Flyball Demo

Shiba Flyball HQ

Here is my much belated report on our first public Flyball appearance. Ike and Beebe were awesome, Beebe was steady as a rock for her runs. It was at an outdoor Petapalooza with several thousand people in attendance. I saw 5 or so other Shibas, and Pam Carlson's boy Eli (who is Ike's brother) came to try out for the team, hooray! He did great considering he is still a puppy.

Eli ponders the Ball Loader (whatever a Ball Loader is, it doesnt sound good right?)

Eli conquers without fear!

Shibas give good attention when they want to

Eli can fetch!

As I was saying, when they want to they can do anything

He's a natural agility Shiba

Not bad for a try out, when he's old enough, he will surely make the team.

Grym is a good guardian

Grym is doing well. He largely ignores the birds, and exhibits very little prey drive towards them. He absolutely fawns over Ike, who won't play with him. Ike stands very regally and puts up with only so much groveling before correcting the puppy. Beebe is a different story. She loves rough housing with Grym, and although it sounds like she hates it, she keeps engaging him for more play. Both the Shibas and the Pom are fantastic at setting and enforcing boundaries with him.

Is this play too rough do you think?

Grym and the Chicken Tractor

Yep, Granddad Tompkins would be proud. I made my own very simple mobile chicken coop based on a design from a 1920's Handy Farm Devices model, using mostly recycled or scrapped parts. It's called a Chicken Tractor as the wheels (not yet installed) allow the coop and hens to be safely ranged on new areas of grass each day. I liked how fast and uncomplicated this was to put together, so I want to build another much nicer tractor. I still need to put in enclosed nesting boxes on one end, preferablly built in a manner that will enable me to lock them in at night off the ground in case of digging varmints.

The baby hens seem to really enjoy the safety of it, and Grym likes sleeping next to it. He is about 15-16 weeks old now and is a wonderful guardian already. He is outside about 90% of the time now at his choosing. He positions himself by the door in the dog trot under our bedroom windows at night and has full view of the property and birds. He seems to prefer this and acts uncomfortable and antsy when invited inside. He is currently in his 3rd week of puppy classes and has gone to some handling classes as well. Hopefully he will be ready for his first match this weekend.