It's That Time Of Year Again....

Yes, for the annual Christmas Photo. Or should I say Annual Christmas Argument? Trying to get three, then, four, and now SIX dogs to sit still long enough to snap a picture and have them looking in the same direction is always challenging. When we have a puppy like this year it is always particularly challenging. Hubby is always there to help but it always turns into a quibble. The Annual Disagreement usually goes something like this:
Me: I'll get the dogs ready and tell you when to take the picture.
Hubby: Fine.
Me: (setting up each dog, pulling cowering Daisy repeatedly back, grabbing an escaping dog) There! OK! They're all looking at you! Take the Picture!
Hubby: no sound
Me: TAKE THE PICTURE! NOW!
Hubby: (fumble) wha?
Me: NOW!!!
Dusty lays down, Daisy slinks off, Shiloh grumbles because Moto is touching him.
*Click* goes the camera.
Me: (sighs loudly)
Hubby: You said to take it....
You get the picture, pun intended. I'll post some out takes as we undertake this year's portrait.
Meantime, Happy Thanksgiving!

A Veteran's Day Story

I believe people come into our lives for a reason, and so it was with Bob. He was to be one of my bosses at my job in Sunnyvale CA. I didn't like him. At all. No way. He was aloof and cocky. And kind of weird.
I complained often about him to our director Al, but he said to just hang in there, Bob brought special knowledge and talent in to our group.
Those were the days of Desert Storm. Some of our people were overseas to help with the operation over there. When the war was over and our employees came home and a return to work date set, we tied a giant yellow ribbon around the building and a big welcome back party was planned. As I was leaving to attend the celebration, Bob was hanging back. When I asked if he was coming, he said no. I asked why and his eyes teared up. He said "I'm glad for them but I just can't. I was never welcomed back when I came home from Viet Nam."
My heart absolutely shattered into a thousand pieces. I was guilty. I'd been one of those war protestors in my very early teen-age years. Here I was, seeing a direct result of what we had done.
After that I made a point of getting to know Bob. Turns out his plane had been shot down over enemy territory. With no one to save him and nothing but his smarts, a little luck and a lot of grit he made it back to safety. This was a man who almost gave his life for his country and no one had even thanked him. As we continued to work together he became one of my favorite people.
Time passed, our company was sold and most of us lost our jobs. I married and moved to Missouri, but I still kept in touch with Bob occasionally by email.
One Veterans day I received one of those chain emails, but this one was a bit different. It talked about our brave soldiers and the sacrifices they had made. The email concluded by saying "send this on to one of our hero Veterans if you know one."
This was my chance to right my wrong. I forwarded it on to Bob, and started the email by letting him know that he was MY hero, and I meant every single word of it.
Bob wrote back, saying "Siouxsan, THANK YOU. This means more to me than you will ever know."
I was so glad to maybe give him some relief from long-held pain.
After that I lost contact with Bob. I hear he's doing well in his new job, that his wife and daughters are also doing just fine. It's really not necessary to keep in touch with Bob any longer, for I believe the purpose of our friendship had come full circle.
Thank you, Bob, for your brave service to our country. And to all the vets who have served or are serving now....THANK YOU. I learned to say this because of one very special person, for which I will be forever grateful.

Backchaining

The weather has been fabulous out here. 60's and 70's in Midwest November is just plain freaky, but I'm delighted for it. I would have been absolutely insane if I didn't do some outdoor training, the stuff that requires setting up jumps and large amounts of area to work in. Pinch and Moto both did go-outs (Pinch is learning Renee's method, Moto is learning my method, which isn't great but seems to work for him). Lots and lots of fun. Directed jumping for both dogs was a blast. Moto loves directed jumping. Pinch still has 4" jumps pushed together, run to the raised hand. I just wish I was independently wealthy and didn't have to work for a living. This is a dog the LOVES to jump and will be a fabulous agility dog. Sadly, we may never find the time.
Then scent discrimination. Pinch is learning a la Renee method, Moto was started on my earlier trainer's method. Here's where the backchaining comes in: Pinch still searches for the cookie under the folder. He roars through almost 20 folders with eagerness and confidence. Poor Moto seemed just confused with his article work. Even with just 4 articles out, I could tell he just hasn't learn the lesson he needs to use his nose. This is a dog that lacks self-confidence anyway, and a dog not confident in article work does not a Utility Dog make.
So, I decided to go alll the way back to what Pinch was doing. Poor Moto lacked so much confidence he panicked right away when the cookie wasn't immediately found. Once he did, and tons of praise given, he got the idea there's no pressure, it's a game and should be fun. We are going to need to do the folder method until I see he thinks it's fun. What I believe I'll do once he realizes to use his nose, keep working when it isn't found right away, I'll put the scented article under a folder and see what happens. I'm hoping for a happy confident transition.
Meantime, I *think* the thyroid pills may be kicking in: he did some of the most amazing herding work EVER yesterday. It has the WOW factor. Gosh, if he became a herding dog I would be over the moon thrilled. He has a way with stock I've never seen in a Sheltie. Only once before have I seen this - with an HC Terv named Cali. I had the pleasure of working with Cali many, many years ago, using her to do some pen work. I literally fell over in awe working this dog: I could FEEL her communicating to the sheep! She worked calmly and smoothly and I believe it was the energy she was putting out that kept the sheep calm and cooperative. While Moto wasn't communicating to the sheep, he had a calm manner that put the stock at ease. This dog could do great things - if he'll continue to work at it!

Getting Back My Mojo

It seems quite a few of us trainers have lost our mojo. There's been various reasons. The end result is we all have dogs with gaping holes in our training. Of course I'm one of the guiltiest, most mojo-losing in my group of friends.
Enter friend Laurie. She did very well at the Aussie nationals, with lots of HIT awards. I hope to upload a picture in a few days. When she unpacked her booty of gorgeous rosettes and various prizes I must say, I was a bit covetous. See I've dreamed of owning JUST ONE rosette like the ones she was displaying. Big, fat, with nice long streamers. And then there was the embroidered cloth crate, the chair, the medals...the prizes went on and on. We had fun decorating our fence and taking pictures of her dogs with all the prizes.
I know I've been pretty remiss in my training with Pinch and Moto. Unfortunately Moto had some sort of stomach bug so we weren't able to work with him. But Laurie quickly found lots of holes and impending bad habits that would have hampered Pinch's success in the long run. Bless her heart, she worked with me extensively, sometimes holding my shoulders straight, other times gently scolding, but in the end I believe I "got it". We've already revisited several of our new tools to make sure it is finally embedded in my head.
THANK YOU LAURIE! Plus, we had such fun doing various doggie activities: went to my obedience class at Renee's, herding, and the dogs joined us for my town's downtown trick or treat. The time went too fast and the house is awful quiet this morning without my pal and her wonderful pooches.
Now for some exciting Moto news: when I took him to the vet because of his tummy troubles I asked for blood work to test his thyroid. Lo and behold, it's low normal. He's now on meds to help raise it to a higher level. It's exciting because I want to see how it affects his personality and willingness to work. He's been making good strides and this may give him the final boost.
So now it's up to me to keep the momentum going. C'mon Mojo, let's get going!