Mikey the devil dog

   I got up at 7am which is Mikey's gotta get up NOW and pee time.  I took him outside the front door and went back in to use the bathroom and when I came back out he was already by the mailbox at the street. It was foggy this morning and he would blend in with his black and white color and the commuters go like hell on this street so I ran down in my bathrobe because I could see a car coming. I got to him and spooked him and he ran (yes ran)into the street. I followed him and 5 sec later  a car went by and then another.  We labored back up the hill to the house and I helped him up the stairs and I fed him. He then wanted to go back out again.  Not this time Mikey my boy and I put him outside the back door in the kennel.  He is probably lying under the back porch in the dirt right now. He likes it under there but I worry he will get too cold in the dirt.

Forgot to go look at the set of bleachers last night. I was too tired after lessons and a Habitat for Humanity store trip -got a great buy on my new window seat window in my new kitchen.  Just what I wanted and would have cost me about $500 or more and I got it for $100.   I also saw a sideboard that could be converted into a vanity but it wasn't exactly what I had envisioned although for $20 the price was right.  I didn't get it. I want to look around a bit more.

The new cow that we got yesterday refused to drink the milk that I feed the other cows. They didnt' like it at first either, but they would suck my fingers and it was easy to get them then to drink it. This new cow is a bit finicky and a lot more shy.  He doesn't want to have anything to do with me.  He better change his little attitude or he will be traveling yet to another location. So this morning, he is out there bellowing away. Hopefully he will drink this am. Not sure what to do if he doesn't drink.

Up Early

4:30 is too early, What they Hey.   I was dreaming about Mikey  not being able to get up and lying in a pool of urine.  So I got up to make sure I was awake when  he woke up. Turns out I woke him up but it took him a good hour to get up and want to go out and I was right there. No pee on the floor this am. Yay. He has been out probably 5 times already today and it is only 8:30. He likes to go out and just stand in the yard. I am pretty sure he isn't lost .  Today he ventured under the front porch.  No idea why, just exploring I guess. I happy he still wants too. He came in and we had a game of fetch and tug with the dumbell. It doesn't last too long be he enjoys it still.

Working dogs

    I worked both the dog today on the very light sheep. Dually worked first and he was gung ho and pushed them on top of them which I told him in no uncertain terms, I didn't like that.  He got more thoughtful.  I actually worked the ADV A course with him and he was very good. I had a little trouble sometiimes getting him to take a flank. He gets sticky and I have to break his concentration to get him to respond. But he did the cone and the Y chute . We had trouble with the Y chute. He maybe was't walking up in the right spot because the sheep kept coming back to me. Not all the way, but not going thru the Y either. And Dare got out there and had them in there in a heartbeat so it was something Dually was or was not doing.  Dare demands and Dually asks sometimes and that could be the difference.

   Dare worked the same stuff and did a great job. He was taking inside flanks like a pro and Downs like a pro . I was really happy with him.   Really happy with both of them.  

Here's a question for everybody, Why is it even when you wash your hands after doing anything with the cows , you still smell like a cow?  geeeezz

Mikey Mikes

  So  we went to have an ultrasound this am because my vet Annie said he has a heart murmur and a thready pulse and some other sound.  The ultrasound vet said  he was too uncomfortable on his side and so  he could not do the ultrasound unless he anesthetized him and he wouldn't do that because of the heart sounds . He said it would be too risky.  He did  say that he was uncomfortable on his side because he has fluid around his heart in the pericardium.    Annie thinks he has a possible heart tumor . She offered to drain his fluid but then it would probably come back and it would be risky anyway because he would have to be put out to do that.

Bottom line is he is going to die of an unknown heart problem and she said it won't be pretty.  Hopefully he will be able to tell me ahead of time that he is ready to go.  Right now he is still bright  and semi lively and eating. When he stops eating  I will know. (sigh)

Poor Mikey

 I had everybody out today at one time in the house and I thought Mikey was asleep by the door , but he must  have gotten up just as Dare went by and Dare attacked him.  Poor Mikey has a swollen nose and a nice scrape on it.  Dare scared him.  I picked Dare up by the hind leg and the front leg and threw him in his crate. Bad dog.  He needs more exercise too.That is only part of the reason he has been so bad lately.   So I worked him today and  he is nice and quiet in his crate tonight. Also  filthy dirty.

Dually only got to sort sheep, so I took some cheese out and worked on fronts and then on get ins and then a little with the dumbell and the glove. Once he understoon that I wanted him to hold the dumbell , he just said ok and did it. Before that he thought I was trying to poison him and would run away and hide. silly dog. Now he loves it.

MIKEY

 So yesterday I was getting ready to put all the dogs in the car after the kitchen designer and the contractor left so I could get to my obedience class on time. I wanted to make sure I was ready to go when they left so I opened up the back of the truck and put the ramp up for Mikey. I put Mikey outside while I was talking to the kitchen designer and when I went to check on him he had hauled his old sorry ass up into the truck via the ramp which I had no idea he had enough strength to do.  He was lying in the back of the truck and waiting for the "roadtrip".  He loves the car and will go anywhere.  He had a vet appt  after the obedience class and she thinks he might have heart disease so we are going to do an ultrasound on Tues to find out. Maybe we can put him on some meds and perk him up a  bit. It's worth a try.

We dehorned the cattle last night.  Nat came over and Erin and Ed and Kathy. Kathy held the baby and Erin sat on the cow and Nat used the burner.  I supervised.   Not as bad as I thought and hopefully won't have to be done again.   However, Nat believes the cows have ringworm which absolutely scheeves me out.

Mikey

   I'm not getting good vibes about Mikey. This am I put his food down and he looked at me as if to say, " this again"?  That's not Mikey. He usually puts his head and doesn't lift it till he's done. He did eat the whole thing, but then went outside again which he normally doesn't do either. He is lying on the back porch and looking at me as I go by the back door today. And it's 20 deg out there. I won't let him stay out there too long but he's not cold yet.

So when I got up this am the pellet stove was out. For no reason that I could discern. It was full of pellets and it started right up when I restarted it.  I hope it didn't overheat and then automatically shut off. Could be scary.  It's working fine now .

The next 2 days are supposed to be cold cold and colder. Great.   I'll never get rid of the snow.  Well maybe at the end of the week when it might by 60.

I went to a barn sale yesterday and got a deal on trailer levelers.  $40 item and I got them for $15.   Always nice to get a deal and I was looking for these.  I went to look at building supplies but there was nothing I thought I could use in the new renovation.