We had our fabulous team of groomers here on Saturday, bathing and clipping the dogs over at Widget’s House. One of the dogs I wanted them to work on was Noodle the wobbly Collie mix, who has thick, wool-like hair that needs to be cleaned up often. But because Noodle can’t really walk much, and she’s too heavy to carry the entire way over to Widget’s House (about 50 yards from our house), I decided to drive her over on the ATV.
One of the common sights out here in the Rocky Mountains is the rancher on his ATV, with the proverbial go-everywhere cow dog — often a Border Collie — perched behind the seat, going along for the ride and ready to round up cows on a moment’s notice. As I carried Noodle out to the ATV, her eyes got bigger and bigger, as if she thought I had suddenly forgotten she was disabled and I was confusing her with, well, a working dog.
I pulled her onto the seat in front of me, wrapped an arm around her, and off we went. Any time we went faster than, oh, 2 miles per hour, she would turn and look at me nervously. I’d lean forward, she’d lick me on the face for reassurance, and then she’d go back to staring straight ahead with big eyes.
Her first ATV ride was a piece of cake compared to what awaited her at Widget’s House. A bathtub, electric clippers, a hair dryer, and three determined ladies who were going to spiff her up whether she wanted it or not. Noodle was not exactly a happy customer, and when I went back to get her late in the afternoon, she gave me this "You betrayed me" look. (Seen that before.)
I carried her out to the ATV again, swung my leg over, plopped her on the seat, and off we went on the return trip. This time she was much more relaxed. (Anything’s better than electric clippers, huh?) Alayne was waiting with the camera when we pulled up to the house. She got the photo above as I was getting ready to step off with Noodle under my arm.
Noodle was just relieved there weren’t any cows involved.
—
Widget is home! She came back on Saturday, and is now back to her usual bossy, boisterous self!
Rolling Dog Farm Blog 
Leave a comment