Work Continues

(Arlington, WA) The work just continues to happen on our property.

Today we had three truckloads of gravel brought in to fix the driveway that was mutilated by all the trucks and machinery that went in and out the last week or two.

We also had quite a bit dumped over a grassy area so it would be easier to turn the RV around.

The driveway should last the winter much better now.

The driveway wasn't done three minutes before Boogie started rolling. It doesn't matter where we go, if Boogie sees gravel, he starts rolling.

Mike bought a chainsaw and suddenly he has become a tree trimmer.  He is really getting this place spruced up.

We have this super huge gigantic (now that's big!) rhododendron just in front of the house. Mike tried to trim it but it is very difficult. He did get a portion of it trimmed and we found some logs and a huge stump underneath.

The dogs had been going under this plant since we moved in. Now we can see what they are doing. They are digging under this log.  Looks like Slugger can just about fit in the hole they've made.

But Slugger didn't do the digging. That was courtesy of Boogie....

....and Wazzu.

Even together.

Normally 2iggie would be right in the middle of the action but today she was hanging out in the sun relaxing. Now that's one big yawn.

Debbie
9/30/10

Herding

(Arlington, WA)  Wazzu had her best day in a long time.

Today, Shari invited Wazzu to go herding and we jumped at the chance.  The farm, about three miles from our house, is absolutely beautiful and the setting so serene.

Wazzu got to go first.  Since I can't do it, Shari took Wazzu in the round-pen.  This worked great because Wazzu loves Shari....and Shari knows herding.

The pen was small and sheep were very soft so they kept Wazzu on leash to start.

She was using eye right from the start. Wazzu had the sheep moving nicely although she wasn't keen on the leash. (She's done a lot of herding but never on leash so it was just new to her.)

After a very short time after getting jerked on the leash, she would recover and be super happy again. I was having so much fun watching her be so happy that I didn't take a picture of the huge smile on her face. But believe me, Wazzu was on cloud nine!

Then it was Ozzie's turn. She's the pro out of the group. She has been in competitions and has won awards!

Finally it was Slick's turn. But let me ask....Who's herding who?

Slick may not have a lot of herding instinct but I would put him up against any dog with a tennis ball. No dog can catch a tennis ball, at any angle, like Slick.

Shari was so nice to get another turn for Wazzu. This time Shari let Wazzu go off-leash. Wazzu was so happy. She wasn't used to such a small area so a couple times she scattered the sheep but she got them right back together.

This day seemed to take a couple years of age off Wazzu. She is perked up again, she walks around more, and just plain seems happier. A huge thank you to both Shari and Shirley for letting Wazzu herd today.

What a truly fabulous day!

Debbie
9/29/10

Play Ball

(Arlington, WA) Mike was extremely busy working in the yard all day today so I did my best to entertain the dogs.

There has been a basketball sitting in the yard since the first day we looked at the property. The dogs haven't looked at it until today.

Suddenly, Boogie would do nothing else. He must have spent four or five hours playing with this basketball. Kind of looks like a pumpkin.

The entire time he chewed on it he was whimpering and crying....just like he does with tennis balls.

He got in every position possible throughout the day to chew on this ball.

But his favorite thing was to be chased. So every so often, Mike would stop his work and he and the other dogs would chase Boogie around the yard.

He had a blast with his ball. What a happy face.

Finally, after many hours, 2iggie got a turn.

But she didn't see the point in this ball and left it after a few seconds.

Debbie
9/27/10

AKC Agility

(Monroe, WA)  This weekend (Fri-Sun) Mike, Boogie, and 2iggie went to Monroe for an AKC agility trial.

What did we learn (again)?   Mike hates AKC.  I kept pushing them to do it as I really want Boogie to get a MACH.  It's quite clear that the only way a MACH is going to happen is if I get healthy enough to do agility again.

Even though Mike was unhappy with agility this weekend, Boogie did earn his AXJ and AXF titles.

The big dogs and I stayed home while the others were away each day for the trial.

Slugger has never been able to sit like the other dogs due to his badly configured body.  Normally he sits like this with his left leg way out to the side and he hunches over.

For the first time I can ever remember, Slugger was sitting "pretty".  However, when he does so, his little bottom doesn't come anywhere close to the ground.

Now I know why he doesn't sit like this.


Debbie
9/24-26/10

Ole Super Schnoz

(Arlington, WA)  Ole Super Schnoz is the latest name given to Boogie by his breeder.  I'm so proud of that name.

Today we drove over an hour to get to the Odor Recognition Test (ORT) - birch scent.  The dogs have three minutes to go into a building and search through two long rows of boxes (using their nose of course) to find the box that has the small tip of a Q-Tip dipped in birch oil.

The dogs have three minutes to find and indicate the correct box.  The handler must indicate "Alert", then the judge lets you know if you're correct.

We lined up, I listened to the instructions (while Boogie tried to so hard to be patient), and then I gave Boogie the Search command.  Remember, we need to hurry as we only have three minutes.  Off we go.  ALERT!  Yes, says the judge.  Time:  10.35 seconds.  Ole Super Schnoz is born.  That's my boy.

Unfortunately, there are no awards, no certificates, no nothing.  So I have no picture to show you.  But take my word for it - we were awesome.

So a two and a half hour drive for 10.35 seconds.  What we do for our dogs.

Before going to the ORT we had a fun day.  I actually caught Wazzu walking around instead of lying down.....

....oops. Down she goes.  Guess she doesn't want to be found.

We had the most pleasant surprise today. Shari, Slick, and Ozzie came to play!

All the dogs get along well but it is most special for Wazzu as these are her true buddies from way back. And play they did!

Look! Wazzu is playing! She loves Slick.

And Ozzie too! Looks like a black dog party.

The three amigos. I love it when Wazzu does these huge play bows.

Here they are flirting with each other. Wazzu only does that with two dogs in the whole world.

They look like happy bookends.  What a super great playtime it was.

Slugger isn't in to all this playing so much. He much prefers to just watch over the property...

....or sniff the air.

If there was a sunbathing contest for dogs, Slugger could win. He'll do it for hours.

Since we don't live in the house, there is no way I'm going to spend time or money decorating. So I walk in the house today only to find I have a decoration on the bookshelf!

What the heck was he doing. No one else was in the house. He was just sitting there like a statue.

This little guy just never stops entertaining.

Debbie
9/23/10

Smash

(Arlington, WA) Meet Farmer Mike. With five acres to take care of, Mike is becoming a farmer whether he likes it or not! He won't say so but I think he is enjoying it. He is doing a great job, working from morning until night. The dogs and I are extremely appreciative of all his efforts.

After getting all the rocks picked up, the field was still very "fluffy" and rough. So Mike rented a roller to smash down the ground.

The rental company brought it over and gave Mike a 60 second lesson.

Then it was off to work!

In addition to rolling, the machine vibrates to help pack down the ground. Mike thought that part was fun. But he mentioned many times that it was really hurting his back.

Not sure if you can tell from the pictures but this thing is HUGE!

And it sure did flatten the ground.

I was glad Mike thought it was fun as it took him the better part of two days. First he rolled the entire pasture. Then he spread grass seed over the entire area. Once again, he then rolled the entire area one more time.

This is what it looked like when he was done. Not sure if you can tell or not but there is a small brown dot in the field. That is Slugger just sitting there watching....who knows what.

At one point during the week, Mike walked around the yard trying to get out as many of the roots sticking out of the ground that he could. The dogs really enjoyed this activity and did their best to help.

Tugging

Pulling

Eating

I haven't seen much animal life since we moved in. I've heard a lot of squirrels - as have the dogs. But the one thing there is no shortage of are huge spiders and their webs.

I hate spiders! They are making these webs everywhere. Mike won't knock them down as he loves to see how big they'll get and see what they catch. Great.

Amazing how I didn't see any birds around here until Mike spread grass seed. It was like a seed alert was sent out around the city. Suddenly we had birds everywhere. The dogs tried to chase them for a while but gave up as they were totally outnumbered.

The only other thing I saw was a dragonfly. Fortunately he landed as I was having a heck of a time trying to get a picture while he was flying.

But the highlight of my sightings was the pileated woodpecker.  He sure takes a big wind up before banging into the wood.

It was really interesting to see how big a holes he could make.

Speaking of wildlife, 2iggie had a great day today. She caught a mouse, a mole and a platypus. I saw her doing something under the deck that looked unusual. I called her and she brought me a mouse. Great....not!

Shortly after that she took Mike a mole! Yes! Catch all those you want little girl.

In all fairness, she had help with the platypus. Boogie actually caught it....2iggie just killed it. Here it is before its death.

Mike was working in the "basement" - the bins under the RV - and Boogie crawled in, hunted through a big bag full of toys and pulled out the platypus. It didn't last long once 2iggie got a hold of it.

Wazzu doesn't kill animals. I watched her for quite some time today as she was trying to make friends with a mole. She was so patient as it slowly came up and peaked out then dashed back down...over and over.  You can see the little mound of dirt just starting.

The dogs didn't really know what was going on but they knew their daddy was doing lots of digging and pulling so they seemed to want to try as well.

Every time we go outside the dogs dig under this bush. There has got to be someone under there.

I have a picture of each dog under this bush. I can't imagine what is so interesting under there but it must be something good.

Today was the first day that 2iggie discovered the forest. She darted into the forest and was there about 20 minutes before Mike went to find her. She came out sopping wet.

The forest is too dense for people to get through....it's even hard for the dogs to get through. But Mike did cut a path all along the fence line. The fence is on the left side of the pictures.

Of course the days can't be all work....at least not for the dogs.

Sometimes you just gotta take a break.

How does she sleep with her head up?

2iggie

Sparkie

Doesn't he look so grown up?

Wazzu

Slugger

Great few days here at Flapdoodle Farm.

Debbie
9/20-22/10