This blog is in memory of our beloved Border Collie Tippy who died on July 28th 2010. Every Sunday over the course of the next few months I will post memories and pictures of her life with us, both as a working farm dog, family pet, best friend and work mate.







Sunday 10 October 2010

Possessive Tippy

In my last post I told of how Tippy liked to ride the tractors, what I didn’t mention was how possessive she was over them. A couple of occasions spring to mind when she let it be known who’s tractor it really was.

One time we had some contractors doing some work for us and one morning I had left our tractor parked in their way while I went to attend to some business with a cow in one of the sheds. I can’t remember what it was we were doing but as me and my workmate Steve were busy working away this young man came in the shed all red faced and very shaky. It turned out that he had got on my tractor to move it so he could get past but what he didn’t realise was that Tippy was behind the seat ready to pounce which she duly did some time after he climbed in the cab. The shock of her actions and the surprise was enough to turn the young guy in to a quivering wreck and it was some time before he felt able to enter in to any more work.

Another time when she laid claim to the tractor was when me and Steve were fencing at Moor Farm, we’d worked our way from the tractor so after a while Steve walked over to bring it back closer to where we were now working. He walked over to the other side of the field and climbed on the tractor but then I saw him get off and come walking back again and I was thinking it wouldn’t start or something. When he got back to me he announced that I would have to go and fetch it because Tippy wouldn’t let him get on the tractor. Apparently as soon as he sat on the seat she started growling at him. I don’t doubt him as he wasn’t the sort to make stuff like that up, especially as he had gone to the trouble of walking right across the field but after knowing Tippy for fifteen years I still find it hard to imagine her being that way with anyone as she was usually the most placid dog you could imagine apart from the odd occasion when she thought someone needed rounding up and moving on then she would do the usual collie trick of nipping their heels for them.

3 comments:

  1. She knew they didn't belong there. That was your seat and she was keeping it safe for you!

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  2. Pretty good anti-theft device! Haha

    Wyatt and Stanzie

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  3. Dogs are just the best aren't they! I've just finished reading all of your posts about Tippy and they've made me both laugh and well up. We lost our first b/c, Squire, just over three years ago and Tippy reminds me of him in looks.

    Thank you, Rob, for sharing your stories.

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