A New Puppy
His name is Ralph. He’s a Bichon/Maltese cross. He’s an adorable, sweet boy!
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A New Family Member
I go to Weems Artfest in Albuquerque every year to buy Christmas presents. It’s an unusual art show in that they have an area where they do adoptions for the Albuquerque Animal Shelter. I always go to look at the cute dogs. This year, somehow one came home with me.
I'm nervous. Will I like it here?
Maybe I will like it here.
Looking around at my new home.
Think this is going to be OK.
Phantom
Phantom at Breckenridge
Phantom in the old travel trailer with Jolie Blonde
Phantom at Christmas this past year
Phantom at Bayfield, CO this past winter
Phantom on duty as always outside the 5th wheel
Phantom, a wonderful border collie
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Good girl Phantom. That’ll do. December ? 1997-September 4, 2010
Beau–An Excellent Cattle Dog
For me, the most interesting demonstration at the Lesser Prairie Chicken Festival at Milnesand, NM–besides observing the chickens themselves, of course–was the herding demonstration.
Beau, the cattle dog
Beau is a red border collie and a cattle herding dog. Cattle herding dogs differ from sheep herding dogs in that they have to be quite a bit tougher, as they often are kicked by the cattle. Beau has only a few teeth left because of this, and yet as you will see he still loves his job. Because the demonstration was right outside the Milnesand Community Center, Beau’s person brought sheep rather than cattle for him to herd on this particular day.
It was a delight to watch Beau herd the sheep. I’ll let you watch him do what he does best.
Beau moves the sheep across the field
The boss said to put all these sheep in this corner
Now it's time to move the sheep out of the corner
The boss says "down," but I'm keeping my eye on these sheep
Notice the white tabs on the fence. These are on most of the fences in this area to minimize collisions between the Lesser Prairie Chickens and the fences.
Beau reminds the sheep to stay in a nice little bunch
A border collie puppy with good blood lines will cost around $500. A finished competition cattle dog is worth ten times that or more.
Beau brings the sheep to the boss
"Beau! Come around!"
"Good dog, Beau!"
It was a treat to watch such a wonderfully well trained dog. Until I see him again, I know that Beau will be on the job.
Beau would say goodbye, but he's busy right now
Horseplay in Corrales
There is a small herd of Belgian draft horses that lives near me in Corrales, New Mexico. They are beautiful animals, and I love to watch them. When I drove by the corral on Wednesday two of them were having quite a frolic.
