The head of ranch security has just been permanently relieved of duty. He is shown here where he spent the majority of his time.
This looks as much like puppy Bob as any pictures I had. It is, however, courtesy of Google advanced image search.
Another google image. Bobs ears would have been upright were this him.
Bob came to us while I was teaching at New Caney High School. The school counselor found him in a car tire by the side of the road. He was too small to get out of the tire. Crashing my hard drive a few years ago and again just last month has robbed me of any puppy pictures but he could have posed for this one.
No owner was in sight and he was pretty obviously abandoned so he was up for grabs. Someone wanted him for their four year old grandkid so I didn’t get him. I knew I wanted him because he licked my face (almost simultaneously peeing in the counselors lap) and I’m a sucker. I knew the puppy had chosen me so I told her that should things not work out to give me a call. The next day he came back. They just don’t make 4 year old grandkids like they used to.
I took possession of the puppy the next day and kept him in my classroom for an hour or two. My students gave him no rest and he immediately showed me a glimpse of the future. He marked everything in the classroom. Sally came in and picked him up. It was the start of a long relationship that he and I loved and Sally tolerated.
No owner was in sight and he was pretty obviously abandoned so he was up for grabs. Someone wanted him for their four year old grandkid so I didn’t get him. I knew I wanted him because he licked my face (almost simultaneously peeing in the counselors lap) and I’m a sucker. I knew the puppy had chosen me so I told her that should things not work out to give me a call. The next day he came back. They just don’t make 4 year old grandkids like they used to.
I took possession of the puppy the next day and kept him in my classroom for an hour or two. My students gave him no rest and he immediately showed me a glimpse of the future. He marked everything in the classroom. Sally came in and picked him up. It was the start of a long relationship that he and I loved and Sally tolerated.
Teenage representation of Bob by Google. Bob was better looking.
I didn’t know what to call him and was afraid Sally might ruin him for life by calling him something like Lancelot of Grangerland. I knew I had to give him a normal name first. I noticed that he had no tail nor any scar from surgery. In reading I found that being born without a tail is one (of many) Australian Shepard characteristic. I thought this was a significant item so I called him Bob. Shortened from Bobtail.
We made a little pen for him to spend the night. If he could see me, he just wouldn’t have it. He actually climbed the fence and that is another Aussie characteristic. The more I read, the more he fit the profile.
We made a little pen for him to spend the night. If he could see me, he just wouldn’t have it. He actually climbed the fence and that is another Aussie characteristic. The more I read, the more he fit the profile.
Now Bob proved to be a problem child. You could see him walking down the driveway with the plunder that he got from the neighbors. Shoes were his favorite and it was because of this and a chewed swimming pool that we had to start tying him up. Hated to do it but didn’t have much choice. By that time he was a fully grown dog and the cute factor was gone. Still handsome in my opinion but not a cute puppy. He had no respect for the property of others.
The routine became the same. When he would see me he would start prancing like he hadn’t seen me in a year. It didn’t matter if I had been gone 10 days, 10 hours, or 10 minutes. I would take him off his tether and he would go inside with me. In the summer time he was always happy to go inside. In the cold/cooler months he would be scratching at the door in 10 minutes.
You might suppose that this was a terrible boring life for a critter and for a spell that might have been true. Then we got chickens and life changed. Bob became the head of ranch security and life was not boring.
The routine became the same. When he would see me he would start prancing like he hadn’t seen me in a year. It didn’t matter if I had been gone 10 days, 10 hours, or 10 minutes. I would take him off his tether and he would go inside with me. In the summer time he was always happy to go inside. In the cold/cooler months he would be scratching at the door in 10 minutes.
You might suppose that this was a terrible boring life for a critter and for a spell that might have been true. Then we got chickens and life changed. Bob became the head of ranch security and life was not boring.
I think it’s time to throw a link or two into the mix. The first link describes a lot about life on the farm and frankly, nothing about Bob would be complete without including his partner in crime, Indy. http://www.grangerlandrfd.com/tail-of-two-dogs
Bob was continually breaking up fights between roosters and drakes when the season for romance fell upon us. Something about the critters he was pacifying can be found within the second link. Grangerland RFD - The Muscovy Chronicles
Bob was continually breaking up fights between roosters and drakes when the season for romance fell upon us. Something about the critters he was pacifying can be found within the second link. Grangerland RFD - The Muscovy Chronicles
This episode (or one like it) prompted me to him a shot at freedom about 3 years ago. One of the ducks had made a nest under the house and was setting on eggs. It was probably not this snake but they all look pretty much the same to me. Bob just went crazy but couldn’t get to it because it was just beyond his rope. I came outside and let him off the leash and he and I got the snake.
I figured that now he was older and better behaved so I let him off the leash at night. He did some roaming but tended to mostly stay home. It hadn’t gone on too long before he showed his tendency to herd was not restricted to lesser critters. I was outside giving the animals their morning feed when I heard brakes and a bang. Then I saw a pickup continue down the road.
A short time later Bob came limping across the road. A trip to the vet relieved us of almost $300 (for a displaced hip) and with the admonishment of the vet to keep him at home. Hip dysplasia was apparent and the dislocated hip from the truck was liable to happen again at any time and with or without an obvious cause.
I figured that now he was older and better behaved so I let him off the leash at night. He did some roaming but tended to mostly stay home. It hadn’t gone on too long before he showed his tendency to herd was not restricted to lesser critters. I was outside giving the animals their morning feed when I heard brakes and a bang. Then I saw a pickup continue down the road.
A short time later Bob came limping across the road. A trip to the vet relieved us of almost $300 (for a displaced hip) and with the admonishment of the vet to keep him at home. Hip dysplasia was apparent and the dislocated hip from the truck was liable to happen again at any time and with or without an obvious cause.
I think he and I found old age at about the same time. This is my summer pose as well.
This was the winter pose. It’s snowing as I write this but this was taken probably 4 years ago. I was just outside putting critters down for the night and the llama looked exactly the same. Something to do with an insulated coat keeping the body heat away from the snow.This weather was typical of when I came here in the early eighties and I guess it’s somehow associated with El Nino.
Bob loved it and wouldn’t ever be induced into coming inside when it was cold. Since my time in the Navy soured me on cold weather, he was on his own. He ate inside and asked to leave. I kept water outside and he just ran his little kingdom.
Bob loved it and wouldn’t ever be induced into coming inside when it was cold. Since my time in the Navy soured me on cold weather, he was on his own. He ate inside and asked to leave. I kept water outside and he just ran his little kingdom.
Donkeys are supposed to hate dogs and vice versa. This is Eeyore our first donkey. Nobody obviously had ever told Bob or Eeyore what was expected of them. Bob went with me to pick him up and I don’t remember much happening. This link is all about Eeyore: http://www.grangerlandrfd.com/eeyore
Instead of hating each other they seemed to like growling and chewing. Yes, Donkeys do have a form of growling or so it seems to me. Whatever, it was certainly not hate and Eeyore used to get through the fence and find him. When Bob grew tired of the affection he simply went under the steps. Eeyore couldn’t fight that. We had not enclosed the porch yet so he could get up the stairs. I’m unsure how much I believe the stuff about Donkeys being surefooted because Eeyore would climb onto the porch and then couldn’t figure how to get back down. Pretty quickly he just stopped going up there. Anyway Eeyore had better things to do once we got the Jennies.
Instead of hating each other they seemed to like growling and chewing. Yes, Donkeys do have a form of growling or so it seems to me. Whatever, it was certainly not hate and Eeyore used to get through the fence and find him. When Bob grew tired of the affection he simply went under the steps. Eeyore couldn’t fight that. We had not enclosed the porch yet so he could get up the stairs. I’m unsure how much I believe the stuff about Donkeys being surefooted because Eeyore would climb onto the porch and then couldn’t figure how to get back down. Pretty quickly he just stopped going up there. Anyway Eeyore had better things to do once we got the Jennies.
I made this leash from hay bale twine. It allowed him more room to move about when we went to the park. We used to get a certain look when people would see us. The color grey somehow ties disparate beings together. People would see the old greybearded dog towing an old greybearded guy and it would seem to bring a smile to their faces. A couple times kids would ask if he was a bear and mamas would always ask if it was ok for their kids to pet him. He would just eat it up. I don’t know whether he or Indy liked kids more. They both certainly did.
This is typical of the job of ranch security. You thought it was all fun and games didn’t you? You would be amazed at how many hay rustlers are about. The leash was long enough to tie him to the off side of the trailer and he would guard our load while I was paying. Certainly a thankless job.
By the way, this 95 4Runner does as fine a job as a pickup. Those times I would have used the bed instead of a trailer I just remembered that hauling a trailer and hauling Bob were big reasons for getting it. The Bob-mobile.
By the way, this 95 4Runner does as fine a job as a pickup. Those times I would have used the bed instead of a trailer I just remembered that hauling a trailer and hauling Bob were big reasons for getting it. The Bob-mobile.
I had two reasons for concreting these steps. The first one was that I wanted them to last as long as possible. Some work is hard enough when you are in your seventies. Didn’t want to repeat in in my eighties or nineties (optimistic or delusional?). The second reason was that it became a waterproof haven for Bob. It worked for the second reason. We will just wait and see about the first.
I had this truck for about 3-4 years starting in 2010. I took Bob almost everywhere I went that did not require me to leave him in the vehicle for a long period. I suspect I might still be driving it if it weren’t for a combination of Bob and a particular granddaughter. Bob could not help showing affection for me and a standard cab pickup is not the place to put a slobbery dog. It also is harder to enter when you are old with hip dysplasia.
For the past couple years it has been harder for him. I had to lift him into the truck when we would go out. I kept treats in the pouch in the drivers door and taking him with me was the default status. He was happy to go and acted like a pup when he saw the leash. He would just jump up and down making it hard too get his leash on.
Another thing that showed advancing years was that he sometimes could not trust his bladder. I developed a quick reflex when he would scratch the door.
When we were walking he might as well have been a pup. From all appearances there was no smell that escaped his attention. When he was really thinking about some odor that escaped my attention (they all do) it was hard to get him to break free.
For the past couple years it has been harder for him. I had to lift him into the truck when we would go out. I kept treats in the pouch in the drivers door and taking him with me was the default status. He was happy to go and acted like a pup when he saw the leash. He would just jump up and down making it hard too get his leash on.
Another thing that showed advancing years was that he sometimes could not trust his bladder. I developed a quick reflex when he would scratch the door.
When we were walking he might as well have been a pup. From all appearances there was no smell that escaped his attention. When he was really thinking about some odor that escaped my attention (they all do) it was hard to get him to break free.
The dog in the serape is Indy. Just as big a part of our household ad Bob, just different. I would call him Sally's bodyguard if you insist on a job title. He is a couple years younger than Bob. Sally figured during Hurricane Harvey that she needed a thunder jacket and attempts to get one had been unsatisfactory. I had bought this serape in 1961/2 when I was in Tijuana and probably less than sober. For some reason my Mom decided to keep it for me and it was totally useless until Sally decided to use it. It works.
Bob didn’t need the jacket but he was easy to keep in the house when it was raining, thunder or not. If he was outside when it started he didn’t seem to mind.
Bob didn’t need the jacket but he was easy to keep in the house when it was raining, thunder or not. If he was outside when it started he didn’t seem to mind.
He sure did get furry but we had a secret weapon.
Our daughter is an excellent groomer and every year she would make a point of finding time to groom Bob.
He always looked like a different dog when she was done. He would just prance. He looked good and knew it. The brown would come through making him a tricolor. When his hair grew he would just show the black and white. Most Aussies are tricolor.
He and I went out as usual to buy feed on thursday. Friday I stayed home. Saturday I went out with Sally. We saw the film "the darkest hour". When we came home he was waiting for us at the foot of the stairs. Sally moved him aside so she could get up the stairs. She knew I would bring him in when I came. I took a few more minutes to feed the ducks and get them in their pen.
When I was finished and started indoors I called him and he didn’t respond. When I came closer I realized that he would not.
I buried him a few feet from where he passed. My friend Zeke came over to help. He can continue to watch over the yard he adopted. He sure cannot be replaced and at the moment I do not feel like trying. Perhaps another will choose me as he did but in the meantime I think I will let the memories fade. I am told that will become easier as time passes.
I think I will end here and go change the furnace filter. Something in the air is making my eyes leak.
When I was finished and started indoors I called him and he didn’t respond. When I came closer I realized that he would not.
I buried him a few feet from where he passed. My friend Zeke came over to help. He can continue to watch over the yard he adopted. He sure cannot be replaced and at the moment I do not feel like trying. Perhaps another will choose me as he did but in the meantime I think I will let the memories fade. I am told that will become easier as time passes.
I think I will end here and go change the furnace filter. Something in the air is making my eyes leak.