So I’m on a trip out west to the National Sheepdog Finals. Between me and my friend, we have 4 border collies with us. Fleck who is 6, Morgan who is 3, Woody who is 4 months and Seelie who is 2 months. It is interesting to see the perspective and attitudes of the different dogs as we make this long trek across the country. Woody seems to have a very funny (typical if you know him) attitude so I’ll share it a bit.
“Every place this big blue van takes me is always a blast so I’m happy to “load up” and go. I know where my crate is 
but I always stop and shop my friend, Seelie’s crate on the way there. She sometimes has bones or treats hidden in there – I just know she means for me to find them. While my mom is driving, I can play and make goofy faces at my neighbor and even stick my feet through the crates to try and get her chewy treats. She responds by growling and staring at me. I of course stare back even harder and it makes her crazy. Oh what fun in the car!
When the van stops, the most wondrous places always magically appear. We get to potty and play in a new yard every time. Super cool. My brother Fleck and my other friend Morgan are always there to clear the place and make it safe for me. If we have time, I often get to romp with my friend Seelie in a little pen. We love to chew on each others ears and faces and do somersaults.
When I get hungry, my food just appears – it’s always my favorite thing on the menu – meat! I get lots of treats when I “load up” and even an abundant supply of chewy treats are never far away. This trip stuff is awesome!
Probably the best thing happened yesterday. The van took us up the mountains and over. My head felt kind of weird as we started this part of the trip so I solved that by yipping and barking at my neighbor trying to play with her through the bars of the cage. It’s hard to get a good game of chase me in these tight quarters, but I was really trying. I just needed to get my mind off of the weird feeling in my head. Then, oops, I really needed to pee. I told my mom (the driver of the van) of my problem. To my surprise she kept driving – something about going over the pass and no place to stop – gee, like I understand that. Pretty soon, she got the message and we stopped in the mountains. Wow, I didn’t know that big trucks traveled that fast! Well, I did my business and off we went again.
When the van stopped this time – we were at a palace in the mountains. They called it “La Quinta.” This place is awesome! The doors open on their own when I walk near them – terrific service! Then, you get in this little private room and the doors automatically open and shut. Then, it transports you, with no effort on your part, to a different part of this palace where your room is ready and waiting. They even have a cooling unit for my meals. I love this place! To add icing to the cake – they have a great Frisbee yard with lush green grass and all the people that I meet are here, just to see me. At least that is what they say to me when I’m asking for pets (I do this by wiggling uncontrollably from the end of my leash.) So many people have met me – I’m beginning to get a reputation.
When we hang out in my room, my friend Seelie and I get to play with all these wonderful toys that were given to us. We run, romp, hid under the bed, speed around the room at a break neck pace all to the delight of our moms. Our older buddies, Fleck and Morgan are happy to stay up on the bed so to be out of our way. Oh, what service.
I do feel a strong pull to go west. It’s like there are hundreds of sheep calling my name. It’s a force that I can’t resist and I told my mom, to point the van west and don’t stop until we get to this place that is full of wooly things. I just know they need my assistance. Life is just as it should be and it’s good, very good.”
Perhaps tomorrow, Fleck will be able to lend is perspective to the trip but for now Woody things this traveling stuff is awesome. The world is here to serve him.