We have all fallen in love with Kedar. He sleeps every night curled up on the pillow next to Mia's head. She did a nice job agility training with him last Fall and we want to do another class together this Spring (I worked with Scooter, our red heeler). We had to use a shock collar to break him of his deer chasing, but he is a smart dog and learned immediately. He loves sitting outside on sunny days on the deck surveying his domain, which is where is he right now. He pops back in and out the dog door to our offices to check on us! (Scooter is usually at my feet under my desk - like right now - she is that kind of dog, but sometimes she goes out to sit next to him in the sun.) He is really an athletic dog - loves back country skiing, and is a great ski companion. Tom takes him with most of the time (which he never did with Scooter who is not a safe back country skier, she wants to be right under your ski and tries to herd you back and forth). Check him out skiing next to Tom, just last week. (The friend that took this video called him "Trigger" as in joking that he might trigger an avalanche, but it is Kedar.)
With me he has had some good times attending soccer practice (I coach Mia's team) and running around with the kids. Every so often he will see a stocky man, usually in work type clothes, and will growl and want to bite the guy's ankles. So we have to stay on our toes on that, still some bad memories for him. He has been fabulous with every child he has met. And with every dog.
Sometimes after a hard ski that front leg is sore, he limps slightly, but not for long.
So that is the update!
10/12/09:
We met a woman from Australia at friends on Saturday. She grew up on a sheep ranch outside Melbourne, Australia and her parents are still there. When she saw our dog pictures she immediately said, oh that one is a Red Heeler (Scooter) and the other (Kedar) is a Kelpie/Heeler mix. She told us it is a very common mix in Australia. The Australian Kelpie is the dog raised for sheep herding that jumps up and runs along the back of the sheep to get to the head of the herd! Attached is a full Kelpie, there are tons of pictures of mix Kelpie/Cattle that have us convinced the look could definitely be Kedar with the coloring, the ear coloring, the lighter body, longer legs, and temperament fits the description (not as intensely one-person dogs as Cattle Dogs). I was not familiar with the Australian Kelpie at all, and might never have guessed that!
It was exciting to have his other half ancestry identified. Right now he is sleeping with Mia. She has taken over feeding both dogs and doing the obedience work with him, and he really has bonded to her. Scooter never did take to playing with him, but they peacefully coexist, and I even caught her curled up on the dog bed by him one morning. He enjoys playing with my mom’s dog, and is friendly to most dogs except one intact 6 month male that we met. He has really enjoyed soccer practices – the kids get bussed to a field in Twisp and I am there as assistant coach with the dogs. It is a great place for the dogs to run like crazy before and after practice. About 25 kids get off the bus and walk across a big empty space to the field, and he loves running up to greet each one.
Will send a recent picture later.
9/5/09:
Just wanted to update you that Cal is doing great. Tom arrived home from his work travels Thursday night and was greeted with affection. We wondered whether he had already smelled Tom’s scent in our house and knew he belonged here or something. He has met one other man thus far and so far no issues (although neither Tom nor the other guy fit the profile of big guys in work clothes).
He and Scooter are closer each day, even starting to play a little. Cal made overtures to her yesterday and she got pulled in a bit, and then remembered that she was a serious dog with a purpose. I think he will win her over soon. I had a youth soccer Board meeting here and one of the ladies brought Boomer, her terrier mix (male, about 6) and Cal instantly went into play mode, which Boomer tolerated for a bit. We will introduce him today to my mom’s golden, Tammy, who has a STRONG play drive and I know they will have a party. Also want to take him to Mom’s as their yard is fenced and we want to work on his recall. Haven’t trusted him in our yard off leash yet with all the deer around.
Tom wants to name him “Kedar” (KEY-DAR) which loosely means dark mysterious one. There is a famous avalanche rescue dog that worked Jackson Hole in Wyoming that was named Kedar. It seems to fit him.
9/2/09:
All went well for Cal’s first night. He started out on Mia’s bed, moved to under her bed, and then spent most of the night in his crate which we had put in her room with the door open. He went for a run with Scooter and I this morning – so interested in all the new sights and smells – and doesn’t seem hampered by the leg at all while running. He is currently under my desk at my feet and Scooter is behind my chair.
Last night while Mia was walking him about he did snatch and kill a small brown bird, while on leash! So we have a pretty good idea how he fended for himself as a stray.
So far he is still Cal. Will let you know if that changes.
