White Shepherd Stories

Are We Farmers Now?

I recently purchased a small John Deere tractor to cut the lawn.  It is so much fun.  I think Pirate and Quest love it the most, although Spirit wanted to hitch a ride with me yesterday.   He usually positions himself so that he can watch the area I am mowing, and still see where I go to dump the grass.  Quest and Pirate accompany me.  Eventually Quest finds a shady spot to watch from but Pirate runs beside me the entire time I am mowing.   He especially loves when we stop mowing and take off for the spot where we dump the grass hopper.   We go faster and he thinks it may be a race.  They are all good to stay out of the way but I do have to watch it after I stop for a while, just to be certain no toys are in the way.   

 

One of the best things about riding the tractor to cut the lawn is that I do not have to worry about stepping on a snake.  We do not have any poisonous snakes here, but I am still not really fond of snakes.  Since I am up on the tractor I do not have to wear boots.  To be honest, I have never stepped on a snake.  Nor have I had one slither across my foot, but I have always felt that there is a chance of that happening.  They are just little black garter snakes - no matter, they still bother me.  I don't know if they eat apples or not, but I mostly see them under the apple trees.   Now I am starting to see them more often in the piles of grass clippings.  I will not be walking through those piles.

 

 Now that I have mastered using the little tractor on the level, I am starting to attempt the hillsides.  I can see that it will take some practice, but it is not as scary as I thought it might be.  I have a brake, and also an emergency brake.  When I take my foot off the forward peddle, it pretty much stops though.  If I just keep my foot off the go peddle it moves ahead very slowly, when going down hill.  If I fall off, hopefully not on a snake, the tractor just shuts off.  Pretty nice safety feature, I am sure.  

I am sure I could do this mom - 

If I could just turn around...  

The tractor has a drink holder, with an additional little compartment for your lunch?  Once I put a drink in the cup holder and returned to find an aqua football in the other compartment.  Not sure if that was done by Quest or Pirate.   

So far I have mowed the agility field and the apple orchard area.  I have done some of the area down by the entry gate and I am just starting the level area in front of the house..  That will leave the hilly areas.  If worse comes to worse I may just plant some more trees in those areas.  

Spirit has agreed to guard it as long as it is in a shady spot.  

Well, guess we will head out to do some more mowing.  The grass is a bit longer than it should be.  I will not let it get this long in the future.  If it rains before I get it cut I am kind of in trouble.   On the other hand, I will not need to worry about learning to do the hills if that happens.   One thing I am certain of, I will always have good company and moral support.  My beautiful companions will assist me in every way they can think of, providing toys and kisses.

 

Come on, let's go!
  

   

Quest Feels Bad When Pirate is Disrespectful

Pirate likes to kiss Spirit on the face.  He likes to do this a whole lot more than Spirit likes to have him to do it.   He does not do it much to Quest.  They are more like buddies, whereas Spirit is the pack leader and I believe this is Pirate's way of honoring him.  Well, for lack of a better theory, that is all I could come up with anyway.

Quest is OK with this until Spirit gets tired of it and he tells Pirate to stop.  The problem arises for Quest, when Pirate does not stop.  In fact, when Spirit finally growls or curls his lip, Pirate sometimes escalates the kissing, as if he enjoys living dangerously.   It is at this point that Quest usually starts to howl a little.   He just acts as if he feels real bad about it.  If he is up and passing by at the time he will knock Pirate away from Spirit, with a very gruff "Woof".  Pirate interprets that as a game and takes off running so that Quest will chase him.  Sometimes he does.

 

 Leave me alone Pirate.

 Get lost you little brat!

 Quest, you better get Pirate or I'm going to have to deck him.

Quest breaks it up and grumbles to Pirate about how bad he is acting.  All is well until it begins again a little later.  There are times when it seems that Pirate is only doing it to get Quest to play with him.  

If he pushes Spirit too far, Spirit pinches his cheek until Pirate cries.  Pirate then goes away, slapping at his sore cheek with a paw.  This whole scenario is well handled by the three of them and I do not get involved.  The worst thing that happens is the pinch, and by that time, Pirate really needs this reality check.  They have never drawn blood or made a visible mark.  

The sad part is how it affects Quest.  He has always been a dog that hates any kind of strife.  He gets along with everyone and he wants everyone else to get along also.  If a dog growls at him or shows aggression, Quest has always met it with a fake out bounce toward the dog and a huge "WOOF". That has always worked for him - that, and the fact that I instruct him to move along and ignore the dog.  He likes that because it gives him the out he needs to save face.  He struts along with me, giving a snort over his shoulder at the "bad dog".

Gretty pushes Quest's skills at diplomacy to the limits sometimes but he loves her.

 
  

   

Quest has a good friend who is known for being full of mischief.  She pushes it until her mom needs to yell at her. Quest does not like it when anyone yells and he usually goes to the far side of the yard and sits, leaning against the fence, with a soulful expression.   He often carries it even further, in that he tries to correct Gretty before her mom has to yell at her.  Quest has always been like this.  He is a very gentle boy - and super sensitive. He has never been in a fight though he has run the beaches and parks with many other dogs all his life.  I believe Quest has mastered diplomacy better than anyone I have ever seen, dog or human.   

Spirit is also very talented at diplomatic relations but he does not need to practice them much since he has Quest to handle it for him now.  

As much as Quest hates violence of any kind, I know he would lay his life on the line for any of us in a split second.  It's funny, you would think a dog that disliked dissension as much as Quest does, would not give me this feeling of security, but it is there, full on - he is our guardian.  I do not remember when the baton was passed from Spirit to Quest but there is no mistaking it now.  Quest is in charge if we need him. 

 

 
  

Mom Says I Need a Little Brother

 

This was our family when Spirit came to live with us.   Chaos was 14 years old and Diva was about 8 years old.   Chaos was with us until he was about 15.   

Spirit grew up on the Southern California beaches with Diva, our Standard Poodle. 

 

Our sweet Diva, lived to be nearly 16 years of age.  She was in very good condition except for her hearing and eyesight, which were both failing.  Spirit became her guide dog.  He walked at her shoulder and as soon as he touched her, she would increase her pace from hesitant to confident, as she moved with Spirit. He took such wonderful care of her.  When the doctor found a large mass in one of Diva's lungs, I decided that surgery was not a good option at her age.  We missed her so much. 

Very close to the same time, we also lost our neighbor, Hans, a young Shepherd that Spirit provided day care for several days a week.   Hans's mom worked and he needed guidance and training.  Spirit was wonderful at providing that.  Hans was only 2 when he was diagnosed with Mega-Esophagus. He did not do well with it.  That left just me and Spirit.   We had great times and we were busy with agility competitions but I was working and Spirit was very lonely during the days when I was gone.  

We found Quest at Mary Martin's Goldfield Kennel, in Arizona.   I drove the RV to pick him up.  It was a wonderful trip and it was so nice to meet Mary and see her beautiful dogs.  She placed baby Quest in my arms and I could barely see him for the tears.  It was love at first sight.  

Quest, sleeping in the RV, beside the food box. (look at his black tummy) 

Quest was an independent little guy and he was used to being with other dogs.  He just assumed that Spirit was going to love him.  He was right.  However, Spirit is a strong leader and he was determined to teach his new little brother some manners.  I don't believe Quest was ever afraid of Spirit in any way, but he was reasonably respectful.   

 

 

They were inseparable!
 

Sometimes there was a  little more togetherness then Spirit may have wanted, but you could tell he was not about to trade Quest.   All in all he truly loved his little brother and still does.  

 

 
 
 Mommmmmmm, help me!

 

Stop biting me Quest, I'm warning you!

 Ahhhhh  uggggg , I think Spirit is killing me, mom

All in all we got along very well.  Spirit was more than patient with Quest and Quest was super proud of his big brother.  We were a very happy family.    

 I could have sworn this sun cot used to be bigger.

Life was good.  Quest took obedience lessons .... he was nothing like his brother, Spirit.   Perhaps he took his name too seriously:  "Question Authority".  He managed to pass but his second set of lessons was not as good as the first, so we quit while we were ahead.  Agility was a different story.  He LOVED it. He just was not so good at paying attention, but when he did, he was a house afire!   This guy was Mr. Super Drive.    Not only that, he was inventive.  Once when he found himself at the wrong end of the teeter, he simply reached up with one leg and pulled it down so he could go on it.  It took less time than going around :o)

Spirit - smooth and perfect - then there was Quest! 

We kept on with lessons and as Spirit covered the walls in our den with ribbons and certificates, I was wondering if Quest would ever be able to keep his mind on what he was supposed to be doing.  He had moments of excellence and then there were the other times.....   

Agility with Quest will follow.