25th August 08

Well after a very wet start to the year we are now really looking for rain.

Normally quite a wet month August is breaking all records for dryness. So prayers are going out for rain soon. It has also been very warm and things are drying out fast.

The state championship three sheep trial was held over the weekend in Perth but we are too busy here and I was unable to attend. I heard the sheep were very tricky and difficult to work.

Well, at the Kendenup trials I gave in to a moment of weakness and bought a new BC puppy.

Just one of those things, daughter Sam had wandered off at the trial and I found her with a friend cuddling puppies. I discovered they were by Ken Atherton’s lovely utility dog Ramulan Gus, who is by his open Champion dog Boylee Doug, now 12 years old. I had always wanted a Gus pup and had thought about sending Driftz to him but she is not an easy dog to breed and this way I don’t need to go through the whole puppy event. The mother is Frank Sutherlands Rocky Bear, who is by Swagman Clancy. Bear is a lovely calm bitch. Both dogs are good farm dogs as well as successful trial dogs.

He arrived last night and far from being a frightened overwhelmed little guy like I thought, he promptly took over the place, running around with his tail in the air. At just 5 weeks he is very confident indeed. He also has sharp teeth and has yet to learn some bite inhibition. I have put photos in the puppy section. Lara looked after him last night and this morning he was trying to suckle on her. She doesn’t mind this but did object to being bitten, so was allowed to discipline him. She is very gentle though, and handy for comforting lonely pups. I have yet to find a name for the new pup.

Sadly I have decided Kimba is not the dog for me and so she is for sale to the right home. I also think she will do better in a lesser dog houshold. She is very energetic, but biddable. I have a reasonable stop on her and she is picking up her flanking commands nicely. At eight months she is ready to do a bit more now. She is a friendly lovable pup, very gentle when playing with other dogs.

I have done little with the other dogs as we near lambmarking time. The older dogs will have plenty of work to do in the next week or so but as is the case the young ones get a bit neglected.

We crutched a mob the other day and caleb had a bit of a go in the yards. He is just so much dog though and the sheep were wild so I spent most of the time just getting him to calm down so the sheep did not all fly over the fences. He is lovely though and soon worked out that he had to lay down when all the sheep were going the right way. His instinct is so strong it is hard to get him to listen at times but he will get better with more work.

Angel also had a turn in the yard but she is immature and lacks some covering skills. She also needs a bit more time.

Tonka and his brother (now named zinc due to the white on his nose) are going well. They are the friendlies little guys I have ever had, they just can’t get enough of people and just stare lovingly into your face. It is irrisistable. However I cannot keep them both and Zinc is for sale also to the right person.

The clouds are gathering now so the prayers are flying out.