Third time is the what now?

IT WAS A DIFFERENT DOG. I guess the same way Tally has a big red "X" target on her, my house has a big red "X" target for all the dogs who run loose around the countryside. For the THIRD TIME in twelve months, and the second time in 30 days, a dog broke INTO my fenced yard (this one not by ripping open the fence, like the last two, but by mashing himself between the gate and post, bending the fence and stretching the wire holding it shut) and had a fight with my dogs.

Sadly for him, this dog is about as old as I am, and Rain was on the warpath. What I saw from the middle of the yard was Rain flipping something over the top of his head, then bearing down on it while Tally ran in under him and wise Jas stood five feet back, barking her little head off- "You get out of my yard! My brother Rain's gonna kill you! You get out now!" I first thought he had a coyote, then when I saw it was black I thought it was the little 30-pound Kelpie who lives next door to the pair of cattle dogs who did the last two break-ins here.

When I got there and pulled Tally out from under Rain, he was still holding the dog, a 60-poundish black and grey-from-age lab mix, down and trashing it. Unlike previous fights I've had to break up, where pulling Rain off takes all my power and I have to keep holding him back, when I pulled him off this dog he came with me and on command, lay down between my feet. He knew he was winning this fight, and was willing to leave it. I actually think he was a little confused by having such an advantage. As soon as my dogs were off the old dog he squeezed out the gate and took off in a hobble-step down my driveway.

I handed the dogs off to my roommate (who has witnessed the last two attacks) to take inside, and took off out my gate after the dog. He ran down the road and when we passed my barn, I went up the driveway and jumped in the truck to follow him. He cut through a field and I was able to ask a neighbor about him and now I think I know where he lives- in a house set well back from the road, behind a locked gate.

This is such a hard situation because I don't know what to do. I was IN THE YARD when this happened. This dog, and the dogs involved the other times, CAME THROUGH THE FENCE THAT HOLDS MY DOGS IN. I've said I'll shoot the cattle dogs next time, but is it fair to shoot a different dog the "first time"? Clackamas County dog laws say that a dog "chasing livestock may be killed instantly by any person" so I assume I can kill a dog for fighting with mine on my property, but how? Can't shoot into a dog fight. If I pull mine off and the other dog is running away, can I shoot him then or does he have to be coming toward my dogs?
And besides that, it's not always practical to get the gun. I was closer to the fight than I was to my gun, and I'm not going to go away from a fight to get the gun, not when it's a large dog who could kill my 15-pound dogs in a matter of seconds.
Same thing with taking a picture so I can prove to the owners (in the case of the cattle dogs, whose owner's don't believe it) or to animal control that the dog was here. I'm not going to let a dogfight continue so I can go get a blasted camera. If I could pull my dogs off and get them inside and have the other dog still trapped in the yard, that would be nice, but since the other dogs are coming through the fence to get here, they just go out the same way.

Even putting a camera or gun by the door isn't a practical solution, because like today, I was already outside when this happened. I just don't know what to do. I've spent hundreds fencing my yard in a way that keeps my dogs- small dogs, large dogs, intact males, in-season females, IN. I can't afford to keep every other blasted dog in the world OUT. This is so frustrating.

TDAA Judging assignment

Our friend Heidi Jankowski (Ivy's mom) just shared with me she has accepted two judging assignments for TDAA .

Congratulations Heidi!

We are excited for you. One is at Fido Farm in the Olympia Washington area in March. The other is for the TDAA Grand Prix in October. (which will also be in Washington state).

We are all planning to enter the March trial (I think). Too bad the Grand Prix is a conflict with the CTCA National Specialty in Pennsylvania! We will be supporting the agility, rally, conformation and earth dog there.

Congratulations again to Heidi..she is on her way!

NW Paws, no longer will we wander....

The question is this. Is wandering so bad? The answer: "If you miss your agility start times...YES!!!"

From now on we will be able to enjoy "informed wandering". We can wander if we choose, or we can go directly to events, places of interest, coffee shops, agility trials..you get the picture. Yes, I am excited. I KNOW, Dena has maps on her phone. Sometimes she isn't there. Besides, this way, we can all participates in the antics of the persona inhabiting the Garmin!

Santa Claus and the Christmas Spirit pics

just a few.

Hattie found her voice!

Sunday morning I dropped Kona and Hattie off at my friend Janices' house. They were to stay with her while 12 of my family and 6 of our dogs headed into the mountains.
Tonight Greg and I went to pick them up. Janice and Bill live on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. An area of old homes beautifully kept, narrow streets and sidewalks. While we were visiting, there was a knock at the door. My two and Janice's 3 cairns ran to the door barking. Janice opened to find carolers! A group of about 12 people strolling along and singing carols, they also had someone playing jingle bells while they sang. Hattie LOVED it! SHE SANG ALONG...YES, I SAID SANG!!!! This is the dog who has been trying for 2 years to get her second qualifying leg in Earth Dog for her Junior title. Someone from the group jumped out to take a picture of us standing on the porch, each holding one of the dogs. I guess I need to get a cluster of bells to get her primed to bark at the rats!
'

Santa Claus and the Holiday Spirit

By now you know my blogs are winded.. this one is certainly no exception. I hope you like this story, my experience today moved me so I had to share. I could give you a brief picture but that ain't the way this girl rolls ;)

For some reason I've struggled this year with the Holiday "spirit". My tree is up and it has lights but only 2 ornaments. No other decorations are out, not even the antler collect I so prize. Today changed that. Holidays are about family and friends and giving. Giving of yourself, not gifts. Love and caring, making people smile who otherwise may not be able to without some encouragement. Today I have felt the love and the warm, loving hand of God. I honestly saw it with my own eyes in one beautiful man and a little black dog. Here's how:

On very short notice the company I work for agreed to host the Candlelighter's Candy Cane Lane event that was held today. This event is held every year by the Candlelighter's (who are some of the most incredible people I know). I work with their president, his wife is their volunteer coordinator. Their story is a blog in itself.

Among other amazing things the Candlelighter's assist families with children going through Leukemia treatment and recovery. At Christmas time they invite those who are struggling financially to come choose gifts for all the children in their family. The gifts they receive are collected by Angels over the year and stored until Candy Cane Lane event happens.

We started planning this just before Thanksgiving. This last Thursday the gifts were moved into our shop by a bunch of great guys. They were sorted, "priced" and arranged by a bunch of wonderful women. To give you a visual of what it looked like: Picture five of the huge rack sections at Costco - 3 high, another industrial wire rack with 5 shelves, five (maybe more) 6' and 8' tables all stacked and packed with gifts. Sorted by gender and age. I cannot even imagine how many gifts there were, I would guess thousands. It was certainly a sight to behold. I can't find my camera right now but will post pics when I do. Another area with stands and 12 - 15 people to wrap. A table with gift cards for the older kids and several other volunteers helping the parents "shop". Quite a production. And of course, Christmas Music for the mood.

My baby brother, Bob, land his wonderful wife, Gretchen lost Audrey, their second granddaughter to Leukemia 9 years ago, she was 6 months old. Bob is a gentleman and a gentle man. He talks big but is a pussy cat underneath. I knew he was the perfect Santa so I asked him and he graciously agreed to do it. He even brought his own elf, Beth, and his hand-maiden, Gretchen, to help.

We had crafts and activities for the kids in our "Tech Center". The parents would bring the kids in, get them settled then head to "Santa's Workshop" to pick out the gifts for their children. After "shopping" they would leave the gift choices with "elf" volunteers who wrapped them while the parents went back into the tech center to hang with the kids. We had some incredible teenagers and their parents there to help with the kids. There was cookies, hot cider, tea, cocoa, and Chex mix to munch on. Activities included: Decorating Cookies, Bingo, Facepainting, coloring, Holiday Card making, painting ornaments, and a little black Cairn Terrier named Happy to do his repertoire of tricks.

I'm not sure what the total head count was but I'm sure it was almost 150, not including the volunteers. The majority of them children, some in treatment, but you couldn't tell, they all had smiles on their faces.

My one hero is Brother Bob. Bob was the perfect Santa. He hugged gently, like the arms of an angel he would swaddle those who felt the Santa spirit within this wonderful, gentle man. I saw very few children pull away from him, like in the stores. Some would watch carefully from a distance how he interacted with others then, slowly, quietly, would come to him for a soft-spoken word or a tender pat of the hand. Ultimately, most would eventually snuggle close for a warm Santa hug. That's Christmas, warm, loving and giving of ones self.

Happy is my other hero in this story. Pat Gentry: I hope you know how I love this little black dog at my side and how he's changed my life. Thank you for trusting me with this precious little man.

Physically, Happy is 10" at the shoulder and maybe 12 pounds (that pre-neuter belly band just doesn't fit anymore). Emotionally and spiritually he is 10 feet tall. With no leash, (only a cute, white bow tie) and only dog treats for rewards he stayed with me. He waived, bowed, rolled over, played "bang, dead dog", went night night, spun, and danced for the children for 3 hours with only 3 short breaks. When I asked him to "pet pet" he would stay still for any number of kids to mob him. At one point, while laying "spread eagle" on his belly, he had 4 kids surrounding him: 2 kids on his side petting his back, one at his tail flipping the long hair hanging on the end, and the fourth at his head petting his fluffy ears. Not once did he worry about any of them, not once did he look at the child playing with his tail, not once did he ask to leave, not once did he move away from their little exploring hands. Throughout the night he did some shopping, picking up some cookie bits dropped on the ground. Once he accepted a gift of a marshmallow from a little boy...gently offered and gently taken, before I could stop him. All in all he was at my heal, ready for any direction I gave him. Although, ultimately he made the decision as to what was proper.

One girl that came (she was maybe 13 or 14 yrs old) was a concern of mine. When she arrived she was in a wheelchair being pushed by her Dad. Her eyes were sad, when she spoke it was monotoned, lacking the lustre of a teenage girl. I felt so bad for her, I knew she must be in pain, whether it was physical or emotional didn't matter. I got irritated at Happy when we first met her. When I asked him to greet her he turned his back to her. I was mortified! I picked him up for her to pet him and, again, he turned his head away while she begrudgingly reached to touch him. I had never seen him react that way. I put him down, her dad pushed her away and I headed for my office and his crate thinking maybe he needed a break. Then he saw another child arriving and wriggled to go greet him. Ok, he knows something I don't...

We saw this girl off and on for the next hour and a half or so. Each time there was more and more spark in her eyes. By the time it was time for her to leave she was beaming. When we came upon her for the last time she was in the same spot where we first met. I moved with Hap toward her and he trotted right up to her feet in the wheelchair. He then play bowed, gently stood up on his hind legs and rested his front feet on her knee. She reached over and patted his head and he got down. She had apologized and he had accepted. She then flipped the foot rests out of the way and got out of her chair, touched my arm to steady herself and sat on the floor! Happy jumped into her lap like they had known each other for years. I was terrified he would break her so I glanced at her dad to see if he was concerned. He, also, had a huge smile on his face. After petting Hap all over she reached for my hands to help her up, talking non-stop about her little Pomeranian. She pulled out her cell phone and showed me the cutest damn pics of her and her dog then said "oh, I should show Santa!". Dad got the chair and she said "no, I'm fine, just park it." I could tell he was pleased. By the time I got to Santa's area she was chatting like a teenage girl and showing Santa her pictures.. Santa also had noticed the sad little girl that came to us just a few hours before. He was as touched as I was.

So Happy and I have the calling. We'll work on Therapy Dog status this year.

Oz, my little big man, also got the chance to meet some kids.. His overwhelming enthusiasm was very appreciated but they stayed clear.. He'll be the snuggler Therapy dog when he grows up, I have no doubt. His bag of tricks will be different from his brothers.... He's the Ozman!

Thank you all for reading. I love ya all and decorations will go up before I leave for the CRCTC Holiday Party tomorrow afternoon!

Ridgefield shows

Last weekend was a two day show at the Clark County Events Center. It was the first show for me since October at the Cairn Terrier National Specialty. I entered Lou and Merl, took them and Sully and Kula with me. We stayed at Vicki's house along with Heidi, Dena, Betsy and Ryan. It was a lot of fun. Vicki cleaned and polished her house, had beds made up for all of us. Betsy had gone and gotten food and we were ready to celebrate.

To begin with, will someone be sure to remind me that the "reserved heated grooming" IS NOT worth the money they charge? Next time I think of doing that, I will buy a nice big heater instead! We had a nice big spot, Dawn and her son and grand daughter set up with us as well.

Because of an real concentrated effort, there were majors in boys and girls both days! Saturday Barb McNamee finished Manny. Susan Harper got the girl major with Misty. Sunday Vicki got the boy major with Jimmy and her puppy Spirit being shown by Susan McAlpin got the girl points.

Heidi with Ivy did a good job showing. Getting better every time they are in the ring. Lou and Merl were not used to the show thing, but they did fine. Lou actually did a little better than Merl on the leash. Lou pulled off to the right which caused him to look goofy when trotting. I have to figure out how to train that situation. Lou probably won't have to worry about it in the future. I won't do anything right now, waiting to see if he grows up enough to make it reasonable to show him.
It was a really cold and windy weekend. I had a wonderful time with everyone there, that is the reason I show the dogs and do all of the preformance stuff. It is fun doing the stuff with the dogs, but most important is the relationship with all of the wonderful people ring side.

Take Two!

A wise person learns from what now?????

Neighbor's same two dogs that got INTO my yard last Feb and caused $1500 of damage to Rain's face almost did the same today. They didn't get through the fence this time, although after I ran them off, there was a hole large enough that they could have come in or Rain (or Tally or Jas, also involved) could have gone out. So I guess I should feel lucky.....
Also I'd like to point out that all the white hairs in the second picture are from the last attack by these dogs.

Of course when I called the neighbor she said her dogs were "right out front, by the shop." Yeah they are. Because I just chased them off.

I replaced the 10-foot section of fence they destroyed with a better section, instead of 4x4 holes this one has 2x4 so it's a lot stronger, and no dog heads can go through it.

I'm tempted to take Rain to the vet just so I have a bill to prove damage, but last time the vet refused to write that the injury was caused by a dogfight ("I didn't see it happen"), and since the neighbors didn't pay anyway, it seems like it would just cost me money. Tally is emotionally scarred for life, I think because I ran up behind them all cursing and yelling and blowing an airhorn. She went under the deck first, and as soon as I got her out of there she went in Jas's crate and hasn't come out since. She'll probably need years of therapy.