Friday, October 24, 2008

Weekend fun



Last weekend, the Boss Lady packed us up again and took us to Sugar Bush Farm. This time it was a bit different because I barely got to see the Boss Lady after we got there. Dublin, Limerick and I got to spend the weekend hanging out and playing with all our canine pals while the Boss Lady and a few of her friends manned a NEBCR booth at the NYS Sheep and Wool festival. Us dogs got to stay behind with some of the other NEBCR volunteers and play.

We normally stay in a soft-sided people crate (which the humans call a tent) when we visit the farm. This time we got to stay in a hard-sided people crate - I think the humans called it a "pop-up camper". At first I thought it was pretty neat - it had two big people beds and plenty of room for us dogs. We even had a friend and her dog "Didge" staying with us. I love Didge - he lets me follow him around all day. I want to be like him when I grow up.

The first night, the Boss Lady even let me sleep up on the bed with her. I snuggled under the covers (it was cold!) and went right to sleep. That's when I discovered that the people crate had a terrible secret! It ate dogs! I was sleeping peacefully and slid over to the side of the bed and was leaning up against the canvas siding when I started to slip through. I was scared and immediately bopped the Boss Lady in the face to let her know I was being eaten. The Boss Lady wasn't very happy to be woken up in that way, but desperate times called for desperate measures! Once the Boss Lady figured out why I was freaking out, she pulled me back into the camper and said I could have the inside part of the bed for the rest of the night. I didn't want to take any chances though, and I slept on the floor for the rest of the night.

The next night, I decided to chance the bed on the other side of the camper, though I stayed on the inside of the bed, just in case. Things were going well and I was sleeping soundly next to Didge and his human when suddenly Didge was eaten! It was horrible - one second Didge was right next to me and the next second he was gone! I ran over to the Boss Lady and woke her up again to tell her what had happened but Didge's human was already on the case. She ran outside and evidently fought off the evil camper and came back inside with a sleepy and slightly confused Didge. I took no more chances and spent the rest of the night on the floor. The Boss Lady might prefer the camper, but I think I like the soft-sided people crate much better -it never swallows dogs.


~Finnegan

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Turns out, I'm a Sheep Dog!




So, last weekend the Boss Lady packed up all three of us dogs and headed out to that wonderful canine paradise known as Sugar Bush Farm.

We got to run and play all weekend and even got to sleep in the people crate (though humans call it a tent). It was a bit chilly and the Boss Lady was worried about me because I am what they call a "smooth-coated" border collie, so I don't have a lot of long fur like my foster brothers. The Boss Lady was nice enough to give up one of her blankets so I would have something to snuggle into. At first I wasn't going to use it and pushed it away, but by the middle of the night, I was happy the Boss Lady had given it to me.

But the most exciting part of the weekend was when I got to see sheep! I didn't want to go into the sheep pen at first - the other dogs were running around playing tag and I wanted to join them. I had no idea why the Boss Lady wanted me to go with her to see the silly sheep. But I finally gave in and walked up to see the sheep with her. I was prepared to humor her for a little bit in the hopes that she would let me go out and play again.

But then...the sheep moved and I was hooked! It was like all of my ancestors were yelling at me at once to go and do something!! The sheep were scattering and for some reason, I suddenly knew that was not supposed to happen...I took off after them and started circling them to bring them back to order. I got a little bit too energetic though and I accidentally scattered them again. (Those sheep sure are FAST!! and FLIGHTY!)

I worked in the sheep pen for about 10 minutes before the Boss Lady called a halt and brought me back out. I didn't want to leave...who wants to play tag with other dogs when there are sheep around...?

Finnegan, the Sheep Dog