Email Frustration...

Not sure what is going on with my email but all week, and probably last week too, it hasn't been sending my emails?! I don't even know what has sent and what hasn't- it doesn't tell me that there is even a problem. It's not until I realise I haven't heard back, or I get an email a few days later askng why I didn't reply or whatever. It's super frustrating. My email is through yahoo, so at this point I am ready to switch to hotmail or something.

Just in case that happens I set up a hotmail address- manymuddypaws@hotmail.com, and now I can't log into it. It just has a white screen. Strange.

Anyway, this weekend is the Canadian Thanksgiving. I am super excited about a long weekend, and the yummy turkey!

Nom Nom Nom 40-52

Nom Nom Nom 40-52, originally uploaded by manymuddypaws.

After his traumatic experience last week I`ve been spoiling him with extra goodies, and of course all the cuddles and attention he wants.

I saw this giant cookie at the pet store and couldn`t resist! He didn`t get to eat it in all one sitting, but he sure had a yummy time of it!

-----------------
Boone is doing awesome- his foot is all healed up, he`s been eating like a horse (see above cookie!!!), and is his normal silly self.
He went on his first off leash run today since he`s been home. He played fetch with the girls and was a barking, spinning, fool!
He is totally and completely back to himself. It`s very nice to have!

Pixel Training Update

Things have been pretty crazy around here since August. I feel like I really haven`t even trained the dogs much. But there is progress so even the little stuff I am doing is paying off!

Obedience
I am planning on entering the Lethbridge show in November to try for her CD. Her stand stay was her weakest exercise and she has been steadily improving. She did it at the funmatch with no issue. Her heeling took a bit of a nose dive, but I have been doing five minutes a day and I have my prancy pixel back. :) And those pesky fronts are looking great these days.

Agility
Contacts have been a main priority. I am teaching her running contacts and am very pleased with how they look. In training she is consistent and fast. Now we need to transfer that into sequencing and trials.

Weaves are coming- she can be pokey in them but I am just going to focus on entrances. My theory is that if she can nail any entrance she should be able to keep a fast pace all the way through.

Distance is something we`ve just started to work more on. Her directionals are great on the flat- now I need to add them to equipment. She understands the difference between an out and a go on, and has a turn. She is in Advanced Gamblers so will definitely need these skills at a bigger distance.

Scenthurdle
She is doing really well and has figured out the game. She has doubts sometimes and likes to drop the dumbbell and recheck them all before bringing it back. But she knows to sniff them now which is the hard part! I am very proud of her- she caught on really fast and certainly seems to enjoy herself!

Other Stuff
The toy diet took a bit of a hiatus and some boring toys have been reintroduced. I couldn`t take the constant pestering and fighting between the dogs! With nothing in their mouths they were biting each other!

I had made a goal for myself to teach the dogs one new trick a month. Somehow I have managed to teach them all to Vito and not to anyone else. :) Poor Pixel doesn`t even know how to shake a paw!

Shiny....

Shiny Car, originally uploaded by manymuddypaws.

My nephew Nolen with one of his most prized possesions. I spent the morning with my sister and Nolen playing at the park. One of my best mornings ever. :)

All or nothing.

Some video from the FCI Championships in Germany. I didn`t subscribe to the live feed, but found this video on Fanny Gott`s youtube page. How amazing are these handlers and dogs! They are all great teams- what an accomplishment! I particularily love Silvia and La at the end...not that I am partial to Pyr Sheps or anything.....

Yippeeee!

My iPhone is back!!! (well, a new one was sent because the other one was defective.)

What a great way to end the work week!

Gentle

I don`t know if all Collies are like Kort- but he is the most gentle dog. Even when he is playing or tugging he is a gentleman about it.





see how he has the toy just in his front teeth. I had to let the guy win!



on the other hand he is not the most graceful dog... :)

Probably the worst photos I`ve ever posted but....

I`d say that they are evidence of things back to normal. lol

Forgotten Photo

photo taken by Paws on the Run. :)

an a completely unrelated subject..

i was on hold with telus for like an hour the other night and had to listen to whatever they pump into the background.

You know when you're not really listening, but you hear just a few words here or there? Well, imagine you hear the words "I could watch you in your room if I was invisible..." Does that not sound crazy stalker-like?

I had to find the lyrics to share. What are people thinking when they write songs like this? lol

Whatcha’ doin’ tonight
I wish I could be a fly on your wall
Are you really alone
Who's stealin' your dreams
Why can't I bring you into my life
What would it take to make you see that I'm alive

[Chorus]

If I was invisible
Then I could just watch you in your room
If I was invincible
I'd make you mine tonight
If hearts were unbreakable
Then I could just tell you where I stand
I would be the smartest man
If I was invisible
(Wait..I already am)

and if you really want to torture yourself here is a link to the video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbhOVKhwO_4&ob=av2e

c r e e p y.

Like a bad dream

40 Hours 38-52, originally uploaded by manymuddypaws.

Someone told me the other day that it will take longer for me to get over it than it will for him. I would say that's pretty accurate!

Last night he jumped up on me for attention
Last night he cuddled on the couch while we watched Glee
Last night Boone slept in bed and cuddled like normal.
This morning he rolled around in bed and snorted and snuffled like any other morning.
This morning he spun (slowly mind you) for his breakfast.
This morning he barked at the neighbors cat in the yard.

and all I can think about is that he may never have done any of those things again. I am in complete amazement that he is home and doing so well.

Home.

Home. 39-52, originally uploaded by manymuddypaws.

He is a little jumpy, and still sore but otherwise doing well. He was pretty excited about breakfast and supper today. :)

40 Hours of Hell

Well. I have had time to digest and think about the last few days. I am still emotional about. And I can`t stop looking at him. It is so incredibly awful to think that he could still be out there- scared, in the dark and cold alone.

There is a difference between a dog that ran away and a dog that is running scared. Boone was running scared. Probably frantic the whole time. One of the sightings I got of him was from a girl who said he ran laps around the soccer field for three hours while they practiced. What kind of dog runs in circles for three hours. I think that he was confused and scared the whole time and it makes me so sad that he had to go through that.

I still have no idea when or how he got out. He is not a dog that runs away- he is off leash all the time with no problem. Even when he`s scared he will come to me. My theory is that something REALLY spooked him and no one was there to comfort him so he did what he does best- run. Away. Until he was calm, and then he was lost. He traveled a lot- probably non stop. I am hoping to have time to make a map to publish here- of all the sightings, and where was eventually found. Dogs are amazing. But it`s no wonder that he`s exhausted!

I am so grateful to my friends. Sunday night every where I looked there were people out looking for him. It was strange and and heartwarming all at the same time. I don`t know what I would have done without them.

And of course my dad- who walked and searched until I told him to go home. He got up at 6 Monday morning to go to the schools while it was still quiet- and waited until the kids showed up so he could ask each of them if they had seen a grey shaggy dog. I am surprised he wasn`t arrested. :)

I am also surprised at the amount of great people in the world. Strangers, who had never met me (or the elusive grey shaggy dog) were more than willing to look for him and spread the word. It is an incredible feeling to know that there are people out there who will go the extra mile.

I am not an emotional person and can`t count on one hand- okay half a hand the amount of times I have cried in public. But this about killed me. Sunday night I broke down more than once as I walked the dark alleys. I almost cried again when the woman on the phone said that she might have found my dog. And I did cry as he crawled out from under the van towards me. I love my dogs. A lot. And Boone holds a special place in my heart- the dog no one wanted, and who has worked so hard these past few years. So there should be no surprise that I am still crying. He just means so much to me.

As dog people you all understand.

So thank you all- for being with me for the past few days. It is nice to know who your friends are. :)

The Story.

Saturday night 9:30-10pm. I go to let the dogs outside for a pee and can`t find Boone.

I walk the front streets calling. And then I called my Dad, Sarah, and Wendy. And then I stopped breathing.

We looked for hours. No Sign, no nothing. Kaleb tracked him for a while, and then lost the trail (or became confused by Boone`s spinning)

I did not sleep. Instead I called the Animal Shelter every two hours.

Sunday. I got up, searched the area. Made posters. Called friends. Called the animal shelter every two hours. Searched again. More. Got a few calls- searched new areas. Searched well after dark. Went home.

Didn`t sleep at All. (called the Animal Shelter instead)

Monday. I worked a few hours in the morning. Well, maybe worked is too strong a word. I was at work pacing by the phone for a few hours while keeping an eye on dogs. And then I rode my bike around town for a few hours, walked the dogs a few hours. Did some calling and emailing for a few hours, and then searched some more.

I made a pretty map with different search areas, and assigned all my awesome friends to an area. And then I got a call (5:15pm).

A woman who thought she had my dog under her van. OMG. I nearly passed out on the spot. I was frantic and not really making sense. Somehow we managed to get there even though I told Jo to go to Scenic, instead of Stafford. Good thing she was just following my directions and not actually listening.

I was so nervous- was it him. would he still be there. what would i do if he ran away from me.

I was out of the van before it was stopped. Calling him. I sat on the ground and as soon as he saw it was me he crawled out and into my lap. I cried. It still makes me teary to think about it. I just held him and told him how wonderful and brave he was.

He tried to bolt away from me so I had Jo bring me a leash. We loaded him in the van and then headed to work where I cut the majority of the burrs out. We gave him water and timbit.

Once home he settled. He is sleeping now in his crate, with an extra bed. I`ve fed him small amounts every few hours and I think he is content now. He is VERY stiff and sore. I`ve given him some Metacam, and will give him a few days before I stress him out with a vet visit. (and a bath!!!)

I know that it is going to take some time for Boone to be okay. I think he will heal physically within a week or so. Mentally not so much. He is nervous dog on a good day. He was forced into survivor mode for 40 hours. I know there will be some work ahead of us to get his mental state back to where it was. But I am confident it will come, and have no problem giving him the time he needs.

I am still in shock really. So hopefully I got all the stuff right. I was going to wait until tomorrow but I know there are some really caring people out there who want to know the story.

Thanks again to all my friends who drove, and walked for hours. And of course thanks to all the positive thoughts and well wishes. I cannot put into words how much your support means to me.

So thank you.

He`s Home!

Boone is home. And I can finally breathe.

No Boone yet...

It has been two nights and it makes me sick to think of him alone cold, and scared.

It seems like we are running circles around him, missing him by a few hours, or even an hour at one point last night.

I have never been so tired. I can't just sit and do nothing though. Although at this point I am just waiting for the phone to ring for another lead.

The dogs and I have been walking everywhere. I went on the bike today to cover more ground. Talk about frustrating.

I just wish he'd show up on the porch, or that we would see him walking down the street...

Helpless

Boone has been missing since last night. It is the worst feeling in the world.

UPDATE: Monday, September 27th.

Still hasn't been found, although there were a few sightings yesterday. Keep thinking of us!

Pixel's Awesome Adventures...

Pixel is an escape artist. Not even kidding.

When she was a puppy she climbed out of an xpen at a dogshow. She was having a good time running around until someone caught her.

This morning Jolene came over and was greeted by Pixel in the front yard. Running down the sidewalk actually. I have NO idea how she got out of the yard. There is a fence board in the back that is often loose, but I am not sure how she fit. Regardless I screwed it shut.

And then this afternoon she got out of a soft crate, and then jumped out of the van window. No kidding. We were at a funmatch and I just kept my dogs in the car to keep it simple (and quiet) in the building. I came out to get Pixel for her turn and there she was running around the parking lot.

Now, keep in mind this is in a rural area with no traffic, but still, a little scary.

She's such a little monkey.

Oh, and the funmatch was great- Pixel did great in rally, so-so in Obedience. Wicca did AWESOME in Obedience- like pretty flawless actually. She did go down on her long sit though- so for the long down I opted to do a sit again and she stayed. That's great progress. Oh, and she was awesome in Rally too. Unfortunately I forgot a sign. :)

Must be the trainer...

So Pixel is two years old and doesn't really understand stay. And Wicca is six, and still has trouble with stay. The boys have an okay stay- Boone's is the best of my dogs, and I didn't teach him...lol...

Must be me eh?

I seriously hate teaching stay. It's so boring. Yes, my dogs know "stay" for practical purposes, but I am talking about Obedience long sits and downs. I admit that I suck at stay, and practice it as little as possible. I have made more of an effort in recent months to teach Pixel- but really am not into it. Apparently I don't have a need for Pixel to get a CD anytime soon!

It's funny, as an instructor I often see people with multiple dogs who end up having the same issues over, and over and over again. You know that when the second (or third) dog has the same problem as the first that it is likely something the handler is doing. I am quick to point this out and generally we try to overcome the crutch. Not so in my own case. Yes, I admit it. But I have not done anything to change it.

So what's the point of my early morning rambling?

There is an Obedience funmatch this weekend that I am contemplating going to. Wicca would have fun, and Pixel could use the ring experience. But maybe we'll skip the stays. lol

The story of her life...

My friend Kim had this on her video camera from the weekend. We had such a good opening, and the gamble was a cinch for her. And then the bar fell.

:)

Thanks Kim for the video!