projects come together — or so I’ve heard. I think perhaps I’ve had an alignment or two too many. If it weren’t for Susan and Cheryl’s Chase-herding stories and photos, I probably would not have blogged for the past three weeks.
Yes, I think there is a deadline to get the VST premium to AKC — and I think it’s now; the guys working on the house are doing a lovely job BUT need to call me at least half a dozen times a day and yesterday I had to “run” down there (40 minutes each way). The move to the new office went well except I still can’t find everything; I must pack at home so I can move –really? The moving fairies aren’t going to take care of it? Holmes and I are in an Obedience Class — it could have waited, but it’s my break for the day. He is still firmly planted in conformation and thinks sitting is evil. It would also be nice if he came when called (at something other than break-neck speed with a leap to lick my face).
Inca comes to work everyday because I am keeping her separate from Leidy still — just can’t handle a repeat dog fight. She loves being at the office with all those people for whom she can care. What a funny red girl she is.
If Leidy is pregnant, her puppies are due October 19th or 20th. I have a Federal trial set in Santa Fe beginning on October 18th (which is the day after the VST test for which I’m secretary). My Los Lunas vet has agreed that Leidy can come to day care while I’m in trial — just in case she decides it’s time to have her puppies (I hope there are puppies). I think I’ll have to make arrangements with one of his vet techs to get the dog to him/her before the clinic opens and get her back after it’s closed because the drive to Santa Fe is two hours from Los Lunas. All the motions, witness lists, jury instructions are due this week.
I’m really not sure how this all happened at once. I need to look at the stars tonight and see if they are aligned. If Amy hadn’t used “Crazy Cardiness” for her Blog name, I’d be taking that one.
Insanity is a way of life.
Tonight’s report from Susan.
“Well, I did finally get to work Chase tonight on ducks. I didn’t think I would be able to, but I got done putting up the first two panels of fence before dark. Chase did fine working the ducks. I got down on one knee several times to praise him and he really got off on that. He was able to put the ducks away – and actually helped. That got him more praise.”
Yep! I’m going to have to get him some ducks of his own. Inca also likes to herd, so it’s probably a great investment. When we were kids, my grandmother used to buy us (we were seven strong) a pass to the nearby swimming pool. That was everyone’s birthday present for the year. Ducks may be the group gift at the new house.
Susan emailed me these photos (taken by Cheryl). I am so happy for my boy who is having a blast. Go Chase! Thank you, Susan and Cheryl — it’s almost like being there!
Just Waiting for the Word
Okay, Let’s Move It
That Direction
Turn Right, Turn Right, Now!
Get Back Where You Belong
Susan put Chase on some of her mama sheep who’ve not been herded in months. She reports that he slowed when asked, stopped when asked, fetched to her (an acknowledgment FINALLY that he and she are a team). When he put too much pressure on the flock and one bolted he was prompt to cover and bring it back. He drove them at a walk. Wonderful progress for a boy that has now been herding for a week. I’m having trouble believing he’s been gone only a week because it seems like months. Susan says he works pretty well with the ducks, but understands what herding sheep is about — the Chaseman is definitely a sheepman.
Photos tomorrow.
adding Cheryl’s comments received this morning:
I was incredibly impressed with how Chase worked. He IS yielding to Susan, but occasionally reluctantly. Completely understandable and expected. What amazed me is how much he was willing to yield after just a week’s worth of being together. I think it was fortuitous that Treasure came into heat upon meeting Chase so that Chase went to Susan’s house–or else we would NOT have seen this much progress this quickly. I love Chase’s enthusiasm and drive toward the sheep. Wonderful! AND you can easily see how having the obedience work and title make him much more respectful to the handler. Really, really nice work.
Actually, it’s a Susan report, but Chase has implanted his imprimatur:
“Just got done with herding ducks. Chase did a better job than yesterday. I think he prefers driving to fetching, at least with ducks. Probably because he isn’t my dog, but it may actually be a preference. That will make Advanced MUCH easier. He is yielding to me, but doesn’t ‘get’ it yet. That is fine. I had LOTS of opportunity to praise him today. He was grinning when we quit.
I figured he would have an easier time of it today and he did.”
That’s what we like to hear — our boy is grinning, having fun, and making progress. Tomorrow and Monday he’s back on sheep. So, more later.
Next week the Daily Corgi will have a Cardigan Carnival — all week. Send your favorite Cardi photos to Laurie (the inventor and editor of this great blog) at thedailycorgi@gmail.com. The blog has been overrun with Pems and it’s time to make a change! Even if your dogs have already been featured as the “Corgi of the Day”, Laurie hopes to see their smiling faces again.
Here is what happens to Chase when Susan gives him a massage — note the tongue. I’d say that is one very relaxed dog! I want to be next!
Following the meet and greet at the Atlanta Show yesterday, Cheryl and Susan packed up Treasure and Kearney and Chase to head home to the Knoxville area. Treasure picked yesterday to begin her first season, so plans were quickly reconfigured and Chase went home with Susan. He loves Kearney (who is about the same age as Holmes) and they played until Susan decided it was time for some work.
Chase had his first herding lesson yesterday, and this is what Susan said, “I did take Chase out on the sheep. I had to doctor my lambs (worm them). I let Kearney have all the fun of holding them to me while I doctored them. Afterward, I sorted some out, put Chase on a long line and entered the round pen with him. He got to sit at both gates – he thought that was a HUGE waste of time. Then I let him work the sheep for a bit. He was only allowed to approach them at the proper speed, but was praised for covering when a sheep tried to bolt. I remember he was startled a couple of times when I praised him, but I don’t remember what he was doing (I think it was covering sheep at a fast pace). All in all, he did a very good job. Lots of intensity, lots of drive, really good instinct. I am pleased ”
If Susan is pleased, you can bet your boots that I am. Soon we’ll have photos of Chase, tongue hanging out, big smile on his face — working with the sheep. I am so relieved that he didn’t wash out of Camp on the first day.
That rascally Chase has landed in Atlanta. Susan and Cheryl reported that he simply looked at them from his shipping kennel, but when they said his name, he acknowledged that they must be friends. Cheryl has already been the object of a Chase kiss. Tomorrow he will be at the shows to say hi to all his old friends and to meet some new ones.
Okay, I’m Here!
Photos (and herding videos) will be posted as he gets settled in after the shows.
Scout Puts the Moves on Chase
Best seat in the House
Thanks to Carol for the Scout and Janet photos.
Miss you, funny boy!
My Chase.
We visited Dr. Larry this morning. Chase weighed in at 37.4 pounds, was declared disgustingly healthy. Dr. Larry issued him a Hall-Pass. We sent off some blood for a Brucellosis test. Chase spent the rest of the day at my office, racing down the steps to greet everyone who came in. Matt brought his little rescue Chihuahua “Lola” to work. She was afraid of Chase, so he laid on the floor as flat as he could get, trying to entice her to play with him. He napped on the loveseat in my office and curled himself around the legs of my chair. I took him to my friend’s grooming salon. I bathed and dried him, trimmed the hair on his feet and Dremeled his nails. He licked my neck while I brushed him out.
He’ll spend tomorrow at the office — and then — Saturday morning — very early, I’ll take him to Delta Cargo and send him off to Camp Susan. He’ll come home eventually, with new skills and new tricks. Cheryl and Susan will sent photos and videos. I know they’ll love and care for him. We’ll use Skype to talk — so he and I can see each other. But, no matter how frequent the sharing of information about this dog, I will have an empty spot in my home and in my heart. I hope the time passes quickly.
Gwendy decided to jerk my chain so sent the this photo of our darling Darby in costume. Darby, being a true Chase daughter, did not find this particularly amusing.
Inca is alert this morning. She’s walking better (though in obvious pain). She had no problem demolishing her dinner last night or eating a meatball full of drugs this morning. She is at my friend Carolee’s Boarding Kennel/Grooming Salon today. She’s in the Salon ensconced in a big crate. They’ll take her out to the grass a few times today and give her water. Holmes is also at Carolee’s, but he’s in the regular Day Care section. It wasn’t doing him any good to be at home with Leidy in bloom. So, Chase and Leidy are continuing their courtship and I am at the office trying to make some money.
For those that inquired, yes, Chase will be signing autographs at the Atlanta Show. He’s flying in on Saturday. Susan and Cheryl will pick him up at 1:30, and Sunday he will be renewing friendships — look out Janet and Laura and Jeri and Heidi. Chase never forgets anyone that he has met. So even though the 2009 National was long ago and far away, if he sees Laura’s lap, he will head for it. I wish I’d had a camera when he launched himself into her lap in Topeka and flipped over for a belly rub. He then tried to leap high enough to kiss Janet’s chin. Even with his third birthday coming up in mid-October, he’s not moved past the silly stage to regal. Actually, I’m not sure he ever will. I am going to miss my funny boy, but know he will have a blast with the Bluefox family and will love learning to herd.
Well, you could probably get a nice puppy . . . or you could donate to your local ER Vet and pick up one moth-eaten red Cardi girl who picked a fight with her daughter. My kitchen, laundry room, half-bath look like the set for The Chainsaw Massacre. Leidy and Holmes were fine — though covered in Inca’s blood (add on another $100 for their baths today). Chase had not a drop of blood on him nor a hair out of place. I know he cheered them on: “Chick Fight! Chick Fight! Never stop a Chick Fight!”
No fractures, sutures, staples, but shaved spots all over — and Inca is sore. She’s not sore enough to miss a meal, but she’s sore. Poor little girl!
Leidy will visit Dr. Larry tomorrow for a progesterone test (day 5). On Friday morning very early, Holmes will be traveling to Greeley — which is lucky because he has stopped eating and barks all day — “she’s m-i-i-i-n-e”. Monday we will do another Leidy progesterone test. Thursday Chase will have his pre-flight check up because on the 28th (assuming Leidy is bred) he is flying to Atlanta where Cheryl Kienast and Susan Shields will whisk him off to herding camp.
A note to place in the “nobody would do that” category. The ER vet called me at 2:00 AM to tell me they’d not yet had a chance to clean up all of Inca’s wounds. Did I need to know that at 2:00? So, I couldn’t go back to sleep. I am cranky!
Just in from Washington State is this photo of the handsome boy Deuce. The Chase/Magic puppies are four months old today. They are growing up happy and healthy. Eric is going to show Deuce himself — I think he’s going to have a lot of fun in the ring.
This is one cute girl! She’ll be four months old on Thursday and needs to go to a home where she’ll play in the conformation ring as well as in the back yard. Her personality and temperament are a pleasurable combination of Chase’s and Magic’s; her side gait is lovely. If you have an interest in this girl, use the “email penni” link under “About Me” and I’ll put you in touch with Paula and Eric who bred this litter. Both parents are OFA certified — Chase’s health test results are available on his web site.
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