It was 26 below this morning on the thermometer by the kitchen window, 36 below at a neighbor's. I suspect the temperature in the barn, which is down the hill from the house, was somewhere in between. Good grief. I was born in Arizona, and the concept that it is MUCH warmer in the freezer compartment of my refrigerator than it is outside just doesn't compute. It seems so very, very wrong. Lassie couldn't handle it at all. I took her out this morning, hoping she could urinate or defecate in seconds, but she stood outside for a few seconds and than ran inside and pooped on the dining room floor. She looked up at me while she did so as if she was concerned about what she was doing.... Am I being problematically anthropomorphic for thinking she felt unease about going in the house? (She has Read More
Willie versus Redford, Round 3
What a difference a day makes. Here's what happened late last week between Will and Redford: Yep, that's Willie running away. He ran back about five feet, then turned and walked back toward Redford, with me encouraging him. For reasons I don't understand, this time Redford turned and walked away. And here's what I really don't understand. After that, every time, Will has won every interaction. Will walks forward with confidence, and Redford turns tail (now you know where that phrase came from!). I simply don't know exactly what transpired between the two of them, but Will's posture is now one of confidence as he approaches Redford. Only once, a few days later, did Redford turn to face Wilie and challenge him, and Will stood his ground, opened his mouth and snapped at the ram's face. Read More
Willie versus Redford, Round Two; “Power” in Herding Dogs
This morning I tried to get a good photo of Redford confronting Will, but failed miserably. That's great news... I couldn't get the photo because every time Will walked within twenty feet of Redford, the ram turned and walked away. I did take a few photos, but my battery died so I can't upload them for you. I'll send some before the end of the week, of Will and sheep, and hopefully, of Snickers new lambs, if she ever, finally, gives birth. (We are calling her Explodo-Ewe at the moment.) Truffle's little white lamb is filling out like a champ. He's got all the milk to himself and is growing like crazy. He has started what I call "popcorn" play, which is pretty much like it sounds. First there is a lamb standing still, then there's a lamb leaping straight up into the air. Except in Read More
Willie works on his courage
It's been a busy weekend at Redstart Farm. The weather was cold, cold and windy, then rainy and windy, then just plain cold this morning at one below. But the snow melted enough so that it's not too deep to work Will on sheep, so Friday, Saturday and Sunday Will and I got to work together. We hadn't worked in quite awhile, the snow being far too deep for so long, and the month off appeared to have changed the relationship between Will and Redford, the ram. A few months ago the ram confronted Will and Will did exactly what he should have: when Redford walked straight up to Will and sniffed his face, Will lunged forward and air snapped, just enough to back Redford off and take charge. However, on Friday afternoon, things were different. This time Redford put his head down and charged Read More
You can teach an old dog new tricks, The Diane Rehm Show
Here's a question for you, based on a column I'm writing for The Bark magazine. The editors asked if I'd write a column about "training old dogs." (The column on training male versus female dogs will be in the next issue... stay tuned!). The question: how does your training vary (or does it?) once your dog becomes geriatric? I've started the column already: "Lassie doesn't sit anymore, at least, not when asked." I'm basing this introduction on the fact that about six months ago, my 15 year old Lassie looked at me blankly when I asked her to sit. She's going deaf, so I thought perhaps she didn't hear me. I gave her our usual visual signal. Nothing. Then I lured her down with a piece of food. She looked up at my eyes and stared at me. And rather than trying any longer, I thought: "Oh, I Read More
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