Foster Mom Asks: "How Is Sassying Doing?"

Sassy is resting under the glass kitchen table.

BettyP has left a new comment on your post ""Some Books Are Meant To Be Tasted, Others To Be S...":

Hello all. We have been thinking about you and Sassy. We are glad that she found her wonderful new forever home and love to read about all her adventures. Is she helping to make the shelties less shy?

[Betty is Sassy's foster Mom.]
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GJ - Sassy is having a great time with the Shelties. They were annoyed with her at first, but now they get along great. Precious and Treasure are both less shy than they used to be.

Precious has mock fights with Sassy several times a day. Sometimes Sassy is on top and snapping at Precious lying on her back. At other times Sassy is down and Precious works her over with fake bites. They trade a few on the bed, but usually they do this at the foot of the bed.

Treasure is much more likely to jump on the bed for her favorite trick. She grins and puts out her paw for petting. As soon as the petting stops, she juts it forward again.

They have fun and relax together too.

Chris buries her face in Sassy's fur every so often. Sassy likes that.

"Some Books Are Meant To Be Tasted, Others To Be Swallowed, Some Few To Be Chewed and Digested" - Bacon

Clown or contrite sinner?

"Some books are meant to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; That is, some books are to be read only in parts; Others to be read, but not curiously; And some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention."
- Francis Bacon, Of Studies

I was blogging about a little-known theologian named Knapp. I decided to get out my copy, which I used for the introductory information about his life and training. I left it on the floor as I was writing, since my desk is full of important materials: food, coffee cups, cookie crumbs, books, and pens.

I was getting some Internet quotations in the same post when I looked down. Sassy was busy digesting Knapp in her own way, chewing away on the spine. The book is about 150 years old and doubtless glued in the spine with tasty animal products.

All of our dogs have enjoyed books as much I do. An old set of Eisenach Luther kept attracting Old Precious. The green Concordia books must have a good flavor, too.

Sassy was suitably contrite after being caught. No dog fakes sincerity better than she does. We made up quickly, especially since the book itself was almost immune to damage. The spine is well chewed, but the book opens and reads the same as before.

I Just Love Cats

Photo by JJ

Sassy is a superb cat hunter but never hurts them. She even desisted when cornering the neighbor's cat on its doorstep, with the neighbor watching. This distant neighbor loves Sassy. Fortunately, the dog's impulse control finally clicked on.

Sunday, when we walked at around 6 AM, Sassy found three cats on the ground. I only saw one, but Sassy chased them over their fences by charging them, driving them from their cover in bushes.

Morning morning, no cat was available for chasing as we walked toward the park. However, cats are either dumb or insolent. Maybe they do not learn very quickly. On the way back, Sassy caught one her regulars on the ground and got it flying into the garage, the door left a bit open at the bottom.

Sassy Loves the Park

Sassy developed powerful muscles in her chest.
Our granddaughter Josie says Sassy has "an invisible fourth leg."
Sassy still stops traffic with her three-legged runs."
Photo by JJ.

Sassy loves her daily walks to the park. She meets new and old friends every day. All of us get going early because the summer heat is upon us - 108 in the shade right now. At 5 to 6 AM, the weather is perfect in Phoenix, as "Dawn, the rosy-fingered child of Morn appears." (Homer)

Sassy always runs over to meet her canine friends. She was quite unsure of a German Shepherd twice her size. The German Shepherd was well behaved and wanted to watch Sassy chase her ball. Somehow, Sassy ran a wide circle away from her friend as she returned the ball each time.

Sassy was not intimidated by a full-sized poodle. She must do a quick read of each dog's character.

Sassy's German Shepherd breeding is obvious to everyone. She is a grouch in bed when falling asleep. The Shelties are not much better, delivering kicks to anyone petting them or getting in their way during a serious nap. Sassy used to sit up in bed and give a loud, menacing bark, her lower jaw quivering, when touched the wrong time.

She has learned not to be so bossy about her bedtime, but she is funny in another way. She decided the best place to sleep was at the top, among the pillows, so she curls up there every night, sometimes with a head draped on my pillow. She may growl a bit if I am too close to her. I ask her, "Am I in your bed or are you in mine, you poacher?" She reaches out a paw and presses down, as if to say, "Watch your blood pressure."

She may turn toward my wife and use her paws out to keep track of her. Chris adores Sassy.

Precious has mock fights with Sassy each night. Each one plays at being attacked on the ground. Sometimes they clap their jaws at each other in bed, then settle next to each other. Treasure joins them in three-dog chases in and out the doggy-door, best done at 2 AM.

Sassy Does the Pyramids

Sassy is becoming so famous that she escaped to Egypt for a brief vacation, to get away from her fans and soak up some rays. She got this recent comment in the park, "My neighbor told me all about your dog. She is an inspiration."

Photoshop is a lot cheaper than airfare.

Sassy's muscles continue to develop on her daily walks and runs. She charges out of the garage around 5:30 AM. I press the garage door lift and she throws herself under the rising door when it open a few inches. Naturally I take a little longer to get outside.

She tears around our street without her leash, checking the aromas and looking for cats. Sassy is an excellent cat finder. She flushes one out of hiding every few days. Nothing makes her happier than sending a cat over the wall, but she never tries to harm them.

At the park our ball-throwing sessions are getting longer. I throw the ball as far as I can for a few minutes, hot grounders she catches on the first bounce. Then I give her high pop flies when she is a bit winded. She is almost always under the ball waiting for it. If the ball hits a tree branch, she adjusts to catch it perfectly - most of the time. Once a pine cone came down into her mouth. She looked startled, dropped the cone, and grabbed the ball.

We are starting to see that Sassy has arms in place of front paws. She hugs with her front legs, taps me on the shoulder with one paw, and scratches me awake when I sleep too long (past 5 AM).

When I pet the Shelties too long on the bed, Sassy slams her front paw on the bed repeatedly until she gets some attention. She likes to sit beside Precious when I am at the computer desk, petting Precious. One day, Sassy used her front paw to push Precious' head down and away from me. She got a double lecture from Chris and me, so she flipped on her back and acted cute. We always say, "Nobody fakes repentance better than you, Sassy." She gets along great with the two Shelties. Cattle Dogs naturally dominate all other breeds, but she keeps her ego in check most of the time.

We love her personality. Recently we had words over her energetic behavior and noise. She was a bit miffed. I tried talking to her, but she kept her back facing me, as she sat on the bed, watching TV. I mentioned this to Chris. "Sassy isn't speaking to me. Sassy is shunning me. Sassy is pouting." Suddenly, Sassy threw herself backwards and looked up with a big grin on her face. I petted her and she hugged my hand with both paws.

When we talk about her or to her, she delivers long slow licks to our arms. For fun, she also chews my fingers lightly.

Sassy, Precious, and Treasure are best friends. They exchange bones. Sassy could easily take bones from the Shelties, but she watches them and cries out in little, hurt yelps. They may have five bones available, but the one being licked is the only one desired. They do not fight over food.

Treasure uses her cuteness to get attention. Precious is patient and foxy. She will quietly walk out the dog door with the community bone du jour, or wait for me to call her back when Sassy tries to hog all the attention.

Precious and Sassy have fake fights almost every day, more likely at night. They love to fight and play tag from midnight to 2 AM. Sometimes all three dogs are playing tag. Precious will work Sassy over with fake attacks, or Sassy will go up and down Precious with biting motions. They are utterly jived and happy, especially if I pretend not to see. Once I watch, Precious has to come over and get petted while grinning, opening and shutting her mouth - as if laughing.

Sassy Does Sedona

Anna, Chris, and I took Sassy up to Sedona. Sassy was great in the car, and she had Anna to pet her and talk to her the whole time. We went to Hyatt Pinon Point, which has a great view of Sedona, a Cold Stone Creamery, Wild Flower Bread Company, a pricey art gallery, and constant offers to buy time shares.

Sassy enjoyed sharing a little ice cream, which gave her a powerful thirst. She went to the flower pots and scavenged some fresh water from the overflow and later from the fountain.

Sassy now has powerful shoulders from her daily runs in the park. She is now so famous in our neighborhood that people stop me and say, "I heard all about your dog." If they call to her, Sassy wiggles up with her entire body wagging.

Sassy also goes on short errands with me. She sits in the back quietly and waits for me for a minute or two. Now that it is hot, she will not be in the car alone.

We went to McDonald's the other day. I ordered some food plus McNuggets for Sassy and her fur-sisters Precious and Treasure. "What sauce do you want for the McNuggets?"

I said, "None. The dogs get them."

"Oh that's great. I get it." She was still laughing when I paid and drove ahead.

Anna gave Sassy a taste.

Cattle Dog Rescue Fund

Few dog breeds can match the intellect of the Australian Cattle Dog. Sometimes too smart for its own good, this alert dog thrives on activity to keep things interesting. Brave and loyal, this breed demands plenty of daily attention from its master. Sometimes considered a one-person dog, the Australian Cattle Dog tends to bond strongly with its owner.

Hello Friends of New Hope Cattle Dogs Rescue,

The annual Bowl-A-Rama event for Animal Rescue is here once again! This is New Hope Cattle Dog Rescue's biggest fundraiser of the year. It’s a great event that allows rescue groups to raise money during the summer months when, due to the heat, the opportunity to host adoption events is very limited.

We realize that money is tight for a lot of people during this down swing in our economy and with rising gas prices, but if enough caring people donate just a small amount, the effect can be surprising! Our goal this year is to raise $4000. New Hope Cattle Dogs Rescue raised $2942 last year for this event. WOW!!

We have until July 31st to obtain pledges/donations and would greatly appreciate any assistance in meeting our goal for this very worthy cause…Every little bit helps!!! If you would like to make an online pledge, please use our Firstgiving Bowl-A-Rama website. www.firstgiving.com/Bowl-A-Rama-2009 If you choose to donate by check, please make it payable to "New Hope Cattle Dogs Rescue" or "NHCD" and write Bowl-A-Rama on the memo line. Please keep in mind that we are a 501(3) non profit organization, so your donation is tax deductible and a receipt will be provided upon request.

PACC911 sponsors this awesome event for many local rescue groups. This is the event link from PACC911 www.pacc911.org/Bowl-A-Rama.html If you are interested in taking pledges in our behalf for this event, print attached pledge form on this e-mail. Please let us know if you are taking pledges, so we can coordinate with you.

Thanks in advance for your support! FYI...We have a tentative date for the 3rd Annual Cattle Dog Round Up, November 14th.

Sincerely,
Robyn
Volunteer - New Hope Cattle Dogs Rescue
www.newhopecattledogs.com