Nana's & PaPaw's House

As some of you know, we do board Border Collie dogs at times.  This started when we would want to see our pups again after they went home, so made it available for our pup owners to let the dogs stay here with their dog parents and we could play with them again while they were on vacation.  This started many years ago and has increased a little and it seems like we now get old friends to stay with us.  We have seen them grow up and now, we even see “just” a little gray in some selected spots and I never thought I’d see the day of the gray, but then I never thought I would see it on mine, and now it is a reality.

It always starts when they get out of the car and they run to me and some even roll on their back and lift their paws up to me and to play.  Many will run and jump a hard as they can, knocking me backwards while the owners will say…”this never happens at home”, but now they are at Nana’s and Papaw's” house and things are just a little different.  I will ask if they mind if we spoil them but usually, we just don’t ask, but they know.  Usually, they get to sleep in the house and jump on the furniture and lay in my lap.

This year, we have started to see something different.  I have notices that most every dog will gravitate to me and follow me around.  They lay by my feet when I am writing and make a point to lay in my lap when I'm sitting…for hours...  Xena, one dog who boarded earlier this month was just like this.  She stayed in the house the whole time, slept in the bed and was in my lap the whole time she was here…for hours and a lot of dogs will do this and I know it's because she will at home...and it was wonderful on cold days when be both took a little nap, warming us both.

About 9 months ago, Elaine sat on the couch (she usually is in a rocker) and I sat on the other couch (we have two in the family room) and she made room for a dog to sit with her and she wanted some attention from them.  We had three dogs inside and two jumped on the couch with her but kept looking at me and I had just one.  

After about 10 minutes, both dogs jumped off and came over to me, leaving her without any dogs.  “I just don’t understand this, why do they always go to you”? she said, I answered as best as I could…”That’s simple”  “What do you mean, what is it”?  “So simple” I said…”What is it”!!! “They just don’t like you” I snickered and she even laughed…”OK, but really what is it” she said.  “Look… I feed them, see them nearly 24 hours a day, play with them, walk with them and even sing to them and they look at me as the caretaker and leader”.  The one thing I also mentioned is that I make them mind and they do the things they ask.  Elaine is soft hearted and will baby talk them when she wants them to do something, I put on the “Big Boy” voice and they know I mean it and will do it out of respect, but this is what they want.  They want to follow a leader and if they don’t have one, someone will become the leader and that’s not always good, but that night I had three trying to get in my lap or at least in my arms.

I will tell you, it can be overwhelming at times and I just want my space too, especially if I'm trying to put on my shoes or type.  Elaine says it’s because I am the “man” meaning I am their leader, but not hers...never her she said, and that’s OK.  Every dog is different and that’s what makes it fun.

As Christmas comes up, remember what this time of year is really all about and share your love, especially with your dog…Ken

Merry Christmas Little Shepp and Max...and all of our little pups and dogs, you always bring joy to our life and you're always welcome to come and see us at Nana and PaPaw's house....

Note: all of the dogs in this post are guest dogs...except one, Doc with his son who came to visit.

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An Open Letter…

Sometimes things get under my skin especially when I have a dog in the fight or if I think it's wrong…This is both...

Earlier this week, I had an acquaintance contact me about helping out with rescue dogs, and she was turned down because in a couple of years…she might breed her purebred dog.  The problem with this is she “might” and she was willing to help the life of a dog and possibly save its life or support the dog community through work or money NOW, and possible for some time and now "they" have cut any ties to her and the dogs actually lost out.  

I did post a question on the dog’s Facebook page concerning the same thing…and here are a few responses…On a personal note, I was going to rescue a dog at the local shelter, and after I did all the paperwork and the fee was more than a purebred, I said no…I just wanted a dog for the farm.   I walked away and looked in the paper and got “free to good home” my first Border Collie, Max.  How interesting would it be if every shelter/rescue worker had to fill out the form to adopt a dog, and how many would pass, and this is the same person who is making this decision…?

From a breeder;

So yes, one can do both, and be responsible for it, and then yes there are those that use the "rescue dog" to pull at people heart strings, to just obtain more money, which is really a shame, and some rescues/shelters, I do feel go a bit overboard with their rules, because that dog is missing out on a really great forever home.

She rescued a dog from a shelter that was destined to death and No BC rescue shelters in the 4 surrounding states would take him…and now he is happy because she took him and re-homed him and he it is one of many.

Another…

The rescues seem to only accept "perfect" applicants, and then get surprised when they have too many dogs. I’m not perfect by any means, but my 2 dogs have a great life. A rescue would never accept me, a single, working, city dweller, in a million years….

Another…

I agree totally. I get very tired of the "better than thou" attitude taken by so many of the rescue shelters. They practically want to know what time you are going to go to the potty yourself.....most make you fill out pages and pages of personal info......and IF you happen to tell them you might use anything else than a "Humane" collar or leash (according to their standards) or IF you mention the word "breeding" to them they tell you No, they cannot accept you. They are often missing the boat in their efforts to "rescue" a dog. 

There were many responses and even personal messages and it’s like we are the enemy.  I do rescue dogs and yes, I do breed them.   I will be the first to say, leave it to the people who know and will react to a problem and always look for the dogs well being.  No one should ever breed, and all dogs that are rescued, re-homed and even kept in the back yard should be spayed or neutered.

The question is…what do we do?  I am in favor of stricter laws that govern this, especially the breeders.  A possibility would be to team up the breeder and rescue/shelters together.  Let’s face it. Most, (not all) breeders are in it because they love dogs and want to share the joy of them, but in the eyes of the rescue/shelter people, they will not even talk to us.    Another solution would be, for every dog you sell, a portion would be destined for the relief of overpopulation and care.  Many things can be done, but we need to do something more, and that’s, the gist of this letter…

This is a perfect time to do something.  I realize not all people can foster a dog, but there is more.  You can support financially, clean/visit, donate goods, transport and even shelter, you just have to make up your mind what to do.  Glen Highland Farm, a Border Collie rescue in New York (501-C-3) even has info on Amazon, and you can buy a specific toy for a specific dog and here is a donation page on Amazon Glen Highland's Wishlist on Amazon

It automatically sends it to them, and there are many things under $10.

If breeders and shelter/rescue groups don’t stand together, we will fail and the problem will never be solved, please be responsible and do your part…remember it’s for the dog and when you hold their head in your hands and look very close into their eyes, you are looking at your own destiny.  If you are involved with shelters, please know that we want to help...

Note…

I will donate a monetary amount of every litter our dogs have to a rescue and continue to help transport, feed, donate goods and supplies to anyone who ask for help and I will seek ones that don’t.  I will, and have made a difference in the nearly 20 dogs we have re-homed...Ken
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63 Days

It happens every 6 months…either it’s a time you look forward to or it's a curse from Hades…

 If you haven't watched your calendar, you wouldn't notice that Meg, Annie AND Gabby have reached that exciting time again and you might remember that 6 months ago, we had little ones running around playing and getting into everything and I can only do this once a year and it’s NOT time... girls, did you hear me?

It started out as a typical day, girls inside, boys outside and then it was time to change, boys inside, girls outside, sounds so simple right…wrong.  So here I am, I have Doc on an orange leash and I am transferring him to a sizeable kennel so he will be happy.  We need to stop right there, Doc is NEVER happy when he is in, and a romantic female dog is outside, NEVER.  At any rate, he bolted from my grasp during a weak moment and off he ran toward the girls who were playing thirty feet away from us dragging a bright orange leash behind him.  Gabby is leading the way and Doc is following…It looked like an orange lightning bolt traveling down the driveway, giggling all the way…I just know it…

Most people don’t really consider the drive that a male dog has when it comes to his romances.  I will tell you, it is very strong and I really mean strong.  On one occasion, Clancy was behind a 5 foot fence and he wanted out to frolic with the girls.  After trying to get under the fence, he started biting it and repeatability bit into a chain link fence and broke the wire.  He continued to work at it until he could squeeze his body through the hole he had made in the middle of the fence and I have the hair that was left on the fence.  Sixty three days later we had 7 pups.  If you want to make the world’s strongest jail, put a male dog inside and female dog outside and watch how he escapes and keep it up until he can’t.  No human could ever get out…but a little known fact, it is the female that is the aggressor too, sometimes she is worse than the male is!  Why do you think we call Dutchess the “party girl”?

Gabby…come here…G A B B Y come here.... down the driveway they ran, my mind raced, what to do…what to do… my 18 year old mind said “Run” as I started running.  The lovebirds would run about 100 feet and get ahead and stop and prance and play and Gabby would act real interested…OMG…”NO” I yelled and off they went in another direction, Gabby and the orange lightning bolt right behind, both turning their head and looking at me and again, I knew they were giggling and saying, “how long do you think he can run like that” to each other.  

Well this old man kept up,   for at least 10 seconds.  Through the woods I could see the orange lightning bolt slicing through the trees.  We were about 6 acres away, I was ninety six years old and it sounded like I was a steam engine puffing so much.  I was out of breath, weak legged, angry, annoyed and all the words that went with it and I knew I was going to die.  I can just see it now…”Retired Detective died from unknown reasons” in the local paper and Elaine would sell the new pups all the while wondering what I was doing on the other side of the big lake by myself, but that was not going to happen…I pulled up my sock on my shoeless right foot, because my shoe was in the woods somewhere on the path and was off again to catch the orange lightning bolt that was still running and stopping for a little kiss.  As I ran, I really did wonder what the neighbors thought of the shoeless wild man running madly through the woods screaming at nothing but a dog with an orange leash.  Little did they know the real story. 

After what seemed like 4 days we had worked our way all over the farm and ended up back at the house.  In my mind, I was grateful that if I did die, I would be home and they could find me.

I was done…No more was left, It is finished…I went in the walkout door and walked up the step to the first floor, one shoe on, one off, reached on top of the cabinet and pulled it out.  I was lucky, I always saw Gabby running and the orange lightning bolt right in-front, but it was over, only several steps were left in my legs.  I walked on the porch and pointed it in the air, toward the sun and “let it go” The sound of thunder roared from its mouth, belching a 2 foot stream of fire.  The S&W 357 said its peace.  Not a sound was heard anywhere, nor did the wind even blow, but what I did hear, was the sound of a dog running and as it got closer, the lightning bolt ran to the kennel and went in…Luckily, Doc is a little apprehensive about gunshots…and as I turned the latch shut, I patted him on the head and took off his orange lightning bolt, nothing more to say, just Mother Nature at work…

Epilog…

I did find my shoe and then my sock and when a neighbor asked if I knew anything about a “wild” man, I just snickered and asked…”Where did you hear that?”

In Sixty Three days, we'll know for sure…

Moral of the Story

No matter where you start, you may return back to the same place if you don't change your ways… Ken

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Reggie...It Can Happen...

If you have been following the dog’s Facebook page, you may have noticed a story about a military serviceman that was deployed to war.  He had to leave his beloved dog “Reggie” at home with instructions, if something bad happened...  The story is a very good read, but it is a story.  
The Story of "Reggie"
Many attempts were made to authenticate it, but they could not, but I am sure that many servicemen and women have had to leave their pet and I'm also sure some servicemen lost their life due to the war and their pet was left without them and a home.

This caused me to thinking, have you ever ask yourself “what would happen to my dog if something happened to me?” and have you ever given any thought to your pet/pets at that time of need.  Most of us have not, but I will tell you, something bad things can happen, I know, I've been there.

Several years ago, I was contacted by someone who wanted a pup.  Karen was only 62 years old and I never gave any thought to her age, and yes, I have turned people down because of their age and I may ask the question to an elderly prospective buyers, “What will happen to the dog if you pass away”, while this seems harsh, my only concern is the entire life of the pup and not wanting it to go to a shelter or something worse. 

From an email I received from Karen.

"I just got home from the pet store.  Tess has a new toy........Yes, we are ready to pick, would Friday be OK with you.  Anytime Friday is OK for Ross and me.  Let me know what works for you.  I am so excited"  Karen!!

One cold January day, “Tess” went home to her new home and everyone was so excited.

I remember the day so well,  Karen would come every weekend and see her pup before it went home and we became friends.  Karen passed away just 3 months after the pup was picked up, March 16^th, her unexpected death was a shock to all of us.  Tess was now in Florida with Karen's daughter and she was flown back to us here at the farm.  She was rehomed to a wonderful family near Indianapolis. 

I'm just glad we were able to get involved and we were able to re-home the dog to the perfect family, and all is well.

We never know when something can happen, but as dog owners, we need to at least think about it.  Usually things will stay the same and the dog will stay in the same house and things are OK, but in the event it’s not, what will happen.  I can't imagine any of my dog’s being separated or not being taken care of like they should be.  In my heart I know things will be OK, but I do wonder…No one will ever love my dogs like me and I know you feel the same way.

It’s easy to make arrangement for your dogs if needed or because of a bad occurrence and it might be as easy as asking a family member or a friend and at least you have planned, and remember, you can always call us at the farm.  It does dwell on some dog owners mind and I have been ask by two families to take care of the family dog, just in case... and I will.

Something I have always wanted people to know is that it is a full lifetime commitment to own a dog, for you, the dog and both.  They count on us for everything they need and want, and it’s up to us to remember their total needs.  This is part of our "going home" talk with the pup...As much as Dutchess lets me know things, there is some things that I need to take care of myself... Ken

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The "Hot" Word...

I have talked about this before with much vigor and it’s even a “Hot” topic with Border Collie owners.   It’s something that each of us have experienced many times, but put yourself in my shoes and follow me around the farm.

I have a lot of things that need to be done especially around the fall of the year, and the only time that is worse is the springtime when everything is getting started and there are many chores to do and now, even the daylight time is getting shorter.

It always starts the same, I wake up and plan my day depending on the weather and how cold it is.  It has been a lot cooler this year and we already had some snow on the ground which has even pressed my time just a little closer.  After breakfast and after I have dressed, I go out and feed the dogs, they are SO excited because they want to get out as fast as they can so they can run and play.  This is always a challenge, but it always starts the same.

After they hastily eat, it’s time to open their kennel door for the mad dash.  If one dog is first to get out, then they wait and bark inside the kennel for someone else so you can race together.  This will happen for about 4 dogs and as the 5^th dog is let out, it’s time for all of them to run through the door at the same time, which is impossible, but they try, and yes, they really do try to fit all 5 dogs through the small door.  What a bottleneck but as it clears, the rest come running and try to catch up which they do.  Of course the whole time everyone is barking and yelping and I even had someone here when this happened and they ask…”Do they do this every time”  and I answered, “of course, they do”.   But that’s not the Hot” topic.

"Do you know what I'm thinking?"

“Ball” is the “Hot” word.  Nearly everyone that I talk to will say the same thing, “My Border Collie” is obsessed with a ball and I will always answer the same way, “Mine too”, but give it some thought, I have 8 that are obsessed with a ball. And it’s hard to get things done because of it.  So follow me through the day as they jump and skip, wanting to play.  

Maybe because we start early...

If I'm really busy, I will ignore them (can't be done) but they always “bring” me things to play with.  As we walk or work, mysteriously a tennis ball will show up at my feet and 8 Border Collie faces look at the ball, and then at me, and then back at the ball, wanting me to pick it up and I sometimes walk by the ball but again, it’s by my feet and so on.   The're very persistent...

Clancy learned this from Tucker

At times, they will go and find as many as 6 or 8 balls after I hide the first one that they discovered in the weeds or leaves, trying until one works and I will get tired and just throw it, if only they could bring me a dollar.  Just today, Abbie brought me “part” of a ball.  It had one side out, but in her mind, it’s a ball, something that should be thrown. 

If all fails, she will bring me a stick.  As I said I know your dog is obsessed with a ball but 8?  

Even Molly....

God bless them, I feel so sorry and will pick up the ball and throw it and off we go, trying to work and throwing…The cycle continues but I wouldn't have it any other way...It's a Border Collie thing...Ken

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The "Test"

If you have been reading anything on Facebook or saw it mentioned on this blog, you know we are getting a couple of our dogs certified as therapy dogs.  Clancy the “dog of dogs” and Dutchess the famous “party” girl. 

Web Definition

A therapy dog is a dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, disaster areas, and to people with learning difficulties. Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds. ...

As most of you know, I was blessed to have a visit with a therapy dog while in the hospital a few months ago.  I had already started my therapy dog training just a few weeks earlier and it was such a comfort to be able to hold and hug a beautiful four legged creature during my hospital stay.

It was actually Elaine’s decision to become a therapy dog handler years ago when she witnessed a therapy dog visit the nursing home her mother was temporarily in.   She saw how the patients’ eyes just lit up and a smile immediately shone on their faces and how some even laughed and spoke baby talk to the dog. It made such an impression on her, she began to dream about the possibilities of how she could do this with one of our dogs.  The more she thought about it, the more she realized she had the perfect dog…Clancy…, she knew he was the one…

Clancy has met hundreds of people and dogs here at the farm and even out at festivals in the area or trips to town.  He has played with kids, kittens, dogs and has had every puppy that has been born here at the farm craw all over him.  He just takes it and usually closes his eyes and tries to relax or sleeps, such a tender soul.  When Clancy was our stud dog, we always allowed him in the house for our meet and greet with the prospective buyers and as always, once he entered the house, he climbed upon the sofa and gave kisses or went to sleep in the visitors lap.  Many readers can attest to this very fact the first time they came to our house to meet us and our dogs.

 The stage was set… and after classes and a lot of training of the dogs and Elaine and I were ready to take the evaluation and test.  This was a piece of cake because we knew if anyone failed their part, it would be Elaine or I, Clancy was great, Dutchess was along for the ride.  One of the training instructors even told us after she gave Clancy a big hug and a kiss at one of our classes, “You…will make a wonderful therapy dog” as she looked into his eyes and he licked the tip of her nose.

Elaine was first, the evaluations are away from the public for a variety of reasons and we waited outside the room.  “No sweat” I said, he’s doing fine and when the test was nearly done, it was stopped, one of the evaluators came out to us and said Clancy had failed.  I don’t know why she came out except to warn us of Elaine’s appearance and emotions.  When Elaine did come out, she asked for the car keys and she and Clancy went to the car so she could pull herself together and as she turned, I saw her wipe a tear from her eye.  To say the least, I was shocked.  Clancy knew everything and would make a great partner, but what happened?

My exam was next and to say the least, I was concerned and worried.  I didn't know what to expect and had to admit that if Clancy couldn't pass, was their any hope for Dutchess and me.  There were nearly 8 to 10 people in the room that were there to evaluate Dutchess and me.  Sometimes more than one or the whole group participated in the teting.  When dogs test, they are taken through many pretend "situations" that could be experenced in a nusing home or hospitl envirenment just to make sure they are fit to serve in this capisity.

Before the class started, knowing I was Elaine’s husband, they shared with me what happened in the test with Clancy and Elaine.  They said the test was nearly complete when  a “neutral” dog was brought to within a couple of feet of Clancy so they could witness his reaction to the dog, of course hoping there would not be one…but it didn’t quite happen the way we all wanted it to.  Clancy took the Border Collie stance and as they were circling Elaine with the neutral dog, Clancy backed up to Elaine, touching her leg and as they circled, he circled too, not making a move or changing expression, except to circle and protect Elaine from what he took as an aggressive act toward her from the “neutral” dog.  The evaluator immediately stopped the test. This was taken as unacceptable behavior on Clancy’s part and they quite firmly stated to Elaine that he would never be able to serve as a therapy dog with their organization.

Elaine is still a certified dog handler and our new goal is to train one of our other dogs to be her partner so she can go with me and Dutchess, who incidentally came within one point of getting the highest rating.  Go figure…

My heart aches so much for Elaine and Clancy, because I know what he is. I know how awesome he is with people and what Elaine feels in her heart.  I have sat a hundred times across from a couple sitting on our couch who wanted a puppy and wanted it to be just like Clancy. Some have even wanted to purchase him, but I always tell them “Sorry, he’s not for sale” as he lays his head in their lap giving them his love and affection.  Clancy will always be our therapy dog and the only down side to that is most of his love and attention will stay here at the farm and not shared with a deserving person whose life he can cheer up, but all in all, we’ll take his love except for when he comes inside to visit and to share the couch with a couple looking for a puppy.  

Ken

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Just a thought…

As most of you know, I don’t write the blog until the last minute for Sunday morning.  It is now Saturday night and nearly 9:20 PM and I have just sat down to write about the dogs and “what happened this week”.  I sometimes ponder about what I will write about because it was a slow week or I will have enough stories for a month from that same week.  As I sit at the keyboard, I thought back to when I put the dogs in their kennel tonight.  

Just this very night as I said “Let’s go eat”, everyone mechanically goes to their own kennel door and stands and waits for me to open the gate if it’s closed, but if it’s open they will proceed into their own kennel and wait for me.  Tonight, Doc was first and as I looked into his eyes, he seemed so content and I took both hands and stroked his face and while I was doing it, he closed his eyes and seemed to drift into a dream world.  He seemed so content, and so was I.  It was a dream for both of us. 

Molly was next and when I opened her door, as always she wilted to the floor on her bed and as her eyes followed me, just the very tip of her tail wags and anticipates when I will rub her head, which I do. 

Meg just flops down and waits for her food.  She is the smallest dog that makes so much commotion of any dog I have ever seen when she lies down but will watch me for instructions.

The twins, Annie and Gabby are about the same to each other, except, Gabby is the very last to go in, and always needs a little extra coaxing because she wants every last minute to stay out and play, she never gives it up willingly and always walks to the kennel with her head down to the ground, but she lets me know she is not happy.

Abbie goes right in and always looks weathered because she played so much and is usually limping or has scratches here and there, but those eyes will pierce your soul and you can't help rubbing her head and like her mother as just the very tip of her tail will start to wiggle for me.

Clancy and Dutchess don't have to go in because early Sunday morning, we are heading up to Indianapolis for some dog work and they are going inside, just so we can keep an “eye” on them and they don’t get dirty or into mischief.  As I sit and watch everyone eat tonight, each one has their own routine and after they eat, they will usually make a “nest” and settle in for the night. 

Tonight, we have two guest border collies too, Keely is from Molly and Clancy and looks a little bigger than Abbie and they even look like twins.  Tuki a guest we are watching and trying to get a little socializing in before her sheep training.  Even both of them know the routine and will submit to the rules and are such a pleasure to be around because they are good dogs and only want to share their love, which they do.

Now... the hard part.  Who gets to come in tonight?  Sometime the decision is easy.  Who is wet or dirty and who came in last night is sometimes a deciding factor, but tonight everyone is dry and clean.  Once, when Elaine had to make the decision, all 8 of them came in and there was no room for me to sleep and I just gave them my part of the bed.   She just didn't want to make a decision, but tonight it is Abbie, my little misfit confidante, it was the eyes that decided and the very small wiggle of her tail, nothing else.

There are many times I wish I only had one dog because I don’t like making decisions and there are times I wish I had a hundred dogs and a room and bed big enough for all of them.  If you only have one or two, count your blessings, most chairs and beds are big enough for all of you but in my case it’s a little different and I must share.

As I say goodnight tonight, I look at all the sad faces, sing them a song and close the door, but they never know I peek in the window just to see them once again and only wish there was room…

Even now and at times I will lie down on the driveway and let all of them have their turn kissing, licking and showering me with the only love they know and I will be in heaven. With every litter of pups we have ever had, this was our routine and if you're an owner of one of ours, just lie down and see what you are missing.

Someday soon, and as time marches on, I will lay in the "big meadow" and all of my dogs will meet me and there will be room and time enough for the fun and love we have to share before we cross together…Hopefully, God will have Frisbees.   Ken

Heaven is the place of final and complete happiness that God has prepared for us...and if animals are necessary to make us happy, then you can be sure God will have them there.  "Reverend Billy Graham

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