Sad Story

My people know I had a very rough life as a puppy but I didn't want to bring up how bad it really was, since I knew it would upset them, but they found out partially anyways. When I jumped up for my regular evening lap time, they found a lump on my ribs where my ribs were broken when I was younger, and since my former tormentor was obviously not a good person, they didn't take me to the vet to get the care I needed and my bones healed back wrong. Mom cried which made me feel really bad, so I came over and sat in her lap for a while to let her know I'm fine now and I'm happy with my new home. Mom has assured me this isn't going to effect me now and I can still do agility and run as fast and as long as I want (something I get to do all the time now in my new home).

First Play-date

Hey everyone,

This weekend I had my my very first ever play date w/ a friend named Kirby. He's a rescue just like me, but is going to probably be big like Sirius (since he's part German Shepherd), but right now since he's only 4 months old, we're the same size.

I was a little scared at first, and we spun side by side in circles over and over and over and over (which for some reason made our moms laugh like crazy). Then after we both started panting and his mom brought out water he splashed around in it just like me and after that we played chase for EVER until we both just laid down in the yard!

I'm still kind of scared when I meet new people or dogs, but I'd met Kirby several times and he seemed okay.... and it's always nice to actually meet another dog as small as me that likes to RUN! Mom said we're going to probably go swimming next time and maybe even to the ice-cream social at Wiscoy this Friday!!!!!!

Ninja Collie!

Hey everyone!

My people and I have recently discovered a new talent of mine.... Running on vertical object like I'm a dog out of the Matrix!! They've tried to get pictures but I move SO quickly, they just turn out blurry. :-)

Ode to being bouncy

My people recently discovered I'm spring loaded, and made of rubber because I'm super bendy (duh, I'm a Border Collie)!

In honor of my bounciness, here is a little rhyme you might recognize, though slightly modified of course:

The wonderful thing about Tonkses,
is Tonkses are wonderful things.
There tops are made out of rubber.
There bottoms are made out of springs.
They're bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy,
fun, fun, fun, fun, fun.
But the most wonderful thing about Tonkses,
is I'm the only one!

Battle Scars

Hey everyone!

Sirius finally told me what happened to his leg! When I first came here, his leg was shaved and he had a HUGE scar on his leg (I swear it's almost as big as me!!!). He told me he'd eventually tell me what happened, but it was to fresh in his mind at the time.

..A CHIPMUNK DID IT!!!!!!!!!!

He said the war was getting out of hand, and since he was the only shepherd in the area he had to shoulder the burden of the chipmunk eradication all by himself (since our people weren't interested in getting involved for some reason). He says he doesn't remember the the attack, but woke up in the hospital with his back leg shaved. He says he must have been attacked in his sleep and our people must have brought him to the medic to try and help with the damage the munk scouts must have caused.

He's been pretty agitated lately because I thought I found a chipmunk a few weeks ago.. but Sirius explained that it was a toad (see previous entry), and told me their threat rating is right above butterflies and right below bumblebees.

Sirius told me I should take my guard duty more seriously or I'll end up at the hospital due to a sneak attack just like him!

Taming the Mystery Border Collie

Well, I've discovered a fascinating new past time! We have a glass sliding door leading from our living room to the back yard, and if I lay in front of the door, I see another Border Collie in the back yard! As soon as I go into the yard ready to play, the dog is gone! Sometimes when I'm laying in front of the door watching the other BC, I put my paw on the glass (so does the dog on the other side), just to let them know I'm friendly and want to play, so maybe it won't run the next time I go outside.

Since I'm a BC too, I understand that we can be kind of shy, so I'll let you know how it goes!

Herding Toads 101

Hi everyone,

I had an interesting experience yesterday and thought I'd share. I found a strange hoppy thing in the back yard and decided I should herd it to the back door so my people can tell me if it is something they want (and to show them because it was cool). After my people realized what I was doing, they came outside to watch (don't understand why, but they kept saying "how cute").

My route of attack was to move back and forth in front of it batting with my paw just behind it to make it hop in the direction I wanted it to go, but everytime it hopped it would suprise me and I would hop too! After a little while of this I decided I should stalk it using my ninja belly crawl manuvor in case that was more effective... if might have been if my people didn't keep laughing and giving away what I was trying to do (and attempting to take pictures.. but don't worry, I didn't allow it).

If anyone has a more affective toad herding technique please feel free to share. I've been scanning the yard every few hours with the hope that it will return!

Sirius is trying to get me to herd chipmunks so they are easier for him to interigate.. but I just like chasing them!

How I Got Here:

Hey everyone,

My name is Miss Nymphadora Tonks but you can call me Tonks. I'm a petite Border Collie but don't let my looks fool you! I'm full of energy and am actually fully grown.

I was adopted from a hoarding situation about two hours away from what is now my home. When my people got there to see me they didn't think I looked anything like the picture that was taken when I first came to these people from KY--I had lost at least 5 lb and when you only weigh 25 that's a lot! My fur was matted but they could see the beautiful dog I could be... and lets face it, I'm pretty cute!

My mom noticed the kibble laying on the dirt and the people who had me tried to tell her that it was because a dog had ripped open a bag, but she could see it cut open behind the chair the person was sitting in. After watching us for a few minutes, my mom realized the small dogs like me, had to fight the larger dogs or wait until they ate what they wanted from the piles then we have to settle for what is left, if there is anything left. My people were told I had been working on my house training, but one look into the house that contained more than 30 dogs told a completely different story... you can imagine the smell (30 dogs in one small room). I also hadn't seen a vet like they told my mom, she wanted the records but they kept turning up "missing" and they finally broke down and told her they didn't have them.. because I never went!

I'm doing much better now though. I got to see the doctor when I first moved, though I wasn't really impressed with the whole shot thing, I let them do it. I also had a bath and had to get big clumps of hair cut off, but they are growing back nicely if I do say so myself. In 1 day I learned how to sit when they told me to. By day 2 I learned "come on," which means they want me to stop what I'm doing and come running. After one week I learned how to tell them when I needed outside, how to walk on the leash, the "touch" command that means my nose touches mom's hand and I get a treat, as well as "down" and a release word that means I'm free to do whatever I want.

I'm pretty fond of this whole training thing and learned how to play ball yesterday! Something I didn't even know existed since my people don't think I've never had toys before.

I even live with a General in the war against chipmunks (General Sirius Black)--something I didn't even know was going on!