Border Collie Rescue Spring Event

[furtech]

FOCUS!


Saturday was the quarterly BCR get-together . I was worried that it would be too hot, but the weather was perfect: in the high 70's with a nice breeze. The event was not as well-attended as the other two, with about half the people that showed up last time. I thought the heat (high desert+late spring/early summer) kept people away, but the general concensus was the cost of gas (and most border collie people have SUV's for all their dogs and gear). The event is both social and a chance to drop off dogfood donations, blankets and toys for the rescue dogs and their foster homes.

Rondo is quite popular with a few of the dogs: he's a big, lanky, easy-going male-- so the little females and puppies adore him. This time there was a *cute* split-face (half black, half white face-- aka, "splitty") who had no interest in the frisbee but *loved* chasing Rondo as he chased the disk .

There was a trio of dogs (owned by the same person) who cracked me up: two of them were INTENTLY FOCUSED on a red tennis ball, while the third ( a blue merle ) would circle them. The nerd in me was reminded of a hydrogen atom: a proton, a neutron and an orbiting electron. These were definitely hard-eyed dogs: the two ball chasers would stare -intently- at the ball , dropped a few feet too far from their owner. The more intent of the two would stare laser-beams at the ball for about ten seconds, then (with just his eyes) glance up at his owner , then go back to staring intently for ten or so seconds, repeat. Either he was trying to give his owner a hint ("THROW THE DAMN BALL!") or, more likely, was trying to move the ball closer to her by sheer force-of-stare.

We laughed when, at one point, Rondo (possibly sensing an opportunity) walked over and dropped his disk on top of the tennis ball to coat-tail on the staring-hint job. The other dogs were momentarily confused, then seemed to shrug and resumed staring at the disk-covered ball .

There were a couple of puppies today, including this tiny black-and-white seen with Rondo's splitty friend . There was also a striking red-and-white foster dog who had a cute spot on his forehead.


This place really is in the middle of nowhere : the town of El Mirage, which is smack between the 14 and the 15, through Palmdale. The high desert does have interesting sites besides the ubiquitous Joshua trees: there are these plane parts in a yard near the park. Here's a closer shot of a part of fuselage .

This area is a site of ancient volcanic acvitity: there are stand-alone hills scattered throughout the landscape . These are the eroded remnants of very old cinder cones.

I barely averted a small disaster: I'm not used to travelling 55mph down a highway that has a creek running over it . Good car. Stoopid trucks.


They're talking about trying to do a sheep herding seminar for both nubes and pros this fall (the spring event had to be cancelled). Hopefully I can drag iisaw and Tay to that one!

Comments

[mythos-amante.livejournal.com]

HAH HAH! Rondo actually dropped the disc on their ball?! Hah hah hah!

I guess his mission in life is to make sure those around him enjoy Life and don't take it too seriously! Go, Rondo, you fun-loving instigator!

[was1.livejournal.com]

Heh, my family's border collie, Molly does that same thing, staring at the ball, then glancing up at you to throw it. That Rondo dropped his disc on top of it is pretty funny. I can't imagine the fun, manic insanity that a border collie meet must be.

[moonstone-wind.livejournal.com]

god whatta hamm !

*giggles!*

[toraneko.livejournal.com]

He's made that red ball his 'herd" and is staring at it like he would a herd. I love those dogs. I was sitting for a BC the last couple of weeks. There are two other dogs in the family, not BC's and the owners were puzzled at some of the BC's behavior. I had to tell them that the BC was acting like a BC on walks and during play and treating them like fellow working dogs. Of course the other dogs are clueless so it gets pretty funny.

[pikacello.livejournal.com]

DOGGIES
Your posts always lift my day!

[iisaw.livejournal.com]

I hate it when they do that!

The red BC is such a cutie! I really hope we can make it down for the herding event.

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

I love the story of Rondo dropping his disc on the other border collies' ball. That's hysterical.

And wow, didn't know BCs came in blue merle! One of my favorite dog colors, definitely.

I love your dog posts, even if I don't comment on them, I love reading them and looking at the photos of the dogs.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Bwa-haha! So Cool! And that -is- what is seemed like he was trying to do; I wouldn't have been surprised if it -did- move or burst into flames. If I can figure it out, I'll upload the video I took of this dog and his hard-eyed stare.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I know you like 'em (you are one big reason I keep inundating my friends list with them). Hopefully I'll make it up to Seattle again and we'll take a road trip to introduce you to His Goofiness.