Handling Seminar

  Today, I attended a day long handling seminar with Gemma.  It was basic but I still learned quite a bit!  The mystique around accumulating points was clearly explained (and understood!) and I took away some very good tenets:  I'm always an ambassador for the Collie so I should know/understand the breed standard to be able to explain why this breed is so great and, when I'm in the ring, I'm a salesman for  my dog.  Which means, for me, to be more confident and assertive, especially when dogs are lined up for the judge's final look.
  Gemma didn't embarrass me with her ring behavior--actually, she was great--but I made a couple of silly mistakes.  That was another lesson from today--practice visually everyday how I will present a dog in the ring, because, when I'm physically in the ring, my mind can go blank (how well I know that feeling!) and then my body will just do what it needs to do to present the dog to its best to the judge.
  I've been working with the dogs the last few weeks, concentrating on the little things, not sweating about some less common things and Gemma has responded the fastest.  She's turning into a show dog before my eyes!  We think we want to take a break from showing until the fall while I concentrate on training the dogs (and myself) but with Gemma's newfound talents, I'm not so sure...

It Must Be Spring

  It feels like spring is just about to pop out!  The pussy willows are covered in catkins, the trees have buds and the geese are flying north.  I even thought I heard some spring peepers last night after I fed the dogs!

  The dogs are acting spring-like, too.  Lots of energy, wanting to play, almost demanding to spend the days in the yards, even if it's cloudy.

  I let them play one day last week when it was especially nice.  The boys have been testy with each other (another sign of spring!) so only Gibson was in the big yard with the girls.  I planned on having him share the time outside with Mosby and taking Ref and Jackson on a long walk.  While I was letting everyone out to play, Sophie looked quite lonely in her small yard.  I decided to try Mosby (age10) in with her for some company and senior play.  She seemed happy to see him, although he didn't seem so eager, rolling his eyes and hesitating at the gate.  After making sure they were getting along, I went inside to grab some lunch and get the leashes for the younger boys' walk.

  The peace lasted for only about 20 minutes!  I put Ref's collar on him, attached it to a coupler then opened Jackson's gate to put his collar on.  Ref started to posture and challenge Jackson, who immediately acted like a tussle would be an appropriate afternoon activity.  I started to drag Ref away but could hear barking outside.  Jackson ran out of the kennel to see what was going on.  When I got outside, all the dogs were barking and Sophie had Mosby pinned up against the fence.  Now, I'm not sure that Sophie had actually started a fight, considering she's almost 13 and arthritic but it did match her behavior in her younger days.   On this day, I think she may have forgotten her age, tried to pick a fight, lost her balance and ended up leaning against Mosby who had the fence to support him.

 I got Jackson back into his kennel, then went to rescue Mosby.  He was more than happy to get away!  He gave me this look that said "Sophie's crazy!" and enjoyed the consolation treat in his kennel.

  For her part, Sophie seemed pleased with herself although she was stiff the next day.  But no matter how nice the weather, or how lonely she looks, no more opportunities for senior citizen fights!

Dixie's Week-End

  Sounds like Dixie had a fun week-end and didn't embarrass herself in the shows.  She can be a bit headstrong on the grooming table and tried to boss Cathy about it, but of course was not allowed to get away with any bad behavior.  After that, she was a model show dog!
  Dixie showed better on Sunday than Saturday and received many compliments.  The judges didn't choose her for an award, but we didn't really expect it.  Dixie had not been in the ring for well over a year and the competition was quite stiff!
  Cathy is encouraging us to enter Dixie in the Collie Club of America National show the end of March and we are seriously considering it.  We want to breed Dixie this spring and I have a couple of studs in mind for her, but at the National, I can do some serious "boyfriend shopping".  Lots to think about these next few weeks!

Traveling Dixie

  Dixie is making a return to the show ring!  As I write this, she should be on her way to Connecticut for a week-end of specialty shows.
  Her father's owner stayed with us last month and of course, wanted to see Dixie.  Cathy loved how she's matured and is encouraging me to special Dixie for her grand championship.  We'll take it one step at a time and see how this week-end goes, but, Dixie still shows like crazy and seemed to enjoy her show career, so...
  It wasn't hard to have her in shape for the shows.  Dixie is always active and loves to run so she is very muscular and fit.  She was a bit underweight and we had started to increase her food when Cathy saw her, but then increased our efforts so now her weight is perfect!  I gave her nails some extra attention the last three weeks and a couple extra dental chews to really get her teeth pearly white.
  Dixie must know she was heading for a show as she seemed to have a bit of a sparkle about her.  I can't wait to hear how she does!

 

Solo Sophie

  One of our concerns about losing Ben was how hard it would affect Sophie.  They had always been extremely close.  As they aged and Sophie seemed to have some vision and hearing loss, she would take her cues from Ben, looking at him before reacting to something, barking when he did, trotting over to the same spot in the yard and such.  We were facing the very real possibility that Sophie would not be able to live without her brother and we would lose her, too.  I delayed making the decision about Ben because I wasn't ready for that double loss.
  When we came home after the trip to the vet, I found Sophie laying in Ben's crate, with a very sad face.  She came out of the crate when I called her, burying her head into my chest when I knelt down.  Somehow she knew her brother was gone and was clearly grieving.  She didn't touch her supper that night but we enticed her to eat with some treats.
  The next morning, she was listless but showed some interest in breakfast after awhile.  I spent a lot of time with her, brushing her coat and fussing over her.  I also changed her routine, using different yards for exercise instead of the one she shared with Ben.
  By the middle of the week, Sophie started to show some interest in her surroundings and her appetite perked up.  She doesn't dive into her meals like she used to, but she does like to explore the scents in the yard (I think it's a big traffic area for the wildlife).  She trots along the fence line as I walk up the drive to get the paper and has enjoyed some time by the wood stove as I watch t.v.  She even picked up a rawhide and chewed it!
  We've had glorious, spring-like weather the last two days and the dogs have been in the play yard to enjoy it.  I put Sophie in her yard and while she seemed to look around for Ben, she was very interested in the activity next door.  She barked at the dogs while they play tussled and touched noses with a couple through the fence.
  I think her adjustment is going well, actually better than I thought it would.  I do enjoy these days with her!

Taking her morning stroll

Breaking into a little trot!

The Pup That Picked Me

  On April 13, 1999, we had two litters of puppies born, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  The morning litter had 4 puppies and the afternoon litter had 8.  We had very high hopes that between the two litters, we would find one special puppy to keep as a show prospect.
  What fun puppies they were!  Loaded with personality and with such individual characteristics that we were able to combine the two litters by the time they were weaned and still know who belonged to which mother.  The best time of the day was after work when the pups would be fed, then let outside to play in the late spring/early summer evenings.  David would entice the puppies to run after him in the field and I can still see the pack of fuzz balls, running with all their might on their little legs!  Afterwards, they would be too tired to walk all the way back to the house so we would carry them in, two and three at a time in our arms, their heads bobbing as they fell asleep.
  I spent a lot of time those days just watching the puppies play and explore.  One little guy kept catching my eye.  I sat on the slope of the yard one evening to watch the pups in the yard below.  The little mahogany puppy saw me, walked up the hill, then walked up my outstretched legs until he got onto my lap.  He placed his head against my chest and sighed... and so started my great bond with Ben.
  We registered him as Hillcroft Ablaze.  His show and stud career did not pan out as we had hoped.  Ben earned 8 points towards his championship and sired one litter.  After he stopped showing, I taught Ben how to pull a wagon and he participated in parades with the library staff.  He was always game to wear any costume we came up with!
  We also had an opportunity to spend two weeks with the Outreach staff to do a program in the nursing and retirement homes.  Ben would pull his wagon, loaded with books, into the community room, then I would do a short talk about Ben and he would do his one trick--sit and "wave".  After the program, I would walk him to each resident who wanted to pet and visit with him.   Riding in the van after the visits, Ben would lay across my feet, so tired but still ready and willing to do another program.  I was so proud of my gentle boy and glad we got to share such special experiences!
  By the time Ben was 11, his muzzle had gone gray and he was slowing down.  He was showing signs of arthritis and his days of wagon pulling were long over.  He and his sister, Sophie, have been house dogs the last year, going outside on mild days to snooze in the sunshine--their favorite pastime.  But, even the walk from the house to the kennel was sometimes difficult for Ben.  I finally had to face what path we were on.
  Ben was put down this past Monday, January 23.  He had lost ten pounds in the last 9 months, the arthritis was getting severe and his mind was going.  Sometimes, I wondered if he even knew who I was.  That was the most painful thing for me.  From the time he walked up my legs as a puppy, Ben would always watch me, wanting to sit close to me, often laying a foot on mine.  Whenever we reunited after being separated because of shows or such, he would jump up against me, lay his head on my chest and sigh--just like when he was a baby.  People always commented on how Ben only had eyes for me.  As the medicine took effect Monday night, I looked deep into Ben's eyes.  For just a second, I saw a flicker of recognition, then he closed his eyes and relaxed.  I put my head against his and held him, my special puppy.

Ben as a puppy

Ben and his best buddy, his sister, Sophie

The first point I put on a dog was with Ben.  What a thrill!!!

Ben in one of his last shows--he won, of course!

Visiting a resident at one of the Outreach programs.

"Waving" for an Irish coffee!

Almost 11 years old during the blizzard of 2010 and still enjoyed a romp in the snow!

Christmas Parade

  I didn't mean to leave the blog as a cliffhanger!  Too many things going on with the holidays and I never got back to post the pictures from the Leesburg Christmas Parade.  It was a very chilly day, but we had lots of fun.  At one point, Claire got swallowed up by the crowd of children along the street!  The dogs enjoyed all the attention and we enjoyed the many compliments we received on our beautiful dogs!