White Shepherd Stories

Journey at UKC Show

The pup is growing up .... almost 18 months old now.  In the video he gets into his nice gait a bit, in spite of turning to look for me.   Nicole Dunn has always handled him at shows and I was sure sorry she was not able to be at this show with us.  I have problems with my back and I am not able to do a very good job of running Journey.  He is a big guy, (89.2 lbs.), with a long reach and he is fast.  I am not fast.

I showed him in the first show and he got Reserve Champion.  In the second show the Judge told me she liked what she saw, but she would really like to see him move out a little longer than I could master.  She asked me if anyone else could run him for me.  A friend, Mike tried but Journey does not know him and that did not work out.   My daughter and her husband were there to watch and I just had an idea.  I told the Judge I thought Journey would show for her.   I turned and asked Laura if she would show him.  It really took her by surprise and I didn't know if she would agree.  Laura has only seen a couple dog shows and to top it off she is  allergic to dogs!  The best thing they had going though is that Journey knows her and loves her.  She is also in good condition and can run.

She answered "sure".  It was kind of a blindside ... maybe a good thing I did not ask her ahead of time.  Well she did an excellent job.  Although Journey was looking for me, she still managed to do a great job  of showing him.  I was so proud! even though I was only able to sneak peaks from behind a trailer where I was hiding.   No one mentioned pictures, but Laura's husband, Kevin managed to take a couple short videos.  

Well they got a Champion of Champions, and a Best of Breed.  There were eight other White Shepherds showing.  The videos are of the Herding class.  They did not place in Group.  They had some tough competition.  

Laura & Journey

This show was held at the Longview Fairgrounds, in the horse arena.  It was really cold.  The surface is dirt, which is really safer than cement with rubber strips - but it is, well, dirty.   Outside was even worse, with many mud puddles and squish to walk through.  I managed to keep Journey fairly white, in spite of all that.   After we finished showing for the day we went to lunch and then home.

Journey in the middle.  

Sunday we headed back to the fairgrounds.  Unfortunately Laura and Kevin had other things to do so I was on my own.  In the first show we did not place.  I was not running well at all and Journey was all over, cutting in front of me as I attempted to run.  He also decided to add some running jumps, high in the air,  to give me kisses.   

I searched desparatey for a Junior Handler to help in the 4th show.  I was unable to find her.  She is very good and I was sure she would show Journey.  He knew her slightly and it might have worked but we could not find her in time.  That left me in the ring with Journey, not feeling very hopeful.  His best feature is his movement.  All the Judges rave about it, but it is painfully obvious that he needs a faster handler.  I am not it!  So this time I had a rather "do or die" attitude.  All I could do was the best I could, with a pinched sciatic nerve to deal with.  

Well, he did it!  In spite of me.  He got the Champion of Champions, and many compliments from the Judge. So that was two more legs toward his Grand Championship, giving him three total.  Two more to go and he will have his Grand.

"Is this OK mom?"

A Very Long & Kind of Weird Day

I am pretty much of a night owl.  I guess my parents were too firm about my bedtime restrictions. I still take great pleasure in not having anyone tell me when I need to go to bed.  That is one of the wonderful things about being retired and single.  I often times fall asleep watching TV in the evening, then I may wake up at 1:30 AM or even as late/early as 3:00 or 4:00 AM and head for bed.  Usually I stop in my office and read some email.  I may spend another hour writing.  Then I go to bed and I may read before I sleep for an hour or so.  If I am not going anywhere I often sleep until 9:00 or later, especially in the winter.  My summer schedule, if you can call it that, changes somewhat.  I get up much earlier as I do not want to miss the sunshine.  I enjoy the seasons, each for different reasons.  Anyway, I probably fall asleep sometime between 9:00 PM and 12:00PM, while watching TV, so I am used to waking up several hours later and going to bed.  

Last weekend the dog show was exhausting and the cold really got to me after sitting or standing around in that chilly barn for so many hours.  I went to my water aerobics class on Monday morning and when I got home I had lunch, and I was still tired and a little cold.  I decided to watch something on TV and warm up.  My couch is so comfy .... I fell asleep, probably around 3:00 PM.    

When I woke up, it was dark but naturally, for me that was not unusual.  I stayed on the couch for a few minutes, watching the news and realized I had sort of lost the evening by sleeping on through.  I also realized I had not fed the dogs their evening meal and wondered why Quest had not told me about it.   I looked at the clock and it was nearly 6:00 AM.  Wow, I must really have been tired!  I felt great though and really debated on whether to go to back to bed for a couple more hours or just stay up.  I decided to feed the dogs and maybe go back to bed, even if I just read my book for a little bit.   In view of it being so long overdue I fed the dogs kibble mixed with a little cottage cheese and scrambled eggs, (seemed appropriate for breakfast).  As usual, our little Parrot, "Bogey" wanted his share and I gave him some scrambled egg.  As he was eating it I was covering his cage, and I said, "goodnight Bogey".  He said "awk".  Then I turned out the light and headed for bed.  

The dogs and I all walked down the hallway toward my bedroom.  I stopped in the office and checked email.  I answered a couple and thought how it would puzzle my friends seeing how early I was up.  It was of course, still dark and I was just about to turn off the light when the phone rang.  The call was from "Out of Area", as that is what shows on the phone screen.   As normal, my three Shepherds set up an impressive howling session in honor of the phone ringing.  It must sound like a kennel when I answer.  I can barely hear who is on the line for a minute.  

I often get calls from solicitors wanting donations.  Several times they have been from out of the area and they apparently did not check the time zone they were calling.  Of course being awakened at 6:30 AM, I am not usually prepared to tell them how I really feel about it.  This time I was prepared!   Although I was not sleeping, I faked it because I normally would have been asleep.

"Mrs. Tanner?"  (That also makes me mad.  It took me a long time to stop believing I needed to have a husband and to go back to my maiden name.  It felt good not to tag along after a previous husband dragging the baggage of HIS name.)   Why can't they say "Ms." ?  Oh well, I will pick my battles today.  

Him:   "How are you doing?"  

Me:     "I was doing fine until you called and woke me up."  

Him:    Silence.

Me:      "This is way too early to call people.  It is not even 7:00 AM yet."

Him:    Silence.  Then a soft , "No it isn't.  It is evening."

Me:      Silence.   "It is?"

Him:     " Yes". 

Me:      "Are you sure?"

Him:     Somewhat more confident.  "Yes, it is Monday, 7:00 PM.  Did you have a rough day?"

Me:       "I had a rough weekend."

I was so confused at this point I even let him continue with his spiel.  It gave me a chance to try and untangle my mindset and organize my confusion.

Hint #1 - I looked out the window, sure enough, the lights on my gate were on.  They are set to go on at dusk, and off four hours later.  I had previously dismissed that, thinking that perhaps the timer was wrong on it.  

Hint #2 -  The neighbors lights were on and normally no one around here, (out in the country), keeps the same wacky hours I keep.  Of course they do get up early, but they don't usually have that many lights on.

Hint #3 -   The dogs had not asked for their dinner, but just gratefully accepted breakfast instead.  They already know I am crazy.   They just humor me along.  

Hint #4 - It was now after 7:00 (AM?) and not even beginning to get light.  

I declined his solicitation for money, and he just thanked me for listening.  I got the impression he did not really expect me to donate.  Heaven knows WHAT he thought.   I thanked him for giving me back the evening I thought I had lost.  

Him:   "Yeah, well, you are welcome".

I cannot begin to tell you what this whole thing has done to my thinking.  It took me a while to realize I lost the evening and it was morning.  Then in trying to correct that thinking, I was really having a tough time.  I wandered around the house a little;  decided to stay in my sleep shirt since it would not be long until it was time to go to bed (maybe).  I contemplated how lucky it was that "Out of  Area" did call.  I might have been sitting at my computer wondering why the sun was not coming up.  

The dogs followed me around the house.  By this time they had no idea what I was going to do.  As I passed the door to the garage they  looked at me questioning whether I wanted to go some where in the car.   Maybe another meal? or how about a walk?

I pulled Bogey's cover off his cage, "Good Morning Bogey, short night huh!"  He just said "awk". He also knows I may be crazy and has come to accept it.  He is a little whacky too!

I had a bowl of soup and I watched the TV programs I thought I had missed.  Then I covered Bogey again and I went to bed and slept until about 9:00 AM.  I have had my coffee but I am still having a little problem with my orientation.  I keep feeling like I missed our Tuesday evening agility class.  I have no idea if I missed putting out the garbage can.  Perhaps I need to write the day and time on my hand.  Who could ever believe anyone could get so confused.  The worst I ever did before was forget it was a Saturday and that I did not need to get ready for school.  That was ages ago.   I'll bet 'Out of Area Man'  has blacked out my name on his call list. 

This may take another day or so to get back to normal.  I had retired my alarm, but I may reconsider and use it to tell me when it is bed time.  Maybe mom knew best.

Raw Drumsticks

 Pirate, Quest & Journey

For the most part, I have not fed my dogs raw meat. I preferred feeding all of them the same food and I was advised by several vets, not to feed Spirit raw foods. He had some auto-immune problems that made it more of a risk for him to chance the possibility of bacteria. He also could not have vacinations and various types of medicines.  Since we lost Spirit last year, I had decided to give my dogs the treat of a piece of chicken each day. When I got home from the store on the first day, I placed the package on our picnic table and opened it. I had a very appreciative audience, just from the smell alone. I handed Quest a drumstick and he barely hesitated. He took it away to examine it briefly before finishing it off.   Pirate sniffed a little longer, then took it and followed Quest's example. Journey took his when I handed it to him, but he dropped it almost immediately, jumped back, and then sniffed at it, as if it were alive and maybe going to get him. He left it and ran to see what the other guys were doing. When he rushed back to his drumstick, he grabbed it and shook it. Then he took it to the lawn at the top of the property where he put it on the grass. He pounced on it as if it were alive; he rolled on it; he picked it up in his front teeth with his lips drawn back and he shook it. Next he tossed it in the air and then pounced on it. He even started tossing it in the air and catching it. He looked like a coyote with a mouse. He was so funny that I wished I had anticipated his reaction and had a camera ready. Every couple minutes he stopped and looked to see what the other guys were doing. He finally decided to eat it and he really enjoyed it. Since that first day, they are all really enjoying their drumsticks. Journey is still playing with his for a while before he "kills" it. I know, it is not really alive, but he still seems to believe it is. He even makes funny little noises while he pounces on it. What a dog! He is certainly fun to watch and what ever he is thinking, it appears that the raw meat just brings out his primitive soul. Pirate and Quest are mildly interested in watching his performance, but have not shown any of the action that Journey does. I hope to get some pictures of him doing his "raw food antics".  I find it so curious that he reacts to it this way.  He has never shown any interest in playing with his other foods.

Spirit, Baby Pirate & Quest

At least two or more of my dogs ride in the back of my Subaru wagon when I go to the store, or wherever.  In all the years I have had Shepherds, at least twenty-five,  I have put groceries in the back, next to the door.  I have never, ever had a dog get into my groceries.  I can leave fish, beef, chicken, or anything else there and my boys will not touch it.  They usually stick their nose in the bag and inhale deeply to see what is there, but not even a suggestion of attempting a sample.  I can even stop at more than one store, and leave those groceries alone with them.    At first I thought maybe it was just Spirit guarding them for me.  He was like that, but whatever it was, my groceries were safe and I did not even think about it.  After giving them the raw chicken, I was a little concerned that perhaps the temptation would be too great.  Well, no problem.  I have left them with the groceries just like normal (even their drum sticks) and no one messes with them.   I think Spirit taught them honor.  

You know, I have to change that  slightly.  I just remembered, when Pirate was a baby, maybe about four months, we had gone to Portland to take Spirit to his underwater treadmill session.  He had that after his hip replacements, or if he was sore from arthritis.

My absolute favorite pizza place was located in the same block with the vet's clinic.  It was a little over an hour drive from where we live.  I would like to have indulged in a pizza every time I went there, but I swear, I can gain weight from just looking at pizza.  Anyway, when I do decide to allow myself the absolute sin of buying a pizza, my most important criteria is that it be "the best".  If I am going to commit this sin it is going to be really worth it!  After therapy I picked up a medium pizza, which was good for at least three meals.  

On the way home I took a side track to a beautiful island in the Columbia River.  Sauvie Island has farms that raise wonderful vegetables, fruit,  flowers, lavender and many wonderful things I enjoy.  There is a lake, and just so many beautiful things to see.   I love to stop at a pretty farm that sells produce and lovely Dahlias. You just pick up a bucket, fill it with water and place it in a red wagon.  They give you clippers and you can walk between the aisles and choose your own flowers.  A whole bucket full, as many as you can fit in it, are only about $10.  There are many varieties of flowers.  I especially love the Dahlias but the sunflowers and many other types are also beautiful.  A bucket full can fill three to five large vases at home and I love having fresh flowers in every room sometimes.   

Well, as much as I trusted the adult dogs, Spirit and Quest, I did not feel quite that confident about four month old Pirate.  I placed the warm Pizza box, inside of a plastic bag, under the mat in the back of the Subaru.   I felt that it was totally safe and I went on my way to the produce store and the flower field.   When I returned to the car with my bags of food and flowers, I discoved a man standing beside my car and smiling.   Spirit and Quest were in the front seats, as far away from Pirate as they could possibly get.  The man was laughing and he told me that he had waited for me.  That was a little puzzling.  About then I saw the open pizza box and a happy, tomato sauce and cheese faced puppy.  

It seems that the man was concerned that the blame be placed where it belonged.  He pointed at Pirate and said "he did it.  He did it all by himself.  The others didn't touch it."  I noticed that they were both leaning as far forward as possible and wanted nothing to do with Pirate or the pizza box.  Pirate casually took one more lick on the last remaining piece of pizza, which was sadly missing its entire topping of cheese and goodies.  He had eaten the whole pizza, with the exception of that one small, denuded piece.  

In retelling the story, the man was laughing so much he could hardly relate it.  He was so amazed at the older guys and how good they were.  He said he could hardly believe that the pup could eat all that and he figured they would all get in trouble.  He said he just could not leave them, knowing that, because they had been so good.   He said he told Pirate to stop but it didn't do any good.

I could see that he was truly enjoying the story.  I am afraid that at that time I just could not enjoy the situation or find it as funny as he did.  I tried, but all I could think of was my pizza.  The man said "I hope he doesn't get an upset tummy".  I said  "yeah, that would be a shame"!  That set him off laughing again.  

Well I scolded Pirate and we headed home.  I stopped at Papa Murphy's and bought another pizza.  It was good, but it was not "my favorite"    

Months later, we were once again at the clinic for Spirit's therapy and I decided to get a pizza.  The dogs were all in the car.  When I came out with the pizza Pirate took one look at the pizza box and dissapeared in the back of the car.  He recognized the box!  He would not even stay in the back with it.  He came up front to ride next to me in the passenger seat.  :o)   That was our one and only experience with food thievery.  

 Baby Pirate