Zip the Wonder Dog

2012-01-18T11:22:00.002-06:00

Well, it's been a long time since I've posted anything, and I probably have no readers anyway, but I thought I would post anyway. Lots of things have happened since my last entry.

Life is very short. We have friends in our lives. We love them. They are part of us. Then we lose them. Life goes on without them. We think of them, remember them, and love them still, even though they are no longer with us.

We lost Moe last September. She was my good friend. I played with her. She was a lot of fun. The house isn't the same without her.

In December we got a new family member. Her name is Spud. She is another Border Collie, but is a smooth coated one. The jury is still out, the the house is noisier again!

I hope you all are well, and I hope I still have some fans out there.

Cashiering

2010-08-07T01:17:00.002-05:00

Ok, so I forgot to mention that my mom was transferred to the Lansing store last fall. She is the dog trainer again, and also cashiers for a few hours each day. The fun thing is that when she brings me to work with her, I get to be at the register with her. This is great fun because all the customers that come to her, give me cookies. They like to see me do my tricks. When I do, they give me cookies, lots of cookies! I don't have to work very hard and the cookies just keep coming. I couldn't ask for a better deal than that.

Long Time

2010-07-24T00:33:00.001-05:00

Good Grief. It's been a very long time since I've posted. Probably because there's nothing really new in my life. Mom is working hard. Dad is working hard. Beth is working hard. There has been little time to lay around and enjoy the easy life.

I got my AX title in April with a placement and everything. I got a couple of First Place ribbons in March. No agility trials recently. Mom works weekends and has no money for entries. I don't think I care much anyway. I have taken up tracking when Dad had days off. I like tracking. I get to use my nose and find hot dogs along the way. It's all good. I hope some of my friends will stumble across my blogspot and comment, so I know you are still my buddies

I'm Back

2009-10-29T18:39:00.004-05:00

Wow, I haven't been here since July. Lots has happened. My mom is the pet training instructor at a new store, well it's new for her. She has better hours, so she can enter shows again. Racer and Belle (and Beth) have come to live with us, so now there are eight canines all in one house. Not good for me because now we are on the "Doggie Rotation Plan."

I hope all my fans are well. Please keep in touch with me

July Fourth weekend

2009-07-03T20:47:00.002-05:00

It's July Third, and all our neighbors are blowing off fireworks. I don't mind, but Moe, Barney, Tubbs, and Belle won't come out of their crate. Happens every year. The neighbors will be blowing those things off until after Labor Day. Just love it!

Notice, I said Belle. Yes, that's right Beth moved back home, after being on her own for almost nine years. She brought Belle and Racer home with her. That leaves us with eight, count them, eight dogs in our house. Not to mention two Cockatiels, and a rabbit, and two parakeets. Yes, our house is now a flippin' zoo. Thank goodness my mom works at Petsmart!

Sorry I haven't blogged lately. Lots of busy stuff going on at my house.

I am a Big Blue Raspberry

2009-05-17T22:45:00.002-05:00

Well, I went to the groomers. I was shedding a lot and getting hair everywhere. I spent the whole day at the grooming salon while my mom was at work. They brushed me before my bath. They brushed me again after my bath. They cleaned my ears. The brushed my teeth. They ground my nails down into saydust. THEN they did it. The dreaded moment where they sprayed me with that stuff. They called it colonge. I call it YUK. It made me sneeze. Now I smell like a big raspberry. I am so embarrased.

Rain, Rain, and More Rain

2009-04-30T15:24:00.002-05:00

What a boring, dreary, week! Mud, rain, more mud, and more rain. I have been in the house and not able to do agility or even play ball because everything is wet and muddy in our yard. We can't play with the sheep either because of all the mud. What a waste of a perfectly good week! Well, gotta go. It's naptime again

Spring has Sprung

2009-04-27T01:11:00.002-05:00

well, here it is, April again. I have been lax in my posting because my mom is very lazy about blogging. We have been playing in the yard and having fun.

I got my Canine Good Citizen certificate last month. I was a very good boy. So good in face that now Mom wants to enter me in an Obedience trial. Can you imagine that? Me, doing Obedience. We'll have to see about that.

Rookie got his Novice Standard and Novice Jumpers titles last weekend. He is starting to be a very good agility dog. Sometimes he even looks better than me, if that's possible. Watch! He will get his Excellent titles way before me. I don't seem to be able to qualify, even if I am a good boy.

Anyway, I would like to hear from my friends, if I still have any.

Positive Reinforcement

2009-03-17T12:38:00.002-05:00

It's almost Spring and people are getting out with their dogs. It's time for training, playing, and socializing.

I was clicker trained. So were my friends, Tubbs, Rookie, Iggy and Moe(she's sound sensitive, so her clicker is a ball point pen). Barney has never been trained, nor has he needed to be. Positive Reinforcement training in a nutshell is rewarding the stuff that is right, and redirecting or ignoring the behavior that is not right. You show the dog what you want, but do not punish the incorrect behavior. No prong collar ever for me, and I am a great leash walker. I also know how to heel for Obedience (I personally hate Obedience). I have never had aversive corrections, no shake cans, no throw chains, no squirt bottles. That doesn't mean there are no rules at my house. No, my mom works on the NILIF (nothing in life is free) plan. I have to work for what I want. I know who is in charge of all the food and all the toys (not me, darn it).

There are many good websites about Positive Reinforcement training. Google it and check them out. Your dogs will be better for it.

It's been a While

2009-02-05T17:23:00.002-06:00

So, my mom teaches this agility class on Monday mornings. It's a nice little class, kinda of like a club. Well, there's this lady in the class with a German Shepherd. She has some issues, like she thinks the Shepherd is wonderful, and a perfect angel. He's NOT. He hates other dogs and is aggressive toward people. They have been making progress and we have had no problems in our class. She started another class on another morning today and guess what! Her dog bit someone. Yes, bit, right in the stomach, blood and everything.

I'm so tired of hearing stuff like this.

People, please train your dogs in a positive way, you will avoid many problems

It's 2009

2009-01-04T22:39:00.003-06:00

I haven't posted for a while. I've been too bored to write. Nothing much going on right now. Yesterday, Rookie, Racer, and I went to an agility trial at McCook, IL. I did OK. Nothing to brag about, but no qualifying scores. Rookie got a Second Place in Novice FAST, and Racer qualified, too. I was in Open FAST. I didn't get enough points, even though I did the send. My other runs weren't bad, but you know, I have this thing about yellow. I also knock bars when I get excited. That's OK. One of these days...

I hope all my friends have a wonderful 2009.

Winter in Chicagoland

2008-12-21T01:42:00.002-06:00

Ya know, I can't understand why people live around here. Summers are hot, humid, and uncomfortable. I can live with that because of hoses, and baby pools full of water. It's the winters that I hate. The last two days have been absolutely NO FUN. We had rain, sleet, and ice first. Today there was snow. Tomorrow they say it will be terribly cold, like below zero cold. I don't like to go out when it's like that. My feet get frozen on the ice when I try to go potty. I slip on the ice. It just sucks.
Christmas is only a few days away. Maybe it will warm up...?

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T23:27:00.002-06:00

My favorite holiday! You betcha! All that food! Leftover turkey, pumpkin pie (yes, last year I ate a whole one), sweet potatoes, ham, I love it all. Thanksgiving is every dogs dream.

Thanksgiving is also a time to remind ourselves of all the wonderful things in our lives. I am thankful for my family, both human and canine. I am thankful that I am able to play the games I love, agility and sheep. I am thankful that I have friends and fans who keep in touch with me throughout the year. I am thankful for the people in the nursing home that take good care of my grandpa, Leroy. I am thankful for each and every day.

I wish you all the best Thanksgiving ever

Pressing Issues of State

2008-11-09T01:48:00.002-06:00

So, Barrak Obama won the election. He has a huge job ahead of him, with the economy, Iraq, energy, health care, and corruption to worry about for the next four or more years. However, the most pressing issue facing him right now is the Presidential dog. He made one big promise while he was running for the office. He told his daughters that they could have a puppy. Uh , Oh! I think Dad has a campaign promise to keep. The big question is, What kind of dog will live in the White House? One of the girls is allergic, so there is a little problem. Here is my prediction. He will either get them some kind of Doodle, Poodle, or a Bichon. I won't bet any money on it though. I DO know it won't be an Australian Cattle Dog.

The Human Election

2008-10-24T13:37:00.002-05:00

Well, all I hear these days is talk about the election that is going on in a couple of weeks. My humans are reading a lot, watching TV, and listening to the radio. So many issues that affect us all.

The presidential electon doesn't matter to me as much as the local stuff does. There is a lot of legislation concerning dogs in the communities across the country.

There are lots of places where they want to mandate spay and neuter for all dogs. I feel that would be a big mistake. Good people would have a more difficult time breeding quality litters and the puppy mills would be breeding dogs with health problems. The truly bad people would still be breeding "accidents." Dogs will still end up in shelters because their owners put them there (too much work, behavior problems, can't potty train, etc.)

There are also people out there that don't want Pitt Bulls around. Hey, some very nice dogs happen to be Pitt Bulls. It's the people that are bad, not the dogs. The dogs can't help it if their owners don't want to spend the time involved with training their dog. You know what they say, "If you don't give a dog a job to do, he will invent his own fun. His fun is not your idea of fun, so TRAIN your dog." If thye ban Pitt Bulls, and Rottwielers, and Dobermans, and Mastiffs, then what's next? Cattle Dogs (because they are sometimes nippy)? Then Border Collies? Then Beagles? Then sooner or later, all dogs? You get my drift.

I want to know John McCain's opinion of anti-dog legislation. I want to know what O'Bama thinks about dog issues. Personally, I don't trust either of them. It's like the lyrics of my all time favorite song "Meet the new boss. The same as the old boss.... I get on my knees and pray, we won't get fooled again!"

On My Soap Box Again (and my High Horse)

2008-10-01T23:30:00.002-05:00

OK! I have a pet peeve. I really have a problem with you humans out there that think dogs are supposed to be fat. Even though I am a lean, mean, jumping machine, there are a lot of dogs out there that have a hard time walking, let alone jumping. Why, just yesterday, at the store where my mom works, there was this Belgian Shepherd (beautiful dogs, by the way). The poor girl was waddling down the isles of the store. She looked like she was a very old dog. When my mom asked how old the dog was, the proud owners said she was five years old. My canine heart went out to my furry friend as her people loaded their cart with two giant boxes of Milk Bones.

Unlike humans, dogs don't choose to be fat. Their owners make them that way. Dogs are being killed with human "kindness." Dogs suffer the same illnesses associated with obesity as humans do. Dogs are dying from diabetes and heart disease at alarming rates. Dogs suffer from bone and joint problems due to the stress from excess weight. Dogs are dying much too young simply because their owners overfeed them. Do you know that more than 1/3 of the dogs in the United States are overweight to obese?

Please, please, people, do what you can to keep your dogs healthy. Feed your dogs on a schedule. Measure the amount of food at each feeding. Don't leave uneaten food out for us to snack on all day long. Tale tje bpw; away after about 15 minutes. Don't feed us table scraps as part of our daily diet. Limit the treats. Ditch the biscuits in favor of baby carrots, peices of apple, and small peices of meat. Also remember that treats are just that, only as rewards for good behaviors, and used during training. Treats are not supposed to be a daily part of the diet. Give us plenty of exercise like chasing balls or frisbees, every day (just a walk isn't enough). Play with us instead of giving treats, we like that better anyway.

Climbing off my soapbox now, but still on my high horse!

I am a Good Boy

2008-08-25T17:07:00.002-05:00

My momma, Beth, Racer, and I went to an agility trial yesterday. It was another AKC event. I ran three runs, Standard, Jumpers with Weaves, and FAST (that's a game). I ran FAST first. I listened to Mom, did everything exactly as she planned and Guess What! I not only qualified, but I finished with 64 points and Third Place!!! Not only that, it was my Novice FAST title (NF). I was so excited about it that I forgot to qualify in the other two runs. Mom says that's OK though, because the mistakes were hers, not mine. I was a good boy all day, at least that's what she believes. I'll let her keep thinking that, because she gave me those yummy salmon treats all day. She didn't train me in the yard either today. She made Racer work. He was NOT a good boy. Ha, Ha, the Cattle Dog wins again!

A Surprise

2008-08-22T13:49:00.002-05:00

Well, I guess I must have touched the yellow at least five times because something exciting came in the mail. It was a USDAA title for Standard Agility (Starters). I didn't even know I was close to getting that one. My momma is in complete shock over that one. She even bought me some yummy fishy treats for it (she says they have Omega 3s).

Hey Kinka, I tried Flyball. It was fun, but the team wanted the BCs, not me. Moe has lots of Flyball points. She is retired now, but she tells me she thinks she can still do it. Mom won't let her anymore. Something about being old and getting hurt. Moe says she is like fine wine, excellent at 12 and getting better.

I have also done a little Rally O. You will have fun with that. So will your momma. Lots of clicks and treats involved with that. My kind of sport!

August Already

2008-08-12T01:43:00.005-05:00

Time flies when you're having fun. At least that's what they tell me.

I was at an agility trial yesterday. I was a bad boy for most of it. I didn't put my feet in the yellow part of the Dogwalk, or A-Frame. I don't know what the big deal is. I don't like yellow. I don't want to touch it. And guess what? At a trial, my momma can't make me touch it either. Ha, Ha, I win!

I do love to jump though. I did a Jumpers course (USDAA, no weaves) in 22 seconds. I did not get first place though. Some dumb Border Collies actually finished in 17 seconds, so they beat me (but not by much).

My momma says that tomorrow we are going start retraining my contacts. I think I'll go hide somewhere right now!

The Last Dog Blogger?

2008-07-03T13:47:00.002-05:00

I am a lonely guy. I am the only dog that still blogs. Roo, where are you? Kinka, we don't know what you are up to. I miss my friends.

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July again. The Border Collies hate fireworks. I don't care one way or another. The Fourth is a day when my mom doesn't have to work, so she will laze around the house with me and the BCs. I think she said she was going to be in a parade, but not me. I don't care for that kind of stuff anyway.

I've Been too Busy

2008-06-22T22:54:00.003-05:00

Wow! I haven't posted anything for a very long time. I've been so busy being Zip the Wonder Dog, and all.

I have been doing agility! Last weekend, we ran in a USDAA trial. Yeah! I'm still in Starters, but that's not really my fault. My mom couldn't walk very well for a while. Well, now she's back, better than ever! Anyway, I did three runs, Gamblers, Standard, and Jumpers. I qualified in all three, fourth place in all three. No mistakes, no wrong courses, no refusals, no barking or biting. I was such a good boy!

In two weeks, I will be running in an AKC trial. I can't wait! Agility is so much fun for dogs, especially this dog.

I also have been visiting the nursing home every Tuesday. They all love me there. I get so many treats.

April, Taxes, and Other Things

2008-04-04T14:40:00.002-05:00

OK, so I've been very bad at blogging lately. It's not my fault. It's very hard for a dog use the computer all by himself. I have to have some human help here, and the human has been very, very lazy. So here I am, at last.

It's already April. It is a great month. No more below zero days, more sunshine, birds and bunnies to chase, terriffic. April is also the month for taxes. My humans hate taxes. They say they should keep their money because there is never enough of it. My humans also don't get a whole lot back after they file their taxes, either. They are complaining about high prices at the gas pump, at the grocery store, and lack of pay raises to go along with the newer high prices. I think it sucks to be a human. Much better to be a dog. We don't have to pay for anything. Of course, we don't have any money either, as we don't get paid for the work we do.

Now, the big question is, who will be our next president? Will they fix our problems? Taxes? Education? Gas prices? Health care? Iraq? Afganistan? Does a dog care? You betcha! What happens with the humans affects what happens with the dogs. Now, who will I endorse? I don't know, yet. I really don't like any of the three that are running right now. I think there should be a Cattle Dog running for President. I would definately vote for him.

Same Old, Same Old

2008-03-07T15:58:00.002-06:00

I did a big agility trial two weekends ago. It was one that was in conjunction with the International Kennel Club Dog Show. I was too excited to qualify, but I had fun, and got lots of free samples from the booths. Mom also got herself a little stuffed Cattle Dog toy. It has a double mask like my girlfriend, Roo. How often do you find a toy Cattle Dog? Not very.

I said I would recap the election. Well, by now you all know how politics is going in our country, so I guess I don't need to say much. From a dogs point of view, all the humans are pretty much the same. More taxes and less money for agility trials. My vote is for the person who will bring us more sheep and more agility trials, for less money. Oh yeah, and more dried sweet potatoes, and more liver treats.

February in the Midwest

2008-02-01T13:30:00.000-06:00

Nothing but snow out there! So boring for us dogs. Too messy to play with the sheep. Too cold to play agility in the yard or to go to Loretta's barn. Well, at least Mom is cooking. We get to help clean up the floor. She also dehydrated some chicken for all of us. That was WONDERFUL!

Next Tuesday is "Super Tuesday" here in Illinois. Look for my ideas on Politics next week, when I recap the election.

First Post for 2008

2008-01-20T09:12:00.000-06:00

I have been slacking lately. I haven't been on the computer very much. Well, it wasn't working for a couple of weeks there. My mom was checking her email from her cell phone.
Racer and I did another agility trial over the New Years weekend. My mom judged two days, then we showed for the next two days. It was my first time in Excellent. I was all excited, and wound up. I really wanted to show my stuff. In my excitement, however, I forgot that I was supposed to watch and listen to my mom. I tried, but she kept getting in my way. What is a boy supposed to do? I ran around the jumps, because I couldn't jump through her. Then there was the table thing. I am also very partial to the see- saw. When I get confused, I like to go there. It's the funnest thing. It bangs really loud! I usually get lots of cookies when I go there, too.
My family is doing well. Tubbs is becoming a lot more confident, even plays with some toys now. Rookie is starting to like agility. Moe puts the B in witch. Iggy still likes to eat poop. Barney likes to bark. All is right with the world.

I Got My Title

2007-12-03T13:30:00.000-06:00

Yep, that's right! Finally, after almost four years in Open STD, I got my title. It was a beautiful thing, too. My mom can finally run with me, again. We were a TEAM. I didn't make any mistakes. I didn't bark, or bite. I ran the course in 50 seconds and even got Third Place. How cool is that?

Busy, Busy

2007-10-24T22:23:00.000-05:00

Well, I haven't been blogging lately, because I have been a busy boy. I did an agility trial with Racer. We had a lot of fun with that even if we didn't do so well. I have been visiting the nursing home every Tuesday. I love doing that. Racer and I have been going to Wisconsin almost every Sunday to train at our friend, Loretta's barn. That is really fun. I also have been going out to play with the sheep a couple of times a week. Last night I wore my very cool Pirate costume and went to work with my mom. I was the host with the most. I didn't really like all the dogs that came to have their picture taken, but I tried very hard to be a good Petsmart employee. I'll try to blog more often, because I miss hearing from all my friends.

A Real Sports Hero

2007-09-10T23:23:00.000-05:00

Not much to say, but I wanted you all to see a picture of my good friend BJ. He plays a game called Flyball. That is a relay race for dogs. There are four dogs to a team. The dogs have to go over four jumps, get a ball that shoots out of a big wooden box, and go back over the four jumps again. They race another team of four dogs. The winning team is the first one to finish all four dogs, without any mistakes. I tried it a couple of times, but not at a tournament like BJ. He is fast, and he loves it!

Sports Heros?

2007-08-28T01:17:00.000-05:00

It's all in the news. They have been talking about the big football "hero" and how he's so very sorry he got involved in dogfighting. I say "Bull****. He's not sorry at all, well, maybe sorry he got caught. Maybe he's sorry he may have to go to jail. He should get the death penalty, just like the dogs that were in his care. He gave them all the death penalty, in the name of "sport!"
People like that deserve to get what they give.

We poor dogs go through so much. Oh yeah, some of us live a pretty cushie life. Many more of us have to struggle for everything. People are mean and cruel to many of us. We are starved, beaten, neglected, and thrown away like yesterday's garbage. People think it is a sport to watch us fight each other and die in the process. Look at the pictures of the dogs that fight in this "sport." It is not fun for them, they are hurt, bleeding, and most of them die. Those humans that profit from dogfighting say the dogs are just animals. I say, "Who exactly is the animal?"

Rainy Weather

2007-08-25T02:18:00.000-05:00

The last couple of days have been rather exiting around here. There have been terrible storms, high winds and lots and lots of rain. So much that everything is flooded! You should see our bach yard. It looks like a giant lake. Our agility equipment is under water. No fun for me until everything dries out.
My mom is home. She moves much faster than she used to. She won't let me fight with Rookie by the door anymore, and she uses her cane to keep me away from him. What fun is that? Rookie laughs at me now and says, "Na, na, na, na, na" and sticks his tongue out. Those Border Collies think they are so smart. I'm glad I know better. We Cattle Dogs are the smart ones, right Kinka? Right Roo? Right BJ? Right Ringo?

Mom's Coming Home

2007-08-11T14:15:00.000-05:00

I am so excited! My mom went to see her doctor last Thursday. He took pictures of her new hips. I included a picture so you will see how they look. My mom's looked perfect. Mom is also walking pretty well, so it looks like she will get to come home. So far, they say either Tuesday or Thursday. Only a few more days without her! Here's the best part. She won't be able to go to work for a few weeks after she comes home, so I get to be with her all day, every day. That means that while the weather is still warm, we will be able to play together (the other dogs here, too). I can't wait. Maybe she can start doing agility with me again, soon. Wouldn't that be great?

It's Already August

2007-08-04T19:06:00.000-05:00

Ya know, I haven't done one agility trial all summer long. My mom is still away,
and my dad is working long hours. I spend a lot of time in my crate. They tell me mom will be back home in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, there is nothing to do. Geez, I can't even get into trouble, because I'm never out long enough to get into anything. I can't even fight with Barney, which is fun for both of us. Barney is bored too!
On the brighter side, it's been too hot anyway. How much fun can I have when it's 95 degrees out, and humid?
I hope the rest of you are having more fun than I am.

My Mom is Missing!

2007-07-26T05:55:00.000-05:00

She left last Wednesday morning, and hasn't been home for a week! All of us have been spending a lot of time in our crates. One morning I even had an accident because my dad had to work overtime, but my bladder coulldn't.
Monday, I went to the hospital to visit her. She is in a room with a funny bed that goes up and down. She fed me her lunch, because she didn't llike it! That was great, 'cause I did. Iggy went on Tuesday to visit, and Rookie got to go yesterday. I think today is Barney's turn. They say she'll be gone for a couple more weeks. I really miss my mom.

News from Home

2007-07-17T23:37:00.000-05:00

Things at my house are a bit crazy right now. My mom is going to a place they are calling a hospital. She is leaving tomorrow morning. She will be gone for a long time. She is packing two bags and taking books and stuff, to keep herself busy. She isn't taking me! What am I going to do without her? I have been following her around all day. I tried to fit myself in her suitcase, but I'm too big and all I could do was sit on her clothes. I have been letting her scratch my belly all day, too. Beth was here and hugging me and telling me that she would be my "cow" for a while. I'm so confused.

On the good side, my mom says when she comes home, we'll be able to run agility again, like we used to. She says she'll be better than ever because she is getting "Bionic Hips" and she will be like the "Bionic Woman." I don't know about that. We'll just have to wait and see.

The Fourth of July

2007-07-04T22:55:00.000-05:00

Wow! What a day. It was so much louder this year, than last year. Of course, last year I spent most of the day in my crate. This year, mom was home, and went out in the yard to watch the big display that they set off in the park near our house. She took me outside with her, along with Rookie and Iggy. The neighbors had a party. Their stuff was so loud. All I wanted to do was run back into the house. Mom called me a wimp.

Iggy is a brave guy. Nothing bothers him. Must be those drugs they give him for his epilepsy : ) I'll tell you what! Next year, I'm staying in my crate. No, I don't think going out in the yard will ever be a good idea on the Fourth! They tell me that only Americans celebrate the Fourth of July. they call it Independence Day. Fireworks are a big part of the day. I don't know about that. I could live very nicely with the picnics, food and fun without all that noise.

News ETC

2007-07-03T12:15:00.000-05:00

Well, now I know why they took me to THAT nursing home. That is where my mom will be after her hip surgery. She is getting two new hips in two weeks. She will be away from home for at least that long, while she rehabs and learns exercises. I will be able to visit her, because I am such a well behaved guy LOL.

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July! They are firing off all sorts of stuff in my neighborhood, and have been for a couple of weeks. The booms scare my BC friends, but not me. I don't really care about the noises. As a matter of fact, I like to bark at them.

More about that tomorrow

I'm a Therapy Dog

2007-06-18T01:36:00.000-05:00

I went for my first ever visit to a nursing home last Wednesday. I had so much fun! They let me walk right in with my Mom and Dad. First we went to visit the people in the Altzheimers wing. Everyone was so happy to see me. They all wanted to pet me. I did my tricks and made some of them laugh. I love that. The nurses said I was the highlight of the day. I don't know about that, but I did get some yummy treats.

We also visited the Rehab wing. These people are only staying there for a little while, then going home. I saw lots of machines and exercise equipment. I tried to use the treadmill. Everyone liked me there, too. There was even one guy who knew that I was an Australian Cattle Dog. He was really excited to see me. I liked him too.

The staff said I could come back any time. I think I will take them up on that! If you get the chance, try being a Therapy Dog. It is a good time for you, and a wonderful thing for all the people who are in the hospital, too.

Missing in Action

2007-06-06T02:34:00.000-05:00

Yep, that's right, I've been missing in action. I have had nothing to say, and nobody to say it to.

Life has been pretty dull around here. My mom is getting ready to have hip surgery soon, so she's not walking much these days. That means she is BORING! She doesn't run me in agility. I have to wait for Beth to come by. That only happens a couple of times a week. We haven't been to any trials, not even on Memorial Day weekend. Mom judged then. She was gone for four whole days. I had to stay at home. How is a guy supposed to get any titles or ribbons?

Things are looking up though. They tell me I am going to be a Therapy Dog. I am not sure what I have to do yet, but I think I will be going to a nursing home, or a hospital, to visit people who are sick, or not able to go outside. Mom has been working on my tricks, so I guess I will have to do them in public. I think it might mean lots of good treats for me, if I do well.

I'll keep you all posted on what happens with that.

My favorite game

2007-05-10T23:56:00.000-05:00

I had to show you a picture of my favorite toy! I love this thing. My mom puts a tennis ball in it and we go into the yard. We can play "throw it, catch it, run for it" for hours. Today, we played until my tongue was hanging down to the ground. Then I went for a dip in the baby pool. I think every dog should have someone to play ball with. My mom is the best! I know she loves me because she likes to play with me.

Nice Weather

2007-05-02T00:33:00.000-05:00

It sure has been nice out for the past few days. I have been able to play ball in the yard with my mom and the other dogs here. Beth has been coming over to work me on the agility equipment. That 's always fun. They even put the baby pool out for us to splash in. That is everyone's favorite. Sometimes it is good to be a dog!

Checking In

2007-04-08T14:49:00.000-05:00

I've been doing nothing lately. That's right, nothing! My life has been very boring. It's cold outside, my mom isn't feeling well, and my dad is spending way too much time working with the Border Collies and the sheep. They give me a Booda Bone and expect me to be happy with that. Jeez, they don't know me very well. Granted, I love Boodas, but don't they know I wnat to do stuff. I want to go to work with my mom, but she keeps taking Tubbs or Rookie. I want to play with the sheep, but dad keeps taking Tubbs and Rookie, not me. What's a guy to do?

My Friend Tubbs

2007-03-25T20:00:00.000-05:00

This is a photo of my good friend Tubbs. He is a purebred Border Collie. Tubbs came to live with us last June. He is what my mom calls a "rescue" dog. He couldn't keep living in his first home, we don't know for sure why, but he couldn't. One thing for sure, he wasn't starving! Tubbs weighed 55 pounds! That is huge for a Border Collie as small as he is. Anyway, my people were supposed to rehabilitate him, and find him a new home. He found a home all right, ours. Not only that, he herds the sheep better than I do. Anyway, he is a lot of fun to have around. He likes to play with me, rough, which is what I like best.
You know what? Tubbs isn't fat anymore. Now he weighs just 32 pounds. He really doesn't look like the photo now. He isn't fluffy, and he never is lying around on the deck, like he was in the picture. He is never in one spot long enough to lie down, as he is always on the go.

It is just amazing how good food and exercise can make a dog healthy!

Humiliated

2007-03-23T10:50:00.000-05:00

My mom got these pictures back finally. Look what she did to me! This was a "Halloween Costume" so she said. It is SO wrong. In my humble opinion, no dog should ever be made to wear clothing. We already have beautiful fur coats. This costume is an absolute abomination!

You know, at that pet superstore where we work, they sell all sorts of clothing for dogs. They have little dresses (Moe says "never" would she wear one of those). They have raincoats! Imagine, raincoats for dogs. How embarassing! Thank goodness I don't fit in a purse. My mom would probably put me in one if I did.

Humans, I will never understand them.

Bored

2007-03-15T17:38:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Nothing much exciting going on around here this week. My mom isn't doing too much because of she has arthritis in her hips. She has been hurting, so she lays around a lot. This can be good or bad depending on how you look at it. On one hand, she has been laying around with me, and the rest of the dogs here, bonding. On the other hand, she doesn't feel like working with us on the agility equipment, or walking with us. She hasn't even taken me to work with her. I really miss going to work. I have many friends there, and I get lots of treats.

I hope this pain thing stops cramping her style soon. When her style is cramped, so is mine. Nobody is having fun this week.

Spaying and Neutering

2007-03-10T23:26:00.000-06:00

Well, I suppose I am back on my high horse on top of my soapbox again.
My good friend Kinka got spayed yesterday. This is a good thing. I wish more people would believe that.
I've mentioned before that my mom and I work at a pet superstore, as dog trainers. We meet many people every day, and also many dogs. What amazes me is how many dogs are still intact. We hear many stories why. My favorite is the one about how they think they have a wonderful dog, and want to breed him or her, to produce a puppy just like the original dog. Another good one is that they feel that every dog should be bred at least once. Or those people that get a purebred dog at a pet shop, then want to make puppies, so they will get some money from their investment. Never mind that the dog might be an unknown mix, with no traceable parentage, or that the structure is bad, or they have an overbite, or they have seizures, or a very bad temperament. Don't they know how many unwanted puppies end up in shelters? Don't they know how many dogs are euthanized every year?
They don't understand how hard some breeders work to make sure they produce only healthy puppies (right Jen?). They don't understand about Baer testing, or OFA X-rays for hips, or CERF tests for eyesight. They don't understand that they could lose the female and the puppies, if the pregnancy gets complicated.
Thank goodness for the responsible people that breed responsibly. Thank goodness for responsible people that will spay and neuter their dogs. Spayed or neutered dogs have a longer life expectancy. They will never get uterine cancer or testicular cancer. The incidence of mammary cancer goes way down in spayed females. Also they never have heat cycles or false pregnancies. Neutered males don't feel the need to roam looking for females. They don't lift their legs on everything, and have milder temperaments.
I am neutered, and look what a great dog I am! Humble, too.

Bad Weather and Phone Problems

2007-03-04T02:14:00.000-06:00

Well, the last week has been very boring. It has been cold where I live, and there have been ice storms. Our phone service has been out for almost a whole week. My family, being roadkill on the internet superhighway, still have old fashioned dial - up on their computer. I have been SO out of touch with my public. I hope you all haven't missed me too much. I will try to get my humans to upgrade their computer, so I can communicate better.

Agility in Michigan

2007-02-19T11:04:00.000-06:00

Racer and I had a blast doing agility this last weekend. We were in Dexter, Michigan trialing with many of our friends. Mike was there with Misty and Bailey. Bailey did very well and brought home many ribbons. Misty did well, too, but this was Bailey's weekend. Our friend Jeremy got a MACH 2 title for our buddy Dodger AND a MACH 4 title for little Spyder. What a great weekend for them! Kathy was there with Dory and Houston (who kinda looks like me), Boogie and Kimmie were there, and so many more of our friends. What a party!
Racer had a fun time. No Qs, but for the first time at a trial in a long time, he didn't sniff, and managed to complete all the courses he ran. He says agility is fun now, especially the jumpers courses.
Anyway, I ran Excellent Jumpers both days. My mom is broken, so Beth ran with me. I love Beth, but I would rather run with my mom. You know, we start out pretty well, but then I start wishing mom was out there with me, so I look for her. Maybe I can persuade her to join us for the fun. Then, before I even know where mom is, Beth is taking my collar and excusing us before our run is over. I think, "Wait! Mom's not here yet!" Too late, we have to leave the ring. I did try to stay with Beth a couple of times, and our last Standard run was pretty good, but mom left the building before we ran. I didn't see her come back, so I figured I'd better just stay with Beth. We didn't Q, but it wasn't terrible either. I did get one qualifying score in a new game called FAST! That was big fun for me. I got to run, and forgot all about my mom for a minute. I got a green Q ribbon and a new toy! Beth gave me big kisses and told me I was the best cattle dog there (I was the only cattle dog there).

Trialin'

2007-02-16T01:34:00.000-06:00

This weekend, my friend Racer (a Border Collie) and I are going to an agility trial. We will be driving to Dexter, Michigan. My mom can't run well lately, so Beth is going to run me and Racer. Even though I love Beth, I usually don't run for her because I love my mom, but we'll see. I also love agility, so maybe this time, I'll feel good about it.
Michigan is fun because we get to see all of our friends. There's Mike and Gail, who bring Misty, Bailey, and Zipper with them. They are always a fun time, especially after the show when the humans go out for Margaritas. Jeremy and Kathy are also a fun time. We will get to see Jeremy's new Australian Shepherd puppy. Christine and Kaboom will also be there. Maybe she has her dice with her. That is always fun, too.
We will be staying at a Red Roof Inn. I love motels. I have so much fun when we stay in one.

I'll tell you all how I did on Monday,
Love,
Zip

Lazy

2007-02-12T08:53:00.000-06:00

For the past week it has been COLD here. So cold that I don't want to go outside. It's the kind of cold that will freeze your tongue to anything you try to lick. It is so cold that the poopsicles are too hard to eat, or even sniff. All I want to do is be in the house and sleep.
My mom has been lazy, too. Yesterday, all she did was watch movies, eat, and sleep. She took three naps. We all did too, of course. She fixed a little food, but didn't pay attention to our sad puppy looks. We got nothing extra!
I played with Moe a little, and Tubbs, but I think the cold has gotten to them too. Moe spent most of her day on the couch. I had to curl up on the green footstool that I'm really too big for.
Next week, we go to Michigan for an agility trial. Beth is going to run me. I don't like to run with Beth, I only like my mom, so we'll see how it goes. I'll keep you posted if I do OK.

Superbowl Sunday

2007-02-04T22:15:00.000-06:00

OK, so today was the big day. My mom even cooked chili and made dip, just for her and my dad. She went grocery shopping! That is an event all by itself. It was unbelievably cold outside, so their plans were to eat, watch the game, eat, watch the game. You get the idea.

After all that, they ended up watching a show about a Beardie herding sheep. Nice wooly ones, not bald ones like I have. I have to admit, that Beardie had a lot of fun, even got to exhaust the sheep at a big trial. He wasn't really ready for that though.

To make a long story short, the Bears ended up losing the game. The humans were very glad that they didn't waste the whole evening watching the Bears lose. We got some potato chips and licked the bowls, so everyone was happy.

Except maybe the Bears.

Climbing on my Soapbox

2007-01-26T23:40:00.000-06:00

Well, here I go, climbing on my soapbox for the first time.

My mom works in a large pet superstore. She often brings me to work with her. We like our job most of the time. We get to talk to a lot of different people, and meet some nice (and some not so nice) dogs. Every once in a while, we talk to someone that really gets our dander up.

Why do some people get dogs? Why do people get the dogs they get? What was the mother of four unruly boys thinking, when she bought that Chocolate Lab puppy, and why didn't she think the puppy needed a crate or a training class? When we saw the lady again several months later, the puppy was about seven months old, very big, overweight, and dragging one of the boys through the parking lot. The mother said the dog was chewing up everything, still not potty trained, and she was thinking of giving the puppy up for adoption. Still, she didn't consider signing up for a training class. What did she think? The dog was going to magically become good? It just doesn't work that way.

What about the people that came in the store with a three week old Pitt Bull puppy? Don't they know that a puppy needs to be with it's mom and it's littermates until it is at least eight weeks old? Don't they care? Why don't people think a little bit more before they decide to get a dog? Maybe there wouldn't be so many of us in shelters if humans used their brains (which are supposed to be much bigger than dog's brains). A little common sense and a training class or two, or three, would save so many of us from shelters and sometimes death.

Off my soapbox, but still on my High Horse!
Zip

Da Bears Again

2007-01-21T17:29:00.000-06:00

Nothing much to say today. We laid around the house all day and watched the pre-game show, the football game, the post game wrap-up, and the Patriots/Colts game. In case you haven't heard, the Bears WON! Now they will go to the Superbowl.
Unfortunatley for all of us dogs, the humans put us us in our crates when the pizza came. No crumbs even. I guess they felt we weren't real Bears fans. Gee whiz, I am a big PIZZA fan. Maybe next week! Maybe if the Bears win the Superbowl.

The Chicago Bears

2007-01-20T20:33:00.000-06:00

Around here, my humans are football fans. Specifically, they like the Chicago Bears. They are planning to spend tomorrow afternoon in their recliners, watching the Bears play football. The Bears haven't made it to the Superbowl since the 1985 season, so they are all excited. This may be the year, if the Defense plays well, and if the Quarterback(Rex Grossman) is on his game. It could be great! If not, the humans will be in a foul mood tomorrow evening.

All of us (poor dogs) will have to lay around tomorrow while the football game is on. The good part is that they will probably order a big pizza. That means crumbs and crusts for all of us, and if we are smart, we may even be able to steal some real pieces of it. We are pretty slick about that. Wait until there is a big play and then just zoom right in and grab what we want. The odds are in our favor. Two of them vs. six of us. Do the math!

Anyway, if the Bears win, there will be another weekend of football. That means another day of pizza for all of us.

GO BEARS!!!

Sheep

2007-01-20T00:11:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I went herding. Herding is an interesting sport. You are supposed to go out, get around the sheep, and bring them back to your handler. That's what the Border Collies do. Cattle Dogs like to nip the heels of the stock they work, and drive from behind. Scott (my Dad) says I don't have a drivers license yet. Very funny.

Going out to work the sheep is a lot of fun. Lately it has been quite muddy. All the more fun for me. Yesterday, Scott let me go out to look at the cows. That was even more fun than the sheep. Either way, I love herding. I only need one more "leg" for my Herding Started Title. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Agility Class

2007-01-18T23:56:00.000-06:00

Mom went with Beth and Racer tonight to agility class. I used to go too, but now it's all about Racer, because he needs help. Really it's Beth that needs help. Racer is fast and fun to watch. He loves to do the weave poles.
I love agility too. For me, it's all about getting a wonderful view from the top of the A-Frame, banging the teeter making it go bang, and ggetting lots of treats afterward. I also get to play tug with the special leash. Sometimes I do very well at trials, but I have a big problem. I am handler challenged. My personal assistant can't run fast enough to suit my style.

Agility is such a fun thing for us dogs to do. We get to run, jump, climb, and go through tunnels. It's like going to Disneyland!

I Have Lots of Friends

2007-01-18T00:45:00.000-06:00

I thought I would tell you of my many friends. Without them, I wouldn't be here blogging away.

First, I'll tell you of my family. I live with five Border Collies. Life with them is lots of fun. I love to play with them. Moe is the oldest. She is ten and a half. Don't tell her that, though. She thinks she is a little puppy still. Moe is the Queen of the House! She'll beat you up if you get her mad. She is a fun playmate most of the time. Next comes Barney. He is a rescue, like me. He's almost eight. He's lots of fun, too. Barney loves to bark. Next comes my good friend, Iggy. He has epilepsy and has to take drugs. He's still a good playmate though, but I have to be gentle with him. Rookie is two. He is my best playmate. He is red and quite a little devil. We play very rough sometimes. The newest addition to my house is Tubbs (AKA Tubbie). He is three. We rescued him, too. He used to be very fat, but now he is thin and very active. He is fun to get rough with, too. We have sheep to play with, too!

My friends include Ringo, who lives in New York. We were on a DAM team together doing USDAA agility. We didn't do very well, but we had a great time. We were very entertaining. I also like BJ and Riley. My mom says that it was BJ who convinced her to keep me!! BJ is a very cool ACD who also likes agility. Riley lives with BJ. He is red and also quite cool. They also have a Border Collie named Minnie. I have a girlfriend in Utah named Roo. She is young and very pretty, blue,with a double mask. She is growing up, and learning. I hope to play with her someday. We could have hours of fun. Roo has a sister named Kinka, who also is pretty. They were born in Canada(SK). Their mom is a beautiful red girl named Giddy.

I seem to make friends everywhere I go. I think it's because I always have a smile for everyone, especially if they have some treats!

My First Blog

2007-01-17T00:55:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

Well, I guess I have computer skills after all. I noticed that some of my friends had blogs, but weren't posting very often, so I decided to come up with one of my own.

Today was a fun day for me. I went to Petsmart with my mom. She works there at a trainer. She uses me as a demo dog, though today she called me her "dummo dog!" Not very nice! There were a lot of other dogs there and it was very noisy, but I did my best. It's hard for me to do simple stuff, when I can do so much more. She asks me to "down" and when I roll over a couple of times (much more fun), I can tell she is frustrated. Oh well, she taught me that trick, didn't she? I do so love it when she uses the clicker. I got so many treats from the people that work there, too. I also got to pick out a new toy to play with, and a Booda bone.

Well, I better go to bed now.

Zip the Wonder Dog