Home for the holidays

Hey friends,

Two pups have come home just in time for the holidays. First, young Kyzer has finally returned from sleep-away sheep camp. He's pretty much the same pup. He likes sleeping on the feather bed in the people's room, barking loudly and often gamboozling for a tennis ball. A couple things changed. The big one is that he became a sheep dog. My people were oohing and aahing about him. So that's a good thing. His head broadened out and his ruff got all thick like he's a grown-dog.

We're pretty happy that he's back in the pack.


My people also decided that our foster friend, Ness, should be our packmate and live with us.

They talked to us about it and of course we all said yes. (I don't think they'd have listened if we'd said no, so it was good we said yes--that way they think that we're all on the same team. Which we are. Most of the time. We're not on the same team on some things. Like hiding our treats and their chocolate. Or being quiet when we want to bark. Or them going to work all day).

Snowpups

Our backyard has changed. Where last week there was hard brown, this week there is soft white. I like it. A lot. I would like to place an order for it to stay this way all the time. I like it so much, I even let the oaf-puppy, Rafe, stay right next to me without even trying once to bite his nose.

We are good dogs and sit for cookies. But we don't like to stay, so probably no holiday picture this year. Oh well.


Actually, I do know how to stay and do it when asked politely, as is befitting a gentlepup such as myself. I will also bow graciously and stay while my picture is taken. Evidence that this is true, directly below:
Woofs out to all the pups--keep your peeps warm and cared for.

Model Dog (Guest Blog)

Rafe here.

Miss Pippin's a nice looking pup. Love that photo in last post. Think she thinks I'm nice looking too. At least, she likes to play with me sometimes.

Thought I'd show a nice photo of me. Professional. Remember I said I had an odd detour when I visited Gram and Gramps? Had to go into a new room, sit on a box, and look Noble. For a long time. Got to watch a tennis ball, that helped. Had some walks too. Met a nice guy. A nice gal had camera. Here's a photo from then:


Not looking Noble, looking Quizzical. Can't see Noble photo yet. Have to wait til warm time, maybe cold time again. Then might see it on Food Bag. Let you know.

Woofs,
Rafe
Dog Model

The Newz from the Crew

It's me, friends, Pippin. My person has been BAD, BAD, BAD (I even called her "Bad Person" and hit her on the nose with my paw--not that she would ever dream of doing that to me. 'Specially since I'm not a person....). There's been so much news with our crew that it's hard to even remember what's happened.

Kyzer (he's the one standing up with the bat ears) has been away at sleep away sheep school for weeks and weeks. We are worried that he isn't going to remember us when he comes back. We think he'll remember sleeping on the feather bed, though.

Our people seem to think that the house goes out of balance if it doesn't contain six dogs and so while Ky's been at ovine camp, there's been a foster dog at our house. Her name is Ness and she's an older gal--somewhere between 8-10. She was going to have to go to sleep for a long time (that's what my people said) and so they brought her to our house so at least she can sleep on a cushy bed until she can go to a rescue place in Ohio.

She's put us all in our place kind of like a school marm. She likes to sleep in the same room with all of us and really just enjoys sleeping on a soft bed and having some good food.

She's very, very skinny and the vet thought maybe she'd had many puppies. She told me that she'd been running around on the street, scrounging for food for a while. Before she came to our house, a doggie doctor wanted to make it so she couldn't have puppies any more, but then he said she was too skinny and needed some meat on her bones first. Plus, she had creepy crawlies in her belly, so those had to go away, too.

I guess I'll save the other newz for another post. Maybe by doing that, my person will feel a little more guilty about how much she's neglected the blog. I hear that the universe will soon be in remission or something like that, so maybe she'll give me the opposable thumbs more often--at least for a few weeks.

Injury (Guest Blog)

Rafe here.

Not me hurt, it's Hamish. Not bad at all. Cornea ulcer, mild. Had to wear a cone. Gets drops in eye. Really all better now, plays with his silly Purple Ball.
My fault, sort of. First thing, we go outside for business and play. Miss Pippin and I chase tennis balls, Hamish his Purple Ball. Hamish's person threw the tennis ball for me. Good. Then Hamish runs in front of ball. Bad. Gets hit in eye. Yelps, long. Dark eye is a different size. Off to the vet. Comes home with cone. Can't go work sheep. Acts small. I know, if I didn't like Tennis Balls, he wouldn't hurt. My Bad.

Really, he looks good now. Like in this photo, but older.


Hey, any of you pups have odd hurts happen?

Woof,
Rafe

Dona Nobis Pacem

Me and the pack doing our part for peace. DoG knows the humans sure need some help in that area. Peace, pups!

Gram and Gramps (Guest Blog)

Rafe here.

Went on a ride a couple Suns ago. (Odd detour, tell you about that in another post.) Got to see Gram and Gramps. Love 'em. Been to their den several times. Behave like a Gentle Dog, they like that. Course I do, they're Elders and I respect that. Lots of Elders live near them, it's a community. Good place: the Elders can have dogs, or cats. Either way, good.

Gram and Gramps both had some work on their hearts. Had to check on them. They have good hearts, so I'm glad they are taking care. They say they are tired but healthy. Good.

Here's a photo from the warm time. I'm waiting. You can see Gram behind me. Way behind, see an Elder and another pup?


Bark softly, pups.

Rafe

Pictures of the pack

Hi everypup,

Long time no write, I know. Story of my blogging life, I tell ya. Anyway, the person is as she usually is, so I don't have all that many minutes before she boots me off the electronic box.

We had our pictures taken last week by a photo-grapher. A pretty good one, I think and he's a friend of our people, plus he taught me and Renzo in a class once. And his wife, Ms. Annie taught all of us except Kyzer at least once.

Anyway, if you want to see some of the pics of us, he put them on his website. If you go to Samuel Ritter Photography and then click on "Events", you'll find us at the bottom. We are "The Dog Pack". Our people have to decide which ones they like best. What do you think? I really like the ones of my and my goofy little brother, Hamish.

It was pretty interesting going there. We loaded up in the rolling living room and it was the first time all six of us were in there at the same time. Since only five crates fit, Tansy rode loose. She was very good and stayed lying down the whole time. Then, we were at Mr. Sam's house. In his yard. And he had all these different objects set up and when we walked by them, they flashed like lightening and he gave us a cookie. Most of us forgot about the flashes pretty quickly, but not Tansy. She was pretty unimpressed.

Anyway, we ran around in his yard and then one by one, he would call us up and we had to lie in the grass and he took some pictures. They tried to take a picture of all of us together, but Hamish and Rafe didn't want to have to sit close to each other and then Renzo didn't want to have to be close to Rafe either. I sure didn't want to be by his stinky self. Kyzer got worried about the whole thing and didn't want to stay there, so he went and hid under the deck. And you can imagine Tansy.

When our people take our picture together, they usually just try and get us to stay in some spot. But Mr. Sam wanted us to all lay down and be touching each other. Really. People are pretty funny sometimes.

Gentlepup? (Guest Blog)

Rafe here.

Want to post, but it's Pippin's turn to post.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Still waiting.

Well, here's something we found. It's Pippin, I think that counts as her turn.


Woof,
Rafe

Heeling Experience (Guest Blog)

Greetings Gentlepups!

Our Flock has been Most Busy of late. Yet we all have Tails to Tell. Miss Pippin has requested that I Speak first.

My Recent Experience began with a small Laceration, of unknown Cause, inflicted upon my Flank. (It was not deep, and is all Heeled now.) To Mend, the Vet stapled my Wound and gave me Heeling medicine. Alas, the staples fell out. (Master Hamish said the same had occurred to him. Perhaps it is a Sheepdog Issue.) Then the Vet sewed my Wound. I also received a clear Lampshade to wear. Pups, I believe Lampshades belong Elsewhere, do you not agree? My people agreed. But they did not wish for me to Heel my wound myself. So they placed upon me a Heeling Shirt:

(Here it is being Gathered and Pinned, so that I might Run Freely.)

This Heeling Shirt carried Greater Power than I knew! It bore the image of a Wolverine. My people said the Wolverines were Lost, and Many were Sad. Everypup, can you Guess? Once I began wearing the Heeling Shirt, the Wolverines were Found! I wore the Shirt for Ten Suns. Then my people declared me Heeled. I no longer wear the Shirt; the Wolverines are still not Lost.

I am Most Pleased that wearing my Shirt helped the Wolverines. Yet it is quite Curious, to Wear a Shirt and Impact Distant Events. I will Think About It, and Nap.

Barks,
Tansy

Rolling (Guest Blog)

Greetings Gentlepups!

I wish to Speak to you of one of My Favorite Things: Rolling! I do hope everydog has an opportunity to Roll. My best Morning Walk is to the Park with Dewy Grass. Often I can Roll several times there.

The Technique is simple:

Sniff out a promising Place


and Roll!


Lest your people be concerned, I am most Careful not to Roll in Unpleasant Matter.

Bark,
Tansy

Big tongues

Whose tongue is bigger? Hamish's or Rafe's?


Mine of course is delicate as befitting a gentlepup

Something is upside down

Hey Pups,

It's me and I am not happy about the turn of events at my house. I think the world has just gone all topsy turvey. First, the new term of doggie classes started and RAFE!!! is going to as many classes as me. My people seem to have forgotten the rules we agreed to almost a year ago concerning guest blogging. Note in particular condition #4. Blatent violation and I will be contacting the steward of the Pupsters tomorrow.

In addition, after many sun-ups and sun-downs, my person seems to be working somewhere other than home. For a long time now, she's been home. Letting us out to play and potty every hour or so, more if we demanded it. Giving us cookies for looking cute, scritches on the ears just because. You remember me mentioning the universe(ity) where she works? Well, I think the on-switch got switched and now she has to go there all the time. And then, when she comes home, she still has to tap, tap on the computer, but it isn't on my blog. What's up with that? She was doing something before called sab-ba-ti-cal. Do you know what that is? Oh well, now she's doing something called tea-ching and com-mit-tees. I know about teaching because that what I do with Rafe, but I don't know about com-mit-tees. I don't think I'd like them, though.

On top of that, she was gone for a long time with my brother Hamish. Hamish came home being frankly a bit on the smug and snotty side. Seems he was off with my person at the farm doing important work. And she only took him. Note, that she didn't take ME. Sigh. Here was some of Hamish's work friends.
and here's what it looked like in the morning
And here's one just for Amber
(p.s.--Hamish is all recovered from his ow-ey from a couple weeks ago, Amber).

I really hope that things get back to normal sometime soon!

New camera and other happenings

Hey pups,

Lots has been up at our house this week, including lots of new weeds that joined our yard after all the rain we've had.

This last week, my people went to a herding trial that was just for fun. They took the three young boyz (Hamish, Rafe and Kyzer), but the boyz told me they just stayed in the car most of the day. So, I didn't feel too bad that I got left behind since my favorite person in the universe came over to play ball with me and let me give her kisses.

The trial was for more advanced dogs. They had to do a 500 yard outrun (which means the sheep were 500 yards away) and the sheep were being held in place by a person on a horse! That's pretty different from how it usually is. The trial was set up to be REALLY hard to help the people and the dogs get ready for this fall's trials, including the National Herding Finals.

Kyzer's mom and dad will be going there to compete and a lot of his mom and dad's friends are going too. My people hope one of us will go there someday--even if just to watch.

My person made me some new agility jumps--four of them to be exact. We can do lots of practicing and different activities with them--and the best part is when we work with the jumps, it's just me and my person. All the other pack members have to wait inside. I love that.

Last night, my goofy brother Hamish had to go to the late-night dog doctor and get three staples in his side. My people noticed him licking and licking his side and when they looked there was a big gash and a long scrape. They have no idea how it happened. Normally they would blame Rafe, but they knew that Rafe hadn't been around Hamish much at all. Hamish told me that it came from one of Kyzer's teeth from when they were playing, but he didn't want to rat on Kyzer and get him in trouble.

Hamish was a good boy at the dog doctor, but he sure didn't like having that cold, round thing put on his chest or that long, skinny, slimy thing put you know where.

My people got a new camera! They decided that their trusty 2 megapixal, 6-year old camera needed to be upgraded, so they went out and bought themselves a digital SLR. So, now there'll be lots of new pictures of us (though I don't really understand it, first they took lots of pictures of the CATS!!!! :-0

That picture up top is the first group portrait. And down there is Rafe with his beloved.


Hamish looking handsome as ever.

Tansy waiting patiently for the camera to go away

Renzo enjoying the favored Kuranda bed by the front window
Cutie-patootie Kyzer-roo
And me looking expectantly... what do you think I'm looking for?

Mud Pud Game (Guest Blog)

Greetings, Gentledogs!

We have experienced much Rain in the past days. We hear other Dogs may also have Rain. I Delight in Rain, for it means Puddles and my Favorite Game, Mud Pud! For other Dogs who do not know Mud Pud, I will explain. Perhaps you then can Play!

These Photographs are from after a Snow, when the Sun came and the Air was warm.

First, Discover a Puddle! Test with paws to see if there is Mud:


Then, Twist and Dip in the Water and Mud:



Toss and Taste some Water:


Play in Small Puddles too!


I only put two Paws into Small Puddles:


Enthusiastic splashing is Best:


After Playing Mud Pud, say Thank You!


Barks,
Tansy

Boring, rainy day

Well, friends, we are bored today. It's raining (meaning short, wet walkies) and the people are doing boring, VERY boring things. Here I am thinking carefully about tennis balls while my person types away and away.

Kyzer has also decided that today seems to be more or less a bust. Though he did get a new Nylabone to chew on, which made him act pretty spoiled and not wanting to share
Miss Tansy is waiting for her special person to stop doing laundry

And my goofy brother Hamish can barely muster the desire to open his eyes, he's so bored.
What are all you other pups doing on this lazy Sunday?

We are fam.i.ly

Hi pups,

Pippsie here--I've been on a bit of a hiatus. My scribe's had the usual this and that to take care of. Now that the universe is about to be in season--uh, I mean session--again, it's time for her to shift some attention to her lessons...and to what she's going to teach those students. Anyway, that usually means more time at the computer, less time with the tennis ball. Sigh.

Rafey wrote about seeing his family (little Kyzer saw his family there too--it was fun. Or so I heard, I didn't get to go as usual). Got me to thinking about family and how much I love my pack even though only Hamish and me share some genes. But, love makes a family, so I've heard. Now, Hamish doesn't really love Rafe, but I guess that happens in families too.

I've even come around to loving the wicked kitty Fox. Why, just last night, I play-bowed right at him.

The other thing I was thinking about family is about my dogs with blogs family. We were so sad after we heard about dear Oscar leaving us for the Rainbow Bridge and then read about poor Marvin's mom worrying that she didn't visit enough other pup blogs. So, we started feeling a little guilty too. We read lots of blogs but we don't always comment--even when we laugh at everydog's adventures. Then, we heard from Chuck, the bizzle dizzle, that it was one year since our doggie friends convinced my person to keep on bloggin'.

See I'd been blogging for a pretty long time and never got a single comment. So, my person and me decided that maybe we should focus more time on learning flyball than on blogging about it, so we said sayonara. We'd joined Dogs with Blogs a few months before that--I'm dog #59 (who would have guessed there'd be such an exponential rise in dog bloggers to almost 600 now!). And suddenly all these doggies came to the blog and left me a message and I looked at Chuck's page and his Opy had come up with Paw-It-Forward. I was the dog who was going to quit--sad but true.

And suddenly, we had so many friends and we keep getting more. And, that's another way of looking at family.

And that is totally cool....

Family (Guest Blog)

Rafe here.


Went to a reunion a while back. Well, it was Kyzer's. His dad lives at that Farm. All dogs related to that Farm were invited. Some dogs whose people helped at that Farm were invited. Kyzer said we could come too. Turns out I saw my pup family. Hmm.

Here's my ma, Snip, and my sis, Floss:


And a closer view of my ma:


I'm bigger than them. And darker. Different ears. Guess we still look like family.

Here's my dad. He's from Isle of Man. Older, about 11 now.


Don't look much like my dad. He's very Stylish on sheep though, and so am I. Thanks, dad, I do like my Style.

Woof,
Rafe

Me! Me! Me! (Guest Blog)

Hi! Hi! Hi! It’s me, Fox! Doggin bloggin! Got Rafe’s pass word, for Thin Mints! They sed there’s questions! I answer!

!. Your age?
Fox: 2 snows? 4? 1?

2. Your age when you came to live with your people?
Fox: 2 snows? 4? 1? Not tellin! Stray Cat Secret!

3. What color is the collar you’re wearing right now?
Fox: No color! No collar!

4. Who is your favorite person other than the people you live with?
Fox: Visitor lady! [neighbor Moni]

5. How much do you weigh?
Fox: 2 bags of flour

6. Most expensive thing you’ve every chewed up?
Fox: Can food! Every day!

7. Do you like other Dogs?
Fox: If nice! Love dogs!

8. Who is your best non-human friend?
Fox: Kyzer!

9. Squeaky toys or tennis balls?
Fox: Too big! No

10. Do you like to be brushed?
Fox: Yes okay

11. Peanut Butter or cheese?
Fox: Cheese, specially with macs!

12. Do you people cut your toenails?
Fox: No! Well, yes

13. Any formal education?
Fox: Cats dont have school, born with wisdom from Egypt!

14. Couch potato or Energizer Bunny?
Fox: Yes! Yes!

15. Five nicknames your people call you:
Fox: Foxy, Foxberry, Billy, Scoundrel, Fluffyboi

16. What is your best trick?
Fox: Diggin snakes from box! [getting dog leashes out of basket]

17. Do you like kitties?
Fox: Yes, fun!

18. What did you have for breakfast?
Fox: Chickin Can Food and smidge venison from dogs

19. Can you hunt (i.e. have you ever killed anything)?
Fox: Yes! No body saw. I can jump! High!

20. When and why was the last time you went to the V.E.T.?
Fox: While ago. So I could ride in a box in the car

21. Where do you sleep at night?
Fox: Best on bed! Feather soft!

22. Do you like to swim?
Fox: Get wet?

23. Can you make puppies?
Fox: Why?

24. Do you give kisses?
Fox: No. I give a bath if I want

25. Can you potty on command?
Fox: Why?

26. To Cuz or not to Cuz?
Fox: No cuzzing! I am proper polite!

Ciao!

A Tad about us elders (Guest Blog)

Greeting Gentledogs,



Miss Pippin has requested that Renzo and I address the questionnaire. We are Pleased to Do So. We would also like to Apologize to our Readers for the Paucity of Posts from our Flock. We will be more Diligent in Encouraging our transcribers to Work harder. (More Photographs are also needed. As you See, the Photograph of Renzo and me includes Another. )

Let us begin:

1. Your age?
Renzo: 6 years and a bit
Tansy: almost 7 years

2. Your age when you came to live with your people?
Renzo: around 1 year
Tansy: 4.5 years

3. What color is the collar you're wearing right now?
Renzo: Mostly orange and turquoise, with a touch of yellow
Tansy: Lavender with lovely dragonflies

4. Who is your favorite person other than the people you live with?
Renzo: Aunt Chris
Tansy: Miss Mandy at Agility Class. And Miss Deb, though I have not seen her in Some Time.

5. How much do you weigh?
Renzo: 28 lbs
Tansy: 30 lbs

6. Most expensive thing you've ever chewed up?
Renzo: Bag of Hershey's miniatures
Tansy: Nothing. A GentleDog does not chew things up.

7. Do you like other Dogs?
Renzo: If they aren't Border Collies
Tansy: I am very Discriminating

8. Who is your best non-human friend?
Renzo: Zuri, our neighbor dog who moved away
Tansy: Fritzl, our tiger tabby. I am quite focused on him, to what end I Know Not

9. Squeaky toys or tennis balls?
Renzo: Squeaky toys
Tansy: Squeaky toys

10. Do you like to be brushed?
Renzo: Not really, I prefer a massage that also helps me shed
Tansy: Yes, as long as there is no pulling

11. Peanut Butter or Cheese?
Renzo: Both
Tansy: Cheese

12. Do your people cut your toenails?
Renzo: Yes
Tansy: Yes, with Reluctance

13. Any formal education?
Renzo: Yes, three household obedience classes and four agility classes
Tansy: Yes, several household obedience classes, agility and working sheep

14. Couch potato or Energizer Bunny?
Renzo: Both, I love a good run-around as well as video night!
Tansy: I believe I would be considered an Energizer Bunny

15: Five nicknames your people call you:
Renzo: Ren, Ren-Ben, Ben-Renzo, Renbabydog, Sir Barks-a-Lot
Tansy: Tan, Tan-tan, Z-Tan, Tan Pan, Pan-Tanorama

16. What is your best trick?
Renzo: Jumping through a hula-hoop to catch a ball
Tansy: Run Big Circle

17. Do you like kitties?
Renzo: As long as they keep their distance
Tansy: Very much

18. What did you have for breakfast?
Renzo: Raw turkey, organs and bones
Tansy: I had the same. I eat more Quickly than Renzo

19. Can you hunt (i.e. have you every killed anything living)?
Renzo: Yes, I am a squirrel afficionado
Tansy: I assisted Renzo once, after the deed

20. When and why was the last time you went to the V.E.T.?
Renzo: Soon, need some shots and my heartworm test
Tansy: Some days ago for my shots and check-up

21. Where do you sleep at night?
Renzo: Loose; I choose to sleep in a round bolster bed near my Flock
Tansy: A lower level crate, much like a garden apartment

22. Do you like to swim?
Renzo: It's O.K. if necessary
Tansy: Not unless I must. Splashing is fun!

23. Can you make puppies?
Renzo: Nope
Tansy: Gracious, no!

24. Do you give kisses?
Renzo: Yes
Tansy: Yes, but only to Select people

25: Can you potty on command?
Renzo: Yes, we all potty to "hurry"
Tansy: Quite right

26. To Cuz or not to Cuz?
Renzo: Occasionally
Tansy: I prefer plush