Our Relaxing Walk - Bet

"It's a beautiful day today, let's go for a relaxing walk!" Said the Musher.

Um.... relaxing?  You see, none of my walks are relaxing.  As the official herdy herder of the North Wapiti Kennels, I have to herdy herd everyone.  I'm sure Cricket feels the same way.  As the official guardy guarder of North Wapiti Kennels, she has to guard everybodies no matter where they go on the property.  Think of Cricket at the North Wapiti Secret Service, although at 110 pounds of white fur, she's never very secret about anything... frankly she sounds like a tank storming through the brush.

So... the first thing we had to do was wake up KD.  KD has decided that she would much rather be like Bait than be my pet... she still isn't speaking to me since I left her on my Alaska trip and got cozy with Jamie's cat Toby.

I HATE YOU, let me sleep

Once we rounded everybodies up, it was down the driveway for our walk... sorta

Ok everybodies, let's all just mosey down the driveway all nice now

KD, get up, you just had a nap

I CUT YOU!!!!

Sigh... it never ends, does it?

Once I got the crowd all in order, we started our walk.

Ok everybodies, let's walk and you WILL have fun!

You aren't the boss of me

See!  See what I put up with now???

The Musher was all taking pictures of the pretty flowers and enjoying her walk.

I was dealing with this

Bait, KD, you're going the wrong way

THIS WAY!

BAIT!  Not so fast!  

Finally I had to call on security to get the gang in order

Um, just don't stand there Cricket, DO something about this!

See, now was that so hard?

See, we're relaxing, it's very relaxing I DEMAND THAT EVERY RELAX... ok, Bait, that's a bit too relaxed.

um... KD, that's not very relaxing

Where did the Musher go?

I got so busy herding that I lost track of the Musher, who had enough of relaxing and decided to go back home.

Enough of this frivolity, it's time to eat or chase something more interesting

Frankly, after all of that relaxation... I was ready for a nap, because we all know that it is impossible to herd cats:

Of course, I think the obvious solution to their attempts... simply put a few boxes in the Cat Corral.

But hey, what do I know... I'm just a Border Collie.

- Bet

New Neighbours

I hadn't said anything, but I had a bit of a scare with Crunchie this week.

Thankfully a run to the vet proved it not to be the scary thing I thought it was and just a neck injury. Apparently after 11 years of racing/training without an injury or illness, the Old Man wanted to know I cared enough to spend money on him at the vet (as if there was ANY doubt).

The result of it though is that Crunchie has moved to a new place in the kennel.

Let me fill in some background.

None of our spots in the dog yard are 'fixed'. Dogs move to new spots in the yard over the year and their lives. I like them to have new neighours and get to know other teammates well. I think it helps them work harmoniously in harness. That is except for one spot in the kennel, the stakeout closest to the house.

For many years that was the domain of Grover, the best sled dog I've ever run. It's a good spot. You get prime viewing on BAIT TV, can keep an eye on the happenings in the house, are first to be fed, etc., etc. He loved his spot.

After he passed I thought I'd leave it empty for a bit, but that seemed to only make the 'hole' in the dog yard even more noticeable, so Grover's first born son, Crunchie - a young male that had already stolen my heart - moved in. For about 7 years that has been Crunchie's spot.

But with a neck injury, he needed to be off a chain anyway, so it seemed like a good time to admit that he was starting to age (he's 13 next month) and move him up to Geriatric Park.

He's now rooming with fellow 13 year old 'bachelors', Hector and Herman. Introductions were effortless, although Crunchie was not pleased when I walked out of G Park without him and he sat in the corner of the pen closest to the house staring at it with his beady, dark eyes for several hours last night. I could feel them boring into me through the walls. I poured myself a Jack Daniels and turned the TV on.

We don't have many hard and fast 'rules' in the kennel in terms of hierarchy or such, except that Crunchie is always the first fed. So the Seniors were OVER THE MOON delighted to discover that G Park moved to the head of the feeding line as of this morning.

But that left a hole in the main yard...

...many holes, actually, but I was speaking more figuratively!

Anyway, there was much discussion last night throughout the yard as to who that spot belonged to. Grover children, like Wolvie, argued about being next in line to the 'throne', Turtle argued he was Crunchie's first born son, Smartie recruited her Auntie Colleen to plead her case as first born daughter, Tess insisted as 'main leader' she was entitled....it went on and on and on.

In the end, I chose to go with 'tradition' and gave the spot to Crunchie's first born son - Turtle.

Turtle has been strutting around most of the morning humming songs from the Lion King soundtrack and checking out his new digs.

I might have created a monster.

Turtle's spot was claimed by another Crunchie son, Chewy. He's loving all his new neighbours!!!

The yard will likely be buzzing all day as everyone gets acquainted with each other and explains the 'rules' peculiar to each 'neighbourhood' of the dog yard.

Crunchie? Well he is stoned on pain meds and napping away in G Park without a care in the world.

Lessons - Bet

Auntie Bet, the others pick on me, can you teach me some of your ninja moves?

Of course little Pete, it's very, very easy, once you know all of the tricks, first lay on your back and look helpless while I attack you

Now use your paws to shove me away

GACK, right in the throat, very good.  It's hard for your attacker to clamp onto your throat with your feet in their neck

Ok, now I'm going to try to bitey face you,  just swing up into a downward dog position

See how I can't clamp onto your face at this angle?  Now you charge forward underneath me

Oh Petey honey, be careful sweetie, don't hurt the Border Collie thing!  I won't Mom!

Finding a hard surface to back against is a great idea, I can't get to your scruff and you can use it as leverage

Great skulking maneuver, stay low, ears back but you need to get your tail down, that's prime grabbing material there

Ok, so now that I have your scruff, what are you going to do?

Um... I don't know!!!

Pete, Pete!  You just can't stand there, that's when the scruff shaking starts and you'll never get out of it, you have to fall over!

Hey, whatcha doing Auntie Bet!  Can I chew on Pete next?

Ok, so now I have you pinned down, what do you do now?

Hey Auntie Bet, did you hear the dinner bowls being prepared?  Huh?

Oh good one, you distracted me and bounced up for the charge, that's fantastic!  See how easy that was?

Yippee!  You're right!  That was easier than struggling, then screaming for help!

Ok, so let's do it again...

Bitey, Bitey leg got you on your back....

Hey Auntie Bet, I think the Musher said she was making waffles today

Waffles?  Really?

Oh HO!  You got me on that, now I'm coming in for the scruff bite!

Gotcha... now what do you do?

Hold on Auntie Bet, I have an ear scratch...

Fooled you again Auntie Bet!

Oh little Petey, you are getting good at this, I'm very proud of you

Now go chew on Roxie and try out your moves...