Sad News

I had an email from my friend Chris to say her beautiful Border Collie Millie has died.

 Millie had a long life and when she was young won lots of awards in agility which started Chris on her passion. Chris has since gone on to win with her dog Raz and now is competing with Ruby.

RAZ, MILLIE, RUBY and ARCHIE

Raz

This is Raz he was eleven 16 September 2013. What a beautiful dog, what a great photo.

Raz belongs to my friend Chris, he is related in the distant past to a dog I used to have. It is nice to know that in some way she goes on.

When I say this I don't mean senseless breeding. I think intially my friend Kaye who breeds Border Collies was very sorry when the kennel club recoginised the breed, she thought it would ruin the breed. Well maybe we have some people who are after looks but Kaye is still looking for working dogs. Agility, one of the ways these dogs can work.

If you want to walk, train, play and be very involved in your dog, Border Collies are for you, if not foreget it. These dogs are high maintenance, if you are not prepared for the work, don't go there.

Blackbird

The other day a blackbird flew into my lounge. I heard the dogs making a fuss and went in to see what it was and  there was a blackbird fluttering at the window. I managed to catch him and put him outside. Poor thing had lost a few feathers round his neck and on his back. Although he went off I was a bit worried the shock might kill him. This morning I have seen a blackbird with feathers missing from his neck and back so am asuming it is him.I don't think there are too many blackbirds around missing the same feathers.

We have about three pairs of blackbirds that come and nick cat bicuits out of the cats bowl on the window ledge and this is where I saw him. I was a bit concerned when they first started to come, one because the cats might get them. So far we have had only one fatality and I am pretty sure it was not Tich or Tommy that was responsible. It was possibly Oliver but I rather think it was a stray tom cat that comes around. I do try to disuade him and the dogs chase him but occaisionally he chances his luck.

I did try to get a photograph of the bird but they are pretty quick and it is not all that good trying to snap them through the glass. I have, however, left my ipad on the kitchen worktop just in case I am lucky.

Another Photo

I don't think Sky appreciates being disturbed by having her photo taken. She is so relaxed these days.

Looking back on my blog I find I have had Sky now for more than a year. I can't believe where the time has gone. She is such a happy little thing it is hard to remember the panic stricken dog I brought home. Around the house and areas she knows well she is totally confident. Everyone has noticed the difference. She still will not let anyone stroke her unless she is sitting with me or Ken but she doesn't panic or bark like she used to. There are still things that upset her and I wonder if she will ever have the confidence Shula has. Most people who remember the timid dog Shula was say it will just take time, I am not so sure. The difference is, Shula was born wild, she was timid of what she didn't know, when we gave her security she accepted it. Sky on the other hand was terribly abused, she knows what some people are capable of, she knows we love her and she is safe with us but other people she is not sure about. I think she will never trust anyone she doesn't know well so people in the street that want to stop and stroke my dogs have to make do with Shula.

Another Passion Flower

Another passion flower in my garden, not quite as exotic as the purple one but a bit more robust.

Passion Flower

Passion Flower

The passion flowers in my garden are starting to flower. I have managed to get a few roots to plant in my garden at the back.

It is the most beautiful flower I hope it will take.

Rufus - Not all dog parks are safe.

Rufus, dressed up as an angel for our Christmas party winning the first prize.

So sad the hear that he has died.

 My friend Patricia and Tim did all the right things for Rufus and he could not have had better or more responsible owners. Rufus went to dog training classes every week where he was a great favourite with all the other dogs and owners, he was so happy, everyone loved him.

Patricia and Tim were loving protective owners so everything they did was for Rufus to enjoy his life. Taking him to dog parks was one thing you think would keep him safe, it didn't. They took him to a dog park in Rivera where he picked up a poison that is meant for killing snails, it killed Rufus.

Rufus was such a beautiful dog, so full of life and so loved it should not have happened but did. I am not sure how we protect our dogs especially mine who are rescue dogs used to scavenging.

It has been a month now since Rufus died but I still worry when I let my dogs off the lead to run.