Wilderness Farm Shetlands

NO SUCCESS

2011-12-21T14:06:00.001-05:00

I GUESS IT DIDN'T WORK TO TRY TO PUBLISH POSTS FROM 2009 AND 2010. THEY ARE PROBABLY LOST IN CYBERSPACE.

Unpublished posts

2011-12-21T13:58:00.001-05:00

FOLLOWING ARE SOME POSTS THAT FOR SOME REASON NEVER GOT PUBLISHED WHEN THEY WERE WRITTEN--INTERNET WAS PROBABLY TOO BUSY. tHEY DATE FROM 2011.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-21T09:44:00.003-05:00

Robin and Zeeba think it's about time they updated their blog. It's the first day of winter after all. We've already had two snowstorms of 10 and 7 inches but it's almost all melted so we're waiting for more for a white Christmas.

With the summer and fall agility trials Zeeba now has over 500 points toward his MACH but only 5 QQ's. Seems he keeps knocking down bars. AT the Thanksgiving weekend trials he had only one qualifying score. He came out of the jumpers ring on Sunday looking very unhappy and limping badly behind. Mom thought he looked better on Monday and he did a nice job in the Standard course but crashed the first jump in his next class so Mom took him off course. He went to the vet the next day and he had a high lyme positive titre as well as a pulled muscle. So he's had a long rest and after 3 weeks of antibiotics, Mom is letting him take a few low jumps--boy is he rarin to go--too much so. Well, I'll give Zeeba a chance to speak. Love, Robin

Hi from Zeeba! I'm so glad that Mom is letting me play again. What took her so long to realize that I was sick?? I guess I didn't tell since I wanted to keep working. I'm glad that indoor agility school will be starting in a few weeks as we won't be trialling until March since Dad doesn't like to get up early in the winter. Mom says thet the computer has been sick also but it's back from the "hospital" and seems to be working OK. Mom was sick too. She is sensitive to a chemical they put in bread called azodicarbonamide. Took a long time to figure that out but now she reads labels on all baked goods very carefully. Her doctor also is making her take a special kind of Vitamin D. Well that's all for now and we hope every has a happy holiday.

Bad Hair Day at TMAC

2011-06-24T15:24:00.004-04:00

Hi, Zeeba here--I had to share this photo that Mr. Rosen took at the TMAC trial cuz it shows that I can really have a "bad hair day". Anyway agility is fun and I especially like to play with the see-saw. Sometimes I do it without even being asked, then wait to see if anyone is handy with a treat. Mom doesn't have much time to help us with bloggin' because she always seems to be mowing grass. If it wouldn't rain so much the grass wouldn't grow so high. anyway, this Spring my big accomplishments were earning a CD in obedience and a MXJ in agility. Our next trial is next weekend then not again until the end of July when we go to Vermont. I'm getting lots of points (almost 300 already) but Mom wishes I would get more QQ's. I only have 3, but then again I'm not even 3 years old yet.

Well I have to go and watch Mom pull weeds out of the garden--really nasty cuz she also gets ticks and poison ivy. I'm glad I don't get poison ivy--ticks are bad enough.

Robin says "Hello" but doesn't have much news to report except that she's been doing lots of swimmin.

Lost Squeakyball

2011-03-13T11:07:00.003-04:00

Hi, Robin here: I haven't posted in a while because it's been such a busy winter dealing with all that snow and stuff. We had so much that it filled the patio and even covered up the picnic table. In places in our dog yeard it was as high as the fence. As a result all of our outside toys were lost. When the snow started going away, Zeeba dug holes and found some of the toys byt my favorite (next to Frisbee of course) Mr. Squeakyball never got found. So one day when Mom and Dad took us for a walk and we were outside the dog yard, Mom spotted Mr Squeakyball next to the inside of the fence but behind some bushes where it couldn't be seen from inside the yard. She called me over and showed me and said--"now remember where he is!" So we finished our walk and I had to make a few detours to dig up some voles. When we got home, Mom let us out in the yard and asked me where was Squeakyball. I thought for a minute, then rembered exactly where I had seen him and brought him back. Boy was I happy--and Mom was surprised that I had such a good memory. Well of course, I'm a border collie!!!
Here's a picture of me with Squeakyball.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2010-12-17T20:45:00.001-05:00

Excellent Fast Robin

2010-12-01T13:33:00.002-05:00

Hi Robin here, Well I always knew I was an excellent dog and a fast dog as well but now it's official. At the Thanksgiving cluster trial I earned my Excellent Fast title. so now I'm Robin, CDX, AX, AXJ, XF. I'm pretty proud of the third place because in a class of 56 dogs--some of them reeeal experienced, only 7 got Q scores. I have to rest up now because it was a long tiring weekend. I didn't manage to Q in any of my other classes and Dad was very disappointed since we'd been working hard but I just get soooo excited that I'd rather herd than jump and I just can't stay on those yellow contact things.

Zeeba did pretty good for a dumb puppy that's already in Excellent B classes. He kept the bars up in 4 out of 6 classes which is great for him since he runs faster than he thinks. He also got a Q in one standard class and in one jumpers class. that makes 4 MX legs and 2 MXJ legs. He was trying out new ways to NQ however, like flying off the see-saw--even tho he landed with his butt on the board and did his down --but it didn't save him. Then he missed a weave entrance--which he never has done before in a trial. Oh--and his steering went out in one jumpers class, but Mom is responsible for some of his errors.

Well that's the last of the trials for this year and it's time for Mom to clean house and do shopping and get ready for the holidays. If I don't get Mom to help me blog again I hope everybody has a great Christmas and other holidays (get lots of new bones and treats).

Summer update

2010-08-31T15:25:00.004-04:00

Hi, it's Robin here. It's been a hot summer so we didn't train too much. We discovered that Zeeba is allergic to bee stings so Mom has to watch him real careful. Then when it was time to get ready for a trial, Zeeba came down with Lyme disease--poor guy he was really hurting. The vet gave him some medicine and he felt better real fast but couldn' t practice agility for weeks.

Finally we got to go to an agility trial called Susque-Nango. Zeeba was running real good the first day but being a little rusty knocked down a bar in each class. Then Saturday he aced his jumpers class for a blue ribbon and a new title: AXJ. He was going great guns in Standard but just before the end of the course, he ran so fast that he forgot about that yellow zone on the dog walk. On Sunday, he was a total brat, not focused at all and had all kinds of errors in Standard , then was doing great in jumpers but had trouble running "through the box" with a 270 afterwards so didn't Q. Anyway Mom was happy that he is feeling great and not lame after all that work.

As usual Dad and I had our communications problems but we came just one jump from a Q in most of my classes--but we did get a first place in the Excellent Fast class.

Usually we enjoy camping in the RV when we go to trials but this time was a nightmare. On one side of us were 6 PBGVs abd 2 Aussies who barked CONSTANTLY. On the other side the people invited all their relatives and had a big family reunion. Mom had a 3 Tylenol headache, then at 1 AM some noisy vehicles were driving around the campgrounds and woke us all up. it's no wonder Mom and Zeeba had a bad day on Sunday.

Summer fun

2010-08-07T14:02:00.003-04:00

Hi from Robin, Here's some fun things I like to do in the summer. Zeeba still hasn't learned to like to swim.

Summertime

2010-07-06T14:54:00.002-04:00

Well here I am, Zeeba, in my favorite sleeping place in front of the fan. Even the cool air conditioning feels better when it is moving around. It's too HOT to do anything outside so I'll update my Blog. We had a nice mini vacation taking the RV to Maine for an agility trial. In Three days Robin Q'd once in the Fast Class and I Q'd once in EX standard and once in EX JWW. I had some bad luck with bars falling down and Mom sort so being out of synch on a rear cross. We have to practice more of them. The courses weren't all that hard but the rings were slopey and Mom has trouble running uphill. There was a miniature horse show at the Fairgrounds and we had fun watching some of their classes--sort of like equine agility. Our campsite was right near the rings and even had electric and water. Friends we know in Maine came to visit and Dad forgot to video most of my classes. Bummer. On the way home we stopped at LL Beans and Mom and Dad went shopping. They also took us to a pet store so we could shop too. That was fun--such yummy smells!!!!!!

This Saturday was an agility trial at our club AOC. On Saturday Robin had a real good Fast Run taking a blue ribbon and getting her Open Fast title. I didn't do so good. I got so far ahead of Mom that she couldn't get me into the right end of the tunnel in Standard and I somehow got behind her in jumpers and got lost. Sunday was to be our last trial for the summer but Mom wasn't feeling good and didn't think she could run in the hot weather so we stayed home while Dad and Robin went without us. Bummer now I'll have to wait until September to try to finish my Excellent titles just need one more leg. Sounds funny since I have four :-),

SAAC agility trial June 19 and 20 by Zeeba

2010-06-22T09:03:00.002-04:00

Hi from your friend Zeeba. Mom has time to help me with my blog so here goes. This weekend we took the RV to High Goal Farm again for two days of agility. The weather was a little better than last time but it got really hot on Sunday. Poor Robin still wasn't feeling too good ( she had pee pee problems) for her first class and it was a disaster but she and Dad got better as the weekend progressed. However just when I thought they would Q she cheated on her weave poles. Well I had a little more success. My first jumpers class Open had 3 tunnels but fortunately nooo monstsers. I did run past the first one-Mom's fault- but in Open I get a second chance and I did Q to finish my Open JWW title and a blue ribbon. Then Open standard in the afternoon I was really good and got a first place to finish my Open Std title. Next day I did Excellent courses and in the morning we did standard and Mom really made me stay on my contacts and had to convince me to keep my elbows down on the table but I got a Q and first place. In the afternoon there were NO tunnels in jumpers and if I hadn't looked at the course map beforehand Mom would have gotten lost, but I saved the day and we got our Q and another first place. I felt so sorry for the judge at the end of the day--she looked really melted.
A word from Robin: I'm feeling better, thank you, but the vet says I can't go swimming until my bladder is healed. Bummer!!!

Tunnel monsters

2010-06-07T21:33:00.002-04:00

Hi from Zeeba. Mom didn't take any pictures this weekend but I have a story to tell about the trial at Hi Goal farm. First about Robin: she and Dad really looked like they were a team but unfortunately a few slip-ups kept the Q's away. Now Idiscovered some things Ididn't know before: there are monsters in tunnels--at least I think so. On Saturday the chute was daaark green and located in a poorly lit area of the ring (they didn't have ALL the lights on) . I was having a great Open standard run when I was supposed to push my face through that green wall--well noooo way. Who knew what was on the other side. At least the jumpers class had no tunnels so I got my blue ribbon. You should have seen twinkletoes Mom do two front crosses in a row. Then on Sunday in the Standard Class there were two-- yes two tunnels and that Green chute. Mom screwed up and sent me into the wrong end of the yellow tunnel--fortunately there were no monsters--but things got a little confusing because Igot behind Mom while she was trying to figure out how to rescue the run--and things went downhill from there. Then a Daaark red tunnel with a double bend--well no way was I going through THAT one!!!! I did it on the third try. And guess what??? There was that GREEN chute--but all the lights were on today and it wasn't so scary after all. What a relief!!! Now the jumpers class---there was that DARK red tunnel again. Iwas going great guns but put on the brakes--what if it had a double bend???-- and the judge said "refusal" but I went through after all and sincethat was only one boo boo and in Open I still got a Q--and guess what? anotherblue ribbon. I sure h ope when i go there again in two weeks that all the lights are on to scare the monsters away.

LEAP Agility trial

2010-06-01T21:07:00.002-04:00

Hi from Zeeba: Mom said I could blog about the Leap agility trial and show the ribbons I won and the treats Mom and Dad bought me because I didn't get any new toys. (Robin thinks that some of them are for her) . The first day was great, I got a first in Novice jumpers and a new title NAJ. I also got a first place in my first Open standard class. Robin had some good runs, but no Q. On Sunday I also got first in Open standard but dropped a bar in Open jumpers--I was trying to catch up to Mom who got too far ahead of me at the tunnel. Robin yelled at Dad a lot. On Monday, neither of us got a Q. I thought that it was such a great day and early in the morning I was just so full of myself that I just couldn't connect with Mom--she wanted me to turn and I wanted to go straight. Well the grass was wet and slippery and I slipped and fell after a jump (and I was sort of crazy) so Mom took me off course. Robin didn't do well in jumpers either. I did real good in my standard course until Mom flubbed a rear cross, then I took off too early for the next jump and the bar fell down. Oh well there's another trial next weekend and I'll try real hard to keep the bars up. Here's a picture of my stuff:

PNUT Agility trial

2010-05-18T21:10:00.005-04:00

Hi, it's Zeeba: Mom said I could show this picture in my blog cuz I looks so cute. This was from Thursday when I got first place in Novice Standard for my new title and first in Novice jmpers for a second leg. Too bad I couldn't do as well on Saturday. Mom needs to be a better handler and I need to keep the bars up when I'm running real fast. We'll try again next weekend at the LEAP trial in Granby. We'll be taking the motorhome which I don't like too much because I don't get to run and play off leash.

PNUT Agility trial

2010-05-18T14:29:00.000-04:00

PNUT Agility trial

2010-05-18T13:57:00.001-04:00

Weekend Agility Trial MKHA

2010-05-03T16:14:00.003-04:00

This is Robin and do I hate to have my picture taken but Mom says I have to show the ribbons I earned this weekend at the Mid-Hudson KC Agility trial. I really love the FAST class--and so does Dad cuz he has fun figuring out a course that will get the most points. So on Saturday we got first in Novice FAST and that was my new title. On Sunday we moved up to Open FAST and won first place in that class also. So I have 3 new ribbons and 2 new toys.

Mom and Zeeba were showing also. On Saturday Zeeba took first place in the Novice Standard class but Mom helped him NQ in jumpers. He also got a ribbon and water bucket for being the highest scoring sheltie in Novice standard. Then on Sunday, a really really hot day, Gramma Toni was there and Zeeba showed off by getting his first Novice Jww leg with a very fast time and another blue ribbon (and another toy). Unfortunately at the end of a hot muggy day he goofed in Novice standard , too bad because it would have been his title. He likes to pose for pictures.

Apology?

2010-04-18T11:24:00.002-04:00

ROBIN TO ZEEBA: I'm really sorry (not) that I accidently (not) pushed you off the dock into the pond the other day. I was in a hurry to go swimming and you were in my way. However when I first came to live here--before you were even born--I had sheltie friends who looooved the water and swam with me all the time. See how happy they look in their picture all soaking wet. That's Sparrow and Merlin who now live with the angels.

Spring is here

2010-04-06T10:09:00.002-04:00

Hi, it's Robin reporting: Sunday Mom took this picture to share of the cherry blossoms against the clear blue sky. On our walk this morning we noticed that the shadbush was blooming, the red maples are shedding their pollen and all kinds of birds are singing including the chipping sparrows which have been away for the winter. There is coltsfoot in bloom along the road and dandylions are popping up in the dog yard. Mom thinks that she'll have to cut the grass next week. A soft spring rain started just as we went out and I think I heard thunder in the distance . Oh Oh!!!
Zeeba has some stuff to report: Mom and I went to agility class yesterday and learned that there are still some things we need to work on like weave entries when I'm running real fast and going from obstacle focus back to handler focus so I go into the tunnel instead up the A-frame. And Mom still needs to support me until I'm committed to an obstacle--I am still a novice dog after all. ( Notice we don't use babydog any more.) I like seeing my friends at class, but most of all I like RUNNING and JUMPING. Robin didn't come because she doesn't like indoor class because of the static shocks. She is sooooo sensitive but I'm, tough. Love, Zeeba

Canie Company visit

2010-03-27T09:32:00.002-04:00

Hi everybody it's Zeeba here. Yesterday I went with the AOC Canine Company to do a show for the elder folks at Hawthorne Ridge. We get to show them how well trained we are and demonstrate how we got that way. My job was recalls and retrieving and jumping and a little agility stuff. I showed how we started learning signals too. We also got to do trix and Abbey the Border collie shared her Yuppy Puppy treat machine with me and we took turns helping ourselfs by pushing the lever. Of course I didn't want that to end. I made everybody laugh when I was supposed to get mom a tissue when she sneezed cuz I pulled 6 out of the box before I brought her one. I would have shredded them too if I had time. Finally we showed how we could stay still while our Moms were out of the room even if people clapped or offered us cookies. That's hard for me since I'm a man of action. After the show we went around so people could pet us and tell us how wonderfulwe were.

Robin doesn't have anything to report except that the chipmunks were late getting up this morning since it was only 13 degrees outside. Now I wish that I hadn't left all my undercoat in the wastebasket!

2010-03-21T10:01:00.002-04:00

Hi, this is me, Zeeba after my very first agility trial. We went to High Goal Farm---had to get up at 4am in the dark to get there. Robin got to run first in excellent Standard and Jumpers and she was really goofy. Dad is getting pretty fed up with her. Then I finally got to get out on course in Novice--I've been waiting to get my chance for a long time. First was the Standard class and I guess I was pretty good. I held my start line, stayed on all my contacts , didn't slide off the pause table and found the weave poles. I ran very fast also and afterward I got a blue ribbon.
Novice jumpers was at the end of the day but I was still raring to go. I was shaking on the start line but stayed and right away I had to find the weave poles--no problem--then I ran really fast and was doing great until coming around a turn and Mom was kinda late telling me to "keep turning" so I went off course. Bad handler Mom! I did get to finish the course over a long straight line and I didn't even look back once. I still got lots of goodies even tho I didn't Q. That was lots of fun and I'm glad I don't have to only watch from the sidelines anymore.

More snow?

2010-02-23T09:47:00.002-05:00

Oh no, it's snowing again! Look how dad's got me decked out in a raincoat. It's embarrassing. He wants to keep me warm because the vet/chiropractor says I have some arthritis. I don't know what that is but it makes me walk funny sometimes when I get tired. She wants me to take some herbal antiinflammatory medicine but all I know is that I get some extra globs of canned salmon before my meals. Also I can't play frisbee for a while until my feets are better. Zeeba now gets to have all the fun . He's in trouble tho and Mom says no more off leash walkies for him . (He is just the same age as Sparrow was when he got lost for 2 days.) This morning we were going out to walk in the fields--where I love hunting voles--- and Mom couldn't find Zeeba. She and Dad called and called and Mom was getting really panicky. Turns out Zeeba had ducked into the barn and was sniffing out that feral cat who probably is going to have kittens again. If that weatherman is right about three storms in a row, the fields will be all full of snow again so walkies will be strictly on the road and Zeeba will get all crazy when the cars zip by. He's gotten better since Mom has been stuffing his face if he looks at her instead of the moving vehicles but it's an uphill struggle. Well I've got to get back to the window and watch for squirrels and deer and stuff. Oh and I saw a chipmunk this morning. Love, Robin

Webb Anderson lesson

2010-02-13T13:16:00.002-05:00

HI there, it's Robin here. Dad and I with Mom and Zeeba went for a private lesson yesterday with Webb Anderson. He is doing a handling seminar this weekend at our club but we weren't able to go the whole weekend so we just signed up for an hour of his time. Wow! Dad sure learned a lot about how to run with me. Webb said that I'm such a dedicated herding dog that jumping is not a real priority (well I already know that.) tho I like to jump, herding Dad is much more to my liking. He showed Dad how to set a line (of travel not fishing) so that I would always have a chance to see him and know where I was going a long time ahead. We tried it out and it worked real well -except when Dad forgot. Then of course I have to yell at Dad. Mom wanted to find out why Zeeba sometimes drops bars even tho he's capable of jumping the moon, but of course during the lesson no bars did fall. Zeeba had to show off tho by jumping the triple backwards from a standstill just for the fun of it and lots of other stuff as well .Just because Mom is looking at a jump, Zeeba wants over. It's sort of a control issue but Zeebs sure does have fun. I thought there was a chance I'd have some peace in my life because Webb kept asking Zeeba if he wanted to go home with him. I guess he likes tri Shelties. but--no such luck. We didn't take any pictures but if you can find Mom's profile page on Facebook Lois Fricke posted some photos on her wall from Thursday's class with Sherry.

View from the hill

2010-02-08T11:07:00.002-05:00

It's pretty cold and windy on our hill in the winter but the view of sunsets from our yard is spectacular. from Robin and Zeeba

Those are the Catskills in the background.

More about winter

2010-01-31T11:01:00.003-05:00

Zeeba says: I'm glad Mom is not wheeeeezing anymore and can actually sleep laying down-she's in a better mood but she says that I shouldn't complain so much about winter. I should have been around in 2003 when Merlin and Sparrow were trying to do agility outdoors.

Now where is that contact?

Tunnel.........What tunnel???? What do you think I am--a gopher?

Winter doldrums

2010-01-30T08:57:00.002-05:00

Hi Zeeba here: I just got back from a walk with Dad and it was brrrrr cold outside. It was 0 degrees but at least not windy today. Actually it energizes me to want to leap around but when I get inside I head for my fuzzy pillow. Winter is pretty boring except that I did start agility classes. On Saturdays in Karen's class we get to do actual Novice courses so I'll be ready for my first trial --which will be March 20. On Thursdays I'm in Sherry's class which is for advanced dogs. Robin is in the same class. This week class was cancelled Thursday because of snow and I'm not going to class today Saturday because Mom has some sort of virus. So that's why winter is boring. It's fun to watch the other dogs work but I get sort or overexcited when it's Robin's turn so Mom keeps feeding me cookies so I'll forget to watch her. In Sherry's class I'm supposed to learn all about pinwheels and serpentines and good stuff like that . I get to run real fast because we're not training contacts. I can't wait for another school day to come around and I hope it's not snowing.

Another Zeeba update

2010-01-12T09:22:00.002-05:00

Hi from Zeeba: Mom has a boo boo knee and she can't come out to play in the snow so she has time to update my training progress. This isn't as much fun as playing agility but I've learned how to find one of those metal things that smells like Mom.

Once I've found it, I bring it to her to get my treat. I still don't like to hold it in my mouth too long cuz it doesn't taste too good and it's slippery. I like the leather ones much better ( so well that I don't always smell them first to make sure it is the right one.) Now Robin alreddy knows how to do this stuff but she doesn't like it because once she got a static electricity shock picking up a metal article. The Club building where we sometimes train has a lot of that static stuff and it's real unpleasant but poor Robin is much more sensitive than I am--I'm a tough boy after all--not a sissy girl.

Frisbeeeee!!!

2010-01-09T13:30:00.002-05:00

So how many dogs are in this picture????Hint--count the legs.

So now throw it already--I need to get away from the pest-and my tongue is getting cold.

And don't you like my high fashoin sweater? The brat doesn't get one cuz he's soooo hairy.

Treats and tribulations

2010-01-08T13:56:00.003-05:00

Hi from Robin and Zeeba. No sooner do we get the white stuff cleaned up around here but it looks like this again. Actually we like to play in it but Mom and Dad think it's a nuisance. and it's COLD so we stay indoors a lot (which is why we get into trouble) By the way, if you see a pack of dogs following a UPS truck that's cuz our package is in there. Bestbullysticks .com was having a sale and Mom ordered us lots of "Moo tubes", beef tendons and Bully Sticks. We had some marrow bones this morning but somehow Zeeba got one that Robin was supposed to have and got his jaw stuck in it. Mom had a (quiet) fit but managed it get him free without using a saw or pulling out his teeth. That's why we're not allowed to have bones when nobody is home.

Images of Christmas

2009-12-30T09:53:00.005-05:00

Here are some pics Mom took at Christmas:

Images of Christmas

2009-12-30T09:53:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures Mom took at Christmas:

It Takes a Hungry Dog...

2009-12-23T15:15:00.003-05:00

Zeeba learned this trick in record time: Push thehandle

Get the reward

Happy Holidays

2009-12-22T08:53:00.004-05:00

Hi, It's Robin with Zeeba wishing all the Happiest Holiday season. Our peoples also send their greetings. Mom's been pretty busy but has agreed to take a break and help us with our blog. She and Dad have been cleaning and polishing and leaving us home so they could do something called shopping. Then they cut down one of our trees and brought it into the house . We couldn't touch the tree but they hung shiny things and lights on it. Then they had a big party with lots of people treats. We actually got to snag a few tasty morsels. I couldn't believe it but Zeeba didn't hump a single leg. I guess that operation did some good! Now Zeeba wants to say a few words.

Hi, Zeeba here. Wow I'm sure feeling better. Today when we went for our walk I was jumping around and grabbed the lanyard mom keeps around her neck with the dog whistle on (that's for me you know). I pulled her right off her feet. Too bad she didn't have it outside her coat collar because now she has a bruise like somebody tried to strangle her. I'm sorry but I was just sooooo happy to be going out. Anyway winter can be so boring with all our jumps and stuff under ice and snow. So we're doing "obedience stuff". Now that I like retrieving I'm supposed to learn to carry "metal" stuff". Well I sure don't like the way that feels in my mouth. The thing that Robin used was just too big for me but Mom went into her dog closet and found the articles she used for Mousie (a pretty little sheltie who is now in heaven) and now I carry metal just fine. I am so proud of myself. Pretty soon I'm going to have to find stuff with my nose--that should be easy if it smells like rabbit or deer poop. She says I'll be learning other tricks too for when we go to visit the old peoples in the Nursing Home. And agility lessons start again in a few weeks indoors and I'm looking forward to that. Now Mom has to go wrap "presents" for Santa Claus to put undere out tree. I hope some are for us--I do need some more chewy things. Again I hope everybody has a fun Christmas and gets lots of toys and stuff.

And I hope that all the foster dogs out there get their forever homes really soon.

Reply to Arthur GOOD from Zeeba

2009-12-04T20:38:00.003-05:00

Dear Arthur GOOD

A lover not a fighter I be.
Trouble was, everything I'd see
Or smell reminded me
Of S E X.

PS. Robin also gets snarky when strange dogs get too close and she's a Girl.

Zeeba

2009-12-03T14:01:00.002-05:00

As you see by my picture I'm feeling kinda sleepy today. Yesterday Mom took me to see my friends at the vets office and after talking to the nice assistant she LEFT ME THERE. That's never happened before. Well I had to stay in a cage , then I get a shot to help me relax. Then I got another needle and I don't remember anything more till I woke up in that cage again. Later the nice technician took me for a walk and it was getting dark and I had to stay in that cage overnight. The girls at the vets gave me some breakfast the next morning and Dr. Rosweiler checked me out and pretty soon Mom came to take me home. She was pretty sad that I had the operation but it's supposed to help me feel more relaxed around other dogs.
She said that my brain was suffering from " testosterone poisoning". Robin was actually glad to see me when I got home but we're not allowed to run around together yet--I'm supposed to only walk on a leash for a while. Mom says that I'm being really good so I don't have to wear a cone on my head. I hardly know that I'm missing something. Well it's time for a nap again so I'll sign off. Zeeba

Robin thinking

2009-11-30T10:22:00.002-05:00

Hi, It's Robin here. Mom wanted to share this photo of me thinking. I have lot to think about-like 3 days of Agility at the cluster of shows in Springfield without a single Q. Mom says that Dad and I have to work on our communication skills. Then on Thanksgiving day Zeeba and I had to stay home while the peoples went out to the house where the kitties now live to eat a turkey. But on Saturday we had a fun dinner for Stephanie's birthday and the peoples cooked some critters called Lobsters. Boy were they UGLY! And Zeeba and I got to sample some of the goodest tasting leftovers--and believe me there weren't many. Peoples really like to eat those Lobster things.

kitty update

2009-11-16T11:51:00.002-05:00

Remember the Kittys that Mom rescued from the woodshed? Here they are in their new home enjoying their life as lazy houscats. Robin

Zeeba updates the Blog

2009-11-10T10:00:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone, Zeeba here, Mom's finally got time to help me with updating our blog. On Halloween weekend we went camping again, to an agility trial at Hi Ghoul (High Goal) farm. The picture is from another weekend but that's our camper and me and Robin in the x-pen.

The weather was not as bad as at Cape Cod and the classes were indoors but we had a weather adventure anyway. Since Mom and Dad worked the last class Saturday ( Halloween) our walk after dinner was quite late and it was getting dark and raining a little bit but we thought we could get some exercise anyway. Well, before we got back to the safety of the camper, we heard a roar--I kept looking behind me to see if a train was coming--then we got drenched with BUCKETS of water. You'd think we got hit by an ocean wave.

Robin didn't Q and I really wish I could show her how even tho I am just a babydog. Mom says I can try in the Spring.

Last week we had our annual vet check-ups and I heard mom say something about making an appointment for my "surgery". I wonder if that had anything to do with my trying to have sex with the vet's leg and the tech's arm??

This weekend was busy. Friday we took a long drive to pick up a new tractor seat. Boy that place had more tractors than I've ever seen in my life. I bet they'd be fun to chase. Then Saturday Mom took me to a seminar which was supposed to be about Canine Cross- Training but was just stuff like Mom teaches in her Foundations class. Of course I wasn't really paying attention and I was bored so I kept squeaking so some one would notice me and play with me--and I guess I caused Mom to get yelled at (again). I got really scared when Mom left me in the crate in the van for a while and I chewed up the crate pad a little. There was really too much talking and not enough working and Sunday was such a beautiful day that we went home right after lunch so Mom could clean up the garden. That was fun--I kept bringing her toys to fetch.

The best day was yesterday when we went to the Club property and met with some friends to train. I got to run an advanced course the same as the big dogs and Mom was really pleased with me. The only problem I had was that lo000ng dark tunnel, especially since I recently got stuck in the chute at home wich was frozen shut. Stupid Mom didn't shake it out before she sent me. Turns out I now get to eat cat food from a bowl whenever I run through the chute. I'm getting to like it again!!!!

I guess I've chattered on long enough and will be in touch if anything exciting happern.

Cape Cod vacation

2009-10-23T20:18:00.002-04:00

Hi, it's Zeeba back from our vacation on Cape Cod. We started with Dad and Robin running in three days of Agility. The first day it was raining and windy but not so bad that we coudn't get warm in our little ringside tent. Robin messed up in the Fast class because the judge was standing in the way and Dad tried to signal her to move and Robin thought he was signaling her so she broke her start line and Dad's plan got ruined. Then Robin cheated on her weave poles in the standard class. Saturday dawned with a beautiful rainbow over the agility rings but got cold and windy. Robin broke a start line again and Dad wasn't watching so she missed the second jump--then in the next class she cheated on her weaves again.

Well after the rainbow day, a Nor'easter hit the Cape and it was the rainiest, windiest day I've ever been outdoors. Dad decided to run with Robin anyway even tho the first three jumps in the Standard class were in 4 inches of water. I guess it slowed her down a little and Dad was able to keep up in spite of wearing way too many clothes truying to keep warm and dry. Would you believe they Q'd taking a second place in the class and 20 seconds under standard course time!
Maybe they need a storm more often. I stayed in the RV.

After the trial we moved to the campgrounds , and the next day went out to see the ocean which was pretty angry after the storm. We took a walk along the beach and a big wave caught up with us and Mom and Dad and I get our feet really wet. Robin was fast enough to get out of the way.

I discovered that beaches are really good for something--digging!! I made better holes faster than even in our yard. Here's Robin showing off the ribbon she won. Of course this picture was taken long after th storm because Mom didn't want to get her camera wet.

Robin wants to have her say: Yes , Zeeba, you really did have a great time your first time at the beach. I was the one who did all the work in those sloppy agility rings. And you left out our nice dinner with Dad and Mom's friends, Anne and Chris. You certainly showed your bad manners by leaving your "mark" on the corner of the chair. Mom had to keep you on leash the rest of the evening while I behaved perfectly napping under the piano. Well we finally got home after a week of sightseeing --I got to play frisbee on the beach too --and now it's catchup time. Mom is moaning about a mountain of laundry and cleaning the sand out of the RV.

Zeeba : "I can do it!"

2009-09-15T20:05:00.004-04:00

Nyeh,Nyeh--I can do anything Robin can do.

Zeeba

Pioneer Valley Agility Trial

2009-09-14T09:40:00.004-04:00

Hello again, Robin speaking: We took our RV to an aglility trial at Granby, Massachusettes this weekend. Just before we left Dad had to have a tire fixed and buy a new battery for the vehicle. So we thought we were all set. Well the park doesn't have "hookups" and we discovered when we got there that our generator wasn't working. So we survived on battery power for two days. Needless to say we went to bed early as we dare not use lights. The courses were interesting and I didn't get any Q's tho I did have a lot of fun. Here's a picture of me patiently waiting my turn in the ring with my paws crossed and here's a picture of me doing the weave poles. Does it look like I missed the first pole?? I know Mom said that I cheated and pulled out early . I almost made it in the Standard classes except for one mistake at a time. Zeeba came too but he's too much of a baby to do stuff at trials yet. He did some cheering from the sidelines tho. Mom said she's going to have his squeaker taken out. He was still taking medicine because he ate some yummy (yucky) stuff last week. He's fine now. He wouldn't eat his food with medicine in it so Mom made some sneaky treats with canned salmon.

KITTY UPDATE: Tiger has gone to his new home. He will be living with his sister who is now called Candy.

Kitten update

2009-08-31T16:39:00.002-04:00

Hi from Robin: Here's an update on the kitten situation. Mom has found a home for Peaches, the girl, so now Tiger Woods is all alone and he tries to follow Mom into the house all the time. It makes, Leona, the evil cat really mad. Mom is going to have Tiger "fixed" as soon as she doesn't have to spend every day driving with dad to Albany for his radiation treatments. What's a prostate anyway??? I'm looking forward to going to trials again especially now that the hot weather seems to be gone for a while.

Happy Birthday Zeeba

2009-08-25T11:42:00.003-04:00

Hi, Zeeba here: Mom insisted on taking a picture of me in this silly hat cuz it was my birthday. I'm now one year old, but I don't feel old at all. I'm having fun learning "weave poles". This morning when we came back from our morning walk, I ran right over to the poles and said" let's go Mom where's the treatz"?

Robin got in trouble last night. She said Hi to a skunk in the back yard. WHEEEEEEEW!!!!! Does anybody want to borrow a Border Collie for a few weeks?

Gotta go now and finish my cake and ice cream.

Kitten update

2009-08-17T08:43:00.003-04:00

Two rescued kittens are still hoping to find new homes. ( the sooner the better) Evil cat, Leona, won't let them live with us and they will need a warm place for the winter . Their names are TigerWoods (M) and Peaches or Patches (F). The third kitty, Boots, is living happily with his new Dad and a German Shepherd Dog. We hear that he has discovered the joys of unrolling toilet paper.

Mom says that Zeeba did well at the clinic on impulse control given by Bobbie Bhambree on Saturday. Mom got some tips on how to help him want to play with her rather than visit the other dogs. He was pretty good at ignoring any other distractions. I can't wait until the hot weather is over. Love, Robin

itt

2009-08-17T08:43:00.001-04:00

Ball balancing

2009-08-14T20:31:00.003-04:00

Good evening, Robin here: Here's a picture of Mom helping Zeeba learn to balance on the big ball he won at Dog Daz. It's supposed to be good for his core muscles, and I thought that only apples had cores.
I've been swimming in our pond ever since the ice went out, but today was the first day that Mom came in swimming with me. Zeeba still will only swim if somebody carries him into the water. He likes to wade--but swim---No way!! Dad says that he's the first non-swimming sheltie we've had.

Ball balancing

2009-08-14T20:13:00.002-04:00

Good evening, it's Robin speaking: When we were at Dog Daz, Zeeba won a Canine-spirit-ball which looks like a big soccer ball, and I mean BIG!!! It's bigger than Zeeba. Mom saw a demo of a sheltie balancing on a ball which is supposed to strengthen the core muscles (and I thought only apples had cores). Anyway here's a picture of Mom helping Zeeba to learn to balance on the ball. Maybe it's good for his muscles but he'd better learn to start to be polite around other dogs because Mom is planning a vet visit where he will lose some important parts.

I've been swimming almost every day since the ice was off the pond but today was the first day that Mom went swimming. She sure is chicken about the water temoerature.

flowers and butterflies

2009-08-09T12:15:00.003-04:00

Here are the flowers and butterflies that got lost from the last post.

Zeeba the Guru

2009-08-09T09:33:00.003-04:00

Hi Zeeba here: Mom says that I'm sort of magical--or maybe it's just co-incidence . Everybody's been sad and worried because our friend , the sheltie Darin had been lost. Early Saturday morning I was in bed with Mom and she whispered to me that I should think very hard about Darin and have happy thoughts like flowers and butterflies and tell Darin that it was all right to come home to Chris. Later we heard that early Saturday morning Chris was out with her other sheltie and her border collie and called Darin to come out and play with them. The lost sheltie is now reunited with his family so everyone's prayers have been answered. Is that great or what? So welcome home Darin and have happy thoughts of flowers and butterflies.

Zeeba's friends

2009-07-29T19:23:00.002-04:00

Hi from Zeeba. Here are the pictures of my friends. The one of Alex is not so good but you can see me smooching with Andrea. I hope they visit again. And by the way. my paw is all better and Mom says I can try agility soon.

Thanks to my friend Katherine for taking the pictures

Zeeba loves Alex

2009-07-27T13:45:00.002-04:00

Hi there, it's Zeeba here. Boy is it boring being on restricted exercise and having to walk on a leash all the time, but I haven't limped at all yesterday and today so Mom is letting me have a little supervised time off leash. I have to be shut up in the kitchen all morning during the week while Mom drives with Dad to the hospital for his radiation treatments. Anyway this past Saturday I did have a good time being entertained by Alex (age 11) , Andrea (14), and Katherine (16). They were visiting with their Mom who is my Mom's neice and a couple of other people who all came for lunch and to go swimming in the pond. I especially liked Alex who let me dig a hole before asking if it was allright (then I had to stop). He did manage to keep me from jumping up onto the picnic table tho I tried to get away with it. Mom let him be in charge of me all day, I think Alex likes me too. Mom should have taken a picture of

Alex and me but his sisters did and maybe they will send me one.

Robin sure acted funny Saturday. She seemed to be afraid of Alex. Maybe it's some memory from her past life, she is a rescue after all but she has been here a long time in a happy home so I don't understand her. Maybe she's just upset becuz of all the thunderstorms lately. I don't mind thunder and lightning, it's a good excuse to bark.

Mom took a picture of the white kitty with the black heart. Mom can pick up and pet the tiger kitties but white kitty is still too shy (not really mean just scaredy cat). Mom called the Humane Society and Animalkind to see if they would find homes for them but nobody has any room as it has been a banner kitty season. They just put us in a waiting list. Mom sure hopes she doesn't have to be the one to get them fixed and turn them loose because the coyotes might get them.

Kitties and Zeeba's paw accident

2009-07-15T15:01:00.002-04:00

Hi, Robin here. Well Mom always said that she would never encourage the feral cats that hang around here , but she's flip flopped on that. A couple of weeks ago Dad fed a black starving kitty that got so friendly we were able to find a home for it (soft-hearted neighbor). Then a couple of days ago a starving tiger kitty showed up and mom started giving it some cat food and named it Tiger Woods. Then the next day another tiger kitty showed up and Mom named it Priscilla Presley. Tiger Woods has gotten so tame he eats from Mom's hand and purrs, Priscilla is still hissy. Then last night another cat shows up--Mom says NO MORE!!! Here's a picture of Tiger Woods and Priscilla. We're not going to feed the latest kitty who obviously is from an earlier litter because it's bigger and mean. I'd make friends with the kitties but they are not interested.

Zeeba wants to chase them. And speaking of Zeebs, he's gotten himself a boo boo. You know how he likes to climb around the picnic table and even takes a nap up there? Well Mom put our toys on the garden bench when she was mowing the grass in our yard and forgot to take them down. Zeebs jumped up onto the bench and got his paw caught between the slats and then fell off and was hanging by one twisted paw--boy did he scream!! Good thing mom was nearby to rescue him. Lucky no bones were broken but Zeeba says his paw really hurts so he has to limp, which doesn't keep him from trying to run around so Mom has to keep him on a leash. Looks like he's going to have to give up agility class for a while. Serves him right for being such a crazy dumb puppy.

It's time for my afternoon swim so Mom has to catch Zeeba and keep him occupied so he doesn't know where Dad is taking me. Talk to you later.

4th of July

2009-07-05T09:19:00.004-04:00

Hi, this is Zeeba speaking: I had a great time on the 4th of July, Gramma Toni brought me some playmates so I could have fun while the peoples were having a picnic. She brought cousin Andrew Corgi and a whole bunch of baby shelties. They had to stay in a X-pen most of the time to keep track of the babies because they poop a lot and somebody has to clean up after them.

Here is a picture of Andrew Corgi. He was able to come out and play but he didn't like me taking his ball away from him.

We brought the puppies out one ot a time to play with me. This little brown girl was the oldest and I thought she was real cute.

We moved around kind of fast so it was hard to get clear pictures but here I am (my tail end) playing with the little bi-black girl who was my favorite. I wish mom would let me keep her but she said that one "devil dog" at a time was enough.
Then I showed everyone how I used the picnic table as agility equipment but nobody appreciated it because they had their food on the table. Not fair!!! But still it was the most fun I had in a long time.

Oh and I should mention I liked the fireworks the neighbors had, something else to bark at--Robin did NOT. She hid under Dad's desk

FAS*T Robin

2009-06-29T11:34:00.002-04:00

Hi there, Robin speaking: This weekend was our last scheduled agility trial until Fall since Mom and Dad and black dogs don't like to compete in the hot weather. Dad and I decided to try something new--the F*A*S*T class -more like a game just in case we still had energy after doing Standard and Jumpers. Fortunately the class was scheduled first thing so it was cool and we still had our N R G. We got to design our own path over jumps and obstacles and sort of like "Beat the Clock" collect as many points as we could in 32 seconds when the buzzer sounds and we have to get off the course. There is also a "send challenge" for a bonus where I get to do the obstacles without Dad being too close. On Saturday, the first time we had ever tried it, we picked a course where we got the required number of points to Q as well as completed the Bonus. Well we crossed the finish line with 10 seconds left over so on Sunday Dad made a better plan and we stayed on course until the buzzer and racked up 75 points. Guess what?????? That was enough to Q and to take first place and get another blue ribbon for my collection as well as a new squeaky, tug, frisbee toy. So today I get to lounge around and enjoy--too bad when Mom took the picture she had a tree growing out of my head!!!

Zeeba starts agility class

2009-06-23T09:57:00.002-04:00

Hi, Zeeba here: I've had fun the last two days! Sunday Mom took me to a match show to parade around like a "pretty dog". Well I had a hard time behaving myself because my Uncle Andrew Corgi was there and I thought we could just have a play date. No such luck. I had to trot around and up and down and pose on a table but I was the only sheltie puppy there so I got Best of Breed. Didn't win the sweepstakes tho cuz I was having trouble keeping all four feet in contact wilth the ground when we gaited--DARN.
Then last night I went to my first agility class where I wasn't just a sistant. I got to skip Introduction to Obstacles and started in Obstacles II because of what I learned helping Mom teach Foundations class. And guess what??? the teacher was a friend I already know called Heidi. She makes sure I SIT for greeting. The first night was just a review of what I already know with four stations: one for the pause box, one for tunnels, one for jumps (I have to do them real low because I'm still young) and one for flat work--this is hardest for me because when Mom runs fast I can't resist trying to herd her--it's just in my blood and besides I am being raised with a border collie. Heidi calls this "shadow handling" and I didn't see any shadows cuz we were inside but I still wanted to jump up and catch mom--so Heidi said GAME OVER and I had to stop. I did good with the "equipment" tho because I've been practicing that at home.
Mom didn't take any pictures at class because the flash from the camera might disturb the other dogs so here's some pictures taken at home:

I do an automatic DOWN on the pause table.

I run fast to the end of the see saw and stop really nice and wait till I'm told I can go on.

Robin's new title and Zeeba's new skill

2009-06-16T09:29:00.003-04:00

Hi , It's Robin here with an update on our adventures and accomplishments. It's been a boring week for doggies since Mom and Dad have both been sick with colds and other complications, which means that doggies have to find ways to amuse themselves. I'm cool just hanging out in the yard and keeping the squirrels and chipmunks at bay (unless the neighbors are shooting off their guns , then I hide under Dad's desk). Zeeba, however seems to find other ways to keep busy. Mom didn't realize that he was using the picnic table on the patio as agility equipment. Mom looked out the patio door, squeeked and grabbed her camera--and this is what she saw:

Now she has to find another place to put things "out of reach". That scrub brush was destined to go the way of the missing bath sponge.

Anyway, on Sunday mom decided to drag herself out to a Match Show and parade Zeeba around the breed ring since so many folks have been calling him a pretty boy. Well he didn't have much competition so he brought home all blue ribbons. It's no wonder he won the"group" since there were a bunch of dogs without legs--Corgi's I think they were called. But true to form , when it came time for "Best puppy in match", he got bored and real silly and just wanted to play instead of "gait" so a scary dog called a Malemute took the trophy. Serves him right!!!!

On Monday, Dad felt that he was feeling better so we went to the last day of the Southern Adirondack Agility trial. I tried really hard for him and Q'd in the Jumpers class which was the first of the day. That was the third leg for my AXJ title. I also tried hard in Standard but Dad was tired and let me do an off course jump by mistake. So here's the picture Mom took of us with our ribbons.

2009-05-31T09:09:00.002-04:00

Hi, it's Robin speaking. I am exhausted!!! We went to the border Collie Rescue reunion yesterday at Aunt Kathy's Sugarbush Farm. All those BC's running around loose makes me nervous so I didn't try playing in the pond. Dad just took me around to see my people friends and then we went to play agility. Above in the picture you can see just a few of the border collies who have a new lease on life thanks to the the New England Border Collie Rescue people and the adopters. Zeeba came too and acted like a fool as usual. Mom is still having trouble with that Control stuff. She had him off leash in the agility ring and a boy came in to watch and Zeeb just left Mom to go visit in spite of all the fun equipment and Mom having really yummy cheese. Will he ever GROW UP????

Then after lunch Mom and Aunt Kathy arranged a surprise for Dad (his birthday number 75 is coming up soon--let's see, that's only 10 in border collie years--so it's no wonder he is still pretty spry). There was a cake with MY picture on it and Happy Birthday for everybody to share. Dad was helping BBQ hamburgers for lunch and he was REALLY surprised. Then in the raffle he won a basket of party stuff. I'm glad to be home with MY OWN pond and no other border collies to crowd me. (Zeeba doesn't count cuz he's not a real border collie). Here'a a picture of the cake.

Camping at trials and the trials of camping.

2009-05-30T09:01:00.003-04:00

Hi, Zeeba here. Took all week to finish this blog entry cuz Mom's computer was slow. Don't know why that happens sometimes. I'm never slow but Mom wishes I'd slow down once and a while.
We went to agility trials at Granby for the Memorial day weekend .Sometimes when we camp there are "Hookups" but at Granby we were "dry camping" (except for one downpour when Mom was a ring crew and got pretty wet). Dad had checked everything out on the RV the weekend before but we had Hookups. He didn't check out the strength of our battery which meant that unless we ran our very noisy generator we didn't have electricity. We found that out the first night when a beep beep alarm went off which woke us up and scared Robin so she had to spend the rest of the night sleeping with Mom--and it was a hot night to sleep with a Border Collie. The trials were fun for me cuz I met lots of people and dogs and Mom bought me some new chewy things to keep me from getting bored and squeaking and standing on my head. Robin didn't get any of those Q things but she did get a weave entry in a course that no other 'A" dogs could get so I was proud of her. She tells me that DAd is really too slow for her and she has to yell at him a lot.
Mom wants to go to bed now because today we spent the day at the Rescue Border Collie reunion at Sugarbush Farm. Robin will tell you about it tomorrow. Here is a picture of our RV with Robin and I in our Xpen outside. We're in the shade so you can't see us too well.

A Prentiss Therapy dog

2009-05-19T09:33:00.002-04:00

Hi, it's Zeeba here. Mom's been too busy for blogging so I thought I'd better get on her case so she could post my latest adventure--which was actually last week. I think I found a new career to persue. It's called Therapy Dog, but I'm still a prentiss. I went on a visit to a Nursing Home with the Canine Company of the Albany Obedience Club. Lots of people live there who have to be in chairs with big wheels . Mom thought I might be nervous but it didn't bother me a bit. We greeted all the folks , then did "demostrations" of how good we were trained and did tricks and stuff. I didn't xactly heel but I came when called, stayed, and retrieved my dumbbell and ran thru a tunnel and got mom a tissue when she sneezed (another dog did that too so it wasn't such a big surprise). I also practised my weaving thru her legs--yes she was actually able to take me off leash without my running to play with the other dogs. This was all fun cuz I got lots of treats and all those people let me put my paws on their laps so they could pet me. After about an hour I started getting restless and squeaking and standing on my head so Mom said that it was time to go home tho I did wonderful for the first time visiting.

Here is a picture of me standing on my head--while dad was trying to sweep up stuff from the floor at home. That's what I do when I want attention.

Since everybody has been telling me what a handsome boy I am I thought I'd ask Mom to post my latest "glamoor shot". I don't much like standing still and posing--I'm really all for action. Mom says I need to learn "impulse control". Does that mean I can't go down stairs three at a time?

Congratulations Carl and Robin

2009-04-27T09:18:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone, it's Robin here: Well I finally got Dad trained well enough so that we could qualify in Excellent Standard . We're in the big time now. We went to the Mid-Hudson Agility trial this weekend and was it HOT ! It was still reasonable for the first class o f the weekend and Dad and I aced it. Not only did we Q but we got first place and 10 seconds faster than the second place dog. We already have 2 legs in Ex Jumpers and I was hoping we'd finish that title this weekend but it was not to be. We got a little frazzled on the jumpers course Saturday since we had to go over the same jump 3 times and 3 different directions after that. Dad was a little slow giving directions and I had to yell at him a lot so I missed my weave pole entry.Then on Sunday I got a little anxious to finish the weave poles and left out one pole--bummer--otherwise I'd have had another Standard leg. We were all too hot by jumpers and I ran past the last jump. Just wanted to get my drink of water. ( I have to think of some excuse)
Zeeba behaved quite well for a dumb puppy--well he's 8 months old now so he should have some sense. He met lots of old friends including Lulu his favorite BC puppy and made lots of new friends. They all say he has cute ears.
Hope you noticed the shirt Dad is wearing. He's real proud of my being a NEBCR rescue.

Rompin' Robin--and Zeeba

2009-04-17T15:52:00.004-04:00

It's such a gorgeous day a romp in the sun would be great, and I'll even include Mr. Z. He's actually fun sometimes when he's not such an awful pest. Robin

He loves that "cow thing" toy!

2009-04-15T09:42:00.002-04:00

Hi everybody, HAppy Easter, Zeeba speaking:
Remember the trouble I had learning to bring my dumbbell back when I was learning to retrieve? Well now I can bring a tissue to mom when she sneezes. Here I am getting it out of the box (pardon my butt).
And here I am putting it right into her hand.

I can do lots of clever things when I am home but when other dogs are around my brain just turns to mush--like when Mom was teaching her Foundations class and wanted me to demonstrate how I can go and lie down on a target. As soon as I'm loose off leash I can't resist going to one of the other dogs to smell butt. Mom says its something like adolescent hormones and if I don't get my act together that no matter how gorgeous I am ,my t--t-cles are in serious danger. I wonder what that means?

Yummy muffins

2009-04-05T09:15:00.003-04:00

Hi Robin here: Boy was I lucky yesterday!! Dad baked me some muffins. Funny thing tho---he didn't remember that he left them close enough to the edge of the counter so that I could help myself. I heard him say "What happened to the muffins? I baked a dozen for breakfast tomorrow". Well I did leave some for Mom and Dad. I thought that was pretty generous. Here's what's left of the dozen muffins. (They tasted reeeeeel yummy.)

Now I also have a story to tell about Zeeba (the dumb puppy) . He woke up from a nap and fixed his eye on PseudoBeC. Now Pseudo's been here longer that Zeeba but he started growling and stalking like he'd never seen her before. Mom went over and moved Pseud a bit and Zeeba started barking and running around like a maniac--round and round through the house like a thing possessed. He finally wound up jumping on Pseudo and biting her. Then he did some playbows. Now how silly is that?Mom never has her video camera handy when things like this happen.
Here's a picture of Zeeba with his new"friend."

No escape

2009-03-29T12:15:00.006-04:00

Hi All, Robin here:
Can you believe that it took that dumb puppy till he was 7 months old to figure out that it was more comfortable on the sofa than on the floor? I think that he was just trying to get away from the EVIL CAT.Now I have my own place to get away from the EVIL CAT--it's under Dad's desk.

But the truth is that there is No Escape because the EVIL CAT can go everywhere!

EVIL CAT

Playdates for Zeeba

2009-03-22T13:41:00.004-04:00

Hi! Zeeba here: I've had a busy weekend. Every Thursday I get to watch Robin's agility class and before class I get to have a playdate with the dogs from class--4 mini poodles and 3 Cavaleers and a grown up shelty. What a roaring time we have!! Then after class we went to visit gramma Toni at Toven Shelty farm (where I was born). Gramma had a bad accident and squooshed her back so I haven't seen her since Thanksgiving. My shelty mommy Mira, and my sister Camille and Pearl; the Corgi came out to play with me. Wow!!!!was I excited. Mommy Mira had to show me her nice teeth to keep me in line. There was a nice black shelty named Tally there but she was too fat to play. She said that she is getting ready to have 7 new puppies. If they are anything like me she is going to have a lot of work. Funny thing (anyway everybody laughed) when I first came in the door I saw a nother puppy that looked so much like me that I barked and barked and barked at him. Afterward Mom said that it was a Mirror--sounds like my mommy's name so maybe we are related?? So here is a picture of me with sister Camille. She doesn't look anything like me with all those mixed up colors but she does the same kind of sidewise play bow that I do. Dad had to hold us still for a picture.

I slept a lot on Friday. Two play dates in one day is exhausting for a go go puppy like me. Then on Saturday Mom took me to a semenar at Sugarbush FArm where the border collies live. I guess I was a bad boy cuz I tried to make friends with a border collie and I scared him. I didn't get in trouble but my mom got yelled at. It was so hard to concentrate on learning anthing with all those dogs there--I thought it was just another playdate. One of the things we were supposed to learn was to pick up a piece of paper but I already know how to retrieve so it made Mom look like a good trainer (I think). In any case I have lots of experience interacting with paper when there is nothing better to do as you can see by the next picture. That's all for now. Robin is not talking cuz she's still upset for not getting any Q's at last weeken's trial.

Drinkeeze

2009-03-06T13:59:00.003-05:00

ROBIN HERE: We border collies all know how much fun it is to get a drink straight from the waterhose!!!!! But the dumb puppy hasn't found that out cus it's still winter and the hoses are all putaway.

So when MOM looked outside the other day, this is what she saw-----

After all I am named for a busy bobolink....Z

2009-03-01T10:01:00.003-05:00

Robin here: Speaking of kitties----we have a really weird kitty that lives with us named Leona. here she is climbing the screen door last summer--looks like she is climbing a tree doesn't it!

A Gility Trial

2009-03-01T09:05:00.004-05:00

Robin Here: Yesterday we all went to A Gility trial at a place called Green Witch?? Anyway it was indoors at Hi Goal Farm, Dad and I ran in two classes and Mom and Zeeba watched. The people were annoyed because the indoor plumbing didn't work and they had to wait in line at porta potties. I'm glad I don't have to wait in line and Mom or Dad just carries baggies for when I take care of my business. I was really excited about been out and about after a couple of months of no trials so I forgot to watch Dadevery second and I missed a couple of directionsso we didn't get any Q's. It was prettydisappointing because otherwise we worked realy great as a team. I also kinda forgot to do my 2on2 offstuff tho I did hit the yellow zones every time. I met lots of my people friends and got lots of petting--dog friends not so much.

Zeeba here: Robin had all the fun!!! I don't like spending so much time in my crate even tho I did have a chew stick. Mom did take me out a lot to sit on her lap so i could watch the big dogs run a gility. Good thing she had a good hold of my harness because I would have been right out there with them. When Dad was practicing at home with Robin the other day I ran across the big dogwalk and Mom had to get over quick to "spot" me. I didn't see any spots aftereward tho--maybe they go away really fast. I even tried the see-sawbut Dad was right there so I didn't fly off. They let me do tunnels without any help, they couldn't get through them anyway mom and dad are sooo slow I made lots of friends--there was even a cute border collie girl puppy with our friend Juliette. we had a good wrestle together.
I also did mycute little play-bows for a scottish deerhound--now here's a BIG DOG!!
Someday maybe I can bein a trial but mom says I have to learn obedience first--I need to learn self control. I really just want to have fun.

Nobody took any pictures--so much stuff to remember we forgot the camera. (I really would have liked to have a picture of me playing with LuLu the girl bc puppy). We have a trial in another couple of weeeks so maybe I'll get to see her again.

2009-03-01T09:05:00.001-05:00

2009-03-01T09:05:00.000-05:00

Half-a-year-birthday

2009-02-26T08:45:00.004-05:00

Zeeba here: yesterday was my half-a-year birthday and mom wanted to get some glammer shots outdoors but instead of posing I thougt it was more fun to steal Robin's squeakyball and play "keepaway" so this is what we got.

Dumbbell update

2009-02-23T13:10:00.000-05:00

Zeeba here: finishing up this weekend's tail---
I now think that it's fun playing with that dumbbell thing and I even run down the hall and bring it all the way back and put it in mom's hand to get a click/treat. So now she wants me to sit and HOLD it first. Why can't she make up her mind????

Robin here : Boring!!!!!!!

puppies are so dumb. I could teach him how to do it right but I can't work that clicker thing (don't have any thumbs). In any case if I had a treat, I'd eat it myself.

Resting in comfort

2009-02-22T09:20:00.000-05:00

This Sunday we're resting since there are no shows to go to but Zeeba will get to practice his dumbbell work since he would still rather keep it for himself than deliver it to mom.

Robin is taking it easy but keeping her options open for chasing squirrels even if it is snowing outside.

The dogs

2009-02-21T16:22:00.000-05:00

Hi, my name is Robin and I was adopted from New England border Collie Rescue when I was just a year old. I'm very proud of the fact that since then I have earned working "titles", a CDX in competition obedience and OA and OAJ in AKC Agility. I already have two "legs" on my Excellent Jumpeers title. When Icame here I lived with two shelties, Sparrow (Carmylie Sparrowhawk, UD. MX)-he was the Boss and oldest and Merlin (MACH Toven Wilderness Merlin, UD, CGC, TDI). Merlin didn't have all those titles then but he worked very hard, and Mom considered him to be a "perfect dog". Both Sparrow and Merlin have left us to go live with the angels . It was so sad to lose my best friend Merlin, because he got canine lymphoma when he was only 8 years old. Now I live with a pesky sheltie puppy named Zeeba.

Hi, I'm Zeeba aka Toven BZ Bobolink O' Wilderness.

This picture was taken when I was 4 months old and I'm almost 6 months now. I don't have any "titles" yet but I'm learning to retrieve a dumbbell and to go to a target and to go to a little pause table and lie down. I even let my mom brush my teeth with an electric toothbrush which is pretty cool since I just finished getting all my big dog teeth. And you know something--sometimes I feel real grown up and lift me back leg real high when I go pee pee so I don't get it on my front feet. I can't wait 'till the snow is gone so that I can learn more new things about agility which is lots of fun. I think that mom will be posting lots about all the new things that Robin and I will be doing.

Introduction

2009-02-21T14:13:00.000-05:00

Wilderness Farm is in Columbia County , NY and we presently have many chickens, Shetland Sheep, a Shetland Sheepdog puppy, Zeeba, and a rescue Border Collie, Robin. We also have an Abyssinian cat named Leona. The humans are Carl, Helen and Stephanie and I will be the spokesman for all. Carl raises hay for the sheep, vegetables for the family and trains Robin in the sport of Agility. Stephanie cares for the chickens and sheep and I am training Zeeba for Competition Obedience and Agility.

The chickens provide eggs for the family and some to sell.

The photo is of our Agility training ring at the top of the hill. It was taken last fall and is now still covered in snow with more expected tomorrow.

Wilderness Farm Shetlands

NO SUCCESS

Unpublished posts

Merry Christmas

Bad Hair Day at TMAC

Lost Squeakyball

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Excellent Fast Robin

Summer update

Summer fun

Summertime

SAAC agility trial June 19 and 20 by Zeeba

Tunnel monsters

LEAP Agility trial

PNUT Agility trial

PNUT Agility trial

PNUT Agility trial

Weekend Agility Trial MKHA

Apology?

Spring is here

Canie Company visit

More snow?

Webb Anderson lesson

View from the hill

More about winter

Winter doldrums

Another Zeeba update

Frisbeeeee!!!

Treats and tribulations

Images of Christmas

Images of Christmas

It Takes a Hungry Dog...

Happy Holidays

Reply to Arthur GOOD from Zeeba

Robin thinking

kitty update

Zeeba updates the Blog

Cape Cod vacation

Zeeba : "I can do it!"

Pioneer Valley Agility Trial

Kitten update

Happy Birthday Zeeba

Kitten update

itt

Ball balancing

Ball balancing

flowers and butterflies

Zeeba the Guru

Zeeba's friends

Zeeba loves Alex

Kitties and Zeeba's paw accident

4th of July

F*A*S*T Robin

Zeeba starts agility class

Robin's new title and Zeeba's new skill

Camping at trials and the trials of camping.

A Prentiss Therapy dog

Congratulations Carl and Robin

Rompin' Robin--and Zeeba

Yummy muffins

No escape

Playdates for Zeeba

Drinkeeze

A Gility Trial

Half-a-year-birthday

Dumbbell update

Resting in comfort

The dogs

Introduction

FAS*T Robin