Nesta's Lion of Zion

Zipline K9

2011-01-12T15:10:00.004-05:00

Dog Days of Summer

2010-09-08T13:26:00.001-04:00

Nesta & Friends:

Ember

2010-08-26T22:20:00.003-04:00

Fare thee well friend. May you be chasing your pink ball and finding lost friends forever. Greater Philly SAR has lost one of our finest. Beautiful girl.

Water Training

2010-08-23T09:02:00.003-04:00

Water training with dogs. The dogs of SAR need to know how to ride in a boat. Nicely. Without yelping. They need to learn to focus and sniff. And alert on the scents. Canines can smell a victim under water. 12 feet down. Currents carry scent and vapors and gasses rise to the top in minute bubbles. Our dogs can locate the bubbles.
Water rescue however often involves ropes and buoys. And not dogs. Today they had to wait riverside while we practiced throwing rope bags and self rescue in rapids. The Shepherds of the group sang and protested their imprisonment on the banks. "Hey! Let me off this rope! How will I save you? Clearly, you are stuck in the rapids and need my help." Some of the dogs sat nicely and just watched. Guess which kind I have?

Nesta video

2010-07-30T09:34:00.003-04:00

Fire Island National Park

2010-07-23T09:26:00.003-04:00

Have dog. Will travel. We seek destinations based on their dog policies. Most campgrounds allow dogs but there are often breed restrictions or the canine variety is relegated to a funky, mosquito ridden corner in the back near the trash. Not on Fire Island. If you find the aroma of "Deep Woods Off" intoxicating, and feel that a sandy sleeping bag is just part of the adventure- head to Fire Island National Park. An island off of Long Island, Fire Island is only accesable by boat. No cars. No roads. Just beach, bay, boardwalk, and some deer. (Not sure how the deer got there. Boogie Board?) Dogs are allowed. Even on the sprawling white sand beach. Free to chase waves. Run wth the wind. And nap in the shade. There are a few restaurants, a camp store, and flushing potties. Go. Take your dog. Bring Off and a good tarp.

Harrisburg Fire Expo

2010-06-29T16:55:00.000-04:00

SAR Team Photos

2010-05-27T14:18:00.003-04:00

Nesta & Spike take a fiver

Me & Magenta waiting for our assignment
Nesta greets a little boy
Team taking five on the hill
Me & my boy

Camping

2010-04-07T15:07:00.002-04:00

To do list:
Dig in sand.
Chase waves.
Roll in fish guts.
Learn to unzip tent.
Cozy up on beach blanket while sandy and wet.
Enjoy campfire food.
Find sticks.
Sleep hard at night.

Post find reward- ball on a rope- Heaven

2010-02-14T16:37:00.000-05:00

Big guy blogs

2010-02-04T18:21:00.003-05:00

Must sit with kids. I love to ride in the Jeep. I wish the top was off though- my ears hit the roof. There is a space in the back that smells like Search & Rescue but I can't see where we are going from there. What if I need to help with directions? Everybody knows that GPS is only so accurate. I know exactly when we are close to the destination- regardless of whether I've been there before. I let everyone know by speaking in a soft voice. (sorta) I heart the Jeep.

Tattoo

2010-02-03T12:48:00.001-05:00

Nesta's pawprint on Me & Profile on Him. Love me a dog.

Warba

2010-01-29T15:20:00.001-05:00

Nesta's Lion Daddy-Warba. Photo courtesy of another Shiloh owner hoping to use Warba's "puppy making skills".

Nesta wants a lion.

2010-01-04T11:13:00.003-05:00

I'd like a lion. Baby lion in fact. Nesta agrees. Turns out, there are baby lions for sale on the internets. http://www.sell.com/247NKF. $3.00? Really? Oh, and they are friendly. Well then- send me 2. It's got to be legit right?

After reading, A Wolf in the Parlor, I have a better grasp on why dogs and humans need each other but how come we as a species never got closer to big cats? Geography? Was it a size thing? Cause I just read Marley the Christian the Lion picture book and there are stunning images of a baby lion. A baby lion that has the same soul piercing eyes as my Nesta dog. Maybe I could just lionsit somebody else's baby lion....If you are in need- let me know!

SNOW

2009-12-21T22:34:00.003-05:00

I know a dog that luhhhvs the snow. The same dog also feels that children on sleds need to be rescued.

2009-12-03T08:10:00.000-05:00

Can't hide from nose of a dog.

2009-11-30T20:08:00.002-05:00

I had done a bit of Christmas shopping, and hid a bag of goodies in the cabinet of my laundry room. Included, was a new toy for Nesta. Dog toys must come with a special "dog" scent. Nesta found the cabinet, opened it, and stole his toy. My favorite part is when he nudges the door so it won't shut on his head. A Shiloh being a Shiloh...

Almondine, Forte, Tinder, Baboo, and Essay

2009-11-09T12:57:00.002-05:00

Having just finished The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, I just must simply blog about it. Nesta can chime in anytime. For me, it was one of those books that changes us. We can all agree that I am one of those weird dog people. (Clearly with too much time on my hands) But this book will touch you even if you are "a cat person". And hey- it's an Oprah book. I somehow missed the hype with Oprah and would like to hear the comments of the masses in a 10th grade Lit class style forum. I shall google it later.
Spoiler alert: Don't read on if you haven't read it.
I cried when Edgar found Almondine's grave. No correction- I sobbed. I sat nervous and upright while Edgar tried to find the glass bottle. I wanted to kick Claude. I wanted to sleep in the woods with Tinder, Baboo, and Essay. And as a good catholic school girl, I also have to wonder about the symbolism, foreshadowing, and appearance of characters. Why did Edgar take Tinder, Baboo, and Essay into the woods? Why not Opal? What was the significance of engine 1655?
Can humans create a more evolved dog? Or is it us that require a touch more evolution? Does Nesta really have the ability to make choices? Is he a happy dog or would he rather be foraging for turtle eggs?

Ball

2009-11-01T20:48:00.003-05:00

Jumble

2009-10-22T08:02:00.005-04:00

Jumble Thoughts:

1. Nesta and I went to a dog park today. Never again. Nesta hid by my side and wanted nothing to do with romping and chasing-only leaving my side to greet some human women. (Loves the ladies) While Nesta laid at my feet, a pitbull approached, lunged and attacked Nesta. In a tizzy, I grabbed the dog by his neck and threw him off my baby. The pit scratched my face drawing blood. With blood running down my face, I grabbed Nesta and rolled. Kind people around tried to help. Nobody copped to the aggressive dog. Loser dog owner. No more dog parks for us.

2. In the year that I've had Nesta, never ever have I seen him show aggression. He has not once beared his teeth and I've never even heard him growl. (And Lord knows, we spend a lot of time together.) He has met plenty of dogs that were not as gentle, been attacked twice. Not even so much as a snarl or a nip. Such a lover.

3. Shepherds just know. Why are Shepherds so attracted to each other? There must be a sacred secret Shepherd bond. While Nesta is not adverse to playing with all dogs, he will select another Shepherd (even a Shepherd mix) to befriend. At the dog show, Nesta knew exactly that Pete and Molly were kin. He only watched Shepherds- Both GSD and Shiloh. There are of course several Shepherds at Search & Rescue. They sit together. They chase together. They bark together. I know another Shiloh that will only play with Nesta. (Refuses to run with his lab brother.) Maybe it's the ears. Maybe it's the smarts...

4. Too many scary movies. As I sat in the October night, hiding for Spence last night, it became painfully clear to me that I have watched too many scary movies. Alone in a corn field (next to an insane asylum) with no radio, flash light, or phone- I was convinced that Malakai from Children of the Corn was sending his minions to collect me. Thought I saw Jason and Michael Myers lurking behind a tree. Swore I heard Raegen and Damian chanting in the distance. I armed myself with a large pile of green walnuts. Nothing says "Stay away evil doers!" like hurling a walnut. Thank goodness Spence is so good at his job. Relief came with that working dog jingle bell and the panting of a happy K9! Love that Spence boy.

Things in the woods

2009-10-17T16:06:00.002-04:00

Most of our searches include woods and parks. Paths not often traveled. Secluded areas in which others could hide. Nesta and I have yet to stumble upon a victim but have however tripped over many odd treasures:
Tons of beer bottles and cans. Never the good stuff. It seems that those that drink in the woods prefer Natty Light and forget to bring their recycling container to the party.
Lots of underwear. Yes. Underpants. Only Men's undies though. I have encountered so many pairs of discarded undies that I'm starting to wonder how many people started the day off with underpants and ended the day commando. Gentlemen-What kind of scenario includes taking your underpants off in the woods and not putting them back on? Are they an offering to the woodland creatures? A personal statement of freedom?
Prescription medicine. Specifically antipsychotic drugs. Major stuff. Somehow the patients at Norristown must be escaping and ditching their meds (and underpants) in the woods. Baffles me.
Porn. Yup. Several titles in fact. Maybe the viewer just didn't like the acting.
All of these "teasures" together paint a rather illicit picture of the woods in Eastern PA. No wonder the deer stare at humans with wide eyes.
Let's all hope that if an alien culture ever lands on Earth- they don't start in the woods.

Sunday Search

2009-10-05T08:56:00.004-04:00

WARNING. ADULT CONTENT. SENSITIVE MATERIAL.

Nesta and I have joined a Search and Rescue Team. http://www.gpsar.org/index1.html. I have been training for 2 months- twice a week, sometimes +30 hours a week. After proving that I was indeed committed, Nesta was finally invited to train with me. The team often trains at Norristown State Hospital. (A mental institution built circa 1880 consisting of 26 brick buildings all connected underground by tunnels.) I feel protected with the numerous K9's, but get creeped out when the sunsets. I'm still waiting for an escape ghost patient to breath down my neck. All of this leads me to our tasks. Should somebody become lost for what ever reason, the local authorities call GPSAR. We descend on the scene, K9's in tow. Equipped with tools and know how to find a missing person in an orderly and professional manner.

Sunday, we were to train at Fort Washington State Park, but a call came in for a missing man along the banks of Darby Creek. A young man had been out at night partying with some family and some how fallen in the creek. The evening's events included drugs, drinking and some bad decisions. GPSAR arrived at the scene ready to search. Some of the handlers went out on the boats with their dogs while others worked the banks. When I saw the firefighters getting the rescue basket, I knew he'd been found. Dead. My heart sank and the adrenaline which had been surging though my blood turned to fear. I didn't want to see a dead person. But I knew I'd have to face it and learn the procedures of body recovery. A sad part of the job. We walked to the bank of the creek. I followed behind, slinking between the trees and team members, hoping that maybe the task would already be taken care of before I got there. Nope. I watched as they pulled this young man from the river. I suppose that rescue workers have to learn to accept the sight a dead body. This young man had made some bad decisions and now was gone. Life snuffed out. A tragedy for the family. If anything, it was a hard lesson about the gift of life for me. A moment to slow down. Be thankful for everything and moment that we get and-If anybody finds themselves lost or looking, GPSAR will be there to search.

Tattle Tail

2009-09-12T18:16:00.003-04:00

Today we did NOT pass our AKC Canine Good Citizen Test. So is Nesta not a good citizen? Perhaps he could better be described as an enthusiastic citizen with a zest for friends. The test consists of the following 10 tasks:

1. Accepting a friendly stranger. The evaluator approaches, shakes hands with the handler. The dog must sit politely and not break position to greet/touch the evaluator.

(We started off on the wrong paw from the start. Nesta got up to greet the evaluator.)

2. Sitting politely for petting. The evaluator pets the dog, the dog may not show any shyness or resentment. (Pass- done perfectly. No shyness here.)

3. Appearance and Grooming. Evaluator inspects the dog, combs and brushes, checks paws and teeth. (Pass- Clean, handsome boy loves attention)

4. Out for a walk. Handler takes dog for a walk including, right, left, turn about, and stop.

(Pass- Obey the leash)

5. Walking through a crowd. Dog and handler walk close to several people, dog may show casual interest but no lunging/jumping.

(Pass- What people? There's dogs here somewhere.)

6. Sit, Down, Stay commands. (Pass- duh)

7. Coming when called. (Pass- Who me? )

8. Reaction to another dog. Two handlers and dogs approach each other from a distance, shake hands, exchange pleasantries, move on. Dog shall not cross in front or show more than casual interest. (Fail- Nesta leapt and lunged to meet the other dog. He cried and whined. I could feel the judgemental stares from the other good dogs)

9. Reaction to distraction. Dog may not panic or show aggression. Open umbrellas, dropped bowls, etc. (Pass- Nesta's no fraidy cat.)

10. Supervised separation. Handler goes out of sight for 3 minutes while the dog waits with the evaluator. Dog may not show distress. (Pass- this is the one we worked on the most. I was sure he'd yelp and cry when I walked away. We whimpered a bit but sat with the evaluator - must have been all tuckered out from the greeting dogs incident)

All of the above are done on leash with a flat collar. No treats. No toys. Just expected to behave. Which brings me to the tattle tail part. I watched a man give his Corgie several treats during the test. Not allowed! I sat silently. The evaluators must have missed it. The blog has become my means to tell on the man with his Corgie. And know what else? When a Corgie shows "more than casual interest", it's not as obvious as when my big giant boy shows more than casual interest. I mean those dogs are barely off the ground. Is it even in a sit? Who knows. Just bitter. We promise to work harder on greeting politely.

Tall Dark & Handsome

2009-08-31T08:35:00.003-04:00

SPSM seeks SFSF:

Single, plush, Shiloh male seeks Single, friendly Shiloh female for companionship. 13 month old ISSR Shiloh:

Hips- OFA prelim GOOD

Elbows- OFA pass

Heart- OFA GOOD

30" tall 82 lbs.

SAR K9 in training

Enjoys walks in the park, sitting in the back of the jeep with the top down, organic turkey dinners, and listening. Your place or mine?

Hit me up ladies! Let's make puppies.

the importance of being camera ready

2009-08-03T11:54:00.002-04:00

Good friends of ours live down the road on a beautiful property. Included on this property is an amazing pool with an 85 foot water slide. Nesta's BFF, Maya is the resident dog, so we are often found carrying on and lounging poolside with dogs. Maya swims in the pools, pond, and creek. Nesta prefers the baby pool and pond. And now- the water slide. The children had gone up to the top of the slide, mats in tow. Nesta, curious, followed. "Do you think he'll go down that slide?" "Nah, he might run along it." WRONG! The children flew down the slide wildly screaming and laughing. Next I saw a doggy head at the top, and then just ears careening down the massive slide. With a large Plunk, Nesta ended in the pool. Giant Shiloh does water slides. Where's my camera now?

Happy 1st Birthday!

2009-07-21T19:49:00.003-04:00

Happy 1st Birthday to my puppywuppy and his 3 brothers. (Especially Piston) My sweet sweet Nesta Lion of Zion.

I heart Maryland

2009-07-06T13:17:00.004-04:00

Charlestown, Maryland is a wonderful well kept secret. It is an hour and 15 minutes from our house- and there's no traffic. (Except for the occasional slow moving farm tractors) Dogs are everywhere. One can bring the dog to dinner at the Wellwood and the River Shack. Waitresses will bring water and biscuits for the canine guests. Charlestown Marina boasts over 20 dogs and 300 boats. The Poor Man's Flats has enough beach for every dog to frolic. There is however no WiFi....which is why Nesta hasn't been blogging. But really, shouldn't summer time be spent outdoors? Chasing waves and frisbees?

In the summertime

2009-06-02T21:02:00.002-04:00

I've been totally slackin' on the doggy bloggin'! But mother nature has finally come around and granted green trees and blooming flowers. Nesta is huge. And sweet. Beyond intelligent. My boo boo. Hims so handsome. (Even after a good swim)

Snuggle Fresh

2009-04-14T18:05:00.003-04:00

Nesta carried a towel around with him all day. Every time I'd take it- He'd find it. He rolled on it. (in the same manner that he rolls in deer poo) He shook it. He chased it. He slept on it. Normally, I'd think he was just being spiteful because I had too much house work to play. A dog toting a towel- not that odd. But...this particular towel is covered in fabric softener. I spilled a cup full earlier in the morning. Why on earth has my fuzzy boy taken to this snuggle fresh towel?

The adventures of Timbee and Tirbee

2009-04-10T17:50:00.003-04:00

It is with a heavy heart that I blog today. Timber, a GSD close to my heart is gone. She died last night. It came swiftly, but she had 12 wonderful years on Earth. Timber was Janet's dog. (or as I like to calll her- Jane) We both got our GSD's when we were young and had no responsibilities. They were our first babies. Tirowa and Timber grew up together- and in turn, watched us grow up. Babies came home and their yards got bigger and bigger. We had nicknames like Cafe Snack and Timbylu for them. We all know that our time with these animals is short but the love grows so much that we want to hold on to them forever. The loss is profound.
Timber was a beautiful girl. A devoted gaurdian and friend (unless you wore a fedex uniform). She would trot into the kitchen at 4 o' clock to ask for a biscuit. She'd hide in the tub if she was naughty. She claimed all the children as "hers". A sweet sweet doggy.
I imagine that when Timber opened her eyes in heaven, Tirowa was running towards her through a field. Reunited. I'm sure there was leaping and squeaking, and lots of kisses.
So tonight, I'm giving Nesta extra biscuits and lots of hugs in honor of Timber. Love you Timbee!

Sticks

2009-04-08T08:10:00.002-04:00

no bones in the house

2009-03-28T22:13:00.002-04:00

Nesta loves a gnarly raw meat bone. I do not. I try to keep him in the kitchen whilst enjoying a bone. The thought of raw meat on my floors makes me gag a little. Somehow, the kitchen just doesn't have enough hiding places. (Cause somebody might just come and take that nasty bone) Nesta has hidden his bone in various unacceptable places including but not limited to: my potted plants, child's backpack, inside a boot, in the shower, in the tub, under my couch cushions and in a basket of fresh laundry. I do get a kick out of watching him try to be stealthy in his "secret" hiding of the treasure. "Oh look, I'll just cover my bone up with a pillow and nobody will find it." After our last incident in which I found his bone in the potty, there are no more bones in the house. Period. Outside bones only. Too bad if a rogue kitty finds it. And stay out of the mulch! My silly silly boy.

The sun is shining

2009-03-17T15:38:00.002-04:00

Today was a beautiful day. The kind of day I yearn for during the cold and miserable days of February. We spent the entire day outdoors, raking, and mulching, and raking some more. You see- we have land lots 'o land. (Well in terms of Chester County anyway) Said land takes lots of work. We cut back the prickers and brush each year and light a low burning fire to eliminate the rascally prickers. Nesta booboo of course by my side to lend a paw. If I spread mulch- Nesta rolls in it. If I dig a hole- Nesta digs a hole. He stood between the fire and my little one- ushering her away from the flame. As if to say "No little one, you musn't get too close." And now as I blog away on his behalf, he snoozes in his bed. Wiped out from a big day of carrying sticks and spreading mulch. I love this dog.

Smart boy

2009-03-10T18:58:00.003-04:00

I take Nesta for off-leash walks at a local park. There are trails, a stream, playground, and plenty of room to roam. We were walking the other day-taking in a little fresh spring air, sniffing fresh deer poo, and frolicking in the mud . Out of no where-there was a man standing alone by a tree. A little odd. No picnic basket, no dog, just a dude behind a tree looking nervous. Nesta noticed him and began to bark. Not a little puppy bark, but a "If you come any closer, I'm gonna rip out your jugular" bark. I had never seen him act this way. Nesta loves everybody and everything. He doesn't even bark at the UPS man. Never met a person he didn't love. Except this guy.
On our way home, I remebered that there had been a rash of flasher incidents at that very park. Did Nesta find the flasher???? Was he just defending my honor? The local flasher won't be showing us any of his bits and pieces!

Baby has a booboo

2009-03-03T12:50:00.002-05:00

Nesta booboo puppy wuppy pants has Pano. http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/depano.html

It's like growing pains for BIG puppies. Dr. Latta confirmed it today. Poor baby. He's been limping around for a few days. Crying at night. Not interested in playing. My little muffin should be backto himself soon though. Got some medicine and supplements. Grand total- $41.00! I LOVE OUR VET!

Call Caesar

2009-02-24T10:28:00.004-05:00

The other day, I was going on and on about how good my Nesta is. I should know better. It's very similar to children. My first born was a delightful toddler. Listened, smiled, and never dreamt of telling me "NO". I would see a mother trying to reign in her tantruming toddler and shake my head and think to myself "Hmmm. Somebody needs to read up on child rearing". Because I clearly had a handle on my own little darling. That was until I had baby number two.

She is lucky that she's cute. Now I am THAT mother- with the child wearing rainboots and a tutu in the GAP. Perhaps a lollipop stuck in the hair and doing snow angels in a pile of tshirts she has just thrown on the floor. I often feared that somebody would call Super Nanny on my ass.

Now, after our AM vet visit, somebody might be calling Caesar on my ass. Nesta was a holy terror at Dr. Latta's. First, we arrived on the wrong day. But they were kind enough to give us the appointment anyway. As I sat on the bench waiting, Nesta cried and flailed. The poor little pug next to us was terrified by my 75 pound beast. The nurse ushered us into a room where Nesta continued to leap and cry- over and over. He jumped on the door, he licked the face of our vet and refused to get on the scale. The behavior continued for the whole time. Leaping and jumping, making me look like a bad Alpha leader. I finally coaxed him back into the car (not without drawing dirty looks) and we sped off. Ughhh. Naughty boy. Leave it to your kids and dog to make a liar out of you.

But alas, I shall soldier on. Naughty children and dogs included.

Custom doggy bed

2009-02-20T10:55:00.002-05:00

I made Nesta a new bed in anticipation of his arrival. I used the finest velvet and even made a Burberry welting. The inside is stuffed with memory foam. I thought he'd cherish it. Wrong. He opened the bed, pulled out the inside, and ate the foam. In addition, Mr. Nesta has already outgrown the 40 inch bed! 7 months- 74 lbs. and 27 inches.

Pssst.

2009-02-16T11:43:00.001-05:00

Come closer, I have something to tell you.

Cupid draw back your bow!

2009-02-09T15:28:00.001-05:00

Be my Valentine!

Changing Shiloh Colors

2009-02-08T08:33:00.003-05:00

These are my baby pictures. I was such a little fluff ball! My colors have run the spectrum. I've settled on lots of black with a deep brown undercoat and some white/gray on my chest. I was 17 pounds at 9 weeks. I gain 16-18 pounds a month. A good meal includes my kibble (Eagle Pak Holistic- giant puppy, yogurt, chicken, carrots, and cottage cheese).

Grizzly Shiloh Pup.

2009-02-04T09:33:00.002-05:00

Grizzly bear or Shiloh Puppy?

6 months old. 67 pounds. 26 inches.

Dog Poo

2009-01-29T15:33:00.002-05:00

There are crazy people out there that are WAY too into their pet. You know, they talk to them, act like the dog is human, write blogs about them- OK, I have come to terms that perhaps I am one of them. This story is for them.
It snowed last night and then rained on top, leaving a solid sheet of ice. A white winter wonderland in my yard. Good for looking, and maybe some daring sledding, but no good for walking (even with for legs). So I let Nesta out this morning and admired the shimmering sunrise over the valley. Pink and orange blanketed my yard. Nesta slipped immediately, but then proceeded to walk gingerly across the snow/ice to his favorite hillside poop spot. He assumed the doggy poop position and began his business. As he went about things, his back legs started to spread apart. To compensate, he lurched forward- sending him in a four legged sprawl down the icey slope paws out face down. It was hilarious! Thoroughly embarrassed, Nesta made his way back to the house leaving a pile of dog poo behind. My beautiful winter wonderland now with one pile of doggy poo in the middle.

E-A-G-L-E-S!

2009-01-18T13:15:00.002-05:00

2009-01-16T12:04:00.002-05:00

This was posted on The ISSR Shiloh Shepherd Forum and I just love it!

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Invisible Fence

2009-01-14T11:27:00.002-05:00

The decision was clear. We had to get an invisible fence for Mr. Nesta. An intelligent dog with emotions not unlike a human, Nesta kept running off into the woods. No temptation of biscuits, nor cheese would lure him back until HE had had enough and felt like returning.

We purchased a top of the line fence on Ebay (LOVE EBAY) from a pet supplier. The install was all on us. To be exact, me. I waited for the ground to thaw a smidge and began my day with a trip to Total Rental. The fellas at Total Rental were funny and helpful, even though they had little faith in me that I would be able to tackle the beast of a machine. But my resolve and determination would ensure that the trench would be dug that day.

The first machine pooped out on me after 3 feet of trenching. I thought that I broke the machine, cursed, and loaded it back in the car (with the help of dear old dad). Back to Total Rental.

The new machine was LARGER and more POWERFUL. Mmmmm, power tools. I found myself fighting and digging my heels in the dirt to maneuver the new beast over rocks and through the mud. My learning curve with the machine was short. I figured out how to finesse the 200 lb. steal beast and dig the 1"x 4" trench required for the cable. My victory felt great! I didn't care that the moon was rising and the temperatures were dropping. I had an invisible fence to install! (890 feet of it)

Seth made the connections and hooked the wires into the house. A success. Now Nesta would have to learn his boundaries. I put up exta flags to mark the boundary. We were now ready to show Mr. Nesta his new fence.

For two days we kept the settings on beep only. (no shock) I thought that Nesta was beginning to understand that he should turn about when he heard the beep. That was not the case. I felt a lump in my throat, turning on the shock. As we walked the perimeter, he stayed close- until he saw a rogue leaf blowing in the wind. He crossed the line- YELP!!!! Oh boy did it shock him! I felt terrible- but still a giggle surfaced. Lets just say that Nesta wants NOTHING to do with white flags or beeping noises. My fluffy boy has zero desire to take off into the woods. Hope it lasts!

Top Ten Reasons I Love My Shiloh:

2009-01-05T09:07:00.001-05:00

10. The way my dog loves to give me a kiss right after drinking out of the toilet.

9. You can always blame the dog for flatulence.

8. Puppy Breath.

7. I no longer need an alarm clock to tell me when the sun rises.

8. When I step out of the shower, he is there to act as my personal bathmat.

6. A recycled use for all those plastic bags- pooper picker upper.

5. Nesta's uncanny ability to unroll an entire roll of toilet paper in record time.

4. The smell of puppy paws. It sends out endorphins just like the smell of a baby. A little like popcorn.

3. How can I take myself too seriously when my dog is so funny?

2. The good kharma bestowed on humans for loving and caring for an animal.

1. He loves me even when my breath is stinky and my hair is a mess!

Shiloh Party!

2009-01-03T15:50:00.002-05:00

Kona graciously invited Nesta for some Shiloh fun. Beautiful Kona showed Nesta that she is the queen and Nesta agreed! Then as if we could have anymore good looking dogs together- Maya the neighbor Shiloh came out to play with Nanook a gorgeuos GSD!

2009-01-03T15:33:00.003-05:00

Years ago, we lived across the street from beautiful Everheart Park in West Chester. Our family was growing and we moved away to a bigger home with more land but often thought fondly of our little house in town.

One day at a playground, we ran into a family that had 2 dogs that often walked and played at Everheart with us. Oddly enough they now live a mile away from us- all the way out here in the country! Small world. Tirowa and Duke have passed away but Daisy and Nesta get to hang out. Daisy is a large GSD mix with some arthritis, so we decided to take the dogs swimming at a local dog pool. It was an interesting experience....Nesta has asked that we NOT return. He also asked that I not say anything bad about the owner of said pool. He is after all a gentleman. Nesta would however like to see Daisy again on dryer terms.

Puppy in a swing.

2008-12-30T12:21:00.000-05:00

2008

2008-12-29T07:32:00.006-05:00

Tirowa has been gone for 4 months. I still cry for him. Probably always will. He was my special boy for 13 years. Tirowa was there from the begining. He was part of everything that Seth and I had become. He was there for the dreadlocks and the van. He had been by our side while we built our house and put both kids on the school bus for the first time. We camped together, snowboarded, swam, hiked, and spent the summer on the boat together. My special special guy.

Nesta can not replace him. But Netsa can have his own place in my heart. He is my little (well giant) love monkey. A mama's boy through and through. And naughty! Knows a handful of clever tricks, but thinks nothing of sneaking into the dining room to poop on my floor. This morning I wanted to sleep past sunrise, Netsa was having no part of that. He wriggled in between Marley and me to lick and paw my face. "Good Morning!!! I slept all night. Time to get up!" My special boy.

Lots of our friends and family are having babies or getting married. I am doing neither of those things. But I have a puppy! Do you want see pictures??? He's 5 months old!!!

All in all a great year. Filled with great memories. I am a lucky girl.

The Earl of Danbury

2008-12-14T14:21:00.004-05:00

Earl made his way hillside last evening. Nesta hid from the enormous vicious baby for a good hour. My 45 pound fluff monster was affraid of 4 pound Earl. Eventually Nesta enjoyed Earl's company. Love that little Earl!

Naughty or Nice?

2008-12-12T08:14:00.002-05:00

Do you think Santa will bring a great big jolly ball or leave you high and dry with a lump of coal?

Bath time

2008-12-11T16:14:00.002-05:00

Nesta's 2nd OB class is tonight. He can't wait to show Gene how well he does with the new tricks. In order to look dapper, Nesta requested a bath- in the big tub- with the special puppy soap....

How to properly teach your humans

2008-12-05T11:09:00.002-05:00

1. Learn quickly where your biscuits are kept. Sometimes your humans may forget and you will have to remind them by sitting nearby for extended periods of time while staring intently in the direction of the biscuits.

2. The little humans are FASCINATING! They drop morsels all day. It's best to follow them closely. Everything in their room requires further exploration. Feel free to take tiny playmobils and dolls back to your crate for observation. They won't even know that the items are missing.

3. The puppy in the mirror is naughty. He barks and jumps for no reason. That puppy is allowed in the people bed, and thinks nothing of stealing shoes and blaming you. Get a handle on him before he gets too big. Bark and lunge like you mean it.

4. Teaching the humans a sit stay is simple. While they are in a sitting position, flop down on top of them. This renders them incapable of getting off the couch. Repeat as necessary.

5. "Look at me" is another easy trick. If the humans seem to be distracted with cooking or cleaning, simply say "Look at me" by running (at a moderate speed) into the back of their legs. If they still insist on not listening, you may wrap your right leg around their right leg near the ankle. They may stumble but will certainly look at you afterwards. Praise them with a kiss or roll your ball towards them.

2008-11-25T08:49:00.003-05:00

Nesta had his first puppy date! He has friends that he visits (Shout out to Frank and Casey!) but he had a Black GSD puppy named Maya all to himself on his turf. They romped and rolled and ate some mulch together before flopping over on the floor for a spell. It was just too cute. I'm thankful for lots of things, and most certainly thankful for dogs!

Dog Devotion

2008-11-20T22:45:00.002-05:00

I have never been able to understand people that are not "dog people". Perhaps it is unfair of me to categorize people based on whether they think dog feet smell delightful or not. But I for one, can't imagine going through life without the thud of a happy tail, or the howling laughter of my children during a game of catch the puppy. Not to mention the prance of a dog that has just unearthed a stolen treasure or the trusting, devoted look in your canine friend's eyes. (even while wearing a tutu and socks) I dare one of these nonbelievers to watch a puppy pounce on an unruley leaf blowing through the yard- and not be hopelessly devoted.

Nesta's Lion of Zion

2008-11-14T12:38:00.003-05:00

After the death of our beloved GSD, I could not be home all alone and dogless. After many searches I found New Zion Shilohs. Tina Barber had some male pups and I made the 6 hour journey to New York. There were two pups for me to choose from. I chose green collar boy. I think Tina had a special love for him and his stubborness. With puppy in hand we headed home-Nesta's Lion of Zion and me.

Where in the world did the name Nesta come from? It's Bob Marley's middle name. What can I say.... Me love reggae music, mon.

Now, 3.5 moths old, one ear up, and twice the weight, our Nesta is a lover. It warms my heart when he trots over with a toy and flops down in my lap. A traveling boy, he LOVES to ride in the car to pick up the kids. (Which he just can't get enough of)

My heart is healing thanks to Nesta! My Lion of Zion.

Before Nesta

2008-11-14T08:50:00.000-05:00

I spent the last few weeks carrying my German Shepherd up the stairs at night. I couldn’t bear the thought of him waking in the night alone. He would surely try to climb the stairs to be with his people. He would fall, and be dishonored by his defeat. My once heroic dog was reduced to a frail body riddled with cancer. However, his downy white coat covered the protruding bones with velvety softness.
On our last full night together, I slept downstairs on the floor with him. His breathing so labored, I worried he might not make it through the night. A part of me wished he would just go quietly that night so that I would not be faced with the task of driving him to the vet. I had spoken to our vet the day before. They had special hours set aside for when we humans have to undertake the inevitable last step in our furry companions’ lives. I had been patiently waiting for some sort of sign from Tirowa- that he no longer wanted to go on. But that sign was not going to come without horrific suffering on his part. Tirowa just wanted to be by my side silently and adoringly. It was now my job to be strong. I knew that my beast of a boy hated the vet’s office. He would shake and cry in the waiting room, and climb in my lap when Dr. Latta entered the room. He refused her biscuits. But Dr. Latta had taken care of my boy for the last 12 years with kindness that one does not often see. She rushed in after hours to stitch his wounds with just me for an assistant. And now, Tirowa and I would be making the journey to West Chester one last time.
There were two conversations I was trying to avoid almost as much as the evening’s appointment. I would have to call Seth in Cooprestown and tell him. And I would have to tell my girls. I thought about trying to shield them from the pain. Take the dog after they went to bed. But I recalled my own childhood emotions when faced with loss . I always felt guilt for not saying good bye properly. So this I granted them. Kaya to her long time guardian and Marley to her playmate. They took it harder than I had imagined but Seth was strong for us- trying to gently calm the sadness.
On the drive to Dr. Latta’s, I pulled over in a quiet park. I sat in the back of the jeep with Tirowa- listening to music. I wanted to stay there, in the dark and peace, soaking up the sweet scent of his puppy feet for one more song. Don’t we always want just one more song?
He died in my arms. Beautiful and loyal to the absolute end. Fare thee well my doggy….

Not so savy

2008-11-04T14:46:00.000-05:00

I have no idea how this works....but I am determined to figure it out.