Colby looks pretty good still!!

This photo was taken a few years ago when she could see pretty well and still had both eyes and doesn't have much grey on her face.This was taken a few days ago. She looks pretty much the same! More grey on her muzzle and lower legs. Funny how the grey hits the mahogany coloring first.She's lost some muscle tone, but really not looking too bad for a nearly 13 year old almost blind girl!! If she were not blind I know she would look more fit, but she still works the gardens and fields and even caught a mouse the other day!!!
That same day Spur was alerting to the neighbors playing across the street. Showing his "bulldog" stance, I guess. He does have a wide chest and elbows that wing out some. Colby's ortho vet said his elbows felt good! Still, kind of odd looking front, for sure. He has some conformation faults, for sure, but he still manages his body pretty well for having spent his first five and a half months in a cage!!!

Weekend goals never happen, or do they?

I made goals this weekend. Why, I haven't a clue, I am not a goal setter. Oh yeah, I once determined to run a mile and I made that goal. A whole mile I ran. I also once determined to finish my morning coffee. That got done! I like my coffee so maybe that shouldn't be a goal?

This weekend I was determined to do just a couple things - TWO goals.

Do my blasted newsletter which I know is going to take me like four hours of hell because my dinosaur computer system sucks ass and makes me insane and is SO slow and dreadful and horrible. Did you know the tick can go nearly a decade without food? I swear my computer can go that long without loading a page of my newsletter, it's on a major diet of despair and doom and I start to feel like maybe the hammer downstairs would fix things. Did you know that about ticks? I saw that this morning on Animal Planet TV. Ticks are the number one dieters in the world. A decade? Then they can eat 600 times their body weight. I hate ticks. I'll never diet for a decade or eat 600 times my weight. That's just stupid.

The other goal? Take the bags of stuff to Goodwill that have been sitting in the front room for weeks. And go get some paint samples to test for the bedroom. Goals. What have I done?

Yesterday I bathed the dogs instead. Oh, but I did add to the bags. I'm like an anti-hoarder. I save things for years, but I am not hoarding them. Please, take them away any time I will be happy. Just take my shit and get it out of here. Why do I save it? I am not a hoarder. I have more bags upstairs that need to go to Goodwill. They have been waiting for years. Seriously, have you watched that show? It's sad. I am not a hoarder. I just don't have too much trouble piling up stuff that I really don't even want and would be very happy if someone would just take away because I'm too lazy to get it to Goodwill myself. I get it to the front room and then it sits in bags waiting. If I had one of those big "GOT JUNK" containers outside I'd happily fill it right up!

What DID I do yesterday? Bathed the dogs. Yeah, like that took me all day. They total barely 35lbs of dog meat, yet it took me all day? I don't get that. I was avoiding the trip to Goodwill? I was avoiding doing my newsletter? Yep. Lazy ass I am. But, listen I'm not really THAT lazy it isn't easy to bathe these little monsters. First, they need warmth to dry. I had to stoke the stove and crank it up to nearly 80 degrees in here so they could dry. I don't have a big blow dryer for my dogs. They are happy to sit by the fire, but I also pile them in warm coats to dry.

The bathrobe under the winter coat. He's not impressed.

He's impressed it fit him and he's all like......"whatevah....I am the cutest dog in the world, whatevahhh..........."Someone wasn't staying!!!I made him stay. I feel those eyes burn into me. Whatevahhhhhhh....... All clean, shiny and soft!!!!

Chicken or a Charlee Bear

Roscoe heads off to far away lands these days. In search of rodent caches. The fields are full of thousands of little nests with all kinds of yummy stuff. Sometimes they find a chicken breast, once a raw drumstick, a danish, often bread and seeds. The rodents store their food and remember the thousands of places, but the dogs have stolen many.

They look like this.......small nests in the grass......

Yum......

Roscoe heads off far away........he doesn't recall like he used to. He's the one farthest ahead. He likes it that way I think because he can get to the caches before anyone else and not have to fight over them.....

Colby stays pretty close, she's the one in the red coat. She doesn't see well enough now to go too far from me. I guess the Charlee Bears I carry for recall rewards are just not good enough for Roscoe lately. He heads off and appears to have deaf ears to my calling. I may have to power up my recall cookies. I really don't like him wandering off that far. We do have healthy foxes and coyotes around here. Haven't seen any in a while, but I know they are there and probably eating plenty of rodent caches, too!!! The lack of snow exposes all those.

Colby caught a mouse the other day and it was kind of thin. I know, rodents are the largest species on earth so there is a very good supply, but they must have a tough time in the winter without the snow cover as my dogs and all the other animals around raid their winter food supply.

When they ask me at the vet's office what my dog's diet is I just say it's varied. They eat lots of different things. Seriously, some days I have to monitor the things they eat and then feed less at meal time.

We have headed to the beach a few times lately and they eat lots of crab parts. Yum..........

A varied diet, for sure!

Mercedes or Nissan?

OK, so my stupid, snide little two paragraph post about Susan Garrett's $5000 running contact class generated a lot of discussion both here and on facebook where Daisy Peel put a link. Yeah, right, it was poignant and I did mean what I said. I LOVED the time I spent learning, obsessing and training Spur's running dog walk. Seriously, I think it is the reason he likes agility today and I think it has made me a better trainer. He is faster, more confident and doing SO well and I credit the running dog walk training with his success.
Silvia's training philosophy is a HUGE part of his success - HUGE. It's just fun. She is all about fun, run fast and have fun. She focuses on speed and fun. To Spur that made so much more sense than anything else I tried. He loved it!!!!

But, I was being snide. I really was.

What I think happened, however, in translation is that people either thought my silly little post was SO amazing (I don't get that, but whatever) or they thought it was not nice. It was not meant to be either, really. It was snide, I admit, I was poking fun at Susan Garrett's marketing plan. And, adding something poignant about my training. That's all. I DO think the long way is often the best way. Short cuts are all well and good, listen these dogs only live so long and people want to get out there competing, fast. Nothing wrong with that and there is nothing wrong with paying all the money for that. And anyone who REALLY thought her method was a short cut isn't being very bright. It's not, she requires two trips to Canada with your dog. Hardly a short cut!!
But, there are people who feel that is wrong, charging all that money to learn her method. I don't. I don't care if you want to spend $10,000 to learn how SG does it. It's your money. You can also buy a Mercedes if you want. I don't really think it is a good idea, however. I think your money could be better spent. I really do.
I said that on facebook, but no one really got it, I don't think. I don't want to spend the money on a Mercedes when my Nissan will do. It WILL!!! I don't really understand why someone buys a Mercedes. Honestly, I don't get it. I know people with Mercedes. They run fine, but they don't run any better!!! Seriously, my experience has been that they cost more and have all the same maintenance issues and when they do need to be maintained it costs more. That's it, that's all. It's more expensive. It isn't any better. OK, so many the airbags are stronger, the frame tougher, the stability better, the ride very comfortable and smooth. I have ridden in some Mercedes, they do ride nicely. I don't know, my Nissan drives really well and handles just fine and has won awards for safety. I just hang on for the ride and zip around town with better gas mileage. And, it actually IS very comfortable, for me.
Look, Little Spur is just like a Nissan Cube. He's no Mercedes sedan. He isn't, but he is zippy and happy and runs his heart out for me!!! He has weak pasturns, slightly crooked front legs, shorter front end then rear, not much neck, but he does run his heart out for me and is cheerful and fun and my best little buddy!!! And he's cute as a button!!!
I trained him using Silvia's method. She offered me advice for free, advice as exchange for Roscoe learning to drum so well and so fast, advice I payed some money for, but essentially she coached us to a running contact and to excellent happy training for very little money. To me, it was priceless and I am forever grateful!!!! She doesn't worry about people stealing her method, her class videos are all public and open so if someone had no money they might even be able to train her method without her help. She isn't worried about that, she has enough students and mental security to share her ideas freely and she is proud to let that happen. I LOVE that about her. She has shown me kindness and support that makes me teary. Really. She is so kind.
Susan Garrett has every right to act like a Mercedes. She's costly, she's secretive, she's not willing to share with everyone her methods, she wants all the money for it so she can protect her rights. I don't hold that against her, I really don't. She can, she's Susan Garrett. People WILL pay her. Whatever. That's her deal. It doesn't mean that I will like it. I don't. I think it's proprietary and it makes me as insane as Apple allowing flash on their products. Stop it!!! After Susan Garrett has done this expensive class and taught her coveted five, her method will leak out. It will. There is no stopping it. I promise. Apple will have to allow flash one of these days. They will, it's going to happen. It's a GLOBAL world. (that's a funny thing to say)
Why not let it happen, SG, and enjoy watching hundreds of people train your method and enjoy that ride and take pride in your method and how it's available and easy and works or whatever you believe about it. Why not? Again, I don't hold it against her, really I don't. She wants the money. I am just saying, wouldn't she feel better about herself if she DID let more people do this? I would. But, I am not Susan Garrett.
I am just a little Nissan Cube. I don't have any method I can charge $5000 for. If I did I wouldn't, but I don't hold that against her. Really, I don't!!!! She wants the MONEY!!!! It makes the world go round, take the money SG!!! But, don't expect not to get critisized for it. It puts a distaste to your work, it really does. I don't hold it against her, I just don't have to think it's a good idea. That's all.

I want more money, too. Money is good. I like money. But, I am not going to charge $50 just to walk your dog for half an hour. I am not that good.
I wonder if anyone would pay that? I do get people desperate for my services and willing to pay "whatever". I won't do it. I am not that good. I am just a dog walker. When you pay me you get a trusty little Nissan Cube, peppy, good gas mileage, functional and fair and I love sharing my work "secrets" with others in this field. The more good pet sitter/dog walkers out there, the better off our world is. There are plenty out there who are not so good, I'm happy to help along those who want to be good. It only helps me. When I am booked I can refer to someone good. That helps me!!!

Wouldn't that be awesome? All those with running contact methods joining together and sharing "secrets"? Amazing! How awesome would that be?
It ain't gonna happen. Not for a while anyway.

Winter has not been so hard lately! :D

I actually even got the Pin Heads to the beach on Sunday. We headed out around 3:00 thinking all those sports fans would be heading home, right? Yes, we were right!! It was amazing the exodus of cars leaving. And people, but there were still some folks there. Sundays I usually avoid the beach as it is just too busy. Spur loves people and will jump on them, especially those who coo and ahhh over his cuteness, which is everyone pretty much. I try like heck to warn them or get him before he does because even cooing people aren't impressed sometimes with sandy dog paws. And he's not great with big dogs, so a busy Sunday stroll at the beach is out for us most days. Not SuperBowl Sunday, though. :D

We had a nearly uneventful time and the dogs loved it. On the way in Roscoe was pooping and I was picking it up and I didn't see the approaching big dog (on leash), but the next instant Spur was barking at them. OH, I apologized and yelled for him to come and the people were fine with it and said it was OK. Damn it, I want to be the GOOD dog person at the beach. It really wasn't a big deal and I am glad they had their big dog (looked very pitty like, but probably nice) on leash, because they didn't have to at that point. It was the path/road in and it's not required to have them leashed. I am usually totally aware of my surroundings, but somehow missed those folks coming along.

Then after a very peaceful and solitary and lovely beach walk we happened upon the exit at the same time as a very pretty border collie mix who CHARGED little Stella, the littlest of our group and at the very last minute avoided slamming her, but spraying her with sand as he/she skidded around her. Shit, that all happens so fast. She was NOT impressed and her person fended off the rude dog. It then started to chase Spur, to which I yelled and shooed it away, saying to it's people........"Is your dog FRIENDLY????".........translation.........."Your dog is NOT friendly!!!"......to which they said......."Yep, he's friendly". To which I said........"OK, but we'll let you go along first". They sauntered down the path at a snail's pace, stopping even to take photos. NOT good dog people. The dog wasn't that bad, but why let your big dog charge a tiny dog???? Why do that and not apologize and try to get the dog away???? I just don't get that. I know dogs will be dogs, but at least make an effort???? I am sorry Spur barked at that pitty mix. I apologized and made a major effort to get him back ASAP. I tried. These people didn't even try or care. They just seemed to feel their dog should be able to charge a tiny dog any time it wants.

Roscoe and Colby both got to go and had double coats on and did fine. They were happy to have smooth walking and no ice or snow. Colby had trouble with the low sunlight, but she manages, poor thing. I would hate to go blind.

That morning I had checked Roscoe's teeth and noticed he lost the tooth he knocked last winter playing the "chase me" game with Spur. He ran into a chair. Damn. It broke and loosened, but my vet thought it might be OK or just eventually come out and not to worry about it, but to keep an eye on it, which I did and it just sort of stayed there kind of loose. I had noticed it was getting looser and looser. It took a year. Someone said I should now call him "Letterman". LOL!!!

We are practicing Spur's table a LOT. Putting "money in the bank". I have obviously failed to train a happy table. Damn it!!! We sometimes lose 3-5 seconds on the table and that stinks. LOVE AKC's "positionless" table. They don't have to do anything, just stand there, love that. But, not USDAA, it's a down. Elbows down before the 5 second count starts. Lately, though, with our indoor winter table training we are loosing only about 1-2 seconds, so it's improving!!!! Dinner last night for the dogs was boiled chicken. It's WAY cheaper than any dog treats. I bought 3lbs at Smahas for just over $6! So, lots of chicken for good tables. The Pin Heads get to practice down stays, too. Why not, they love chicken!
Toulouse found a lovely sunspot to sunbath on Sunday. Sunbathing Sunday Sunspots.
I think he's happy here!The horses napped. What's curious is how they nap. They always do this. Each one facing a different direction. They look sort of disconnected? Do you think that is a natural instinct? I do. Each one has sentry to a different vantage point. You know, in case a snow leopard or mountain lion happens to come through, right? Jazz is SO furry the poor guy has to find shade these days!!!!

Another gamble????

I can hardly believe it!! And this one was AWESOME! It felt good, I breathed. Yep, I actually took a breath. That may be my proudest moment. Breathing! I remembered that, too, later in the day. You know, how you slowly remember your dream. It all comes clear as your morning progresses. My breath, I remember that. It was as he did the second a-frame, I felt this strange relaxation...........breathing. A big breath. I just knew we could get this gamble, it was easy, I took a breath. We did it and not only did we get it we got the third most points of anyone, beaten only by Wicked and Perk.

Yep, some people name their dogs Wicked and Perk. I like those names. Kind of like Dude, only more cool, cuz Dude's not really a cool name, or is it? That's what Rich wants to name our next dog. We are always naming next dogs, even though so many of our dogs already came named. Spur's name was picked out in 84 and haven't had a dog since who didn't already have a name, until Spur. Isn't that when "The Man From Snowy River" movie came out? I think so, 83 or 84.

I can't believe it. A whole year of failed gambles, then two weekends in a row, gambles! And both had teeters in them. THAT's kind of even more remarkable. Well, not really because we have been practicing his teeter at a distance. Teeters..........the bane of so many people's agility existence. I spoke with a friend today and I never knew this about her awesome old papillon, Treat..........he had racked up 6000 MACH points before getting his MACH. You only need 750. But, it was the teeter. Six pound Treat kept flying off his teeter. That's a "failure to perform" and an immediate NQ. Damn teeter. She bought three teeters for Treat. So he would learn all variety of teeter feels. Hmmmmm, more money I need to spend on agility? More teeters? A friend suggested a swap. A teeter swap. Really? Like how we exchange books? A teeter exchange? Might be a good idea.

For now, this is the only video I have. My videographer must have turned my iPad on it's side. That's what happens when you do that. She should know this, she has an iPhone. I'll have to scold her. Do you scold friends who make mistakes videoing or not? Maybe not. Or maybe, she's actually a friend's kid, so maybe I can scold her. Maybe not. She was nice enough to video, but she also missed his opening. Oh well, another friend said she got it on her iPhone, so maybe we have a better one coming. Stay tuned.

$5000 and you get a RDW in three weeks

How sad that supposedly many people have applied for this. Susan Garrett, world guru of dog training is taking applications. Supposedly she has a bunch to now choose for her team of five perfect students. Certainly, she would never have chosen Spur. And the time it took me to train his RDW I wouldn't trade for $5000. It was priceless to me!!! I enjoyed every minute of it and that anyone wants to miss out on that fun training makes me sad. Why? Why would you want to take so little time? Life is too short as it is. Enjoy the ride, take the time, smell the roses, enjoy your dog!!!! Those people are going to miss out on some really fun times.

I just don't get it. The time I spent with Spur training his running dog walk is some of the best times we had. We had/have SO much fun doing it, I just don't understand why people want to miss out on that. Donate that $5000 to a shelter and go have fun training your dog. Life is too short, enjoy it, the LONG way!!!!