Jumping with Jive

 

 

Finally, the vest came and the camera cooperated. I have a short bit to show how Moss has taken to dock jumping and how Doc has braved the waves to actually swim.

Dock Jumping

I was hoping to try again to get some video of Moss dock jumping. The last time I tried it, the video didn’t come out. I might have erased it accidentally. That’s the only explanation I can come up with.

Unfortunately, we have had thunderstorms the past couple of days. I probably could film anyway, but everything is muggy and sticky. And I’m waiting for Doc’s life jacket to arrive.

My Old Doc

I’m so pleased that I finally found something that is helping Doc’s skin. I’m just thrilled that his hair is actually growing back in.

A woman I met asked me what I was using. I told her I was using three treatments on a daily basis,  a borax solution, dilute iodine and a miconazole nitrate spray for itchy spots but wasn’t sure which was really making the difference.  She replied that iodine is what they used on the kangaroos.- ?? She had formerly run an educational park with exotic animals and apparently, kangaroos are also prone to yeast infections. Guess I’m on the right track.

Not only is he looking better, but he has days, like today, when he is positively frisky. He is bringing the frisbee back without stopping to roll and rub his back. Yesterday he was chewing on a rawhide. Something I don’t ever remember him doing. And he’s braving the water and actually swimming a little bit, although yesterday I thought I’d have to go in after him. He went completely under water. Doesn’t seem to upset him though. Still, can’t wait until I can get his new life jacket.

He still has days when he seems very sore, but he gets better after moving around.

 

 

Fun Weekend

Since the clinic was cancelled, the host decided to let people who had signed up, come up and work her sheep. We really had a good time working dogs, eating, talking,  loafing in the shade and working dogs some more.

Moss did pretty good in the big field, but then he kind of went off on Sunday. I noticed he was running a little “ouchy” and sure enough, he had cut a pad on his foot. But we had three days of work, and I got a sunburn sitting in the shade, so I guess it was time to stop.

 

Major Disappointment

A friend of mine was going to host a sheepdog clinic with Patrick Shannahan. I had scrounged enough money to take a private lesson on Friday (today). At 8 pm last night I got the text that the clinic had been cancelled. Patrick had a sheep emergency and wasn’t going to make it.

My friend and her husband had spent the whole week getting ready for this clinic. They mowed and trimmed and cleaned and moved pens and water tanks and ran hoses, They really worked hard to make everything neat and comfortable.

We were all so disappointed. I had especially been looking forward to getting a lesson with him. I’ve taken lessons with some local talent, but Moss is just the hardest dog I’ve ever tried to train and not everyone is on his wavelength. I was hoping for some unique insight. Guess I’m still on my own.

We’re Dock Jumping

Moss makes spectacular leaps into the water from the boat ramp, but he was afraid to go off the dock. He went underwater a couple of times and he was a bit afraid. (He’s fine with bumping Doc off the dock……)

So I got online and read up on the best way to get a dog to jump from a dock. Today I did it it. I got down on my hands and knees (not easy for me) and whooped and hollered (never mind what the neighbors were thinking). I had to block him from running around off the dock to the ramp. But finally he slid into the water. The following water entries got better and better. He’s just doing tiny jumps but he has figured out that if he stretches out, he won’t go under. He’s going to be a super dock dog.