Karingal Border Collies

Here are some excerpts from emails sent to me by one of the new puppy owners.  Thank you Tracey for allowing me to put them on here.  They are funny and touching - read and enjoy...

When they first took him home

Hi Sam

 
Thanks for listening yesterday! Vinnie never did eat his Pro Plan (he doesn't seem to like it, although he wolfs down the Boomer!), and while he eventually settled into his crate-bed last night, I think he's developed a huge mistrust of it -- and me and Tony while we tempt him to go inside his crate and then close the door (which you can't go gently or quietly with those bloomin' cage doors!). It's a shame as I really wanted him to just pop in and out of his bed as and when he wanted, but he drops asleep on the kitchen floor, unless we lock him in the crate-bed. I reckon he now thinks "Wow! This entire kitchen is my kennel; stuff the crate"... Oh well, back step one with the crate familiarisation thing.
 
Elsewhere, mind, Vinnie is doing absolutely brilliantly. He already sits almost on command (usually when I say "No!"), fetches his favourite toy that you gave him (well, almost -- he did a couple of times in a row yesterday, but didn't bring it back today. Bless) and pees on the same spot (puppy training pads).
 
Vinnie is such an adorable little thing -- but I don't need to tell you that! Tony and I absolutely love him to bits, and have had loads of fun games with him (we're looking to books for more as I reckon Vinnie's the sort of character who easily gets bored with the same things, and our repertoire isn't that great!). You know when parents say their baby/child is the most attractive, intelligent, etc? Well, that's Tony and me with Vinnie! We're like two proud parents showing off our little bundle of gorgeousness! He's really good with strangers and puts on his cutest face for their attention. Cheeky!
 
He's been out on a few short "socialisation" trips with us and loves the shadows on the ground when the sun's shining. He gets sooo excited about everything, but he doesn't try to escape from my arms - he just sits there and really takes in the scene as we walk along. Bless.
 
Even more amazing, he actually waits until he gets home until he pees. And then, yep you've guessed it, he tootles straight on over to the 'pee and poop' spot. Sooo cute!
 
I just wish he'd poo more!
 
Honest, he's only had two poos (both on the designated 'pee and poop' spot. Clever little thing) since we picked him up. I thought the games would stimulate some movement from somewhere other than his little legs and eyes. But, no, poos just ain't on the agenda. I'm not too worried right now as there's been a lot of change in the past few days. I'll just keep watching out for that next poo and see how it all goes.
 
Anyway, better stop rambling on and go and check on the little blighter.

~~~

12/2/2004

Hi again Sam

 
Just thought I'd pop you a quick line or many while Vinnie is sleeping (well, I think he is -- he looks like he's sulking in his crate and is ignoring me! Cheeky monkey!).
 
He's just come back in from a vigorous and exciting escapade around the garden. Think he needed to get rid of all his energy. I don't let him get too excited outside, though, because of his little bones. And then there are the snails. It rained this morning, and afterwards when we went outside for a pee (Vinnie, not me!), Vinnie started running round with his nose to the ground and it was a race to see who could pick up the tiny snails first. Me or him. I traded a few treats with him for some, others did not have such a lucky escape. Lesson learned: sweep the area for snails before he goes out.
 
Good news all round.
 
Vinnie is pooing -- hurrah! At least two little 'uns a day and quite healthy looking, from what I can gather. And he's started to pee in the designated pee'n'poo spot outside (he mainly gets it, but has had one or two accidents on the way!). And he's finally going into his crate (if the door's open, he's okay but will run away if either Tony or me look like we're going to close the door). I also 'bribe' him in a few times a day for him to rest, otherwise he'd be tearing around the kitchen full of mischief all of the time.
 
And last night, Vinnie didn't make one noise (apart from a half-hearted groan) when he went to bed. I'm sooo proud of him.
 
He's so cute in the morning. All soft and sleepy. But once he's outside for his morning pee, he suddenly wakes up with a bang! He can't quite work out the seagull noises, though. His little head almost bounces from side to side as he listens to their god-awful noise.
 
He's been out every day doing his "socialisation" bit. Mind you, he's starting to struggle a bit now as he really, really, really wants to get down on that floor! He likes the shadows on the pavement, which I hope doesn't mean that he'll be a shadow-chaser. Blimey.
 

The behaviourist woman came yesterday and said, apart from him being adorable, that I love him too much! Like, hello, he is my 'ickle baby! I think I knew what she meant, though. I've been too anxious trying to make him feel happy and safe, and I'm gonna chill from now on. She also told me to just ignore him when grabs (attacks) our trouser legs, or bites our arms etc. Not so easy when you've got a young pup's teeth sinking into your skin. He is so teething, so I'm not too worried about the biting at the mo, but it's difficult trying to teach him that he can bite his designated toys all he likes but everything else is out of bounds. I'm getting him yet another Kong (the space ship that you can fill lots of treats through the holes -- it's cool!) and a rope toy for him to play with when I'm there.

 

Right, I'm off to make Vinnie's tea.

~~~

After 'Maisie' sent all the pups an email 1st birthday card!

Hi Sam
 

That is sooo cute! Love it! Don't think Vinnie got it, mind. Bless him.

God, where to start? There's sooo much to tell, I think we're going to have to come and see you and Maisie sometime. Hope that's alright.

Here's a quickie: Vinnie is the best dog ever. Big T and I love him to bits. Perhaps too much. He's kind of a baby substitute for us. :-)

We're still taking him to training classes, but we've closed for the holidays and start again in January sometime. I know it's a case of 'my baby [but read dog!] is more beautiful and talented than any other', but he really is clever and is the top of his class at training school.

His cheekiness is cute and endearing -- sometimes overwhelming! I'd love to train him up for agility, but not sure what'd be involved.

He still insists on taking me for a walk. Bless him. And I positively fly through the air when he spots a cat! Have bought the Gentle Leader but he hates it -- his favourite ever treat (cheese) won't even tempt him when he's wearing this halter.

He reckons he's a human and tells Tony all about his day when he comes in from work. It's hilarious. It really does sound un-dog like!

We took him away again for a week in Cornwall this time. He loved it and was the star of Cornwall for the week. The owners of the cottage we stayed in lived next door and their Cocker Spaniel Ben used to come round and 'knock' for Vinnie to come out to play. I kid you not.

~~~

21/3/05

Hi Sam
 

Just a quick email to say 'hi' and to see how you went at Crufts. Do let me know if you went and how you got on. Ta.

Also, we bumped into [his brother] Moss the other week on Ditchling... and he was the absolute spit of Vinnie. They played with each other until Moss went for Vinnie. Typical boys. Anyway, he looked well and they said they love him, so all's well there.

Vinnie's great. Apart from nearly being killed the other week by some rabid (not quite, but it looked pretty mad) dog. It was pretty nasty and totally out of the blue. There we were in our fave park playing ball -- as usual -- and this dog came bounding round the corner took one look at Vinnie and pounced on him. He had him in a head lock and was basically trying to kill him. He wouldn't let go and his owner was pretty useless. I panicked perhaps too much mainly because of how crazy this dog was and also because of the unbelievable harrowing noise coming from Vinnie. I ended up kicking the dog. Eventually, he let go. Anyway, to cut a very long story short, V is fine - he's going to have some nasty scars around his neck, but they're healing well and his lovely collar will hide them. He still trots up to other dogs despite me yelling at him to come to me, though he is a little wary. Could have been worse I suppose, but I daren't go back to that park...

We still take him to training classes, but it stops for 'term time' in a couple of weeks. And I've come to an awful decision. As much as we all enjoy the training classes, but not the time (Friday night!), we feel we've progressed as much as we can in that class and the next one up doesn't finish until 11pm on a Friday night. Now, I have some kind of life, so that's out for me. So I'm looking into starting agility classes sometime over the summer. You don't happen to know of anyone who trains in this area, do you?

 
We're all going on holiday to Cornwall for a week in April. Can't wait.
 
Anyway, better go and take him for his daily 'park fun'.

~~~

After receiving an email from me asking for a recent photo for the new website -

Sam, the site's way cool! Really fun and cute pix. My God, what a handsome bunch! Maisie is sooo cute. I can see Vinnie's spirit there. Can't wait to see pix of Vinnie up there, too. He's a real show off so that shouldn't be a problem!

Right, I'll try to get Tony to upload some of the more recent photos (we went to Cornwall and V loved it!). There's a really, really cute one of him asleep - it's a close-up and he looks soooooo sweet. I love him to bits. Big child substitute for me, but I don't care. I love him!

Right, gotta go before the straightjacket comes out!

~~~

18/08/05

Good news: Vinnie won 'Most Handsome Dog' at the local show on Sunday.  Everyone was 'oooing' and 'aaaahing' over him. I'm like those mothers who think their little one is the most beautiful and wonderful thing alive. well, he is, pretty much.

Bad news: remember that vicious attack he received by that mad dog who literally tried to kill him? Well, it seems he hasn't forgotten it, as he's
growling at most things that come anywhere near him. I don't want to tell him off as I think he's really, really scared. I'm thinking of taking him to
see an animal behaviourist. what do you think? My osteo wants to see him as she treated a dog a while back under certain circumstances. He's going on Mon to 'be healed'. Well, this is Brighton!
 

19/08/05

oops forgot to mention......that Vinnie has been attending agility classes since June. He loves it - he always puts so much energy and enthusiasm into everything in life, but he can also be extremely earnest, which makes me chuckle.

He's doing really well, when he's not been admired by everyone. He is the 'star' in the class at the moment, so we'll see how he goes.

T ;-)

~~~

Maisie sent all her pups a birthday card ;o)

12/12/05 

Awww! Thanks, Sam (& Maisie!).

I did tell Vinnie, but I’m not sure he understood!

He had a great day. Got a brand new ‘Wolf’ size Nylabone, a cuddly toy, lots of goodies to eat and he spent his birthday on the place he loves most: the beach. We walked about five miles along the coastline, with Vinnie trying to put his foot in the crabbing pools. Then he disrupted a films shot; they were filming on the beach and Vinnie thought he’d take his chance to be famous – much to the chagrin of the camera crew!

Then we took him to a farmer’s/Christmas market, where he got cuddled by lots of kids and everyone stopped to talk to him (he tries to talk back, but it’s a right racket!).

He slept most of the evening, being dog tired. Bless.

I was hoping to get a digital camera (at last!) to film him and send you an updated photo, but we have to wait to see what Santa brings!


T ;-)