Darn Bella!

Before the cold weather hit, I had gone to the effort to build Bella a straw house.  In short, I took square straw bales and built her a shelter.  Yes, I know most guardians just live out in the open and find shelter where they can.  But this is my dog and I have this compulsion to take care of her properly!  So I built her a house.

I had noticed the roof seemed to be caving in but didn't have time to shore it up.  Bella had been nesting on her collapsed house so I'm guessing she's the reason the roof fell in.  After all, why go into the house when you can sleep on it!  Knowing a wicked winter storm was headed this way I strategically placed some plywood on the back and on one side creating a lean to.  Would that blasted dog go into her house?  Nope!  Instead she chose to lay on the ground in front of her house.  Once the snow stopped, I pulled the roof off her house and she is now, once again, happily nesting in her deluxe bed of straw.  

Of course I still worry about her.  It's been bloody cold here.  But how do you force a dog to seek shelter?  Especially one as large as this one?  Sigh...

New Ventures

For the past year or so, I've been planning something of a new (or old) venture.  I would like to create a website for myself based on the stock dogs and the horses.  My friend Dee, who has taken graphics at school has provided me with some advice.  She'll create business cards for me, and has provided some input into building a website.  

The key stopping point for me at this point is a name.  I need a name.  I would have loved to use my heritage to create the name - but my grandfather's brand really does not lend itself to a snappy name.  We've never had a "farm" name so that's out.  I don't want to name it after where I live because I may not always live in this area.  Dee wants to see me name it specifically to stock dogs but I'd like a name that works as a farm, because for me, the horses are part of this.  She likes the name "Clean Run Stock Dogs" I kinda like the name "Clean Run Farm".  My other friend Jeanne had thought of some cute "fun" type names but Dee vetoed them because, well, they were too cutesy.  

All of this naming stuff is giving me fatigue - but I need to start making some choices.  Sigh!

A Thousand Words

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Winter has arrived in the land of the Great White North!  This was snapped tonight at 5:50 pm.  Not only is it dark out (during the summer we have light until well after 10:00 pm), but the first "Severe Storm Warning" has been activated.  In fact, we've been in the throes of a winter storm all day.  What the picture would normally show is my cement pad in front of my door.  Yep, that's right, I opened the door and took the picture!

What's In A Name?

What's in a name?  There are some theories out there that say whatever you name something or someone be careful how you choose it - as they will live up to it.  (Erhm - the little boy named Rowdy, who was, well, Rowdy...)  AQHA lost Izzy's paperwork when her breeders sent it in when she was a foal.  The breeders have spent a considerable amount of time on the phone with AQHA trying to sort it out.  As time passes and the end of the year nears, they've given up.  Instead, they have sent me out the registration forms to complete (along with the money to pay for it) and send in.

This is a mixed blessing.  Fabulous because I get to pick her registered name and rotten because I have to figure out her markings!  Plus her color has changed to be significantly darker - darker even then the color on her hocks.  I do plan to get some fresh pictures of her (if the impending blizzard does not hit the area like its forecasted) to show everyone.  Gray horse + white background = not so fabulous pictures.  

Genetically, horses of her line have luscious long and thick manes and tails, plus she has really lovely movement.  But what's in a name?  I chose to call her Izzy because Bella was already taken by one of my animals and I do think of her as an Isabelle type creature.  Look at Roxy, I tried so hard to call her Stella and it just didn't stick.  (She really is a Roxy!)  

But a registered name is pressure.  This is the one that counts.  The one that she will be known as for the rest of her life and the one that will go on record for any of her progeny.  So what precisely should I call her.  She is Quarter Horse and they tend to have some wacky (in my opinion) names.  But I want her to have both a cool and classy name.  After all, I do have dreams of competing on this horse.  Wouldn't it be nice to hear and the Grand Champion is *fill in the blank here*?  

AQHA has rules around names.  The name can be no longer than 20 characters including spaces and cannot contain any punctuation marks.  It cannot sound the same as any other previously registered name, unless you put initials in front of it.  So... within those parameters what are some of your ideas?  For those bloodline junkies out there - her sire is Fintry Hollywood Jac and her dam is Hooks Jewel.  Some of the famous names in her pedigree would be Hollywood Jac 86, Topsail Cody, Easter King, King, Grey Badger II, so there will be many variations on those names already in use.  (I'm not one of those people who needs to have "pedigree" names.)

Some ideas just off the top of my head: Hollywood Jewel (I know not very original!), Canadian Cowgirl, Ciao Bella, Imahand, Luscious Lady, Salsa Dancer.  Not sure if any "fit" her though, haven't really tried them out.  

I need 6 to short list to AQHA.

Guardian Girl

On Saturday, as per routine, I tied up my shoelaces and snapped Joey and Reba onto their leashes to head out for our normal run.  We headed south down the road, pulling to side with each passing car.  All very normal for us.  100 meters down the road we had pulled over for a car when I noticed Bella following us.  As we were still close to home, I gave her trouble and told her to get home (she was just off the property line).  Thinking nothing of it, we continued on our way.  A mile down the road I shoulder checked for traffic, seeing a huge snowbank I thought to myself, how weird I don't remember passing that.  And then the snowbank moved.  

Realizing Bella was following us, I turned around and we headed back towards home.  Bella is a very smart dog.  She knows when she's being naughty and responds with a tail tucked under and a sad look on her face.  She also know what I expect from her.  In the past when Bella was a "bad girl" and crawling under the fence to go into the ditch I could holler at her "Bella, bad girl, get back to your sheep!" and she would bust a move back to where she is supposed to be.  As I neared to where I had last spotted her, I kept a keen eye out for her.  Not seeing her I thought she'd returned home.

You can imagine my surprise when I looked up and saw her leading me home, just as she leads the sheep into and out of the pasture.  Stopping, I shout at her to get home, tell her what a bad girl she is.  And... she ignored me.  Her tail didn't drop, she didn't speed up, nothing!  This is not normal behavior for this dog.  When I stopped for traffic.  She stopped.  When I began to move, she began to move.  

Puzzled, I kept heading home.  Once we reached our land, she pulled back and as I turned into the driveway, she ran back out into the pasture.  Initially, I had thought she wanted to play with the other dogs.  But if that was the case, my giving her trouble would have sent her on the way.  She literally acted as though she was guarding me - much as she guards the animals on the place.  Her behavior was the same.  I don't know if it's because we've had a lot of predator action lately or if it's because I've been sick and she decided I needed watching.  Either way, she was in definite guard action and I was the animal she was taking care of.

Anyone who knows Guardian Dogs knows that when they bond and when they go to work, there is very little you can do to dissuade them from doing their job.  In the future, I won't be leaving for my runs without someone watching Bella to keep her on the property.  

Bella - good dog or bad girl?

This Stinks!!

Many parents with young toddlers "child proof" their houses.  I Tessa proof mine.  Tessa has a deep and long lasting fear of baby gates, so of course I use them strategically to block off spaces I don't wish her to enter into.  Right now this means she cannot access the stairs (dog + splint + stairs = potential catastrophe).  The furniture is all blocked off so she can't jump onto any chairs or couches.  Instead she has three dog beds located in various parts of the house and water on both floors.  

Last night I went to bed with her snoring on her bed beside mine.  This morning I woke up to notice she didn't seem her perky happy self.  As she hopped in front of me on the way to the door I realized she was packing her broken leg - something she doesn't do much of now that it's in a splint.  Bending down to put the IV bag on the bottom of her splint (keeps it dry and clean when she's outside doing her "business"), I noticed her leg seemed to be bent more than normal.  Feeling her leg I could feel the jagged edge of the hard plastic splint.  She broke her bloody splint!

How she did this I'm not entirely sure.  And off, once more to the vet we go.  (Oh yes, my vet is out of the country and the other vet at the clinic normally is not in today.  He's coming in just to fix my dog's leg, after all his other calls.)

Foundation Bred AQHA Colts For Sale

First off, sorry about the poor pictures.  You see, in July when I took these I had no idea I'd use them in the future as advertising.  

The breeder I purchased Izzy from has two colts (half brothers to her) for sale.  The reason the two colts are for sale is the breeder has had to purchase hay this year due to extreme drought conditions.  This is a first for them.  Normally, I wouldn't be inclined to sell them but two things have occurred: 1) Izzy has a stellar personality and has handled all the strange new things with style and class and nary a tantrum in sight, and 2) Brad has said he can't feed them which means they sell, even if it means they end up at the canners.  

Both colts are more conformationaly correct than Izzy, they're shorter in the back etc.  Both colts are taller  and should mature out in the 15 hh range.  For those of you who follow bloodlines here's what you can expect.  The following names ON the papers: Hollywood Jac 86, Easter Gentleman, Lads 50.  Fourth generation you'll also find Topsail Cody, and fifth generation Cutter Bill, with many foundation names up close.  The added bonus is their colors - you have funky palomino and grey - both of which likely carry dilute genes.  If Izzy is any indication they'll be athletic with sweet personalities.  These colts should work as cutting, working cow or reining horses.  And all he wants is $500 CND for each.  What a steal of a deal for a performance prospect!  If you want more info fire me off an email (on profile page) and I'll forward the phone number.  They are located near Coronation, Alberta. (East Central)