A Cowdogs Advice

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cowdog traits

How a Heeler Can Mortify His People

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Most years, outside work slows down by this time of year.

 

But this year, we’ve had record-breaking warmth and keep doing all we can out there.   

 

I can still lay in the sun, though it is not quite as warm. But too long is not a good thing.

 

 

Leave a Heeler idle too long, and we can sure think up trouble.

 

 

Just this week I was lazing in the sun, watching the boss work in her limping, lurching, old-person manner,

smiling at the sight.

 

 

And – completely unintentional I assure you – my mind began to think of ways a good dog can embarrass the boss. Or maybe cause a touch of frustration and wonder, at least.

 

 

 

For us cowdogs, being too smart, too observant, too used to bossing the boss – it is ridiculously easy of course.     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our loyalty, love and dedication usually keep that in check.

 

 

But laying here, eyes closed, absorbing the sun – I let my crafty cowdog mind wander into dark territory!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a Reddie Rose list of embarrassing cowdog actions:

 

 

 

 

Staring – a good Heeler can bring down anyone with this.   

 

Very vocal fluent dingo – leave the human puzzling to figure it out, or responding with their own attempt at dog howls!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorites is to bark urgently, not just at a strangers arrival – but when they head for their car too. Now that confounds them all!

 

 

 

My predecessor, Ladysmith, had perfected the art of riding agreeably in the truck, then suddenly erupting in a snarling rage – when she saw a dog. This works best if the driver did not notice the innocent canine – the reaction is so much better.

 

And what you can’t see here, is the neatly chewed door – yup, she did that too!

 

I have been known to pass gas and clear a room.

 

 

 

When I lay down, the boss answers questions about the broken dog.

 

 

I will bark, yap, stare and bring toys if my boss sits down in the evening to relax. It is the best time to focus on the dog!

 

 

 

At times, I admit to darting in front or drifting out of my lane, being a furry trip-hazard, or perhaps requiring fast braking on the four-wheeler.

 

 

I leave a lot of hair on the couch, truck seat and any clothes I can. The boss has spent time picking hair off, before going out in public, and travels with hair removal tools. It rarely helps – Heeler hair wins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a happy and grateful rescue dog, I truly love my home and family. I really don’t plan and plot humiliation or trouble. Seems like sometimes it just happens to be where I am! After I think of my arsenal of embarrassment tools, then I make another list of all the ways I am such a joy and blessing around here.

 

 

And that is the one I work on the most.

 

And let us consider how to spur one another to love and good works.  Hebrews 10:24

5 Top Cowdog Traits, plus Heeler Favorites

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I am so busy this week! Mom has me helping with cutting those nasty thistles [ I usually set her out on the task, then head for some shade and supervise from there], canning [Blubarb and Zucchini Jam this week], the ongoing saga of cleaning, sorting, throwing, selling, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to say, my cowdog mind usually runs too fast to be contained in lists. But once in awhile, I like to order things this way to keep routine and direction.  Lists, charts, tallys, and maps can do that. 

 

 

 

 

 

The great Ladysmith was better than I at such organization; I lean toward bearing teeth, barking, nipping, and heeling! So I’ll look to her wisdom and try to further develop my stellar cowdog charecteristics.

I do find it gets easier the older I get! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a Heeler’s list  of 5 top cowdog traits,  plus a few you may find a bit less so!

 

Working dogs have many great characteristics of course. We cowdogs in particular have some that teeter a bit off either side of good. We are relentless in our pursuit to do the job we were born to do, and to do so with virtuous panache.

Here are 5 of the best traits, straight from the cowdog’s mouth.

 

A Ladysmith List of cowdog traits

 

1. Loyal – All dogs are known for being loyal to their master and their people. We know this is a heavenly assignment. But we cowdogs are relentless in our devotion, we stay true and stand strong beside our people.

Cowdog devoted, cowdog loyal

 

 

 

 

2.  Service – it is in the DNA and very soul of a working dog, to do the job given us with excellence, until the last beat of our heart. It is our intent to give and do for others and make a difference in their life. Ask any rancher what a difference it makes to have a good dog there to work those impudent cows. I’ve been told I am as useful as 3 cowboys on horseback; I try to make it 5! Focus til it’s finished!

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Courage – Not always fearless, but always brave in the face of fear. We don’t give up and we keep going, even when things are tough. This is the strong heart of a cowdog. Sometimes it is courage to get in close behind the hoof of a cow, but sometimes courage is laying close to our person, knowing illness is winning, scared for the future, but staying strong always, for them. No backing up, no backing down, leading with a brave heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Joy – I have always heard that a Heeler suffers from irrepressible Joy de Vivre; that means an utter and complete joy in living, in my language. This inner happiness makes a cowdog love every day. Joy makes visible the angel wings God has given to us. 

 

 

5.  Wisdom – By this stage of life, I think I’ve learned a few things, observed a lot of things, gathered a little wisdom. But of course that only counts if I intentionally act wisely, put in into play, use that experience for good. 

 

 

And a few awesome dog -favorite characteristics

  1. I rolled in it! All dogs love finding rank and slimy items to roll in. We like mystery spots, sometimes only we can smell what was there. But by our actions, people know it is something awful and try to stop us, but it is always too late! This time of year, there is good aged cow poop, still a few left-over winter-killed critters, and an assortment of icky things we must transfer to our coat and carry inside. Guess what? We eat that stuff,too!     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Mud – a specialty of spring, with plenty to go around with September rains and January chinooks too. It is guaranteed to arrive inside, laid out in beautiful little designs via paw. Mom is forever picking at my paws now and I do get irritated. But she also digs out pebbles that have wedged between my toes and cause me to step gingerly and limp. She brings out a bucket of water and washes paws before I’m allowed inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I will have my own mud boots, just like hers and Dad’s. They take some getting used to.

These boots will look great on me!  

Mud is for playing in, so says little Sprout. Mud is for tracking in. I guess mom thinks mud is for mopping up, constantly!

 

 

3.  Treats – Like every great cowdog, I am always worthy of treats, and I do silly and relentlessly persistent things to get them. There are many savory choices, and I must say I am a bit of a connoisseur. There are baked cookies, meat sticks, jerky strips and the standby bone-shaped biscuit. Mom makes home-made ones for me sometimes, from dried meat, or baked biscuits full of blueberries, sweet potatoes, beef and broth.

My favorite, though, are these flavorful dried beef bits mom always keeps on hand.

https://amzn.to/3dxplRV

The cats have discovered how good they are, though, and now I have to share with them.

I like homemade ones a lot, too!

I am testing fresh biscuits, but I do not like a camera clicking while I eat.

 

4. Sleep – This is so important for rest and recovery. A good Heeler sleeps hard so that we can leap up and get back at it,  full again of lively enthusiasm and energy. We choose weird places and positions when we sleep. We are known for the upside down, oddly twisted shuteye. Now that my old body stiffens up easier, I usually go with the simple, side sleep.working dog traits

 

 

 

 

We also choose strange places to sleep sometimes. I have several very nice beds, and this new one is one of my favorites – “orthopedic” mom calls it. I love my comfy bed. https://amzn.to/3SrTLna

Those infernal cats like it, too. I have lots of beds, but there are times I have no place to sleep, thanks to them! I wish mom would have ordered the Jumbo size this time; Large is a little small for this trim 50# canine, but only because I like to stretch out.

 

Sometimes I just go where Icanget out of the fray and away from the cats!

 

 

So there is a Ladysmith List. While I speak from a cowdog’s point of view, I believe most all dogs would be with me on that second list!

All dog owners: read, memorize and practice number 3. Then we all do better with the first 5.

A Ladysmith List – Cowdog Traits You Need Today

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Well, fall is winding down.  It has me thinking about a Ladysmith List of  good cowdog character traits to gather and develop this time of year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was another week of good weather, and by now every beautiful day is ever more a gift. The hills are ablaze with the Aspen, those show-offs that came late and took over the color show.

 

The willows by the creek compete with their own mass gilding, too. Here in the northern Rockies, we don’t have the autumn colors of the hardwood forests further east, I’m told, but we do have a lot of our own color in a good year, if early blizzards or deep cold don’t blacken and blow it away. This is a good year.

 

A little cold at night, one brief snow, still warm sunny days – and the chokecherries along the creek turned orange, then the service berries, roses and others up the hills. Even buckbrush and other nuisance shrubs have redeemed themselves in a blaze of glory! And they’ve all stayed, though yesterday’s big wind probably stripped the color a bit.

 

As my reader’s know, we’ve been planning and prepping for winter, like everyone must do. Of course there is always more to do, and it is never done. That’s life.

 

 

But it has me thinking that part of gettin’ ready is some cowdog character traits to get us through the tough times – in this case, the dark, cold, spare, bitter times of winter. The older I get, the rougher winter is, like it is for us all. There is some fun in the snow, too, but it gets harder to find when the old bones stiffen up.

 

 

So here are the cowdog traits that I’ll be working on, encouragement through rugged and wintry times:

 

 

Hope – The thing that keeps us believing in the possible, the future, and knowing there will be good coming. 

 

 

 

 

 

Faith – The absolute certainty that God has a plan and it includes us. Relax and let Him take care of things. Live by faith, not by fear.

 

 

 

 

 

Peace – If you keep the first two, this one sure comes easier. This old cowdog likes to sleep in peace at night. 

 

 

 

 

 

Strength – I try to exercise all of this old dog – spirit, soul and body. Keep going, keep trying, never give up or give in. 

 

 

 

 

 

Wonder – As you keep trying and sometimes struggle on, don’t  be robbed of the wonder that makes every day a precious gift and prevents bitterness and discouragement.

 

 

 

 

 

Grit – That tough inner resolve, hard to name but present in all us cowdogs, that works all these traits together for good.  The one that keeps everything else going.  It is the power in the gut and running through the veins of every Heeler.

 

 

 

 

 

And, being a Heeler, of course, always Joy. 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you’ll use my list. It’s some pretty good traits we can all use, all the time.  It’ll help keep me  ready for winter or  tough times.

 

And my favorite reminder is this shirt.

 

 

See my picture there? It really says it all about where us cowdogs fit into the heart of our people. Heart and Soul! Grab it right here in my shop:https://cowdogsadvice.com/shop/?orderby=date

or here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnythingForJess?ref=shop_sugg

 

Makes a terrific Christmas gift for Heeler lovers! Jess loves hers,  says it fits perfectly and is great to wear at the new feedstore. Try one on for size and practice Cowdog character my friend!