Back To Normal

Even though we are just getting into the summer season, we are near the end of the puppy season here at the farm. Dutchesses’ pups have all gone home and some of Meg’s have too with the rest going this week. This is a very bitter sweet time for me because I do enjoy them so, especially at this stage in their life. What I won’t miss is all the hard work that’s involved in raising the pups. Some might think that it’s pretty simple and the Mom takes care of everything and in most cases, they do. There is a point that “Mom” says to the pups, “you’re on your own” and then we step in.
Even before the pups are born there is a lot involved in the process that most people don’t think of, some of the things are taking Mom’s temperature, having the whelping box ready and watching her food intake and general moods which can help in letting you know when it’s time. I try to keep everything ready but they deliver when they want and usually it’s during the night, which means a very long night, once Molly delivered the first pup in the middle of our bed. Cleaning their whelping bedding is something that is a must and should be done on a regular basis for the health of mom and the pup which means doing extra wash every day.

As they grow, the first ten to twelve days are a snap, but as they get older, things get more hectic and involved. Everyone raises pups a little different. What works for me does not always work for others and so forth. I like to have the pups in an area where they can go outside when that want, which means they will “potty” away from their bed and this seems to help when they go home and also cuts down on clean up. Usually the pups are in an area that is about 25 feet by 25 feet and they will scamper all day and have a big time rolling around and playing with each other until they drop off to sleep. But before this happens and as they get older, I will puppy proof the area, making sure they can’t get out of their fenced area. At night, I always enclose the pups inside their own kennel in the big kennel house around midnight (which is a pain when you’re nodding off to sleep on the couch). I do this just to make sure they are safe during the night from any predators that might roam the area and get them and I will let them out at about 6 to 6:30 am. I will tell you, just last week, about 7:30 am, I heard the dogs barking which they usually don’t do, and I went to the kennel to investigate. Annie was herding three pups that had squeezed under the gate and were playing near of the edge of the woods. It was so comical, and trying to catch them was a hoot, but in the end, that could have been a tragedy if things would have happened a little different. It’s like having eight to ten preschoolers at the same time and this spring, I had 14 and was always on guard for problem.

All in all it’s fun and it keeps me busy and as I said, it’s a lot of work, especially if you’re a type of person that wants everything right and strives so the little pups will have a good start, but the ones that get a little slighted is our dogs. There is just not enough time to work with the pups teaching them to play ball and swim and to devote the time that the big dogs are used to.

It is nice to get back to a normal routine again and the big dogs will love all the attention that they deserve to have again. I was thinking about this last night and I called Molly’s name while she was sleeping on the couch and with her eyes still closed, her tail wiggles with joy, just knowing I called her name. Abbie can’t wait to cuddle in my arms during the night and Clancy loves to lick my leg. Dutchess will stand at my chair waiting for me to get a ball and Meg will put her head in my lap while she sleeps. Annie loves to play “dog fight” with me on the couch which is its own story. My dogs and most dogs, are very forgiving and it will be nice to spend the day playing and just being together. This is all normal at our house and I hope every pup will do some of the same things with their owners, they have a gift, and you just need to accept it.

Happy Father's day to Clancy, you deserve your rest,

We’ll have to wait and see if Molly is pregnant and if she is, it’s time to start again.

Today's Lesson

This has been a very busy week and things seem to be going full speed, sometime too fast as it’s hard to keep up. Sometimes, I like being busy, but this week was a challenge to keep up with everything. We are boarding 3 dogs and have company staying with us and they have a border collie too, which makes 10 adult dogs and 14 pups. All in all, things have gone smooth with just a few flair-ups but everyone is on great terms and are playing hard whenever they are out We even had two people who just wanted to talk about border collies stop by just to pick my brain, which was empty most of the time. I always tell them up-front that I’m not the expert; it’s just what works for me. Abbie had taken the sour side of life because she doesn’t want ANYONE to get in her space and this included the whole farm and it also includes any dogs that may visit. She was put into timeout several times and I just know she had on her report card “Does Not Play Well With Others”. To be the smallest dog other than Annie, she sure is bossy at times. She will even try to tell Clancy a thing or two at times, and with a very solemn look, he will look at her and his eyes will say “yeah, just try it”.

Dogs can be strange and mysterious creatures. Their behavior is amazing and they do things for many reasons that is hard for us to understand or even imagine.

One of the most interesting and disgusting thing dogs do is an obnoxious behavior and it stemmed from the practice of regurgitating food. Dogs in the wild live in packs. They hunt together and assist in feeding and caring for the young. Dogs in the wild would feed on the prey after the kill. When the dogs return to the den they would regurgitate the partially digested food to feed the young. Additionally, eating vomit and feces has something to do with hiding the traces of a dog’s presence from predators. After thousands of years of domestication, these habits still kick in. Domesticated dogs still regurgitate food to feed the puppies. Dogs are less discriminating with what they put in their mouth. No matter how well fed the dog is it, it would still forage food from the trash can every chance it could get. It is said that humans and canines are about 90% similar in genetics. The 10% would probably account for the difference in our choices of food. The insects, the dead animals, the feces and the vomit that are relished by the dogs are repulsive to humans. To my knowledge, dog are the only animal that will do this and it is even mentioned in the Bible.

Another thing that dogs do that is amazing is their heat seasons will start to adjust and will eventually be at the same time. I have noticed this over the years with our dogs. Duchess was bred and 8 days later Meg was bred and then along came Molly who may be pregnant now. This is another trait that goes back to the wild when the alpha female would breed with the alpha male to produce the best and strongest litter. In the pack, subordinate wild dog, and wolf females that have never conceived (and may never do so) sometimes undergo a “pseudo pregnancy,” developing a swollen belly and mammary glands. Then, once the alpha female’s pups are born, the non-mothers secrete milk for the alpha’s pups. By becoming a wet-nurse, a subordinate may increase her chances of being tolerated in the group. Had she given birth herself, her young might have been killed by the alpha female. The alpha female will be responsible to get the food, eat it and then bring it back to the pack and provide it to the for all to eat, thus this is where she would regurgitate it up for them. Some believe this is why some dogs will lick the mouths of each other. This is a sign of respect and a signal that they want to be fed. Dogs like to lick human skin not only for the salt from the sweat, but also as a form of greeting, such as by briefly licking a person's hand after sniffing it. Licking is also used as a social bonding analogous to primate social grooming and stroking. This can indicate intimacy. Such licking is longer and slower, as compared to the brief licking of faces during a greeting. Before we had dogs many years ago, when my brother’s dog or any other dog would lick my leg or hand, I thought it was kinda yucky. Now that I have such loving dogs, when they do it and it’s usually Clancy, I find it endearing. The dog world is a strange and wonderful place and I have learned so much, but there is a lifetime of more to come.

As far as the busy week, things will calm down and there will be peace in the world, very soon.  Ken

They Have Changed Our Life

“They have changed my life” is something I hear quite often from people who have one of our border collies and I am sure they are right because my dogs have changed mine in such a good way.

This week and for the next few weeks our pups will be traveling to their new forever home to start their new life. It’s always a sad day for me but a very happy day for their owner. In just the last few days, we have had 8 families that traveled to the farm just to see their pup and we always welcome this, sometimes they even bring their dog. Everyone is so excited to play and cuddle with them and spend a just s few moments with “their” new pup.

This image has caused me to think of the impact our pups  have had on their families. I’m sure it has changed their life in some way or another and I always encourage people to keep me informed of how their dog is doing, for no other reason but just to keep up with their life and to see our little one again. Some don’t, but many do and it’s always a great joy for me when I get that message or email. If I have heard it once, I have heard it a thousand times “They have changed our life”. I have never really realized the impact that Molly, Meg and Dutchess have had on people in a positive way. I hear so many stories about the dogs and the things they do and the joy they have on a broken heart that they never thought would be mended, but did.

So here we go again, you see from my point of view, I get to see it all. From the point of the planned “deed” to the time when they go home. With each dog that has gone to its new home, we have held every one in the palm of our hand at their birth, checking them out and making sure everything was in place and just right. Hopefully, they are born during the day, but usually “mother” has other plans for a night delivery and that makes for a long night, but I wouldn’t miss it for anything, not only for the pups, but for the mom. It is a miracle to watch as everything comes together in such a perfect way. Then the fun starts because they grow so much, and oh so fast. Every day is a new adventure, learning new things, exploring objects that they have never seen before and living in their little world.  I enjoy it so when they find their voice and their first little bark and don't get me started on puppy breath, it's from heaven.  I often wonder if they know what a big world waits for them as they hurry to get there.  After my job is through, and as everyone drives away with their pup, I say a prayer…”Lord, let them all be happy and let them bring joy to each other” My prayer…. simple but true. You see, if you give, you’ll receive, if not, you won’t. We humans sometimes make it more complicated that it is, the dogs never do.

The last few days, I have had the pleasure to host some great “play days” here on the farm. I can’t think of a better way than to spend some good quality time and a afternoon with one of my pups “all” grown up.  They have changed so much from the little round faces and the big eyes that take everything in.  I can remember each new pup as they leave and also the family that takes them. There are smiles on all the faces and during every visit at some point, someone will ask “How can you do it, give them up?”, It’s simple, because of the joy and love I want other people to share.

Every one of my pups take away a small piece of my heart when they go to their new home, but when we get old and we all go "home" and cross that heavenly bridge together, they’ll bring it back to me with licks and kisses and we'll all be reborn and explore a new and wonderful place with big eyes that take everything in.  Good luck little pups, until that day…. Dad

Memorial Day, Remember Your Dog

If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will always remember...
The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your new friend. You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a breeder. Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen that silly looking mutt in a shelter--simply because something in her eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and watch her explore, and claim her special place in your hall or front room--and when you feel her brush against you for the first time--it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the many years to come.

The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later. It will be a day like any other. Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will look at your long-time friend and see age where you once saw youth. You will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will see sleep where you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your friend's diet--and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming emptiness. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until the third day finally arrives.

And on this day--if your friend and God have not decided for you, then you will be faced with making a decision of your own--on behalf of your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you---you will feel as alone as a single star in the dark night. If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or be able to comfort you.

But if you are true to the love of the companion you cherished through the many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul--a bit smaller in size than your own---seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely days to come. And at moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary to happen, you may feel something brush against your leg--very very lightly. And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend used to lay---you will remember those three significant days.

The memory will most likely be painful, and leave an ache in your heart---As time passes the ache will come and go as it has a life of its own. You will both reject it and embrace it, and it may confuse you. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you. Either way, it will still be an ache. But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when---along with the memory of your companion---and piercing through the heaviness in your heart---there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have loved, and lost.

This realization takes the form of a Living Love---like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals have wilted, this love will remain and grow--and be there for us to remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our companions leave us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we live. It is a love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave, perhaps to join our beloved companions--it is a love that we will always possess.
- Martin Scot Kosins

Today I took a walk down our driveway. At the end, is our “family” graveyard where we have buried every pet that has passed since we left Kentucky. Alone with a ferret, we have two border collies, Midnight and Morgan and Patches, our cockier spaniel and a very special cat which we still have his food bowl. With Memorial Day upon us, I want us to think of our past pets we have lost in one way or another. I have spoken to literally hundreds of people who have lost their beloved pet and have even cried with them.  Some I never met, but they just needed to talk.  It is hard to lose a pet, but we are who we are because of our past, and our pets have shaped us more than we choose to believe or may know. I know the day will come when “that time” will come and it breaks my heart to even think of it and I know many of you have had to make the decision.

Because I love you so, your sorrow touches my spirit and grieves me. We have now, this very moment together.  So come,     sit down here next to me on the floor. And look deep into my eyes. What do you see? If you look hard and deep enough we will talk, you and I, heart to heart. Come to me not as “alpha” or as a “trainer” or even a “Mom or Dad”, come to me as a living soul and stroke my fur, and let us look deep into one another's eyes and talk. I may tell you something about the fun of chasing a tennis ball, or I may tell you something profound about myself, or even life in general. You decided to have me in your life (I hope) because you wanted a soul to share just such things with. Someone very different from you, and here I am. I am a dog, but I am alive. I feel emotion, I feel physical senses, and I can revel in the differences of our spirits and souls. I do not think of you as a “Dog on two feet” I know what you are. You are human, in all your quirkiness, and I love you still. Now, come sit with me, on the floor. Enter my world, and let time slow down if even for only 15 minutes. Look deep in my eyes, and whisper to my ears. Speak with your heart, with your joy and I will know your true self. We may not have tomorrow, and life is oh so very short.
Love, Your Beloved Dog

I will tell you that I have done this. There are times that I have got on the floor with each of my dogs, and I have seen another soul. I have looked deep into their eyes and they looked back and seemed to understand.

A letter from your dog;

I hope, in your grief and loneliness, that you will consider how sad it would have been had we not had this time together, not had the chance to give each other so much.
I do not morn or grieve, but I will miss standing beside you, bound together on our walks through life, even as I know that there is a long line of others waiting to take my place and stand with you.

Thank you. It was nothing but a gift.
And finally, I ask these things of you:
Remember me.
Celebrate me.
Grieve for me.
And then, when you can, let me go, freely and in peace.
When you are ready, do me the great honor of bringing another dog into your life, so you can give and receive this gift again....
Jon Katz


Have a good Memorial Day, remember it is about remembering all that things that meant so much to so many of us and know it can also mean our past pets.  We meant everything to them…and they lived their life.... just to Love Us… Ken
Shepp, my little red headed boy, have a good Memorial Day...I have always said, I will never forget you and I won't....Dad

I Just Don't Have Time

No, it's not me, I’m retired, I have plenty of time, it’s just that I have too many jobs and try to do everything in one day. One thing the Good Lord did not bless me with is patience, and I think he forgot Dutchess, too. Yes, this IS another Dutchess story.

 She always provides me with plenty of material for the site and may even plan to do things, because she loves the limelight.

If Dutchess could speak and she almost can, the first thing she would say is “I just don’t have time to do that.” The reason she would say that is because she has to;

Play Frisbee
Play Ball
Play Frisbee
Eat
Play Frisbee
Eat
Play Frisbee
Go Fishing
Jumping in other people's cars when they visit

There are many things that she doesn’t have time for; because she just wants to do other things, some of them she hates are;

Nursing her babies
Going to bed
Going to her kennel
Breeding
And last but not least is minding me.

It's not that she really hates it, she just wants to do the things she wants to.  There is no doubt that Dutchess is a free spirit girl. I think she is a layover of the early 70’s and would wear a headband if she could find one. I know she was a hippie in her past life.

You don't mind if I drop these off for a while...Do you?

One of the problems we are having now is she is bored taking care of her pups. In her mind, I can just hear her…”Heck, they have teeth and can walk, they should be able to find food for themselves, I do, you just have to beg enough, they’ll give in”. She always weans her pups herself, when she thinks they are ready; because she wants to do other things.

The last couple of days, I have had to make her lie down and sit with her just to make sure the pups get some milk. She will give me the evil eye, and I can only imagine what she is thinking, but I usually win, usually.

You might win, but I don't like it...

She hates to go to bed or go in her kennel because the dogs usually stay out all day unless someone is coming over.   I will put all the dogs up; because they will charge the car, not to chase it, but to get to the driver, hoping that they might have a ball or in Dutchess’s case, “food.” Once, just as the car door was open, she went under the driver's legs to the passenger’s side of the car and tore open his McDonalds bag looking for at least one French fry. I was right there and did say, “I really do feed her” he took it in good strides, and we both laughed. He even got a few licks from her in case there were some crumbs still on his face.

One of the most amusing things I have ever seen her do was during a mating with Clancy (A little PG rating here). Elaine and I were taking a walk with the dogs, and as always, we have a Frisbee in hand. Well, Mother Nature took charge during the walk, and the deed was done, and as with dogs, they will stay this way for a period of time. Dutchess, seeing the Frisbee nearby decided she wanted the Frisbee and went for it. Well, Clancy could not see the Frisbee, nor wanted anything to do with it and was comfortable just to stay put. Off she went, pulling Clancy to the toy, his eyes getting bigger with every step. Fortunately, it was just a few feet away, and when she got there, she picked the Frisbee up and just held it in her mouth until they were finished, and in her mind, she wanted to be ready to play Frisbee.

Dutchess is an exquisite dog if she could tell it. She is just a free thinker and has a free spirit that wants to do what she wants to do when she wants to do it. She is a leader and has never been a follower. I once saw her knock a gentleman down. He and his family were looking at the dogs just to get a feel for their personality. Dutchess was looking for a faster way to get to a toy, and he was in her way. This made perfect sense to her; but the only thing I saw was a lawsuit, again, he took it in good stride and said, “she sure is spirited, ” and I agreed. Whew!

Follow the Dogs on Facebook   Shuck's Border Collies

Tess Comes Home

Tess had come full circle in 2012.  She was born in December 2011 and went to her new home.  Just a few months later, her original owner had suddenly passed away and after the funeral, her daughter took her home to Florida just to give her a temporary home.  After we were contacted, Tess was on Delta flight 1618, departing Orlando at about 7:30 am to come back to the farm. She was picked up and brought down to the farm for a little debriefing and just to get her feet back on the ground before she goes to her forever home.  She also played with our pack just to get socialized a little more

I thought about Tess all day on the flight day because I knew she would be in a crate in a cargo hold on a big plane. I know I get the willies when I fly and can't imagine how scared a little 5-month-old pup would be. She had to change planes in Atlanta, doesn't everybody, I guess dogs are the same about changing planes too and then on to Indianapolis.

The new owners and I had made plans to bring her back to the farm as I said earlier just to re-adjust her because so much has gone on in her life, and Saturday was packed full. When I knew she was getting close to the farm, I got a little nervous and a little excited to see her. I wonder how she would act and will she remember the farm or me. All the dogs were put up (because as we all know, my dogs will get in the car with anyone), and when the new owners arrived, Tess was a little scared and unsure about the new place. I gave my distinctive yelp, which we do with all the pups. "Here Pup, Here Pup," and her head snapped my way, and out she ran straight to me. Tess was home, she smelled me, and she was around familiar surroundings. She was a little unsure of all the big dogs at first, but as the afternoon wore on, she was playing and trying to fit in, which she did.

We all went to play near the water and had plenty of tennis balls and a Frisbee for Dutchess and Meg. Tess did very well and can catch and even fetch, bringing back the ball right back to your feet. She is a little pistol and is very loving, jumping on everyone's to get some love and attention. As the owners were getting ready to leave, I started to put the dogs up, not wanting my dogs to get in their car, so I called mine. As they were walking to the kennel, I called Tess "Here Pup, Here Pup," and Tess came running and went inside her old kennel area where she was born and raised and spent her young life playing with her littermates.

It's always good to see our pups again, I am so sorry for the sudden death of Karen and know her family is grieving, but know again, with all the power I have, I want my pups to be happy and if it wasn't for the help of many people who shared cost, made arrangements and the many people who went out of their way to help little Tess, none of this would be possible, and she might be in a shelter or worse.

Thank you all for your help. My heart also goes out to the special couple in Florida who gave Tess a home, even if it was temporary. As I write this, I know your heart broke as you put little Tess on that plane saying goodbye, knowing you will never see her again. Thank you for your understanding and for doing what was best for her. The right decisions are not always the easiest.  I know. I've been there. Karen, Rest in Peace, your little girl is just beautiful…and will be well taken care of, just as you wanted.

Followup... Last week, Tess, who had had a wonderful life, passed away, she was sick just a few days, and she went to sleep in her owner's arms. I knew about her illness from an earlier call and got the call when it was over. Tess will come full circle again when her ashes come back to the farm to be with Clancy and Molly. Rest in peace sweet girl.  Ken

Wrap-Up

This week I'm going to do a little wrap-up on a few stories. I have had many emails and questions on Facebook wanting to know the status of a few past posts and this week I am going to answer the questions.

Tucker

Bodhi, now officially known as “Tucker”

After nearly 800 miles of road trips to Indianapolis, Winchester Ky, Ohio and Louisville, Tucker now lives near Carrollton Kentucky. During the ordeal and re-homing process, I got a message from someone who had one of our dogs from Meg’s past litter. She felt that Bodhi needed a job and I agreed. She asked  if they could meet him and if they could bring their dog too. Of course I said yes and several days later, everyone met and had a wonderful day. Bodhi acted like the perfect gentleman and put on the charm. He would sit by them and act like he had known them his whole life. That was the last time I saw Bodhi. It broke my heart for him to go, again, but now he has his forever home and is very happy. 

Errin

They are in agility with their dog, Errin.  Tucker (Bodhi)  had his first formal obedience lesson and will hopefully get into agility too. I get emails and Facebook messages from his owners telling me of his progress and accomplishments. He is doing very well.

Tucker with his ball, running agility with his new sister Errin

When I get the photos it kinda makes me sad, but in a good way, I miss him like crazy but I am glad he has found his forever home and a job and a special thanks to two wonderful people who took a chance on a dog that I knew was a keeper.  He has made an impact on me that no other pup has. Enjoy your life, until we meet again at the bridge, Dad.

If anyone wants to keep up on Tucker, you can friend request Hilary Ann Wain on Facebook and see photos and updates.

Link to more on Tucker

Tess

"Tess of the d'Urbervilles" was her official name but she was called "Tess" and this is the notice I sent out;

Just found out that "Tess" may be coming home. Tess was from "Molly" and was picked up on January 21 of this year during an ice storm because they wanted her so bad and couldn't wait. I remember her human mom "Karen" so well. Karen was so excited to get her and they came down and saw her many times before "Tess" was old enough to go home. Karen couldn't wait for the day that she and Tess would spend a lifetime together. Little did I know that the lifetime spent would be the end of Karen's.  She always held Tess in her lap on visits the whole time and would get kisses and licks from Tess. Karen passed away very unexpectedly and Tess needed a home, ASAP.  

Tess

After the notice was sent, many people came to the rescue wanting to help in any way they could. The problem was Tess was in central Florida and needed to be picked up  immediately. Some offered to set up a fund, some wanting to help transport and some even wanting to pay to fly Tess back home so we could find her a new home. Tess was only 4 months old and needed a mommy because she lost hers.   Many people came to the rescue, more than I would have thought.  I’m not really surprised because these people were dog lovers and not just dog owners.

While we had deposits on Dutchess’s litter, one of the people who had a deposit sent me an email stating that they would be willing to help. I called the caregiver to see where they lived in Florida and then called the people who were willing to help and they lived less than an hour from  each other. After giving each of them phone numbers, they made contact with each other and on that very day, Tess was picked up and went to a new home. I am so grateful for the responses from various  people who were willing to pick up, help out financially or with travel from place to place to get Tess to her new home.  Hopefully, this will be Tess’s forever home, time will tell. Karen was one of those people that you never forget. She was full of life and  so excited that she was going to get her puppy. I remember her visits so well because she was "just fun to be around". As I said before, Tess was picked up during an ice storm in January and I met them at a little store close to our home because of the icy hills.  Karen was so excited, she wept with joy.

I know Karen loved her very much and it would be her wish that Tess was well taken care of and loved. With the out pouring of love, Karen would be very pleased. Rest in Peace Karen, this time you’ll have to wait for Tess at the "Bridge" and take her across getting licks and kisses the whole way holding her in your arms once again, "forever"...