Lazy day

Foo is an old man Westie, 13 1/2 years old, and needs his rest. Gia, an Australian Cattle Dog (also known as a Blue Heeler) is much younger, having just celebrated her 2nd birthday on Thursday.

My son and I took Gia for a hike up a mountain shortly after I arrived on Wednesday evening. We stopped frequently to photograph the view; or maybe it was because I’m not in as good shape as my son. Gia had a great time running ahead off-leash, then charging back for some praise, then heading off again to chase a coyote, then returning obediently when called.

Today I stayed home from my new temporary job to unpack and relax. The dogs joined me all day, relaxing. They don’t seem to feel any guilt while just sleeping all day…I have a lot to learn from them.

Australian Cattle Dogs are a mix of Collie and Dingo. They are intelligent, energetic, loyal, alert. George Elliot of Queensland bred Dingoes with Collies in the 1840s, in a search for the best cattle dog. Or not. As with any other google-researched fact, there are many contrary “facts”. The one constant in all of the various theories is that this dog is part Dingo and part something else.