Fireworks!!!!

Rusty just wants everyone to know that he is terrified of Fireworks.  He is one of those dogs who would run away if left alone on New Years Eve or the 4th of July.

Rusty spent the evening on the couch between Mom and Dad, shaking like a leaf and trying to hide from the loud noise.

Please make the sound stop.

RAINY DAYS AND PUPPIES

Rusty had been with us for 3 weeks when he proved to us that he loved MUD. It was raining and he decided to go out the doggy door by himself. I guess I wasn't paying enough attention, because before I knew it, he came back in and made the rounds of the downstairs.

When I asked him, "What did you do?" This is the look I got.

As if he didn't know.

Muddy footprints on the carpet.....

and through the kitchen.

And then he answered with a few barks and howls. "I was having so much fun, that I forgot to wipe my feet, Mom."

Once I explained to him about all the work he just made for me, he went by his kennel and laid down. With that sweet little sad face, he said,

"I'm sorry mom."

Rainy Days and Puppies can get me down.

HE HAD ME AT HELLO

My husband told me that THIS.....

WAS THE MOST UNPREDICTABLE THING I HAVE EVER DONE.

And he is probably right!!!

Thirteen years ago I had to put down MY Australian Shepherd because she was suffering so. Pepper, a blue merle aussie, was 16 years old. She was blind, deaf, and very arthritic. She winced in pain every time she moved. I couldn't watch her suffer any longer, so I made the hard decision.

My husband and son missed having a dog so even though I wasn't ready, I gave in and we brought home Puppie, a Blue Heeler, on Mother's Day 1998. I love her. But she wasn't my idea. Then in February 1999, Mike brought home an Australian Shepherd puppy and presented her to me for Valentine's Day. I sooooo did not want another dog. Sydnee is definitely Mike's dog. Most of the time, I think she doesn't even like me. Occasionally, when she is in the mood, she will grace me with her presence and wiggle a little.

Both of our dogs are getting up there in years. Puppie has a definite limp. She hurt her back leg a couple of months ago when she was running the fence with the German Shepherd next door. It has never fully come back. So hiking with us this spring is out of the question.

Saturday morning, as we were getting ready to go hiking at Palmetto State Park, I was sitting on the floor with Puppie. She knew we were going out and she had that look in her eye. I looked at Mike and said, "what are we going to do when she isn't with us any more......"

So we went hiking alone. Coming back through Lockhart, TX, Mike spotted a pickup truck along the highway with puppies in the back. He couldn't tell what kind they were. He said, "I wonder if they are Australian Shepherds?" We couldn't tell at 65 mph and there weren't any good signs that we could see.

About a half a mile down the road, he decided to turn around. I said to him, " you know, if they are Australian Shepherds, it will be hard not to take one home.....Don't go back."

Mike said, "I just want to see...." I said, "Well, I'm not getting out of the car."

So we turn around and go back. And I got out of the car as soon as I saw a little sign on the side of the pickup truck that said, "AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERDS"

There were LOTS of puppies. At least 8 or 9 of them. Lots of tricolor, like Sydnee. There were 2 Blue Merles, and 2 Red Merles. One of the blue merles caught my eye first. I picked him up and carried him around for awhile. Mike asked if I really wanted a 'boy' dog. We had never had a boy dog before. I put him down and looked at the others. There was a really friendly tricolor that kept coming to us, but I really didn't want another tri. I was just about ready to leave without a puppy. And then it happened.

This little red dog walked up to the tailgate and made eye contact with his beautiful baby blues. I said, " well, Hello there cutie." He cocked his head one way and then the other, never taking his eyes off mine. HE HAD ME AT HELLO!!! I picked him up and said, "That is intelligence....."

Mike said, " it is, isn't it?"

We took him out to the grass and played with him a couple of minutes. I knew he was coming home with me. I told Mike, " His name is Rusty Blue and I need you to go get some cash......"

HE HAD ME AT HELLO...........