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.

“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.

Just Waiting for the Word

Okay, Let’s Move It

That Direction

Turn Right, Turn Right, Now!

Get Back Where You Belong

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.

“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.

My glimmering dream is that we will find all my tools and get them together in the tool chest.  Somehow tools walk away and hide in the chaos.  Second glimmering hope is that I will find all my dog stuff and also find a way to keep it together.  You may ask how much dog stuff one can have — well, not counting the crates which breed in the garage when I’m not looking — there are training bags, aluminet shade cloths, an easy-up and an umbrella shelter, grooming equipment, all the breeding and whelping supplies (I’ll keep those handy because I really hope to need them in mid-October).  I have leashes, collars — I could open my own pet supply store.

I think if I can clear out of the garage all the “stuff” I can live without for a month, I will feel so much more in control.  I also brought home a bunch of empty boxes and am going to begin packing up books, the good china — things that are only used on occasion.  I don’t think I’ll take them to storage — just stack them in a corner and move them with the furniture.  However, I might move some of the kitchen stuff that has been in storage into the house and put it in the cabinets and drawers.  The new house has at least double the cupboard space I have here.  That all depends on what kind of messy stuff I have done at the new house before the move.

It’s a plan — and I will feel far more in control.

The word from the east — Susan called this evening.  Chase worked ducks last night and this evening. Tonight he worked off the line and Susan said he was “herding”. He has a very solid STOP (makes Susan happy), and has learned to turn the ducks to take them in different directions, he always picks up stragglers. She is very pleased with him. So, he’s halfway through the first week and hasn’t yet been sent packing.

Holmes is back from Topeka and I think he’ll be out of the show ring for a while.  He is so skinny though he usually eats like a pig.  He’s also sure that Leidy is still in season though she tells him it ain’t so!  We’re signed up for a Beginning Novice class and hope to visit some sheep for herding lessons.  Once I have my new-house-act together, I may add ducks so everyone can have the sort of fun Chase is enjoying.

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.