sluj

I know a bunch of you have seen this on facebook already, but it's kind of fun dog vision simulator: http://www.wolframalpha.com/widgets/gallery/view.jsp?id=125a6a47bc73b0269276cd2dd58d84f1

My girl has been getting a lot of "ear-itations" (sorry) lately. There's some red-brown gunk accumulated that I removed using cotton pads with a little oil on them. I've had to do this 3 or 4 times in the past couple of months, but it doesn't seem to have come back after the last cleaning. I assumed it was from swimming, and maybe the subsequent scratching. Wondering now, after the thread with the anal glands.

I live in a small apartment, and yes, the XL plastic airline crate takes up a lot of room, but my dog likes it and hangs out quite a bit there of her own accord (door open). I shut her in there for the ocassional time-out, but also for when work is being done around the place. As a renter, I have little to no control over when that will happen, and the handyman/plummer/construction workers don't deserve having a dog harassing them while they work (the electrician, on the other hand... )

Here's the forum thread where the rescue was initiated, if you're interested: http://14ers.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=36893 edit: it's a very long thread - 46 pages, you know how things get - and the actual rescue occurs around page 17 or 18. http://14ers.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=36893&start=204#p440131 edit edit: here's where the owner chimes in: http://14ers.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=36893&start=252#p440312 edit edit edit (sorry): more pictures http://14ers.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=36893&start=372#p440514

This is the local company that clears brush on the hills for fire prevention: http://www.goatsrus.com/dogs.htm . They use electronet to contain the goats, and move them with dogs.

I'm in - haven't decided if I'll make the drive up there again, but would like to help out.

I puzzled over this for a few minutes - chickens swim? Buddy herds chickens? Time for that second cup of coffee!

Yes, but virtually everyone at a dog trial is a dog owner, which is not typically the case for a public street or bar. I'd certainly be worried about people harassing those dogs, even with her keeping an eye on them from inside the bar.

Aren't you Goose on another board?

I'm so glad to hear the surgery went well. Lots of healing vibes coming in from the west.

I've often heard that applying cool water to the 'armpits' and belly is the fastest way to cool them down.

This is how I introduced "fuss" as a command to heel on my right side: "Allie, we've been using heel to mean you walk at my side, but sometimes I want you on a particular side and you pick the wrong one. So from now on, I'm gong to say heel when I want you on my left, and fuss when I want you on my right. You got that?" and she did.

Why don't you direct this idiot them to http://www.usbcha.com/ . Tell them to check out the sheepdog section. ETA: Bill Fosher's sheep forum has a section on Livestock Guardians that discusses breeds such as the maremma and anatolian.

All but one of the trials I've attended have been welcoming to well-behaved spectator dogs. They should be removed (crated, or put in the car) if they bark, or stare too intently at the sheep - the action gets quite close to the audience at times. Check http://www.norcalsheepdog.org/events/ for events.

just a note - Derek Fisher moved to Idaho, so he's no longer an option. Bill Berhow is closer in Zamora. If you want, maybe you could come with me up to the Spencers' sometime in Elk Grove.

Haha - when I read the title I was sure it would be something about PETA.

Aw, Stella, don't get your nose all out of joint. We believe you, we love copper dogs.

Whatever happened to jackass? Also refers to a perfectly nice animal, so it's on even footing.

It's great to hear from you again, and that you're all doing well.

Ok, here’s another try: I’d tried looking for a trainer well before posting the original message, had emailed a few people without success. I think my problem was phrasing my query as 1) should I try with my dog and 2) if not, could I borrow one. Answer to the first was no, or no, try contacting this (AKC) person. One guy said OK, but never got back to me on setting a time. I ended up contacting someone who hadn’t advertised for lessons, but who had been very kind about explaining what was going on at the first few trials I attended. He got back to me right away, said sure we have plenty of dogs here, asked a bunch of questions about my interests/goals, and we set up a lesson. First thing was to teach me whistles. Turns out that although I can whistle a good range of tones at home or in my car, I can only manage a high-pitched squeal in front of someone. So I got assigned some homework and the rest of the lesson was by voice. As I’m a naturally shy and quiet person, and also happen to be recovering from a cold, it’s a very good thing all of the action was close in. We used a pasture rather than a pen, might’ve been a couple of acres, and flat. Used about 20 sheep, I forgot to ask the breed, maybe Katahdin. They were a pretty friendly lot. One went digging in my pocket while another nibbled my shoe. My training partner was a little prick-eared, tri-color, rough coat gal name Foxy. She was shy, skittering around the other side of the trainer’s legs when I tried to greet her. Tom said she’ll probably warm up once she’s gotten on the sheep. He was right – after two or three fetches, she was relaxed enough to let me pop a grass seed out of her eye. Will make sure to get a picture next time. To be honest, I’m not exactly sure what we were doing, except maybe to give me a feel for the sheep and timing the commands. I didn’t expect to have a hard time with directions – I live with someone who mixes up left and right about 45% of the time – but it’s tricky!

Through me? Ok, that's just sad. I got about three paragraphs into the story when my browser shut down on me, so will have to get back to this later - taking it as a sign I should do some work first.

Just wanted to check back in and curse you all for enabling thank you all for encouraging me. Just had my first lesson today

Happy birthday Ninjadog! Kisses from Allie

I'm sorry your time with Lu was so short, Ben, but I'm sure Lu knew more love in those five short years than many dogs do in the ten or fifteen they are allotted.

Allie just has a steady, white light. We call her tinkerbell when she's running around at night Glad you found something that works