I am a tri-color smooth variety Collie. I LOVE LIFE!!! I know I am a Collie but I do have to live with Shetland Sheepdog's! Oh...it is not too bad except for one of my kennel mates [I call them mates-Smooth Sail 'n being my name] "Meggan".

"Meggan"; is just the right size to bite me in the armpit when I least expect it. It is more of a pinch but still I do consider this unkind. She is a mouth too. I can barely get a bark in edgewise!

I remember [easy for me - my dam is Crosswit Tri To Remenber] back to when I first came to live at TIMBERLEAF. I had to sit in the front seat of a car in my new Mom's lap. I was only three months old at the time so I wasn't too big for this honor. Now they don't let me in the front seat. They actually bought a van for me to ride in now. Anyway...I fell fast asleep and the next thing I knew I was awake in a strange yard with a huge hill of green lawn. And all these barking Shelties. WEIRD. I was confused for several days!

I just watched what went on. Found out I wasn't the only smooth coated dog here. I also have a red/white Basenji as a kennel mate. She is the alpha dog here or so she thinks. I kiss her all over her cute little toothless face [BOY! If she had teeth I wouldn't get near her!] as she growls at me.

After experiencing my first week here I decided I had found a haven. Then they fed me 3 times a day. I even got to go indoors and I have my own armchair. I guess it is not really mine. I do not find this chair too comfortable anymore anyway. Everytime I jump into the chair now, the chair nearly goes over backwards! Then I hear a loud "Swifty!"; and my Mom rushes over to catch the chair. I would really like to move to the loveseat but everytime I do my Mom says, "OFF!"

The cookies! My Mom is the Mrs. Fields of doggie cookies. I get cookies everyday. Mom is pretty easy going but I do have to stand 'just so' before I get cookies. I am doing well now but as a youngster I just wanted to jump up to help her give me the cookie - I'm like that. Helpful. When I hear "let's go", I GO! I may be way ahead of everybody but...

As a matter of fact - I had to go to these OBEDIENCE classes. GOSH! I loved it. All these new and interesting dogs! We were all of us excited at first and I just couldn't sniff everybody enough. Some were just like me...others' growled and they had TEETH!

Anyway, I learned to heel, sit, down, and hardest of all, stay! Come was the easiest to learn. My Dad took pictures of us. By the end of the series of classes we were pretty OBEDIENT. I got a THIRD place ribbon with a sub-novice score of 188! The FIRST place score was only 192.

Mom took me to a match in September and I was so obedient -until- I am so embarrassed - I knew better too. The group Long sits & downs. Since I was the one and only sub-novice entry, the judge gathered up people and dogs to help me and guess who sat next to me on my right. My sister "Jana!" Why...I hadn't seen "Jana" for eight months and I just had to get up and greet her! Mom won't let me tell you my score.

Now, at classes they keep bringing these BEAUTIFUL rough Collies up to me to see if I'll break. I'M SORRY. When you live with Shelties and a Basenji - Collies are family!

Mom dreams of a CD after my name - "Your sire did it" she says. Oh, I think I will too someday but I'm still young! I am only 16 months old chronologically. I like to LIVE LIFE with exuberance! I mean, I'm just a pup mentally.

You should see the show I put on for breakfast. I cannot keep my feet on the ground! Not just my front feet either - I can leap in the air for that first bowl of NUTRO MAX! I think Mom likes me doing this. She always says, "OH SWIFTY" and then she hugs me while I take my first bite.

I have the freedom of the yard all day long. On the back fence we've got a yard of Standard Poodles. We visit whenever we can get away with it. You know - vocalize. I used to have a good alto tenor voice but I lost it. Now I am just as quiet as the Basenji. The neighbors do admire my new voice but I must admit I do miss the old one. I practice alot but...alas...it is gone.

At night I have my very own 500 crate to sleep in. I get to come in at night. My folks call it the 'garage' but I think it is pretty nice. I can see all my ribbons from the AKC shows. I especially like the long row of red ones but my Mom always tells people, "That was pretty depressing!"

My first AKC show was just a day after I turned six months old. It is called a SPECIALTY and all of us were Collies. I was in a class of 6 month (me) to under 12 months of age. We were all smooths. I didn't know anybody then and neither did my Mom. There were nine of us and I got a red ribbon. I've been fond of them ever since! I think Mom likes the purple and gold best though. I do have three of those now.

I think shows are fun! I especially like to follow the dogs in front of me. I'd really like to catch them but I guess I am not supposed to do this.

Someday I might like to be the lead dog but right now when I am I do so enjoy looking behind me. Might be a bitch back there you know! It has happened before. When I've gone Winners dog I get to go back in with the Winners Bitch [This always brings my Tan eyebrows UP] and sometimes the Specials are bitches too.

Another thing I like to do in the ring is sniff the lawn. L o v e l y fragrance those grass rings have! I forget what it is that I am supposed to be doing when the heady perfume flows up from the earth WINDSONG stays on my mind, and suddenly Mom jerks my lead and brings me back each time!

Another favorite of mine in the ring is to give Mom love bites. But all of a sudden...out of the blue...comes a BOP and a POW to my muzzle! I never have been able to see that BATMAN character. I am learning to save those nips for later on and then BATMAN leaves me alone. UNLESS...and I tried this one once....bite Mom on her hind end! But Mom had such an ugly expression I've not repeated this act since. I just don't know what comes over me sometimes?

Dad does my grooming. You should see his expressions! You think I can raise my eyebrows you should see his!

I've learned this amazing trick of t-w-i-t-c-h-i-n-g every nerve and muscle in my muzzle so he cannot catch my whiskers. I've heard him say, "He's doing this on purpose!" Heh heh heh.

But I think he loves me as he does say he doesn't want another one. "One smooth Collie is enough" he says.

The truth is - he wants a rough Collie - must be blue merle AND f- e-m-a-l-e. Now that sounds good to me!

Well, I did celebrate my first year at TIMBERLEAF in November. And I am looking forward to the next. I, my kennel mates, and my human family want to wish you HAPPY HOLIDAYS and HAPPY NEW YEARS!

"Swifty" at three months.

"Swifty" gaiting with Becky LaSpina.

Have you ever found yourself in the gray area where you feel you should dial the Vet's office? Perhaps there isn't anything you can put your finger on...the dog just doesn't seem right!

For the sake of this scenario, let's imagine your dog doesn't eat his dinner. Suppose you dial the Vet's and exclaim, "My dog did not eat his dinner!" A statement one might expect from a first-time dog owner? But, let's be honest; anyone familiar with canines knows they sometimes refuse to eat. There are those dogs who even make a habit of refusing to eat!

"It is nothing to be concerned about," replies the AHT ( they would certainly not bother the Veterinarian with such an inane statement).

What if, as is in this instance, the dog has always relished his dinner? Ate with gusto! Ate all the other dogs' dinner whenever possible. Would you dial the Vet's?

The dog isn't running a temperature. He plays, he barks along the fence, he is active. Everything is normal except he doesn't eat. He doesn't eat the next day and the day after that day. Would you dial the Vet's?

Perhaps the dog will stick his nose into the dish and sniff, but still he walks away. Perhaps he will eat kibble-by-kibble when you hand feed him. At least, you reason, he is getting some sustenance!

You examine his environment. He is not eating anything in the environment! "Why," you ask, "Isn't this dog eating?"

Perhaps the reason isn't physical! Maybe you do not need to dial the Vet's. Maybe the cause is emotional? "What a silly notion! A dog in mourning. Sure!", you say.

Two weeks pass and your dog is not eating. Not only is he not eating, he now consumes large quantities of water. The weather isn't too hot; he must really be thirsty!

Another disturbing fact emerges. The dog is now wetting his bed. Is it now time to dial the Vet's?

But wait...the puppy you sold returns for boarding over the three day weekend. Your dog is ecstatic to see 'his' puppy again! Suddenly he begins to eat and eat. "He was mourning!," you reason. But, all is not as well as you imagine.

Without any forewarning, the dog vomits water. Large amounts of water. You guess it is all the water he has been drinking for two weeks! No food comes up. Just water. Now, would you dial the Vet's?

An appointment is made for the next morning. You and your dog arrive and are ushered into the Exam room. Doctor notes that there isn't any temperature. "He could have a blocked intestine. There is some swelling here. Leave him here. We will do a barium x-ray. Call tomorrow morning," the Veterinarian tells you.

You dial the vet's next morning to learn that you may come and retrieve your dog. "Nothing wrong in the intestinal tract. There is some thickening but no blockage. Just to be safe, here is a prescription antibiotic," says the doctor.

You and dog return home to begin one weeks worth of medication. Dog begins to eat. End of story, you think. But no-o-o-o, once the prescription runs out, the dog stops eating.

This time, you dial the Vet's immediately. Appointment made. You and dog arrive and dog is examined. The Veterinarian tells you, "There isn't anything wrong with your dog. The swelling is gone as I palpate him."

"But," you insist, "My dog is not all right!" The Veterinarian, in order to appease you, prescribes more of the same medication for the dog even though he tells you he doesn't believe it is necessary.

Outside the Veterinarian's office you forcefully lift your 22 month old Champion Smooth Collie into your van. He is too weak to get in alone. On the drive home your dog vomits something that looks like bright yellow paint.

Immediately upon arriving home you dial the Vet's. Tearfully you explain the new development. The AHT tells the doctor who tells the AHT to tell you, "You gave him too much medication." You exclaim that you haven't given him any medication! The AHT tells the doctor who tells the AHT to tell you, "Withhold all food, water and medication. Call us tomorrow."

You hang up the phone and you think to yourself this is crazy! I have been advised to withhold food from a dog who won't eat anyway! The problem is withholding water. Your dog is very thirsty to the point of attempting to lift the toilet bowl lid in order to get water!

You do dial the Vet's next morning. Your doctor has gone off on a business trip. Today happens to be a Wednesday. The associate Veterinarian comes on the line. The associate doctor tells you, "We have discussed this case at length. We do not see any of the symptoms you have described. Why don't you bring him in here and leave him here for us to observe. Then you can come back and talk to your doctor on next Monday."

You don't even have to think about this request. "No," you exclaim, "I do not want to do this." Your voice is firm and even-toned.

"Well, then," says the associate doctor, "Why don't we do a blood chemistry panel?" His tone of voice is just as firm and just as even as was yours. He thinks you are a nutcase!

You reply, "l would really appreciate a blood chemistry panel!" Your voice is a little louder and just as even. It is the battle of the all-knowing Veterinarian and the hypochondriac dog owner. The blood chemistry panel shows your dog with a white blood cell count at 555,000+. You should have dialed the Vets three weeks prior! You should have insisted on a blood chem panel last week when you did dial the Vet's.

The moral of this story? If you find yourself in the gray area, with nothing really specific you can put your finger on...put your finger on the dial and phone the Vet's. Then insist on being listened to!
NOTE:This scenario is based upon a true story. My dog had an advanced case of Iymphocytic leukemia. The correct diagnosis came on a Thursday. Even with chemotherapy, we were not able to get his white blood count below 137,000. He was gone from us the day my doctor returned from the business trip.

  

     

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