Here Comes the Sun...Not...

I've had it.  I have posted about it and people have commented to me about it, but I’m full and I can’t stand it anymore.  What am I talking about, I’ll tell you, it’s the worst thing and it happens every year and it’s happening again and I've had it.   It starts like this, I walk to the kennel to let the hooligans out and I will even name them, Abbie, Meggie and little Annie and now even Gabby joins in which Doc follows which brings in all the guest dogs.  I open the door and Abbie starts yipping and butting her head against the door to get out and Annie and Gabby start barking.  Doc jumps straight up in the air, over and over.  It’s like their butt’s on fire.  They want out and I mean they want out right now.

Abbie starts it off, she starts to yep again bringing everyone on high alert and they all push each other out the door and bark to see who gets out first.  I have seen them get into a bottle neck and no one goes anywhere, but the race is on.  What “race” you ask, well it’s the race to see who can get the dirtiest.  They start down the driveway, and that’s OK but when they go off road, its pure excitement and joy and pure hell for me.  Abbie and Meg are always first and Gabby and Abbie bring up a close second, but being a close second means that not only you spray mud on yourself, but you also get mud from the dog your right behind and then they are covered from head to tail and I really mean it. 

Not only had the weather been wetter more than usual, it keeps freezing and thawing every day and night and the mud just sits on top of the frozen ground.  But what makes it really bad, is we had some equipment in on a sunny day, yes we had that once, but when they finished grading the dirt, it rained and froze and snowed and rained and thawed which made it a perfect playground for the dogs to run through.  For the last couple of days, it has been right around the 32/36 degree days and I have to feel sorry for them because when they are not running, they want to give me sugar and jump on me and get me dirty.  Nooooo, stay back, you’re not jumping, sure.  When I look down I see all the puppy dog faces with beg brown eyes, but I've changed clothes enough this week I love you, but stay back….I thought of taking them over to the lake where they can wash off, but I again feel sorry for them and I know they will willingly do it.  Clancy is the only one who stays clean.  While he will chase balls and a Frisbee, he's not much into running just for the sake of running.  He needs a purpose and I guess he just doesn't see one.  

We have guest dogs this week and I haven’t posted many photos because they look so dirty and muddy, I’m ashamed for the owners to see them, but at least they have had a ball and done things that they usually don’t get to do at home.

They have run ruts in the woods and carried it everywhere; the back porch is filthy which means that we carry it in and then Elaine has extra work which means I have to help, sometimes.   Poor little Annie and Gabby, they stand at the door and want in so bad and they look so cold, what’s a dog lover to do.  At least for tonight, they will be happy dogs, Elaine is out of town seeing her parents and she did say “I think I’ll change the bed when I get home” so Annie, Abbie and Gabby will sleep on the bed tonight.  I’m going to the guest bedroom….

Oh and the weather forecast.....No sun for 6 more days....

Plan "B"

I did not mention this when it happened, but we have been having some medical issues with Molly, Nothing serious, but just some problems.  A year or so ago, we found a tumor on Molly and I took her to the Vet and they did a needle biopsy on it.  It came back OK, so we decided, along with the Vet to wait, watch it and see what developed in the future.  After she had puppies we continued to watch it.  About two weeks ago, it grew to about 4 times its' original size.  I called the Vet and said it’s time to take it out.  We scheduled an appointment for the next day and early that morning, off we went to the Vet for surgery.  From her previous experiences she felt the car was a bad thing and she didn't want to go.  On the way, which is a 50 mile round trip, the only place she was comfortable was in my lap.  I will tell you, it’s hard to drive with a border collie in your lap, but we made it in one piece, (don’t do this at home). 

The appointment was with Dr “D”, the same Vet that worked with her and the puppies, so I knew she was in good hands.  I arrived early and they took her right back as soon as we got there.  I also went back to the prep room with them and stayed with Molly while they prepared her and put her under the anesthesia.  Not only did they have the one tumor, they found seven in her breast area that needed to come out.  Molly doesn't do very well doing things she doesn't want to do.  She is so timid and scared.  I have actually seen her teeth chatter when she was upset, but she always obeys me and will do it, whether she wants to or not. 

While waiting for the surgery to finish, I thought of all the things she has been through in the last 6 months.  I asked myself, “When does her easy time start?” hopefully soon…but it didn't.

As I said, Molly doesn't like things that are out of the ordinary so when it came time for the going home directions from the Vet, I knew she wouldn't like it.  No activity, NO licking… Just a few minutes after we got home, Molly went right to licking and I knew this was not a good thing to do, so we made a t-shirt with  holes cut for her legs and  tail and gathered up the end and sealed it.  This seemed to work well to keep her away from the incision, or so I thought.  When I checked her the next morning, the shirt was wet and she had licked “around” it going through the let hole. 

Plan “B”… Blow up E-collar.  Nope, won’t do it, she became upset and with her paws she pushed it right off  her neck.

Plan “C”… Bandage her belly with Kurlex, worked well the first night, but it was off in the morning.

Plan “D”… Combination of T-shirt and E-collar.  Worked well…for 3 days.  It appeared that she could still get to her sutures, because they were always wet.

Plan “E”… Combination of E-Collar and Blow up E-Collar.  Seemed to work well for 3 more days, but I was starting to find her sutures wet again. 

Finally, time to take the stitches out.  Wound looks good, should not be a problem at all, just snip these babies out and “bang” we're off for a walk without a lampshade or inter tube around her neck.  Problem solved….I’m sooooo glad this is over, so I thought again.

Wait, what’s that?  Did I spill something…Ketchup maybe?  Molly come here and let me see your tummy.  She is to the point of just rolling over and lifting up her leg for me to see her wound.

“Oh Darn” (not my real words) and many others, the entire incision has opened and is bleeding.  I called the Vet and spoke with them and Saturday morning, another visit to the Vet for new sutures and a better plan to keep her from licking.

I will tell you, this has been an exhausting ordeal.

What bothers me most is that I know she doesn't understand. She always takes it like a big girl, no matter what.  I feel so sorry for her and wish I could explain it to where she would understand, but then again, she trusts me to make it all better.  It's hard to see them suffer and especially when she looks into my eyes for comfort while her head is stuck through the E-collar and her tail starts wagging.   Molly, Daddy and Mommy are trying really hard to make it all better. 

Plan “F” … Start over…bigger E-collar, NO activity, something hard for a border collie...Wish us well...

Just when I think…

Just when I think I've seen it all, the dogs will surprise me again.  I have seen each one do things that were strange, funny, witty and even odd at times.  Usually it’s about Dutchess, but this week it’s about someone I would never suspect.  I’m talking about Annie Belle. 

If you have made a visit to the farm, you have seen her play ball first hand or I mean carry a ball while everyone else plays and she just runs around following the other dogs with a ball in her mouth.  But today was different.

As we were preparing to go for a walk and we were gathering things that we would need, I got my camera, coat, gloves,  Dutchess got her Frisbee, Abby got her ball, Annie got her food bowl....WHAT!

 Actually, it’s not her food bowl, its Errin and Tucker's bowl who are staying with us for a few days and the bowls were brought with them when they were dropped off for their stay.  Annie got excited that we were going because she had waited all day to go and play, so at 8:30 am, off we went into the wild blue wonder.  Here she came running down the driveway as fast as she could with the food bowl in her mouth.  

She had run a pretty good distance and I told her she had to take it all the way, no giving up or dropping it and I certainly was not going to carry her new toy for her.  So off we went, all the dogs and Annie and her dog bowl.  At first, she did pretty good and was maneuvering it pretty well.  She would carry it by the lip and then change position and carry it another way.  She was so excited, she had another toy and no one else had one, but I know that no one wanted one so everyone left her alone to carry her treasure as freely as she wanted.  There was no snarling, growling or trying to steal the bowl and she could run as happily as she wanted.

The first encounter was when she ran into a tree and knocked it out of her mouth and as fast as she could, she snatched it up like it was a juicy bone and off she went on another adventure.  She seemed so proud of her bowl and displayed it proudly.  

The second encounter was when she flipped it up and the bottom was covering her eyes again.  I sensed she knew she was getting into trouble so she dropped it and changed positions, holding the bottom toward the ground.  I know we would be in trouble if she lost it and at one time I thought she would.  She observed the other dogs playing with something that "she" wanted to carry so she dropped the bowl and took off.  “ANNIE, come back here”, pick your bowl up and carry it back and surprisingly she did. 

She picked it up and off she went, carrying it all the way back to the house, where it was put up out of her reach...Poor Annie.

While I’m not surprised she carried something around, I am surprised she got Errin and Tucker’s food bowl.  I just glad she didn't try to bring both of them.  Annie, you’re so cute….

Give Them a Chance

We had a wonderful few days this week.  We had a couple board their dog for two days and we got the privilege to watch their 5 month old, part Border Collie, part "something" puppy.  Her name was “Scout” and she was a wonderful dog and we enjoyed her stay very much. 

  She was very well behaved and had the run of the house and did not have ANY issues with anything, including getting along with all of our dogs.  When they arrived on Friday, they also brought their other two dogs too.  They were also great dogs and at times I was envious because of their beauty and nature.  One was an “Aussie” and the other’s were full or part Border Collies.  When we settled down and enjoyed some good conversation, Elaine and I learned that all three were dogs were rescued.  All three were a pleasure to be around, and were beautiful and well mannered.  

As I thought about this, I remembered that one of the best dogs we ever had was a  “Free to a good home”.  He was a wonderful pet and added so much to our family.  This week, I have had 3 different calls where people wanted dogs that did not need a puppy.  One was a student in college, one was a senior citizen and one did not have the space.  All three wanted a border collie for several reasons and in my heart, I knew it was a bad idea.  With all three, I talked them out of getting a Border Collie puppy, something most breeders would never think of doing, but I knew it was a bad idea at "this" time in their life and my concerns was the well being of the dog.

But what are the alternatives? The senior citizen, who was 82 had always had Border Collies, and wanted another one which I can understand, but a puppy?  My first thought, God forbid if he passes before the dog, who will take care of the dog.  Would the dog go to a neighbor or friend who really didn't want it and then relinquished it to a shelter?  This could mean certain death in some cases. I suggested that he find a BC rescue and adopt one that is also a little order and they can both spend their twilight time together and besides, you don’t have to house break them and go through the puppy stage.  The other two people also wanted a pup and I suggested the same thing.  There are many BC’s given up for many reasons.  The biggest being activity or lack of it from the owner but others reasons play a part in this too.  We once re-homed a BC because the owner died unexpectedly and no-one in the family wanted the responsibility of a Collie.  There are a lot of wonderful dogs that are out there looking for good homes, just waiting to shower you with kisses and waiting for you to get home.

While I certainly understand everyone wanting a Border Collie, not all matches are made in heaven, but the timing might be bad or you might want to wait for the right fit.  Everyone needs a home and if you can, look at some alternatives for a dog.  It might be the best thing you could every do for yourself and for the dog.

While we do raise Border Collies here on the farm, in my heart, I do feel that there is more to being just a “breeder”.  It is also my responsibility to be an advocate for the breed.  While I want everyone to feel the love for the breed, there is more, and while we usually don’t have pups to sell.  There is always a need to instruct, advise and provide a place where dogs can socialize and board that is BC friendly and where people can come for help.  I have never looks at having or selling dogs as a business or in competition with other breeders.  All breeders should be in for the dog, nothing else and if I can help, just call.

On another note, Dutchess is doing well, she is ready to play and wants her stitches out, which will be today...Good Girl.  It was nice to see her in the house and lay in my lap, just relaxing and sleeping.  Her only issue was during a walk, she got on the ice and fell through in 8 feet of water.  Luckily, our guest was with her, walking his dog.  He jumped into the frigid water over his head and saved my girl.  Thank you...Bad girl... only Dutchess... 

To the Vet...

Well here it is Saturday night and I don’t have anything to write about.  I've thought about this all week and I even had a few good ideas of things that happened this week that, I thought was great.  The only problem is I forgot what they were.  I even said to myself, “write them down, there good, No, I’ll remember” Well guess what, I’m sitting here looking at the keyboard thinking…at least it’s not Sunday morning and I’m looking at the clock.

The big event this week was going to the Vet with Dutchess and Doc this week.  Well…here we are taking up her food and water up the night before, no problem.  I let her sleep with us and we can watch her.  She did great, until morning.  Before I knew it, she had the toilet seat up and her head was in the toilet getting a long cool drink of water until I caught her and put the lid back down (we always flush).   Bad Girl Dutchess.  As we were getting ready, she found a 10” rawhide somewhere in the house and ate the whole thing because she did not get her food and she was hungry….Crap.  I got the hydrogen peroxide out and gave her 5cc and waited and waited.  Don’t make me give you more, now throw up we gotta go! and up it came with the water and the rawhide.  I will tell you, I hate throw-up more than anything.  Did I say I hate throw-up….After gagging several times, Elaine took the towels from my hand because she felt sorry for me and finished what I had started.  So off we went to the Vet, we went to Louisville this time where I use to work at the Vet’s office to see our friends and do a few other things that needed to be done.  Doc curled up and went to sleep and was a good boy and didn't make a sound except when he wanted to sit in my lap, which he tried several times.  Dutchess claim to fame on the trip going down was she threw up (Oh crap…not again).  After the surgery, and while we waiting for Dutchess to wake up, we went out to eat and to meet up with my cousin Peg and after lunch, it was back to the Vet to get Dutchess.  She was ready to go, except she was a little woozy but off we went, back home to Indiana.  Things went well until all of a sudden, Dutchess stood up and decided to pee while we were traveling at 70 MPH.   “OMG, what is the world is she doing?” (Not my exact words).  She sat back down and went back to sleep.  I guess that was from having her head in the toilet that morning.  Note to self: Put Dutchess in a cage before any other surgery.  If there is a good thing about this trip, I had prepared the ode puke-mobile for such things and it was easily cleaned up, and I’m sure Elaine didn't mind.

All in all, everything went well, Dutchess had a little trouble with some bleeding but I re-wrapped the bandage and she cleared up shortly after because of the added pressure. 

Dutchess has been staying with us since her surgery and has enjoyed the added attention, but no ball playing or jumping on the bed.  In just a short time, Dutchess will be back to normal doing the things she always does, except one…No more puppies.   

In a way, I regret not having anymore of her pups, they were somewhat like Dutchess and always got into everything, but in a good way.  As expected, Dutchess was the initiator of the “act” and would hunt Clancy and find him when she was ready.  

I will tell you this has been a trying 5 months for trips to the Vet.  While I like the people, I am getting tired of financing their vacations, but they all are good and have always been there when I needed them, Thank you...

I do want to mention something that is dear to my heart and I hope yours too.  It is a Border Collie Rescue in New York called Glen Highland Farm.  

What Glen Highland Did in 2012

It has 175 acres of rolling hillside that tends to the needs of border collies and was started by Lilly Goodrich, the President and CEO of Goodrich Tires and John Anderson President/CEO, Genesis Counselling.  Both Lilly Goodrich and John Anderson walked away from their fortunes and started this farm because it is what they believe in.

Glen Highland Farm

They are in it for the dogs,  Thanks, Ken

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We Did It Again

Several months ago, my son Brad told me “if you get one more dog, I calling the Animal Hoarders TV show and I’ll watch you on TV”……..Well, I guess I should expect the TV trucks to pull up any day now.  I only hope I get some money for it.   A friend of mine in Kentucky was downsizing her kennel and posted a notice on Facebook that she had a few dogs available to good homes.  I turned to Elaine and ask, “do we have a good home”?  She jumped at the answer and eagerly said “NO” I said not us, do we provide a good home for our dogs?  She laughed and said she could resist and said “of course we do” Dutchess over heard this and I swear she shook her head no and I’m sure it’s because she did not get her fill of Frisbee that afternoon and I refused to play in the house with her anymore because she knocked over the easy chair, diving after a Frisbee several weeks ago and if you know Dutchess, you know it’s true…

“Doc” is short for his new name of “Doc Holiday”.  He is a little over two years old and is a Sable color with traditional border color markings.  He is a beautiful boy and is one of the friendliest dogs I have ever had, including some of mine. He is very loving and gentle and loves to run to me and jump up in my arms and just hold on, squeezing me as we stand still and looking at me with those big amber eyes.  He has been with us for about 3 weeks and everything seems to be working well with all of the other dogs.  He Challenged Clancy once and was very quickly put in his place in short order and learned that Clancy is King of this domain, but maybe it’s because Clancy has twenty pounds on him too, Doc wagged his tail and puttered off in another directions and I swear Clancy smiled and said “I’m da Man”, which he is.

The first day he was here, we were trying to make him feel comfortable and after feeding him we let him out of the kennel and wanted to love on him and see what boundaries he had.  We found out in a few moments, he had none.  He came right up to Elaine and sat in front of her and sat down with her.  She had a slicker brush and thought she might brush him or at least see if he would let her.  He curled up between her legs and put his head on her leg and went to sleep while she brushed him.  She said he’s a keeper and I agreed.

The only thing missing is his name on his own kennel stall which I will order next week.  Doc is originally from Texas but has deep roots from England, Wales and Scotland.  His Great Grandfather won the 2005 World Trials and his Great Great Grandfather was the International Shepherd Champion 1985, Scottish Shepherds´ Champion in 1979 & 1986 and has won over 100 Open trials in Wales and Scotland. 

Doc is still finding his niche; he wants to play, but will only run after the other dogs not really knowing what to do.  He will run up and down the hills and will watch the others play or stand with what appears to be a big smile.  He has fit right into our family and our hearts for several reasons.  The first is when he jumps on me and as I stroke his face, he reminds me of another dog we had and had to give up, a decision I often regret.  The second is his personality and the big heart he has.  As I have always said it'n not the paperwork that makes the dog, it's what you put into the dog, so he'll know what to do and how to act.  Someone in his first two years spent a great deal of time making Doc who he is and it certainly shows.  Thanks Wendy...

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The Journey

It was Tuesday, the second week of February of 2006.  My cousin Peg and I were in route to Smiths Grove, Kentucky to check out some dogs and possibly purchase a puppy.  We went to a farm house that had a barn behind it where two litters of border collies with a total of eighteen puppies were running and scampering in the straw.  Just after a few moments, I spied the pup I wanted.  There was no reason, color or markings that made her stick out for any special reason. I just wanted her and I don’t know why.  

Molly

We paid the farmer his money and started our journey back home to Indiana.  Little did I know how much that trip would change my life and how instrumental Peg and Molly would be intertwined in my life's Journey. I didn't want another dog but “Max” was a dog we had and seemed to need a friend and companion.  

Molly & Max

“Max” was an outside dog and never came in, so another dog would probably stay outside too, or so I thought.   The dog I picked out was a party color and wasn't marked like a standard border collie but a little different, she was cute and I named her “Molly Mae”.

On the way home Peg and I talked about the new dog and wondered if she would like Max and would they get along.  I've never had a dog, much less two.   As you can imagine, Molly stayed in the house the first few nights and melted out heart but Max still wanted to stay out.   Molly became the house dog and the rest is history, our Journey had officially started and we were going down the path at full speed and I didn't know it yet.

 Today the last pup that Molly will ever have went home and last night, I sang to them for the last time, we played together and I rubbed their head and held them one last time before they went to their new home.

Molly's Last Litter

 I sat down in the kennel and thought about the Journey we have had and how fast time flies.  It just seemed like yesterday that we went to that old barn in Smith’s Grove and it’s sad that I won’t be able to hold any more of her pups, but I take solace in knowing that many other people can hold part of her, and take that Journey with us.   Molly will enjoy sitting in my lap and being with us in the house and I think she deserves it.

We all are traveling down that road and taking a journey.  Some of us know it and some of us don't, but we  are.  I just wonder where I'd  be if I didn't find that old farmhouse or picked that pup for no reason, because she was a little different.   Maybe it was fate, maybe it was destiny, but I did, and my life changed in so many ways.  I often wonder how the lives of our pup owners have changed because of that little fuzzy pup that entered their life and turned it upside down.  Life is a Journey but we do hold the map, some can read it, some can't.  Hopefully that little pup can help make your Journey just a little smoother.  My  life has changed so much because of a Journey that Peg and I took together on that snowy day in 2006.  On Wednesday of this week, Peg made her annual trip from Louisville to cuddle and hold each one and send them off with her blessing, as she has with all of our pups.

Here are a few of the pups that Molly had with a unique color pattern.

Thanks Molly Mae, for giving many of us a Journey that has changed our life, I know it has with me...Dad

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