Update for Fall

This is us lately, the couch sitters.  Well, not entirely.   I'm still working some of the dogs for their continuing training, so here are the updates:

Cinder:  Retired.  Her back legs are unsteady, she's mostly deaf.  But if she goes out to the pasture when another dog is working she'll disrupt the lesson, drive the sheep to the far side of the place, then sit down with her "Didn't I do well?" look and also "I can't hear you, but you said drive the sheep away, right?"  

Luke:  Also retired.  Limps a little bit, mostly deaf, but still pretty spry for a 14 year old.

Kip:  Retired.   Has a cancer in his mouth, and a fast one growing too.  He still seems full of energy though.

Hank:  Had to be pts in August after developing heart condition.   I miss him tons!  Such a sad loss.  

It's not a good year for the old guys.
Here are the younger dogs:

Ben:  Doing fine, one of my main chore dogs.

Sprite:   My other main chore dog.  She's also good at lying by the fire and being adorable.

Dodger: Still here, not doing much with him.

Pepper:  In training.  She works once a week or so, depending on the weather.   She is still really, really fast.  She likes flanking a lot more than she likes driving.  She also likes cuddling on the couch and barking.  At everything.  Well, not at sheep, but at everything else.

Tessa:  Possibly up and coming chore dog.  She works nice and calmly, is easy to do chores with.  She drives a little bit.  I work her about once a week.

Taz:  OMG hyper spaz dog.  He's a handful on the stock, I'll say that.    Still working in the small pen once in a while, when I get the energy for him.   He could use some daily work, and possibly a large herd of cattle to kick some sense into him.  I think he'd like that.  

My mom ran her dogs in the trial last weekend, and Lena, who is Tessa's sister, got started titles and did a nice job.  Also Akela, who is Kip's son (out of Melica) got open titles with good scores.  Yay Holmbergs!