Gimme was particularly good in agility class last night (with one little exception). Her contacts were all flawless and her weaves were pretty good given the challenging entries.
She started the first run distracted, held her sit at the start, but when released did zoomies instead of the course. I got her back and she worked, but was still distracted. I thought she needed to pee, especially since I knew she hadn't even though she had the opportunity. Once she peed she did better, but still not as good as I know she is capable of. Between her times in the arena, she also pooped - so that explains a lot. The second time in she was very good... except for doing the start line release zoomie. She's never really been one to have the zoomies, so I'm going to guess the first time was cuz she needed to relieve herself and then she thought it was fun and decided to try it again. That is something I'll certainly have to be prepared for next time (in two weeks) so it doesn't become a habit.
The second time in, she was amazingly good. So much so that Blynn was really able to focus on my handling, which has become awful in the years since I ran with Michael. Frances was always so forgiving and would do anything I asked, regardless of whether I gave her adequate information in time. Michael was faster and not nearly so forgiving or accomodating. Gimme makes Michael look much easier than I thought he was at the time.
Interestingly she is very sensitive to encroachment on her space. So much so that when she was focused like she was last night, Blynn was able to really see that the scooting outside a curve of jumps isn't about inconvenience on Gimme's part. Actually it is subtle handling pressure on my part that pushes her off the line. That subtle handling pressure was just a slight turn of the shoulders toward her line. Technically that should push them, but I always needed much more shoulder turn to push on my other dogs' line.
When she is not focused, I feel like I have to turn more toward her to keep an eye on what she is doing and give her more direction... but doing so is actually causing some of the difficulty we experience. Gimme really intuitively understands the APHS rules and is going to make me much more accurate in applying them. She really will not let me fudge them.
I know I've said how much she wants to drive the train... well, she insists that if I ever want to have my hands on the controls and sit in the conductor's seat, then I have some improving to do!
Showing posts with label Michael. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Arf-Angel Michael
A to Z Who's The Boss
Titles: MX, MXJ, AXF, AXP, AXJP, NAC, NJC, TN-N
Mar. 8, 1998 – Dec. 12, 2011
Michael’s last day was filled with the favorites he still enjoyed. After his usual breakfast, breakfast #2 was at McDonalds - 2 sausage biscuits and hash browns. Then on to the woods for our last walk together. His nose still worked as well as ever and he had a blast sniffing and snooping. On the walk out I dropped chunks of cheese behind me, which he thoroughly enjoyed finding on the way back – so excited to discover they were growing cheese out there. After agility, McDonald’s was his favorite thing, so we stopped there again for lunch - McChicken, McDouble, fries and holiday pie.
At the clinic we sat and hugged until doc was ready. They had placed a big thick blanket on the table so he'd be comfortable and the lights were turned down low. Doc doesn’t want dogs to experience any stress when the time comes. He gave Michael a sedative and yet, thirty minutes later Michael still hadn't fallen asleep. Doc suggested it might have been the holiday pie, but I think he was just enjoying the non-stop petting, hugs and kisses too much to drift off. Doc gave him another sedative and he did finally go to sleep. When the lights came up, with all the tension and cares of the world gone, Michael looked so much younger. I know he is in heaven, young again and eagerly waiting on the start line for me to come play with him.
I’ve been looking at old pictures and remembering. Michael was such a scaredy cat when he was a pup, so afraid of other people. Agility was a grand discovery and a big part of helping him get past his fears. We dabbled in other dog sports, but it was agility he loved. He had so much fun playing the agility game that it was always a surprise to see his oh-so-serious game face in pictures. We never set the agility world on fire, but we always had fun. I learned too late how to be the handler Michael needed. No matter how clumsy I was, he always ran his best and we enjoyed the game together. We made it half way to a MACH before having to accept the inevitable retirement. His heart was still young and so willing, but his body just couldn’t cooperate.
Throughout his life, Michael was devoted to me and wanted only to please me. He was always watching me, looking for a clue to making me happy. He never stopped trying because he loved his Mom most of all. Michael was sent to be my teacher. I learned so much from him; he made me a better trainer and a better person. Like ripples in a pond, his life touched, and still touches, so many others.
Michael in Pictures
Though he loved agility, he was also very serious about it.
Our first and second Double Q's.
Michael loved riding in the car.
He loved it best when he didn't have to ride in a crate.
Walks in the woods were a lifelong fave.
Even the last walk still contained discoveries since
they'd started growing cheese out there.
I miss you Boy-san. I miss your Noodle-Doodle moments. No one else can be my Noodge. Wait for me and when we meet again you will be my Adja-Litty-Man. Rest well my beloved. Love, Mom
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Our Fun Weekend
[these pictures are of Gimme's altercation with the strange dog that lives in the mirror in my parent's motor home]
On this trial weekend Michael did
about the same as he always does on Saturdays - not great, but not
awful, then usually pulls it together on Sunday.
However, this Sunday
that was not the case. Instead he bypassed four jumps. Going around the jumps I take as his way of telling me that "he doesn't think he can". So, hard as it is to do - he is now officially retired from agility. The salmon poisoning was an unlucky break for us - since that is when he lost so much weight and I wondered if he'd get his strength back with the weight. I guess the answer is "no". <sigh>
Several people expressed concern afterward... and were at least nice enough to let me explain that I was aware of what was going on, knew for sure that he wasn't in pain, and was letting Michael make the decision of whether to continue playing or not, which he did. If he'd been in pain or harming himself, I'd have made the decision for him before now. Naturally, some other people are so judgmental and make that equally clear. Sometimes people are such buttheads.
Retiring Michael was not the fun part of the weekend. I am very thankful that we've already started Rally training (actually have our first novice leg), so we have something to go on with. Just wish there were a tracking group in this area that we could join.
Gimme was a tremendous hit throughout the weekend and everyone loved her. I got so many positive comments that I am positively fat headed about it. I know all puppies are cute (just like I really do know she isn't the first puppy to have it out with their reflection in the mirror [though clearly she is the cutest puppy to do so). Some puppies are just special and I think Gimme is one of those. A couple people said as much, and suggested she be in commercials. All those free treats for being cute meant that her automatic sit for treats had "temporarily" disappeared, though its back now that we are home and she realizes the free ride is over.
She had a great play session with Aussie, Trey (a delightful guy). He was totally appropriate and let her set the tone. He ignored her and was ultra casual and then when she invited play, he let her chase him. It was verrrry cute.
On the other hand, I am continually astonished by the stupidity of some people. Someone I know from trials and before thought well of, was walking by as I was taking Gimme up to the building Sunday. She asked if her dogs could meet the puppy. I asked "how good are they with puppies?" She says, "So-and-so is great, she will bark in her face for a minute, but then she will play nice." As I'm thinking of how to reply, she continues, "I don't know how this one will react. I've never had him around a puppy, but I'm getting a puppy in a few days so I need to try him out on another puppy first."
To say that I was shocked is a huge understatement. On what planet does she think its a good idea to try her unknown dog out on my tender impressionable puppy for the benefit of her tender impressionable puppy. I just told her that it wasn't the kind of experience I was looking for right now and moved away. I kid you not - she seemed to be following me and edging continually closer, so I finally picked Gimme up and put some real distance between us.
On this trial weekend Michael did
about the same as he always does on Saturdays - not great, but not
awful, then usually pulls it together on Sunday. 
However, this Sunday
that was not the case. Instead he bypassed four jumps. Going around the jumps I take as his way of telling me that "he doesn't think he can". So, hard as it is to do - he is now officially retired from agility. The salmon poisoning was an unlucky break for us - since that is when he lost so much weight and I wondered if he'd get his strength back with the weight. I guess the answer is "no". <sigh> 
Several people expressed concern afterward... and were at least nice enough to let me explain that I was aware of what was going on, knew for sure that he wasn't in pain, and was letting Michael make the decision of whether to continue playing or not, which he did. If he'd been in pain or harming himself, I'd have made the decision for him before now. Naturally, some other people are so judgmental and make that equally clear. Sometimes people are such buttheads.
Gimme was a tremendous hit throughout the weekend and everyone loved her. I got so many positive comments that I am positively fat headed about it. I know all puppies are cute (just like I really do know she isn't the first puppy to have it out with their reflection in the mirror [though clearly she is the cutest puppy to do so). Some puppies are just special and I think Gimme is one of those. A couple people said as much, and suggested she be in commercials. All those free treats for being cute meant that her automatic sit for treats had "temporarily" disappeared, though its back now that we are home and she realizes the free ride is over. 
She had a great play session with Aussie, Trey (a delightful guy). He was totally appropriate and let her set the tone. He ignored her and was ultra casual and then when she invited play, he let her chase him. It was verrrry cute. 
On the other hand, I am continually astonished by the stupidity of some people. Someone I know from trials and before thought well of, was walking by as I was taking Gimme up to the building Sunday. She asked if her dogs could meet the puppy. I asked "how good are they with puppies?" She says, "So-and-so is great, she will bark in her face for a minute, but then she will play nice." As I'm thinking of how to reply, she continues, "I don't know how this one will react. I've never had him around a puppy, but I'm getting a puppy in a few days so I need to try him out on another puppy first." 
To say that I was shocked is a huge understatement. On what planet does she think its a good idea to try her unknown dog out on my tender impressionable puppy for the benefit of her tender impressionable puppy. I just told her that it wasn't the kind of experience I was looking for right now and moved away. I kid you not - she seemed to be following me and edging continually closer, so I finally picked Gimme up and put some real distance between us.
Overall Gimme did great over the weekend. She did really well with all the changes, spending the night in my parents' motor home and riding in a strange car (we took her to the Halloween party, she stayed crated in the car). Didn't show any concern about the weird garb of the "witch" that came out to meet her. She only showed slight "concern" about all the newness when we first went in the building on Saturday. I was just so proud of her all weekend. I can finally say that she is completely adjusted. Doesn't mean she doesn't still object to her circumstances - she just has to get in the last word. BTW she also tugged while in the trial building - she's a good tugger overall and I make sure she gets to win often.
I was kind of surprised by how many agility people handle puppies kinda roughly in their "petting". Oddly a husband and wife who have BCs were the worst. Gimme is not shy about showing she thinks that is rude. "Excuse me, I'm the center of the universe and that's not the way you should treat me."
She also watched a good part of the excellent jumpers course and told me she's ready to go in and do that now. I guess we have to get her a 2 year calendar so she can mark off the days and know when to be ready.
She totally won over my parents who are not dog people and think I'm waaaay beyond weird. My Dad let Gimme chew and pull on his socks while his feet were still in them. Then Sunday he was talking about grandson Harrison and said he was just the cutest kid , cuter than any other. And I asked, "Cuter even than Gimme?" And Dad said, "I wouldn't want to sound crazy, nothing is that cute."
And to cap it off, Michael and Gimme had a short, no barrier, interaction Sunday morning. I took her out to pee at the crack of dawn and Michael came with. After he peed, he came over near her and was kinda close and she moved nearer to him and even touched his tail and he just looked at her calmly. So I praised him profusely and took him to the car for a cheese stick.
So all in all a good weekend for Gimme, a sad one that Michael is retired though. I am just so thankful that I have her now to move forward with.
On Monday, Gimme started learning to do a foot touch on a yellow mousepad. She picked that up in just 5 click/treats. Going on to repeat it about fifteen more times, even though I was moving it around and she had to sometimes turn away from me to do it. She was very deliberate in her foot touches. I love seeing this, since that is the foundation behavior for our running contacts. It is sooooo much fun training a canine genius.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Expanding Horizons - hers...
I'm happy to report that Gimme is doing so much better with crating and even allows me to be a few feet away in the house. In fact I can leave the room to get something and return without her fussing. When she does fuss, its short lived and relatively low intensity. 
She has developed a somewhat alarming tendency to boss at her Auntie Meaggi and Uncle Michael and I'm working on getting them to ignore her, we call it "lead by example." Mostly this happens when she has something special in her crate and they ware watching her, so she bark, bark, barks at them. Which I interpret as "Nanner nanner, I've got ---- and you don't." I suspect her bossy forward nature will get her in trouble from time to time.
She keeps me on my hands and knees with my butt in the air a good part of the time. She is the funniest puppy I ever remember having. She loves to rip snort around in the house, skidding around the corners and throwing in a tumbling act here and there. Then she stops and looks back at me to make sure I was appropriately amused. So, in addition to all her other wonderful qualities - she has a sense of humor.
Gimme stopped traffic on Monday with her beauty and joy d'vive... People were stopping and pointing at how cute she was walking along with me. One family actually pulled their car over and got out to come and meet the cutest puppy on the planet... And this has happened twice more since then. She is really a darling and everyone says so -- even without me prompting.
Part of what makes her so darn cute is that she walks so nice on a leash. Because I take her to work and go out and walk her every 90 minutes or so, she is getting a lot of time on leash and is pretty good. It only took her one day to learn not to walk between my legs. Wish I could get a picture, she just trots along beside me with her head up so proud of herself - that's the thing that seems to stop traffic. It's DAMN cute.
Took Michael to Rally class Monday night and naturally had to take Gimme in the building first (and again afterward). Everyone thinks she is too cute for words. And they were all going on and on about her conformation and her natural tuck sits. No one had ever seen a puppy that did a tuck sit naturally. She wasn't sure what to make of all the barking dogs as we got out of the car (its at a boarding kennel). Then when we got in the building, she wasn't too sure about the strange dogs. One Weim they had there is a real sweetie with puppies and even got on her belly and crawled to try to entice her to come close. Gimme just did a couple play feints from a distance. When we went back in after class, she paid no attention to all the barking kennel dogs. She thinks Chip is wonderful cuz he has so much cheese to share. And Karin was great cuz she had these BBQd hot dog bits to share. Even when she's not perfectly enamored with something the first time around, she is always much better the second time. She has the best bounce back I've ever seen, which I attribute to all the early life experiences Tana planned for these pups. They just think new stuff is a normal daily occurrence.
Gimme likes attention, but really doesn't want to be handed to people. She'll put up with it for about a minute, then wants to come back to me, though will stay if I'm right there with a hand on her. She stayed in Laurie's lap for quite a while that way. That may change when she is more confident that I'll never abandon her, then she may be more comfortable staying with others. Of course, when she is larger, she won't really be handed off, per se.
She got her first and second elevator rides and didn't seem bothered at all by the sensation. The only thing that seemed to concern her was stepping over the crack to get on the elevator, but she did and got a reward for it.
And I just have to mention that she stopped traffic - yet again. I was walking back to the car enjoying watching her go after the fall leaves in the grass and a lady pulled over to say what a shame it was that I didn't really enjoy being with my beautiful puppy. Hah! I then held her up so she could pet her through the open car window and she went on and on about how beautiful she is. Clearly an astute grasp of the obvious.
Also on Tuesday Gimme and Meaggi had their first interactions. Overall it went well. There were two little snarks and both times, they had just gotten around a corner from me. The first time I think Gimme was probably being too persistent in her attentions and I suspect Meaggi was establishing boundaries. The second time they were in the kitchen and I'm betting Meaggi had found (or thought she had found) a tiny morsel of something and Gimme stuck her nose in where it didn't belong. There wasn't even any slobber on her and she didn't seem to be unduly upset, calming within moments of it being over. Later on we went outside together and I noticed Gimme showed Meaggi more respect, being close to her but giving her space at the same time. I'll continue to put them together with supervision from time to time and am sure they'll get along; fortunately Meaggi is measured and appropriate in her responses.
Yesterday I finally found something that she definitely does NOT like -- big truck noises. It was unfortunate timing that just as we went outside to get in the car, the dump truck came to take away our trash. Between the backup horn (loud "booooo booooo booooo"), the rumbling and hissing brakes, Gimme was not happy. We walked around to the far side of the house to give her some space, but it wasn't her usual bounce back. Then at my store today, the back where I have to park is about a 100 yards from the freeway and during the day there is a lot of big truck traffic. She was aware of that and showing she didn't like it. So we walked all the way up front for our potty walk and took our time coming back and she was much less concerned with them then. Since I'll be taking her with me on long work days, she will get other exposures to those trucks from a distance, so that should help. I think the sounds are weird enough, but also you can feel them rumbling through the ground and that likely adds to the effect.
Gimme got her first grapes the other day. It was waaaay beyond funny. She wasn't sure what to do with it and took it in the living room, batted it around the floor and pounced on it. Bit it a few times and then finally concluded it was dead enough to eat. She did the same thing with the second one. Now she just bites through the juggler right away and then eats them. Am missing the stalk and kill routine.
Now, I ask you... is there anything more wonderful than living with a fresh new puppy? Not!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Day 3 - Coming Home
Wednesday, 10/20/2010
It was certainly an interesting day. I spent part of the morning packing and the rest playing with the pups.
Without Grace to challenge Gimme and being more than a little possessive of her newly selected person, she was being quite the little twit. While Tana cleaned up the puppy area in the sun room, I sat with the pups on the deck, entertaining them by being a human chew toy. Gimme decided that no one should be allowed to sit in my lap. Whenever she saw someone there, she'd come over and press in between us. If they didn't move off voluntarily, she would drive them away. One puppy made the mistake of coming back to my lap later (for the second time) and Gimme got quite mad about it, persisted in driving her off and wasn't accepting her submissive behaviors as a cue to cease the attack. So I intervened and chastised my girl, which of course resulted in another pouting episode, but at least she got the hint and took it down a notch or two.
I think she may not be impressed by her first 8 hours with her newly captured person. She rode as carry-on luggage and was severely disappointed with that experience. Never having been confined before, she made it very clear that it wasn't what she signed up for. Often attacking her puppy buddy in frustration. Peanut butter in her baby Kong was the only positive in that experience. She found the airport experience taxing, but bounced back after short breaks and did well on the flight, falling asleep after cleaning out her Kong one more time.
People were fascinated and captivated by her. She gives cute a whole new dimension and EVERYONE wanted to touch her. The flight crew loved her and were constantly checking on her - admiring her sleeping. Gimme has her own agenda, so time spent in a Sherpa bag is not on her list. She just knows she is the center of the universe and we hear reports that Colorado tipped when our plane took off. Auntie Tana said it was pretty scary at first, but that things have settled down now.
Uncle Michael hates her and barked at her - she thinks he's aberrant, really aberrant. Meaggi isn't sure what to think of her, and I think Meaggi is just reeeeeally hoping she's not going to be a pain in the heiney like someone else she knows. Meaggi watches her a lot and so Gimme barks at her from her crate.
This puppy is scary-smart and will be everything I ever want for a performance dog, but I have no doubt she will challenge me along the way. As I was eating lunch, she came over to beg her share, trying to climb into my lap. I just waited and when she finally sat, I popped a goodie in her mouth. It only took that one treat and after that she'd play for a minute, then run over and sit for another treat. She even did one tuck sit. She comes from a rawfed litter and has never had that gangly out-of-balance experience, so she's very coordinated. Anyway, back to the scary smart - hours later in the airport, despite all the stress and distraction, whenever she wanted something (like getting picked up), she would come right up and sit in front of me. That has already become her default and now she's learning that sometimes it doesn't work (can you say variable schedule of reinforcement). For instance sitting as a demand to get out of a crate doesn't work (nor does barking, screaming, killing your puppy buddy or dozens of other behaviors).
When we got home, it took her less than 2 minutes to climb to the top and perch on the wire edge of the expen in the living room, ready to leap to freedom. Gimme is having a little difficulty accepting the concept of confinement and separation. Mostly she just screams her objections for a really long time. Her persistence will one day be an attractive behavior, but not the way she is using it now. I'm really having to work to stand my ground, since its an absolute necessity. Not to mention that with her personality, if I give in now, she'll rule my life for the next 15 years.
LAUGH OF THE DAY - All seven of the people in the airport who asked me how long it takes for the spots to turn black. I told them I hoped NEVER, since I'd waited a long time to get another liver spotted Dalmatian.
BUMMER OF THE DAY - The idiot woman who was in line behind me to get on the plane and had to share with me her stupid opinions that I was being cruel and abusive to keep Gimme in the Sherpa bag, since she couldn't stretch out both back and front legs at the same time. I explained to her that while I understand everyone has their opinions about things, I was personally inclined to take my advice about short term crating from the AVMA, rather than someone who was just plain wrong. I'm thinking I didn't win a convert...
She is quite the little girl and already has me in the pad of her paw - but don't tell her (I'm hoping she doesn't find out).
It was certainly an interesting day. I spent part of the morning packing and the rest playing with the pups.
Without Grace to challenge Gimme and being more than a little possessive of her newly selected person, she was being quite the little twit. While Tana cleaned up the puppy area in the sun room, I sat with the pups on the deck, entertaining them by being a human chew toy. Gimme decided that no one should be allowed to sit in my lap. Whenever she saw someone there, she'd come over and press in between us. If they didn't move off voluntarily, she would drive them away. One puppy made the mistake of coming back to my lap later (for the second time) and Gimme got quite mad about it, persisted in driving her off and wasn't accepting her submissive behaviors as a cue to cease the attack. So I intervened and chastised my girl, which of course resulted in another pouting episode, but at least she got the hint and took it down a notch or two.
I think she may not be impressed by her first 8 hours with her newly captured person. She rode as carry-on luggage and was severely disappointed with that experience. Never having been confined before, she made it very clear that it wasn't what she signed up for. Often attacking her puppy buddy in frustration. Peanut butter in her baby Kong was the only positive in that experience. She found the airport experience taxing, but bounced back after short breaks and did well on the flight, falling asleep after cleaning out her Kong one more time.
People were fascinated and captivated by her. She gives cute a whole new dimension and EVERYONE wanted to touch her. The flight crew loved her and were constantly checking on her - admiring her sleeping. Gimme has her own agenda, so time spent in a Sherpa bag is not on her list. She just knows she is the center of the universe and we hear reports that Colorado tipped when our plane took off. Auntie Tana said it was pretty scary at first, but that things have settled down now.
Uncle Michael hates her and barked at her - she thinks he's aberrant, really aberrant. Meaggi isn't sure what to think of her, and I think Meaggi is just reeeeeally hoping she's not going to be a pain in the heiney like someone else she knows. Meaggi watches her a lot and so Gimme barks at her from her crate.
This puppy is scary-smart and will be everything I ever want for a performance dog, but I have no doubt she will challenge me along the way. As I was eating lunch, she came over to beg her share, trying to climb into my lap. I just waited and when she finally sat, I popped a goodie in her mouth. It only took that one treat and after that she'd play for a minute, then run over and sit for another treat. She even did one tuck sit. She comes from a rawfed litter and has never had that gangly out-of-balance experience, so she's very coordinated. Anyway, back to the scary smart - hours later in the airport, despite all the stress and distraction, whenever she wanted something (like getting picked up), she would come right up and sit in front of me. That has already become her default and now she's learning that sometimes it doesn't work (can you say variable schedule of reinforcement). For instance sitting as a demand to get out of a crate doesn't work (nor does barking, screaming, killing your puppy buddy or dozens of other behaviors).
When we got home, it took her less than 2 minutes to climb to the top and perch on the wire edge of the expen in the living room, ready to leap to freedom. Gimme is having a little difficulty accepting the concept of confinement and separation. Mostly she just screams her objections for a really long time. Her persistence will one day be an attractive behavior, but not the way she is using it now. I'm really having to work to stand my ground, since its an absolute necessity. Not to mention that with her personality, if I give in now, she'll rule my life for the next 15 years.
LAUGH OF THE DAY - All seven of the people in the airport who asked me how long it takes for the spots to turn black. I told them I hoped NEVER, since I'd waited a long time to get another liver spotted Dalmatian.
BUMMER OF THE DAY - The idiot woman who was in line behind me to get on the plane and had to share with me her stupid opinions that I was being cruel and abusive to keep Gimme in the Sherpa bag, since she couldn't stretch out both back and front legs at the same time. I explained to her that while I understand everyone has their opinions about things, I was personally inclined to take my advice about short term crating from the AVMA, rather than someone who was just plain wrong. I'm thinking I didn't win a convert...
She is quite the little girl and already has me in the pad of her paw - but don't tell her (I'm hoping she doesn't find out).
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Closing in on the Big Day
Just two days and a couple of hours until baby and me get to meet in person. I'm so nervous, I can hardly sleep at night. Naturally I'm coming down with a cold - can you spell massive doses of vitamin C and eating lots of protein. Also in the last twenty-four hours have cracked my shin on a metal grate (dang that hurts) and have slammed a door shut on my thumb (the nail is turning a lovely shade of bluish-purplish-black). Right now I'm trying to concentrate on taking my time and focusing on the task at hand (or shin, as the case may be).
Things are coming along. I'm at that place in my 'puppy preparation to do' list where I'm down to just a million and twelve little tasks. For me larger projects are easier to do and the little ones just annoy me, so I avoid them. I don't know if that is part of the Adult ADD thing or what. But clearly am down to the wire, so I'll have to bite the bullet and get them done anyway.
Meanwhile a tale about living with old dogs. Recently Michael has been very snarky with sister Meaggi and mostly in situations where I thought it was inappropriate for him to behave that way. Its been escalating as I've been trying to sort it out. Then, quite by accident I discovered the cause - Meaggi's eyesight is becoming a problem for her in dim lighting.
Since her hearing is less than normal, she can't really detect when he's giving verbal warning of impending snark and has to rely on being able to see him and read his face. And he's just a real pain about not liking her to even bump him. Think of a pair of 5 and 6 year olds in the back seat of the car, screaming, "Mom Timmy is looking at me", "But, she looked at me first," and you'll get the drift.
I started by placing a divider in the under-the-computer-desk space, so they each have their own share of the space (which, c'mon, is really big enough for four dogs). But Meaggi was very uncertain about going in there with that "thing" in there. So I bought her a tap light and placed it within reach of my foot. When I sit down to the computer, I tap the light on and when they settle in, I tap it off. One problem solved. Meanwhile I'm making a conscious effort to turn lights on and off in a sequence that doesn't leave her trying to move about and potentially bumping into you-know-who.
Once again I'm learning the lesson of watching the old kids and making accommodations for their senior citizen problems as they crop up. Usually it comes on so gradually, then one day you think, "Oh dear, how did I not notice before..."
Things are coming along. I'm at that place in my 'puppy preparation to do' list where I'm down to just a million and twelve little tasks. For me larger projects are easier to do and the little ones just annoy me, so I avoid them. I don't know if that is part of the Adult ADD thing or what. But clearly am down to the wire, so I'll have to bite the bullet and get them done anyway.
Meanwhile a tale about living with old dogs. Recently Michael has been very snarky with sister Meaggi and mostly in situations where I thought it was inappropriate for him to behave that way. Its been escalating as I've been trying to sort it out. Then, quite by accident I discovered the cause - Meaggi's eyesight is becoming a problem for her in dim lighting.
Since her hearing is less than normal, she can't really detect when he's giving verbal warning of impending snark and has to rely on being able to see him and read his face. And he's just a real pain about not liking her to even bump him. Think of a pair of 5 and 6 year olds in the back seat of the car, screaming, "Mom Timmy is looking at me", "But, she looked at me first," and you'll get the drift.
I started by placing a divider in the under-the-computer-desk space, so they each have their own share of the space (which, c'mon, is really big enough for four dogs). But Meaggi was very uncertain about going in there with that "thing" in there. So I bought her a tap light and placed it within reach of my foot. When I sit down to the computer, I tap the light on and when they settle in, I tap it off. One problem solved. Meanwhile I'm making a conscious effort to turn lights on and off in a sequence that doesn't leave her trying to move about and potentially bumping into you-know-who.
Once again I'm learning the lesson of watching the old kids and making accommodations for their senior citizen problems as they crop up. Usually it comes on so gradually, then one day you think, "Oh dear, how did I not notice before..."
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
All Hail the Mighty Hunter...
I think I mentioned that Michael brought me a dead squirrel last week. So... the other day I'm working in the yard (not yesterday); naturally Michael doesn't think he's getting enough attention. The next thing I know, he's coming toward me, prancing up a storm, and swinging something back and forth... making a big deal of it. About halfway to me, he drops it, pounces on it, it skitters a bit as he pounced a few more times. ...Naturally I'm thinking, "Omigod, he's got another critter and this one isn't dead yet!"
So I call him to me and start planning how I'm going to rescue the poor hapless wild thing - only to discover this time he's got...
are you ready?
An apple with a bit of branch still stuck to it! That's m'boy. All hail the Mighty Hunter...
I'm beginning to think the toilet paper un-rolling wasn't so much to help me get in a puppy mindset. Rather, it may be that my sweet goober is experiencing his second puppyhood.
What amazes me is the realization that it was all a ruse on his part. He wanted attention. He remembered that he got attention when he brought me the dead squirrel. Not having another squirrel, he did his best to fake it - making that fresh-killed apple really act like something. The other realization that amazes me is the belated insight that I played right into his paws and gave him the attention he wanted. Do you have any idea how many fresh-killed apples he's gonna bring to me?
So I call him to me and start planning how I'm going to rescue the poor hapless wild thing - only to discover this time he's got...
are you ready?
An apple with a bit of branch still stuck to it! That's m'boy. All hail the Mighty Hunter...
I'm beginning to think the toilet paper un-rolling wasn't so much to help me get in a puppy mindset. Rather, it may be that my sweet goober is experiencing his second puppyhood.
What amazes me is the realization that it was all a ruse on his part. He wanted attention. He remembered that he got attention when he brought me the dead squirrel. Not having another squirrel, he did his best to fake it - making that fresh-killed apple really act like something. The other realization that amazes me is the belated insight that I played right into his paws and gave him the attention he wanted. Do you have any idea how many fresh-killed apples he's gonna bring to me?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
What A Month It Has Been
I apologize for not writing sooner. We have been very busy here and not all of it geared toward getting ready for the puppy.
First, Michael had a recurrence of his face swelling episode. I feared he'd have to have surgery, but this time when we got the swelling down, the little bump was entirely gone. Last time there was still a residual bump on his jaw about the size of a lentil. This time even my veterinarian's educated fingers couldn't find it. So we have put off the surgery option and am waiting and hoping that this will not reoccur.
Then, as soon as I started relaxing and breathing normal, Michael got salmon poisoning and was very ill for a week. I was very fortunate to be home when he really started showing symptoms otherwise the outcome could have been different. Even still it took him a week to recover and he still isn't on his regular diet (possibly a side affect of the antibiotic). I don't think he can recover the weight he lost until he gets back on his regular diet.
If you live on the west coast, you should look up salmon poisoning (its not just about salmon) and without treatment it kills 90% of dogs in 7-10 days. It only affects dogs, not cats, people, bears, raccoons - just dogs.
Then my slow old Michael caught and killed an adult squirrel. I still can't imagine how he could do that and feared that the squirrel might be diseased. Contacting animal control provided no useful information. I even called the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, who sent me to the state biologist for our county. It took her two days to call back and her advice makes me look like an amateur at obsessing. If I followed her advice - I'd have to sanitize the whole yard! To listen to her its a wonder you people who live in rural areas or the country can keep any of your animals alive. How do you do it? <tic>
I continue my efforts to get ready for the puppy and with less than two weeks to go there is still more stuff on the list than has been checked off. Nonetheless I am making headway on the highest priority items and some of the other things could be done after the great arrival. I'm counting on not sleeping for the last week before going to get the puppy.
The biggest project has been to finish most, if not all, of the basement project-from-hell. Part of that project involved installing, reinstalling and improving the insulation in the basement. Since I'd be using the fiberglass insulation, I wanted to get that done well in advance of puppy arrival, so I could make sure there wouldn't be any fiberglass fibers in that environment. Gotta protect those baby lungs (not to mention the old dog lungs). One more good vacuuming and then will wipe down the walls and surfaces with damp cloths - just to be sure. After that I'll be able to set up the puppy apartment.
Since I've mentioned the puppy apartment, I should describe it. I've done this for many of the puppies I've gotten and I think its the best solution for someone with a young puppy that still has to go to work. The idea is to make sure the puppy is kept very clean, ensuring she develops clean habits. A puppy that never steps in feces or urine will find the idea repulsive as an adult, unlike puppies that track through their waste a lot during their early months. It is also important to solidify in the puppy brain the idea that you don't poop or pee anywhere near where you sleep and eat -- this makes house training go so well. Back when I had litters of my own, I found it invaluable and actually had puppies that went to their new homes almost completely potty trained.
Given how clean Sadie (the dam), Tana and BJ (the human parents) have kept the puppy environment, it would be a shame to undo that. I have seen only one poop in over 6 weeks and that I watched come out of a four week old puppy bum -- within a minute a hand swooped in and took it away. I think Tana and BJ must have a roster, so that there is always one of them sitting on a bar stool watching the puppies, poised and ready with tissue in hand. Okay, so I'm being a little silly, but seriously, these pups have been raised very clean and that is a very good thing.
So I still haven't described the puppy apartment. I use a 3' x 3' puppy pen with a raised floor. It has a door on one side and the top opens. I zip tie the door open and put a wire crate aligned with the door and zip tie it to the pen. The crate is set up with a raised floor that matches the height of the puppy pen. I put plenty of cushy bedding in there and cover the crate to make it dark and cozy - the ideal den to sleep in. As puppy comes out of the den she will find her food/water dishes on one side of the door and the whole rest of the pen is available to play in. She will have a couple safe toys to play with.
What I've found in the past is that within a week at the most, all the peeing and pooping is done in the corner of the puppy pen that is furthest from the food/water dishes. Even though the puppy feeties are not exposed to their waste, they still very quickly try to keep that stuff as far as possible from their sleeping and eating places. As clean as these puppies have been, I expect it to go the same.
That's all for now... more later...
First, Michael had a recurrence of his face swelling episode. I feared he'd have to have surgery, but this time when we got the swelling down, the little bump was entirely gone. Last time there was still a residual bump on his jaw about the size of a lentil. This time even my veterinarian's educated fingers couldn't find it. So we have put off the surgery option and am waiting and hoping that this will not reoccur.
Then, as soon as I started relaxing and breathing normal, Michael got salmon poisoning and was very ill for a week. I was very fortunate to be home when he really started showing symptoms otherwise the outcome could have been different. Even still it took him a week to recover and he still isn't on his regular diet (possibly a side affect of the antibiotic). I don't think he can recover the weight he lost until he gets back on his regular diet.
If you live on the west coast, you should look up salmon poisoning (its not just about salmon) and without treatment it kills 90% of dogs in 7-10 days. It only affects dogs, not cats, people, bears, raccoons - just dogs.
Then my slow old Michael caught and killed an adult squirrel. I still can't imagine how he could do that and feared that the squirrel might be diseased. Contacting animal control provided no useful information. I even called the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, who sent me to the state biologist for our county. It took her two days to call back and her advice makes me look like an amateur at obsessing. If I followed her advice - I'd have to sanitize the whole yard! To listen to her its a wonder you people who live in rural areas or the country can keep any of your animals alive. How do you do it? <tic>
I continue my efforts to get ready for the puppy and with less than two weeks to go there is still more stuff on the list than has been checked off. Nonetheless I am making headway on the highest priority items and some of the other things could be done after the great arrival. I'm counting on not sleeping for the last week before going to get the puppy.
The biggest project has been to finish most, if not all, of the basement project-from-hell. Part of that project involved installing, reinstalling and improving the insulation in the basement. Since I'd be using the fiberglass insulation, I wanted to get that done well in advance of puppy arrival, so I could make sure there wouldn't be any fiberglass fibers in that environment. Gotta protect those baby lungs (not to mention the old dog lungs). One more good vacuuming and then will wipe down the walls and surfaces with damp cloths - just to be sure. After that I'll be able to set up the puppy apartment.
Since I've mentioned the puppy apartment, I should describe it. I've done this for many of the puppies I've gotten and I think its the best solution for someone with a young puppy that still has to go to work. The idea is to make sure the puppy is kept very clean, ensuring she develops clean habits. A puppy that never steps in feces or urine will find the idea repulsive as an adult, unlike puppies that track through their waste a lot during their early months. It is also important to solidify in the puppy brain the idea that you don't poop or pee anywhere near where you sleep and eat -- this makes house training go so well. Back when I had litters of my own, I found it invaluable and actually had puppies that went to their new homes almost completely potty trained.
Given how clean Sadie (the dam), Tana and BJ (the human parents) have kept the puppy environment, it would be a shame to undo that. I have seen only one poop in over 6 weeks and that I watched come out of a four week old puppy bum -- within a minute a hand swooped in and took it away. I think Tana and BJ must have a roster, so that there is always one of them sitting on a bar stool watching the puppies, poised and ready with tissue in hand. Okay, so I'm being a little silly, but seriously, these pups have been raised very clean and that is a very good thing.
So I still haven't described the puppy apartment. I use a 3' x 3' puppy pen with a raised floor. It has a door on one side and the top opens. I zip tie the door open and put a wire crate aligned with the door and zip tie it to the pen. The crate is set up with a raised floor that matches the height of the puppy pen. I put plenty of cushy bedding in there and cover the crate to make it dark and cozy - the ideal den to sleep in. As puppy comes out of the den she will find her food/water dishes on one side of the door and the whole rest of the pen is available to play in. She will have a couple safe toys to play with.
What I've found in the past is that within a week at the most, all the peeing and pooping is done in the corner of the puppy pen that is furthest from the food/water dishes. Even though the puppy feeties are not exposed to their waste, they still very quickly try to keep that stuff as far as possible from their sleeping and eating places. As clean as these puppies have been, I expect it to go the same.
That's all for now... more later...
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Where Have I Been?
Wednesday, 9/8/10
To say that I've been busy would be an understatement - this is one of those weeks where we do all the seasonal transitions in my accounts. When all goes well, its a busy time. When there are mistakes in what they send us... its worse than busy.
Over the weekend, Michael did well. On Saturday his takeoff point for the triple was too early and he dropped bars, so I abbreviated the run and we ended on a fun note. On Sunday I thought I had a good plan, but he threw on the after-burners, so I couldn't get where I wanted to be. It took me about five obstacles to get back on track. Despite my inelegant handling, he turned in a clean run, coming in 9 seconds under SCT and getting First Place. That's m'boy.
A friend who is a physical therapist suggested that maybe he has difficulty with the triple based on what lead he's running on or where he is turning from. Its not that he can't still clear the triple, its that sometimes he thinks he can't and his effort to compensate is exactly the wrong thing. Its mostly a confidence thing.
I haven't owned a triple in the past, but decided we need to have our very own at home so I can do some more training specific to his issue. So on Monday after work I went to Home Depot to buy the things I need to make one. We'll see if it helps once I get it finished and do the training. Now I just need to find the time to make it up.
Over the weekend my parents weren't home, but I stayed at their place all alone. I knew they wouldn't be there, so took all my beading stuff and used the opportunity to spread it out on the floor in front of a Star Wars movie and reorganize the stuff. This should make beading go a whole lot faster if I don't have to dig through all my whole stash to find one little thing.
Since I've been home I've been still working on the living room, getting it puppy proofed. I'm not exactly following the list... ahead in some spots and behind on others - which averages out to right on track. One of the things I've done is to rearrange the furniture in the living room, with the goal of opening up more floor space. I get Ms.Puppy toward the end of October and we'll be well into the rainy season (heck its been raining three days straight now), so thought this would give me a place to do some indoor training. Overall I've made some great headway and I'm happy with how its going. I'm still telling myself I'm going to be ready... he he he...,
To say that I've been busy would be an understatement - this is one of those weeks where we do all the seasonal transitions in my accounts. When all goes well, its a busy time. When there are mistakes in what they send us... its worse than busy.
Over the weekend, Michael did well. On Saturday his takeoff point for the triple was too early and he dropped bars, so I abbreviated the run and we ended on a fun note. On Sunday I thought I had a good plan, but he threw on the after-burners, so I couldn't get where I wanted to be. It took me about five obstacles to get back on track. Despite my inelegant handling, he turned in a clean run, coming in 9 seconds under SCT and getting First Place. That's m'boy.
A friend who is a physical therapist suggested that maybe he has difficulty with the triple based on what lead he's running on or where he is turning from. Its not that he can't still clear the triple, its that sometimes he thinks he can't and his effort to compensate is exactly the wrong thing. Its mostly a confidence thing.
I haven't owned a triple in the past, but decided we need to have our very own at home so I can do some more training specific to his issue. So on Monday after work I went to Home Depot to buy the things I need to make one. We'll see if it helps once I get it finished and do the training. Now I just need to find the time to make it up.
Over the weekend my parents weren't home, but I stayed at their place all alone. I knew they wouldn't be there, so took all my beading stuff and used the opportunity to spread it out on the floor in front of a Star Wars movie and reorganize the stuff. This should make beading go a whole lot faster if I don't have to dig through all my whole stash to find one little thing.
Since I've been home I've been still working on the living room, getting it puppy proofed. I'm not exactly following the list... ahead in some spots and behind on others - which averages out to right on track. One of the things I've done is to rearrange the furniture in the living room, with the goal of opening up more floor space. I get Ms.Puppy toward the end of October and we'll be well into the rainy season (heck its been raining three days straight now), so thought this would give me a place to do some indoor training. Overall I've made some great headway and I'm happy with how its going. I'm still telling myself I'm going to be ready... he he he...,
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
M & M Update
Tuesday, 8/31/10
For those who are following Michael's swollen face. Our appointment today was very good. Michael got an A+ on his follow-up visit. I haven't been able to feel any residue from his swelling for four days and even doc's educated fingers couldn't find anything. So the surgery is off and we'll just see if it reoccurs - hope not. Also, doc used this opportunity to give Michael a full examination and pronounced him the healthiest ten year old dog he's seen. Pretty cool, given that Michael is 12 years 5 months old... Not that I'm bragging or anything...
Then we got in the car for a 2 hour drive (each way) to Vancouver to get Meaggi a tune up on her neck and loin area pain. We'd been down last week and got good results, but they didn't last as long as usual. Right now she seems comfortable and content -- so hopefully that will be resolved.
Cross your paws for the both of them...
For those who are following Michael's swollen face. Our appointment today was very good. Michael got an A+ on his follow-up visit. I haven't been able to feel any residue from his swelling for four days and even doc's educated fingers couldn't find anything. So the surgery is off and we'll just see if it reoccurs - hope not. Also, doc used this opportunity to give Michael a full examination and pronounced him the healthiest ten year old dog he's seen. Pretty cool, given that Michael is 12 years 5 months old... Not that I'm bragging or anything...
Then we got in the car for a 2 hour drive (each way) to Vancouver to get Meaggi a tune up on her neck and loin area pain. We'd been down last week and got good results, but they didn't last as long as usual. Right now she seems comfortable and content -- so hopefully that will be resolved.
Cross your paws for the both of them...
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Puppies... are coming
Sunday, 8/22/10:
Its been a very full day. After a rather disastrous jumpers run yesterday, Michael Q'd with flying colors today. He's twelve and a half, so every time he has a poor run I begin to wonder if this is it, the end of his career. I think he reads my mind, because almost every time I start to think that way, he turns in a stellar performance.
We were expecting puppies on Wednesday, and yet when I got home today I discovered that about half the litter had already landed from the mother ship. And such big puppies too... No wonder they came early, the ship was full...
It seems only yesterday that Sadie and Slade were enjoying a romantic rendezvous... This is soooooo exciting...
Its been a very full day. After a rather disastrous jumpers run yesterday, Michael Q'd with flying colors today. He's twelve and a half, so every time he has a poor run I begin to wonder if this is it, the end of his career. I think he reads my mind, because almost every time I start to think that way, he turns in a stellar performance.
We were expecting puppies on Wednesday, and yet when I got home today I discovered that about half the litter had already landed from the mother ship. And such big puppies too... No wonder they came early, the ship was full...
It seems only yesterday that Sadie and Slade were enjoying a romantic rendezvous... This is soooooo exciting...
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