I have been doing some serious thinking about Thea, and her strong desire to work, which you can see in this video:
I feel that it isn't fair for me to keep suppressing her desire to work, and my horses are starting to take after her; she got kicked by Pistol the other day, and Mesa was striking at her today. So I mentioned to one of my Saskatchewan friends that I would consider letting her go to a working home.... and she got a hold of her friend Wendy Schmaltz, who happens to be the breeder of Thea's sire and owner of her grandsire. Wendy is the breeder of several of the top trials dogs in Canada, and after seeing this video, called and we made a deal on her. Thea will be leaving in November, hopefully for a life of working to her heart's content. Although I will really miss her, I feel that it's in her best interests to move on.
Beamer got in a bit of a wreck the other day, when I went down to feed he was moving funny and I saw that he had a swollen left front leg and a swollen sheath. (He was walking like a kid with a full soggy diaper!)
He also had dirt all over his back. To be on the safe side, he got a shot of fast acting penicillin, and a tetanus shot. I did find some scrapes on his sheath, one is visible in the photo. So after some CSI work, I found a spot where he had rolled and I figure he had gotten himself cast up against a fencepost and probably had a hind leg on each side of it, hence the trauma to his sheath, and I figure he banged his front leg with a hind or even with his other front. Cold hosing the leg really helped, by the next day it was fine. The sheath swelling is going down, it's about half the size now. I did watch to make sure he could pee properly.
I lost my kitty Pearl the other day too. She lived upstairs and never came down to socialize, and if you went upstairs she would hide. I found her laying partly under the bed, so I picked her up. She was clearly dying, too weak to move more than her eyes and very faint meows. I held her for the next hour and she died in my arms. No idea why she died, she was just 7 years old.
Pretty Pearl, shortly after we got her
Speaking of cats, kitty Boo has been gone for nearly a week, I sure hope he comes back.
8 comments:
Farm life is tough on animals. We lost a cat this fall too. Not sure what happened it was a busy day around here and so we don't know if he got in someones vehicle or by a coyote. I wish we knew.
Probly for the best for Thea to go where shes not in trouble all the time sounds like a good place for her. Are you gonna get another one border collie?
I don't think I'll get another one, unless someone has one that doesn't want to work, so definitely not a puppy. Maybe an older dog. We'll see.
The desire to work is very strong and has to be channeled somehow...sheep,cattle, chickens, a frisbbee or a ball...if not they are not happy. When Chance was Theas age we played ball for hours every day and were thankful when we got company:) I hope she is happy in her new home , she listens so well to you, you did good!
Happy Birthday to your beautiful Tess!
I am sorry about your Pearl she was so pretty...and I hope Boo comes back.
Unless I wanted a dog to move my horses every day, it would drive me crazy to have a dog constantly wanting to. I admit in some of your other videos I've noticed Thea and though, "Omygosh that dog, does she ever quit?" It's amazing to see such drive built into a breed on purpose, and that she listens to you so well despite her drive.
That Thea sure is a dog on a mission! She should be very happy working, bet you miss her a lot more than she misses you. So sorry about Pearl, at least she was being held and loved as she passed. Poor Beamer, I hope he gets better fast. Things sure do run in groups don't they? I truly hope that Boo realizes what side his bread is buttered on and gets back quickly, and that a happier time is ahead.
I've been thinking about Pearl and I almost wonder if it was a heart issue. Her passing sounds very similar to a Siamese cat we had and when they did the necropsy that was the result.
While I'm sorry Thea is moving I do give you kuddos for doing what's right for her :)
Happy birthday to Tess! Poor Beamer. And, I’m so sorry about Pearl. She was beautiful. That is big of you to think of Thea’s best interest. I’m sure she’ll enjoy the work. Still, I hope it’s not too hard when you let her go.
I read the follow up post about Boo. Yay!!! Happy Halloween! Hope Beamer heals up quick!
I'm so sorry about Pearl :-/. Probably a good call on Thea. I met Wendy at the Bluegrass a few years ago - she did a demo for us at the Ky Sheep and Fiber Festival the first year. I enjoyed visiting with her and liked how she worked her dogs. Small world :-).
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