When Joni was this age, we couldn’t take her off the leash near any ball game that might be happening nearby. She would (and did) run in and get involved. And, trust me, you’ll not easily get a ball past her. This is what she was born to do (with sheep, not balls, but you get the idea). The first time this happened was at a school tryout and she was accepted for the team as a goalkeeper. Joni! Joni!
The newest thing, it seems, is a game called Sheep Balls, where the balls represent sheep, with her playmate (me, I guess) moves the balls (at least 3) in such a way as to exercise her natural herding ability and blocking skills, as well as disciplining her to follow instructions rather than acting randomly. I will have to wait for spring to try this one out, but am grateful for a reader who told me about this great new game, invented specially for border collies. It looks as if it’s a great exercise for her trainer, at the same time. Just what I need!
It’s a day for a puppy photograph. Thinking about it, though, most days are good days to see a puppy pic. This was Joni when she was about 10 weeks old, with her first blue ball. She was a terrible chewer, as you can see, and was on her way to destroying this, but was able to spare a few seconds to glance up at me.
A friend posted that she wished she could hit rewind on her life and just pause for a few moments. So this is my rewind moment. Joni is now almost 10. Have a lovely day, friends.
Joni never minds the cold of winter walks, as long as she has our company!
Joni turned 4 years old a week or so ago, though it’s hard to believe it’s been that long since she joined our household! She still has the boundless energy and enthusiasm of a puppy, a characteristic of border collies. Born in the winter, she loves the cold and finds the snowy, blustery days invigorating, where we have to bundle ourselves up against the elements. Soon the snow will be deep on the ground covering the frozen treacherous icy ruts on the road and fields and the walking will be easier as we don our snowshoes (and Joni her boots) to head out across the landscape. The freedom of being able to go cross country on skis or snowshoes in the winter is hard to imagine if you haven’t tried it. The interesting thing is that once you are out in it, the cold doesn’t feel as bad. There’s a saying that it’s not that the weather is too cold, you’re just not wearing warm enough clothes!
Enjoy the winter, those of us who have it, Spring will come eventually and the cycle will begin anew.
Our pets have a special place in our lives. This is the gallery of my photographs of Joni, our Border Collie. On a browser click on a thumbnail to bring up the full size image. Play the slideshow or choose full screen option. On mobile devices just swipe left to right to navigate from image to image or use the arrows.
Joni’s energy levels never cease to amaze us! Today was the longest bike ride we have done to date, using the Bike Tow Leash * to attach her safely to the bikes. (Joni now loves her bike rides so much that when she sees me holding the Martingale collar we use to attach her to the bike, she runs up, wagging her tail and sits down by the bike ready to go!) The whole trip was about 20.5 kms, (maps shown below on two apps, one managed to record the way out, the other managed the return trip, both giving slightly different distances for exactly the same journey). It’s a lovely ride on a groomed trail made from a converted rail line through the countryside, through woods and beside farmland and the dykes, with no roads involved.
We were careful to stop part way to offer her a drink (she was not interested at the 5km mark) and to chat with a few cyclists who were on their way back from a day out, then again at the half way mark in Wolfville, where we rested, as you see below, by the Minas Basin. There Joni lay down for about 20 minutes or so. She did have some water at that point, but was quite ready to go as soon as we were. The tide was high and the weather was warm, but not too hot and the ride was really a joy.
We were worried that Joni might have got too tired, as we were setting the pace, but she seemed to find the average 8 or 9 km/hr comfortable. When we got back to the car she rested (20 kms is a long run) and had a drink while we loaded the bikes back onto the car for the drive home. As soon as we got back, she ran to find her Frisbee for a quick game before supper. Unbelievable.
First half of the journey, New Minas to Wolfville.
Return journey from Wolfville back to New Minas.
Steve, resting with Joni, beside the Minas Basin, in Wolfville, the first 10 km done comfortably.
Here I am at the half way mark, ready to set off back again.
*Re: the Bike Tow Leash – we have no affiliation with this company at all, apart from being satisfied customers whose dog loves to go for bike rides with us.
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