It wasn’t much of a border collie Christmas here again this year as the dogs spent most of the afternoon in their crates while Mike’s family visited. It’s not that they don’t like the dogs. It’s just that they are too much dog for most of Mike’s family – especially being as they are not really “dog-people”. And Mike’s mom’s ‘hesitations’ about dogs from years past have grown into almost a fear as her Alzheimer’s progresses. So I keep the girls crated so that they’re not jumping up or tripping people or generally being . . . well, dogs! But I can understand that three very active border collies can overwhelm the general population. I’ve always told potential BC owners that it takes a certain type of person to own a BC and not everyone is cut out for it.
So this morning the girls are ‘doing their thing’ here in the kitchen while I get caught up on my computer time. I’m doing a bit of laundry and then we have to carry the holiday table out to Mike’s shed and get it stored for the year. We only use it on Thanksgiving and now, for the first time this year, Christmas. It’s just too big to keep in my tiny house year-round. I’m hoping to find the energy to take the girls for a long walk since they’ve been short-changed on quality time since before Thanksgiving. We’ve gotten in some ball-playing but they really need a good, long walk to work those muscles and air out their brains. I’m also hoping to get Trey some time on the ducks this week if the weather and my energy holds. If I want to trial her at the advanced level next year then I need to take advantage of every break in the weather this winter. It doesn’t help that I don’t enjoy herding as much as I do obedience, but I have to hold up my end of the bargain I made with Trey – she did obedience for me and now I’ll do herding with her.
So another year is drawing to a close and I am thankful for my husband, my extended family, and my friends – both dog and non-dog. And of course I am thankful for Beckett, Trey and Callen!
