Five months old today!

Well, it might be the last day of 2007, but today is also my five month birthday, so as a special treat mum and dad and my kids took me to a new park to play.

There is a small river that runs through it and mum said I would be able to swim in it, but when we got there mum was a spoil-sport and said definitely no swimming as the water was too dirty (probably because it is summer and has been very hot).

I was not impressed, it was a hot day and I really wanted to go for a swim, I don't care if the water was dirty! But at least Mum bought the chucka and I got to chase my tennis ball.





Then dad threw the ball with the chucka and the ball bounced off a tree and into the river. But my dad's a good dad, he got the ball out for me (of course, I could have got it myself, but they wouldn't let me go in the water!)

So I got to chase my ball again for a while, but then...

Somehow my ball rolled over the edge of the steep part of the river bank and ended up back in the water.

I knew that I could get it if they just let me!



Dad said that it was too far down and that we had to say goodbye to that ball.



Mum said nevermind, that was why she bought extra tennis balls with us, but I really, really, really wanted the purple and green one that was in the water, not a poor substitute red and green one!


My dad knew how much I wanted that ball so he tried to get it out for me. He tried lots of different things to catch that ball.




You can see the big branch that he tried to fish the ball out with.


It took a long time, so mum took me for a walk up the river. I still really wanted that ball. Us Border Collies don't forget things or give up easy you know.




Then Dad called us back because, after about 20 minutes of trying, he had finally caught the ball!


But the thing is, I didn't actually *want* the ball, what I really wanted was to go into the river myself to fetch it!



So I carried it back to the river bank...


And rolled it over the edge, just like I do in the pool when I want to go for a swim...


Mum and dad said I was a little monster and that it could stay there now.


Bye bye ball, it was fun while it lasted, I'll miss you!

Woofs

Taj.

I can count to three (videos and photos)

We didn't do much today (Mum says they are all still recovering from the lead up to Christmas). I did get to go for a swim with everyone (I'm always the first one in the pool nowdays), but we spent a lot of itme inside sleeping today...that was until I decided that mum had to take me outside to play ball, us Border COllies just can't sit around all day without doing anything.

I learnt to count to three when I was a baby, but just before Christmas Mum taught me a new game when we are playing ball. I have to watch her arm and when she gives me the signal I have to turn away, move away from her, turn back and then lay down and I am not supposed to move until mum says my release word which is 'ok'. Then when mum throws the ball, I am not allowed to run and get the ball until she counts to 'three'.

Heres a couple of videos of me palying the 'away' game. The second video is a blooper, I am sure mum said 'three' not 'twelve'!







And because Mum just can't help herself with that stupid camera, here's some photo's that she took while making me wait for the ball.

If I watch realllllly closely, sometimes I can tell which direction the ball will go before mum even throws it for me.


Did you know that Border Collies crouch because it helps our legs launch us like rockets!


If I make my self into a Border Collie pancake maybe she will throw the damn ball!



Mum loves this photo, she says I look very regal and dignified and this is one she is
probably going to do a painting of.

To be honest, I was just wondering if it was dinner time.

Woofs for now!

Taj

My Big Sister

You might be wondering why I have so many photos of me on my blog and not many of my big sister Tia...well thats because Tia dosn't like having her photo taken very much. Mum says its difficult to get good photos of Tia because of her wrinkles and black fur (Tia is a Chinese Shar-Pei - you know the dogs with lots of wrinkles?)

Well today Mum was able to get a few photos of Tia that don't make her look like a bizarre wrinkled blur.

In this photo, Tia is telling mum to rack off with that camera!

Then mum got this one while Tia was looking through the fence at someone on the street.

Three seconds later Tia started with the hippopotamus face which means that she is done with having her photo taken.

Meanwhile, the kids and I went for a swim (Tia hates water and refuses to be outside when we are swimming, silly girl, its so much fun!).

I wait my turn and make sure I am careful not to dive into the pool when the kids are in the way.

Lucky I have a sense of humour and don't really mind mum posting my less elegant photos, like this one of my bellyflop.

Tia makes herself cool by turning herself into a Shar-Pei pancake and then
falling asleep (which is why mum was able to take this photo).


I guess I should explain that there is actually one more very good reason
why there are not that many photos of Tia on this blog.

This is the reason.

The puparazzi belongs to me!

Beach Boy!

I'm such a lucky dog, mum and dad decided to take me and the kids to the beach for some fun! As soon as we parked the car, I remembered it from last week with Aunty Kim and my cousin Smudge.

I had to wait for mum to get my tennis balls and chucka out of the bag.

Didn't you know that Border Collies are better retrievers than Labs and Goldens?"

"I have to bring it back and drop it at mum's feet otherwise she won't chuck it again".

"Ha Ha this is so much fun!!!"

"You gotta keep one eye on those waves, otherwise they sneak up on you and pour over your head!"

"My mum and dad say I am such a happy boy."

"Catch me if you can!"

"I love running in the water, but I don't like the big waves that go over my head."

Look at all this open space and its all for the dogs!

Looks like some more lucky dogs have come down to the beach for some fun.

"Can I play, Mum, please can I?
On second thoughts I only want to chase them away from my tennis ball!"



Mr Sandman.

These are some of the other dogs we met at the beach today.

"Time to go. We live an hour away from the beach, we so had an icecream first (I even got my own little bucket of icecream - yum!). Tee Hee then I stole some of my kids chips on the way home, but they didn't really mind. When we got home we were all hot so we had a quick swim in the pool. I'm so lucky that my family want to have fun with me!"

Definitely a fun day for everyone. Oh and, for anyone who is wondering, Tia didn't come with us because she dosn't like water, overheats too easily, dosn't like the car, and is a bit selective with other dogs.

Can you believe she dosn't like toys or tennis balls either? But thats because she's a Shar-Pei, not a Border Collie!

The Morning After

This is what tired puppies do on hot mornings after a late Christmas night!

Taj, Shrek and Tia

But later in the day....

Being a Border Collie, Taj needs lots of excercise rain, hail or shine and when its 43 degrees celcius during an Aussie summer, swimming can't be beat!

Looking very dignified and focussed.

Not so dignified SPLASHDOWN!!!
Close your eyes and block your nose!

Taj: "C'mon, Race ya to the steps!"

Taj: Doggy Paddle Superstar

Leaping out of the picture!

Taj: Underwater diving Superstar
(aka King Klutz slipping on the bricks)

Although it should be noted that he *does* have the
tennis ball in his mouth
and thats all that really counts!

Redeeming his dignity with a perfect 10!

It's great to have fun with your dog!

Taj's First Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone and everypup!

I've been super good this year and it didn't take me long to figure out that Christmas day = TOYS!!! My stocking was stuffed with doggy treats, a new squeaky ball, a turkey leg and a stuffed lobster that both squeak as well (I LOVE squeaky toys!). Mum made me a special bandana with bells on it so I jingled every time I moved! Tia only got doggy treats because she dosn't like toys (weird isn't she?).

This is my lobster.

And this is my new squeaky ball ( I have one in every colour now!)

And this photo is here just because Mum thought I looked cute:)

We had a party with lots of people (but no pups though), and it was so hot that I went swimming in the pool. Everyone kept saying what a clever puppy I am!

Sometimes I can jump in very elegantly, othertimes mum says I am a Klutz, whatever that means, but it must be funny because everyone laughs. I don't care, as long as I get my tennis ball.

I had a special dinner which was really yummy, but by the end of the night I was ready for bed.

I hope everypup had as much fun for Christmas as I did!

First Close-up look at Sheep!

Taj_sheep_0351, originally uploaded by Art By Michelle.


Taj's first up close and personal experience with sheep at 4.5 months of age.


Taj: "What the HECK are those things?"



The "things" (sheep) in question - a Dorper ram and Damara ewes.



Taj: "And you want me to do WHAT with them?"



Taj: "Mum I'm really not so sure this is a good idea".



Taj: "Those things are bigger than me".



Taj: "Nah, not today thanks"


"I still don't get what I am meant to do, can't I just eat some more poo?"




"Maybe I should sniff their butts?"




"Yeah, well, now what?"




While this looks like a very well trained 4.5 month old puppy doing a down stay in front of sheep, I'll be honest and say I was standing beside him, I just crudely cloned myself out of the photo! I was pleased with his control, although it was more a case of lack of interest because they wern't moving.




Taj: "Whoa, wait a minute now, these things actually MOVE?"




"Well that makes ALL the difference!"



"So I can make 'em move, right mum?"




"WOO HOO!!! I Love SHEEP!"



"Don't mess with me sheep, I'm a BORDER COLLIE!"

What a wonderful experience (for both me and Taj!). The sheep belong to my parents (although my kids have claimed three of them, Patches, Shadow and Horny so I guess I can technically claim to be a sheep owner;).

To start with he was not interested in the sheep in the slightest - he was much more interested in eating their poop, eating the bread and chasing fly's, but when the sheep moved his instincts kicked in and boy did he get excited.

He was very disappointed when we let the sheep back out into their paddock, but I have no idea what I was doing and didn't want to injur him or the sheep. I have found a lady that does herding training and we will be starting that soon after Christmas (just for FUN!).

TM
(Michelle, Taj's Mum)

First Beach Trip

Taj_beach_0017, originally uploaded by Art By Michelle.

Photos From Taj's first trip to the beach 21 December 2007 with little "cousin" Smudge.

Brave puppy facing the big waves

Hurry up and throw the ball, I'm getting cold standing here!

Tennis ball Fishing in the surf

Blech!!! Beach water tastes like CRAP!!!!

A pensive moment with Taj gazing out to sea with the wind blowing his ears up.




I quite like the monotone look of this last image, which happened in camera without any editing.




Taj and Smudge: Taj "Gimme it - That ones better than my one!"



Taj: "Damn how did you get there first?"




Taj: "You can have that one"



Run, Smudgie Run!

Smudge is a purebred Koolie (aka German Koolie/Coolie) and is three and a half months old. Koolies are another working breed favoured by many Australian farmers.

Taj outback

Taj_9850, originally uploaded by Art By Michelle.

Poised and alert in the backyard.

Taj - very clever Border Collie puppy

Taj_9848, originally uploaded by Art By Michelle.

Taj has just learnt how to move away from me (5-6metres), turn around and do a down stay when instructed to, so we are practicing this new trick all the time.

He learnt this trick very quickly, using his tennis ball as the lure and also as the reward. He already knows that he cannot retrieve the ball unless he has been released - I use the release work "ok" for most things, but he understands the meaning of a huge number of words, something that I am really amazed about seeing as he is only 4.5 months old. He even understands different commands can mean the same thing (especially from other people).

Some of the words/tricks he understands are: sit, stay, com, wait, ok, down, shake hands/other paw, get the mail, ball, dinner, lunch, breakfast, kids, cat, each family members name, nan and pop (both sides of the family), drink, go to bed, get lambie (toy), wheres your ball, behind you, not that way, this way, no, yes, wrong, heel, high five, wave, spin, Tia, gentle, drop it, leave it, wanna tug?, bedtime, do wees (on command), do business (poop on command), in your crate, that'll do, that's enough, who's there?, speak and quiet.

There are probably more words, but I can't remember them all! He also knows that on the count of "three" he is released to get the ball, even if you count out of order like, 1, 2, 6, 9, 14, 27, 3 and that "ready, set, catch" is his cue to catch the ball before it lands on the ground.

Yup, I'm a proud mum, but he IS a very clever puppy!

TM
(Michelle - Taj's mum)

Windows to my Soul

Taj_9872, originally uploaded by Art By Michelle.

Go on, tell me how gorgeous I am!

Running out of patience

Taj_9849, originally uploaded by Art By Michelle.

Seriously. Throw the BALL.

Taj on Alert

Taj_9789, originally uploaded by Art By Michelle.

Hang on what was that?

Waiting for mum

Taj_9774, originally uploaded by Art By Michelle.


Come on Mum, Hurry up!

Taj Laughing

Taj_9737, originally uploaded by Art By Michelle.

Life is one big laugh for Taj.Life is one big laugh for Taj.

Taj being a good Boy

Taj_9766, originally uploaded by Art By Michelle.

I'm such a good puppy ignoring the sausage rolls and party pies in that tray behind me. Christmas trees in the lounge room, sparkly tug toys and food - This is the Life!

Read more about me on http://www.dogsites.com.au.

Taj and the Christmas Tree

Taj_9754, originally uploaded by Art By Michelle.

Woot! Arn't my family great - they're building a tree in the lounge room just for me AND it has sparkly tugs toys hanging from it!

Yeah - I am LOVED!