12-16-09
Acton
After a two week break so Stevie could get spayed (went fine) and x-rayed (mild dysplasia in left hip). 
MO:
Awesome awesome awesome. In the arena with three sheep, at least one of them a wooly, she tore ass and herded like a Cattle Dog with panache. The greatest moment was taking all three off the fence right by the gate to the sheep corral which should be called sticky city, and MO is the goo gone. She stuck on them and got all three off the fence, then made a nice gather and brought them back to the handler. Eventually we’ll work on getting her to take some time, but since she was going so good we just let her keep at them and she ended up chasing them all over the ring. Took a few to some many, ran them through a small chute between a panel and a fence, and used very little gripping to get the job done.
Stevie:
She did her usual high quality stuff, even kept up a good run most of the time, still cheated a bit on the away side but took the corrections like a champ and did great on practicing moving sheep through a chute and taking them off the fence. We’re getting to know her better and it seems like she’s getting to know us too. Sometimes she has a real goofy face and seems real happy, not 100% serious Stevie anymore.
While she was out for surgery recovery it rained a lot and she started showing a lot more interest in playing around like a dog. The best example is a long hike above Encino where she sprinted all over the place, running far ahead of us and then running back to gather us up and looking like a super happy pup the whole time.
Unfortunately she has some kind of stomach virus and has been projectile pooping green liquid, so her runs got in the way of her runs. We took her to the vet on the way home and she got car sick then had a time on the examination table which seemed to give her vertigo or something because after dumping another liquid load she barfed all over the reception area linoleum.
instead of getting distracted, today MO awesome awesome awesome took a break in the first run to spit out the clod of wool she was chewing on (from the famed “mohawk woolie”) and during the second run the handler put her back on the leash and walked her toward the sheep, where upon MO immediately regained focus and took off and hung tight.
note: the reception area linoleum has a lip right by the desk to prevent overflow of such liquids. unfortunately Stevie’s barf was so strong it rolled up and over this lip. little notice was paid to this from the receptionists, thank goodness.
and let’s not forgot Stevie chased MO 2 laps around the side porch this evening. she’s well on her way to puphood.