Great Day!

Here's my perfect day (and it happened today):

• Go work dogs.
• Perfect weather (ok, it was pretty cold at first, but at least it was so cold that when I ripped my hand open on the fence [wild exaggeration -- it's really only scraped] that I didn't feel it.
• Only my favorite people are also there for lessons.
• Worked Jane, Panda, Jen, Bug, and Archie.
  
• Take a promising new dog and work her for a friend. Very exciting.
• Yummy dinner of (guess. . . ) leftover turkey.
• Good wine.
• Samoyeds keeping my feet warm.
  
• Log on to the computer, check my blog and there are tons of new blog posts on my favorite blogs to read!

Now, I'm off to read blogs, check Facebook, check Farmville, then assign the gag gifts for my family Christmas exchange. Hope you all had a great Turkey Day weekend, too!

Thankful for the dogs

Tripper

Webster

Bud

Gracie

Monty

Pogo

Jane

And thankful for the ones who came before them. Schatzie. Spot. Kelly. Fox. Bear. Keokuk. And, Anna the cat. And Fancy Pony, and Fance.

It was just a fluke! I'm convinced.

Jane did a very nice job at our lesson today. We did different things and while they were difficult things, she handled everything well and didn't loose her mind. Also, I didn't get mad, and I'm sure that helped.

She sure has a new appreciation of the rock bottle. I like it!

Last week was just a little bump in the very long road we're on together.

Good girl, Jane! That'll do!

I smell like sheep. Hmmm. . .TMI?

Jack's Website

One of our regular customers came in the store today. They shop with us for their dogs, Jack and Jenny. Jack was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma. Right now he's doing well, getting great care, and has so much free time he started blogging and has his own website. Jack's website is here.

Everyone here at SunTrip, and at Scraps wishes Jack and his family the best!

Accentuate the Positive

• Nice shape on the outruns.
• Nice shape on the outruns.
• Nice driving on the very heavy goats.
• Nice work with Lisa and the cattle.
• Panda worked well on driving and in the field on the heavy stock.

Baby Border Collie lost her mind a couple of times.

But, I am so excited about her style, drive, stamina and attitude. I think that enhanced stamina is a double edged sword!

Other positive, my timing and placement of the rock bottle is improving.

She's a good dog, and just what I wanted. I need to step my self up!

Dog Soup

I guess it's not fair if I only tell you about the brilliant days of working stock with my dog. You don't get a realistic picture of the work it takes for this novice handler and this novice dog to get to where ever we are and where ever we're going, if you don't see some of the ugly stuff, too.

First task of the day, work the sheep (10 +/- head of mixed sheep) in the arena a little bit to make sure Jane is thinking and listening. Strong indications to the contrary outside the gate. Went in and things looked good.

Second task, take the stock out of the arena, down the road to the big field on the horse side, and drop them at the far top of the field. We made it down the road, more or less, then sent the sheep spitting off to the right, to the alfalfa field at a dead run. Send dog to gather on an away, she crosses over causing a wreck. Lie down. Come here. Get Back! She brings them to me, just as they reach about six feet from my feet, she decides it's time for an inside flank and sends them flying back out across the field.

Is the dog making work for herself? YES, SHE IS!! Multiple times. Ooops, there they go! Don't worry, I'll go get them for you!!! Happy to! Etc., etc., so many minutes later, our simple task was finally done and I was ready to kill the dog. Zipppy, not thinking, not listening, dog. Interesting development: dog can pee lying down. This one, anyway. Takes her lie down, goddamn finally, when she has to pee so badly, she pees as she waits to be sent on an outrun, on a down, butt up in the air a little bit.

Many rock bottles thrown. LIE DOWN! Many GODDAMMITJANEs later. How many miles has she run? Not tired yet? Not ready to settle down and think yet? It was a cold, brisk Nevada November morning. Extremely keen Border Collie, not yet two years old.

Talked about Dog Soup. Wouldn't trade her for anything. She has never quit, never thought about quitting. Quit isn't anything she would ever consider. Sheep is her game and that's what she wants to do. Or cows. Or geese. Or, even Agility. The dog wants to do what I want to do at any given moment. That's what I want. This is a good dog.

We had a rough morning and I was going to kill her or something, but I am grateful to have a dog with the "want to" and drive to be that much of a jerk, but in the direction that I want the jerk to go! :) We're going to put her on cows straight off next time and see if that doesn't sharpen her ears.

Sweet Jane

I was just singing along to the Cowboy Junkies' cover of "Sweet Jane." My Jane looked alarmed, and glanced furtively from me to the speakers, and back several times, on the "la la la" parts. As if to say, "Margo Timmons can handle it. Please be quiet!"

Photo: back a way long time ago. . .like late March/early April, 2008. . .maybe day two of having Jane home. She was SUPER DUPER Sweet Jane back then. Not old enough or big enough to be anything other than Sweet Jane. Kathy loaned me the Chihuahua crate for the first couple days. Jane slept through the night from the first night. Never a problem or complaint from her. . .always Sweet from the first day.

Charter Communications

So, the door to door Charter guys came to our house today. (We have Dish Network or some not Charter version of pay TV.) Asked if we were interested in the special deal for Charter cable, whatever. Chris said, no.

Guy asked, "why not? Bad experience in the past?"

Chris said, "everyone has bad customer service experiences with Charter."

Guy said, "yeah, me too." and went on to tell his tale of bad Charter customer service.

Chris closed the door. I gave the dogs cookies for barking! Yeah dogs!!

Border Collies online shopping

Early Bird Christmas Sale

It is time for the Early Bird Christmas Sale -- get 10% off of your entire order until November 7th. Simply enter coupon code EBC2009 at checkout.

www.bordercollies.com

Metallic Finish

No, not a wine tasting post. I just received this print from Jane's first agility trial. The photographer, Dave Nash - Leading Paws, uploaded to Smug Mug and customers can order from there.

I ordered a coffee mug with a picture of Jane coming out of a tunnel. And, I ordered this one on a 5x7 metallic print. I hadn't seen the mettallic finish before, so didn't want to spend a lot of money on it. I LOVE IT!!! It doesn't show on the scan, but it is a very cool effect.

This shot has a lot of background noise with the other jump and ring tape in the background, but I loved the look on Jane's face, the tucked paw and the tongue. But I like that metallic finish. . .I wonder how it would look all matted and framed up. Check it out, if you're a Smug Mug user!

Seriously

Thanks, Kim! http://www.slyfoxagility.com and photography.

Perfect Day - No Pictures

It was really the perfect October day. Chilly in the morning, getting up to the upper 60s, maybe crossing 70 late in the afternoon, under a brilliant blue sky, with the occasional cloud and bright round sun. Plus, add friends, dogs, and sheep.

It was also great that Jane was listening to me, and for the most part took her commands. . .and I guess for the most part, I was right.

Got some nice feedback from our esteemed judge. Nice comments from my friends and competitors and trainer.

Hmmm. Nice!

My camera lazed in the warm car, never even peaking its little lens out of its cozy case. I need to trade that kitty cat in for a Border Collie!

Yappy Birthday, Jen!

Jane's buddy, Jen, had her second birthday today, complete with pink party! Cake and cookies for the dogs, delicious lunch for the people. Sylvia went all out!

Jen checking in with Sylvia to be sure it's ok to eat the cake.

I was a little surprised that Jane enjoyed the cake as much as she did. It not really her type of thing, usually.
Border Collies in party hats? That's just not right!! Even if you do throw in a few Aussies. The birthday girl is the one in the wagon, wearing a pink t-shirt. Jane is the one to her left, looking like she's about to take off.

Happy Birthday, Jen!

Hey Blogspot, what's up?

I had a really cool post about my work related field trip, but Blogger keeps rotating my photos and it's really annoying.

Until I get that under control, blah! Nothing cool to see here.

Check my photo albums on Facebook to see what we did today at work.

The Best Music Video EVER!

Puppies!

I'm having a problem with rotating photos or not, and thinking that I am. Still the puppies are adorable! I have my favorite, if I was in the market for a puppy, which I am not. These guys are great!! They will be great little boys for their new homes. I met one of the families today, and they are so excited. The puppies are beautiful, and I'm really excited to watch them develop.