Archives (Guest Blog)

Rafe here.

Still quiet. No sheep yet. Heck, I'd go for those Musk Ox in Alaska at this point. (Miss Pippin posted a photo of them below.)

Dug around in the Archives, and found these photos. Me and my litter mates. Two pics. Can you tell which one is me?



Here's a hint: I wanted to leave.

Woofs,
Rafe

Border Collies aren't the only workin' dogs!

This just in from my friends at the Border Collie Boards. They are talking over there about the Iditarod (partly to show that it isn't only border collies who do important work). Look at the picture that someone took (and it's been verified and is not Photoshopped!). Those sleddogs really did encounter a herd of musk oxen, but no dog or ox got hurt or anything.

And then those cards at the Onion made this one. You can see my own thoughts about Westminster at this old post.

My person is channeling me remotely from Florida where there is no Itidarod running. I'm looking forward for her to come home at the end of the week. I don't know why she goes there all the time, but I've heard there's another toddler-in-training afoot down there......

Snooze. No Snooze. (Guest Blog)

Rafe here.

Quiet. Except when we bark, then it's noise.

Lots of snow. Ice too. Snow, then ice, then snow. IceSnow sandwich. Love the snow. Don't love ice, no sheep work for us. Not so many big walks. Lots of snooze.


Woofs,
Rafe

Kinnearing

A few weeks back, my geeky person was at the American Dialect Society's selection of the word of the year (if you care for such things, and I don't suppose you do, you can read about it in excruciating detail). The word "subprime" was the overall winner. I'm pretty sure subprime refers to the kind of meat that's in cheap dog food, so it's entirely appropriate that that was the word of the year. Really, what some people think is reasonable for us to eat....well, that's a different post.

One of the words that was a contender for the category of "most creative" was the verb "to kinnear". This means to take a picture without looking through the viewfinder of your camera because you are holding the camera at about hip level in order for the subject of the picture not to notice that you are taking their picture. It was coined by a woman who was doing exactly that in an airport where she was trying to get a secret picture of the actor, Greg Kinnear. Pretty clever play with language, huh?

Anyway, after learning that word, my person kinneared us.

I'm not sure she can really call it that, though 'cause I wasn't fooled. Can't speak for the goofy boyz--I think they never caught on to her trick. Don't know why not--she looked like an idiot with the camera at her hip....but then again, it's not all that uncommon for her to look like an idiot. Maybe we can coin a new word: to idiotbutiloveheranyway. It means that you let your person do stupid stuff to you without making her feel bad about it.

Whatcha think, pups?

Keeking (Guest Blog)

Rafe here.

Working a couple suns ago. Lots of snow. Went on big outrun, come-bye, brought my sheep, good. Did that a few times, more and more distance. Good. Then told to go away to me. Started to, then stopped. Looked back at my person. Was sure I'd lose my sheep if I went that way. Away to me. Started to, looked back, crossed over to come-bye. Bad choice. Lie down. Here. Away to me. Started, stopped, looked back. Away to me. Okay, I went away. Sheep didn't leave. I brought them. Did that a few more times. Good.

So, when I looked back at my person? Keeking. Not good for a sheepdog. Lack of confidence. Well, I'm confident now. And I trust my person's commands, for now.

So, don't call me a keeker. This picture here, I'm looking back. But I'm not working. I'm not keeking. Even if Hamish says so, I'm not.

Woofs,
Rafe
Not a Keeker.

Snow Time? (Guest Blog)

Greetings Gentledogs!

It is a New Year, and a most Curious Time. Most Delightful, we have had Much Snow! Here is a Photograph of me, "Yucking It Up" as Master Hamish says in his Odd Way:


Yet today we hear many Birds sing, and the Earth smells of Spring! Lovely, but I would like some More Snow.

When the Snow was leaving, I had a wonderful game of Mud Pud! Thereafter, I had Pain in my Leg, and my People spoke of Re-injury. What that means I do not know; I do know I have much Couch Time and Short Leash Walks. Most Curious Time, indeed.

Barks,
Tansy

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?