Love Apple Farms: Farm Animal of the Week: Poopers!

I asked my foreman, Christopher Donovan, to write this post. These are his words:

When Cynthia first suggested that the initial blog in this series ("Farm Animal of the Week") should be about my dog, Poopers, I became very excited. She also had some
suggestions about how I should focus on various personality and behavioral issues relevant to farm life that Poopers purportedly manifests, and I suppose I have to honor her wishes, as this is her blogsite, and she is my boss/mentor, etc.

But the truth of the being of Poopers is so much more than any sundry, or even tawdry, laundry-list of daily misdeeds. To begin with, there is the story of how Poops and I were brought together... I was driving down a highway in Oklahoma, and she darted out in front of me -- chasing after an old beat-up van, which was speeding away. I executed a fast turn-and-brake procedure, and called the little pooch to me. She cowered on the pavement. And from that point on, she was mine.

Poops is an absolutely intelligent being, as is apparent to anyone of even moderate intelligence. Everyone adores her, whether because of her winning disposition or enthusiasm or intelligence I am not certain. There is a song I sing to her almost daily, which sums it up nicely:

You're . . . Patient, obedient, and kind.
Loving, forgiving and joyful . . .
You're Poopers, you're furry, you're mine . . .
Poopers, I love you some more, each day.

Okay -- now that's the good stuff, but the truth is all of the other farm animals (dogs, cats, pig, chickens, birds, etc.) have had to learn to adapt to the addition of another boistrous presence here at Love Apple Farm. Poopers has a penchant for chewing any leather glove we accidentally leave lying around, apricots, and unripe watermelons. She especially relishes a mouthful of chicken feathers, which, unfortunately can only be gotten from the source. She has, like her owner, resisted learning a great many things (though different things than her owner) -- like not chasing cats, not terrorizing the chickens, and not jumping in or through vegetable beds.

Right now Poopers is in the midst of an intensive training period, one guided by the book "How to Become Your Dog's Best Friend, a Training Manual for Dog Owners." It's by the Monks of New Skete, and I recommend it heartily. So she's learning how to pay attention to her master -- a master who may have loved her too much, at first, and taught her too little. So now when Poops takes off after the neighbor's cat, I get to chase after her, and perform what is called the "alpha-male roll-over" (rolling her onto her back, and saying "no! no!," while maintaining eye contact). She actually seems grateful for having clear expectations and being communicated to in a way that is meaningful to her.

Thanks, Cynthia, for making a place for Poops and her master on your farm!

Comments

Christopher, this has to be one of the sweetest, funniest and well written little story I have read in a long time! I have 5 "throw-away" dogs and I never tire of their antics. I cant wait to meet Poopers!

Posted by: Sandra | February 24, 2009 at 09:18 PM

Poopers sounds like a gem and right for you! The foundation dog of our pack was a drop off dog too. He turned out to be excellent with livestock and so have his descendants. I love working with dogs. I've not read the Monk's book but my wife has read two of them and summarized to me. Good stuff.

On the compost, we put virtually anything in there that is organic, cover with sticks, wood chips, hay and dirt. Then we leave it. In two years there aren't even bones left. It produces wonderful soil. Our fruit trees get first dibs. My father is of the turn and complicated compost mind set. I'm of the leave it alone and do something else mind. His does work faster but mine's a heck of a lot easier.

Posted by: Walter Jeffries | December 09, 2007 at 04:50 AM