"Puppy Love"

Puppy's first day out! 9- weeks old

Rowena is joy "caninified". Her fuzzy, plump, puppy body has stretched out into a long, glossy -coated charmer. Her eyes glimmer bright as she looks up at me, and I enjoy seeing her joyfully playing in the field or being a social butterfly as she follows me around town. People adore her. She recognises some individuals, and gets all excited... her butt and her tag wag, head lowered in typical Border Collie fashion as she awaits a greeting. She adores them. People comment on her all the time. "Oh, she's beautiful... You're beautiful! You know that?" And she does. I should have made her AKC name as "Jayden's Princess Rowena". What a better companion could I have all day than a loving faithful dog like Rowena? Who else would panic if I were to get up and leave the room to use the toilet? Who would have to follow me there and try to sniff what is on the otherside of the toilet lid? Gross. I know... but imagine how loyal, faithful and ever adoring that creature would have to be. When I go to bed, she's hot on my heels and hopping for the covers. If I get up to use the bathroom or get a drink during the night, down she hops to follow me. "Nosy-Rosey" is an appropriate nickname for her as she has to check out where I am at all times, what I am doing, where I am going, what I have... And even after I bathe her lovingly, struggle to brush her stubborn and hairy hind-quarters, and trim her bi-colored nails, she still loves me. She still wants to jump up on the couch with me afterwards. She still kisses me. So even though her bare naked freckled puppy belly has become slim and covered with fine white fur, she is still the same little charmer she's always been. (And those freckles are still there... just blanketed in the fur.)

"Lab Loves" 8/20/03 by Heather Gerquest 

"When Psychiatric Service Dogs Struggle"

Ever have one day (or more) where you wake up and just feel drained of all energy or just unable to rub the sand out of your eyes? Well what do I do when I feel like that and I have a Border Collie who wants me to entertain her every minute? Lucky for her, I had to go downtown to get my bus pass. I know that exercise will help me to not get so sore and I know that it will help Ro keep her muscle tone up in her hips and probably help her not be so sore as well. I had every intention of getting home from that errand and digging in some soil and breaking ground for the flowers to be planted around the building this year. So Ro and I get home, climb the stairs to go in so I could take her work harness off and get her poo bags and the pepper spray for protection. (Can't believe I forgot that stuff before we left on the errand!) We both departed to get something to drink... and well, I kind of crashed. Sure I went out on the back deck to make sure my seeds hadn't drown and to see if I couldn't muster up some energy to go down and do my thing. Rowena, full of little fears and phobias, refused to go out onto the deck. The bikes were standing side by side (plus three) and clothes fluttered about in the wind. Nermal the sociopathic cat was out with me and I am sure that didn't do much for Rowena's motivation. So I checked my roof top box garden and checked on things. The tullips continued to make their way up through the soil and many little "helicopters" had begun to grow (only to get plucked out by me). Purple coneflower began popping some young leaves up on one side, the lilac and rose bush had begun opening up their own leaves. Tiny apple trees show signs of life, making me happy that they had survived their first winter. None of the sunflower seeds I had planted in trays had begun to appears above the soil, but I had faith that if things warmed up and dried up a bit that they would begin to grow. The wind had picked up and short sleeves was feeling less appropriate than earlier. I moved the make-shift gate I had accidently left up last time I was out and poured the water out of my scrap wood bin. I did take out the packet of flower seeds and read the instructions. No. Just doesn't feel warm enough. I'll do it later. I go out to chase Nermal indoors and close the door behind us. I do a cat check with Rowena on my heels and all looks well. Now for the rest of the evening, I keep getting these looks from Rowena, like a pouting child that occasionally glances and glares up at me. I talk to her and she glances away. "No. I don't want to hear it!" Rowena seems to say. I know she is sore today but next to moderating her exercise, I can do nothing more for her. She now sleeps peacefully behind me on my fake sheepskin blanket. Her bed cover is in the wash so her bed is unavailable. So I don't know whether this fatigue thing with me is a mental or physical problem. I do know that Rowena does her job. There is not one day that I can hibernate inside and never go out. There is not more than 1 day when we get out and at least take a walk around town... just for her. I try to take her to a location where she can run unleashed at least 2 or more times a week. I cannot hide anymore. This dog makes me stick out. She makes me go out. Oh maybe I can get out with her for another late night training walk. Maybe I just need another nap.