You don't take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it.

Portraits of Border Collies.

I love how the photos capture each distinct personality.

Josey

Lucas

Tess - foster BC

Give me the old familiar walk...

 Josey, Lucas and foster BC-Tess-
played at KH over the holiday weekend.

Lots of rain + vernal pools + BCs = happy dogs!

zippy BCs

They are quite the trio.
 :)

Tess is much better - beat the worms and other gastrointestinal bugs.
She's a lot of fun and an easy pup to take care of (not high maintenance).
Good girl!

If worms carried pistols, birds wouldn't eat 'em.

Yup, Tess has worms. 

ick. 

Also watching a minor "cough" she has too.

Sicky puppy.

She's still a cutie pie though.

Photo taken by BCRNC before I picked her up.

This photo will probably be on the BCRNC website 

- as soon as Tess is healthy.

One fish Two fish...

Will this be my first foster fail?

Lucas & Tess napping together

Tess is a lovely puppy.

She knows sit, down, come. 

We're working on stay.

She plays with Lucas. Leaves Josey alone.

Keeps herself entertained with toys

and she fetches them too!

Tess is a little sound sensitive but not a barker.

She rushes towards Lucas & Josey with kisses;

but the BCs don't like that in-your-face slobber

so they've been teaching her about respecting their space.

The pup loves on-leash walks, too.
She's quite well-behaved for her age!

The lady who surrendered Tess said 

she was protective and snarky around men.

Well, that has not been the case at all with me.

Tess was sweet & affectionate with the husband.

Today, she met two more men without incident.

Good girl!

How could you not love this face?!

The heart makes its choices without weighing the consequences.

Fostering a BC pup for the holidays.

I am in love.

Meet Tess. 

9 months old. B/W rough coat. Female.

Look at those pink paws! Look at those eyes!

Smelly dirty girl got a bath before I brought her home.

Quick bath & dry at Wagger

Within minutes of meeting Lucas, 

Tess play-bowed and off they went...

dogzoomin' around and around in the backyard

in the friggin' rain.

She's classic BC temperament and behavior.

She's a beauty.

She's all P-U-P-P-Y!

**sigh**

If you walk, just walk. If you sit, just sit. But whatever you do, don’t wobble.

The Sit Test - Part 1

There is an excellent piece on Dog Star Daily:  The Sit Test. There are 8 different tests:

• Sit on Heel 
• Signal Sit 
• Sit for Examination 
• Sit on Recall 
• Sit-Stay Sit 
• Out of Sight Sit 
• Down-Stay Sit  
• Sit on Hand

In the next few days, I'll try some of these sit tests on Josey & Lucas. Mostly the BCs sit very nicely even during excitement or stress. They know the sit command verbally and via hand signal. Sometimes they lie down as a sit because they are bored, stubborn or indifferent, too. I'll make it a fun learning experience for them (and me, too). The piece provides lots of tips and insights into why your dog my do this or that during sit tests. Entertaining. Enlightening. It's a good read!

A photograph is memory in the raw.

Cell phone cameras don't take the best photos but they are lots of fun!

These photos were actually taken yesterday.

A study of Lucas...

Josey & Lucas stalking each other...

That's my darling Luke. He grins like a baby but bites like a gator.

Today is Lucas' Gotcha' Day!

 

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating;

there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.

Heavy rain and wind overnight gave away to sunshine today.

Absolutely gorgeous...so we hiked out to K.H. and

 Josey & Lucas played their favorite game...

Enjoying it while we can...more rain expected this week!

Follow your honest convictions and be strong.

Addendum to November 30, 2010 post & comments

Have you read The Whole Dog Journal November 2010 issue? In "Cold Hard Facts," WDJ reviewed  twelve (12) frozen raw dog food companies based on two selection criteria: 1) complete and balanced diets and 2) wide distribution (1). Like their dry dog food reviews, WDJ profiles each company, describes their products and adds other helpful information. WDJ also included a discussion about HPP, irradiation and pasteurization or sterilization processes. It's a good read!

The companies [in the review] had very compelling, interesting statements about their manufacturing and food safety programs. Pay attention here...of the 12 companies listed in the review:

• seven (7) companies said they do not use HPP
• three (3) companies were vague 
• two (2) companies said they use HPP 

I can identify additional successful companies that do not use HPP, too. At Around the Dog Bowl, we've blogged about HPP & frozen raw dog food in two posts. This is the last because I'm confident of my own selection criteria and what's important to me for my border collies. I'm sticking with the research and my instincts to stay away from frozen raw dog food products that use any kind of pasteurization, sterilization, irradiation and HPP processes.

Of course whatever, however you feel - it is your own decision to make.

Resources: (1) The Whole Dog Journal November 2010 - "Cold Hard Facts" by Nancy Kerns

Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember.

A trip down memory lane...

with Sam & Josey.

Like two peas in a pod.

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.

Lucas at Glen Highland Farm - 2008

Lucas watching the BCs in the paddocks.

A bargain ain't a bargain unless it's something you need.

Local Shopping Deals
Just for fun...special sales from local independent retail shops (and Amazon). Good time to stock up on essentials and holiday shop for the other dogs in your life! Woof Woof Woof!

Incredible Pets Annual Anniversary Sale

Saturday, December 4, 2010
Incredible Pets
5030 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento, CA
(916) 451-1199
All 4 stores are hosting a blowout 15th Anniversary sale this Saturday:  Auburn, Grass Valley, Carmichael and East Sacramento. 

Christmas Party at Excel K9 Diet's New Store
Saturday, December 11, 2010
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Excel K9 Diet 
12716 Kennedy Flat Road
Jackson, CA
(209) 223-00K9
There will be refreshments (for humans and dogs), hourly drawings for great prizes, and special gifts for all dogs that come to our store that day.  In addition, on that day only, all items in the store (except for Excel K9 and Greentripe products) will be 10% off!  Yup, that's all grain-free kibble, dehydrated raw food, treats, toys, books, supplements, etc. Mini-road trip anyone?!


Amazon 4-for-3 Offer on Dog Toys, Treats and Supplies

It is at the edge of a petal that love waits.

Sam at Twin Bridges near Echo Summit - 2003

I remember this day - crystal clear - like it was yesterday.

Sam lost his footing on slippery rocks
and fell into the fast moving water at Twin Bridges.

Luckily, we were nearby and grabbed him. 

Sam always lived on the edge like that.

Fearless.