Freckles!

Hiya! I'm Breckin and I am the Boss Lady's new foster dog. I'm what ya call a rough-coated, tri-colored border collie with lots of FRECKLES! Matter of fact, my name even means freckled!

Anyway, I've been doin' a lot of learnin' these last few weeks. First, I had to learn to play nice with other dogs - I was used to being a bit of a punk because that's what worked in my old pack, but my new foster brothers (Dublin and Limerick) said that kind of stuff wasn't gonna fly here. Limerick informed me that HE was the only punk allowed at the Boss Lady's place.

Then I had to learn that everythin' doesn't belong to me, includin' the Boss Lady. That kinda went along with not being a punk. So I've got that figured out now and I only grumble if another dog (aka Limerick) tries to take my food right out of my mouth. Other than that I don't mind if they are near me when I am eatin'.

I also got "new-turred" though I don't remember it so I am not sure what exactly it was. The Boss Lady said it sure helped me to learn how not to be a punk though, so I guess it is a good thing....

I'm still workin' on learnin' some new skills, like how to walk well on a leash and how to not eat the the Boss Lady's cats.

Okay, gotta go

Breckin

Here we go a-visitin'

Hi All! This past weekend I went a-visitn' to some friends' house. I got to see my buddy Sam:


And Pippin (is it me or does he look kinda scary in this picture?):


We also got to hang out with Dune and his ever present Frisbee:


We met some other dogs too! This is Tucker and he is the newest NEBCR rescue dog. He's just a little tyke and he doesn't know much yet. You might have noticed him in the picture I posted of me earlier. That's because I am good with puppies so I was allowed to play with him. Dublin was allowed to play with him too, but Limerick had to pass because he isn't very patient with lil' puppers. Dublin said that is kind of "I-RON-ICK" considering how much patience Limerick required as a puppy...




Finally we got to meet this guy:



His name is Breckin (Gaelic for freckled) and despite his size, he is only 7 months old. He is the Boss Lady's new foster dog. Why does the Boss Lady have two foster dogs you ask? Well, she doesn't. I also got to meet my forever family on this trip! They drove a really long way (in a snowstorm to boot!) to come get me. They were very excited to be taking me to live with them. The Boss Lady said I would get my very own calf to herd and lots of room to run and play once I'm all healed up!

So, once again, I want to thank everyone who donated to NEBCR so I could have my surgeries. Thanks to you, I can look forward to many more years of pain-free running and playing like every other border collie my age.

Take care,
Finnegan, Finally Beginning Again....

All Cleared for Take-off!

So the Boss Lady and I went to see the surgeon on Wednesday for a check-up. The Boss Lady said I was all done with surgery (I hope so! I had run out of shoulders by this point!) and this was just to see how I've been healing. She said not to get my hopes up as I had a few weeks before I was due to be cleared for "light activities like leash-walking". I've been trying to tell her that I feel great and I am "good to go!" but she wasn't buying it.


So imagine my surprise when the surgeon said I was walking great and could have some light leash walking now - a whole 3 weeks ahead of schedule! I don't know who was more surprised - the surgeon or me. The Boss Lady said it really helped that I was eating a high quality raw diet and I got regular acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments. It must be so, because I am finally cleared for activity! Woo-hoo!!!

Crate rest for a border collie is a fate worse than death, so I can't wait to start running, jumping and playi-oops, the Boss Lady just reminded me that the surgeon said light activities like leash walking only.

Okay, I'll take what I can get for now. At least I know that I will be able to run and play soon!

Finnegan, the very HAPPY dog!

Christmas!!!

A few days ago we celebrated Christmas...The Boss Lady had everyone over for Christmas Eve dinner at our house. I wasn't too thrilled with this as there were little kids running around and a lot of people I didn't know. The Boss Lady didn't make me interact with them though and let me stay in my crate with a yummy kong stuffed with peanut butter. Limerick got to stay in the crate next to me 'cause he gets a little too revved up when kids are running around. Dublin got to stay out though because he can handle it. He was working the crowd like a pro and getting lots of treats from the table when people thought the Boss Lady wasn't looking.

After things had calmed down a little bit, the Boss Lady had one of her young nieces sit quietly next to my crate and drop treats in for me. I really liked that. I felt safe in my crate so I didn't have to give my "I'm a big scary dog - stay away!!" bark. Since the little girl was so calm and wasn't looking at me, I was happily eating all the treats she gave me. Limerick did get a little jealous though, so the Boss Lady gave him another kong and he was happy.


The next day was Christmas and the Boss Lady's parents came over for Christmas breakfast. Lim and I stayed in the crate for the first part so we could be calm and relaxed. Dublin was working the crowd again and managed to get more tidbits handed to him from the parent's breakfast plates.

Here's a picture of Dublin. He's looking so happy because he spent the morning getting bacon fed to him by the Boss Lady's mom!



Once breakfast was over, we got to open presents! I didn't say anything to the Boss Lady, but I was kinda worried that Santa Paws wasn't going to be able to find me as this isn't my forever home...but I am happy to report that I was worried for nothing! All us dogs got some yummy treats and the catz got a fancy-smancy new kitty condo!

Hmmm...this looks like fun!


Darwin's playing sneak attack!



Ummm...can I come in and play with you?






I tried to get in it to play with them....


...but I couldn't fit.


What do I do now, Boss Lady?


I was starting to get in a funk because I couldn't play with the kittens when they were in their snazzy new house, but the Boss Lady had a big surprise for me...I had one more present! Isn't is the bestest toy ever?!? My special friend Noah sent it to me.


I tried to get the Boss Lady to play with me, but she was busy taking pictures.


So then I hit up the Boss Lady's dad. He's always up for a good play session
(is it just me,or does the Boss Lady's dad look an awful lot like Santa Paws...?)






After all the present opening hoopla was over, it was time to chill and nap. I was sad because the Boss Lady said I had to rest for a bit before I could play with my new toy some more.


Dublin was very worried because Fossil decided to curl up next to Dublin's toy gorilla...and Dublin was too scared to take it from her!



I said I would try to get it from her....


But then she spotted me...


and I was foiled...



Darwin decided to steal the Boss Lady's chair for a nap when she got up to put Limerick in the crate for his nap.

Newton said she got quite enough beauty sleep last night

So she decided to use this time for a grooming session...


Darwin thought this was a wonderful idea.

Pokey evidently had too much catnip, so he was just chillin' for a while.


...and I was patiently waiting unil it was time to play with my toy again...

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!

Wow, it's been crazy around here as the Boss Lady gets ready for the "Howl-a-dazes". Not sure what they are, but it has meant I've had a tough time getting a chance to log onto the computer. The Boss Lady has been on it a lot "tracking packages" to make sure they get here on time. Humans are so silly.

Anyway, I was really excited this past weekend because it snowed for 3 straight days! I love snow! I really wanted to go out and play in it, but the Boss Lady reminded me that I had a leg that still needed to heal.

I had to make due with snuggling with my snowman.
The Boss Lady kept telling me that Mr. Snowman wasn't a dog toy, but that he was a "de-kor-a-shun".


I love Mr. Snowman though, and the Boss Lady finally caved.



The Boss Lady must have been in the "Howl-a-day" spirit because she finally agreed to let me go outside for a bit. I was sooooo excited, but the Boss Lady told me that I couldn't run around at all. (There was so much snow that I couldn't have run if I tried!) Here I am getting my instructions:


Then the Boss Lady brought out our dinner. She feeds us a raw diet so that day we were getting some yummy chicken frames and turkey hearts.

Limerick takes his out to the back corner so no one tries to steal it.


Here I am being all stealthy and hiding under the cherry branch that last week's ice storm took down - they'll never see me here.

Dublin doesn't need to hide with his food though. The cats are the only ones brave enough to try to take the food from him and they aren't allowed outside. Well, the Boss Lady can easily take the food from any of us, but since she is the one who gave it to us in the first place, she usually doesn't need to take it back from us!

Here I am begging for more food:
"I finished all my food Boss Lady, can I have some more? I promise I won't tell Limerick...."


The Boss Lady wasn't falling for my puppy dog eyes though. In fact, she said it was time to come inside.
"Awww, can't I stay out a little bit longer? Pulllleeeease?"


Dublin and Limerick love the snow - so much so that the Boss Lady has a hard time getting them to come back into the house when it is snowing out. Dublin especially seems to develop "Sudden Hearing Loss" at these times.

"I hear nothing...."


Limerick was beside himself because he found his Frisbee even though there was a foot of snow on top of it! He had been worried because he thought it was a goner until spring!

"Whaddya mean it's time to come in? Look what I just found!!!"



She finally corralled us and got us to come inside. Limerick and I were pretty tired and decided to take a nap.





Dublin informed us that he was "made of tougher stuff and didn't need a nap like you young'uns" so he spent the rest of day helping the Boss Lady (though I did see him sneak in a nap when he thought we didn't notice!)

~Finnegan

I'm Baaaaack!

Wow, it's been a long time since I've been able to post. First, I had my surgery, then we had an ice storm. The Boss Lady was able to come and get me after all, but we had no power for DAYS - I didn't think that was all that bad, but the Boss Lady explained that the 'puter needed electricity to run so I couldn't post. Then the Boss Lady had to go on another business trip and Dublin, Limerick and I stayed at a cool boarding facility run by a friend of the Boss Lady. Limerick and Dublin got to run around and play, but I am still on crate rest so I couldn't join in. Ugh. But finally we are home and have power at the same time, so I can post and update you on all the cool things that have been happening.

First, I want to thank the wonderful people at D.I.N.E for donating this really cool bed for me to use. I'm not sure exactly what makes it so much more comfortable than the other dog bed I used, I just know that it feels reeeeally good to sleep on it and I'm not as stiff when I get up from my nap when I use it. And it is big enough that if Limerick or the kittens want to sleep on it too, I don't feel like I have to get up and move.

I'm healing well so far from my second surgery. It has been 10 long days of no running though and I still have to wear a t-shirt so I don't scratch my stitches - but at least this time it isn't an embarrassing pink one!

As I mentioned earlier, we were without power for DAYS! Humans are pretty funny when the power goes out - they act kinda lost, sorta like when someone steals my ball when I am not looking. They wander around the house trying to find things to keep them occupied that don't need electricity. They're pretty silly, humans - us dogs had everything under control - we just napped the time away! Though it did get pretty chilly in the house after a few days with no heat. I was forced to cuddle with Limerick and the kittens (Dublin does not cuddle with non-humans and I wasn't cold enough to brave cuddling with the other cats).

The Boss Lady has been frantically running around trying to get ready for Christmas yet she still made time in her day to embarrass me.



Limerick tried to help; he told me to keep my chin up and she would get bored soon. So I did and it worked.




Gotta go now and save one of the kittens, they keep getting trapped in the decoration boxes...

~Finnegan, kitten-sitter

Anyone interested in donating to Finnegan's surgery fund, can do so by clicking here.

Guest Blog - update on Finnegan

Hi All -

Limerick here again. The Boss wanted me to update you on Finnegan. Finn is doing great and he is all set to come home today...if the Boss can make it out to pick him up! We had a doozy of an ice storm last night and the roads are pretty bad and trees are down everywhere. Dublin and I have been listening to all the chainsaws going all day so maybe they'll have the roads cleared soon.

Anyway, the Boss plans on picking Finnegan up tonight if she can. If not, the good people at the vet hospital will watch him overnight.

I hope he comes home soon...even though I can't rough-house with him, I still miss him...

~Limerick, the Bold.