The More I Train, the Less I Know

Sheesh.
That's all I can say. You'd think by this time in my life, after having trained several dogs, I should be an "expert" in Obedience training.
That couldn't be farther from the truth.
In fact, the more I train, the more I discover I need to learn, change, revamp, and rethink. I was truly blessed with Dusty as my Novice A dog. Dusty has the most sound temperament of any Sheltie I have ever met, and he's been that way from day 1. When we went for our 3rd Novice A leg our judge was in a wheelchair. Everyone in the class was freaking out about it. I didn't understand what the big deal was. Dusty didn't even flinch as she wheeled up to him for the stand for exam.
But now, with my subsequent Shelties, I understand WHY it was such a big deal.
Shiloh achieved his OTCH. Now with my other dogs in training, I come to realize I had a lot of luck, some miracles, and he just happened to peak when I needed him most to do so.
I've done a pretty good job training Moto, I believe. With him I've learned that it's not the titles that will bring the most rewards, it's having him just WANT to be in the ring with me and enjoy the experience. I will not care about placements or titles, it'll be about his attitude. If he's happy in the ring, that will be a good day.
I have very high hopes for good scores with Pinch. So with him it's really all about getting those nuts and bolts things down right. And that's where I'm realizing, boy, I have more to learn about Obedience than Pinch does. We didn't do so well at the fun match this past weekend. Moto did great. Pinch was very distracted by someone disassembling their wire crates. Lesson #1 for me: I need to teach him how to recover and continue doing his job. His about turns were wide. In working with him afterwards I realized I'd failed at lesson #2 that day: he truly doesn't understand heel position for the about turns.
We do have some shows coming up - UKC and Wildcard Novice - and I'll use those as a sounding board to see if and when he can debut in Novice this year. I hope to have a long, thrilling career with him and getting him out too early would not be a good thing.
Fortunately for me, both dogs are really enjoying their training sessions, so while I'm eager to get going and get out to shows, remembering "it's all about the journey" will be my mantra. Seeing their eyes bright and lips pulled back in happy smiles after our training lets me know that being patient is paying off in the long run.

Twenty-Four Years Ago

A Facebook friend and co-worker sent out a status update yesterday reminding us former ESL'ers take a moment to remember the victims of the shooting that occurred 24 years ago. While I will never forget the shooting, the actual date had slipped my mind. I cannot believe it's been 24 years since seven innocents were slaughtered just so a jilted lover could "get some attention."
Those of us who were at ESL that day will be forever changed by what happened.
By the time Richard Farley had been apprehended by the SWAT team, we had a good idea of who had not made it out of the building alive. However, the next day when the official word came out by way of our HR representatives tacking a piece of paper with the deceased names on it, seeing their names in print was really difficult. I'll never forget the faces of my co-workers as we gathered to read their names.
I'll also never forget that some of my friends were trapped in M5 as Farley walked from office to office, shooting whomever he found, walls, computers, anything that he could. As they escaped and made their way out, I cannot tell you the feeling of seeing them alive and all right. It cannot be described. One friend was in shock. He kept saying over and over "he walked right by me." We're very lucky he is still here today.
We had a public memorial at ESL to remember our coworkers. It was held in the parking lot of M5. ESL in those days had several buildings. I remember seeing all of us - about 3,000 - making that sad walk en masse to that memorial. I also resented all the TV cameras, ready to pounce and film anyone overcome by emotion.
A few months later a memorial garden outside of M5 was made, and yet another ceremony in honor of our fallen friends. There was a waterfall, a memorial stone with their names on it, and seven trees planted. Some of the family of those lost also attended. I still remember the looks on their faces as if it were yesterday, as the shock of how they lost their loved onces was still clearly etched on them.
Years had gone by, myself and the majority of us continued to work at ESL, but we were never the same. Due to the tragedy, the changing economy, a new president, the company began to struggle. Layoffs ensued, the company shrank, was merged with other businesses, the name changed, and then finally what was left moved to another location.
I'd already moved to Missouri when I learned M5 had been razed and a new building now stands where ESL used to be. A friend told me the memorial stone had been removed, but there was office space where the garden once was.
While I've been back to California many times, I've never been able to bring myself to see the new building that's on top of what I consider sacred ground. Some times progress really isn't.
To read more of the ESL trajedy, you can visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Farley

Dog Songs

Most couples have what they call "our song" - hubby and I do; but each of my dogs and I have "our song", too. Does dog owner have this? It seems for some of my friends, yes.
Music has always played a big part in my life. I play, or rather played, the piano. Certain moments in my life, or big events, always bring a song to mind. Just as the nicknames and the silly sing-songs, so it is how each dog in my life has "our song".
Dusty's is really the best story of how Our Song came to be. We'd just won High In Trial in herding. It was my very first HIT. I was on cloud 9. As we made the long drive home I was surfing radio channels, looking for something good to listen to. A song came on the radio I'd never heard before. It was an instrumental, but so sweet it was bringing tears to my eyes. I was picturing Dusty and I celebrating penning those sheep and running through the pasture together. I was stunned to learn the song was appropriately called "Companions", by David Arkenstone. Fortunately for me a friend had videotaped that precious HIT run, and I had a production video made of it to that song.
Shiloh's song was a big more contemporary - "Superman", by Five for Fighting. The words were just too appropriate: "It's not easy to be me" - that was my Shiloh. Once again, hubby made the rare trip to a dog show with me, and Shiloh won his first ever obedience High In Trial. I have a production video of that made with that song.
Blitz's song and video has been put on this blog about a year back I believe - it's what I call a Fight Song. It's "Lost!" by Coldplay. The words just struck me as so appropriate: "Just because I'm hurting, doesn't mean I'm hurt".
Moto's is "Firework" by Katy Perry. The words fit him perfectly. My eyes always mist over when I hear this song.
Pinch's is "Lillikoi Boy" by my beloved fave composer Jonsi. It's a coming of age song. Like Dusty's song, I can see Pinch running in slow motion and pictures of him flash through my mind.
A friend recently sent me a video of Pinch doing just that: running to me in slow motion. So it just seems to be destiny that a video will be made at some point.
Meanwhile Moto, Pinch and I are training for upcoming obedience and herding trials. Pinch especially is such a blank slate. I do hope these two enjoy their careers, and we'll have a special moment to share and put to song.

A Doggie Birthday Tradition

I have a birthday tradition with each of my dogs - on the day of their birth I hold them tight, and whisper into their ear a short story created especially for them. Here is what I whispered into Dusty's ear this morning: "Seventeen years ago today, a puppy was born! And his name was Dusty. He grew up to be a great herding dog, a great obedience dog, and we had fun in agility and tracking too. But most importantly, he was my First Sheltie. Because of this, everything we explored and accomplished was a First. That makes my Dusty a very special dog indeed. Happy Birthday, my Dusty!!

It's with happiness that I have a dog who's reached such an old age in great health, and also a bittersweet realization that this most likely will be the last Birthday story I'll whisper into his ear. While he's still pretty cognizant of his surroundings, senility is winning over. He's begun to take some medication that will help him remember day and night, which he sometimes mixes up. His sight is pretty much gone and the hearing is beginning to go. He will eat nothing but baby food and broth.

I'm glad for the wonderful, mild winter as that's made life pretty easy for Dusty. He can easily walk around our back yard - no heavy snow drifts which at this point he could not negotiate. I'd probably have to shovel a little potty area for him if we'd had too much snow. Dusty enjoys a good barkfest with the other dogs, and he still views being Bed Dog as his most important job.

Even when he awakens me at 3:00 a.m. to potty that's a good thing - not many dogs his age are able to control their rear. So yes, I'm sleepy, but I tell him he's a Good Boy, and with a hug and a kiss we go outside so he can do his business.

I know that there will be a time when I can sleep through the night undisturbed by an old dog who needs to go outside. I am not looking forward to that.

So today there just aren't enough hugs and kisses for a dog who has made it to Seventeen, and made it in good style. We will celebrate this amazing day, and each wonderful day that will follow with my Dusty in it.

Good boy!

Who Needs TV When You Have Dogs?

Having five dogs lends itself to lots of misadventures. Like having lots of children, you have your poop and vomit stories, the "how did they get into THAT" story, or today, it's the "Why did they DO that?" story. Especially Moto. All I can do is scratch my head. And share.
First up is Pinch. We've had close to freezing or this morning, freezing temps. We have a very large deck that runs the length of the house. We also have a large metal water bowl on the deck for the dogs (and the occasional bird) to drink from. Pinch just loves it when the water freezes in the bowl. His favorite game is to dig out the chunk of ice and bat it around the deck. I of course allow this and watch with great amusement.
But this morning was different: the water was not all the way frozen. There was real, unfrozen water around the edges. I thought Pinch would do his usual thing but noooooo.....different times call for different behaviors. First he batted at the ice, watching it bob up and down in the water. Then he tentatively put his paw on the ice and pulled his paw towards him. The ice turned a bit. That looked FUN. He did it again. The ice started a slow spin. WOW! He did it again. Faster spun the ice chunk. Now it was Game On: Pinch quickly got it down to a science, and that ice was spinning so fast the bowl began to move. Pinch's eyes were huge with excitement, and I had to keep a hand over my mouth so I wouldn't laugh too loud to distract him from his game.
Then began our morning routine of training, then a nice long run. Tired, happy dogs, tongues lolling, back inside the house. Husband is working on the computer. I am picking out my clothes to wear to work. But then there's this....sound. It's a really weird sound. I can only describe it as a "wet" sound, but not like a dog licking. It was rhythmic. Erik heard it too.
It was coming from the guest bedroom. We walked into the room and discovered....
....Moto was sucking on the satin edge of the new blanket I'd put on the bed. He was really enjoying himself.
Erik snickered.
Moto turned and was clearly embarassed to be discovered doing what apparently was a guilty pleasure. Ears down and no eye contact he walked quickly out of the bedroom.
I've seen some young-ish Goldens that will suck on a favorite toy, but that's an oral breed. But a 4-year-old Sheltie? Who knew??
What makes it even more interesting is that my daughter, when she was a baby, had a "thing" for the satin edging of her baby blanket. She'd rub it between her fingers and make a silly little noise. She'd do this until she went to sleep. Kimberly was one of those who needed her blankie into her childhood years and as the blanket quickly wore out, she carefully safeguarded the satin edging, calling it her "doodleoo".
Well, I guess it runs in the family, as I've discovered that Moto also has a Doodleoo.
Now, tell me truly, can you find something more interesting on TV?