What A Wonderful World...

This has been a wonderful week here on the farm, most are, but this week has been especially good. While my son is in London, England, Angie our daughter-in-law (daughter) and of course Maddie our granddaughter spent most of the week here just to spend some time together. When I was trying to think what to write about, this song came to mind, because it really is a wonderful world we live in.

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and you
And I think to myself What a wonderful world

I did see trees of green on the walk in the woods we took, Maddie in the middle holding onto a finger as we maneuvered around the lake just the three of us. We purchased some red roses at a local retailer when we went shopping and I will planted them in our memory garden, always going back in time when they bloom to the very day we were together, what memories.

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, dark sacred night

And I think to myself What a wonderful world

I saw beautiful blue skies all week with white clouds floating by in the lazy days we spent together just doing nothing but enjoying doing nothing. The night skies were filled with stars and when I went out and checked on the dogs, I was amazed at the beauty of the night sky and rejoiced for the blessed days we have have.

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces, of people going by

I see friends shaking hands, sayin', "How do you do?" They're really sayin', "I love you"

The colors of the fields were spectacular. On our walks, Maddie found a multitude of flowers and would pick them for us.  She even blew a dandelion or two, something her Mother taught her to do. Angie even found two 4 leaf clovers and I said want a lucky day we have had and yes, we are lucky. Maddie will say many words throughout the entire day and seems to learn more each day, but the ones I heard that pierced my heart were “Pap Paw, I love you”.

I hear babies laughing', I watch them grow
They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know And I think to myself What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself What a wonderful world

I heard Maddie laughing all day. She would play and pretend and was a busy little girl giggling every minute and finding the good in life, if only our hearts could be as pure as hers.

We did have a wonderful week, all the dogs seemed to join in on the fun and activity.  Maddie got to play with most, but on this trip, she and Clancy shared a special bond with each other which most people do, even us.  They shared breakfast, snacks, fish food, a pacifier and even sugar which got a big giggle from Maddie. 

If you just look around, and see the things that are really important, you too, will see it is a wonderful world if we just open our eyes.

Yes, I think to myself, What a wonderful world. Thanks Angie, Maddie and to you too, Louie, Hurry back Son your sorely missed.

What a Wonderful World Link

Shuck's Border Collies on Facebook

Balls, Boat Rides and Lots of Action

Why is it, that border collies love balls and Frisbees? It’s nothing like their intended job which is herding. The Border Collie is descended from landrace collies,  a type found widely in the British Isles. The name for the breed came from its probable place of origin along the Scottish English borders. Mention of the "Collie" or "Colley" type first appeared toward the end of the 19th century, although the word "collie" is older than this and has its origin in Lowland Scotts dialects. Many of the best Border Collies today can be traced back to a dog known as Old Hemp which was a tricolor dog,  born in September 1893 and he died in May 1902. He was bred by Adam Telfer from Roy, a black and tan dog, and Meg, a black-coated, strong-eyed dog. Hemp was a quiet, powerful dog that sheep responded to easily. Many shepherds used him for stud and Hemp's working style became the Border Collie style. All pure Border Collies alive today can trace an ancestral line back to Old Hemp. I’m sure that “Old Hemp” would not know what a tennis ball or Frisbee was, nor would he show any interest in either. But it still doesn’t answer the question.

If you have a BC then you know what I mean. Usually when we have a play day, we will play for what seems like a long period of time. Many times people will say “they will do this forever, won’t they” well yes, they will. I once said to myself, “we’ll just see” and off I went with several tennis balls and two Frisbees and walked to our play area ready to solve the mystery. Nearly two hours later I was pooped and the dogs were still raring to go and I quit, I was tired. They won…The question is still unswered.

I keep the extra balls and Frisbees in an old gas grill on the dock of our small lake. If I even go toward that area, they go crazy, knowing I am getting ready to get their favorite things in the world. They will spin around and Dutchess will bark while Abbie will give off this high pitched yelp knowing I am going to get the toys. I have even seen Dutchess stand on her back legs and try to force the grill open and if I pass by the “toy chest” OMG you have never seen so many sad faces in your life. You would think I had done a terrible thing and to them I have. But that doesn’t stop them. A friend that attends our church plays tennis. She is a very good player and  will only use the tennis balls for a couple of games and then bring me all the used balls and needless to say, we have them scattered all around the farm.

At the point of passing the “toy chest” the dogs are on a mission to find a ball so we can play, which they usually do. Just yesterday, Clancy found a bleached out ball that had roots growing in the fuzz and I’m sure it had been in a undisturbed place for several years, but it was still round and still had lots of fun left in it and as we usually do, we tossed it, how can you say “no” at that point. Truth be known, somewhere around the farm, there are hundreds of tennis balls in a hollow log just for emergencies.

Size doesn't matter

Most BC’s are typically extremely energetic, acrobatic, and athletic, they frequently compete with great success in dog sports. In addition to their success in sheepdog trials, they  are cited as the most intelligent of all dogs. In January 2011, a Border Collie was reported to have learned 1,022 words, and acts consequently to human citation of those words which is amassing and I don’t know if I know that many, but the most important words to mine are food, Frisbee and ball.

You CANNOT play Frisbee in the boat

Another thing I have discovered is they like boat rides and if I get in a canoe or on the pontoon boat, they are not far behind.

I have been in the canoe fetching tennis balls in the lake and have had a few of the dogs swim to me and of course, I pull them in the canoe getting me wet, but they are happy and so am I, except the wet part. There is never a lack of action on the behalf of a Border Collie. I just wonder what “Old Hemp” would think?

Old Hemp 1893-1902

Vacation Days Ahead

This week we were watching two of our adult pups. They are here because they are on vacation at the farm while their human parents are on vacation too. It can sometime be a little hectic because we don’t just kennel them, they live with us and interact with us and our dogs in everything we do. What that really means is that they run free with our dogs and get into everything possible with our dogs and if you think it’s a hoot with 6, then try 8 or 9 and then throw in a play day or two. This is not a bad thing, it’s just hectic at times. There have been times when Elaine comes home from work and I have seemed exasperated and it was because it was like running a day care except it was for dogs. After I would take the edge off with a stiff ice tea, I would always reflect on the dogs and then would go right back in the thick of it again in just an hour or so throwing the Frisbee and ball, and why do they wait until they are right next to your leg to shake all the water off?

Last night Elaine and I were in a local eating establishment and one of the employees came up to us and said “Good evening Mr. Shuck” I was at the table and looked up and was thrown a little. He then went on to explain his family owned Annie. I remember Annie. She made an impression on me because she is a sweet, loving, beautiful tri color girl. We talked about all the things she does and I asked how old is Annie? And when he said, four years old, I was shocked. It just seems like a few months ago that she left and a few weeks ago that she had come for a visit. This set me to thinking about all the dogs and pups and the impact we have had not only on ourselves but the people around us with our dogs.

Every dog that comes back for a visit will jump from the car and run to us giving us kisses and licks. They always seem to know where they are. We love hearing their stories and the many antics that the dog will get into and I love every minute of it. I have seen many pups grow up and become beautiful dogs when they come back for a visit. We love to raise our pups and many people will ask “How can you let them go”. It’s because in my heart they have never left and I see the impact they have made on their owners and how they have become the love of their life. When a pup goes home, I always encourage people to keep us informed of how they are doing and any problems that might come up. Most people do and will supply us with emails loaded with photos and stories which I will forward to various people that are also interested.

This month is busy with visitors to the farm and it will be fun with all the dogs running around and around and around. One of the dogs (Bob) that went home yesterday ran the whole time he was here. At home he loves playing Frisbee and ball, but here he runs and won’t even give it a look. Many of the dogs do this because there are no restrictions, they are always off leash, which sometimes is not always the case at home, so they take advantage of it here. It’s like a kid in a penny candy store with a dime, “what do I do next”.

I brought in a pontoon boat for the big lake and one of the reasons was to give the dogs a boat ride. Well we got to try it out this week. Elaine and I got in and of course Clancy wanted to go and Dutchess didn’t want to miss anything so she jumped in the boat from the dock. The other dogs were a little unsure and scared to get in at first. Off we went and as we would move around the lake, all the other dogs would run on the shore just to follow us. As I got near the shore, they would line the bank in-front of the boat and as I pulled closer, they would jump on, eventually all the dogs were on and two of them swam to the boat. So here we were, all the dogs and visitors, some wet, some not, taking our first boat ride. I looked at Abbie and in her mouth she had a tennis ball. Elaine said, “Whatever you do, don’t throw that ball”

As hectic as it is, I love to see our pups again. I never in my wildest dreams thought that we would make an impact on other people, dogs and even us as we have, but it is the dogs that make us what we are because of the love and devotion they bring to us. Thanks for the visits and stories, we have a ball and the dogs do too.   Ken

PS.  Tucker (aka Bodhi) is doing great.....

Gone Home...

Since I have been writing this blog, I have never had as much interest from people writing, calling or emailing me as I have had with Bodhi. Everyone has been very positive and it was people wanting to know if he was OK and their concern in finding him a good home. I will also tell you that he has affected me in a number of ways. It seems like I have lived a lifetime through Bodhi and have traveled many miles just to make sure he was in the best place for him. My emotions have been all over the spectrum with him, always wanting to be up but sometime being very down and concerned. There were many times when he was the first thing I thought of and the last thing at night, and yes, I even prayed for him and his safety knowing that God loves him too because I loved him.
The sad part, Bodhi was a good dog, he was just misplaced in some of his homes and time was not on his side. You see, sometimes it takes a special person that will take that special effort and attention for him to excel to his fullest, but it was finding the right person and it was becoming hard.  He had good people, but the environment was the downfall in some cases.

I want to thank all of the people that contributed to him and their attempt to help Bodhi.  I will always say that every time he came back from a trial home, he came back a better dog than when he left and I think it was the different people and situations he went to. He faced more new home situations than a salesman selling vacuum cleaners and he always adapted to each home, some good and some in a bad way, but it bettered him and helped in his progress.
Bodhi is the dog I will never forget, I remember when he first came to me and how scared and troubled he seemed, and how loving he was when he left, you see Bodhi was re-homed 5 times and each time, it tore my heart out. When he left the last time, I remembered before he left, he ran to me and jumped on the couch and put his paws in my lap and his head on my leg and then reached up and gave me a kiss, I can still see his eyes and will aways miss them so.
I want to thank his original owners for bringing him back to us so we could do the right thing and try to find him a new home. Bodhi was a nipper because he was scared, but in a shelter, he would have been put down. It’s something that would not be tolerated at all and there are no options. I know the original owner has struggled along with me in finding him a new home and has kept up with him via emails with me.  She was so concerned and wanted the best for him because she also knew he was a good dog, we just needed for other people to see it too.
Bodhi has gone home…It’s funny, just last week I found in my computer some videos of his litter. Molly was the mother and there were ten pups all running around and having a blast with each other. Not only was Bodhi in the video, but little “Oreo” was too, she was killed a few months ago by a delivery truck in her driveway. Little did I know any of the future scenarios when I shot that video.

Errin is a beautiful dog that needed and wanted someone that could and would keep up with her, she is a very active Frisbee and agility dog and has a wonderful home life. She is from a litter of Clancy and Meg. Her human mom has two dogs, but one is a senior and is blind and Errin needs a playmate.

Tucker came into her life quite unexpectedly. She was looking for another dog from Meg’s upcoming litter, but none were available. Tucker caught her eye and he is now part of their life, living a dream. Very soon Tucker will start his life in agility and all the fun that’s goes with it. It was said "Tucker just needs a job" and I agreed. You see, “Tucker” is “Bodhi”.

Not only does he have a new home, he has a new name. It’s only fitting to have a fresh start, something we all may need once in a while. God Bless all of you that have followed me on this journey, I think “Bodhi”, now “Tucker” had found his forever home, and he deserves it. I’ll never forget you…You have so much to give and want nothing but a home and now you have it, thanks to a few special people.    Love Dad…

Spring Cleaning & Dog Playing

With the break in the weather, I have been energized to start some of the seasonal chores that occur every spring here at the farm. There are things in the fall that I must do, but most of the startup work happens in the spring and I look forward to getting started. However; it can be a pain in the butt. I will usually put off the things that I really don’t like to do. This year is NO different.
It has become a routine, clean and rake leaves, trim bushes before they start their new growth, cut ornamental grasses down before they start growing and many other things. The dogs always love it because I am outside more and they know they can steal some time from me and my work, which I really don’t mind.

 Abbie is the worst for wanting to play and she wants to play every minute, much more than the other dogs. The reason I know this is because she is the only dog that will find “stuff” to bring to me that remotely resembles a ball, you know, looks like, smells like, it has a round shape, usually a smooth surface. So it must be a ball, right? It always happens like this; I am plowing the garden and she comes toward me with something in her mouth and lays it down in front of me, it’s a piece of stick that was part of a root. I continue to plow by her and she will pick it up and move it so I can see it, just in case I didn’t see it the first time, if I ignore her, she will turn circles several times just to get me to look at her. She’s killing me, so full of energy and those pleading eyes, I stop the plow and reach down and grab it, tossing it in the air. Everyone is watching and with excitement, all join in and chase the round shaped stick. Everyone is so excited; we’re playing ball, thanks to Abbie. I do this about a thousand times, but they will all run in front of me making my job a little stressful but I’m careful. The next day I’m at it again and the round stick is nowhere to be found, so we get the next best thing. It’s a plant label that was plowed up, it’s the little thing that comes with a 4 pack of vegetables that will identify the kind of plant it is.

 When I saw this, I had to chuckle, but I picked it up and tried to toss it, and it just sputtered a few feet, but they could care less. As happy as they were, you would have thought I had thrown it a hundred feet. Everyone danced and pranced and was having a great time.

It really doesn’t matter what I am doing, as long as it is outside. Today I was cutting the ornamental grasses down with some hedge trimmers. There were no round root type, ball shaped or even a flat vegetable tab. It was just a plain old stick. Again, Abbie was the instigator, I was running the trimmers and she dropped it next to me. I wasn’t paying attention but I saw her right next to my leg. I looked at her and knew she was trying to tell me something so I questioned her, “What, What Girl” she repositioned the stick and then I realized that it was the stick she was moving again and again so I picked it up and threw it.

You would have thought I threw a big rare steak the way they all ran. On many occasions she will come to where ever I’m at with just a small piece of tennis ball with a little bit of fuzz on it that was hit with the lawn mower.

My heart tells me that I have to stop what I’m doing to play a little fetch. They sure love to play, and I’m glad they do. Good girl Abbie, Good Girl...

Several updates next week, just to fill in some blanks...
Follow the dogs on their own Facebook page at "Shuck's Border Collies"

Bodhi, You’ve Lived a Lifetime in Just A Year.

As most of you know, I mentioned Bodhi last week at the end of the Blog, “The Saga Continues”. Let me take you to that point of history.
Two weeks ago, I got a call on Saturday from the horse farm where he was living. “I’m sorry, he is not working out. He chaises the horses and there is no stopping him, he is so focused, and we can’t stop him”. Their options were to put him down or I could come and get him. Now before you get too angry, on a real farm and in certain circumstances, putting an animal down is the only option that is left, but it must be the last resort. I talked it over with Elaine and she said, “What are we going to do?”
That next day I left the house at 5:30 am traveling to a little town called Laurelville which is in Ohio. It was raining and the wind was blowing so hard that it was hard to keep the car in the center of the road. After 5 hours, I arrived at the farm. They were not going to be home and they told me where he would be. I went to the kennel he was in and walked to the gate. Inside was a big dog curled up in a little dog house with a torn and ratty piece of carpet sticking out of the front. I wondered how he even got in it because of his size, but he did. I was so glad to see him and when I did, I nearly broke down, I’m just glad no one was there to see me act like a fool. I hugged him and in the driving rain we just stood there, together, getting soaking wet, my arms around his neck and his mussel on my shoulder.
Off we went, another five hours on the road, back to our own little farm. The rain never let up and it was a hard drive all the way home, but once here, he jumped out. He was back on safe ground, but the story continues…
Just the next day, I got “two” calls from people wanting an older dog. After the interview, the first person turned out to be 83 years old and in my opinion, too old for a young border collie. Although it might be fine now, God forbid if the man gets down or dies before Bodhi, what will happen to Bodhi, something I did not want to chance. I then turned to the second caller; they had lost their Border Collie and did not want to go through the puppy stage, which I can understand. They were a wonderful couple who took right up to him and he to them. So it was set, Bodhi was going to a new home. Sunday, the day of his transfer, was a very bittersweet day. I was very uneasy because “This just needs to stop”, Bodhi needs a forever home where he can feel comfortable and just be a dog. He had been spending the night inside with us so we had re-established our bond again. As the time approached, I was getting uneasy and sentimental, even playing the piano, something I do when I’m stressed. The book on the piano was sentimental favorites and it seemed like everything was bringing me to the point of tears so the piano playing needed to stop, which it did. We were prepared for him to leave. Rawhide, check…favorite ball, check… shot records, check…my heart, check…again.
I couldn’t stand it. It was like giving up your heart again and again and again. How many times will I have to endure this? It’s like pulling a scab off and exposing the pain all over again. It was a beautiful day and the sun was out, it was warm and the birds were singing and everything in the world was right, or so I thought…
Outside as we played with his favorite ball, my ear was in tune to every sound that came from the road, knowing any minute a car would pull up and take him away again. They called when they got off the interstate, so I knew it was 15 minutes or less. At times it was just too much and my heart was breaking again, but I wanted what was best for Bodhi and that would be a home of his own where he was the center of attention.
The people were wonderful, in fact all of the people he has gone with were very nice and wanted to share their life with a good dog, but it was not meant to be and yes not even now. You see, Bodhi came back home to us yesterday.

The epilog of this story is I just don’t know what to do. Something, somewhere has happened to Bodie in his young life. He is a good dog but he is fearful that someone is going to hurt him and he tries to protect himself. My dogs will lick and kiss me whenever I let them, sometimes too much, but Bodhi will shy away if you attempt to hold or hug him. It’s like your old Aunt Nellie trying to give you a kiss on the lips. Bodhi wants to love you, but he is afraid someone will snatch the carpet from under his feet, so he is always on guard. He will only give part of his heart. He loves to be inside and will play and sit in our lap and let you rub him, but it’s always on his terms. Bodhi has been to more cities than most people I know. Just since January, I have traveled over 1000 miles to take and pick him up at various homes, trying to fine the right spot. I don’t think I am a dog fanatic, I just want to do the right thing for him and quite honestly, it’s my job to do it, remember it might be your dog, but it will always be my pup.
The perplexing part, is he is a good dog with a the hard shell around his heart that is pretty thick. He loves us and will follow us anywhere we go. I know he just needs and wants to feel loved.  Bodhi, you have lived a lifetime in just a year. I only hope and pray, (and yes, I have prayed for you) that things will work out. I don’t know what went wrong, if anything, but we’re all pulling for you in ways you’ll never know.

Rescuer's Rainbow Bridge

Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.
It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.
He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge.
With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the soft green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting. One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for awhile to explain it to him.
"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge."
The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?" As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted.
Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.
"Watch, and see.” said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.
"What happened?"
"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of their work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place on earth across The Rainbow Bridge."

"I think I like rescuers", said the first animal.
"So does GOD", was the reply… Author Unknown

Bodhi, If we don’t find your family, I will be honored, if you walk with me across the bridge… Dad…

Breakfast With Dutchess...OMG

Saturday morning, I got up early and piddled around the house a little. I usually grade the roads with my tractor on Friday’s, but I waited until the roads dried out a little because of the rain and ranked them this morning. It was cold on the tractor, and when I got back to the house, I noticed that Elaine was up and was fixing a hot breakfast. As I went in the back door, I noticed a black and white dog with its head in a yogurt container. It only took one guess of who it was, and I’m sure you could guess too. “Dutchess” The worse dog to have anywhere around food unless you want her to get most of it. Elaine had invited her in for breakfast. Dutchess looked at me and barked as if saying, “please let me eat with you, please?”

Why not, I said, knowing I would regret this decision. Elaine made enough for all three of us, and Dutchess even had her own plate. We had eggs, yogurt, sausage, bagel, coffee, and milk (Dutchess did not have coffee; it makes her hyper).
Now some of you might think Dutchess would eat in a dog bowl, but Nooooo, she had her own plate, including a glass of milk. It started with our prayer, and as we prayed, Dutchess tried to get a head start, so I made the prayer quick, knowing God would understand. He of all should know about Dutchess because he gave her to us. After that fiasco, Dutchess was eager to get started on breakfast. “I want eggs, I want eggs NOW, NOW, give me eggs.”

She was so comical with everything, even eating off a fork, and she does it with the best of anyone. She would sit next to me and bark when she wanted a bite. Of course, it sounded like a kennel of dogs inside the house with all the barking going on, but it was cute. I would feed her a bite off the fork and then give her a drink from the glass.

Some people think this is disgusting. I remember my mother telling me she had once seen a family member set their plate on the floor so their dog could “clean it,” and she was disgusted to no end. I’m just glad Mom can’t see us, and our dogs do this. Sorry, Mom.

Dutchess even spoofed me and looked out the back door and cocked her ears up as if she saw something, which she did. She saw me take my eyes off my plate and turn to look out the door, and before I could turn back around, a third of my bagel was gone, and she sat there like a Cheshire cat, but the butter on her nose gave her away.

I’m telling you, Dutchess is more like a human than some humans I know, but I love her anyway. No matter what she is doing, she does it with gusto and with all her heart. We finished breakfast and had a good time with her. She, like all of our dogs, is a hoot to be around. And no, I was wrong, I didn’t regret “Breakfast with Dutchess.”