Corey week 3

Monday: All fine, AM run, feed kennel go  to work. Lunchtime husband calls me and says Corey was fine all AM, followed him around property, cheerful, energetic, took him inside and he was lethargic, wouldnt sit, just stood there, didnt even bark at cat or want a treat. Husband was going to take to vet (who is closed 12-2). Advised husband of this and to monitor Corey. Husband gave him a gas pill, then he was fine. Husband took him for ride into town to bank, all fine. Husband played ball with Corey about 5 minutes then took him inside and he slept. Storm blew up, husband had kenneled all but Corey (he let him inside) when I returned, it had stopped raining. Corey fine, trying to chase cat. I let other dogs out, go for run, all fine, return and sit on porch, then took Corey inside for ear meds while husband played ball with Snoopy. I then let Corey out, worked in yard awhile (too wet to mow), then gave husband supper (he had a 8 PM TV show he wanted to watch) fed and kenneled dogs
Tuesday:Husband woke me up at 6 AM, said to hurry and run the dogs as it was going to rain, so, I did ... no coffee, no breakfast... and it didnt rain. Fed and kenneled, then went to Columbia for hearing. Returned 5 PM, Corey inside, husband reports Corey is getting better at not trying to get Damcat (if you're there and say 'leave it'). Greeted and treated all dogs, sat on porch, brushed the girls, then came in as it briefly rained. Gave Corey ear meds and brushed him. About 630 went out again, did some yard work then mowed in front ... all dogs peacefully watching me mow, they suddenly take off towards fence ... the neighbor's goats and dogs have got out. Call my dogs back, Corey is just all excited, go back to trailer to call neighbor, then sit on porch for awhile to calm everyone down, watch the beautiful sunset, streaks of pink and blue, evening birds starting to chorus, dogs dispersed around me, laying down and peacefully panting ... then fed and kenneled. Wed:Let all dogs out, nice AM run, beautiful weather, down thehill to Ginger's tree,  Corey now follows us down hill with no hesitation. Around to the front, DB and Banshee eating acorns, Snoopy and Corey sticking close to me, fed, kenneled, went to work. Dogs kenneled when returned home, husband in town at store. All dogs bark as I come in driveway, Corey continues barking as I go in trailer to change but stops after a minute. Fix food, change, come out and let dogs out and mow ...Corey follows me closely then sits under a tree and watches. The others go about their business, as usual, when I stop, they all appear. All dogs settling down nicely, Corey still very deferential to the girls. Mow til twilight, back to trailer, put Damcat in bathroom, let Corey in for ear meds, then sit on porch with all dogs, then get food and head to kennels ... have just finished feeding when husband arrives home, all dogs bark to greet him, then settle down with their evening chewies. A good day!
Thursday: Husband left early to meet worker in town. Let dogs out for AM run, fed and kenneled, went to work, husband not back yet ... he got back late, reports that he mowed a lot, in the heat (it got to mid 90's today...) was mowing outside fence with all dogs sitting under shade trees watching him, census worker (who happens to be one of our friends and neighbors) came up to ask about other folks living on our road, Corey goes over to gate and puts both paws on top to greet her ... he could So easily jump the fence. But as long as one of us is in sight, he shows no inclination to do so (unlike my Angel Ginger, who would get a scent of a bird or deer and go under the fence after it ... then not be able to figure out how to get BACK ... I arrive home after work, still hot, but took dogs mowing on the shady side. Corey finds one of Banshee's old rubber bones and is totally entranced by it, carries it everywhere, which is all well and good until he starts the 'drop it on lawnmower-tractor and bark for human to throw- and when human reaches for it, grab it' routine. Banshee then takes rubber bone away from Corey (he drops it momentarily and she scoops it up) trots around with it, rolls on it, DB then tries to get it, Corey keeps his eye firmly on the prize but hangs back, Snoopy ignores the whole thing (it's not ROUND, therefore it's worthless) ... finally Banshee returns the bone to Corey, but, he then starts into the bark and grab routine (I am trying NOT to encourage this) so husband takes it back and hides it on tractor. After a bit, Corey forgets about it and resumes following us and watching mowing. Twilight, I go back to trailer, get food, followed by dogs (husband still mowing) feed and kennel (and manage to rake some of Snoopy's molting hindquarters ... another 2 weeks and we dhould be through molting season... she's a real low maintenance dog except for this month when she blows her undercoat).
Friday: Husband went into town to lead new worker in, I took all for AM run ... he arrives back when we're down the hill, Snoopy and Corey spot him and run back up the hill, followed by me and Banshee... DB is back gorging at the wild plums ... Banshee and I arrive, Corey and Snoopy are being introduced to new worker, here comes DB ... all wrought up (it's HER job, she feels, to spot anyone entering the property ... she runs over and jumps (not ON him, but near him), Corey starts barking (knowing we DON'T jump on people), DB snaps at Corey, Corey then starts CHASING DB... mass chaos, I get food, whistle, head to kennels, thank heavens dogs follow me and go to their kennels ... feed and kennel, let them calm down for an hour before releasing. All fine, calmed down, we mow for awhile til it gets too hot. Sit on porch, husband inside, I stick my head in and ask if Damcat is safe, he says yes, so let Corey in, I then go in and am making frozen dog treats in kitchen when Damcat (who had been hiding behind the couch) streaks thru the kitchen, right under Corey's nose ... I block hall with chairs and think all is well, Damcat then decides to press his luck further and sits in hall cleaning his paws, Corey spots him and charges the chairs, and almost gets to Damcat, I am hollering 'leave it', Corey is oblivious, I grab his collar and hold on long enough for Damcat to get to the bedroom. Close door. I am very very careful the rest of the day, only letting Damcat out when Corey is out. Enough excitement for one day. Very hot afternoon, decide around 6 to take dogs for van ride, this is always calming (and I manage to get some of Snoopy's undercoar brushed out). Return, disembark from van, go for very brief evening run, it's sprinkling rain now, feed and kennel.
Saturday: Husband took 2 workers into town early, let dogs out for Am run, fed and kenneled. Out at 9 AM, mowed til 1130 AM, followed by Corey and DB, who sat under shade trees and watched, joined on occasion by Banshee, while Snoopy supervised the workers. Back to trailer as I ran out of gas, put Damcat in bedroom, let Corey in and brushed him. Out again around 1240, as it was clouding up, filled Snoopy's wading pool, watered plants, trimmed a few bushes. Then it starts sprinkling rain ... Snoopy, who is soaking wet, heads for the kennels, casting anxious glances at the rest of us, so we all go to kennels and I kennel all. Just in time, it starts pouring. Rain stops around 330, let dogs out, it then starts again so I rekennel. Let out again 530, go all around property, dogs exhilarated by the coolness, DB,Banshee and even Snoopy smell some critter over by side fence and run in circles and up and down fence line, while Corey watches, bemused. (Well, it took Ginger a long time to realize critters live underground too, but she ended up being the best 'mouse spotter' I had ... though she'd leave the kill to Banshee and DB)... Back to trailer, take dogs for evening van ride, brush Snoopy in the van (I need to bag up her hair and send to the oil spill) ... return at dusk, let all out, get groceries inside, get food and feed and kennel. Another good day!
Sunday: Corey's 3 week anniversary with us! Early AM run, fed and kenneled went to church ... on the down side, Banshee has diarrhea and Snoopy picked at her food and didnt finish. On the up side, all seem lively and cheerful. Return after church, let all out, it is clouding up again so take a brief run around the property, let Corey inside briefly, try to take a nap as the barometiric pressure is givung me a killer headache, then kennel all as a big storm blows up. husband and I go to town to get baby gate (to hopefully keep Corey away from the Damcat better than the chairs in the hall which he just pushes aside).Return, stopped raining, let all out go for run around property, all very energetic, Corey, DB and Snoopy get into a race back to the kennels (Snoopy is a sprinter and wins at short distance, then the long legged bird dogs outdistance her, Corey in the lead ... Banshee watches carefully to gauge their path then takes a shortcut and circles in front of them... let Corey inside to brush and ear meds (not easy task as he is still all revved up) while husband throws ball for Snoopy, then fed and kennel all.. Snoopy eating better now.

Corey is fitting in well (except for the relationship with the Damcat)... getting used to country life... and oh, it is beautiful to watch him run .... I dearly love my other dogs, my fluffy bear Banshee, my great swimmer and ballplayer Snoopy, my beautiful bird dog DB ... but there is nothing quite as lovely as watching an Irish setter run ...it takes me back to my childhood, watching my grandad's setters and pointers run across the field. And I know that Angel Ginger is running around in God's fields now, head tilted to the wind, nose in the air,ears flying ... take good care of her, St. Francis, until we meet again ... and thank you for sending the wild Irishman Corey to us.