Iphone pics — these should be better with the new iphone when it comes out.
I believe the dog had fun.
Archive for the ‘Sasha’ Category
Sasha’s Day in the Park
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010The end of a two-dog week
Sunday, April 18th, 2010Cricket was off in training and Toni was off with family, leaving just me, the Sasha, and the Nix. That meant walking two at a time (for who can leave one dog home alone? Oh – the faces!). This should be easy enough. We’ve even been to class on walking two dogs at once. But no – Sasha is afraid of a lot, and she seems to be more afraid when she’s yoked to Nix. So after two long walks when I thought I might get my arm pulled from my socket, we settled for trips to the dog park.
They developed a new trick. Sasha focuses on the ball. Of course she does – she’s a border collie. So when I say focus, I mean FOCUS. Well, it’s a dog park. It’s acres and acres, but there are literally hundreds of dogs some times. Dogs like balls. So this week, whenever a dog dove for Sasha, Nixie blocked them. Every time. It was hysterical. Nixie – of note – does not care about the ball. But she does care about Sasha.
But now Cricket is back (as of yesterday) and Toni is back (as of today) so Nix and I snuck out and walked all the way to Redmond Town Center and Toni picked us up so we didn’t have to walk back.
Pretty good life, all in all.
Should I Quit While A Head? Arr Arr Arr by Toni
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!
The Tradition Goes On! by Toni
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!
I watch this movie every season, but somehow managed to miss it this year:>( Not to anyone elses dismay, I might add:>) So in the spirit of not losing sight of traditions, I did manage to see the summary version today! Featuring Cricket, Sasha, Nixie, Brenda and Katie. Splendid remake, if I do say so myself.
Rituals by Toni
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
Every family has rituals. Holiday rituals. Coming and going rituals. We have a host of them that revolve around the dogs. That’s because the dog’s created them – or embellished those that already existed to make them their own. In this case, it is the shower ritual. Now it used to be the case that I could decide to take a shower – climb the stairs without hazard – turn on the water and undress in peace. Climb into the glorious stream of hot and steamy water and stand with it beating on my head and shoulders. Make up little tunes – either silent or aloud. Think my own thoughts without interruption. Showers used to be my time. And I think I can safely speak for the other humans in the household that the same was true for them. History. Sasha introduced a whole set of new shower rituals. It started when she learned the word. Thereafter, mention of the word “shower” resulted in a black and white streak up the stairs, poised in anticipation and barking at the shower door. Humans learned to quickly follow so that she didn’t break through the doors, to quickly turn on the water and crack the back door open wide enough for her head and shoulders to enter and snap at the water while undressing occured. Now the ritual is compounded by a second border collie who is no less insistent. And of course, the border collies will “get” more out of some humans than others. The previous description happens to reflect my behavior. Brenda, on the other hand, throws the door open so that the border collies can walk into the shower entirely. And the goddess only knows what Katie does with them. But as you can see, they emerge properly and well drenched. In my ritual, I enter the shower, close the door, and the border collies wait patiently for me to emerge and assist my towel in the drying process. Katie’s ritual results in five wet towels per shower. What do you think is happening there? LOL
Summer Treats by Toni
Sunday, July 19th, 2009
What a splendid day:>) Flyball with the border collies this morning was most excellent. Katie ran Sasha like the wind. Cricket is faster than the blink of an eye. We are struggling a bit with recalls – she seems to want to return the ball to the box instead of to me. But she’s getting better and had some great runs this morning. We are trying to get reaaaaaaaaaaaaady for a UFLI tournament in Canada at the end of August. Katie will race Sasha on the team and I will debut the Crickster in singles. The BC’s were bushed after practice – and it is hot. So frozen yogurt for all!!! This is just small cups of plain organic Greek yogurt frozen in their little containers. The dogs love it – and it’s good for them:>) Can’t beat that with a stick.
Brenda’s son and family are visiting and hanging this weekend. So for all the Cooper’s who follow the blog, here are a few family shots. Buddy is their dog. Nixie loves Buddy. Buddy also liked the yogurt treat:>)
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- Buddy
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- The Nix
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- The Crickster
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- Sasha
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- David, Brenda
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- David, Katie, Brenda
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- Back: Sage, Holly, Katie. Front: David, Brenda, Buddy
The Secret Garden by Toni
Saturday, July 4th, 2009
It is HOT. It is the 4Th of July. The dogs are HOT. The wading pool is full of cold water and ice. The big dogs are wet and lying in front of the fans. The baby dog has taken her frozen bone and retreated to her shady cool place in the garden. I see her peeking out every once in awhile. Mostly she is hidden from sight. We did some jump training early this morning before it got too humid. It is so warm, in fact, she hasn’t even been bugging me to train all day long:>) Fortunately, she does not notice fireworks. Neither does the Nix. Sasha will cower behind a toilet all night. But we’ll plug in the DAP (Dog Appeaser Pheromone) and put on some music and try to behave as if nothing bad is happening. DAP is the stuff that momma dog’s secrete in their milk to soothe their baby pups. It is odorless and has no impact on people or other animals besides dogs. I doubt it works on every dog, but our three zone out in bliss when we plug in the infuser.
The worst thing you can do for a fearful dog is coddle them. It reinforces the fear – afterall, if you are all mushy and treating them like they are eggshells, there must be something really scary going on. So it’s best to do what can be done to support them, keep them safe and inside and out of harm’s way, and carry on with the rest of life. We are all waiting for the sun to drop so it cools down enough to start the grill. Marinading the roast beast now, then throw on some corn and asparagus. Pour a little wine. Sit back and try to stay cool for the evening and keep everyone safe and calm. Then FLYBALL practice early tomorrow morning – YEAH!
It is a Three Dog Sunday
Sunday, June 14th, 2009
7:0o ish Am
And of course that means it was a three dog night. But the beasts let me sleep until 5:30 which was kind of them. Watching three active dogs when you’re by yourself is a bit tough….I don’t recommend it if watching dogs is not your primary planned activity for the day. I am going to send them downstairs and tell them I’m going to work and hide up in my office. That should work as along as I don’t move!
At the moment, Sasha is curled beside me, and Nix and Cricket are playing alligator by the bed. As long as they stay on the floor and the game doesn’t flow up to the mattress and back down, or move to the stairs, I can leave them to it. Sasha is the quiet one who follows me around so far this weekend. Although she is herd-mother, and so her back is to me and she is watching the alligators. In envy? Before Cricket, she would have been playing with the Nix and now she is somewhat sedentary. Or, if it’s not that she’s a bit jealous, is her careful stare designed to protect me? Who knows, but whatever she is doing, she is doing it with border-collie intensity.
They’ve gone downstairs and are barking at something. Sash went to go investigate. I best follow.
9:30 AM
The hang upstairs ruse worked for finishing my story edits for an anthology I hope to be in. It did not work for a morning nap. After much whining on the littlest border collie’s part, I drug myself downstairs and let them race up and down the fence line. This is a dog thing – my old dog, Max, used to do that all day (around a 5 acre fence). And now I’m back at work, this time on presentation prep.
7:15 PM
Everyone’s fed. I finished my PowerPoint (endless frustration getting the dumb program to play and embed a YouTube video on three computers, but I prevailed!) Then playing outside with beasts. Then I snuck off to go shopping, and made up for abandoning them by bringing some cooked chicken home for their dinner. Now they are back to being alligators on the stairs. I can’t figure out how to take all three of them to the dog park, so we may do one at a time walks.
Best go.
8:15
Crickey was scared to death of a loud pile of kids three houses down, but I didn’t lose her. She almost slipped her collar! Sasha acted all casual until she got within a few feet of the nice neighbor man we talk to almost daily and then she went barky-mad. Nix walked about and greeted everyone with her tail up and her head up…looking as pretty as she knows she is.
Sundays with Three Dogs by Toni
Monday, May 18th, 2009
The dogs and I spent a fabulous afternoon with friends in the country yesterday. It was hot! We played in the rotating sprinkler and the girls discovered the seasonal pond, much to the dismay of the temporarily displaced ducks. Wak Wak! There was much racing about and exploring, chasing of Frisbees, cavorting in the water as the afternoon sun just glistened. Sigh. Much happiness and relaxation was had by all. AND the girls slept like little toasted oats all the way home:) I imagine they wore out Brawnwyn, their corgi buddy, who is not used to cavorting and running about with the tribe. She held her own very well, though, and kept everyone in line:>)
Sleeping with Dogs by Toni
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009One of the joys of owning a Hob Nob dog (the Crickster) is that she came complete with an entire extended family of Hob Nob border collie owners. We are spread across the country and to other countries:>) There is a Yahoo list restricted to HN family in which new and old HNobbers exchange stories, training tips, border collie insights, health information, and celebrate HN accomplishments – of which there are hundreds! Whether it is Channan and Geri making up half the USA World Team or Kim taking Nationals or herding champions or obedience – every weekend there is a layer of new titles and accomplishments – new learnings as well. Triumph and struggles are shared and whether your goal is to get a solid recall or housebreak the pup, you are supported with some of the brightest, most accomplished dog trainers and handlers in the world. When Jan accepts you for a puppy, you are admitted to the list and enter a virtual “waiting room” of others who are desperately waiting to find out which pup will be theirs as we all enjoy the photos and videos as the little monsters mature. Then the pups go home. And then the serious questions start to arise! What should I feed my puppy? My puppy won’t tug! My puppy seems afraid of strangers – is that normal? and so it goes. Experienced help the inexperienced along the beginning of the ride and through the life and various cycles. For those with older pups, the questions are more like – “how do I get contacts like Bezel!” and “should I put a line on to start sheep work?”. Yesterday, a Hob Nobber asked – “Do you let your dogs sleep with you?” LOL We had to move from a queen to a king sized bed when Cricket arrived. And yes, that is a purple-spotted octopus on the bed:>) And yes, Nixie always thinks she should have the pillows!
