Guest blog by B-Twin
GEMMA
During my childhood our family never had a dog. We had finches and guinea pigs^.
Upon finishing High School I headed off to Agricultural College and home became a relative’s farm. College kept me busy for several years before I started my job as Alpaca Stud Farm Manager.
I’ve always loved dogs. The farm dogs were great – and they responded well to me – but they weren’t mine. So once I had a job I decided that a dog was next on the list. The list of breeds to choose from of course is rather large so I narrowed down the choices by settling on that it had to be a working breed. Working with sheep preferably since that is the stock kept at home.
The end result – a Shetland Sheepdog^^ or “Sheltie” as they are commonly called.
My vet mentioned that just down the road from me (literally) there was a breeder of long standing that was very thorough with all the health checks etc etc. So I rang them up to have a chat. Then I went to their place to have a look^^^.
They had a new litter just born, sired by one of their (champion) dogs.
My request was simple: I wanted a bitch* and one that would grow on the large side for a Sheltie.
Several weeks later I came home with this:
The new pup was named “Gemma” (“Oh, isn’t she a gem.” Corny, but true.)
A couple of weeks later there was a slight accident, whilst playing in the garden, and my new-pup-owner’s heart was dealt a blow when she tumbled down a rock and broke her leg**.
But, being a young pup was in her favour and the enforced confinement certainly helped to make her very quiet and friendly. As well as missing the “Must Dig in The Garden” phase. Yes, I am looking on the bright side.
Despite this less-than-ideal start to farm life she recovered very well and she was then introduced to sheep work. Realistically she was never going to be a large paddock style dog. Her forte was in the sheep yards where her bark could move a mob of recalcitrant ewes faster than the offer of food. A ‘tough little cookie’ she gamely stood up to rough sheep and would dust herself off and leap back in if she was knocked over. Dogs twice her size can often be scared and refuse to work under such conditions.
Gemma’s nickname for many years has been “The Duchess” due to her ability to sit regally wherever she is. And the fact she swans about eliciting attention from anyone who decides to sit down…
The Duchess is holding court
Several years ago I came home to find her holding her leg in a rather painful fashion. Somehow, she had managed to rupture her Anterior Cruciate Ligament.
It certainly put an end to her sheep-working days.
So then Belle came on the scene. At first Gemma thought this uncouth little upstart was a visitor that would soon be leaving.
She finally warmed to the whole “adoring puppy” idea though.
Smiling for the camera
Her retirement wasn’t complete though – once she recovered from a second bout of surgery*** she would still assist by guarding the house from rampaging sheep. That small task was eventually dispensed with though when she lost interest.
In Gemma’s world there are a couple of things that remain constant. Her love of food and attention from people. She is certainly a typical Sheltie in that she is a game little dog with a sweet and loyal character. And very smart. (Shelties are very close to Border Collies in the IQ ratings.)
As her arthritis started to have more of an impact I made the decision to let her stay inside during the winter (we don’t have extreme winters and it is not normal for farm dogs to be inside the house much in Australia.)
A special bed was made for her to rest upon:
Her patience was tested earlier this year though when her position of power (inside the house) was disturbed by Belle and the Puppy Saga. Gemma’s relief was almost palpable when Belle went to live outside again!
Reading quality books in retirement..
At nearly 14 years of age Gemma is, while I write this, fast asleep on her sheepskin bed. Her arthritis is progressively becoming worse and given her struggles with this winter I’m not sure how she will cope with next winter. As she hobbles around it is easy to get a little down while watching her. But when you call “Dinner!” you discover there is life in the old girl yet…. ;)
—-
^ and never had a cat. That’s another story that will not be uttered…
^^ which is NOT a miniature Rough Collie!!!!!
^^^I did make it out alive. Although seriously wounded by the level of cute.
* to be spayed. At the time I wasn’t allowed to have an intact bitch at home and she was sold on the condition she be spayed anyway. And I wasn’t about to have a male dog. I can’t stand the whole “pee on anything that stands still” thing.
** took the growth plate off the head of the femur. Years later when the leg was X-rayed the vet said you couldn’t tell it had ever been broken.
*** She’s the 1 in a 1000 dogs that rejects the artificial ligament… Nearly 12 mths after the original operation she had another to remove the nylon that was literally being ejected from her leg.
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