Honor

As in, I had the honor of being chosen the Doggy Diary of the Day here, yesterday, on Hallowe'en. Mom was so happy for me, she about blew a gasket :-). It also evolved into a day full of new Pup Pal requests, not just for me, but for everydog in the pack, so I'm happy and grateful to Dogster HQ for choosing me.

As for Hallowe'en evening, it went fine. Lots of compliments on Mom and Dad's decorating efforts. Lots of candy given out. No fireworks or mini-monsters in the house, where the pack all hid out during the festivities. So we all got through the evening peacefully, and today we'll help Mom take down the "scary" decorations, and start the just plain autumn and Thanksgiving decorating.

Have a great day!

Wags,
Bitsy

Fun, Fun, Fun!!

Mom and Dad took me to a Hallowe'en party for dogs and their humans tonight, given by the people at the place where I take my various obedience, agility and rally classes. Mom made me this sheep costume (she was pretty proud of herself, as she made it up from her own pattern and ever'thing). I went as.... du dum.... a SheepDog! BOL! I HATE wearing costumes, but I put up with it--mostly 'cause I didn't have any choice! hehe!

Anyway, we played Musical Dogs (like musical chairs, only with mats--we dogs had to sit on the mats). I won one of those games, 'cause Dad and I were fast, AND I have my "sit" command down better and faster than the other dogs I was competing with! Another guy and his dog got to the last mat at the same time we did, but I sat immediately, and the other dog didn't, which is why I won. I got a cool Halloweeny ribbon in orange and black. Then we won a raffle prize! A whole bag of Canidae snack biscuits--I like that! And finally, and best of all in Mom's eyes, when they had the dog costume contest, guess who won the grand prize? ME!! That's right--ME--The SheepDog! A brand new collar and leash was my prize :-). Mom's prize was knowing that the 12 or so hours she put into making it was appreciated. There were about 2 dozen doggies there, so she felt pretty good. I felt pretty good, too--when I finally got to take it off! *grins*

Fun, fun, fun! What a night!

Still Missing Loki

Mom's still having a rough time with Loki being gone :-(. Dad took her to the beach on Sunday, though, and she enjoyed that. He bought her a hat that says "Alpha 1" on the front, and "numero uno" on the back, with "grrr" on the top of the bill, and 2 dogs running on the bottom. It's a neat hat, but really, I didn't need to see the hat to know who the boss is :-).

So, on Thursday, Mom and Dad are going out into the country to try and catch two border collies that someone deliberately dumped in someone's barn on a farm. The dogs are apparently grown and pretty skittish, so I'm coming along to help calm them down, if I can. If we catch the dogs, they'll stay with us for awhile and get cleaned up, vetted, altered and trained a bit before Mom and Dad adopt them out to new forever homes. Mom hopes that helping these dogs will help keep her mind off the sadness of not being able to keep Loki. We haven't even seen photos of the dogs, yet, so no knowing what they're like. I'll keep this diary updated, though, so check back if you're interested :-).

Wags,
Bitsy

Lost Dog Found, or, Loki Goes Home

On Monday, "Loki's" (not his real name, but what Mom called him because of his cute "trickster" face) legitimate owners were able to describe him, show Mom his photo, and take him home. A woman with 2 bubble gum-snapping children (terrifying things, children!). They seemed very happy to see him. Mom, however, has been crying since he left, and I wish I could make her feel better! Dad offered to adopt Loki from them for several hundred dollars because Mom loved Loki so very much, but the woman declined his offer, so all he could do was leave her our contact details in case she ever changed her mind. Mom is distraught. Last night, she woke Dad and us up shouting "LOKI!" in a dream. She couldn't remember why.... All she knows is that she's missing him terribly. All I know is that I wish I could make her feel better! I'm trying, and she's spending a lot of time hugging me, telling me how much she loves me, and calling me her "Darlin' Boy". She'll probably feel better eventually, but until then, I'm following Loki's lead, and being her Shadow Dog--I don't leave her alone for an instant, 'cause I LOVE my Mom!!!

Bitsy

We Have a House Guest

Last night, someone found a lost Border Collie, but couldn't keep it at their rental place, so Mom and Dad agreed to keep it here until its people can be found. I like the dog! Mom does, too, and won't be disappointed if we don't find its previous human(s). She thinks Doggy belonged to a street person, 'cause Doggy didn't know how to climb stairs, come into the house, or be housetrained. Doggy pees everywhere! Doggy also had never been in a crate, nor, as far as we can tell, ever eaten real dog food! Mom and Dad can't get Doggy to eat dog food, but Doggy was happy enough to eat their dinner of ground sirloin! Poor Mom and Dad--they ended up eating soup, instead.

Mom and Dad have placed ads all over, as well as online. Vets, Shelters, Humane Societies, "Pounds", and Dove Lewis all have postings for this Found Dog. Mom and Dad had Doggy scanned for a microchip at Oregon Humane Society, with their universal scanners, and Doggy doesn't have a microchip implanted. Poooor Doggy.... Still, Doggy is a fast learner, already figuring out that Crates won't hurt, and that Inside is much more comfortable than Outside on a day when the rain buckets down! I think Doggy could learn to like it here--and Mom thinks it'll be a lot nicer when Doggy learns that Outside, and ONLY Outside is for peeing, and Inside is for hanging out, eating and bedtime!

*WAGS*

Bitsy

I Love the Beach!

We got to go to the beach on Sunday. What a great time we had! "We" being Puck Robin, Foxworthy Fuzz, Myself and Mom and Dad. Dad wasn't feeling great, and eventually lost his voice and missed work on Monday, but he still seemed happy enough to watch us swim in the ocean. He even threw sticks for us to fetch. See my Dogster Plus photo album, page 2, for all the great pix of me and Puck having fun at Neskowin and the Road's End beach in Lincoln City.

Anyway, I had a fantastic time, and loved seeing Mom so smiling and happy again. We walked for ages, played forever, and just had the best day a dog could ask for. We even got bits of a great cheeseburger to add to our regular lunch :-).

Thanks for taking us, Mom and Dad! I love you!

Wags,
Bitsy

Be Happy Again, Mom....

My mom is sad, and I wish I could comfort her. Her grandfather died last week, and he was buried yesterday. Mom wrote and read the eulogy, whatever that is. She brought family from all over the place to attend her Papa's funeral, and she has been very sad and very drained for the past week. Her mom and sister came, and her niece, and her dad, whom she hadn't seen for a couple of years. My own human siblings attended, too. When they all came home, everyone had red eyes, and there were lots of hugs to go around. It was nice to have them here, though... the house is usually so quiet, except for us canines. Besides, almost everyone took turns kicking The Egg for me to chase, and I liked that!

Now that everyone has returned to their homes, and Mom and Dad are alone again, and the house is filled with flowers, Mom is simply sad, and it makes me so unhappy to see her tears! So I sit in her lap, very still, and sometimes I lick her face. She tells me how much she loves me and holds me very close. We take comfort from each other, and I only hope that she will be smiling and happy again, soon. I love my mom! I'd do anything to make her happy. Be happy again, Mom!

Cabbages and Kings

Ok, not really. How about Teeter-Totters and Canine Good Citizens?

It's been a busy week. My "grandmum" arrived for a 2 week visit on very late Monday night. She's from Scotland, and has never been to the U.S. before. She can't remember my name, 'cause there's a whole pack of us. Mom tells her that I'm "the good one" :-). I say that if she'd just remember that I'm the one with freckles on my nose, she'd have no problems. I don't think she's all that fond of large packs of dogs--she seems overwhelmed!

Anyway, besides having to sidestep around this new grandmum person, I had Agility lessons on Wednesday, my Canine Good Citizen test on Friday, and my Herding Clinic on Saturday. I must say that my first day around an Agility Teeter-Totter was the most terrifying thing I can ever remember. It freaked me out all night, and even 2 days later when I went to the same place for my CGC test. I wanted SO much to escape, just in case they brought that thing back out (they didn't, thankfully)! I am happy to say, though, that I passed my CGC test, and Mommy is even happier about it than I am. I love making her happy! Saturday with the sheep was great fun 'til the Man With Stick (my and Mom's instructor), whacked me on the side with that stick when I got too close to the sheep. After that, no fun. I went to the fence and would only come to Mom and stay right next to her side instead of herding sheep. I think Man With Stick figured out that he doesn't need a stick to get me to go where he wants, 'cause the last time around he put it on the ground. Still and all, I'm going to be watching him closely from now on. Nothing is so fun that it's worth the risk of getting hit!

Today I'm resting. I keep looking to see if Hopey has sent me a new message, yet. She is so pretty, and I think she's the most wonderful Border Collie girl in the whole world. They make 'em gorgeous in Germany!

'Til later, then----

Bitsy

Educate Me!

I'm starting new classes, now. I've just completed my second week of Canine Good Citizen class, and my Agility class starts next Wednesday (it was supposed to start last night, but the instructor rescheduled it). I'm having fun now! Wish me luck on the CGC class and test, which happens June 3rd. I'd love to make Mom proud by passing it :-).

Oh! Love you, Hopey!

Hopey has her own albums up on our own Collie Capers website, now. See her at www.colliecapers.com/gallery/hopey. She really is quite a beauty! I'm lucky she's my girl :-).

Have Fun!

Bitsy

Graduation

I graduated from Obedience III classes last night (again!). I placed second (again--Dang that great Pit Bull dog, Dutch! LOL!). Mom wasn't all that happy with me, as she says I was acting up and playing and not listening when I should have been. I'm sorry, Mom :-(.

She still loves me, though! I still got to ride home in her lap, and got lots of snuggling and love :-).

Next week I start Canine Good Citizen classes. Mom says we have to really work on 2 things: How easily I startle (including an absolute terror of small children) and how boisterously I love to meet new and old doggie friends. She says I have to work hard on that, and also that I need to learn that the whole world really isn't a scary place, and that I can trust her to make sure nothing hurts me. I trust you, Mom! It's just the other stuff I don't trust....

The week after that, I start Agility lessons! Yippee!! They sound FUN! The instructor says it will help build up my confidence. Geez! What is it with everyone and my confidence level?

Last weekend I went to sheepherding clinic again. It was fun--after the first time, when the Guy With Stick thought maybe Dad is my alpha. MWS learned fast (after I tried to jump over the fence to get to Mom) that MOM is alpha. So in she came, and all was well after that :-).

So you see, I've been busy! Looks like I'm going to stay busy, too. I like that. Just so long as everyone makes sure that I still get Egg time!

Bye for now, and all my love to my Hopey girl in Germany.

Bitsy