In Memory of Feldspar and Rex

Lets start out on an up note.....Check out some of my friends on the link below. It is only a 19 second flick but really cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYRLyYj6j3w

And When you have 6 minutes to set back and watch this second video on You Tube, you'll enjoy it too. It is a compilation (Vickies word, not mine) of all the goings on for the week of May 23rd thru the 29th. And it is dedicated to my buddies Feldspar and Rex who met with a very unfortunate end that I will tell you about below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-egSP7o_LQ

Well, if this hasn’t been the most exciting and Traumatic Day of all days….I’ll never know.

Vickie told me this morning that today would be the day. Feldspar and his brothers and sister (Zanzibar, Rex and Sally) were going to leave the nest. We had been watching them from the attic window as much as possible the last few days and it was clear they were getting ready to take their first flight.

So Thursday afternoon about 2:15 Vickie and I are sitting their peacefully watching, all relaxed in our chairs with the camera in Vickie’s hand. All of a sudden there was this crazy commotion in the back yard where the small dogs play.

You could hear a bird screeching and momma and daddy robin were swooping through the air, dive-bombing something down by the lilac tree.

We didn’t understand at first, but then we noticed there were only three baby birds in the nest. Feldspar was gone. He had tried to fly.

Now Vickie is crying and mom and dad robin are making these clicking very sad sounds as they all look down on poor Feldspar who unknowingly landed next to a very fast and bird mad dog. Poor Feldspar, the first to leave the nest, the first to try his wings, the first of his brothers and sister to experience the feel of wind gently keeping him in the air for a few short moments, was also the first to die.

Oh yes. Feldspar has died and we are all very very sad…….

After we realized what had happened, Vickie quickly went out and scooped up poor Feldspars little body and took him to a place of rest, then moved all of the doggies that were in the area where Feldspars brothers and sister might try to fly in, to another area of the kennel.


Then back up in the attic we went to wait and watch. It wasn’t 10 minutes later that Rex tried his wings. He flew from one branch of the apple tree to another with encouraging chirps from mom and dad, then off to a life of freedom.

Moments later Zanzibar flew off as well, landing right where Feldspar had landed fifteen minutes earlier but Zanzibar was much luckier because there were no dogs there to eat him. We are not sure where he went from their but we hope and pray he too lives a wonderful bird life.


Last is little sister Sally, and she was a day or two behind her brothers so she will probably be here a few more days.

Vickie is still crying a little, but I find this whole thing Very interesting. You see I am starting to really get this “Life” thing. I am learning to pay attention. Like last night at the baseball game, I started noticing that there was always a ball landing just behind the catcher. Often times it would sit there for five or so minutes and I would watch it very closely waiting for my chance to go and get it and show the team how useful I could be. But they never did let me go.

There was this little girl who kept asking Vickie if she could take me for a walk and finally Vickie gave in. I was thrilled cause she was heading right towards a big ole hotdog that someone had left sitting on the bench. Well, I guess I walk faster than that little girl, cause she sort of fell forward and was down on the ground. But she was a stubborn little girl and she was not going to let go of my leash so I just dragged her forward until I was just in reach of that hot dog.

Well, everyone was laughing cause the little girl was just a hangin on and all you could see from behind the bench were her little legs as they disappeared behind the seats as I dragged her along. I was afraid I might be in trouble cause you are not supposed to drag little children around but even the little girl was laughing and having a fun time. THANK GOODNESS


Here is the little girl. Apparently Vickie took Sky back the next day and not me. Apparently, Sky doesn't drag little children across the ground. yada yada yada

Allred has started to really exert his control over all of us lately. He has taken up residency in the lazy boy and no one but Betty dare to get up there while he is there.

My boys, The Kelly's, have turned into traitors to me because they no longer feel that I am mistreated by the Devil Cat. They even seem to be liking him a lot more than I am comfortable with. Like today, Austin spent an hour just petting Allred while he rested in the big chair. I didn't even dare go up for my pets while he was there with the Devil.

Any body got any ideas on how to get rid of the Devil? (Not you Whitney, I know you really like allred, so you would probably not have any workable suggestions)



Cooper and Annie were having such a fun time this week. I couldn't even get Annie to pay attention to me. OK so Cooper is bigger than me, and younger, but come on Annie, how fickle can you be. You drop me cold when something better comes along without so much as a "Howdy Do Partner, I'm moving on" Nope, you jsut drop me like a cold potate or hot potatoe....what ever!!!

More fun with kids, more demonstrations, more educational experiences.....I just give and give and give....

AND I LOVE IT......

It was pretty windy this day as you can see. Poor Murhpy with his long hair. He needs to put it in a pony tale or something. I don't know how he sees sometimes.

Poor Zeus has had a heck of a few weeks. He had to have surgery on his toe and the first thing he did when he got home was to chew out the stitches. He didn't know that he would have to go right back to the vet and be put under the anethesia AGAIN. So now he has to wear the "Coller of Shame".....

I know his pain....

On a final note......Vickie and I are really sad to tell you that Cooper and Dizzy are still here, looking for a home. Several wonderful people have come to visit and are thinking about it, but until they make up their minds, we really need to have your help in passing the word around.

Cooper is a 1 1/2 year old neutered golden retreiver who is up to date as of last week on all his shots as well as his heartguard. He is kind and loving and gets along with everyone here and anyone he meets.

Dizzy is a one year old neutered mix breed, also very sweet, social and ready to have a family of his own. Vickie is very nervous about putting them on ksl.com but it is time that they move on. Please please send word out to friends and family. They need to be adopted soon so they don't get too attached to Vickie and I. Besides, I am pretty sure that Annie will forget all about Cooper once he has left.......

Have a nice week....

I am sure planning on making the most of it.

Vickie took me to the river tonight and we watched the beavers for 1/2 an hour then played ball for another half hour. We got pictures of the beaver and some crazy looking bird that we will have ready for you next week.

Love

Bert

Robins, Beavers, Flowers and Kids

Well Howdy everyone. I hope you had as much fun this last week as I did. It is pretty late right now and I am darn sure that Vickie is going to start dozing off soon, so this will be a pretty short entry. But my week went like this:

For some reason we have had a ton of demos in the last few weeks. Two this week were here in Ogden area but we also had our annual Bear Lake AJ Winters Demo and that was quite the fun time.

On the drive there we almost ran over a momma duck and her 10 little ducklings that were wandering down the middle of this country road. Thank goodness Vickie was alert and she slammed on the brakes, stopping a few feet from the little family.

It was such a relief to her that she didn't hit them, but my gosh, she stopped so fast that I almost knocked myself out as I flew forward into the front console. Now Vickie is looking for a doggy seat belt for me. Anybody have any ideas on where to find one?

All the kids at AJ were great fun and I can't wait to go back, again and again.

After I was finished playing with the fourth graders I got to go in a meet my new most special friend. He took a sec to warm up to me but we were soon best of buddies. I hope I get to see him again.

On the way back home we came down Logan Canyon and stopped at this beautiful waterfall. Vickie says it leads up to some caves that she used to go spelunking in. Wonder what spelinking is?

We played there for a bit and then continued home. I was pretty tired by the time I got there so I went straight to sleep. and guess who decided to use me as a chair again. What is with Betty anyway. Do I look like a chair?

As the spring keeps working its way into Canine Country Club and the surrounding area, the beautiful flowers are starting to bloom. This one smells particularly good.

Not far from the Country Club is a cool place Vickie and I like to walk and we were so excited this week when, while walking we looked over to the river and noticed this huge critter on the other shore. Guess what? We have BEAVERS.

More demonstrations, even when it's raining and cold. They just keep a comin.

Tucker Annie and I really like the demos cause we get to play for half an hour after each one. It can get pretty wild when we play so Vickie and the others usually stand by a big tree or their cars so we don't run em down when we whiz by.

The robins are growing like crazy. This was how they looked a week ago. Today when we looked, they already had feathers..... It has been cold, wet and rainy for the last week and their mom spends a lot of time keeping them warm. She is a great mom.

Yep, Betty is still sitting on me. But more important is that Fiona (in the back ground here) has found a new home. Lets all keep our fingers crossed. I hope it is a forever forever home.....she deserves it.

Allred is still ruling. He can scare you with a simple look.

Well, I am off to sleepy land. I wish you all a great week. Vickie made another slide show that covers all of last week, both for the search dogs and all the dogs here at Canine Country Club. Hope you enjoy it. (Check out the youtube link below, Vickie promises to find some shorter music next time and only run each picture once. She is still learning how.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Cq3uo8g4Xo

WAHOO, I have 30 followers..How much fun is that..

thanks you guys for reading my blog.

I MADE IT

Wahoo, I did it. I am now a Certified Wilderness Search Dog......and I did it on my Birthday.....Yep, I am two years old as of May 15th and a Certified I'm an official, hold me back I am coming to find you SEARCH DOG......and boy it was a long time comin, but it is here.

I am excited about it but as some of you may know, this week was a hard one for any searcher. I didn't know that sometimes I would be looking for, what would turn out to be so Very Very Sad. I thought it was all fun and games, cause that is what the training has been all about.


Because I was so close to certifying, I was allowed to go as a "Volunteer" Dog and look for a little boy this week. I was not aware that so much emotion would be surrounding me during a time like this.

Although I didn't understand a lot of it, I took my cue from my vastly more experienced elder, Murphy. He was very saddened, as was both his partner and mine. They were all pretty depressed after word and we really didn't do much. I mean, I barely got out of the truck before we were told to Stand Down. But the frustration and pain was very apparent. It was a tough start to a very eventful week.

On a more cheery note.....Guess who's birthday it was this week and guess how many people remembered my wish for a Ferret......?

I got Two ferrets for my birthday. Can you imagine that.....Vickie is very grateful that they were only on cards and not real life ones.

I just wanted to thank you guys for remembering that that was my birthday wish. how cool are you!!!

When I went to do a demonstration this week for a group of home school kids, I was so happy when they all sang Happy Birthday to me. Wow, I'm TWO.......

Vickie got the order of the pictures wrong so we are going forward to the Search Dog Training that was held on Saturday the 15th of May.... MY BIRTHDAY!! (Just in case someone doesn't know that yet.)

We traveled to Bear River State Park in Evanston Wyoming. Murphy and Paulette rode up with us in our cool old van. I was very excited when we picked up Murhpy. I just knew it was a good thing.

Of course the first thing that happens when we get to the training area is all the little kids came over to meet us dogs. WE LOVE THAT.

At some point in the day, Ken took off and set up my Wilderness Test. I wasn't even nervous about it. Fact is, I didn't know it was a test, but Vickie did and she was very pleased with my grand performance. Yep I found him so fast, he barely had time to get hidden. And now I am official.....OOOO FFFF III CCCC IIII AAAA LLLL.

Well, not 100%. I can do wilderness air scent searches, but I have to do my 1/4 mile track, scent discrimination test to be 100%. I am gonna do that at next months training if I can. So keep your fingers crossed.....I am gonna make it....really I am....

Thanks Ken.You were, Like, the best victim.....

So here are a bunch more pictures of us during training adn with the kids that gather around. I know it looks like I have a really rough time of it....all that hard work, all that being petted and loved. Oh I really do sacrifice a lot, don't I.

Here is a Youtube link with more pictures of the training if you want to see. Sorry about the music. We need a better disc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5KQhn8E1vk

Vickie and John went up to the property this week to open up the trailor. She said it was INCREDIBLE so I can't wait to head up.

The trailer come through the winter really well.

No leaks, no collapsed walls. whew!

Sam and Strider came to stay for a week. Boy are they popular. The Kelly's even spent more time with them than with me. But I am not worried. They won't be here long and then I'll get my family back.

Fiona is a force to be recond with. She is one Big Momma. When she decides to sleep on you, you are pinned until she decides to get up. One time she fell off one of the beds we have on the floor. She rolled off on top of me and I thought I was gonna suffocate.

Finally Vickie helped me up from under her. Wow.....I hope that never happens again.

I love it when Austin or one of the Kellys come. They just lay right down on the floor with us in our beds and off to sleepy land we all go. What more could you ask for.....

So now we are going back through the week to one of the demonstrations.....Annie met me and Murphy there. It was great fun.

Vickie and I were excited to see that our white robyn was still there. I wonder if she has had babies and if they will be white too. How cool would that be.

More Kids, More fun.

So at the kennel we have another homeless boy. His name is Cooper and aint he good looking. Vickie is going to keep him here for a few weeks and help him understand that people are really good. At least most of them are. then they will work on walking on a lead, sitting, staying and just giving him time to settle down and relax. Then with your help, she is going to help him find a new home. So please keep him in mind. He is such a gentle boy, loving and kind.

So here is a link to all the activity at the kennel this week. I hope you like it. We have had some really fun guests.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTQFvZcovKU

For those of you who have been interested in our little robin family, Vickie and I watched an incredible battle this morning. It seems this mom has been taking care of her little brood all by herself. Flying off and quickly returning with food for the three little darlings. (Feildspar, Zanzibar and Rex)

I named them myself. So anyway this morning while we were in the attic taking pictures of mom feeding the boys, all of a sudden she shrieked and flew up through the trees.

Let me add that to this point in life, I have actually thought those big black and white birds called magpies, were really pretty and were fun to watch, but today, these big buggers came in to try and steal Fieldspar with the intent of using him as a morning snack.

Well, mom would have nothing to do with that. She flew off trying to lead them away. But they then circled around her and one of them headed back to get Fieldspar. Our hearts were beating so bad and I was barking at the window and Vickie was hollering and pounding at the window hoping they would go away.

They just flew in closer and were planning on getting Fieldspar with a side manuver of tricking mom with one of the birds while the other one swooped in to grab the baby. Just at the last minute, when Vickie and I thought it was over for Fieldspar, in comes DADDY to the rescue.

Man he came diving in at that other bird and then him and mom started attacking them both. It was a great thing to watch. The best part is those mean old child grabbing magpies went flying off with their tails between their feet, never to return.

yea Dad. I don't know where you have been for the last few weeks, but boy was it good to see you come in at the last minute.

Dad has been hanging around a lot more today. Helping mom feed and keeping watch. I am feeling much better about the Feildspar, Zanzibar and Rex's future.

Good Job mom......