From River’s Mom Sima

Sima

Asher, I wanted to thank you and all your buddies for welcoming me into the party pack last week. It was great fun to wag and run. Like you, I love the chase and catch of the balls and sticks. I was mesmerized watching your gravity defying catches!  A real inspiration to me being the grounder I am.

A few years ago when I was but a pup, my mom tossed a ball into the air for me and like any good Sheltie would, I had to stop it before it hit the ground. Unfortunately, the ball and I both hit the ground and I broke my leg. I spent Christmas and some 7 weeks after in a cast. Thanks for letting me have most of the left field ground balls.

I’m so happy you have a good friend in my boy River. He has a strong honest heart and as well…comes from a long line of ball players and great barkers.

River loves to share his enthusiastic loud thoughts in his dad’s ear- especially important things need to be said in his ears when he is in the car. I love to speak too and in fact talked so much when I was young, my mom needed to quiet down my voice.  I was a soprano.. well, I am still a soprano, but a quieter one. I can sing and yapp at the universe as long as I please. Some things just need to be said. Never feel bad about that.

Your energy and enthusiasm are wonderful. I hear wonderful stories about my good friend Wind back in his younger days when he played ball with the best of them!  Wind has taken River under his paws to guide him on how to be a great mountain dog…now if I could just get my boy out of the river water! But that’s another story, another time.
Hope to see you again.
Your friend Sima aka  All You Need Is Love

The Rest of the Story

Tess and Jack

Me and Tess are helping Ash out this week while he gets over his barker’s block. I got on Tess a little bit because she was supposed to finish her bark two days ago.

She finally posted her bark yesterday. I guess she was feeling kinda guilty because she barked a lot about her bad self. I’m not disagreeing that Tess has a bad self, but there’s a lot more to her.

See the picture of me and Tess. It was taken a few weeks after I came to Asherpark. I was still messed up in the head. I didn’t know whether they’d keep me, or if I would really be accepted into the pack.

Tess and I got into a few times over treats. Once she jumped me in the yard. I put her down and had her by the throat when I thought better of it and let her go.

This is my favorite picture of me and Tess. See her paw on mine? She was trying to tell me everything would be okay. She wasn’t mad at me about our food fights. That simple little gesture meant the world to me. I almost started to cry.

Over time Tess has become a really good friend. Once when a guest dog attacked me, Tess jumped in to protect me. We understand each other and like hanging out together.

Tess is a complicated girl. She can be devious and self centered. That’s her stink eye side. But she’s also sweet, gentle, loyal and brave. I love Tess. I hope she knows it.

More About Me

Tess

It’s unfortunate that I’m so self absorbed. I’m not sure why I am that way. Jack says I act like a pampered little princess sometimes. I believe that is true.

You see the split down my face. It’s like my personality has two sides too. I can be the most kind and loving friend. then I’ll suddenly act like a little brat.

It’s a good thing that Ash and Jack are patient with me. They’re so easy going they just ignore my bad behavior.

Every morning I go in the truck with dad to get the paper. The boys never complain. If dad goes to town, I go with him. Sometimes he picks up a buddy of his and I have to ride in the back seat. That really annoys me.

This past week we had some guest dogs. The three Labradors that Ash likes so much. Everything was fine until Pepper decided she wanted to sit on the couch. Not on my couch! I shot her the stink eye and forced her back.

Unfortunately mom was there and she saw the whole thing. She made me sit politely while Pepper climbed on the couch. I was mad and humiliated at the same time. Pepper shot me a sly smile and took up her place right next to dad. I was fuming. I started pacing around and acting real agitated.

I forgot mom was still watching when I growled at one of the blondes to keep her distance. That was it. I had to lie quietly by dad’s feet and cut out all the stink eye stuff.

That was the worst part. I’m part border collie. I have a stink eye gene that was developed to keep the sheep in line. Since we don’t have any sheep, I use it on people and dogs to get my way. I hate it when mom says no stink eye.

Well, I’m getting tired talking about me. I’d better go see what the boys are doing. They may be getting too much attention.

Respectfully, Tess