Remembering Emily

Active Salivation

Treats.  I love TREATS.  Every night, when we go to bed, we get a bedtime snack.  As soon as the gate closes, the active salivation starts.  Don't you know what active salivation is?  OOOOOHHHHHH, that's right, you're HUMAN...you heard all about that Pavlov guy and his work with bells.  Ring a bell, give a dog a treat.  After awhile, when you ring the bell, the dog begins to DROOL....it's called Classical Conditioning.  If Pavlov could come up with something like Conditioning Conditioning, he wouldn't use a term as gauche as DROOL, and he didn't he called it psychic secretion.  The general population used the word DROOL.  As an intelligent border collie, I don't like that term, either.  We're smart - we understand what is coming - so we actively begin to secrete digestive juices.  I.E. - saliva.  Therefore, I DO NOT DROOL, I actively salivate when I expect food.  Get it?

Lower Allen Park

Another nice spring day, another excursion.  This time found us at Lower Allen Park.  We parked near something called a dog park, but we didn't go there.  We went for a walk on the nature trail and then all around the perimeter of a park - we even took time to strike a pose.

The park is VERY clearly marked that we had to be on a leash, but we met AT LEAST 5 dogs that were out and about with their human but with no leash.  One human was even leaning on the sign that said the dog must be on a leash....it's a good thing he didn't own a border collie....we're smart, we would have put a leash on him after we read the sign.

What Do You MEAN it's isn't food?

I was just trying to help Mom.  She tells me I cannot chase my big brother.  HE'S A CAT - why CAN'T I chase him.....but I digress.  SO, when Izzy got sick near the back door, I thought I would clean it up for her.  Mom actually told me to stop!  How could she?  Didn't she know how wonderful it would be for me and how helpful it would be for her?  But NO - while she was cleaning, she is going on and on about how Puddy Puke (Yes, she actually said Puddy Puke- can you believe it!!!!).  Any how, she said Puddy Puke is NOT an appetizer, dessert, snack, meal, side dish, aperitif or diet aid of any kind.  I tried to show her the page in the doggy handbook that says otherwise...but she didn't want to hear it.  This is what a girl gets for trying to help.  Now, to get her vocabulary to the level of a border collie...

D27

D27.

That is how I started this year - no name, just a designation of D27.  Breeding stock.  Unsocialized and living in a plastic drum with no insulation - I didn't know what a water bowl was, I was underweight, I was scared of everything.  The only contact I had with humans was being dragged place to place with a collar and a stick.  Then one day, people came and moved us out of that area.  I was taken to a doctor who gave me shots, examined me.  I had a split lip, worms, ear mites and frost bite on two paws.  The people who rescued me were from Glen Highland Farm - but with 30 of us, they needed help, so I found myself on the way south.

Next stop - Virginia - Blue Ridge Border Collie rescue.  Another vet check, more shots - then I went home with Heather.  I got a name - SOKO.  She had dogs and cats, but I just wanted to curl up and huddle in a corner.  I wouldn't drink unless I was taken to a water bowl, I wouldn't eat if anyone was within sight.  I had to be closed in the utility room, but I would still only lay down to eat.   I was terrified of the collar, so Heater purchased a nice, padded harness for me.  That was a little better.  I would walk on a leash, but as soon as Heater stopped,  I would lay down and it would take a little tug to get me moving again.  Then Heather went to work writing about me for the rescue.  It was a LONG description, but she wanted people to know what I needed - I am a beautiful boy and she didn't want people to pick me just for my color.  After about three months, it was okay for me to be adopted.  The description went out and two new people came to meet me.  I didn't go to them, but they came to meet me.  I showed a little interest - I hesitantly sniffed from a distance when they knelt next to me and held out a hand.  After a little bit, and sniffing each person one at a time, Heather put a leash on me.  We went to a front yard and the people brought out another dog.  She was very friendly and I perked up a little.  The humans visited for about an hour - one of them even laid on the ground with me so I wouldn't be as scared.  Then they left.  I didn't know what to think, but they came back the next week.  They had a wire cage.  They took me home with them.

My new humans said they were now my mom and dad - and I have a sister and a brother.  The sister is like me - only black and white.  My brother is a feline.  Heather said I was good with her cats.  For the first month, I was comfortable two places - in my bed in the bedroom.

and on the love seat.

As time progressed, I got a new name - Cosmo.  I knew I was staying then - why would they change my name if I was going back to Heather?  I would also lay in the kitchen when Mom was there.

I met a lot of nice people that mom and dad brought to help me and also some people that live in the neighborhood when we went for walks.  Linda is one of those people - I was cautious with her, but she has a friend for me that looks like my sister - his name is Max.   Max and I greeted each other very well and when he approached my mom for a scratch, I laid down and allowed Linda to hold her hand out for me to sniff.  Barbara came to meet me and talk with me and help mom and dad socialize me.  Lisa comes every two weeks and take me and my sister for a walk.  Ciji sees us every six weeks and gives us a bath.  I could do without that, but at least she puts a babushka on me so the noise isn't as scary.

While on the couch, mom and dad would give me toys.  I didn't do much with them, until they gave me this one.  It was my first time eating peanut butter.  I LIKED IT.

After awhile, my brother Izzy got a little more interesting.  My herding instinct kicked in and I was VERY tempted to move off of my couch and chase him.  While actually getting off of the couch and onto the floor took another month or so, mom managed to take this picture of one of my first forays onto the ottoman.

In this picture, you can see a little bit of blue around my neck.  Ciji brought  loose bandanna for me that fastened with a rubber band - very loosely.  This is how I started to learn to wear a collar.  Now, I wear a collar all the time and do not get freaked out.  I also have quite a wardrobe of bandannas and bow ties.

Sister has been teaching me how to play.  We regularly pull the stuffing out of the toys, play tug and even recently started playing ball.  I also get in trouble for chasing the cat.  I try not to - unless he teases me.  Mom said that I was good with Heather's cats because I was CATatonic - get it?  She thinks she's funny.  My last visit from Barbara was in September.  She said she was very happy with me - I even approached her from behind the fence - people aren't as scary when they are behind a fence.  She said that from April 19 to September, I had improved my confidence so much that she had not expected it for at least a year.  By that time, if we see Linda, I stand and allow her to scratch me.

I also have learned that I LOVE to cuddle.  When the noise maker goes off every morning, I know it is my sign to hop up on the bed and cuddle up to mom and get scratches.  Sister gets the other side - two hands, to dogs - it works.  It does make it hard to get a walk in the morning.  I LIKE those walks - mom even sees my tail when I walk now.  Where we live, we get lots of geese and ducks.  At first, I showed no interest - but that has changed, too.  I stand in the open to eat and I no longer lick dew and frost of the ground for a drink.

We go for car rides to really fun places for walks - around lakes, through the woods - we even went with a large group of people and their dogs.  It is wonderful.

So, now that this year has ended, I wanted to give you all an update and say THANK YOU for the following:

• Glen Highland Farm 
• Blue Ridge Border Collie Rescue
• Heather - Foster Mom
• Mom and Dad
• Barbara, Behaviorist (http://www.inthedog-house.com)
• Lisa, Dog Walker
• Ciji, Groomer (https://www.facebook.com/DeMattedbyCiji)
• Water Bowls
• Warm Beds (I have 6)
• Regular Meal Times
• Meg (my sister) 
• Yes, even Izzy (my brother)

Happy New Year everyone!  Maybe this year I get confident enough to play on my sister's agility equipment....

Meg goes to Woofstock

Harrisburg has a great dog event called Woofstock.  Mom and dad have tried for many years to go, this year, they took me.

It was a GREAT day.  Lots of doggies to meet, lots of new people that love me, rescues for other doggies.  I even saw a sign that started with Blue Ridge and I was excited.  Blue Ridge Border Collie Rescue saved me, I was hoping it was them, but it wasn't.  That's okay, other doggies are being saved.

There were dog biscuits, good smells and friends I know.  We learned about KPets - a therapy dog group that I might be able to join, dogs that work for the Harrisburg police and that I have the best groomer and petsitter for me.  I hope we go every year!

Cosmo on Stretching

Mom and dad keep talking about stretching me.  I know mom does Yoga, I was afraid they were going to make me do Doga for awhile, but now I don't think so.  I just keep getting to do new things.  Not TOO bad - if I look to scared, we stop and try again later.  This weekend has had a LOT of new experiences.

Yesterday, I heard them say that we were going to go bark in the park.  I don't bark often, but I was excited to be in the car.  When we got to the park, there were tents and people and dog toys like mom have in the back yard.  I realized that Bark in the Park was an event.  We walked slowly and some people stopped and talked to mom and dad.  One asked if she could pet me and dad said yes.  She came to me very slowly and knelt down beside me.  She gave me good scratches.  Mom and Meg were about 8 feet away from me with other humans and a table, so when my scratches were over, I took dad over there.  Two more people scratched me and even took my picture.

We walked around a little more, then we got back in the car.  We didn't go far and got out again.  I took my first hike in a state park.  Paths were not as wide as I am used to, but I was happy.

After this walk, Meg and I shared a bowl again, after posing for a picture.

Then we went home and I got to rest.  At least until this morning.  This morning, I got another car ride.  We went to ANOTHER park (mom says this one was a Conservation area).

There were lots of different feelings under my feet and I saw (and sniffed) LOTS of new things.  The paths were even narrower, but I was okay with that.  I led dad confidently for awhile, but when I realized what I was doing, I got behind him and let him lead.  I even sat and greeted a nice lady along the way.  Maybe humans aren't so bad, after all.

After the walk, on the way home, we stopped at a place with no grass.  I was not too sure about going through a new door, but there was a bed right inside the door.  I was a little scared, but I eventually unhid my tail and walked around.  I even got to lay down and take things in for awhile.

I'm not positive, but if this is stretching, I think I like it.