I <3 Dave Mills

Alternate Title: First Place Bitches!

About 3 weeks ago, Mole's back went out. That meant no more agility for us. But we were already scheduled for a trial this past Sunday and while it probably wasn't the best idea, I went ahead and ran him in a tunnelers course. We scratched the runs with the jumps, but tunnelers has no jumps. . . and it was our one and only chance to really do this. . .

The day started out as well as any day does when you wake up at 4am. No coffee places are open, and when you finally find one (two hours later), your dog drinks your coffee (thanks Abby!) The dogs sleep soundly in the back seat while you drive there in the pitch black, trying to remind yourself that this is fun. Once you get there, the dogs are ready to go and all you want to do is sleep. But once the trial starts at 7:30am, you forget your exhaustion and are ready to run!

The tunnelers course was the third run of the day. It was still early enough that it wasn't too hot, but late enough that we all had a chance to get settled in. I was a bit worried how we would do as we haven't done anything in a few weeks. On top of the lack of practice time, this was the first time that mole ran in this field with these tunnels. And one of the tunnels was CLEAR! wtf? Even if we had practiced, this would be the first time that mole would run a course with 14 obstacles. That is a lot for an 11 year old dog! And all this while being timed!

But mole is the best dog in the entire world, so we really had nothing to worry about! He not only ran his heart out, but he won first place! Ok, let's be honest, the other dogs in the 4" category didn't exactly finish the course. But that is part of trialing! And since we are being honest, I really should mention that we didn't even Q. . .He ran the course in 75 seconds - 30 seconds off course time. But WHO CARES!? We both had a fantastic time out there.

And this is why I love Dave Mills:






Not only does my guy look happy, he looks like every other dog on the field! If you didn't know us, you would have no idea that mole is not an agility bred dog (ok, you probably would. . .) You would have no idea that mole was as old as he was. And you would have no idea that we have only been doing this for 6 months - and only in classes for 3! These pictures are so beautiful that they make me want to cry. Who would have thought that my little old man, grumpy uncle mole, would ever do this? I am so proud of him, and so thankful that we were able to do this together at least one time.

Computer Gripes

My computer is trying to die.

My computer has been trying to die for the past two years. But I have been resuscitating it regularly because I am too cheap to buy a new one. But I am thinking that my computer's lifespan is running out faster then ever at this point. Every time I restart it, something else doesn't work. After a few restarts it will eventually start working again. . .at the cost of more things. Some of the items that don't work: mouse, DVD/CD drive, photo upload, video watching. . .

I go from slightly frustrated, to very angry at my computer for it's suicide missions.

Right now I am moderately annoyed that my mouse doesn't work and that I can't watch streaming videos. If I didn't have the new season of grey's anatomy to keep me busy, I might be very angry. . .

Proud Mama

Abby went to her first agility CLASS tonight. And boy was I scared. I was afraid that she would refuse obstacles, that she would cower and shake. That she would try to run away. After all, there would be at least 4 new people and 4 new dogs in a yard that she is only semi-comfortable with. And it was only recently that she really started jumping her full height - and going all the way through the tunnel. . .

The class we attend is for young/baby/beginner dogs. But most of these people have been doing this for a few years. . .We have only been doing this for a few MONTHS. And only a hand full of times in that yard. And, if you know Abby at all, you know that the new environment is the biggest challenge! Since most of these people have been doing this for a bit, many of the obstacles are strung together to form a sequence. Sequences are not something we are really doing. We are rewarding for EVERY jump, EVERY tunnel. This was going to be a new experience on so many levels. I really wasn't sure if my dog was up for this. . .

But the girl surprised the crap out of me!

Sure it took her a few requests to do the first jump, but after that we were "golden". And not just golden for Abby. . .golden for ANY new dog. Abby had no fear of the strange people or dogs. She took every jump I asked, although a few I had to ask more then once. She took every tunnel. She happily walked down the A frame and the dog walk (we are still working on the "up" part. She did a great job on her weaves. . .but then again, she has always done well on her weaves. . .And not only did abby do well with the agility, she also did well when I asked for obedience. She was a completely NORMAL dog tonight. It was so weird to watch, and be a part of. Who was this dog attached to the other end of my leash whose tail wouldn't stop wagging?

I Forget

Mole can no longer do agility. His back went out, and while he is feeling better, we aren't risking his health. It's sad, because we both really enjoyed it.

What this means for us, is that Abby will have to step up her training. I was thinking that we would have a year where we could slowly introduce obstacles and settings, but that leisurely time is gone. She is going to be on the fast track for training. Although the "fast track" for Abby is anything but fast for me. It is painfully slow. . .

We went to the yard today to do some basics, and boy was it basic. I had to re-teach EVERY jump. . .BOTH WAYS! Something that she can do easily in one place is suddenly scary and new in a different place. It's frustrating for me because she knows this. WE know this.

And in the middle of my frustrations, I have to remind myself that Abby really is doing a great job - for Abby. I forget that she spent the first 5 years of her life in a box. I forget that she used to run away from me. I forget that she had no socialization to anything but other dogs during crucial periods in her mental development. I forget that Abby has come so far. . .I forget that Abby isn't Mole. Mole is a once in a lifetime dog and partner. And on top of his all around greatness, we have also had 6 years together to develop a bond and trust that makes doing agility easy and fun. Not only is Abby not there, but we aren't there together.

This doesn't mean that we are going to slow down training. . .it means that we are going to have to take a different approach than mole and I did. It means that I have to work at her level, and that we need to do more bonding exercises. It means that I have to become a better trainer...

Olive Kitteridge

Olive Kitteridge, written by Elizabeth Strout, was a book that my "book club" recently picked to read. And while I have never been fond of "linked stories" (ie: short stories) I thought I would give this one a fair shot. And I hated it. I hated every single word of this book. I was frustrated that the characters flitted in and out of my life so easily. I wanted to stop reading the book. I put it down time and time again, but something made me pick it up again. And in the end, I was very glad I did. While I didn't ever really like the book, I did become fond of the main character, Olive Kitteridge.

Olive Kitteridge was a grumpy old woman, to put it mildly. She had a short temper and never offered a kind word to anyone - not even her husband or son. But as the stories progressed, you learn that Olive doesn't really like herself much. And while she knows she isn't perfect, you recognise that she can't seem to help herself. You recognise her humanity. And it is her humanity that makes you fall for the character, not her do-gooder personality like in so many other novels.

This book was the first book in recent months that has made me think. And maybe it wasn't the book itself, but the timing of the book with other events in my life. The pure humanity of people has been a recent theme in these past few weeks. Whether it be crazy landlords, disapproving doctors, lying exes, or supportive friends; we all have a bit of something in us that makes us imperfect - or in some cases, perfect. None of us are all or nothing of one or the other. We are all a little bit of both. And it is seeing both in someone that brings us closer together as friends, partners, family, etc. It is only after we have been seen, for what and who we are, that we can start being better humans. That we can give ourselves the freedom to reach out and try, knowing that even if we fail, that there is someone there ready to pick us up again. . .because we are all both perfect and imperfect at the same time.