Pinch's First Day

Wow, things have been going far better than expected.  Pinch slept through the night (to bed at 9 and up at 5) and hasn't peed or pooped in the house....yet.  He's a very busy boy and loves to interact with people and I was thrilled to see he is already offering behaviors to get praise.  He seems to understand Sit already and we are working on the down next. 
This morning we left at 7:30 am to go for the first herding lesson of the season.  We brought Moto, Daisy and Pinch.  Moto did OK and actually better than expected in the small pen, which he typically does not like working in.  Daisy of course was great - she's a BC.  Pinch watched the goings-on with great interest so we brought him in with one of her bottle-fed sheep to see how he would react to seeing a sheep up close and personal.  Not so much - but he had great fun chasing Cathy's boots, smelling and licking sheep poop, and he did bounce after the sheep for about 3 seconds.  I don't think he'll be much of a herding dog but we'll give him lots of exposure and see if the ol' instinct kicks in. 
It's amazing how quickly he is just fitting right in.  Moto and Blitz are already playing with him and I think Daisy will be next.  Shiloh is disgusted with all puppies and Dusty is tolerable of him as long as his naps are not disturbed.  Moto is just the best dog - he held out a tug toy for Pinch to play with, and ever so gently played tug with him. 
So we are off to a wonderful start.  He's sleeping now which gave me this chance to get on the computer.  Peace and quiet won't reign for long though so it's time to sign off and get laundry done!

Pinch Has Arrived!

It's been a wonderful day, and even thought I was prepared, I've forgotten how exhausting puppies can be!  OK, maybe I'm just getting old(er). 
The breeders did their usual fantastic job socializing him and the ride home was uneventful.  Once home we brought him to a neutral spot (the front acreage) and one by one he met each of the dogs, beginning with Dusty and ending with Moto.  Dusty didn't care, Shiloh practically said "not ANOTHER one!!!" Daisy was maternal, Blitz initially was growly and Moto and he hit it off immediately.  Then into the house and into the puppy pen where he could observe and be observed and everyone was safe.  That lasted about five minutes and then he wanted OUT!  I gave it a try and the result was puppy skitters followed by Blitz and Moto having a grand old time.
He's so far pottied outside every time, no accidents yet.  I have to say he is everything I could ever want in a puppy.  Just dying to learn and explore and great social skills with dogs and humans.  I'm very, very impressed and excited about our future.
But one day (or minute) at a time.  The true test will be his first night in his new crate.  I'm hoping for some sleep, good thing tomorrow is a holiday!
Pics or movies to come but it may be awhile as he is very fast and it's hard to capture more than a blur!

Pupperations

Here's a picture of Pinch taken from our visit on Sunday.  It was one of the few that wasn't a blur.  He's 8 weeks old now and very full of himself.  Even though it's been "just" 2 years since we last had a puppy, our homestead is no longer puppy-proofed.  Along with the basic hide-the-wires-and-get-stuff-away-from-eye-level things, we need to line our deck with puppy-proofed fencing as a little guy can squeeze between the rails and sky dive to the patio below.  We need to baby gate the stairs.  We need to make a Safe Area in the kitchen where puppy can see all going on around him without hurting anything or himself. 
I'm trying to be fully prepared as this is an action-packed little guy.  He'll need to wear a collar all the time so I can quickly attach a leash.  In the back yard I'm not sure yet if he can wriggle through the squares in the fence or under the gate.  We're in the country so we need to worry for awhile about hawks and owls, and always coyotes.  In our lives a 100% recall is MANDATORY.  On our nightly walks around our property, Dusty and Shiloh remain on leash.  Dusty because he is a bit senile now and wanders off on his own, and Shiloh because he is stone deaf and if he decided to leave the pack it could be disastrous.  The other three have amazingly good recalls.  But I digress.  Let's get back to the collar.  Yes, I know I bought him a beautiful purple-and-black velvet-lined collar.  It's too good to be worn daily.  That's for when I'm parading him around to the oohs and aaahs of people out in public.  So he needed an "every day" collar, which led me to a PetSmart expedition.  I found a simple little one and was ready to purchase it when I went by some really pretty ones.  I find I enjoy finding accessories for a black dog.  There was a lovely little black collar with diamonds on it.  Oooooh, shiny. It was only a few dollars.  Had to have it.  OK, all my leashes are brown.  Had to find a matching black leash.  I couldn't bear thinking of my new puppy in an "old" crate so had to get a new one.  Then of course had to get a bed.  Oh, and here's some cute toys.  You get the idea, one thing led to another and PetSmart extracted quite a bit out of my wallet.  God help me once he's ready to show as all my show clothes are for brown dogs. But the house and home are readying for our new arrival.  Our home and lives will be turned upside down for awhile as everyone's way of life is disrupted.  I can't wait!

Obedience Trial, Travail and Tears

Moto finished his RN (Rally Novice) title this Friday at the Sheltie specialty in high style, with a 1st place and a score of 98.  The 2 point were lost to "small crowds" as the judge put it.  He then went on to comment that he was a nice working dog.  High praise from this judge and I was very pleased.
The day went well for a lot of our club members who won lots of the obedience and conformation classes. I put a ton of money into the raffle but didn't win anything - drat!  This caused a nasty stint of compulsive shopping.  Had to get grooming supplies, a new collar for the puppy - not just ANY collar, had to be a designer collar and matching leash - and OH!  There is the perfect shirt to wear that matches the collar, custom-made of course.  I had to reel my wounded checkbook back in before I really went crazy.  But still it was fun and I'm enjoying looking at all my treasures.
Some of my friends did very well at the all-breed trial Saturday and it was so thrilling to watch the novice class most of all.  I'd been training with a few of them and while some dreams were realized a few hopes were dashed.  And some of the "B" class dogs did very strange things.  You could see the disappointment on the owner's faces.  What I realized was the "B" competitors managed to keep their emotions in check while some of the novice people did not.  There were some red eyes from wiping away tears.  Back when I first launched Shiloh I had a few teary moments myself.  It was great to see hugs and words of encouragement given to discouraged competitors.  Hey, we're all in the same boat and have our good and bad show days.  That's what I love about the sport - friends are there to celebrate when you do well, and there to offer a listening ear and a hug when you don't.  And when all else fails, there's always the shopping.
Moto got a 4th place with a 99 on Saturday.  The Rally building was not air-conditioned and it was hot, especially for my big furry boy.  Lesson learned: Moto needs to learn to try hard even when he is not completely comfortable.  From this point forward any little lack of effort needs to be corrected.  My Wednesday night "coach" showed me a good hands-on correction that is working very nicely.  No one is harmed in the process.  I do believe with Mr. Moto this is going to be an on-going effort since he is not a drivey boy.  But dang, that dog can be accurate. 
Going to see "Pinch" today and I hope to put more pics up later.  He will be 8 weeks in a few days.  I'm bringing the collar and leash to see how they look on him.  It's black and purple, so should be quite striking!

Letting go and looking ahead

Yesterday was emotion-packed.  I took Blitz to our obedience class to see how he was feeling.  Yes, he was rushed indoors because it was pouring rain.  He had no time to become acclimated; however he'd been there many times before.  He just couldn't do well.  Even after he had gotten used to the noisy environment (rain on a metal roof) and he tried his very best, I realized it's time to let go and forget the idea of showing him.  Permanently.  I realized I was holding onto the dream of us having one triumphant moment in the ring, then I could retire him.  But the hard truth is, it just cannot be.  It's not fair to show a dog - healthy or not - that isn't sufficiently prepared to be shown.  While he was trained quite a bit when he was younger that will not help him now.  Completed class swallowing down the lump in my throat.  I watched "Glee" the previous night and this song hit me between the eyes - the performance of "I Dreamed a Dream".  Yes, it's a bit dramatic, but it captures the emotion I feel of letting go of showing Blitz, my magnificent, special boy.

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/watch?v=6DqVJ8KOKm8&feature=related

He'll remain at home, much loved, to enjoy the rest of his life.  Thank you Blitz for all you have taught me.
When I arrived home hubby offered a loving shoulder to cry on but then the phone rang:  it was Blitz's breeders - the bi-black I'd had my eye on was mine!  I was so thrilled I screamed!  Because of all the "coincidences" his name will be Cameo Dream Came True, call name "Pinch" as in pinching yourself when a dream is so good.  He'll be here first week of June.  A clean slate and a new beginning.
Then I saw I had voicemail on my cell phone.  It was my sister, and Barry has been accepted into a clinical trial to treat his cancer.  That too will begin the first week of June.  Once again hope is rising.
Perhaps this is a sign of things to come:  someone will hire my husband and legal issues from the car accident will be resolved. 
What was so amazing about yesterday was: one dream died, but I was quickly blessed with another dream to take its place.  And to never give up:  when you have hope, miracles can happen.

Good Ol' Moto

Just days away from the Sheltie specialty now and I'm going up and down emotionally about Blitz. We trained a bit yesterday and while it was OK, it was not his usual amazing performance. I'll take him to class tonight and let him do the opening group heeling and see what happens. If it's again just OK I will probably pull him. It will just about kill me but I need to think about his needs and put them ahead of mine. He loves to train and show, but if it makes him worse in the long run, it's better to keep him at home, love him, and give him the best life for however long God deems him to be here on earth.
So I've been focusing on Moto more and re-evaluating how I train him. I've done some pretty good things (patting myself on the back) but boy, have I made some mistakes, too. The biggest mistake is going too fast in my training. He is very intelligent and I've rushed past a few foundation elements that are now missing. Like the fronts - how long have I litanized that in this blog? So some backchaining all the way to foundation basics needs to be added back.
While he's not a drivey dog, he's been doing some pretty good stuff lately. He needs a lot of seasoning and I anticipate at least another year - if not longer - before he can enter "real" Obedience.
While I'm an emotional wreck over Blitz, I know I will have Moto at my side. I know what kind of performance he'll deliver. It won't set the world on fire but he will do OK. It's nice to know I have Trusty Moto to help me through Friday. That dog has been my rock through so many things now. I just appreciate him more and more.
I'll get to see the puppies again this weekend. Nary a peep whether or not the bi-black is going to be a pet, which probably isn't good news. However, a week in a puppy's life is a LONG time, and that nice bi-blue may have come more into his own. It will be interesting to see.

Welcome Wagon: Weird, Wacky and Wonderful

A completely non-dog post.
I own a busiess called Community Hospitality, but it is exactly the same concept as Welcome Wagon - I bring a basket of goodies to all new residents in our wonderful town to help them get acclimated to what we have in our area.
In the "good old days" I could call Information, get a phone number, call and make appointments. With the dawn of cell phones I now must hit the streets and make cold calls. It's not hard as I'm not selling anything but occasionally I walk into unusual situations.
Like a very overweight, elderly man sporting *ahem* low riding jeans and no shirt. Nice man, just a big distracting. Or the really busy family that said "we have exactly five minutes - talk fast!" And the list of strange events go on. But occasionally I have people who have relocated because of a tragedy, such as the gal whose boyfriend was murdered, or the family who suffered a home invasion, was robbed and their house burned to the ground (they escaped with their lives). It's stories like these that make me realize how unpredictable and precious life really is, and help me to count my many blessings.
And then of course there are my clients - the businesses who put items in my basket and pay me per visit. I have wonderful clients and am lucky to call several of them my friends. But there is the occasional grumble (no one redeems the coupons I gave you) and like any job, you hear what is wrong the vast majority of the time. Today was different though! My cell phone rang while I was driving around welcoming people. On the other end of the line was one of my clients who called to THANK me for doing a good job! Apparently she'd had a very good month thanks to my handing out of her coupons. Unbeknownst to her I so needed just a little pick-me-up. That happy thank-you brightened my entire day and completely changed my outlook.
Amazing how one small act of kindness can make such a big difference. OK, now it's my turn to pay it forward. Looking for that open window to brighten a day - may the Ripple Effect continue!

Let Serendipity Decide!

Friday was a busy day. After work Blitz and I went to see his specialist to get clearance for him to show next Friday. While he acknowledged Blitz IS deteriorating, his overall health and well-being is good enough for him to show. As is always the case, it will be a last-minute decision. I need to study his body language very carefully and I pray I make the correct decision. If worse comes to worst, I will ask for us to be excused. Anyway, overall Blitz is doing "as well as can be for a dog with such an advanced case of DM", quoted from the vet.
Then it was off to Blitz's breeders to look at the puppies and for them to have a look at Blitz. Blitz was delighted to see his first Mommy and Daddy and enjoyed visiting them. Then the puppies....oh my!
They have changed dramatically and their little personalities are evolving. My two faves are still my two faves...but...there's been a twist. But let me back up a bit. When I walked into their room they all clamored to get out and once the pen was opened, the bi-black raced up to greet me. He was all over this New Person, licking, begging for pets and delivering puppy kisses. The other three were romping with each other. I immediately said that clearly at this point I'd like this pup....but I was told that their neighbors were also interested and since he was going oversize, they said they could have him! But, it's not a done deal yet. Apparently "Dad" hasn't signed off on the deal yet so I used that tiny opening to make my strong interest apparent. In watching him and talking with him he really is far and away my #1 choice.
Not that the bi-blue is a bad choice. This is the one - if the breeders could decide for me - that they would want me to have. His conformation is lovely and even though he is young there is a good possibility of him having a good conformation career. He also has a lovely attitude and is the second most outgoing dog. He is more of a thinker. That's not a bad thing. And, ultimately, I would LOVE to have a CH/OTCH. There's not a lot of those and I would love to do that.
There's still over 3 weeks yet and these pups could change some more.
It's up to Serendipity to decide. It's going to be an interesting 3 weeks.

One Week From Today

After training this morning I realized by this time next Friday the boys and I will be packing up and heading to the Sheltie speciality in Garner, KS. There are 2 dogs in Rally Novice and 6 dogs in regular Novice.
Goals: Moto confident and happy, Mom remembering which side of the sign to walk past and a qualifying/titling run.
Blitz to feel good and enjoy his time in the ring. Staying up on the Long sit. Remaining down on the Long Down.
I've been getting some nice work from Moto. He is maturing and becoming All Grown Up. I'm thinking of entering Wildcard Novice this June to gauge where we are at Obedience-wise.
This most likely will be Blitz's last time in the ring. I am giving him the kid glove treatment with training, 5 minutes at most. So we need to pack a lot of quality into that short time. We'll train steadily until Wednesday and then it's rest and cross our fingers. Whether we qualify or not, I want that beautiful floating prance of his and if I don't overdo it, we'll at least have that.
Today I'm going to look at the puppies again. Their little personalities are developing so I'll have a better opinion of how they will be as adults. They're gorgeous for sure but I need lots more than a pretty face.
Blitz and I are off to the vet today to monitor his disease and make sure all is well for him to compete next week.
So, busy day today!

Remembering a Champion

My dear friend Kathy lost her beloved "Wrigley" this morning. He was 15 and in excellent health until the very end.

She'll be writing his memorial soon but I wanted to remember him here as he's been an important part of my life, too.

When I first moved to the Midwest this obedience team caught my eye, and I knew from that point forward I wanted to be like them, train like them, and show like them. Lucky for me Kathy is very approachable and forthcoming with help. That led to a friendship that I've come to treasure, all thanks to this guy.

His accomplishments are many and those in the Obedience world don't need to hear about them again. I just know that he was much loved by Kathy and my heart breaks for her. Wish we weren't so far away during this tough time.

It was a good, long, and wonderful life filled with great adventures and I know she has so many happy memories to carry her through. In the meantime, hug your dogs, give them a little kiss, and look to the skies this evening. There's a brand-new star there, shining brightly down from heaven, burning especially bright for Kathy.

Oh man!

We had our obedience fun match today. When I arrived - I thought early - for the Open class, they were 1 hour ahead of schedule so I was next. I figured we aren't even close to competing in Open, not even in Novice for that sake, that it wouldn't hurt to put Moto into the ring cold. He did OK, in fact did some pretty nice things. But he still needs "seasoning" as he was distracted by a barking dog on the ROH and for no reason whatsoever jumped sloppily on the BJ. Then, on the long sit he did the famed Sheltie Slide. A quick correction and he was fine the remainder of the stays.
Then on to Novice - Blitz was first. We didn't train yesterday so I made a huge mistake, which was too long of a warmup. He was wonderful. But once in the ring he plodded alongside me. I had to give him a correction which I hate to do, but it worked and he was great after that. When it came to stays I saw that he was struggling. The judge allowed me a little extra time to make sure he was comfortably situated for the 1 minute sit. He did it and the down just fine but it was a good lesson and a frightening reminder of the toll his disease takes.
Moto was unspectacular in Novice. I believe he needs a bit more compulsion training.
So with the specialty coming quickly I have the following training plan: Blitz gets the next 2 days off to rest. Moto and I will train regularly, but he'll have the microprong on. He needs to get it ingrained in his mind that he needs to try, all the time. Blitz will be trained 2-3 times a week, five minutes max. His last session will the the Wednesday before the specialty. Then on Friday, we'll warm up 30-60 seconds before we go into the ring. What I have is what I have....hold on and hope it's a good ride. If it's not, it will be my fault as I've overtaxed him.
Moto will be in Rally which is a good thing. It will be quite some time before he is ready for the "real" ring.

Growing Old Sucks

A lot of people quickly reply "consider the alternative" but sometimes I wonder if The Alternative is better. Guess it depends on the situation.
Today is a dark and gloomy day after a stormy night. It's also an unusual day as all five dogs are not their usual selves. Instead of their usual Hooray, It's Morning glee I have five subdued dogs that eat, poop and just hang out. Very strange indeed. The storms weren't anything we haven't experienced before. It is unusally cold but you'd think that would make them more active. Anyway, it's strange.
Dusty is particularly quiet. It took quite awhile to rouse him from his sleep. He sleeps very deeply these days but it took a few minutes of petting and talking before he opened his eyes. He pottied, he ate just fine but he went to his favorite nap spot and is back sleeping very deeply again. Friend Kathy also has a 15-year-old and says her dog has done this for quite awhile - he can sleep all day and not move once. I guess that is just part of being an old dog, but I don't like it.
Mother's Day is this Sunday and I sent a bouquet to my Mom. We had a prickly relationship during my younger years but we've moved to that delightful part where we are very good friends and enjoy talking on the phone to each other. Our yearly visits are treasured. My mom has spectacular health and is happy and active. But, she is approaching 80. I don't like that at all. I want her to forever be the vibrant active Mom I've known all my life. But time marches on and it eventually will claim my beloved Dusty and there will come a time when Mom can no longer drive and all the other pitfalls of old age.
So I'll say it - old age sucks. It's part of life, but I don't have to like all the parts.

What Does and Doesn't Work

As the Sheltie specialty looms I'm training Blitz and Moto daily, sometimes twice daily if I have time. It's a delicate balancing act with Blitz as I don't want to overtax him. Moto on the other hand is building endurance and we're moving from the Teacher to the Coach position with him. I've been Coach for Blitz for quite awhile now.
It's a challenge as both dogs have not only different sizes but completely different personalities.
What works with Moto: Food rewards. I'm fading them now but still "surprise" him with a treat for a particularly good performance or use when upping the ante on a certain behavior.
What works for Blitz: NO food or toys. Amazingly, the thrill of just working is enough for him. When I use food or toys it detracts him from the task at hand. I actually get better performances just praising him or allowing him to jump up on me.
What works for Moto: hand signals, particularly on the finish. DOR is also better with a hand signal. I'm glad. I've heard far too many screaming "DOWN!!!!" in the next ring at their dogs (trust me, I've been guilty of that as well).
What works for Blitz: voice commands. I actually will get a flying finish just saying Swing or Around. Hands still bring a zippy finish but he will not jump.
Those are the most glaring differences. There's different heeling cadences, when to make eye contact, adnauseum. I don't know how people showing multiple dogs do it. My hat is off to them. For me, I just hope I do the best for them I can when our time in the ring comes in 2.5 weeks. Oh dear!

What Was I Thinking???

Here's pics from yesterday's visit to see the puppies. I've narrowed it down to these two. The other bi-black male appears to have too strong a personality (already humping the other pups), and the female, while sweet, is of the shy retiring ilk. I like the bi-black the best at this point but he too will need careful watching. Since I already have a large, testosterone-laden pack I need to think not only of my needs but how the new pup will fit into the pack. He too is very assertive but I haven't seen any aggression. He's been the first one to greet humans and is very outgoing. The gorgeous bi-blue is also outgoing but not as much as the other guy. He is a thinker and at this point watches the other two before diving in. This could be a good thing. The breeders are trying to arrange for a temperament test and if so I will do everything I can to watch. There's been many discussion on the pros and cons of the testing but for me it's proved to be the litmus test as to the true personality of the puppy. Dusty, Shiloh and Blitz all were tested and stayed true to the outcome.

I've been having a few panic attacks on getting another pup. Before it was a driving need, but as Erik's job interviews have yet to yield an actual job our financial situation is getting scary. Our health insurance (paid for by Sony for 12 months) runs out end of this month. Then, unemployment insurance runs out a few weeks after that. Both these will significantly increase the cash hemmorage. My 2 jobs can help things a bit but it's not enough to keep up with all our bills. Oh, my. Then there's the TIME factor: training a puppy is a lot of work! And there's the classes - conformation (if he's a prospect), obedience, socialization. Then of course herding as he gets older. Moto still needs regular, consistent training. My goal with him is to take him as far as he can go, hopefully to OTCH. Training 2 young dogs is a lot!

On the positive side, I know if I really buckle down it can be done. It will take better organization of my time. I'm fortunate that both jobs are highly flexible and that I have long summer days ahead to get through the potty training and puppy basics.

I'm still tired from my Arizona visit but we are getting back into the swing of things. I have a stress-filled, busy work week ahead. But I've managed to get up early, train dogs and get ready and even have time to blog!

We'll see how these puppies grow out....still 6 more weeks to evaluate......