Big Fat Ewe

Lowri - Our ewe has NOT lambed.  Boooo!  I want lambs to chase...er, play with.  TM is going to put her out in the field tomorrow.  The weather is supposed to be decent for the next four or five days.  Maybe if she is out moving around, she will hurry up and lamb. 

I love it at the farm with PR.  I get to sit in TM's lap all evening.  Even if I have to share the lap with Daisy, I get to sit snuggled with TM.  That is good.  I LOVE snuggling.

No Lambs Yet

Lowri - TM and I made a mad dash out to the farm last night after work.  TM wanted to check on the ewe in the barn and clean her pen.  No lambs.  I don't know what she is waiting for.  She is in a warm barn.  She has plenty of food and water.  She gets grain every day.  Ohhhh!  That is why.  Who would want to leave under those conditions?

TM got us up early this morning so we could head back to town.  She stopped at the barn to check on Big Mama.  Still no lambs.  TM fed her and the other sheep and noticed that Thor was out.  She called for him and saw him over on the next property.  He hustled over so she would pet on him.  TM has no idea where he gets out, but is sort of resigned to it.  At least he puts himself back when he wants to.  I think her next fix will be to put up electric fence along the current fence.  THAT may stop him.  I know I don't like it!

TM's Birthday

Lowri - Today is TM's birthday.  I am going to make it the best ever.  I am going to take her herding, 'cause I know she loves herding when it is cold.  I am going to eat all my breakfast.  I am going to sit in her lap all evening, so I can keep her warm.  I am going to try to remember that I am being good when she lets me out, but let's face it, I can't keep two thoughts in my head at the same time.  If I see a bunny, I am gone!

I am glad that TM is only about 8 years old, that means I get to keep her for a long time yet.  That is important, because new people are so hard to train.  You have work hard to get them wrapped properly around your paw.  It takes a lot of shaping training.  I am still working on PR.

Backup Quarterback

Lowri - I have been reduced to the roll of backup quarterback.  The go-to quarterback was a pan of grain.  TM moved Big Mama into the barn to lamb.  She got a pan of grain and called Big Mama, who tromped right into the pen in the barn.  She will do anything for some corn.  I was there as a reserve in case the grain didn't work.  I never got out of my crate!  I am so bummed.  Thrown over for some corn.  I have talents!  I have skills!  I...was benched.

Saturday at PR's

Out standing in my field

Lowri - I had a very good day today.  PR fed me and let me out.  When TM got up, we went herding.  I was very, very good.  I worked six of the sheep and then cut the ram and one of the crazy ewes out.  TM doesn't like me calling the two ewes crazy, but they are!  I am working on making them not crazy.  It is slow work.


 I got to take the ducks out on the hill.  MC got there then.  She took some pictures of me.   I am outstanding in my field <snicker>  Get it?  Out standing...okay, so it is an old joke.  I am a puppy!  I think it is funny!


Dinah got to work my sheep.  Whew!  Was she ever bad!  She chased and chased the sheep and then tried to keep them away from TM.  She didn't want TM interfering in her fun.  She finally saw the error of her ways.  Then MC worked with her.  She was very good for MC.

Treasure worked my ducks.  TM was very pleased with how she worked.  We are trying to get ready for a herding trial the end of December.  I don't think Dinah is trying very hard.  But as this will be her first trial, she can be forgiven.

I am bringing my ducks back to their pen.

Thanksgiving Holiday

Lowri - I am thankful that I got to spend Thanksgiving on TM's lap.  PR's son came over to spend time with us.  He tastes good.  Daisy and Aidan kept trying to sit on him.  TM wouldn't let me.  I don't know why, he has a nice-sized lap.

TM did a lot of cooking.  It smelled great!  Daisy and I helped TM.  If you sit in the kitchen while she cooks, you get to scarf up whatever hits the floor.  TM is kind of messy.  We are good with that.

When they sat down to dinner, we got locked in our crates so we wouldn't be drooling.  Aidan, in particular, didn't think that was fair.  He likes sitting with his head on PR's lap.  That is to remind PR to feed him.  TM takes a dim view of that.  She has taught Aidan to respect her when she tells him to "go away".

WHAT?!?!?!?!  I just saw on Facebook that some of my friends go to eat Thanksgiving dinner too!  WE didn't.  All I got was my regular raw dinner.  Yes, it was yummy, but that isn't the point.  I should have gotten a Thanksgiving dinner.  The turkey smelled great!  So NOT fair!

Back in Town

Lowri - Boy, we only had a short time with PR.  I made the most of it by getting in his lap every time I could con Aidan into getting out.  Boys are so gullible!  I would ask him to play with me, he would get down and I would jump into PR's lap <snicker>  PR would pet on me because I was so clever.

MC came over and brought Dinah and Treasure.  Boy, that Dinah is a sneak.  TM says she is almost as sneaky as I am...Huh?   Anyway, Dinah tried everything to get to the sheep.  She even tried sneaking through TM's legs while she was being loved on.  TM fried Dinah's poor brain by making her sit and wait.  Dinah argued, ignored, resisted and FINALLY gave up and sat there.  TM let her work the sheep just a little and then gave her lots of praise.  MC came in and walked around the field with Dinah.  They decided not to try frying her brain any longer. 

Move along, little duckies, move along.

Then Treasure worked ducks.  She was brain-dead.  She is in heat and couldn't seem to get her act together.  TM said she had moments of brilliance.  MC said that on the bright side, Treasure would have a brain again before the trials.

I worked the sheep a little at the start and then got to put the ducks away.  MC took a picture of me doing it.

Hmmmm

Lowri - Today the show was interesting.  Ms. Libby went BOB, the Winner's Dog was Best of Winners, I was Best Opposite Sex?  Fortunately, the steward pointed out the problem - both Libby and I are bitches!  I went Select and Babbo went BOS.  Whew - I was pretty sure I was a girl!  Leo also went Select.

MC took a picture on her phone of Dinah and me chewing on an antler.  Yes, MC got us two!  We just both wanted to chew on that one.  Of course, if one of us picked up the other one, we both wanted it.  We were very good girls as we chewed together.  No faces or feet were "accidentally" chewed on.

AWWWWWWWWWWWESOME!

Lowri - MC bought me a MOOSE antler to chew on!!!  (TM here - not a whole moose antler, just a cross-section.)  I LOVE IT!!!  Dinah got one too.  I have stolen hers many times already tonight <VBG>.  I LOVE THEM!!!

TM - wah, wa wah, wa wha, wha, wha.

Lowri - What?  The dog show?  Oh yeah.  I looked wonderful and moved wonderful-er.  TM was VERY happy with me.  MC looked fab, too!  Together we were uber-fab!  Every time my attention wavered for a second, MC moved her hand closer to her pocket where the liver lives.  I was DROOLING!

Libby went Breed and took a third of the group place.  I took Select and had lots of fans ringside.  Ms. Bossi won everything else with her three dogs.  She is a nice lady.

Dog Show Tomorrow

Lowri - Whoo-hoo!  We are off to dog shows in the morning!  I LOVE dog shows.  MC gives me liver and chicken and steak and...  TM gives me massages all weekend.  I get to sleep on the bed.  I get to - well, just do EVERYTHING!  People to taste, shops to check out, bait to snuffle up!  Whoo-hoo!  I am so excited!

Monday, Monday

Lowri - TM slept in this morning.  It's a good thing PR got up.  He fed us.  I LOVE PR!  When TM finally got up, we were all outside, supervising PR as he worked.  It was a nice morning. 

TM didn't do much except more laundry.  She loaded me up in the van this afternoon and headed back to town.  We stopped at the barn first and made sure all the feed bins were full.  Then TM stopped at Yoder's Market.  It is a big Amish-type store.  She spent a lot of money.  They have a lot of the gluten-free stuff.  When we finally got to town, TM had to get set up for her evening clients. 

My idea of a good time!

As you can see, I have not gotten much attention today.  I tried being patient.  It has been very hard!  At least while I was outside, I got to play in the rain.  I was VERY wet when I came in <G>  Yes, I could have stayed dry and warm, but what fun is that? 

TM is sorry to be using so many old photos, but they fit so well (and she has to charge the battery in the camera).

Sunday as a Herding Dog

This wasn't today, but it was how I worked.

Lowri - I had a good day today.  MC came up and brought Dinah and Treasure.  I got to shout out directions for them.  I also got to be the stock dog in getting the right set for Dinah.  That was fun.  TM let me work the whole group and then work both sets after I split them up.  I did it very quietly.  TM was very proud of me.

I also got to work the ducks.  TM had me move them along the fence line, halfway around the arena and back.  I kind of have the idea, but it is pretty boring.  TM seems to really like it when I just hold them to the fence and move them along.

What Kind of Herding is That?

Lowri - Whew, it has been a busy week for TM.  She finally got around to my "daily" walk on Thursday.  I led the way at a good trot while she power-walked through the neighborhood.  Occasionally, she would run while I power-trotted.  We had a good time.

Last night, TM had me round up the ducks so we could take them to PR's place.  One of my ducks was MISSING!  He was just gone.  There were no feathers, nothing.  TM checked my yard just to be sure.  Nope, no feathers.  A predator must have caught him and taken him away.  TM caught the others, put them in boxes and took them to PR's.  You notice I said TM caught them?  I was being very, very bad.  It was GREAT <G>

This morning, TM finally saw Thor get out.  He went to the gate, stuck his head between the pipes, turned sideways and shoved one shoulder, then the other through.  When they were out, he dragged his rear through.  TM put up some wire on the gate to stop him from getting out there.  Who knows if she has it all fixed.  She may just be teaching him to work harder to get out, he is pretty smart.

I got to bring my sheep out of the field and up on the hill to the alfalfa patch.  The sheep thought that was awesome.  TM kept trying to have me be a fence on the open side of the field.  I am NOT a German Shepherd!  I had a hard time trying to figure out what she wanted.  TM finally gave up and we took the sheep back to their field.

I then went and worked ducks.  We are not doing any course work.  TM is working with me to control my ducks and move them with control and finesse.  That is BORING!  At least I get lots of praise when I listen.

Wednesday

Lowri - It has been a quiet couple of days here.  TM couldn't sleep at all last night.  She spent some of the time cuddling me.  I was glad I was here for her.  Tonight, we went and watched TV in the sitting room.  I immediately flopped onto my back, with my head in TM's lap.  My belly needed some rubbing.  It was great!

We haven't been doing much herding here in town because it has been getting dark so early.  I don't know why we can't herd in the dark.  I can still see and smell what is going on.  People are pretty limited.

Sunday at the Dog Show

Lowri - I went back to the dog show today.  TM gave me a bath.  It was chilly!  I felt pretty good afterwards.  I made sure that when I shook my coat, I coated TM liberally with the cold water.  She moved quite briskly afterwards too <VBG>

I took a Select again to Libby's BOB.  TM didn't really like how I moved, so she took me to see the chiropractor.  The lady worked on TM, MC and me.  We all felt much better when she was done with us.  I was moving much smoother afterwards.  TM is going to try and keep me straight for a couple of weeks until my next show.

Dinah won her class, but that was all she did.  Our friend, Missy, went RWB.  She belongs to Ms Kathy Davis.  TM and MC cheered for Libby in the group place.  She won a third of it.  She looked very nice.  MC commented on how Libby had lost a little weight.  She was looking at me when she said it.  I see more short rations in my future.

We are back at PR's place.  I am sacked out on TM's lap.  I feel great.  It was a good weekend.

Another Great Day!

We had to be at the dog show fairly early today.  MC brought both Dinah and me.  TM showed up while MC was grooming Dinah.  MC was a bit disgruntled to see that Dinah had found something AWESOME to roll in.  All of her neck was FILTHY!  I was so jealous!  I would have rolled in it too if I had known about it.

When we got down to the ring, I met an awesome young lady.  She smelled and tasted GREAT.  Her name is similar to mine.  It is Lauren.  It means Laurel-Crowned.  My name means Laurels.  She petted my belly.  I liked her.

We didn't have as good a day today at the dog show although it was still okay.  I went Select to Libby's BOB.  Miss Dinah took a second place.  Since I wasn't going to be in the group place today, I got to go home with TM.  She let me get the ducks out of their pen and give them a good working-out.  TM had me drive them up and down and up and down and up and down and up ... you get the idea... the field.  She wanted me to make them go straight and she didn't want to tell me how to do it.  I figured out what she wanted from me and settled in to work.  When we were done, I got to take them out into a big, unfenced field.  We did some more straight lines.  That was much harder to do because the ducks didn't have any idea what we were supposed to be doing.  Neither did I.  I am not positive TM knew what we were doing either.  It was interesting though, and I got lots of praise for doing it.

Now I am in TM's lap.  I am trying really hard to stay awake so I can tell her my thoughts.  It has been a big weekend and we still have another day to go.

Friday at the Dog Show

Lowri - I am having the very best time!  Miss Kim is visiting with MC and she brought some of her SkippingKeys.  They are the cutest little black dogs and they can run and bounce.  I get to chase and play with them.  It is so much fun!

At the dog show yesterday, I went Select to Ms Sheri and Libby's Best of Breed.  Baby Dinah went Winners Bitch and Best of Winners.  Today, Ms Sheri and Libby went Select to ME!  Sadly, the judge at the group place could not see how beautiful I am.  But, Baby Dinah went WB again!  I am having the best time this weekend - and we have two more days to go.

I went home with MC so I could tire out the SkippingKeys.  They need me to wrestle with.  I found a few more pictures for TM so she won't be lonely tonight.

This is one of TM's favorites!  All my siblings and me (on the right, in the back).

I was a herding prodigy.

The duck didn't need his tail feathers.  KIDDING!  I did not pull them.

Pictures for TM - So She Won't Miss Me

Face it.  I am just ADORABLE!

Aren't I cute :)

At the 2011 Nationals.  Learning how it is done.

Girls just want to have fun!