Scorched Earth
Woo wee it's been HOT! Yesterday it was 103 degrees. Yikes! Someone turn the heat down! To beat the heat I took the dogs down to the Weiser River, which is about 3-4 miles from my house. I had on some light weight athletic capris and some old tennis shoes so that I could wade with them. Come to find out, there's a lot that has 2-3 inch rocks on the bottom and it's about knee deep, easy to walk in! I had a few pool toys and just started walking, sometimes throwing a toy. We had a great time and all the dogs were flat the whole hot afternoon. Perfect! I thought the wading might be harder on Beep, but he's holding up fine. Yahoo!
He's actually moving water.
Submarine Noodle. He had to swim quite a bit, but it doesn't seem to bother him!
Still king of the water!
Noodle not looking evil!
After we walk I take them on a short jaunt on the Weiser River trail to dry off. The evil Noodle disappeared for 30 minutes! I put all the other dogs in the Yukon with the ac on and went back out calling like crazy. Drove down the road/driveway that is next to the trail, calling. Got out where it starts to split and called and called. I was starting to get worried. I had seen a coyote farther down the trail in the spring and thought maybe it had gotten the Noodle. Just as I was really starting to panic, here he comes, tongue hanging to his knees, ready to go home. Shithead!
Luckily Noodle had done some good stuff, like being a good boy running with William at our county fair. Well one run was good, the other one he pooped. Brought back memories of Zach and Rosie. Ha! They were stinking adorable in obedience! Noodle heeling so nicely on leash, looking jaunty with William. Noodle got a bit stressed for showmanship, which is in a building. Don't know why, but he did. William did a good job handling him. Next year William moves on to his own dog. I'll miss this team. Noodle will have a year off, then a girlfriend will take over. Nat and Biff can get him to sit and down for a treat. Very cute too!
William never thought the medal was supposed to go on him:)
So cute!
I have to brag on Maddy! The difference from this year from last was remarkable! She really stepped up her game. Her and Dev looked like a team starting to come together. The had some bobbles in agility and obedience, but give them time and they'll be hard to beat. Last year in showmanship with her goats and dogs, she would space out, forget to switch sides, just wasn't sharp. This year she was on it! There still room for improvement, but wow! She had a market goat this year and she showed the legs off that guy. She did not look like a nine year old when she made it into the meat goat showmanship championships against two girls who are in high school. Go Maddy! She was a bit off her game for dog showmanship, but managed to make it into the championship round. She pulled it out, with a super smooth pattern and was reserve champion! Yahoo! I'm so proud of her! Go Maddy!
Reserve champion showman with Dev.
She was also reserve champion dairy goat and reserve champion dairy goat showman.
A little before and during fair week I decided to buy a new to me horse trailer, sell my old horse trailer, the sheep that I work sold and I delivered them. Sheesh! Kept this Nana hopping. Because the sheep sold, Rooster has had some time off. He was a great help sorting, loading and unloading. The sheep weren't to hard to load because we had been hauling them all over the ranch. The second cutting of alfalfa came off, so I took Rooster out to see how far he could outrun. Using the irrigation pivot towers to calculate distance the longest one we got was 800 yards. That's almost half a mile. I could barely see the sheep! Rooster had set them there, but had taken a dip in the ditch, then joined me on the walk to the other side of the field. I had him get in the ditch again, then sent him. It was a beautiful pear shaped outrun. He came in plenty deep behind his sheep and brought them all the way to my feet. Epic in my book! If I set the sheep with Poppet and send him, he struggles some and I have to help him, but he did find them and bring them. When I set them with Poppet, it was about 500-600 yards. So, I was brave and sent off an Open entry for the Trailing of the Sheep trial in October.
Come out sheepies, it's time to play!
Also during fair week, this happened.
Beckit
This is me picking up Beckit a six month old border collie. I saw this girl as a pup and really wanted her for some reason. I don't even like girl dogs! She's by a dog that I've liked for a long time named Walter, who is a half brother to Rooster. Walter is more on the cow end of things. Walter and Beckit's mom live in Canada and work cows for a living. She's with me on a trial basis for now, so we'll see. So far she gets along with everyone.
Beckit
She's about 18" tall and 26.5 pounds
Mom and Dad
Click to viewThis was before I got her. Thinks sheep might be tasty.
Beckit looking at cows
Grlfriends