What's better then one box? That would be two boxes. Now I'm sure that the box is better then the gift.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Agility Weekend
Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving.
After over-eating on Thursday and Friday, we headed out to an agility trial for the rest of the weekend. Moon & Izzy were entered in an AKC trial. Moon had some nice parts to his runs, but messed up the weave poles, so no qualifying runs for him. Izzy had a fabulous weekend. She qualified all 4 of her runs to earn 2 double Q's and a bunch of points toward her Mach title. On Sunday, I was stunned when we got to the start line and she actually sat while I led out one obstacle. In class she always does this great, but when we go to a trial, she forgets how to wait and makes he run for it. She also sat on the table when I told her to - again, she does this at class, but never at a trial. I almost keeled over with delight. In my mind, those 2 things alone made for a successful day, but in addition, she also nailed her weave poles (another area we mess up in trials), and she ran the course clean. I think I was the happiest person at the trial.
After over-eating on Thursday and Friday, we headed out to an agility trial for the rest of the weekend. Moon & Izzy were entered in an AKC trial. Moon had some nice parts to his runs, but messed up the weave poles, so no qualifying runs for him. Izzy had a fabulous weekend. She qualified all 4 of her runs to earn 2 double Q's and a bunch of points toward her Mach title. On Sunday, I was stunned when we got to the start line and she actually sat while I led out one obstacle. In class she always does this great, but when we go to a trial, she forgets how to wait and makes he run for it. She also sat on the table when I told her to - again, she does this at class, but never at a trial. I almost keeled over with delight. In my mind, those 2 things alone made for a successful day, but in addition, she also nailed her weave poles (another area we mess up in trials), and she ran the course clean. I think I was the happiest person at the trial.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Herding
Today Izzy, Moon, and Heidi were entered in a Herding Capability Test (from the American Herding Breed Association). This was a keeshond only event, and 9 dogs were entered. Our Judge and Trainer Denise Teal was awesome. She was patient with the dogs that weren't quite that interested in herding sheep, and was very good with the ones that were a bit over-anxious with them.
The first part of the day was a talk about what they look for during the test, followed by a couple demo's. First was Denise's border collie, Hope, then a demo by Toni (keeshond). Both dogs moved the sheep around the ring, but with very different styles.
After that, each dog got to go in the ring for around 10 minutes to get acquainted with the sheep. Izzy spent most of her time sniffing around the ground and eating sheep poop - I guess that's a real delicacy. She did have some glimmers of herding instinct, but then got distracted by the wonderful smells and trying to find mommy. Moon went in, and was showing real interest in the sheep. He would move them around but then get distracted. Then was Heidi's turn. At first, she was like - what the heck are those things, and can I get them to chase me. Then she decided to bark at them to see if they would do something. The she realized that if she got behind them and got close, they would move, and if she moved fast, they would run, and that was totally fun. Denise then had to explain to Heidi that she needs to not move so quickly, and stop barking in order to keep playing the game.
After lunch it was time for the actual test. Izzy went in first and had no interest in playing this game. She just wanted mommy. Moon went in the ring and would just start to herd, and then turn off. Denise noted that he just needed to take one more step to get around the stock and he would be on his way. Well, 2 non-passes so far.
Heidi bounds into the ring and says - hey I remember this game. First I bark at the sheep and then Denise explains to me that I'm not supposed to do that. Then I run after the sheep, and Denise explains that maybe that's a little too much. Then we're good to go. Heidi passes the instinct test first leg. Denise said she's a spitfire, and noted on her form that she is very enthusiastic with good potential.
(The whipping noise that you hear in the video is just that - a noise. Denise isn't whipping the dog, she's whipping in the air to make a noise to either slow down the dog or to re-direct their path).
The first part of the day was a talk about what they look for during the test, followed by a couple demo's. First was Denise's border collie, Hope, then a demo by Toni (keeshond). Both dogs moved the sheep around the ring, but with very different styles.
After that, each dog got to go in the ring for around 10 minutes to get acquainted with the sheep. Izzy spent most of her time sniffing around the ground and eating sheep poop - I guess that's a real delicacy. She did have some glimmers of herding instinct, but then got distracted by the wonderful smells and trying to find mommy. Moon went in, and was showing real interest in the sheep. He would move them around but then get distracted. Then was Heidi's turn. At first, she was like - what the heck are those things, and can I get them to chase me. Then she decided to bark at them to see if they would do something. The she realized that if she got behind them and got close, they would move, and if she moved fast, they would run, and that was totally fun. Denise then had to explain to Heidi that she needs to not move so quickly, and stop barking in order to keep playing the game.
After lunch it was time for the actual test. Izzy went in first and had no interest in playing this game. She just wanted mommy. Moon went in the ring and would just start to herd, and then turn off. Denise noted that he just needed to take one more step to get around the stock and he would be on his way. Well, 2 non-passes so far.
Heidi bounds into the ring and says - hey I remember this game. First I bark at the sheep and then Denise explains to me that I'm not supposed to do that. Then I run after the sheep, and Denise explains that maybe that's a little too much. Then we're good to go. Heidi passes the instinct test first leg. Denise said she's a spitfire, and noted on her form that she is very enthusiastic with good potential.
(The whipping noise that you hear in the video is just that - a noise. Denise isn't whipping the dog, she's whipping in the air to make a noise to either slow down the dog or to re-direct their path).
Heidi and the sheep
Heidi finishing the test - and passing.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Congrats Tug
Congrats to Tug who got his first point in conformation today. I'm sure Crystal will be posting some new pictures soon.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Happy Birthday Puppies
More pictures of the birthday kids.
Smokee (seems that he got all the coat)
Heidi and Tug on their puppy play date
Heidi, Mama Izzy, and Tug
Heidi & Tug with their birthday hats (can't believe that let us put them on and take a picture)
Happy Birthday Puppies
It's Heidi's Birthday. Hard to believe that a year has already gone by.
For her birthday, I let Heidi sleep out of the crate. Here's how the night went. Jumped on the bed, licked me in the face. Laid down on my pillow, trying to squeeze me out. Stayed there for 10 seconds. Licked me in the face, walked across me to lay next to me. Stayed there for 10 seconds. Walked across me and laid on my chest, lick me in the face. Stay there for 10 seconds. Move back to the pillow location, sniff through my hair. Stay for 10 seconds. Tunnel under the covers. Move around a few time. Stay for 10 seconds. Move back to the pillow location. Move to lay against Moon. Moon does the smart thing and moves off the bed. Finally settles down. Numerous times during the night, wakes up and tries all the locations again, with a face licking at every station. Maybe we'll try again when she is more tired.
For her other birthday treat, we setup a puppy play date with Tug. We met down at the agility building where there was plenty of room to run. Crystal brought doggie birthday cakes shaped like bones, and birthday hats. Crystal took some family pictures, which hopefully will show up on her blog. I took video. They birthday kids had a great time, and so did Izzy and Moon.
Jim and Gail promised some birthday pictures of Smokee, so will post them when I get them. We decided that Smokee got all the hair, and Heidi got the speed.
For her birthday, I let Heidi sleep out of the crate. Here's how the night went. Jumped on the bed, licked me in the face. Laid down on my pillow, trying to squeeze me out. Stayed there for 10 seconds. Licked me in the face, walked across me to lay next to me. Stayed there for 10 seconds. Walked across me and laid on my chest, lick me in the face. Stay there for 10 seconds. Move back to the pillow location, sniff through my hair. Stay for 10 seconds. Tunnel under the covers. Move around a few time. Stay for 10 seconds. Move back to the pillow location. Move to lay against Moon. Moon does the smart thing and moves off the bed. Finally settles down. Numerous times during the night, wakes up and tries all the locations again, with a face licking at every station. Maybe we'll try again when she is more tired.
For her other birthday treat, we setup a puppy play date with Tug. We met down at the agility building where there was plenty of room to run. Crystal brought doggie birthday cakes shaped like bones, and birthday hats. Crystal took some family pictures, which hopefully will show up on her blog. I took video. They birthday kids had a great time, and so did Izzy and Moon.
Izzy, Heidi, and Tug playing chase with the ball
Tug stealing the water bowl
Jim and Gail promised some birthday pictures of Smokee, so will post them when I get them. We decided that Smokee got all the hair, and Heidi got the speed.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Heidi and the packing paper
We got a package today, a large box filled mostly with packing paper. Being a puppy, the package is always more fun to play with then the actual gift.
Heidi hiding?
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