About to meet up with some dear friends, and leave for a visit to a Gannet colony, nature center, vineyard and sheep farm, but here's a photo from the Shangri La where Jim and I are staying for a few nights. Ummmmmmm, yes, it really is this gorgeous. Can't wait for the Gannets and the sheep farm, hoping to meet some "Heading Dogs" (a NZ Border collie derivative--do you Kiwis agree with that description?) and Huntaways, an exclusively NZ breed that moves sheep 100% differently than BC's, lots of movement and barking.) Last comments about the seminar: Thanks Karen for bringing me over and being such a great host. And thanks to the participants--what a great group. There were some truly great observers in the audience, we had a truly interesting and fruitful time with the demo dogs, and Read More
Archives for November 2010
New Kiwi Friends
Couldn't resist... here is a flock (should I say mob?) of some of my new Kiwi friends. What a great day we had together! (And thanks Karen for that yummy NZ lamb dinner and for all the good company. Looking forward to tomorrow.... Read More
Wooo Hooo! Made it to NZ
Sheep sheep sheep! Hardly surprising, since there are something like 70 million of them in New Zealand, but still fun to see them, even in a city park, like this one in the middle of the city of Auckland, Cornwall Park. Auckland, by the way, is a gorgeous city, surrounded by water with lots of dormant volcanoes creating hills and valleys everywhere. Karen, my host at Learning About Dogs, took Jim and I on a perfect 3 hour walk this morning with two of her good friends (the human kind) and 6 happy dogs. We walked in a beautiful forest and along a black sand beach (the sand is "recycled" lava). Here's Rupert, Karen's English Pointer, that she rescued a few years ago. All six dogs, a pointer, 2 English Setters, 1 Gordon and 2 Giant Schnauzers, ran themselves silly, and loved Read More
Best Bird, Worst Song
I wrote this before I left for New Zealand, and I hope I can get on line to read the comments about this video. Many of you have undoubtedly seen the video of the now famous Snowball dancing to music on Youtube. Here's another one, which had me practically wetting my pants I laughed so hard. But in all due respect to Will Smith and his daughter, who wrote the song, this is not a piece of music that should live on forever. Watch at least to the middle though, the first part is funny, but about halfway in is when I started to lose it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YuLwJPhvYA MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Oh my, it's so far away--we're on a plane right now (or will be when this posts), flying LA-Auckland, 13 hours. Finally broke down and bought a Kindle--13 hours is a 2 book trip at Read More
The Plays The Thing
Here's a video I'm going to show in New Zealand of Willie, Hope and friend Mico, from this summer. I'm not going to say much about it, because I am curious what words you would use to describe what you are seeing. Watch it a couple of times, and then if you are so inspired, describe the behavior of the two younger dogs. (Willie is the adult BC, Hope is the medium sized young BC, and the other black and white guy, the smallest dog, is what looks like a BC/Bully breed cross, but his genetics are unknown.) I'm especially curious how you describe a few of the things that Hope does..... Can't wait to hear your comments! MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Wheeeee... just a few more days before we go! Lots more to do, but we'll make it. Can't wait til the "drive away from the farm with Willie in Read More