More Snow! Yippee

What do you know? We woke up this morning and we had snow! That is really amazing, since last night when we went to bed everything was dark and dreary, and this morning it is white and fluffy.






I love snow because it brings out all the great smells outdoors, and I can usually find a critter to dig up. They probably think they are safe under that snow, but they don't know the power of my nose.







Ruby loves the snow too, and so do Sandi's horses. They snort and get silly. Willy is a thoroughbred gelding who is 27 years old now. He wears a blanket to stay warm.

A lucky day for me!

It is always a good sign when Sandi loads me in the car in the morning to take me to the barn. Chances are really good that it means when the horses are fed and the barn chores are done, I will get to track! It was a beautiful morning with a blue sky and a little breezy.

We met my BFF Niamh at Rob and Ann's farm - they are great to let us track in their fields anytime we want. They have wheat planted but they leave the back portion unplanted for us, and for our police to train dogs, family cookouts, pumpkin slingings, etc.

My track started in some taller grass, which is hard for me because I love to critter. Sandi did that deliberately as a training exercise. This time of year there aren't too many critters around. I have learned that it pays to track on through this grass to the really really good stuff later on (grasshoppers are fun, but not as much fun as steak). My track crossed a farm road which was dry packed dirt. The scent changes here, but I didn't have any trouble following it across the road to the next article.

After crossing the road we headed across a field passing a camping spot with a fire pit which was very interesting. I had to spend some time checking it out because of the good smells. Then it was time to get back to the business of tracking. There are lots of different scents here - we have tons of deer (and deer poop) and coyotes and field nesting birds, the other groups who train, camp or party here, plus my crittering fun (grasshoppers, etc.) - did I mention that Rob has a wood cutting business here? He has piles of hardwood and equipment here by his wood barn. What I wouldn't give to root around checking out critters in that barn!

I love tracking - there is nothing I would rather do (except eat maybe). Special thanks to Niamh's person Barbara who took my photos. What a lucky dog I am!

Niamh had a great track. She followed her track along the edge of the woods without getting drawn into the woods smells. Her person Barbara is a dog trainer by profession (and President of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers - www.apdt.com) That keeps Niamh very busy!

Check out her blog "Setter Tails" at my links section.

Oh Happy Day!

Today has been a wonderful day! Sandi was planning to take the day off from work to celebrate the Inauguration of our new President, and when we woke up this morning we had snow !


It is indeed a Happy Day !


Playing in the snow is fun, but I get ice balls on the hair between my toes (I have hobbit feet, and have large tufts of hair that stick up). The ice didn't stick to my English Shepherd teflon coat. Ruby's hair is different and she got icy dreadlocks. The cats wouldn't dream of going out in the snow....

Montana English Shepherd Rescue operations

Details from the Billings Gazette Dec. 30, 2008 - The Yellowstone County Sheriff's Department executed a second search warrant today at Shady Lane Kennels in Ballantine, MT and is in the process of seizing almost 300 dogs (English Shepherds and Pugs) and other animals.

A veterinarian assisting in the seizure said he saw dogs without food, water or adequate shelter. A team of veterinarians is examining the dogs at a temporary clinic at MetraPark, where the dogs will be housed.

The first warrant was issued Dec. 11, and after a four-hour search, officials took 10 dogs that they thought needed immediate veterinary care and discovered 13 dead dogs on the property. At that time, investigators took photos and video footage of the animals, which prompted the second warrant. The Sheriff's Department is still searching for about 50 to 60 pugs that were at the property during the first raid but were gone when authorities moved in Dec. 30.

For a story Jan. 3 from the Billings Gazette see:
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/01/03/news/local/24-vetdogs.txt

National English Shepherd Rescue (NESR) is working to help with the care and potential placement of the ES involved. For anyone wishing to make donations, NESR is setting up a special Montana Rescue Fund. This fund will help with food, supplies, vet care, transportation, or anything else that might be needed for this rescue effort, including helping other rescue groups that may participate in this rescue effort. Any funds left over after the rescue effort is complete and all the these dogs are in forever homes, will go to rescue other English Shepherds in need.

Click on NESR on my links section or visit www.nesr.info/montana.htm for information about how to make a donation.

This breaks my heart, and Sandi's too.

Ayla

A great way to start the year! Happy 2009!

I had a great day on January 1, 2009. It started out as just another day for me (I don't understand all this New Year hoopla), but then we loaded up the car with my tracking gear and treats and we went tracking!!

We met my friend Niamh and her person Barbara on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus, and Barbara and Sandi laid tracks for us. Even though classes were out and offices were closed for the holiday, there were people walking and pushing strollers through campus.
















My track started on grass and moved onto shredded mulch, then turned onto a brick sidewalk and followed the sidewalk down the side of a big building, then turned again through more mulch and grass - to the final article. It is a very beautiful place, but not as many squirrels as I remembered from other times - bummer.




Tracking is my very favorite thing to do. I'm lucky to have found something that I love to do, and am good at doing. Barbara took some photos of us (she's very smart and brings her camera!) Thanks Barbara! Niamh had a fun time tracking, too. Check out her blog "Setter Tails."

Finally - I am in a "Parade" (and I'm exhausted)

Wow - no one told me how much excitement there was in a "holiday parade." It started out exciting - but I had no idea! I'm really glad I was with my dog and people friends with Paws4Ever (formerly APS of Orange County), because there were a few times it was really nutty with all the clapping and cheering, and the fire truck right behind us honking (he was told he couldn't use his siren!) I wonder what kind of holiday this is? Now I understand why we did so much 'distraction work.' (between you and me, I think people are a little crazy)

These photos are of us at the start of the parade. Sharon was in the dog costume, and we all had to get used to how different she looked! Since we were really busy during the parade, we couldn't get any photos. Jenn's husband Eric took some action shots, so you'll need to go to Royal's blog, and Niamh has some good photos on her blog, too! You can see our other drill team friends Bernie, Elmo, Jib, Vicki, Penny, Amiga, Casper, Hadji, and their people. This was the first parade for Niamh and Royal, too. And now I have my own bandana (thanks Barbara) and I don't have to borrow Ruby's anymore!

Happy Holidays (is this another food holiday?)
Ayla

A Glorious Day

Well, It has been ages since Sandi has taken time to post on my blog. I've been really bored. We haven't tracked because of the snakes and the farmers who let us use their fields have been harvesting wheat, hay, etc. Sandi has been showing my big sister Ruby to finish two Rally titles - I have been neglected....

But now it's autumn in North Carolina, mornings are a little frosty, the colors and smells are amazing and life is good. Sandi went to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (www.apdt.com) conference in Louisville, Kentucky a couple weeks ago, and she brought back all sorts of ideas about playing games with dogs, an interactive dog puzzle game (www.nina-ottosson.com) which is very cool - and a bunch of different kinds/flavors of dog treats.

Sandi has been very excited about an election (whatever that is). She did some work with registering voters (whatever that is). And this past Tuesday she stayed up all night watching television. She felt really happy but kinda lousy Wednesday. I really don't understand humans. I think everyone should Wag More and Bark Less. Anyway, now Sandi is walking on sunshine and she says to check out BarkObamablog.com - a blog for dog and cat lovers who support Obama. I think my cat sister Rose got her photo on a website for Cats for Obama. Is there a website for Dogs for Obama?