Teaching the Musher - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!!!

As you may already know (and if you don't, where have you been, my goodness, keep up peoples!) I'm teaching the Musher how to herd sheepy sheeps.

Yes, yes, I flunked out of the Alta-Peet Stockdogs school of herdy herding, but it was a lifestyle choice really.  I had a higher calling to herd Pretty Curly Tails, but whatever, the Musher started going to her friend's house and they have sheepy sheeps, and they have herdy dogs, and she seemed interested in the whole process, and she also likes whistling really loud, so seeing her interest in the job I figured I'd oblige her by giving her some training.

Frankly, I hope she loses interest in this soon because I'm the one doing all the running around, but I can't resist giving her something fun to do.

Anyhooooooo, so we went out to a real field the other day.  It seemed as though she was ready for that next step.  You start out doing it in a small field because if the sheepy sheeps go all wackadoodle and run off... well, that's never a good thing

Photo: Alamy

Instead of going big, we went small, with a nice bunch of sheepy sheeps.  I didn't want to overwhelm the Musher on her first big field event.

It's ok Musher, they're very nice sheepy sheeps, they won't stomp on you

I had a talk with Manny, Frankie, Lou, Nelly, and Lucinda and told them to go easy on the Musher, as she was new to all of this.  Then I took the Musher aside and told her that she would do just fine, just lay off the "down" stuff.  Even though it's a big field, things still poo on it, and I'm not laying down in poo.

So I started them off for a leisurely run to get some real estate between them and the Musher, just to see if she remembered the whole "come here" command.

Beautiful grouping guys, but don't make it too easy on her!

The Musher is having a LOT of difficulty remembering to say Come-Bye or Away to Me because she's so used to Gee and Haw.  When that happens, I just glare at her.

Seriously?  Gee?  Do we not remember our sheepy commands?

Sometimes I just can't help myself and just take over... I mean I don't want to go chasing the sheepie things when she lays out a Walk Up while the sheepies things are running full tilt bozo in the opposite direction.  The Musher gets a bit frustrated when I take over, and I try really hard to let her make mistakes, but eeesh.

Watch out Musher!  Don't walk in front of the sheepie things, they'll smoosh you!

She gets frustrated too, so when that happens, I ask the gang to cut her some slack, and hopes she remembers the "There" so I can "Walk Up" and move the sheepie things at her.

Ok, seriously?  How much closer do you want them, and NO, I'm not laying down, there's a bug on the ground here

She also likes to have things "just so" and all perfect.  I guess she's never heard "close enough for sheepy things work", so I asked Manny to step on her foot.

There!  Um... how about a "That'll Do?"  I'm thirsty you know

She did very well today, despite some challenges, and I think she has a lot of potential, if she can forget all of those mushing commands, but I have a feeling that this winter, she's going to be out on the training trail and TOTALLY freak out the team by yelling COME-BYE!!!

That'll be fun to watch.

- Bet

RAGBRAI Rebuttal - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

I just thought that I would clarify a little something the Musher posted on her first edition of her Blogging 'bout the Bikes edition of her RAGBRAI adventures.

She said that Shelly RAGBRAI Minion and Helen (back to smelling like cookies) Handler insisted that the Musher needed a bike with a basket for me for next year.

The caption said that we both said "NO" about the baskets.  Well, that is true.  Baskets on the front of the bicycle are NOT satisfactory for my needs.

In the first place, there is no protective cover on them.  The sun would just beat down on my sensitive head and bake me!  Plus, I'd be all in the front of the bike while all manner of icky bugs and pokey pokey beady eyed birds and creatures smacked me right in the face!  These baskets are also very small, and my whole body would get crampy trying to sit in one of those for hours and hours!

No, a basket on the front will not do at all!

I prefer something more roomy, stylish, protective from the sun, elements, and bugs (euw)... something like this:

Check this out!!!  Plenty of room to lounge and relax, covered from the sun and elements, with a nice screen to let the wind ruffle my furs, but keep the icky bugs out!  This particular model not only hooks to the back of a bicycle, but it also doubles as a stroller, so the Musher can roll me out to the dog yard, or out to the truck before our car rides to Starbucks.  I think it is cost effective in that a bike basket can only be used for bike rides, but this little gem has many uses!

Another reason why I didn't join the Musher for RAGBRAI 2013 is because she told me that it was just a bunch of peoples riding their bikes across Iowa.  Um... ok, I'll pass, thank you very much.  There was no mention of the parties, the camping out, the shopping of wonderful ensembles, or the non-stop tasty foodables!  Oh no, there was no mention of this from a certain someone (ahem), otherwise I would have used my savings to purchase the Bet-mobile and gone along.

Not only would I have been a participant, but I would also have served a valuable service to the whole RAGRAI organization!  I heard that sometimes the peoples were confused about where things were and what time they needed to show up, or they couldn't find Mr. Pork Chop.  This is where having a Border Collie would have been invaluable to the organization.

Nothing gets people moving in the right direction like a well trained herdy dog such as myself.  I am fluent in Pretty Curly Tail, cat, baa baa sheepie thing, and human herding, although there is some controversy over the baa baa sheepie thing herding... shut up!

My herdy skills would come in handy especially when foodables were involved, and there would probably be extra points for penning bike riders!

I encourage each of you to insist that for the 2014 RAGBRAI that I be brought in as an executive people herdy consultant.  I will only accept fully paid transportation to and from the event, a free Bet-mobile, and free food throughout for me and my assistant, the Musher.

Get on that peoples!

- Bet

Dear Ms. Jenny - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!!!

Recently I received this lovely e-mail from Ms. Jenny.  I lived at Ms. Jenny's until I found my calling with the Pretty Curly Tails.

Dear Bet,
Your grandnephew, Try, who is all of 3 months old, turned on to sheep today and bossed them around pretty good.

 Don't you feel just a little bit ashamed? :)

Love,
Jenny

PS I'm glad you found a second calling training up the PCT.

Here is my response to Ms. Jenny

Dear Ms. Jenny,

I'm very proud that my grandnephew, Try, likes bossing around the baa baa sheepie things (until they show their evil selves and attempt to stomp him with their stompy stompy hoove things... and stuffs and he changes his mind).

I am still enjoying my job here at North Wapiti Kennels and am staying in peak shape with my custom NASCAR snow race track:




I am also in the process of inventing a new form of transportation that will take the world by storm!  Not only is it energy efficient, clean for the environment... well, there is some exhaust emissions that need to be scooped up with a shovel, but it is also very comfy and warm.  I do hope that when we celebrate the grand opening of our new show room that you come join us for some waffles and shrimp, and test drive the new "Baa Baa Sheepie Thing Utility Vehicle" (BBSTUV)!


Love - Bet

Preparing for a walk on the wild side - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

I'm glad you enjoyed the Musher's pictures from the Cramplings' first walk in the woods.

I'm pretty sure it just looks like the Musher opens the Crampling pen gate and off they go, but that's not all that happens.

There's a lot of preparation time that goes into making sure they are ready for their first woodlands adventure.

Cricket has to go secure the perimeter to make sure there's nothing icky, stompy, quilly, bitey, stingy, or poke your eye outy lurking in the woods.

While she's doing that, I have to go in and give the Cramplings their safety check briefing and instruct them on the proper way to run willy nilly through the forest.  It's neither willy, nor nilly, but all a carefully orchestrated plan like those high speed jet thingies that do tricks do, but they make it look so easy.

First off, I provided the Cramplings with strict instructions that they must always stay in front of me, as I am a professional herdy type dog and it's my job to make sure they are properly herded to and from the wooded play areas.

No... Cramplings... in front of me.... you're suppose to be in front of me, always in front of me.  The only time you should be behind me is if Cricket gives out a warning of something icky and then you follow me to safety... at a high rate of speed.

No... NO... I'm not going to carry you to the woods, not, get off me, I'm not a pony!  You have to run to the woods... IN FRONT OF ME!

OHMYGAH OW, seriously?  You have an entire woods full of things and you chew on me... really?  Ok, I think we've had enough fun now... yeah, loads of fun, but we need to get back home for something... or other... no really, now let go of my lip.

Um... hello?  What part of IN FRONT OF ME... Cricket?? Why aren't you up front looking for icky things that may lurking up ahead, do I have to do EVERYTHING??

No, it's fine, no need to thank me for taking you out today, it's my job, no really, no need to show your appreciation by chewing on my head, oh geez.

FINALLY a few seconds of rest before I have to help the Musher with dinner... I hope it's pasta and shrimp again.  zzzzzzzzzzz

- Bet

About Yesterday... - Bet

I want to thank all of you for your support during my ordeal with the baa baa sheepie things yesterday (if that's what they REALLY were).

The only thing I have to say about that whole fiasco is this....

... is it me or is there an uncanny resemblance here... just sayin

- Bet

....And Little Lambs Eat Ivy....

Bet and I headed across the valley today to have coffee with our friend Lisa.
Lisa was the one that brought Bet here to North Wapiti and she owns Border Collies, so she is one cool person according to my freaky little Border Collie. The fact that Lisa also owns a flock of sheep is something Bet chooses not to think about.

I hadn't seen Lisa in months so it was great to catch up, meet her new pup Flint....

Isn't he cute??? He is actually Bet's nephew.

 ...and see all her new lambs!!!

Cute, eh??? Bet wasn't convinced. In fact, she was convinced this one was giving her 'the eye'...

I didn't bother to mention to Bet that he was less then two weeks old and she probably outweighed him.


While we were there I thought it would be a good opportunity for Bet to show off her wonderfully amazing herding abilities.....

"What????"

"Is she serious?????"

"Away to me what??"

"Besides, I don't see any sheep???"

Bet, they are right behind you.

"Yeah, no, sorry....I don't see anything"

Oh Bet for goodness sake....you are a working line border collie.

"Ummmm, I think you have me mistaken for someone else".

That'll do Bet, that'll do.

*sigh*

The Story of ME - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies,

By special request from the Facebooks, its the story of ME!

Well, actually, the story of me was told long ago by my former home.  I'm an Alta-Pete Border Collie, one of THE bestest types of Border Collies (if I do say so myself).  Although Scott and Jenny were really nice and all... they had such high expectations for baa baa sheepy herdy dogs like myself.  They actually expected us to... herd sheep!  No really... I KNOW! 

Baa baa sheepy herding competition is really stressful!  Its not like I was just out there moving sheepie things around and stuff, they expected us to herd them all where they told us to herd them and used some weird lingo like "on by"... what?  Or "away to me"... well, what is it?  You want me to go away, or come to you????

On top of everything else, baa baa sheepie things not only smell like wet blankets ALL THE TIME, but Scott and Jenny wouldn't let me wear fashionable matching ensembles out in the field.  no really... I KNOW!!!!  There's this whole thing where we're suppose to lay on the grass to "hold" the sheepie things and the grass is all wet and it smells like sheepie thing stuffs and things and euw euw!!!  I gotta lay in cold, wet, wet blanket smelly grasses without so much as a slicker or perhaps cape with matching booties?

It was dreadful!!  Plus the other Border Collies made fun of me.

Luckily, right about the time when the family decided that I was "washed out" of competitive baa baa sheepie herding, the Musher reached out to a friend, who reached out to her friend, and then a few weeks later once I hitched a ride over to North Wapiti, I knew this is where I was needed.

I wrote my letter of resignation, traded my sheepie herdy collar for an official North Wapiti collar (which I've since traded in for my stylish purple collar with gold accents and name plate that goes with my array of scarves) and have never looked back.

Scott and Jenny were glad that I found something I liked to do and even posted some FABulous pictures of me.  They also did a blog post about the various and sundry other non-herdy Border Collies that found new careers (including myself).

Oh sure, I miss the ol gang and all, but North Wapiti is my home and I wouldn't trade it for all of the waffles in the world... well... no, no I wouldn't.

- Bet

Exciting Stuffs... and Things... - Bet

Howdy ho everybodies, its me... Bet... sigh.

First off, I'm sorry it took me so long to post the exciting stuffs and things like I said I would... I had some problems to take care of.

Secondly... the Musher is going to be pretty mad at me, but I'll explain that at the end of my post...

The really fun and exciting thing is the new E-Bay ™ auction that the photographer minion is running for the Musher to help with Iditarod monies and stuffs!  EVERYTHING MUST GO!!!

These are really cool, and personal items that the Musher has been dragging around like a hoarder... I mean been saving and cherishing... yeah that part... for a while and she is now ready to part with them to make someone happy!

You won't find these cool items anywhere... well, you may find them other places, but NONE OF THEM came from the Musher herself and most are autographed... so there!

Check this out!!!

This is "Fire lit musher" SIGNED by the famed Alaskan artist Jon Van Zyl... yes THE Jon Van Zyle!!!!  It could be yours... if the price is right.

AND THIS!!!

This is Musher mail!!!  This got carried by the Musher and the Pretty Sled Dogs back in 2005... ok, so that was a horrible Iditarod, so it got warm and squishy on the trail and the Pretty Curly Tails got all overheated and sickly and it just sucked and everything, but ... but... THIS WAS CARRIED ON THE IDITAROD TRAIL AND STUFF!  It was probably all sweated on by the Musher and the Pretty Curly Tails and stuff!  Its signed!

Ok, how about this one... you won't be able to resist this one:

Its the Musher's mittens!!!!  SERIOUSLY!!!  Look at all of the Pretty Curly Tail fluff all over those bad boys!  I drooled on them too!  There's some serious Border Collie drool all over those things, and that alone is worth a gazillion bucks!

Just go check out all of the cool things going on in that auction, think of the history of these items... or something...

Ok, the second other thing we're getting ready for is a Memorial Page thingie.  We've had some peoples that wanted to sponsor a Pretty Curly Tail, but they all got snatched up quickly... we've had others want to help the Musher and Pretty Curly Tails in memory of a loved one... which is really nice and it made me all verklempt and stuffs.  So I'm trying to get the lazy cartoonist to get moving on the Memorial page... it'll be really nice and all and a place for peoples to post a picture and write a little something about a loved one.  I'll post more about it when the cartoonist wakes up from her Nyquil coma and gets coding.

Now... about that other thing that I mentioned earlier and I was hoping all of you had forgotten, but I'm pretty sure if I didn't mention it, some peoples would be asking... so... ok, this is just between all of you and me... don't tell the Musher, but we've had an issue with the baa baa sheepy thing herdy bunnies.

I have like a whole month to figure out something, so just don't tell the Musher... ok?

ugh

- Bet