A dog and her shoes...

Roxy's latest snoozing spot. Can't figure out if she likes the softness of the old leather or the stench within.

My Upper

I don't drink. I don't smoke. Or do anything remotely "bad".  I garden. A fix that always puts a smile on my face.

 I can lose myself for hours in the yard: digging, planting, yanking out what I just planted, planting again. 

I'll keep going until I'm covered in sweat and dirt, a smell so bad even Roxy turns her wet nose up at me. It's my therapy. A natural high that lasts long after I've washed off the last speck of  the garden...like nailing crow in yoga or finding those kick ass shoes you've been looking for all year...on sale. It's my upper, what's yours?

Laziest guard dog I ever did see...

Roxy protecting her turf from afar...watching workers in the neighbor's backyard.

So, is she going to bark or just hypnotize them with her good looks?

Meet Roxy

At  twelve-weeks-old Roxy looked sweet and innocent...

HA! After just a few days in the house we realized just how dumb our previous dogs were compared to Roxy.Border Collies aren’t like other pooches. Even a rescue mix like Roxy will outsmart you over and over again.

Before she turned one Roxy left teeth marks in every slipcover in the house.  Demolished two rugs. Ate a corner of the family room couch. Gobbled up five dog beds.  And shredded a dozen tennis balls. PLUS, she chewed part of our back porch railing and the siding on the garage. WTF! Somehow, doing the damage when our backs were turned. She's as sneaky as can be, quietly coming  up behind you and poking you with her wet nose, trying to push you to go where she wants to go (something Border Collies do when they are herding sheep).

I’ve had dogs since I was a kid and know how to raise them but jeez, this dog was a royal pain.  Our old dogs Crash and Thor did little damage when they were puppies. Sure, Crash ate a plate of chocolate chip cookies, but she survived. And yep, Thor flooded the kitchen with pee most days but that’s it.  Roxy was like a hungry two-year-old loose in a candy store.. How they heck were we going to reign in this bad girl? Slowly but surely, after countless walks, hours of training and trips to the Pet Smart toy isle Roxy started to calm down a bit. And now at two-and-a-half years later Roxy’s finally shaped up and settled in..  

My daughter’s head over heels in love with her – and so am I.

 I can’t bear to think of life without Roxy some day. Sure, she still bounces off the walls at times chasing down tennis balls, decapitates rabbits in the backyard and keeps bringing her snack toy to you until you give in and fill it up with peanut butter.

But Roxy no longer eats the house or runs it.  She’s turning out to be the best dog ever – sweet, loving and smart as a fox.