Jest Another Day in Pear-A-Dice - Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm in Alberta

[Bunnylady]

Had a cat named Dickens once. . . . and a husband that just can't resist teasing everything (still have the husband).

One day, the cat was lying sprawled out by the heater, looking as comfortable as only a cat can, and Hubby sees it. Thinking it was just looking too comfortable, he starts making cat-like growling sounds. The cat didn't turn an ear, or open its eyes, or anything else, but the tip of its tail started to twitch. Hubby kept growling, and the tail became more animated, almost thrashing around. But still, the rest of the cat lay in what appeared to be purr-fect repose.Hubby started to laugh. "Look at that," he said. "The rest of the cat is totally relaxed, and the tail is jumping around like mad. You'd hardly think that tail belonged to that cat. . . . . Would that make it a "tail of two kitties?"

 

[CanuckBock]

Sent off Volume one, Issue 10 - 10 May 27, 2015 to June 3, 2015!

 

[CanuckBock]

Aussie Belle
Jillaroo
Bakana (Aboriginal for guardian)
Kilkie (Aboriginal for water hen)
Mara (Aboriginal for Black Duck .. fear the duck!)
Oldina (Aboriginal for snow)
Yirki (Aboriginal for evening star)

Yeh...right thar in the first two names...crystal ball indeed!

Teila must be like Rick and knows about things I can only ponder on....Bell and Jill...and Rick, with Lacy...one letter (d) out from LaDy...wow you two!

I so bow to your greater wisdoms...

Since we may share puppy breath virtually, a little splash of it now and again is good for the soul...

Like to introduce y'all to as named by the breeder and in brackets some of our own turns on the names....

<<drum roll please, or is that belly rolly rubs?>>​

Bell (Emmylou Bell)

Bell at 14 days old​

Lady (Lacy Jill Lady)

Lady at 16 days old​

Came home from my afternoon bus run to find that Rick had shimmed up the new water feature in the fish pond. Beauty.

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See how clear the water is from the UV light in the new filter? One can see the fish and it's June when it should be just all green!

Bottom right are the marginal forget-me-nots and the irises above, then the two water lilies (which the fish leave alone!) are on the far left and upper right. I learned today the lily pads may come up red and as the pad ages, turns to green (or other colours if so inclined). Kewl!

Can you get over how the top adornment on the water feature is...is an EGG? EGGciting, eh! (sorry, always wanted to say that....and jest did!).

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Was sitting in the Man Porch discussing how he shimmed the tiers up and Rick mentioned he had not seen the hummingbirds as of late...at that exact moment...hummm! Maybe one of these days I'll have a camera in hand...for now, guess you'll just hafta see one of the feeders...

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

Edit - bad bad at the grammar...hee hee...

 

[scottcaddy]

Thanks for the update!!!

, Nice names!!
Scott

 

[CanuckBock]

Heel low:

Tis FRIDAY and time for some sheer cuteness factors...

Had to take the bus in for full service yesterday...so whole day was blown but decided to make the most of it and go shopping since I was stuck in town...a distraction <<see all the menfolk shuddering..."not the wife in town with time on their hands!">> ...of the most dangerous kind ... heh heh heh... but I was good...too good...found some items I've been looking for and on for HALF off...yee haw and slop the chooks...a bargain!

Bought an excellent blanket for the puppers, it is waterproof and can go straight on the ground. Been struggling like forever to find a good solution for wet ground and grass and dogs that wanna be with you but you are very boring (doing some chore like fencing) so they need a place to lay. Before, have brought a sheet of tenplast and then the blankies on top of that. This blankey is WAY too perfect...straight on the ground and when done, into the wash. Even folds up (like I'll remember how to to do that...agh--as bad as a road map in the vehicle!) into a nice carrying package with a handy dandy handle.

Look hard at the top black and zebra (wild eh?) patterned blanket...that is probably THE last time it'll look all nice and folded proper like ever, ever again.

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Above are two (and matching but not the same colours...so totally perfection!) dog floatation devices--normal price was $52 each plus taxes and I found one for $25 (and thought, what can I do with jest the one?...so put it back) and then the other for same price tossed in the bargain bin...awesome! SOLD...so thrilled!

Now no worries that ACDogs cannot swim and swim WELL...what is the issue is hauling the wet soaky bodies outta the drink when it's time to say, "Enough already Dougals, gotta get you somewhat dried off!" I am getting older so trying to pick a dry weighed fifty pounder outta the water without hurting me or the dog, is near nonsense...soo....been looking a while for a good alternative. Dogs can have harnesses on, but these ones are not only excellent and designed to haul them outta the water by, there is reflective tape, there is a properly dog body designed format, three clips and they are on or off the dog body (very important to be quick and slick...dogs want IN water when dogs want in water like yesterday!). There is a nice big clipper area for a rope or tether too...PLUS...come one...don't they just look EVER so sweet dressed for success? You cannot help but laugh with dogs all geared up in outfits...NO, not outfits like pink dresses with frills...suitable working practical active wear for dog dogs.

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Styra Foam modelling one of the dog floatation devices...SWEETNESS! She did not like it too much at first and tried to roll it off her body but then she realized how cute she looked and well, we all know females that realize they need to accessorize their beauty...then I had a time calling her over to take it off...another dog dog ruined for the casual life, eh.

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So barely able to load up these few pics on the site--took several tries--argh!...so that be that for now but smile...tis Friday and well...such dog cuteness is contagious...BEAM!

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So Bye fer now...ah the future waifing scents of WET DOGs...whoo whee...can you smell it, well CAN YOU??

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

 

[drumstick diva]

I didn't know Foamy ever came close enough for you to do things to her - last photo her expression says "can you take it off already?" I always wondered if she would allow you to clean ears, cut nails, give her a good health inspection etc. How do you think she will react to the new boogers coming across the pond?

 

[CanuckBock]

I didn't know Foamy ever came close enough for you to do things to her - last photo her expression says "can you take it off already?" I always wondered if she would allow you to clean ears, cut nails, give her a good health inspection etc. How do you think she will react to the new boogers coming across the pond?

Her last expression, to me, is "I look so adorable in this outfit!"

I do teeth cleaning, toe nails, brushing, she comes for pets (more to men than women) and she likes attention, but she is not the ACD Velcro kind...where they are under foot and stuck to you like glue--yer shadow--nosing the back of your knees down the hallways--herding you about. Styra will go off and do her own thing.

Fixins would nag me to pay attention to her...constantly it was about the dog interacting with the human...always!

Nov 18, 2013 - "Toss the dang toy...TOSS IT!"​

You probably remember some of these photos...constant "include me in this or..."

June 2, 2014​

Pay attention to me or she'd get me with the BARK!

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Demanding...always there...miss that...constant hovering...constant just simply THERE...I miss her checking me out to make sure I was OK and had not overdone it.

June 12, 2014​

Fixins is giving me the stern..."You OK?...You're old and you might hurt yerself and not be able to play dogs later today...I'm watching you! Rest time...NOW!"

I expect Foamers to be like most all adult ACDogs...puppies are something you don't really wanna step in amongst and I suspect we will have to keep a close eye on the tenacious young gals so they do not over step their boundaries with Styra. I know with Makins, she was sorta afraid of puppies, till she had her own litter but that was HER litter and she was the Mom and it was all about being a good Mom.

July 13, 2001; day before Makins had Fixins​

I think all the hormones make the girl dogs accept their babes...

I found with Stoggar who was an adult when HyBlade came here as an eight week old puppy that she liked him alot and treated him like one of her own pups but she had just recently whelped a litter and HB's arrival was like she got time to heal up and get better herself and then WHOMP, a pup was there for her to enjoy. Some are obviously more amiable to puppies but I expect Styra to be more reserved. She kind of hovered with the pack here, she'll probably do the same. Her idea of playing at first was bite the other dogs at play time which was NOT acceptable to the other ACD's...not proper to BITE DOGS...bite balls, toys, stock, but not other dogs. She would get into all sorts of trouble if we had let her do that. We had to have her run outside the dog play field for the first six months until she settled in and realized the game was not about biting other dogs, but biting the toy! Not her fault, I suspect she was not socialized properly, so she don't bond with other dogs or people very well. she never learned proper dog etiquette and how dogs are suppose to play in a pack.


Here's some fun stuff to do with PVC...even one for chickens!

http://www.dreamydoodles.com/how-to-make-your-own-puppy-pen/

http://www.avidog.com/product/avidogs-adventure-box-2/


I will not encourage the paint tins and the paint brushes...our ACD puppers would be WAY too destructive with things like aluminum and paint brush bristles...yuck! But the plastic chains and some of the plushy toys we have could be hung plus things like the super chew resistant KONG toys (black ones are usually EXTRA strong) and Nyla bones (nfi) would work well. I may attempt this as it sure does look like alot of fun...whee hee hee...

Dog toys on the left we already had...toys on the right we just bought fer the pupper gals -
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NOTE - that Rick's idea to stuff the Nylabone INSIDE the Kong works fab...the dogs can hold the Kong and chew the bone...works out fab! Such a innovative HERO, eh!

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Plushies we had but I washed up and checked over for wear - don't need the young ones swallowing, stuffin'!

Shall see if I get caught up and wanna do this PVC type play thing for the pups up. Looks like the pups have alot of fun with it, eh.

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This was the jungle gym I made for them puppers fifteen years ago now (hmm, time flies eh!)...balance beam, slide, teeter totter, hung a small ATV tire (they now make tires for just dogs...tirebiter I think the company is called), there was a water area (big rubber shallow pan to wallow in water)...the more we fill up the puppy minds with stimulus, the better the puppers will be as dogs; at least we figure they are all they can be.

Well back I go, got more plants to pot up for the Man Porch...got the two tomatoes done up and working on the 3 hanging frogs for the garage eaves ready for plants to be put in them. Fun times!

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

 

[Wisher1000]

Heel Low, Tara!

I need some tips for working with my LGD. He is an 8 month old Anatolian/Akbash/Pyrenees cross and weighs about 80 pounds. He is a sweet heart and loves me and loves to play. The problem is that he has no respect for me. I have never had a dog in my life that I couldn't control with just my voice.......until now. This dog does exactly what he wants and cares not if I approve. He will mouth my hands, and legs, and butt and cannot be put off with a stern voice. I have tried growling at him (which will make either of my other two dogs piddle.) He will get down in the play pose (front legs on the ground, bottom in the air, tail waggin') and growl back at me. He has never been aggressive toward me, but he has never considered me the boss. I am so confused. I have never had this trouble. Being the pack leader has always just happened naturally and I have never had to work at it. He will sit on command, and he will come when called, IF he thinks I will pet him and IF he has nothing better to do. If he starts chasing the chickens, I can "bark" his name or "NO!" and he will not slack up even a little. I cannot convince him he is in trouble. Any suggestions?

 

[drumstick diva]

I kinda know what you mean Wisher, when I raised Cockers, they knew I was boss and never challenged me. ALL they needed was a dirty look and they stopped in their tracks, When I see how badly people do with their bigger breed dogs, I'm glad I had Cockers..

An 80 lb. puppy would be dragging me all over the neighborhood. Sounds like a job for Tara.

 

[Wisher1000]

Oh, don't get me wrong. I can handle him. I realize that most of you don't know me IRL but I am very tall and very strong. I used to be stronger than most men, but I'm older now so some (only some

) of the younger men can out-do me now, that's why I have a desk job...

I can control the body, physically, but what I'm looking for is how do I control him mentally? Evidently, I have always been dominant enough, just naturally, that my dogs recognized it and fell in line. It hasn't happened with this boy. Now, we did have one "Come to Jesus" meeting over dead chickens (I realized later that he likely had not killed it, just snatched a dead one to eat) in which I tackled him, held him down by the scruff of his neck while he tried to bite and scratch his way free, and told him in NO UNCERTAIN terms that chickens were not to be eaten! I ended up bloody, sweaty, and dirty, but in the end, he gave in and just lay there without fighting. It took about 45 minutes. (A funny aside: After watching the whole thing, my 14 year old boy said, "Momma, I learned something watching you fight that dog." "You did? What did you learn, Son?" "I learned that I would rather fight Daddy than you!" Heh, heh, Smart kid.)

At work, this would be called an "alpha roll." I have always thought that the K9 trainers did this too often and many times when it was not necessary, but my big pup would not give me the dead chicken, and even growled a bit when I approached him to take it. I felt drastic measures were necessary. Now, he is a little better about listening to me and will even fall over if I approach him in with hard body language, but the look on his face is like "Oh, you act mad, but I know you want to scratch my belly." Then when I turn away, he jumps up and grabs my shirt tail. He is also much better about not bothering the chickens, although he still sometimes wants to chase them in play, he has not put his mouth on any that I know of and will only try to put his feet on them when they get close to him. He is still a puppy. I fully expect him to be out of that in another year.

He will lay around all day, chewing on sticks and anything cardboard he can find, but every so often, he will jerk his head up and look into the woods, jump up and take off running toward where his attention was drawn. He disappears into the woods and will stay gone for 15 or 20 minutes and then comes back and walks around all the coops before laying back down to chew. He looks at every large bird that flies overhead and follows them until they are gone. We have had no chicken losses since he came here even though he was just a baby (8 weeks) when he got here. I bedded him down in a dog crate in the coop at night until he was too big for it, then he was allowed to sleep with the old black lab who loved him dearly. I have since had to separate them because the pup will knock the old dog down, climb straddle his whole body and chew on poor old man's head! There is nothing the old dog can do to stop him. No amount of growling or snapping at the younger (but bigger) dog will discourage the behavior and like I said, I can scream "NO!" at him till I'm blue in the face, but he will not stop.

He really is a sweet dog. He gives the most gentle kisses on my chin when I put my face down close to him, and he sits on my feet when we stop and stand a while on a walk. He wants to sit in my lap if I am sitting on the ground or on a chair, and he is in the middle of whatever I am trying to work on around the farm. He plays with our 15lb house dog and is usually careful not to hurt her. She occasionally gets mad and snarls and spits and bites him hard, but he isn't put off by it, it is just more playing to him. They got into a fight one time. They were digging under the shop after some varmint and evidently getting close, because the little one tried to chase him off from the hole and he showed her that it was his hole. The smaller dog stepped lightly around him for an hour but they were soon running, chasing, playing and wrestling again. She is the one who wrestles, he just lays on his side and she wrestles his head. That is where the falling over comes from. She runs up to him and puts her front feet on his chest, and he falls over with a 'whomp' and she jumps on his head and neck, growling, biting and shaking him, and 'fleaing' his neck and face...it's adorable.

I want him to do his job, but to listen to me and look to me for leadership - like all the other dogs I've ever owned have done, my whole life! I've never had this breed, it's so different than what I'm used to. I had a wonderful Doberman in my teens, but most of the others have been hunting or herding breeds (labs, collie, fox terriers, daschunds, and lots of mutts.)