What Reindog Are You?

We were sniffing around down under at Charlie's site and noticed she had taken a quiz about what Reindog she was. Well, we couldn't resist taking a test. Here are the results of our reindog test. The Key West Collies were Comet.

If you take the test, we would love to know which of Santa's Reindogs you are. Just click on the words "collie call" at the bottom of this post and bark us. After all inquiring Collies want to know.

You Are Comet

A total daredevil, you're the reindeer with an edge! Why You're Naughty: You almost gave Santa a heart attack when you took him sky diving Why You're Nice: You always make sure the sleigh is going warp speed

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

For those of you that are curious, our friend PJ is recovering and has a little limp. Cesar is still living at home, though we don't think we will see Cesar at the dog park again.

Dog Speed,

Essex and Deacon

Free Wheeling Bobby

Great (Great) Uncle Bobby on Wheels

Essex and Deacon, howl are you two young uns. I’ve hope your Thanksgiving was as grrrrreat as mine. The weather is getting colder in Kansas. My Dog Mom and Dad got me a little jacket to wear and a heated bed too. They are so good to me. I decided to sleep inside last night because it was so cold. Before long the snow will be falling on the ground. I was told we will be going to Louisiana and warmer weather for Essexmas.

I can’t say it enough, but these wheels are pawtastic. I can patrol the perimeter of our six acres of land with Dog Mom and Dad, just like I did before my back legs started giving me problems. It feels good to be able to sniff around and find out what has been going on. Life is good.

My parents, especially my Dog Mom keeps telling me how happy I in make her feel. I hope they know that I appreciate everything they do. It is truly wonderful to have such loving parents. We all miss Mac at times, and I feel they miss him more than I do. Maybe I’ll take some time and tell you a few of tell you some of the adventures that Mac and I had. You can even post my stories on your blog if you like.

Bark at you later. Essex, make sure to keep your nephew Deacon out of trouble.

Woofs and Sniffs

Great (Great) Uncle Bobby

Space Dogs

Cyber-paw friends did you know that a dog was the first earthbound creature to go into outer space? Let us set the WABAC machine to 1957 and go back in time just like Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman used to. The world was far different place in 1957. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the President of the United States and Nikita Khrushchev the Soviet Premier. One of the biggest stories was the launching of Sputnik 1 on 4 October 1957.

Sherman and Mr. Peabody

Thirty days later, on 3 November a dog named Laika (“Barker”) became the first earthbound creature in outer space aboard Sputnik II. Laika was referred to as “Muttnik” by the American news media. Unfortunately, Laika died five to seven hours into the flight.

The First in Space - Laika

[Tass News Agency photo via Russian Space Agency]

Among the first living creatures to survive a space flight and land safely back on earth were Belka (Squirrel) and Strelka (Little Arrow) aboard Sputnik 5 on 19 August 1960. Belka and Strelka were accompanied by a rabbit, 42 mice, two rats and flies. Strelka later had a litter of six puppies. In 1961, Khrushchev presented John F. Kennedy’s daughter Caroline with Pushinka (Fluffy) a daughter of Strelka.

Stelka (left) and Belka (right)

As you look at the stars tonight, remember Laika and her historic journey that took place a little over 50 years ago.

Our Titles

We hope everyone is doing well today. Dog Dad has been busy around the house today and making pumpkin muffins for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Thanksgiving is an American holiday where people eat to much, watch football and get together to enjoy each others company; or in some cases get together to remember why they do this only once a year. The part we like best is having leftovers mixed in with our food.

It takes several days to drive from Key West to where Dog Dad grew up, and he hates flying during the Holidays. So Dad will spend time visiting the neighbors across the street.

We are thankful for our titles and would like to thank Charlie down under in Sydney, Australia for letting us know about the title site. Since Charlie spent some time in America, she probably has some good Thanksgiving memories.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Excellency Essex the Extemporaneous of Mellow under Trollness Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Grand Duke Deacon the Educated of Lower Wombleshire Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Tag 7

We were tagged by our friend Charlie from down under. Charlie is a real nice Sheltie lass, that will turn fourteen on 20 December. Her picture is to the right. Here are the rules for Tag 7:
* Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog
* Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself
* Tag 7 random people at the end of your post & include links to their blogs

* Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Key West is a strange place, so we decided to count backwards.

7 – Dad takes us to the dog park almost every day for 30 minutes to two hours. Deacon plays while Essex does fence patrol.

6 – Some people driving by Angel Paws will call Essex’s by name, whistle, rev their motors in an attempt to get her to chase after them. Others will come by the fence and call Deacon over so they can pet him.

5 – We have blankets with our names on them.

4 – One of Dad’s favorite Essexmas presents was when his Mom and Sister’s pooled together the pictures he sent of Essex and made a calendar. (Deacon wasn’t barked yet). Dad still has that calendar. Essex's favorite present was when Dad brought Deacon home with them from a trip to Miami 15 days before Essexmas. Deacon's was finding a furever home with Auntie Essex and Dog Dad on that same day.

3 – We inspired Dad to originate and write the Collies' Blessing. It is at the top of our blog and in the collage below. If you are a dog reading this consider yourself blessed.

The Collies' Blessing

2 – Dad found out about Dogs with Blogs by accident. He did a search in an attempt to find out if male collie’s nose was longer then a female’s nose. He found Tosca’s "Lassie Is A Boy In Drag!" and we all barked out loud until our tummy’s hurt. We then barked Dad into writing our blog with a little help with Tosca and Tosca’s Mom. We hope you like the results.

1 – Lil, our breeder Mom at Holmhaven had an all-collie drill team that did demos at Sunnybank in New Jersey. Sunnybank is where the famous author Albert Payson Terhune lived and wrote those wonderful Collie books. The all-collie drill team did their routines to the beat of John Phillip Sousa’s marching music. It is pawtastic to know your pawfathers and pawmothers were part of something like that. Dad has promised to find out more and do a blog because inquiring Collies want to know.

Sunnybank - 1973

Look at the crowd

And now the lucky seven: Tosca, Gomer & Opey, Jake and JH, Paco, Flossy & Jez, Bella, Eddie & Peaches and Opy because it is his barkday today.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Award from Gomer & Opie

Gomer & Opie over at Dogs' Aye View gave us an award Saturday! This is our first award and we are really jumping and acting silly celebrating guys. We wanted to post this yesterday, but Armistice Day (Veterans Day) came first. We pawfer Armistice Day because Veterans Day reminds us of Veterinarians who help Dad take care of us when we are sick, but we digress.

This says something because Dogs' Aye View was awarded the Cool Dog Site for July 2007. We like reading about their adventures on their blog too! We're tagging Charlie in Australia, Pacco in Malaysia, and the Barkalotz Boyz, Jake & JH.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Armistice Day

Today is Veterans Day or as it used to be called Armistice Day. 11 November was chosen because the Great War (1914-1918) ended officially on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Many people and animals died during the Great War as have others before and since. Some dogs and horses died serving their humans, others were at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Dogs carried messages, sniffed out bombs, carried supplies, and helped guard prisoners to name a few things. We found pictures of British Farm Collies that acted as Mercy and Messenger Dogs. Mercy dogs were equipped with saddlebags of medical supplies, sought out the wounded and let the medic know they had found a wounded man. We provided a link in case you wanted to read about some various fore-pawthers that served during the Great War: K-9 History: The Great War 1914-1918. Over 7,000 dogs went over the rainbow bridge during the war, though that total is probably low and many more followed after the war. The home page of that site covers much more than just the Great War if you're interested.

'Mercy Dogs' - British Farm Collies

British Farm Collie 'Mercy Dog'

British Farm Collie - 'Messenger Dog'

Both of our names are due to war. Deacon got his name because Dad’s father drove the chaplain around the front lines in Europe during WW II and was called Deacon Joe. Essex got her name because his college roommate’s father was an aviator aboard the carrier Essex during the Korean War. Dad has told us stories he remembers. Those his neighbor told about poison gas attacks during the Great War. His father about his time in training and in Europe during WW II. Dad lived a year in South Korea before we were born and various friend’s fathers talked of the Korean War. Friends served in Vietnam. Dad told us that war is like a dog fight, it is seldom good for either side, better avoided but unfortunately sometimes necessary. Today we remember those that served be they human, dog, horse, bird or other animal. We pray both for peace and our leaders to be wise.

Dog Speed

Essex and Deacon

Found - Cousin Howie

The paw of the Great Dane works in mysterious ways. A ray of sunshine contacted us yesterday to remind us that good things happen too. Cousin Howie was sniffing around cyber-paw space and decided to e-bark us. That makes our sixth relative found in cyber-paw space. We started barking, running in circles and made such a commotion that Dad rushed in to find out what was the matter. We pointed our noses to the screen to show him the e-bark from Howie. Dad gave us a warm hug, we kissed his face and we all started acting silly.

Howie had a similar story to Deacon in that he came back to Holmhaven. Howie had been living with a family in Naples, Florida. Things did not work out and he returned to Holmhaven. Eight month old Howie then decided to adopt Mary and her two sons. He was in the back of the room with all his relatives in between when he saw his Dog Mom and her sons walk in. The thought of a furever home made him bark and jump for joy. Dog Mom said “Please tell me Howie is not the one jumping.” The answer was “Yes.” They loved him immediately. The family was going through some rough times and Howie was just what it needed. Howie said goodbye to his relatives, got in the car and drove through Alligator Alley to his furever home a little over seven years ago. Howie just celebrated his eighth barkday on 13 September.

Howie is an excellent watch dog like Essex but not as reserved. He loves most everyone he meets. Howie especially loves his family, but barked us that collies are very few in his neighborhood. Like the two of us, he reminds his hoomans they are loved and helps them to keep their chins up when the chips are down. Dad said those qualities remind him of us.

We hope Howie stays in contact and welcome relatives and friends to e-bark us.

Dog Speed

Essex & Deacon

Holmhaven Majestic Mufasa, aka Lion King
But everyone knows him as Howie
The King relaxing

PJ Update

We just got the rest of the story cyber-paw pals. PJ was hurt a little worse than we thought, but he will pull through with flying colors. He had a big gash around the neck that required stitches and was bitten in a couple other places. He will have a tube in his neck for about a week. The damage surprised us because there wasn't any blood.

The nearest vet that would see PJ was a hour drive and it was after hours. The total vet bill was around $600. Somehow the local SPCA got wind of it and they have Cesar on double secret probation. Cesar is only eight months old, so they are concerned that such a young dog was in such serious altercation.

By the Great Dane, we are glad PJ is okay and hope Cesar makes it through double secret probation. It wasn't a good day at the dog park yesterday. We will bark our cyber-paw pals on future developments.

Dog Speed

Essex & Deacon

Dog Park Incident

Our friend PJ got in a fight at the dog park today. A pit bull named Cesar got into it with him. Cesar sometimes stops by the park and normally acts goofy bouncing all over the place. We tried to join in the fray but Dad grabbed our collars. It took a little while for Cesar's owner to get him and PJ separated. Our friend Roxy was there when that happened too. Everyone scattered afterwards. Dad drove PJ and his Mom home because they had walked to the dog park. It was getting dark, so it was hard to tell how bad PJ was hurt. It didn't seem life threatening, but he may have to spend time away from the dog park. This is the first time Cesar ever got in a fight at the park. Hopefully we can get an update and let our cyber-paw pals know how PJ is doing tomorrow.

Dog speeed,

Essex and Deacon

Our pal PJ

Greetings From Kansas

Dear Great Niece and Great Great Nephew,

It sure looks like you two have been having fun and excitement. That trip to Ohio looked like fun, especially meeting all those other Collies. I enjoyed seeing the pictures of you two having so much fun. I'm glad Noel only gave you guys a steady wind during Collieween, it caused a lot of problems other places.

I still use my wheels to get around and think about you two. I know Essex is glad to have you around Deacon. While Dog Dads and Moms are great, they are not quite the same as having another four footed friend around. Hoomans just are not as fast and don't understand the joys of a good sniff or a tree.

Things are starting to cool off here in Kansas. Here is a picture of me enjoying a picnic. It will be hard to want to eat outside when winter comes to Kansas. You two young pups be safe and stay in touch.

Woofs and Sniffs

Great (Great) Uncle Bobby

Having a picnic and enjoying life

Collieween 2007

Well, it didn't rain yesterday but it was windy. Dad went through 11 bags of candy and saw all kind of folks dressed up and some dogs too. To make things feel even more Collieweenish the Key West Mounted Police was on our street for a good portion of the night. The horse whinnied and neighed a lot. It reminded us of the story of "Sleepy Hollow" and the Headless Horseman.

As for the two of us, we were relegated to the back bedroom and listening to the weather channel. You think we would of at least got to watch Lassie movies. All said this was far better the wet blanket Collieween of 2005 due to Herricane Wilma flooding the island that Essex experienced.

Dog Speed,



Essex & Deacon