What a Novel Idea!

Last year I bought a beginner agility set so that my daughter could train Cinder to weave through poles, run through a tunnel, etc. Cinder likes to keep busy. It's deep in her genes. We like to make sure that she is kept stimulated, because we know that is how she is happy. She must be happy with us. She has yet to attempt to jump the pathetic excuse we have for a backyard fence. While all our neighbours are either chasing down their "Houdini" hounds or building six foot height fences, we repaint our 3 1/2 foot fence each year.

But what's obvious to anyone that owns a Border Collie is that they are bred to herd and they are happiest when doing so. I'm glad we took the time to teach the bunnies that Cinder means them no harm when she pushes them back onto the straight and narrow. They play so happily together in the bunny exercise run that it's cute.

Yesterday, Tayler, my daughter, had a blazingly brilliant idea that she was going to teach Frisco, our dwarf bunny, to hop a mini agility course! She trundled him into a mini harness and took him outside to get him accustomed to being on a leash. And did he ever take to that nice big yard! He hopped every where, pulling the expendable leash to its limit.

Cinder, of course, was in attendance to ensure Frisco didn't get too far away, never taking her eyes off him for a second. That's intense!

Cinder Opens the Moon Roof

Since it has turned cold again, and I'm not working right now, I have been giving my daughter a ride to school in the mornings. Before my hours of work changed, and before the new owner took over, I used to drop my daughter off and, after checking in with her teacher, carry on to work. Poor Cinder wasn't allowed to accompany us then.



Cinder, I must explain, absolutely loves going for a ride in the car. When I had the Neon, she would hop into the back seat, squeeze herself onto that shelf by the back window, and happily block my view as I tried to back out of the driveway. Once I began to drive forward, she would plant herself between the front seats and watch intently where we were going. After I bought the Jeep, she excitedly leaps into the cargo area, sits down and, once again, blocks my view as I attempt to back out of the driveway then plants herself between the front seats and stares out the front window. But there is something different. Unlike the Neon, the Jeep enjoys a moon roof, which can be opened either full slide back or pop-up style. Cinder, it seems, likes it when the moon roof is is slid all the way open.



The first time she hit the button to open the moon roof I considered it an accident and laughed as the freezing cold air rushed into the Jeep. That was two days ago and I didn't give the occurrence another thought...until she jumped into the Jeep this morning and immediately pushed the button with her nose. The "see-what-I-know-how-to-do" look in her eyes as she grinned at me spoke volumes.



Apparently Cinder is willing to try anything twice.

Mom, Cinder rolled in poop again!

We're not sure why our Border Collie goes outside and rolls in her poop. She has to hunt for it, but usually waits until just before we are about to go out to clean up the yard every weekend. I almost imagine her poking around the back yard like a kid looking for easter eggs.

I think she likes jumping into the bathtub and being subjected to a warm bath. I know she loves water. She has made that abundantly clear by the way she accidentally-on purpose falls into the pool in the summer and how she always manages to get between the flowers and the watering hose. I wish she would just ask for a bath.

My daughter has trained her to hop into the bathtub and stay put while being shampooed and rinsed. Then we "shamwow" her (yes, those things really do work!) and, once she's completely dry, she gets groomed and all that extra hair is removed.

Then, usually a week or so later, we get to do it all over again!