history with the "special" toys and with a heavy sigh, hung it back on it's hook. Today I bought a can of tennis balls. For 3 dollars.

Like Weeds

Rose is big into "covering" motion and goes non-stop. She has the most expessionate face and it just screams "wicked smart!" I think Rose is going to be a super fun girl to work and bond with, she has a delightful personality.

John is still handsome as ever and becoming more personable. I think once they start getting one on one work I'll see a whole new side to John, he finds me more and more often and is quite loving. He isn't a "big" personality like his sisters, but I can visualize him being a very, very faithful, business is business type of worker.

Henry is still my man. We have quite the bond already. Even looking at his photos pulls at my heart strings! Henry is having to spend the daytime alone lately, as he and John are suddenly not each other's biggest fans. I don't have any problems with either of them with the girls, but they have gotten into a few too many quite serious fights with each other and I don't care to have them get into it in a 10x20 pen while I'm away at work. It's mostly Henry being dominant, and when John from time to time stands his ground, it never ends well. I've never seen pups fight like they have from time to time and for what seems just out of the blue. They can be fine all day and then all of sudden something snaps and once they get into it Henry will not let John be. I can get them apart, only to have Henry follow John... I've never had this issue with raising littermates before. For some reason the 2 boys just don't much care for each other. Neither of their parents are at all dog nasty, so hopefully this is a puppyhood stage and simply making sure they aren't together unsupervised for a period of time will be all it takes. They both get along with the girls, and the girls are far from submissive to the boys, so I'm not exactly sure why there's the occassional tension between the 2 boys. In my experience it's always been the bitches that can sometimes be... well, bitches.

Henry is such a love bug and we really have a special bond already. My heart hasn't felt like this about a puppy in a long time! :-)

Nora is as full tilt as she is cute! She is a Gwen clone in personality. She's very, very smart and enjoys hanging close by. She has the most delightful little expressions. She's one of those that can speak to you with her eyes.

Henry and John

Wild Girl Rose and John

Pretty and sweet. Gracie is a special girl. Like her littermates, she's very bright and outgoing. She has Dylan wrapped right around her paw.