Oh My God, he did it! Jock did it!

So, Jock has always been fearful of pens, crates and kennels. He'd much rather sit out in a storm with torrential rains and terrifying winds than go into any small space.

I've been working with him these last few weeks, and today, he did it!

I have a collapsable crate that my young female sleeps in, and she loves it. I've been using that to train Jock about how nice pens can be. Once he's happy in a crate, he can come and live in the house permanently, so we've been working hard.

Before today, the only way to get him into a crate was to push him, physically, in, and close and lock the door quickly.
Today, after hiding treats in the bedding, I managed to get him into the crate. He'd gone in and out a few times, and I thought I'd lock him in there for a few minutes. Well, after we did this, he still looked absolutely petrified, but did it because I asked him to.

Eventually, I had him running into the crate, turning around and coming back out again. No pushing or shoving, no coaxing with food, nothing. He did it because it was fun. Twice I managed to get him to stay in the crate by giving the 'stay' command, and as soon as he stopped, I let  him come out again and made a big fuss of him.

My boy did it. He went into the crate all by himself! He's far from cured of his fear, but he's definitely making great progress!

We can't do any outside training today because it's raining again (which is lovely) so at the moment he's learning to sit still on his mat by my side.

Well done Jock!!!

Update on doggies, and me (With Photo's!)

Today is a day of wet weather (see photo), so the dogs aren't impressed. We've gone from sweltering heat to pouring rain in the space of 24 hours.

The dogs may not like it, but I'm loving it. More water for the rainwater tank means that everyone can shower, and I can get some washing done.
Well, given my back is still really bad, it means that I can get the kids to put the washing on lol

I managed to get some photo's over the last few days, and a printscreen shot of the weather coming our way!

Enjoy.

Why do I have to hold still? There's so much I wanna do!

Have you got food for me? That looks like food, is it mine?

You can faintly see the word Korumburra in the bottom right corner, about an inch from the bottom, that's where we are, and this rain is going to come straight over the top of us!

So, I've started on Norspan patches, and my nerve pain medication dosage has been doubled. I feel sick all the time, but the pain is getting less and less by the day. I'm able to spend more time with the dogs, training and playing, and when I can't, I get onto Victoria Stillwell's forum and chat to everyone in there, plus read some very informative posts. You guys should check it out. Just type Victoria Stillwell into any search engine and it'll show up!
Take care

Update on the dogs and the doctors.

Okay, let's start with the dogs.

Jock - He's fantastic. A little upset that we don't let him into the house permanently, and every time the door opens, but he is being rather philisophical about it.

Peppa - She's not behaving herself too well right now. Apparently someone 'gave her an inch' somewhere along the line, so I'm trying to take most of that 'mile' back. Not an easy thing when you're confined to an office chair!

Pippa - She's figured out the treat ball, but would rather you just feed her the treats rather than go through the whole exhausing process of rolling the ball around.  She's also gaining weight, and is looking really good. I'm hoping it's not the calm before the storm, but right now, she's happy.

Now for the doctors.

Today my doctor filled out all of the forms I handed to him, and also seemed a bit disgusted to hear that I'm on a waiting list for my back to be 'looked at' by a neurosurgeon that is over 12 months. I'm not sure I can stand another 12 months of this!
Also, after looking through the latest set of scans, it seems my back is deteriorating. It used to be just L4/L5/S1 that were the problem. Now we can include L2 and L3 in the mix, so no wonder I'm in more pain than I was 6 months ago.

The best part about all of this is that my dogs don't seem to care. Sure, they'll give me cuddles and lick my tears away, but all they really want is to be close to me, or better yet, throw the damn ball!

So, today we're all resting up for our trip to Melbourne tomorrow. It means an early start, a long drive in the car, and lots of poking, prodding and interrogation for me when I get there.

My son assures me that the dogs will be fine, he'll be home with them all day, and he'll keep me updated. (text messages at least every hour will do me fine) lol

I'll let you know how it goes, and also try and get some video footage of Peppa's new trick!

Found some more photo's

Jock in the early days.

Holding the sheep to me so I could take photo's of them for advertising.

A rest well needed after all that running around. A little sun on the belly goes a long way!

Why so many photo's?

Well, many years ago I hurt my back whilst fighting bushfires. Whilst putting a pump hose into a dam to fill the tanker, I got stuck on the way out and had to be pulled out by a fellow firefighter.  Unfortunately, rather than have him pull me out by both hands, he grabbed my right hand, causing me to twist. He got me free of the mud, but it wasn't until some hours later after going for a rest on the bed that I discovered what had happened. I couldn't move.

Jump forward about ten years, that same injury flared up and put me in the Alfred Hospital paralysed from the waist down for a week. Eventually the swelling in my lower back went down and I could walk again.
It's been on and off uncomfortable, painful and downright horrid to live with at times, since that last incident, until May of this year.

I finally landed the perfect job on a farm.  The hours were good, the money good, the people good and the work suited me well. About ten days into it, I hurt myself.
No, I didn't hurt myself at work, I hurt myself lifting my young daughter out of the bath.  Something I've done thousands of times with no problems, but this time, PROBLEM.

That was in May of this year (2014), and so far I've had CT Scans, Ultrasounds, X-rays and MRI's and they've discovered that I have 3 bulging disks. L4/L5/S1.  L4/L5 are pressing on the Sciatic nerve, causing excruciating pain down my left leg 24/7. There is also considerable swelling at the base of my spine that comes and goes as it pleases.
Some days I can walk a little, other days, not at all. I either cannot feel my left leg at all, or I can feel it, but it wont work.
I usually don't find out about it not working until I take a step and it collapses underneath me. Entertaining to watch, but damn painful.
My doctor is doing everything he can, and we're searching for a Neurosurgeon that'll do the surgery to take the pressure off the nerve, but it's a long, hard slog.

Until things are sorted though, I'm confined to either my bed, or my crutches. I can sit for short periods of time in the chair, which is when I update my blog, but that causes enough pain for me to have to get comfy on my bed for an hour or two, to recuperate.

Although not recommended, I often lay down on the floor with one of the dogs.  They are all cuddly, and none of them ever try to get above me.  They love the attention, and it does wonders for me to.

Now, don't get me wrong, the story above may sound like I'm whinging. I am not, I'm just stating why suddenly there are many more updates than there has been in the last twelve months, and why there are so many photo's. I'm one of the lucky ones, because although I'm on a lot of medication, and I live with pretty much constant pain that goes from a dull ache to screaming on the floor, at this stage I can still walk, I'm not in a wheelchair, and I still have both legs. I am not required to wear nappies as I still have control over those things, so I am one of the lucky ones.
Plus, it's my own damn fault for bending the way I did and lifting an 18kg girl out of water.

So, that's the story. Until we find a surgeon, or another option to get me back to normal, you'll see a lot more posts from me, complete with photo's if I have the camera handy!

Enjoy, stay safe, and look after your back! lol

A new breed of dog? (with Photo's)

I was at it again this evening, taking photos of anything and everything. Because hubby was using the camera, I used my phone. You'd think with the quality showing up to be so bad that I'd learn, but apparently not.

Anyway, I caught a few shots of Pippa looking rather happy and comfy, plus a new breed of dog. Part child, part Dalmatian maybe?

A NEW BREED OF DOG MAYBE?

YOU WANTED SOMETHING?

IT'S A HARD LIFE, I THINK I''LL JUST TAKE A NAP RIGHT HERE!

I know these aren't photo's of Jock, and they really should be, but Pippa has been a faithful companion now for 8 years, and sadly, I doubt we'll get many more years out of her.  Right now she's happy, eating and being mostly normal. If any or all of that changes, and we can't do anything about it, well, we'll make a decision then. Until then, she gets spoilt rotten!

I have a new toy! (With Photo's)

Okay, so we bought Jock a toy ball that drops treats. Apparently he doesn't care about the treats, but the ball is just the best! I ended up having to take it off him because he kept throwing it around and I was scared he was either going to knock me out with it, or break a window!

The photo's aren't great quality because they were taken with my phone, but there's a couple of other photo's in there too.

 Above - Peppa sleeping on the bed (not allowed in this house but she's just soooo cute!

 Above - Jock holding the ball. Yucky photo, but still. He seems to love it, just a little too much.

Above - Jock (Left) Peppa (Right), I'm not sure what she said to him, but he's definitely looking worried.

That blanket is his 'mat'. It's actually the mat that I use for all of the dogs, and can be placed in any room and they'll sit on it.

Pippa (the Boxer) is really good and will get on the mat properly, as will Jock most of the time. Peppa is of the belief that as long as one part of her is touching the mat (even if it's just her tail hairs) that's considered being on the mat.

She's also coming up with some interesting tricks.

Today we had to go out for a couple of hours, so I took her out to go to the toilet. All of our dogs have been taught to pee and pooh on command, so out the back we go, with me saying "Go Pee".

Whether she didn't want to, or need to, I don't know, but she actually faked peeing. She did her 'squat' or should I say 'hover' in a place she never goes to the toilet, and when I said "You done?" she jumps up looking all satisfied. I know she didn't pee, but I've only ever known one dog to do that, and that was a Basenji.

I didn't growl at her, but I did laugh a lot, and she scored a couple of points for effort from me.

They really are funny dogs, and I love them to bits!

I can't believe I forgot! (With Photo's)

I've been so wrapped up in my own misery with my back lately that I forgot it was Jock's birthday yesterday!

My boy has just turned 3 years old!!!!!! (well, yesterday 16th November 2014)

From this:

To this:

He turned into a fantastic farm sheep dog (maybe not a trial dog but that's my fault, not his), and is becoming an even better pet. He doesn't seem to mind not having sheep around any more, he just adores the time we spend together.
This afternoon, he'll come back inside for more training, pats and cuddles, and he might even get a treat or three!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOCK!  (for yesterday).

More photo's from days past

 Above - I'll get those bubbles!

 Above - Nothing like a bath to cool off!

 Above - Don't look at her, I'm much cuter, see?

 Above - If there's water, she'll find it!

 Above - Loki - full litter sister to Pippa, only 18 months younger - now a service dog.

Above - Yes, I have a cow in my mouth, what's the problem?

Some more photo's of our Pippa

Well, it was freezing here today, and because I haven't got anywhere set up for the boy inside, bringing him in for his regular pats/training/cuddles would have been cruel.

Explanation:

Take a dog that is used to the cold into a warm house for a few hours. He warms up, but then has to go back outside for the night. He has to go through the whole warming up process again. I'd hate it, so I don't do it to him.

Instead, I took him out for a run in the paddock. Out there, he peed on everything in sight, chased a couple of rats and birds, found the treat bones I'd scattered everywhere and then came up onto the chair for cuddles. I didn't do any training with him as my back is very touchy, and it was getting colder and sorer the longer I stayed out there, so after his run, he went happily back into his pen.

I found a few more photo's of Pippa today though, a couple that were supplied by my son. You'll notice in one of the photo's that she has ears.  This photo was taken pre May 2011, and she doesn't look impressed about being woken up.

The others are just of her kicking back doing what she does best......... relax!

 (Above) - inside on her chair

 (Above) - Pippa making herself at home.

(Above) - You woke me why?

Going through my photo's and found some old ones to share!

 (Above) - Jock in his basket - sadly the basket was no match for his ripping skills :(

 (Above) - Pippa more than a little comfy in my outside chair.

 (Above) - Jock taking his stick to hide if from Peppa (currently out of view).

(Above) - the Pied Piper of sheep maybe? Photo taken at least 12 months ago

No-longer a sheepdog (with Photo's!)

Hi all,

It's been forever since I posted on this blog, and I promise to do more of it.

In the last 18 months, so much has happened.

1. My training schedule turned flat out as I tried out for the Victoria Police. I almost passed the fitness test on the second attempt, but not quite.  A month later, I seriously upset an old injury in my back, and this has left me on crutches almost permanently as walking becomes more and more difficult.

2. I sold our sheep.  Not only was it becoming impossible for me to do any of the maintenance on them to keep them healthy, but this property became far too soggy and our poor sheep were constantly limping from having thrush.  They all got fantastic homes though, so that made me happy.

3. Jock became a dog without a job.

Although no-longer bed-ridden, I still can't get out much to exercise him the way I used to, so he is having to learn to do without the hours of tearing around the paddock.  He still goes out lots (other family members take him out for exhausting runs regularly), but he has started spending more and more time inside with me, near my computer.  He's beginning to settle into being a house pet, which is fantastic.

He doesn't seem to miss the sheep work, however if I was to take him near sheep again, I'm guessing he'd be itching to get out there and round em up!

Below is a photo of him making use of the cold spot on the floor on the hot day we had a few days ago.  He HATES slippery surfaces, and it took a lot to convince him to stay there, but in the end, I think he figured out the benefits of the cold floor.

Enjoy guys, and I promise to write again soon!