Herding, HRD, and Healing

Whoa... it's been too long since I've updated. Got caught up in socializing, visiting family, and training! The last 5 weekends, I've either been out of town or had company visiting here. I've done a lot of herding and HRD training and just a wee bit of obedience. Xita tried to cut her toe off on New Year's Day so is wearing a lovely black and red booty to keep her bandage dry. Jubilee ended up not pregnant, much to my dismay.

So, we're hanging out, getting whiplash from Virginia's winter weather that goes from ice and sleet to sub-20 degree temps to flooding rains to sunny and 65 degrees all in the course of a work week.

I'll be breeding Jubilee back when she comes in heat (end of February), and I'm still expecting Xita and Hunter litters this year too.

In the meantime,Hunter's got a thick winter coat and layer of happy chub. Coal has been practicing his emo sighs. Nike's scheming to steal all the toys and bones too. And Ruffian and Flint are keeping up the quality of misbehavior.

Xita's working on heeling healing, Jubilee's working on herding, Macha's had her 2nd birthday and her herding has shown a leap of confidence--she was giving me some super fast downs at full speed and doing figure 8s in the round pen this weekend! Lynx has a bright new orange and reflective vest to help him know when we're doing search work instead of agility, and Oda's trying not to be too evil (she's also blown all her coat and I bet she comes in heat in a week or so!).

O.D.A (oE.)

sigh

I am grateful for the absence of blood. That cat should never have come into the kitchen, as far as Oda was concerned.

It's a good thing you're so good looking, Oda

Whut?

Is there a problem???

Yeah, whatever!

Places to go!

Balls to catch...

Things to see...

Dogwalking in the Rain

This was this morning's walk with a couple of guest dogs (including Sid from the Manor of Mixed Blessings) and Lynx, Oda, Nike, and Xita.

The song is a lot cheerier than I was this morning while walking dogs in the cold, soaking wet in a coat that is no longer waterproof and in pants that had sucked water up the fabric to about knee height. The dogs only minded the puddles and the rain a little bit, fortunately.

Thanksgiving with Nike

It wasn't all that many years ago when Nike grabbed the thawing turkey off the table on the back porch and tried to run off with it. I was in the house and I heard a loud THUNK!!! and then my dad roared like ... well, like a man whose turkey was stolen.

Dad recovered the turkey and was greatly dismayed by the four smooth puncture marks in it. He washed it off, probably scrubbed it with hydrogen peroxide and salt, too, just to make sure we wouldn't be tainted by any remnants of dog saliva.

And I was trying very, very hard not to laugh.

Dad, however, has been terribly conscientious about leaving meat out on table tops and counters ever since.

Nike, Turkey Thief and Ball Nabber Extraordinaire

This year, Nike did not steal any turkeys, but this girl at 13+, tottering like a happy drunk, stole the soccer ball from the young cousins and promptly popped it. My cousins sounded out the"whoooooooooosh" of the air being let out for me, several times.

I tried very, very hard not to laugh. But really, now, she can't run much faster than a four-year old. How did she end up with the ball in the first place? It's like they wanted her to pop it!

Who me? I would never!

Why I Love Dogs, Reason #214

Peanut butter.

Lynx Does Agility

Entered Lynx today in a USDAA Intro Gamblers class at a local trial. It was the first time in any agility trial for both of us, so I was a bit, "OMG THE SKY IS FALLING" this morning, but after the walkthrough, my nerves went away and we just did it. It was really fun--and Lynx was happy, focused, and listened really well--so well, he got himself a blue ribbon!

I love working with this dog--he's so into anything and everything I throw his way. :)

Best laid plans....

Jubilee has started spotting blood--so she's in heat now too.

No Rally trial for us this weekend.

On the good side.... in a few weeks, I hope to be able to announce the breeding of her and Nathan!