Foster Name: Parker
Adoption Name: Parker
Adoption Date: August, 2003
History: Parker was relinquished to GLBCR.
9/11/03 Parker is really cute (her picture did not do her justice) and a very wonderful bc. She and Max do fine--only two growls from Max, one when she tried to sniff his food while he was eating and once when she sat on his bed while he was on his way to it. On the other hand, when we play Frisbee (she is outstanding), she has started to bring the Frisbee to Max when she catches it. He will then bring it to me and she goes into her watch crouch. This is becoming her preferred way. She will not bring the Frisbee to me all the time when Max is not in the picture, but I have figured out that it is when I throw it poorly. When it is a good throw, she will catch and bring to me if Max is not close. We took a ride to the vet's for an introduction yesterday. She was very shy, but jumped in and out of the car without incident. I wanted her to know she could go for a ride alone with me and come back.
9/15/03 Parker is really doing well. She is also starting to challenge Max for the Frisbee and Max is starting to prefer the ball. He's not as good as Parker at Frisbee. I am not sure I have the stamina to throw the Frisbee for 8 hours so that Parker will eventually tire. I remember reading that BC's can run 100 miles one day and do it again the next. Parker sure could.
Update 2/23/05
Your little Parker is so cute and so wonderful and so loving and so
loved----this little girl who would only roll over and pee when someone
approached is doing agility (very well), looks like an outfielder when
she catches that high flying frisbee, and made my wife jealous on
Valentine's day. :) (Afterall, Parker never tells me what she
really thinks!!)
And here's a pic of Parker returning a frisbee ....
Parker
After Peggy handed Parker's care over to me at the BC picnic, Parker, being quite fearful of humans, almost always rolled on her back and pee-ed whenever I approached. (Nothing like carrying a roll of paper towels in my pocket, just in case.) Now, when I come home from work or running errands, she'll scratch on the back window 'till I let her in (along with Max). She shakes all over with excitement. The door opens. In she runs. Without a backward glance, she dashes to the front door, frisbee grabbed along the way, shaking with excitement. No back rolls, no pee, no love for her new owner--but a real love for frisbee play time. At night when I read on the couch, she will drop her inside frisbee on the cushion beside me. If I ignore this gesture, she tip toes over, lifts the frisbee, drops it again, and moves back into her crouch-watch. Being a proud human at the top of the food chain, I often wait a few more times before giving it a toss. Sometimes she will carry it over and stare at me till I take it from her. Just as I go to lift the frisbee from her mouth she'll spin around and show me her back--no back scratches no frisbee, as if she's at the top of the food chain! On weekends, we will sometimes go for herding lessons. Parker's instincts are seeping out. With each lesson she seems to know more and more what to do and what is expected. In training a long pole wrapped in black felt at the ends is used to signal the dogs and keep them the proper distance from the sheep. As fearful as she has been, a bop on the nose when she gets too close doesn't even phase her. Hopefully she and I will get better at this sport for which she has hundreds of years of breeding.
That's my story not sad but true,
About Parker and her trainer Mary Lou .....
(Nothing like a little song at the end.)
11/09/2005 Parker likes agility. She has been trying to teach her handler, me, how to run with her on an agility course for the past year. She never says no to her handler but does make him repeat his tasks when he gets it wrong. She prefers to receive the little treats rather than treat her handler. Sometimes she looks at the instructors exasperated at ... well we don't need to go into all those details. She still has some skill to develop at weave poles.
More Pictures
Ayla has been on "squirrel alert" for the past two weeks. They're oh-so-busy burying in our back yard. But she's really good. She lays on the back porch at the top of the steps, ready to pounce, but she doesn't. She just watches them. She almost caught a mole the other day. We were working (well, I was) in the backyard, putting the garden to bed. I had her on her tether in the yard. I could hear this funny little noise, sounded kind of like a baby bird. I'd look at Ayla and she occasionally would have her nose dug into the ground. I finally wised up that it was something she was doing, went over to her and saw this teeny little mole trying desperately to make its escape. It did. She's just so sweet. I feel as though someone was watching out for me to let me find her through you. Everyone loves her. I had a chorus performance the other night, so asked my friend to take her for a walk. Well, my friend can't stop talking about how good she is, how sweet she is. My friend calls her "pumpkin" all the time. "How's my little pumpkin?" This pup is downright charming :)
Zappa (Yancy)
Foster Name: Yancy
Adoption Name: Zappa
Adoption Date: October, 2003
I just wanted to update all of you on Zappa's first week at his new home. The first few days Norma's nose was a little bent out of shape and Zappa had some separation anxiety when we all went to work and school. But other than that all has seemed to work out well. We are still reassuring Zappa that he is in his forever home and we still love him although he has chewed his bed to pieces and a toy (in his kennel and I think due to separation anxiety).
All in all it has been an adjustment for everyone. Thank god the fence was finished by Wednesday. It is such a joy to open the door and watch the two of them take off running side by side. They seem to be best of friends now.
Thank you all for your help in finding us this new addition to our family.
3-16-04
Zappa is doing fantastic. He's so full of energy all the time. It is
such a joy to open the door and see both of our dogs just tear out into
their huge fenced yard. We can hardly keep them indoors long enough to
dry off and they want back out. He has been a perfect match for Norma
as she likes to be queen and he is so submissive. She is no longer
interested in playing fetch. She prefers playing her own little game of
keep Zappa away from the ball or stick or whatever you are throwing.
It's so funny to watch. I'll be in touch soon with an official update
and some photos.
Dre (Andre) is a four year old, male BC who loves to play Frisbee. He enjoys being with his humans, whether outside playing or inside lounging. He's not into doggie sports or herding; he just wants to be a loving, devoted companion. 0603
Zara (now Jolie)
Zara, now called Jolie, is lovely. She is sweet and bounds everywhere like a spring lamb. She seems to be settling in really well, although I think she misses the dogs at Sheila's. She has been playing with the neighbors' dogs though.
2-21-05 Last month we celebrated Sarah's 15th birthday (she was 13 when she came to us). Her thyroid therapy was making her coat shiny and soft, and she was learning some new tricks! Unfortunately, last week she was diagnosed with bone cancer. Since it was very painful and Sarah was losing mobility quickly, we decided not to let her suffer and had her put her to sleep last weekend. The end was very peaceful and timely -- she could not have gone on much longer without being frustrated and in constant pain.
Last summer we took Sarah on a road trip to the Canadian Rockies which
she enjoyed immelsely (car rides were her favorite -- talk about a long
car ride!). She accompanied us almost everywhere and demanded we play
ball with her regularly. She was so much fun to be around.
Sarah had such a wonderful personality and we miss her terribly. She was the perfect pet for us and I do think we made each other happy. She loved everyone and was a joy to have in the family. The whole neighborhood loved her. Sarah was very camera shy, but I did snap some pictures of her during her time with us (more Sarah pictures). Thanks to GLBCR for pairing us with such an amazing dog!
