A Winter's hike...

We took a couple of the collies to the local lighthouse for a winter hike.  The weather was cold and damp, but we still had a nice time!  The lighthouse is at a state park, so dogs are only allowed from January - May.  We are planning on going back on a nice, sunny day.

Scarlett, Ryder and Holly with my daughter.

The girls were fascinated by the seagulls!

No collie is an island!

The keeper of the lighthouse

Ryder is such a good boy!

Scarlett wanted a turn posing in front of the lighthouse!

Such a peacful place!

Wordless Wednesday - Love is...Sweet Dreams!

Abby must be dreaming of something very happy!

More snow is coming!

We ended up with a record breaking 34 inches of snow.  And our street was finally plowed yesterday evening, just in time for us to shovel out our driveways and get into work today! 

While I am happy to get out, the collies were enjoying all the extra time I was able to spend with them. 

What do you mean, "you have to go back to work?"  Stay home and play with us!

Scarlett was attending her first dog show this weekend with my daughter.  Since it was fours shows, all held at the hotel, they stayed there during the storm.  What a weekend!  And now they are predicting we may get hit with another huge snow storm this coming weekend - I really hope they are wrong!

I don't really see where we can put any more snow!

Nemo found us!

We live in CT, and the area where we live was one of the areas that were hardest hit by the blizzard Nemo.  The snow, which comes up to my waist, was so deep I couldn't get the back door open.  I ended up taking the glass out of my screen door, so I could shovel through the door, and I was finally able to get enough snow away to get the door open.

With four collies who had to go outside, I shoveled a pathway and a small area for them to go to the bathroom.  But so far, only Abby has figured out that it is her only option as far as "outdoor plumbing."  The others stand there and cry, I think they expect me to shovel the entire backyard for them!

Our mayor has declared a state of emergency for our town, and has asked the National Guard to come help clear the roads.  There is a ban until midnight tonight on driving, not that I could drive, my road hasn't been plowed even once yet!  As  you can see above, the road which should be in front of my car, is completely hidden!

Holly is wondering where all this snow came from?

The snow is higher than the collies!





Kori doesn't like this one bit!

Holly - "Ummm Mom, we need more room!"



"You have to be kidding!"



What's a collie to do?

Is there something on my nose?





"How long before it melts?"

Snowy Ryder

Abby to Ryder - "Would you give a lady some room?!?"

Some may have noticed that Scarlett is missing.  She is at a hotel with my daughter.  This weekend there are four collie specialty shows being held.  So they are hanging out at the hotel, with friends.  This is Scarlett's first dog show weekend, and I'm stuck at home! 

Edit to add:

Ryder finally got so tired of it, he braved the deep snow. He made his own trail, with sister Kori following behind him. Then Abby and Holly joined them. They found a snow fort, under the tree/bush! They are finally having fun !

"Come on Kori, this way!"

"Ok Ryder, I'm coming!"

"You are taking too long!"

"I'll show you!"

"Rawrrr!"

"Let's play Follow The Leader"

"Quick pose - Mom's taking pictures!"

Snow fort!

"I'm not sure about this..."

"There is a lot of snow above me and my paws are getting cold!"

"No one can see me in here!"

"Only collies allowed!"

Love is...sharing!

Collieday!

Yesterday was Mom's day off from work.  So we kept her day busy with our errands, so she wouldn't get bored!  BOL

First Scarlett had mom take her to the veterinarian, for her vaccines.  She has dog shows coming up, and needed to make sure she was well protected!  Our veterinarian loves us, and was so happy to see Scarlett!  Our vet is a very special lady, she even teaches a dog hanlding class once a month!  So we get to see her at class too!

Then Scarlett came home, to rest after her vaccines.  So I, Ryder, took mom to Petsmart to buy some more kibble!  I noticed we were getting low on our Blue Buffalo!  Then we went by her job, so mom could show me where she goes when she leaves me us.  I couldn't go inside, but two of her co-workers came out to meet me.  They loved me, of course!

We then went by my human sister's college, since she was done with her classes for the day.  She was so happy to see me waiting in the car for her!

We drove home, and then mom decided that Kori, Abby and Holly deserved to go somewhere too.  After they put their heads together, they decided to go to the dog park.  Mom kept telling them that it would be muddy, but they wouldn't listen!

They had a great time, but came back so muddy!  Their pretty white paws, a collies' pride and joy, were black!  But mom said that was nothing compared to the golden retriever, Sam, that they met at the park.  He was covered from nose to tail in black mud!  Now collies don't like to get dirty, we avoid it whenever possible.  Abby and Holly ran around at the park, but they avoided the large lakes puddles.  But Kori loved Sam so much that she ran with him - RIGHT THROUGH THE MUD PUDDLES! 

"What the Woof, Kori?  You should know better!"

"At least I didn't roll in the mud like Sam!  Give a girl a little credit!"

Even mom and our human sister came home muddy!  I wish I had gone to the park with them, but mom said she is very grateful I wasn't there!  She said with all my fur, I would have needed a bath after a visit to the mud pit park!  I guess I should be happy I didn't go, I'm not too crazy about baths!

Last evening we all took turns snuggling with mom on the couch.  So I think we did a great job filling her day with lots of collie fun!  We are counting the hours until the weekend, so we can begin our next adventure with mom!  What are your plans for the weekend?


 

Love is...sweet.

Why show dogs?

My daughter and I live with our five collies, and we both take care of them.  But my daughter is the one who is responsible for handling them at dog shows.

First dog show

She began learning how to show collies ten years ago, when she was just a little girl.  She started out as a junior handler, and now that she is in college, she wants to become a professional dog handler.

My daughter and Abby, winning the tough Open class at the CCA 2008 National

Dogs respond well to her in the ring, and my daughter is becoming recognized as a great collie handler.  She is good with dogs, and has even been hired to handle other people's collies at dog shows.

It's been a wonderful experience, watching my daughter grow up,  and her time competing at dog shows has been an important part of her life.  It has taught her patience, responsibility and good sportsmanship.  She has had to spend years practicing and training.  She has attended classes and seminars, and has been mentored by many well-known collie handlers over the years.

Westminster 2012

She has learned to set goals, and work hard to achieve them.  She wanted to qualify to compete at Westminster, and she did it, twice. 

My daughter and Holly, Westminster Dog Show 2012

She was ranked amoung the Collie Club of America's Top Twenty Junior Handlers for last five years of her junior handling career.  And while she misses competing in junior handling, she now helps younger junior handlers develop their handling skills.

The 2012 Collie Club of America Top Ten Junior handlers invitational

Competing at dog shows has kept us spending time together as a family.  When most teenagers would rather be off with their friends, my daughter and I were traveling all over the country to compete in dog shows.  She has also developed life-long friendships with other junior handlers by competing in this sport.

(Winner's Bitch competition at the CCA 2008 National)

And the people we have met over the years have made us realize that we are now part of a dog show community.  And they have recognized my daughter's efforts by awarding her a college scholarship!  I know that many people look at dog shows and cannot understand the appeal.  Some may even dislike dog shows, or find them boring.  But I will always be grateful for what dog shows have brought into our lives, and how they helped mold my daughter into the amazing person she has become...