Wicked.

a slight issue with decel at about 36 seconds, and then me being out of position for the chute to tunnel, but otherwise great- NO BARS!!! Freakin' awesome.

Snookered

A Masters Snooker Q- even with a few little bobbles. You can see that although he was paying attention he was still a bit odd- at .45 seconds he goes completely the wrong direction. He's such a dork. lol

Weekend News

Too busy to post much but we all had a great weekend! The dogs were awesome, and the trial was a lot of fun.

Boone-
Masters Snooker Q, Steeplechase Q
He had a great day on Sunday- and we were connected in the ring all day. Saturday not so much- he was happy, but pretty flaky. :) I am happy with him though, and he certainly enjoyed himself!

Pixel
Adv. Jumpers Q, Adv. Jumpers Q, Starters Snooker Q, Starters Gamblers Q. Starters Standard Q Earned her Starters Game Dog Title.
She was a little trooper and ran hard for me. She is such a good girl and does whatever I ask her to. She had some contact issues so I didn't do any contacts at all with her on Sunday. We still have much work to do in that department. :)

Wicca
Steeplechase Q
She tried SO hard! We had two bars ALL WEEKEND. Seriously, that is awesome for her. She paid attention and did what i told her to. Her contacts and weaves were awesome. I am very proud of her- we had some awesome runs with just a little blip here and there. I need to continue to work on my decceleration issues with her; Sometimes she reads them too soon, and some times not at all. We really need to find the balance....oh, and we very nearly ran a Jumpers course clean until I forgot number 14 and got lost.

Vito
no Q's but had LOTS of fun. He was fast, and weaved, and did the tire. :) He was seriously cute. He did leave me every run to go visit with the ring crew but I'd rather that than have him leave and bark at them!

Here is a video of Pixel's 1st Advanced Jumpers Q. She is such a good girl! I can hardly believe she is in Advanced already!

Let the Weekend Begin!

The Whoop Up days Demos were a huge hit all week. We had great crowds, and the dogs and people all did a fantastic job. It was fun- but a LOT of work! I am fricken tired.

Now we have our trial this weekend- today is the last day to finish up the odds and ends of organising a trial, and of course setting up. I have a feeling it's going to be a long day today. :)

I am looking forward to the weekend though- my dogs all ran great at the demo (and I managed to remind Pixel how we're really supposed to do the frame....) Pixel is entered in a full trial for the first time, and this is Boone's first trial back since Winter and his mysterious shut down/injury. Wicca is feeling awesome, and Vito learned the tire a few weeks ago so should be good to go. :)

I am also looking forward to going to trial and being able to go home to my own bed (well, couch but that's another story). We only have one local trial a year so it is pretty awesome to just be able to go home and chill.

So yeah, Happy Friday to everyone. I am sure I will have lots to blog about on Monday!

Note to self:

Don't forget to bring the "hoop" to the demo tonite for Pixel's A-Frame...

Last night she thought she was superman.

Playing Hookie...

to attend a parade. :) Thankfully I have a nice boss. This year our dog group was asked to perform in our towns festival (called Whoop Up Days). We are doing two shows a day- Tuesday-Thursday. We also thought it would be a good idea to participate in the parade. Hence taking a Tuesday off work to walk in a parade....

The parade was lots of fun- I took just the girls and they did great. Wicca surprised me and was really, really good with kids, and Pixel soaked up all the attention.



There were only a few of us that could come (because the parade was on a TUESDAY?!) so we invited our friend and her mini horse Charlie. He was a hit, and pulled a little cart the whole way. I think everyone enjoyed the dogs, and of course they had a good time.

Sarah took most of these photos, although a few were from her friend Cathy.

The whole group! Don't the dogs look snazzy in their bandanas?

Wicca's adoring fans...okay, that's my family...but still. :)

Pixel was a little freaked out by Charlie. She was okay with him when he was a little farther away, but he was trying to sniff her...lol

Wicca resting in the wagon while we waited, and waited, and waited at the set up point before the parade. We were there for a few hours....

and my favorite photo of the day..
Ronald McDonald was quite happy to visit the corgis and kept calling them the Queen's dogs. He even imitated her voice and the wave. I was laughing too much to correct him...

The demo's after were fun, and went off pretty well. I was SUPER tired when I got home last night at 8:30 after having been gone all day. Two more days of demo's, and then our local trial is this weekend....not sure what we were thinking!

7 years old!

Today is Boone's 7th Birthday!

I've had him for just about three years now and love him more than ever. He's been a challenge to say the least, but I just adore him. He is goofy, playful and does the strangest things. He always manages to make me laugh. He is a fun training partner, and an easy dog to live with.

Of all my dogs he has taught me the most. When he first came to me he was terrified of the world, and really put my patience and training skill to the test. I am proud of how far he has come, and how far we have come as a team. He really is a dog that is all heart.



The only puppy photo I have of him. I wish I had him as a baby.



The first week I got him.



My Shadow- always



An agility dog.



and most importantly always up for a few laughs.


Happy Birthday Boonie!

Seriously

I am going to kill you in your sleep if you don't get the camera out of my face.

Rusty

So I have barely picked up the camera in the past few months. And it is showing in my lack of good shots. I did manage to get a super cool 52 weeks photo, but nothing else spectacular.

These are cute though, so I thought i'd post them...

Pixel is always looking at Wicca for "fun." And Wicca is always ahead of the group, and Boone is always at the back. Lol

i almost used this for my 52 weeks, i love all the action in the background. Boone is so oblivious to that sort of thing. He's in his own little world most of the time.

I haz the ball...

Vito plays with the ball only briefly, but is insanely cute about it. Seriously, is he not the cutest thing ever? I just adore him.

Get outta my face......

Get outta my face......, originally uploaded by manymuddypaws.

this is Lily- my parents Chihuahua/Yorkie Cross. She is quite the little b!tch and was not to happy about the camera in her face.

I laughed out loud when I saw the photo on the camera...

Discrimination

scenting I mean, not agility. :)

We have started a scenthurdle team in my town, and it is going pretty great. We have a good bunch of dogs, and everyone is learning at a good pace.

Wicca is trained already, and is very good. Pixel is just learning. She has a good nose, but is in such a hurry to get back for the cookie that she is a snatch and grabber- grabbing the most convenient one regardless if it is hers. :)

I am going to spend some time this weekend working on teaching her to think with her nose, instead of her stomach....

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And because I can't have two posts in a row without a photo here is one from a long while ago! I hope to have some time this weekend to take some new ones!

In the dark...

I have the worst luck ever with electronics. A little over a month ago I got an iPhone. Not a 4G mind you, but an iPhone none the less. My blackberry died and the iPhone was what I was looking for.

I love my new phone. It's shiny, fast, and very fun. And then yesterday everything went dark. Literally. For some reason I have no backlight. Which means that I can't see the freakin' screen. I called Apple and they suggested I restore it to factory settings in case it was a software issue. I just finished that, and it's not. It's still dark.

And I've somehow deleted a whole bunch of shit off my phone...which will all need to be put back in manually.

So now I will need to call again and see what the next step is. Stupid technology anyway....

Sisterly Love

Paw it Forward

During my move I got a parcel in the mail and totally forgot about it until the other day. :) Which would have been okay, but the dogs helped themselves to the treats and goodies before I could photograph them....

Amy, from Raglan Cardigans sent along two bags of biscuits, and some really yummy chewies. (which were eaten I assume in all one sitting...) She also sent along this fabulous little toy- which Wicca has claimed as hers and refuses to put down.



Thanks Amy!!!

Anyway, as part of the game, the first two people who answer and say they want to join in, I will also send on a package to each!

UPDATE: email me if you are one of the first two- manymuddypaws @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Accidental Training

I often tell my students to be careful and clear about what they are rewarding their dogs for. Last night I realized that I have inadvertently taught pixel that "front" is an action only cue.

I teach front initially by walking backwards and clicking the dog when they are in the right position. And then I add the sit, but often I start off by moving backwards. Last night I simply asked her to front and I got a whole bunch 'o behaviours- but none of them front. :)

It seems that Miss Pixel doesn't actually understand my verbal cue very well, but is instead on relying on my body cues as to what she is supposed to do. After a few repetitions of no movement from me and heavy reward for her moving towards me on the "front" cue she started to clue into what I wanted. It will take a bit of time to get this I am sure.

On an Obedience note I SO enjoyed working my own dogs in a class setting last night. I started a "drop in" obedience hour once a week. I am not instructing, and people can do their own thing, and I get to work my own dogs. It was pretty fun!

Crawford

I am such a sucker for Corgis. I can't even resist. But seriously who could?

Crawford is a rescue- his family loved him a lot, but the new baby has severe allergies. Crawford was spending most of his time ou tside or downstairs and was pretty miserable. So he is looking for a new home.

I seriously love him already- he is very much a gentleman and has way better manners than my dogs. :) He doesn't jump on furniture unless invited, listens all the time, doesn't get into the garbage and is just a good boy! (i told vito that he should take some lessons)

Crawford is six years old and is in pretty good shape. He is a little chunky, but I've already got him on a diet. He is active and loves to play. He gets the crazy zoomies around the yard, and loves to play with Wicca. They wrestle and chase, and are just very cute together. He doesn't much like the cat, but leaves him alone when I tell him to.

Of course I am fostering him myself- because I couldn't resist- and I will be extra picky about who he goes to. He deserves a perfect home. I am willing to ship him to the right home. :)

You can see more pics on the windy city blog- http://windycityrescue.blogspot.com

Settled

The dogs have taken the move amazingly well. Boone especially has surprised me. After just a few days they act like we've always been at the new place. Even Bruce (the cat) has adjusted really quickly to the new house. He is actually coming out more, and seems much more relaxed now than he did before. When I got home from work yesterday he was curled up on my bed- and you could see that there was a dog up there with him at one point.



We've explored the neighborhood, although there is still one more park to check out. I am pretty excited that there are two big parks within walking distance. The dogs will certainly enjoy it!

The house itself is still not completely unpacked. I hope to finish this week and get rid of the boxes and stuff just laying around. The yard also needs a bit of work- still haven't built the run. Was hoping to do that already, but there are only so many hours in the day. The dogs are enjoying the freedom of the huge yard though so they aren't complaining. :)

I will take photos in the next few days so you can see what a difference a few coats of paint will make!

We're in.

Well. The dogs and I are moved. It's pretty wonderful I must say. Everything looks so good. The dogs LOVE it- the house, the yard, everything.

There is still a fair bit to be done. I still have random boxes here and there. Curtains still need to be hung, and the bathroom is one giant box- but we're in. And more importantly we're out of the old place.

I am going to the old place today and tomorrow to clean and then will be done. I am so excited. It's such a relief, and it's actually quite unexplainable.

and we've met a few of the neighbors...
our neighbor is a cat lover and has about 10 or 12 of these little guys running around. The dogs have already started to teach them to stay out of the yard...

I thought I'd be too busy....

To be sad about missing nationals this weekend.

It turns out that even though I am busy and exhausted from all the painting, cleaning and moving, I am STILL thinking about it.

Sigh.

I was doing okay until I saw some facebook comments and photos. It is hard not to want to be there.

Next year WIcca and I will have our shit together. Because this seriously sucks. (and if not wicca I am sure perfect pixel will be ready.....)

Almost Moving Day

Tomorrow is the day. I am so excited. Most of the hard work is done now- so that's a relief!

Will take photos and post on Sunday! :)

Oh, and as a side note the Lethbridge people are doing awesome at Nationals so far- some clean runs for Steeplechase and K made it through the pre-qualifier with only four runs. Wooohoo!

Rally Video

Why did the Chicken Cross the road?

I got this in an email today and thought it was too funny not to share. Normally I don't even read the forwarded jokes but this totally made me laugh out loud. Sorry if it offends anyone.
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WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?
(Dog Trainer Version)
Author: Unknown

Pavlov: we fed the chicken on the opposite side of the road each day at 4p.m. until the chicken’s autonomic system actually began causing the chicken to cross the road at 4 p.m. without even questioning the “why.”

B.F. Skinner: on prior occasions when the chicken voluntarily crossed the road, this behavior was followed immediately by a reinforcing consequence.

Cesar Milan: I bullied, chased, poked, and intimidated the chicken until it raced across the road, because I am a strong leader.

Barbara Woodhouse: You just say, “Walkies” with the right accent and place a crumpet on the other side of the road.

Karen Pryor: by associating R+ with road crossing and P+ withstanding still, with a VR schedule, and offering a reward in keeping with the Premack principle, we increased the intensity and frequency of the road crossing behavior.

Bill Koehler: a few well-timed pops on the choke chain and the chicken was cheerfully to crossing the road.

Nicholas Dodman: I gave the chicken fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, carbamazepine, and azapirone and then it was happy to cross the road.

Patti Ruzzo: I crossed the road, pausing every step to spit a treat out of my mouth like a human pez dispenser and the chicken followed along catching the treats.

Electric Collar Advocate: whenever the chicken does not cross the road I give it an electric shock. But do not worry, the shock is no more than you would feel if you walked on a carpet wearing socks and it does not bother the chicken at all. The feathers standing up and the smell of burning flesh mean nothing. In fact, they are happier having nice clear communication than they would be otherwise.

Yuppie: chickens are just like little people in feather jackets, and if you love them and give them diamonds and feel sorry for them all the time, they will be happy to cross the road for you.

Paris Hilton: Because I put it in a Gucci bag and carried it.

Shelter director: Any chickens that do not cross the road will be euthanized for their own good, and the others we will ‘adopt’ out tomorrow for only $200 each. Please send us money so we can keep doing more of this important work!

HSUS member: I do not know anything about animals, I have never been around animals and am not really fond of animals, but we passed a law mandating that chickens be kept without cages because animals belong only in the wild and cannot be happy coexisting with man, so now they are walking wherever they want.

PETA member: chickens have the right to live in world without roads. Any chicken that lives within a hundred miles of a road is suffering an inhumane existence and might eventually be hit by a car so we should kill it today to ensure that it does not die tomorrow.

Before....

I spent most of the day Sunday cleaning the new place, and all day Monday painting. Thanks so much to my friends who were able to come and help- it made it much easier to share all the work!

The house is very cute, but the color choices were really, really bad. Like worse than anything i've ever seen. When I first went to look at the house it was difficult to look past the paint color but I did and am very glad for that!

The whole house was blue- different shades of course.

The kitchen and porch were aqua teal color,


the living room was white with a weird purple/navy wall and trim,



the front bedroom was white (Stained yellow) with bright blue trim,

and the back bedroom was baby blue...


the worst was the bathroom. Three walls were bright blue. Like so bright you couldn't look directly at it....


But after a full day of painting it really looks amazing- there is still another few hours of painting to do but the most of the work is done. Once it is all done I'll take some photos to post. You won't believe the difference!

Oh, and I had to take a picture of two of my favorite things...

My own thermostat (I've not had control of my own heat for the past four and a 1/2 years)


and the yard. It is huge, and will be very beautiful when I am done with it. I'm ordering gravel for the dog run on Tuesday. The dog run will go on the left in the photo- where all the dirt is right now. It will be really nice to be able to just let them out and not worry. And still have a nice grassed yard to train in.


Stay tuned for more photos over the next few days!

AKC Show

I travelled with Jolene (One Collie) to Spruce Meadows in Calgary for one day of Rally. The dogs were great, and I was very impressed with them.

Wicca earned a 94 in Excellent and a 99 in Advance- her first RAE Leg (i think she needs ten)
Pixel earned her first Advanced leg with a 98.
And Boone earned the last leg he needed for his Advanced title. It wasn't pretty and he had a melt down but after I took a second to calm and pet him he was able to refocus. It was a very loud, and very busy environment and he was pretty overwhelmed.

It was a great day though- bought a cool Cardigan shirt, and had a good time with dog friends.

Congrats to Jolene and Kort for earning the last two legs needed for his Rally Novice title, and Congrats to Lisa and her little dog Zack for earning his Novice title too!!!!!