Indy & Murphy

Last Christmas we found a friend for Indy.  A blue Queensland Heeler was found in Santa Ysabel (near Dudley’s Bakery) and after two months at foster care trying to find his owner…we adopted him.  He is about 2 or 3 years old, fixed and had his dew claws removed while in foster care.  Dave went to see him first, and was very cautious.  He said the dog stayed away from everyone and quietly watched.  I took Indy to meet him and she was terrified, I think of all the other dogs there.  “Dudley” just watched us from a distance, he did take a few kibbles from Dav’s hand, but we couldn’t pet him.  After meeting him, I wasn’t sure, but I felt like he needed a loving home and another chance.  I picked him up for a sleepover and he has been with us ever since.  We named him Murphy and could not possibly love him more. 

Murphy and Indy were best pals from day one.  I think introducing them at the foster care house was the trick.  Indy has accepted him completely.  To watch them play like puppies makes me very happy.  It has been about 10 months and they are inseparable.  Now to see if he has the stock dog instincts!  He sits and watches the goats and sheep, but when I put him in with them he chases.  Probably a good thing if I could tell him how to do it properly.

One thing worth mentioning – he is very cautious about food…

Looking for a new career!

Poor Indy didn’t do too well at our first stock dog training!  Dave thinks she will get the hang of it, but Tracy thinks she may not be a herd dog after all.

We got to the class early, so she could watch!  They had the most beautiful sheep, big and puffy, and sweet as could be.  A Bouvier (also a beginner) was learning to chase them, while the trainer stayed in between the sheep and dog, giving her commands.  It was exhausting!  Then it was Indy’s turn.  We got a new set of sheep, and I was to get Indy to chase them… unfortunately, it apparently was not second nature.  Mostly, she slunk into the corner to watch the crazy lady chasing the sheep.

Back at home, we tried to get her to chase George (our one suffolk sheep) or the goats, but all she could get was to run into the middle and watch them scatter.  Not good!

Plus, the goats are all pregnant, so we discouraged her from chasing them.  As the babies arrived, Indy loved to chase them, but it’s a puppy thing, as soon as she catches them she turns around so they can chase her.

She has learned the word “Out”  and takes it very seriously.  If the goats go into the hay barn, I yell “out” and Indy is right there to help.  She has taken that skill a step farther, if a goat is “nibbling” on one of the fruit trees or rose bushes, I yell their name and “out”.  Now Indy doesn’t know which goat is which, but the goats do!  Indy charges out and the goat flees.  She does have skills and I will be sure she feels as useful as possible.

The way she protects the barn and the trees also translates to “her” porch and “her” pillow, “her” barn … which means the siberian husky cannot enter any of these areas, ever.

Indy ready for Stock Dog Training

Indy will be going to a stock dog training class.  She will take a test to see if she has the instinct to herd.  She does very well with cats!  She also does well with goats.

I have noticed if I tell any other animal “no”, it becomes gospel!  She picks up on the things she gets to keep other animals from doing, quickly!  No one, including the emu, gets to eat emu food!  No one is allowed in the hay barn, since the goats are not allowed… that means no one, but me!

She is smart, I hope she has the instinct required to be trained.

Indiana Bones

This is the story of Indiana Bones, a black dog, most likely half Fox Terrier and half Aussie Shepperd, and all heart.