Portrait Gallery, Canine Version
Well, yeah. The week got ahead of me, and boy is that an understatement. I’ve already done some work on a content rich topic that was going to be today’s blog. And then. Well, you know.
But I do have some fantastic news: Maggie’s liver values are back to normal!! No more discussions about the big C for now. She is happy and playful and . . . I even put her in the Stocktoberfest trial at Magic’s Legacy on Sunday and she had a great time. She did a perfectly credible run, although penning was more challenging than usual because she busted in on the sheep at the post when she felt some pressure (she’s almost 13, she gets to wear purple) so the sheep didn’t trust her anymore. A reasonable response. But we got the pen and the “hold” (all hooves immobile on the ground for a few seconds) and I stopped at the shed because she’d worked hard and well, and the group wanted to follow the crowd and offer a 4 and 1 split, when we needed to shed 2 off of the other three.
Skippeedeedodah had 2 good runs too–would’ve been better if I hadn’t given the wrong flanks once in each run. But he got sheds on sheep that were hard to separate, so we both left happy. (More later on his own medical adventures. Sigh.)
We all had a wonderful time at the trial, kudos to Shannon Wolfe for putting on such a well-run, supportive, and fun event. Here she is with hard working volunteers Nancy Hyser and a truly lovely woman whose name escapes me.
The participants at the trial graciously agreed for me to do a portrait gallery of their dogs without names. It was ridiculously fun for me, in spite of taking a fall Friday night that messed up my balance so badly that I spent most of Saturday flailing around like a drunken sailor in a storm. My poor saint of a husband spent the day trying to let me have my fun while keeping me from face planting in the mud.
Here, then, are a bevy of Border collie beauties. Enjoy! Everlasting thanks to the dogs and their people who let me have so much fun.
If I may be forgiven, I’ll start with my own attempt at modern art: I call this “Skip, with Duck.”
And now, look at all these wonderful faces and expressions!
May the faces you look at this week bring you joy and delight.
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About the Author
Patricia B. McConnell, PhD, CAAB Emeritus is an applied animal behaviorist who has been working with, studying, and writing about dogs for over twenty-five years. She encourages your participation, believing that your voice adds greatly to its value. She enjoys reading every comment, and adds her own responses when she can.
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I am so GLAD to hear the news about Maggie’s liver results – such very good news. And such wonderful photos – warm eyes, wet noses, soft fur you can almost feel…
Thank you Frances! I am soooo relieved.
Thanks for the beautiful faces of such hard working pups! Love those attentive eyes!
Always good news when our dogs are on the mend! (Hope you are on the mend from the fall too)
Yaay Maggie on your run and your test results.
All those beautiful doggy faces brought a smile to my face this morning.
Skip, you are a lovable rascal always.
And finally Patricia have I ever told you how wonderful you are. Your dedication and love for your pups lets us pup parents out here see that the love we have for our own pups is not something we need to justify in any way.Ever.
I second Frances – what GREAT news about Maggie’s health. Sounds like Maggie, Skip, and you had a lot of fun at the trial. Hoping Skip’s issues are minor, and that your legs are steadier under you now. Thank goodness for the Jims in our lives.
The portraits are great. Such individuality!
Lovely photos and so happy about Maggie’s health report.
Just loving devotion in those faces…thank you ever so much for sharing.
Definitely a border collie calender in those pics!!!!
great photos and beautiful dogs!
Thank you for the beautiful photos. It’s so great to see dogs happy and what devotion in their eyes.
The third one down looks just like my Aussie! No Aussies there?
The faces did bring joy and delight to this corner of the world!
Great news about Maggie! Hope Skip is OK. Thanks for the lovely pix; they warmed my heart.
I’ve been waiting with bated breath to hear about Maggie’s results — soo relieved!
I’ve been a lurker here for several yrs, but was inspired by the gallery to add a link to a video from many yrs ago for everyone’s enjoyment:
https://youtu.be/qniwI2hNhDs?si=Dn3aSawOV8Xd49fH
(Extreme Border Collie Sheep Herding with LED Lights!)
Lorraine: Love you added this! Isn’t is amazing!!!
Yay for Maggie! That’s great news. And just look at all those lovely faces! Thank you for putting a big smile on my face today 🙂
It’s unbelievable! There’s another video somewhere out there that I couldn’t find, with sheepherders in Scotland having their sheep spell out Merry Christmas in lights. I can’t begin to imagine how much coordination it takes to have several dogs herding sheep in all different directions, all at once, in the dark!!
OK, Patricia, here’s your next challenge, LOL….
My oh my, how I love a collie face. After years of having borders around me, these pictures near brought me to tears. These photos are so special…..thank you for sharing
Thanks for the Tuesday smiles ;-). Is the 4th dog down (not counting Skip) a Cattle Dog? Looks like some I’ve worked with as clients. I hope Skip turns out to be ok!
Yes, Nannette, my bad! I forgot to mention the ACD! Apologies to the breed!
As usual your letter warmed my heart
Doggie faces!!! Love love love!! Joy and delight achieved here ☺️
What outstanding photos! They should all be in a Border Collie calendar!
Linda Lipinski
These faces bring me such delight. Filling my heart.
Dogs are beautiful in SO MANY ways!!!
Oh wow, it sounds like Maggie is really thriving again! It’s amazing how our fur babies can bounce back, isn’t it? And props to you for rocking that trial despite the hiccups; I bet you two are a wonderful team.