I guess they laid off the mailman and hired a dog to deliver the mail. This is a very cute video!!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The love of a dog
Here is a pix of Nan and me at LaCamas. Nan was hanging out on the hay bales with me and watching the runs. We were watching the outrun when this was taken.
Nan is a real sweetheart. She loves to hang out with me. She is also a lapwarmer. Tess has taught her well.Wednesday, September 2, 2009
LaCamas Lap Warmer - Aug 13-16
Yep, it's that time again. A lapwarmer photo series with Tess. As long as she can go to trials she will be my lap warmer and pillow thief.
This time Nan decided she wanted to be in the picture.
Roo didn't want to be left out so he joined in. Roo is Tess's son and is six years old.
I love my Tess. She is my heart dog.
Avid vs HSUS Controversy
Most of you folks have numerous rumors about AVID providing customer data to HSUS. I am very concerned as all of my dogs are chipped with AVID. I have buying my AVID chips from Microchip ID Systems for many years. Their customer service has been wonderful.
I popped off an email to AVID (the parent company) and Microchip ID Systems. Microchip ID Systems sells the AVID products. I asked what was the story on AVID supplying the customer data to HSUS.
I heard back from Microchip ID Systems. Jean Anne Mayhall who is the President of Microchip ID Systems wrote back to me within 24 hours. I consider that a great customer response and especially from the President. How many Company President will take the time to write you back? I am impressed with her. I will continue to do business with Microchip ID Systems. This company listens to the customers.
When I get a response from AVID, I will post it here. Kudos to Jean. I highlighted the important Privacy part in bold.
Here is her email in full:
****************************************************
Hi Diane,
My name is Jean Anne Mayhall. I am the President of Microchip ID Systems. I know you have been a good customer for years and I wanted to take minute to get some facts out there. We would greatly appreciate your cross post as people need answers.
Here are the truths about Avid and the HSUS. We have been getting a lot of calls from across the country. We were as shocked as anyone by Avid's short-sighted decision to do business with Petplan, a corporate sponsor of the Humane Society of the United States. Justifiable concerns have surfaced about the electronic transfer of sales data to Avid.
As far as data and information, here is my letter below...Also you might want to go to the Free Hotline and listen to my longer explanation. Call (712) 432-8595 Press # 5.
The Facts:
1) Microchip ID Systems, Inc. is a private company. We are not Avid. We try to do business in a way that best suits the needs of our customers. We sell a variety other brands of chips, as well as Avid.
2) Avid now requires all of its distributors to submit daily sales records to its corporate office. This is in conflict with my company's published privacy policy.
3) We HEAR our customers loud and clear!
4) We have for almost 20 years worked side by side on issues affecting all of our customers.
5) Call us for more info at (800) 434-2843.
I propose a three prong approach. This is not just about microchips, it is about moving forward and making the light shine on responsible pet breeding and ownership.
The Plan:
1) Privacy Promise -- Privacy Promise -- Microchip ID has launched a new free service for breeders. In addition to our regular Privacy Policy, we now provide every customer with a 'Privacy Flag' option. Typically we would give a calling shelter your name and have them contact you if is one of your chips. Now, we give you the option of more privacy and protection. You can tell us to 'flag' your account...meaning, we give out no information about the chip without speaking to you first. This can even be handled by email if you choose.
2) New Products -- We have gone through all microchip programs currently offered and have decided on the new ProLine of HomeAgain products for breeders. We now offer the TempScan chip, the new Kennel chip and great programs for the pet owner, with no annual fee.
3) Price and Service -- We have great new products and the same great service and support. Some new products we offer are:
Kennel Chip -- Preloaded chip in sterile syringe. Slim, sharp, needle and chip for each puppy. Four peel and stick labels. Privacy Flag available, registered to kennel.
TempScan chip exclusive! -- Scan the chip and take the temp with one pass of the WorldScan reader. Preloaded chip in sterile syringe.
Universal WorldScan Reader -- reads all chips in the pet industry.
Call with any questions, (800) 434-2843 or visit http://www.microchipidsystem.com/ .
Sorry for the confusion! It will all turn out for the best!
Jean Anne Mayhall
5) Call us for more info at (800) 434-2843.
I propose a three prong approach. This is not just about microchips, it is about moving forward and making the light shine on responsible pet breeding and ownership.
The Plan:
1) Privacy Promise -- Privacy Promise -- Microchip ID has launched a new free service for breeders. In addition to our regular Privacy Policy, we now provide every customer with a 'Privacy Flag' option. Typically we would give a calling shelter your name and have them contact you if is one of your chips. Now, we give you the option of more privacy and protection. You can tell us to 'flag' your account...meaning, we give out no information about the chip without speaking to you first. This can even be handled by email if you choose.
2) New Products -- We have gone through all microchip programs currently offered and have decided on the new ProLine of HomeAgain products for breeders. We now offer the TempScan chip, the new Kennel chip and great programs for the pet owner, with no annual fee.
3) Price and Service -- We have great new products and the same great service and support. Some new products we offer are:
Kennel Chip -- Preloaded chip in sterile syringe. Slim, sharp, needle and chip for each puppy. Four peel and stick labels. Privacy Flag available, registered to kennel.
TempScan chip exclusive! -- Scan the chip and take the temp with one pass of the WorldScan reader. Preloaded chip in sterile syringe.
Universal WorldScan Reader -- reads all chips in the pet industry.
Call with any questions, (800) 434-2843 or visit http://www.microchipidsystem.com/ .
Sorry for the confusion! It will all turn out for the best!
Jean Anne Mayhall
President
MicroChip Identification Systems, Inc.
Folsom, LA
(800) 434-2843
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
On the River- Double Lift- July 26, 2009
Fianlly the last part of the "On the River Series"
The second setout.
Before our run
Posing!!
We got up early to walk the field for the Double Lift. The morning was cool and crisp with a few stray patches of fogs that had entwined its fingers around the bases of the large evergreens. The sheep were let out and slowly ambled towards the river’s edge, perhaps to reflect their runs for the day. A hint of smoke was in the air and it was discovered that lightning had hit several trees next to the set out. The three trees were blackened and any remaining life in them would soon die out. Dirk had moved the sheep into the exhaust for the night; had they been in the set out for the night, they would have not survived the lightning hit.
I was running second to last and there were twelve handlers running. The first gather was in the opposite direction of where we had been sending the dogs all weekend. The sheep were in a dip and the dogs had to go over a hill, then down the dip and then swing behind the sheep. The dip turned out to be the bane for many of the dogs as it would suck them up the dip and into the heads of the sheep. The second gather was in the same spot as we had been running all weekend. The fetch panels were between the two fields and up on a hill. You would not know if you hit the panels until the last minutes and there was a high chance of going out of the dip in the wrong line with no time for correction.
The drive away was to the right and was a long crossdrive. There was a slight dip in front of the cross drive panel that fooled people into being low. Five sheep were marked and you have to shed off four of them. There were ten sheep and they were wily Scotties. Then you had to pen the sheep and they were hard to pen all weekend.
Several of the dogs were determined to go to the area where the sheep were set out from the weekend but they finally got to the sheep. Most of them crossed on the second gather. The second fetch proved to be the undoing of many dogs, as they did not do the dogleg fetch but brought the sheep straight down the field. The drive was tough as the day got very hot and the sheep’s feet turned to stone. Three people got the shed and pen.
We dropped the sheep she did the turn back to go for the second set. I looked and to my horror, the sheep were not there. Therefore, I dropped her and waited. It was about three minutes before the sheep came out and I sent her before they were at the post, as I did not want to lose any more time. She flanked out correctly and had nice lift. The sheep tried to run back to the setout but she got them and did her dogleg fetch and we missed the panels. We lost seven for the outrun, one for the lift and eight for the fetch.
Meanwhile the first set had drifted down to the exhaust. I fetched the second set until they were parallel to the first set, picked up the first set, and brought them to my feet.
Nice first leg of the drive. 
Perfect at the second drive panel.
Nan had a stunning turn at the post and held the first leg of the drive dead on, had a tight turn at the first panels, straight as an arrow to the second panel, dead on and a nice turn to the ring. She lost 4 points for the drive and it was an amazing drive. The sheep wanted to stop and eat all the time but she really leaned on the sheep and kept them moving. She brought them smartly into the shedding ring and we began our work in earnest.
Lining them up in the ring.
Patience.
More patience.
Cutting the set.
Driving them off.
Down to four collar and one uncollar when the fifth collared one comes back.
OK, then we did the last cut.
We lined them up, made our cut, and began to slow slough off the sheep. I was to take four of the five collared sheep off and were down to four collared and one uncollared. The uncollared was a lamb whose mother was one of the collared ewes. We were having a hard time but were working hard at it. The fifth collared ewe who I had cut out suddenly realized that her four buddies were in the ring and she was not so she bolted in. I quickly took advantage of this, cut out the collared ewe and her lamb, and made the shed. We lost 13 on this aspect.
Nan is a penning machine.
Nan marched the ewes into the pen like the pro that she is and we were done. Nan lost no points on this section and was the only dog to have a perfect pen. Her total score was 120. I was very happy with Nan. We rushed off the field to get water. Nan took a dip into the water trough and Dirk brought me water to drink, as I was feeling faint from the heat. 
After it was all done, I had to rush home to change to go to Joe and Heather’s wedding. It was refreshing to sit under a huge tent, be cool, and enjoy the wedding.
Final Placing:
Dirk/Amos 123
Diane/Nan 120
Brian N/Pleat 101
Nancy Neal/Lad 90
Lorri/Quill 89
The next seven were RT or DQ.
The first setout.
The second setout.
Before our run
Posing!!
We got up early to walk the field for the Double Lift. The morning was cool and crisp with a few stray patches of fogs that had entwined its fingers around the bases of the large evergreens. The sheep were let out and slowly ambled towards the river’s edge, perhaps to reflect their runs for the day. A hint of smoke was in the air and it was discovered that lightning had hit several trees next to the set out. The three trees were blackened and any remaining life in them would soon die out. Dirk had moved the sheep into the exhaust for the night; had they been in the set out for the night, they would have not survived the lightning hit.I was running second to last and there were twelve handlers running. The first gather was in the opposite direction of where we had been sending the dogs all weekend. The sheep were in a dip and the dogs had to go over a hill, then down the dip and then swing behind the sheep. The dip turned out to be the bane for many of the dogs as it would suck them up the dip and into the heads of the sheep. The second gather was in the same spot as we had been running all weekend. The fetch panels were between the two fields and up on a hill. You would not know if you hit the panels until the last minutes and there was a high chance of going out of the dip in the wrong line with no time for correction.
The drive away was to the right and was a long crossdrive. There was a slight dip in front of the cross drive panel that fooled people into being low. Five sheep were marked and you have to shed off four of them. There were ten sheep and they were wily Scotties. Then you had to pen the sheep and they were hard to pen all weekend.
Several of the dogs were determined to go to the area where the sheep were set out from the weekend but they finally got to the sheep. Most of them crossed on the second gather. The second fetch proved to be the undoing of many dogs, as they did not do the dogleg fetch but brought the sheep straight down the field. The drive was tough as the day got very hot and the sheep’s feet turned to stone. Three people got the shed and pen.
Watching this all day made me nervous so I went and hung out with Nan, had lunch and then took photos. Then it was my turn and Nan and I walked to the post as a team. She gazed into my eyes like Tess used to do and we had a special connection at that moment. I set her up to the first field and sent her. She shot off like a rocket then slowed down, realizing she was going in the other direction than she had been doing all weekend. I gave her a hard, long come bye whistle and she ran at full speed. She came up at the dip and saw the sheep and I was ready to give her a big flank to prevent her from doing up short but she whipped out wide and deep behind the sheep and my heart sang with joy. She took my flanks and I thought we were off line so I gave her another flanks and that caused us to miss the fetch panel. We lost three for the outrun, one for the lift and 13 for the fetch.
We dropped the sheep she did the turn back to go for the second set. I looked and to my horror, the sheep were not there. Therefore, I dropped her and waited. It was about three minutes before the sheep came out and I sent her before they were at the post, as I did not want to lose any more time. She flanked out correctly and had nice lift. The sheep tried to run back to the setout but she got them and did her dogleg fetch and we missed the panels. We lost seven for the outrun, one for the lift and eight for the fetch.
Meanwhile the first set had drifted down to the exhaust. I fetched the second set until they were parallel to the first set, picked up the first set, and brought them to my feet.
Nice first leg of the drive.
Perfect at the second drive panel.
Nan had a stunning turn at the post and held the first leg of the drive dead on, had a tight turn at the first panels, straight as an arrow to the second panel, dead on and a nice turn to the ring. She lost 4 points for the drive and it was an amazing drive. The sheep wanted to stop and eat all the time but she really leaned on the sheep and kept them moving. She brought them smartly into the shedding ring and we began our work in earnest.
Lining them up in the ring.
Patience.
More patience.
Cutting the set.
Driving them off.
Down to four collar and one uncollar when the fifth collared one comes back.
OK, then we did the last cut.
We lined them up, made our cut, and began to slow slough off the sheep. I was to take four of the five collared sheep off and were down to four collared and one uncollared. The uncollared was a lamb whose mother was one of the collared ewes. We were having a hard time but were working hard at it. The fifth collared ewe who I had cut out suddenly realized that her four buddies were in the ring and she was not so she bolted in. I quickly took advantage of this, cut out the collared ewe and her lamb, and made the shed. We lost 13 on this aspect.
Nan is a penning machine.
Nan marched the ewes into the pen like the pro that she is and we were done. Nan lost no points on this section and was the only dog to have a perfect pen. Her total score was 120. I was very happy with Nan. We rushed off the field to get water. Nan took a dip into the water trough and Dirk brought me water to drink, as I was feeling faint from the heat.After it was all done, I had to rush home to change to go to Joe and Heather’s wedding. It was refreshing to sit under a huge tent, be cool, and enjoy the wedding.
Final Placing:
Dirk/Amos 123
Diane/Nan 120
Brian N/Pleat 101
Nancy Neal/Lad 90
Lorri/Quill 89
The next seven were RT or DQ.
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