baymule
Sustainability Master
Awww.....she's so pretty! 
Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey
- Thread starter frustratedearthmother
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NH Homesteader
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She's so pretty! What breed is she again?
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frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
She's an English Shepherd. Great all around farm dog (as long as you don't need those baby chickens, lol).
http://www.englishshepherd.org/breed-standard.html
They are somewhat similar to an Aussie or a Border collie in temperament and intelligence. Truly one of the smartest, if not THE smartest, dog I've ever owned. They love to please you, but are still independent. They know where everything is and they want things to stay in their place. At one time I had my chicken breeds separated and if one every got out of it's pen she would herd it right back to the correct pen. Crazy scary smart.
Another time I was out in the big barn worming goats. The barn is a three sided structure with only a portion closed off in front. Stupid goats figured out real fast that they could just run out the front of the barn to get away form me. But, not when Gracie saw what was happening. She figured out, all on her own, that I needed the goats to stay IN the barn and simply would NOT let them out. Having her around is like having a third arm!
She is really a character. She's been inside a lot lately and she has a new trick. She knows she's not supposed to get on the rug, but in order to get closer to me she has to encroach just a bit on one corner. I've taught her that if she wants to get attention she has to lay her head in my lap. So, when she crawls up to that forbidden corner of the rug she'll ease up and lay her head down on my leg and just roll her eyes up at me to see if I'm going to fuss at her....she's such a mess!
Checked Lucy's ligs this morning....lower but not low enough. Today is day 146 so probably a few days to go. Think girls!
http://www.englishshepherd.org/breed-standard.html
They are somewhat similar to an Aussie or a Border collie in temperament and intelligence. Truly one of the smartest, if not THE smartest, dog I've ever owned. They love to please you, but are still independent. They know where everything is and they want things to stay in their place. At one time I had my chicken breeds separated and if one every got out of it's pen she would herd it right back to the correct pen. Crazy scary smart.
Another time I was out in the big barn worming goats. The barn is a three sided structure with only a portion closed off in front. Stupid goats figured out real fast that they could just run out the front of the barn to get away form me. But, not when Gracie saw what was happening. She figured out, all on her own, that I needed the goats to stay IN the barn and simply would NOT let them out. Having her around is like having a third arm!
She is really a character. She's been inside a lot lately and she has a new trick. She knows she's not supposed to get on the rug, but in order to get closer to me she has to encroach just a bit on one corner. I've taught her that if she wants to get attention she has to lay her head in my lap. So, when she crawls up to that forbidden corner of the rug she'll ease up and lay her head down on my leg and just roll her eyes up at me to see if I'm going to fuss at her....she's such a mess!
Checked Lucy's ligs this morning....lower but not low enough. Today is day 146 so probably a few days to go. Think girls!
baymule
Sustainability Master
Is she your first English Shepherd? Where did you get her? She is beeeyooooteeefull!!
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- #6,316
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
Had one as a child...but not sure it was a purebred. The folks we got him from called him a farm collie- and that's the "nick name" for this breed. Whenever I wanted to go riding I'd tell Trouble to "go get the horses" and that dog would find those horses wherever they were out in our big rambling pasture and bring 'em up to the barn. He was so loyal - he never let me out of his sight. Went on every ride with me - even the ones that started before daylight in the morning and lasted until after dark in the evenings. Loved that dog!
I looked for almost a year for an English Shepherd and finally found a breeder near Brenham where I got Gracie. They are kind of hard to come by and I've tossed around the idea of breeding her....but haven't quite committed. I was looking online yesterday for a male pup - had to slap myself right outta that idea, lol!
I looked for almost a year for an English Shepherd and finally found a breeder near Brenham where I got Gracie. They are kind of hard to come by and I've tossed around the idea of breeding her....but haven't quite committed. I was looking online yesterday for a male pup - had to slap myself right outta that idea, lol!
baymule
Sustainability Master
Just slap yourself right back into that idea!
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- #6,318
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
@baymule - do NOT encourage me!! But, I do love the breed and Gracie is a wonderful representative of. There aren't very many of them around and theoretically I believe that the best should help the breed recover. But, that's just theoretically, lol. I dunno.... Cowboy is giving me so much trouble chasing his women that I really don't want another intact male. I'd have to find a suitable mate for her and they are few and far between.
Talked with mom's hospice nurse today and she agrees that mom is doing really well. Dad however is lagging a bit. His doc prescribed 4 weeks of physical therapy a while back to help with his strength and balance. Well - it didn't. It just aggravated his knees and now he's not even trying to help when they transfer him from bed to chair or any other movement.
He's also having more trouble eating. He chokes a LOT. I think part of it is that he forgets he doesn't have dentures anymore and he takes big ol' bites. His breathing is more labored any time he makes any physical exertion at all. Poor guy - and he NEVER complains. He's from that era when men were men and they didn't whine.
So, today I called his doc and asked that he be recommended for hospice care.
I think it's time for him to get as much relief from pain as possible and they will give that to him.
Talked with mom's hospice nurse today and she agrees that mom is doing really well. Dad however is lagging a bit. His doc prescribed 4 weeks of physical therapy a while back to help with his strength and balance. Well - it didn't. It just aggravated his knees and now he's not even trying to help when they transfer him from bed to chair or any other movement.
He's also having more trouble eating. He chokes a LOT. I think part of it is that he forgets he doesn't have dentures anymore and he takes big ol' bites. His breathing is more labored any time he makes any physical exertion at all. Poor guy - and he NEVER complains. He's from that era when men were men and they didn't whine.
So, today I called his doc and asked that he be recommended for hospice care.
I think it's time for him to get as much relief from pain as possible and they will give that to him.
tortoise
Wild Hare
@frustratedearthmother , I don't know if it's too late, but have you looked at nutritiousmovement.com? It's sorta like physical therapy, but not. Because it teaches how to align joints to reduce their load. It has helped me more then physical therapy. My physical therapist just gave me load bearing exercises to "strengthen" and support my knees. Made it worse.
My restorative exercise teacher showed me why I had the knee pain and how to solve it. In my case, I rotate my thighs inward (and have a weak butt and hips to show for it) and the weakness in my butt and hips is what makes me fall! She also gave me strengthening exercises I can do *in correct alignment* so they actually work and nothing hurts.
The "Multivitamin" DVD has a series of exercises to do lying down or on the floor. There is also a DVD for seniors, although I can't attest to it. I may buy it for my parents though!
My restorative exercise teacher showed me why I had the knee pain and how to solve it. In my case, I rotate my thighs inward (and have a weak butt and hips to show for it) and the weakness in my butt and hips is what makes me fall! She also gave me strengthening exercises I can do *in correct alignment* so they actually work and nothing hurts.
The "Multivitamin" DVD has a series of exercises to do lying down or on the floor. There is also a DVD for seniors, although I can't attest to it. I may buy it for my parents though!
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- #6,320
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
I've never even heard of it. Thanks for the heads-up. I'll be doing some investigating - really appreciate the info!
