Bosun
Our tri-colored border collie
We got Bosun on Monday April 24th at noon at Rock Creek. He was born on Feb 18th 2006 so is 9 weeks old. He is a little bundle of fluffiness; mainly black with white on his nose and paws and brown markings on his paws too (tri-colour). He is a Border Collie.
This is what the previous owner of Bosun says about him when he was born and about his family: "Bosun was born Feb. 18, 2006. Sometime between 4pm and 8pm. His mom, Spur, is our family pet. She will be 4 years old this August. She comes from working parents. Meaning they work on a cattle ranch near Kamloops. Bosun's dad lives in Clinton, BC and he too works on a cattle ranch up there. He is a very nice looking boy and very friendly with a wonderful temperment. Spur LOVES to fetch ANYTHING!!!! She keeps the kids very busy throwing balls, sticks, whatever she can find for them. She also likes to go on trail rides with us. The longer the better. I think Bosun was the first to open his eyes and the first to walk. I always called him my little panda bear baby because of his white fluffy face!! He was so dang cute when he was really little. I have found a few pictures of him when he was smaller. One of them is with all the other pups sleeping, before their eyes opened. You can't miss his big white face. "
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Our other dog Jaxx was delighted to see him. His tail wagged and he barked his pleasure... all the way from Rock Creek to Grand Forks (well there might have been a few minutes of silence but it sure didn't seem that way!)!!!
Bosun travelled in the cage we had got for him. We want him to be able to retreat from Jaxx should the need arise. I unpacked the car with Bosun watching from his cage and Jaxx reluctant to leave him. Jaxx excitedly barked and barked and welcomed Bosun into the kitchen when I finally had unloaded everything. We showed Bosun around the lower part of the house and then fed him and took him outside to pee.
Bosun met our two cats in the evening when they came in for the night. Ben was the first to come home for the night and he greeted Bosun warily and hissed at him and bifed him when he got too close. ben wanted to show bosun that he wasn't going to be intimidated! Snuggles came in a little bit later and she had heard the two dogs arrive home and had kept her distance. She came in and went in her basket and hissed at Bosun. She was not too sure at all if she was going to like this new-comer!
Bosun's first night here went well. His cage is in the dining room and Bosun is already happy in it. He likes to eat his meal in there (I know then that Bo eats it not Jaxx!) and also he sometimes chooses to go in there to play with his chew toys. Upstairs in our bedroom I have put a small cage for Bo (but so far he hasn't stayed in it for more than a few seconds) and also a cushion with the blanket that was in his cage when I brought him home. For the first night Bo slept on the bed for a while (I have to lift him onto the bed as he cannot get up there on his own) and then later in the night I put him on his cushion where he was happy to stay. He woke in the night and left me a parcel! (but that was easy to dispose of down the toilet) and also at three am we went outside, Bo did his pee and came straight in side, back on to his cushion and was sound a sleep in no time. He woke at 6am where we repeated the going outside to his toilet place. Then he was in his cage having breakfast while I showered and dressed.
Bo on April 24th 2006:
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Bosun and Jaxx looking for life in the soil!
April 25th.
We have had several walks around the field. He likes to keep up with me and usually stays by my side but once he went off to play with Jaxx and ignored me when I walked off away from him. I had to go back then and call him to follow me as I am not quite sure where he would have ended!
I have started to train Bo to sit. He seems to be doing well!
Today I had to put a halter on Bo as I had to take my car to get it's winter tyres off and the summer tyres put on and I didn't feel that it would be beneficial to Bo to leave him. So we tried the halter in the morning when walkign round the farm. Poor Bo must have thought it was heavy! He kept falling down and looking at it. The afternoon he was a bit bettr with it. He does not appear to enjoy car rides yet and still cries when we start off. Since it was only a short journey of five minutes it was not long for him to endure it. He will get better as time goes on I am sure.
He seems to enjoy having his meals in his crate. He pops in there now and again to grab a toy!
Around 7pm Bo had discovered the corridor that leads to the kitchen, that leads to the dining room, that leads to the lounge, that leads to the corridor!!! He had great fun for fives minutes racing round and round till I put a stop to it by going outside!!! He followed of course!
Night time: Bo came upstairs at bedtime while Jaxx decided to sleep the night in the lounge in a favourite chair of his. He sometimes sleeps in the lounge and I think he decided to make sure he got peace and quiet! Bo slept on his cushion by the bed all night but first he thought he might just try playing and pulling the bedcovers! When that didn't work he soon settled on the cushion and after a quick tummy rub he was soon asleep! He woke at 11-30 so I took him out for a pee, then again at 3-30 and he was awake at 5-30 but decided not to disturb me as he didn't realise I was awake. Once he saw I was awake we got up (just before 6am) and went outside for the necessary and back to breakfast in his cage.
April 26th
By 7-30 this morning Bo had discovered jaxx still sleeping on the chair in the lounge. He put his paws up on to the chair (he is not big enough yet to jump up himself) and made noises till Jaxx woke up. Then we all went for a walk over the fields.
We have had two accidents in the house today and once Bo asked to go out and went over to have a pee.
Bo is responding well to sit and I sometimes have the treat in my other hand to the one giving the sit command.
Bo is getting more used to being left for several minutes at a time.
We went out in the car in the afternoon to post some letters. He does not enjoy his trips yet so I will have to do more of them to get him used to them. I bought Bo his collar today, a lovey red one and he loved having it put on It doesn't seem to bother him at all!
Another hectic time at 7pm when Bo decided to run his circuit track round the house! Again we went outside to run instead.
A close up of Bosun 26th April 2006
April 27th.
Bosun was awake at 5-30 but he seemed content and again didn't realise I was awake. The minute he knew I was awake he was pestering me! So we went outside and then came upstairs to the bedroom where he played happily for half an hour. Then we went outside again.
Bosun had his breakfast in his cage and then we went outside again. He then came upstairs with me while I dressed and he discovered jaxx still on the bed! Great excitement! We all went downstairs together and outside to play. Bosun loves to follow Jaxx around!
Bosun with a toy this morning after his breakfast:
Bo exploring 27 April 2006:
Bosun is responding to the word sit very well. He likes to have his collar on but does not like to be on a leash. He will just plonk himself down and stay where he is!
I took Bosun out just to experience being in a car. He cried the first time then later in the day he only cried a little bit.
Bosun met by husband tonight. He arrived by car and Bosun went out and greeted him. This is the first time he has met a male stranger without barking.
April 28th.
Bo is good at night. He settles to sleep quite quickly after having his tummy rubbed! He wakes usually twice in the night and I take him outside and he comes back in and very quickly falls asleep again. Then we get up and go outside before having breakfast.
We have started to teach him "come."
We went out several times in the car today and by the end of the day he was no longer crying when we went out in the car.
Saturday 29th April. Ten weeks old today.
Bosun is enjoying his walks with Jaxx and likes to follow him around. The two cats are still wary of him but they also like to sit and watch him! Ben and Bosun greet each other every morning in the utility room. Ben is usually on the floor waiting for some one to get up and make a fuss of him so he is always there when Bosun is on his way outside. They always greet each other by rubbing or almost rubbing noses! Snuggles on the other hand always watches from the safety of her basket!! Jaxx puts Bosun in his place often, letting Bosun know that it is his rest time, or he just doesn't want to play or "keep away that is mine!"
Evening time and we have a strong wind and rain. Bosun is not impressed and is a bit frightened by it all. We have had five accidents in the house today, several of them just when we have come inside. I can only conclude that life is just too exciting at the moment plus I am not reading his signs correctly!
Sunday April 30th.
Bosun went from 11-30 last night till 5-30am without waking me. If he has had any accident in the bedroom I have not found it!
He is doing well with the command "sit" and occassionally with the command "come"!
I have had him on a leash several times to get him used to it.
I tethered Bosun to the table in the field. Jaxx sat near him all the time. I got the sit-on-mower out and mowed half the field. Bo coped well with it and watched me most of the time while I went round and round the field.
Bo by the table:
Do you have questions about your dog, such as why do dogs eat grass? Then visit Pause for Paws.
Go here to find out about Ben.
Go here to find out about Jaxx.
Go here to find out about Snuggles.
Go here to find out about Otis.
Go here to find out about Cosmo.