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Adventures into a new way of Life
I woke up this morning with a renewed outlook. I saw on my calendar that the was two more herding classes still to go. My number 3 daughter and one of my granddaughters ask to go and watch, so I was glad for this day. In Class we practiced our basics, but unlike the last to classes Dixie was really trying hard to do good. She was much better than she been in this whole round of classes. Maybe after all this time off she was worried we were going to stop coming and wanted to show me she could learn to do this and she did. She did her downs good and followed the sheep along the fence line at a 45' angel, both clockwise and counter clockwise with out two many time wanting to rush in and chase them. She work good on my right hand side which has been a problem, I guess because she think after all this time you heel on the left, which is where she keep trying or wanting to be. She just did great today. So I just had to pick up the form for the next round of herding classes, round III of school to fill out, she made me pride to day, but then she dose a lot.
Another note worth telling is today my 16 yr old
grandson came to spend the night and brought a friend
with him who has never been here before. He and his
mother had told the friend about Dixie and first
meetings with strangers. They told him just to walk on
by her and don't look her in the eyes. Anyway he came
through the door and Dixie looked and that was all and
by the next day she would come over and put her feet in
his lap and letting him pet her under the chin and
behind the ears. This week it's Thanksgiving but there will be herding classes on Saturday so it will be a busy week. Last week end we couldn't make it to the the 4 Corners Herding Association meeting and I think Dixie knew, O well this week end we be with the sheep. With a lot of people coming and going for Thanksgiving it well be a good time for Dixie to try and use her good manners. Just now as I'm writing this Dixie has been just being normal running around, and my Wife walk out here and ask me if Dixie had eaten yet. Then as Dixie took one step toward me and she fill over and keep trying to get up but couldn't get her balance. It was like a siege or stroke, and scared me but good. The only time I ever had a dog act like this it die by the time it got to me. It was off to the Vet's like a EMSA run, we are talking about my best friend you know. She past all her test and was found to be in good shape and I was told not to worry, I don't know how you do that. I was told to write it now and watch her that it might not happen again or it could be a year from now or when I get home. They felt she was going to be fine and it was just a happening. I was told to go on with her as normal, Sheepherding or what ever and that if it came back and back more often them we might want to start some type of medication program. Thanksgiving went great, the whole day came and went as did many people and with all but two Dixie behaved herself like the lady she is. With the two she just barked twice at them as they came in but did not go over to them. I know she knew everyone, but some she just see once every 2 or 3 month or more and in the past acted poorly with them and all the activity that go on with a holiday gathering. This week was the last day of Herding classes for this go round. Dixie did very good again this week and is settling down a lot more although she still wants from time to time to run in on the sheep. Now we need to get the money together so we can start round 3 of classes which start in January. I not looking forward to the cool weather that will go with it. But I don't want to wait to long to get back in the pen for Dixie. I guess I will get her a good Christmas present and have a good month off. Christmas was a good time and Dixie was on her best behavior yet. I had a good one to, as away my 5 children gave me to much stuff, they say my wife and I did for them for the last 46 year and now it their turn to give to us. I have to say it was fun watching Dixie at her Herding Instinct Test on the 47" wide screen HD TV my son gave us. Can't say I found a way for Dixie and me to work as a team yet although we have together done a lot of Nap on the Bed, Nap on the Couch or her sleep under the computer chair and me in the chair. This is not what I had in mind. But this week it back to the yard and walk and drop and in's and out's. Next week it back to Herding Class. It felt good get back in the pen, Dixie acted glad to see the sheep again. To let her get clamed down from too much time off we worked on the Basics the first time in the pen. The second time we moved the sheep along the fence line and once she acted like she was relaxed we tried having her down stay on one side of the pen while I walked over to the other with the sheep, but she just couldn't wait and would rush in on the sheep before I could get 10 ft away from her. She has done it before and waited for me to call her but today day she just didn't have self control, to much time off I guess. This is what we will need to practice on. The bad news is the weather guys and gals are calling for it to be 26 degrees for the next class. Before the next class came, I had a Heart Attack and was in the Hospital for the next three weeks. I had a Triple by pass. I think Dixie was glad to see me come home, it was the first time that Dixie and me had ever been apart night or day in all most 3 years now. How ever now that I'm home I can see it will be a lot longer time then I thought before Me and Dixie could do much together. I know it was no going to be soon that I could walk, or trot around in the sheep pen with Dixie and I can tell she wondering why we aren't doing anything out side together, she ready. I hope this doesn't mean the end of Dixie getting to learn more and keep on moving upward to get to the top. I would feel really bad if it was me that keep her from the making of a Champion.
There a long road ahead, But there's
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And other friend of one of
my granddaughters came by for the first time in four or
five months and Dixie look, barked one and move in
closer and then I guess she remembered who he was and
became just a friendly dog and went on over to say Hi. I
must say he was around alot when she was first growing
up, but his hair was longer and he had a hat on, but she
remembered something about him. 
