The "Working" Dogs of High Country Horse Treks
Rex aka Puffles
Rex and Badger
16 years old. Now the supervisor, no longer does the leg work. Was a VERY good sheep, cattle and horse dog in his youth. Lives in the comfort of the house, plenty of human servants. Now is harassed by a certain cat...
Poor old Puffles is getting VERY decrepit with arthritis and old age. His back end is weak now and it is an effort to get up sometimes. Two weeks ago he toppled off the steps to the deck and hurt his near fore leg and was REALLY struggling to get up. I remembered the green lipped mussel tablets in the cupboard and three of those a day gave the old boy the oomph to get out of bed. He is slow getting started and lists a bit to port or starboard on windy days, but he can still bark with the best of them, and manages a lop side lollop to get from A to B.
Poor old Puffles is getting VERY decrepit with arthritis and old age. His back end is weak now and it is an effort to get up sometimes. Two weeks ago he toppled off the steps to the deck and hurt his near fore leg and was REALLY struggling to get up. I remembered the green lipped mussel tablets in the cupboard and three of those a day gave the old boy the oomph to get out of bed. He is slow getting started and lists a bit to port or starboard on windy days, but he can still bark with the best of them, and manages a lop side lollop to get from A to B.
Mick aka Mickey
Mick
10 years old, completely deaf doesn't like to leave the property, so is the permanent guard dog.... except he can't hear the burglars creeping up on him.... All the customers comment on his GIANT paws. Still a very good huntaway.
Sweep aka Sweepy Weepy
Sweep
8 years old, son of Rex, doesn't really live up to his father's reputation. Slightly neurotic about the following:
Rain
Guns
Flies
Electric shavers
Hoovers
Swing Doors
Electric toothbrushes
Doesn't like the cats but can't work out how to get them out of his bed (also lives in the house, human slaves most unwilling).
Poor,poor Sweepy! He has his own bed in the house, a really comfy dog bed which you can just see in the light patch to Sweep's left. Unfortunately every cat and his brother loves to sleep in Sweep's bed and he is too much of a wimp to get them out! . Last week he was spotted looking rather sad and over flowing somewhat in one of the CAT's beds!
Rain
Guns
Flies
Electric shavers
Hoovers
Swing Doors
Electric toothbrushes
Doesn't like the cats but can't work out how to get them out of his bed (also lives in the house, human slaves most unwilling).
Poor,poor Sweepy! He has his own bed in the house, a really comfy dog bed which you can just see in the light patch to Sweep's left. Unfortunately every cat and his brother loves to sleep in Sweep's bed and he is too much of a wimp to get them out! . Last week he was spotted looking rather sad and over flowing somewhat in one of the CAT's beds!
Annie aka Annie Poo
Annie
6 years old, VERY cute and knows it. Completely blind in the left eye and partially blind in the right, but that doesn't slow her down and loves fetching the horses. Has aspirations to be an inside dog, and can't understand why she has so far been unsuccessful. Very jealous of the cats and anyone getting attention other than her!
Troy aka Troy Boy
Troy
3 1/2 years, the great white hope but sadly lacking in the brain department. Tries very hard and is very trying! and very noisy about everything! Arrived having had a nervous breakdown at his previous home but is recovering, very loveable and fascinated with those cats....
Don aka The Bloody Nuisance
Don
Not even our dog. Adopted the High Country lifestyle after watching from the neighbours' property. Several arguments with the High Country dogs and now thinks he's in charge! Loves cuddles, which is very unmanly, has learnt not to chase the kittens on penalty of death! But is still fascinated with them...
A few months back Don got hit by a car on the road outside our property. He has an obsession with chasing all vehicles and it is very hard to dissuade him. Nearly a week in hospital didn't put him off and he is up to his old tricks. He has stopped chasing my car because I wind down my window and poke a huge stick out and he looks most affronted and trundles off into the bushes. I clearly don't understand his philosophy on life.
A few months back Don got hit by a car on the road outside our property. He has an obsession with chasing all vehicles and it is very hard to dissuade him. Nearly a week in hospital didn't put him off and he is up to his old tricks. He has stopped chasing my car because I wind down my window and poke a huge stick out and he looks most affronted and trundles off into the bushes. I clearly don't understand his philosophy on life.
Mick And HIS Motor Bike
Mick has always been passionate about his motor bike, and he is kinda fussy about who he lets drive it or sit upon it. Fortunately the tray on the back is the perfect size for the bottom of a very large dog. Shame about the others wanting to squeeze on! My car is otherwise known as Mick's mobile kennel.
Early in the week I usually take off to town to do the boring weekly shop. For ease of unloading the car I drive it down to in front of the house and, as the door is left open while we unpack, Mick is very quick to hop in and make himself comfortable. A few weeks ago we had lost Mick at dogs dinner time. Calling, shouting or whistling doesn't help much as he is so deaf. Eventually we sat down and started piecing together when we had last seen him. I usually put my own car back in the garage up on the forecourt, but on this occasion Rod had driven the car up. When I trotted up to the garage to check, there was poor old Mick, fast asleep and quite happy, despite the fact he had been locked in there for six hours. He was ecstatic to be found, rescued and given his dinner.
Sweepy Weepy In Bed
How could you possibly ask a dog that enjoys his comfort so much to go and live outside like a proper sheepdog?
One of the few occasions that Sweep managed to get in his own bed unmolested by those monstrous moggies
One of the few occasions that Sweep managed to get in his own bed unmolested by those monstrous moggies
Woodles
Meet the new guy in town! I'm Woodles. I was born on the 16th December 2010 on a very big farm in Marlborough. On Sunday I started out out on a new adventure and left home to be with my new family.. I wasn't very pleased about this so I made lots and lots of noise in the car, and nearly deafened Sarah, Tina and Emmerson. I now have my very own kennel, like the grown up dogs, no more sharing with my brothers, and there is just so much good food to eat whenever I am hungry. I have discovered just the best thing on earth, horse manure. I can throw it over my head, roll in it and eat it.The next best thing is some very strange furry things that aren't dogs, and don't behave like dogs. The biggest one bopped me on the head on Sunday, so I don't go near him at all. The next smallest one fluffs himself up like a black football and makes very angry noises. The stripey one is quite fun to chase and he plays with me. The little black one just sits out of reach and stares at me, so I have to wuff a lot to get her to play with me too. I think there is another stripey one with a white chest but he goes past too fast to catch up with.. You should keep watching this space as I think I am going to be very naughty and have lots of new adventures to tell you about.
Woodles is now six and a half months old. You can tell that a puppy is on the premises because everywhere there is a trail of debris - bones by the hundred, old shoes, sticks, flower pots, ice cream containers. The deck outside the ranch slider door is a veritable obstacle course. People who know Woodles all bring their shoes inside, and nothing is left at ground level. The only good thing about his acquiring other peoples' possessions is that he tends to bring everything he has filched back to base.
The first few weeks were a nightmare because Woodles was a perfect fit for the cat flap. You wouldn't believe how much mess one puppy can make in a house in just an hour! His other obsession is clean washing. It doesn't matter how high I try to hang it - NOTHING is out of his reach. In fact, if there is a doggy High Jump event, I think he ought to be entered in it!! Gold Medal guaranteed! I try to console myself with the thought that he will eventually grow up, perhaps. At the moment he spends most of his time attached to poor Troy's neck like a giant hairy tick and Troy has lost all his lion's mane as a result.
On the up side he is learning "SIT". Well, he knows what it means and quite often does it, but only if it suits him. He is also learning to come when called, and if he won't come when we call HIM, he certainly comes when I call any of the cats. Currently he is working on trying to handle Smudge with as little respect as he gives to Troy, but Smudge is NOT impressed and has to whip round and administer a meaty right hook. Tigger he wants to play with and Tigger does oblige, but when Woodles becomes too exuberant he gets chased, by the cat, and he really has to run! Instinct tells him this is not quite right but needs must where the devil, or Tigger chases!
Woodles is now six and a half months old. You can tell that a puppy is on the premises because everywhere there is a trail of debris - bones by the hundred, old shoes, sticks, flower pots, ice cream containers. The deck outside the ranch slider door is a veritable obstacle course. People who know Woodles all bring their shoes inside, and nothing is left at ground level. The only good thing about his acquiring other peoples' possessions is that he tends to bring everything he has filched back to base.
The first few weeks were a nightmare because Woodles was a perfect fit for the cat flap. You wouldn't believe how much mess one puppy can make in a house in just an hour! His other obsession is clean washing. It doesn't matter how high I try to hang it - NOTHING is out of his reach. In fact, if there is a doggy High Jump event, I think he ought to be entered in it!! Gold Medal guaranteed! I try to console myself with the thought that he will eventually grow up, perhaps. At the moment he spends most of his time attached to poor Troy's neck like a giant hairy tick and Troy has lost all his lion's mane as a result.
On the up side he is learning "SIT". Well, he knows what it means and quite often does it, but only if it suits him. He is also learning to come when called, and if he won't come when we call HIM, he certainly comes when I call any of the cats. Currently he is working on trying to handle Smudge with as little respect as he gives to Troy, but Smudge is NOT impressed and has to whip round and administer a meaty right hook. Tigger he wants to play with and Tigger does oblige, but when Woodles becomes too exuberant he gets chased, by the cat, and he really has to run! Instinct tells him this is not quite right but needs must where the devil, or Tigger chases!
I'm Sure I USED To Fit!
This, by the way, is the Mark II cat flap. The first one didn't survive Woodles' efforts very long and effectively came off on his head, leaving us with an even bigger hole in the ranchslider door, needing a nice, new, expensive, stronger cat flap. He gets very cross at his inability to squeeze all of him through and, if I don't remember to trap the curtain with a step ladder, he drags the material back through the flap and jams the whole works so cats can neither enter nor leave., a very satisfactory situation for a very grown up dog who is trying to find his place in the grand scheme of things.
Rachael Enjoying A Peaceful Moment Being A Dog Sofa
