Monday, November 30, 2009

Winter Hobby




Winter hobby is in full swing!
I'm not entirely sure how these larger needles are going to work out. . . or how knitting with mohair is going to be. . .but it should be fun finding out!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

When to Euthaznize Your Pet

This is a very sad time for one of my best friends. Her beloved cat is dying and she is facing the decision whether/when (or not) to euthanize her. The cat has been sick for over a year, but it has just been in the last few weeks that things have started taking a turn for the worst. I think that this is doubly hard for her because she has never had to make this decision before.

The decision to euthanize a pet is very personal, and it is often one of the hardest decisions that a person will have to make. Some people can't possibly bear the thought and process of having their pet euthanized and have decided instead to "let nature take its course" and allow their pet to die at home. Other people feel that this allows the pet to feel unnecessary suffering and are thankful that we can put our pets to rest before their suffering becomes unbearable. And if you are of the later opinion, the second, and often harder part of that same question is when.

When does it become appropriate to put down a beloved family member? I get this question frequently and my answer has always been "you will know when it is time." What I usually fail to mention is that your time might be different then my time, but both are the right time. I think that the right time is less about the pet's suffering itself, and more of what you can live with when everything is all said and done. That may sound harsh and contradictory to the process, but it is true. Pain and suffering in animals cannot be measured scientifically, and what one person perceives as pain/suffering, may not be seen as such by another person. And what I perceive as suffering, you may not, as your experiences with any particular animal will be different then mine, therefore our perceptions on when the right time is will be different. This does not mean that either person cares less for the pet.

I have had to make the decision to euthanize an animal many times, and I have witnessed too many euthanasias. But the decision to euthanize your own beloved pet never gets easier. Its unfortunate, but this topic is coming up more and more in my circle of friends. We all got our animals about the same time, and we all rescued, so as our own individual animals continue to age, this topic hits closer and closer to home. And even in conversations about someone else's pet, you can't help but think of your own geriatric pets. Even though our own pets aren't allowed to die, it gets harder and harder to believe it when the aging signs come up more and more. And while I don't like to think about it, I often wonder if I will be able to make that decision and know when the right time is when it comes to my kids.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

You Tube Frustration

This past Sunday we had another fun match up near Sacramento. Let me tell you, it as not nearly as fun as they have been in the past. And it wasn't Abby's fault at all, it was the weather! It was freezing cold! And the fog was so thick you couldn't see 10 feet in front of you. It was totally yucky! I wore so many layers of clothes that I looked like the abominable snowman! Abby wore a jacket between runs and even then her poor feet were so cold that I had to warm them up in my jacket! But she did really well despite the weather. . . and despite me. . .

The grandparents came up this time so that they could see what we do. It was a shorter then usual fun match so I figured it was a good time to go up without wasting their entire day up there. Grandpa took videos with his (point and shoot) camera, so the quality isn't excellent, but you can still see what is going on.

The first two runs of the day were the jumpers runs. Abby did great, but she consistently missed the second jump in a series. After looking back at the video, I think that I was crowding her. My attempt was to have her close enough to me where she had no choice but to take the jump. . .but I think that I was too close to the jump itself that she didn't feel safe next my clumsy self!

In the first video she surprised me completely by actually running at all! Not only were we inside (which she hates) but there was a lady in the next ring yelling at her dog!



In the second video Abby does a bit better. She saw the same course a few minutes earlier so she is a bit more confident and she moves a bit quicker. She also tries to go up and see a dog that is laying outside the ring. I was a bit mad, but not at Abby - the dog was literally laying on the fence - not entirely fair to the dog running in the ring. The funny thing that happens in the second video is that I get lost in the middle of the run! I really wasn't planning on her doing so well. . .I didn't learn the entire course, just what I thought she would do...



There are two more videos to come, but we are having intermittent internet activity and the videos won't upload properly. . .grrr!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

How Its Supposed to Look

A few weeks ago Abby and I did a fun run. She did a standard course, a tunnel course, and a jumpers course. Abby did excellent on all of them . . . And I finally have the video to prove it (well, only for the tunnelers course)



Didn't she do great? We stop a lot for treats, but can you SEE the tail going????? I didn't finish the course because the goal is for her to have fun - not finish.


I'm super proud of her, but this is how it is supposed to look:



Colette and Chloe have been doing this a while and they have it down!

And just for fun, this was the best lure coursing of the day:



And since I'm showing everyone else off, I have to show my best girl off too

Thursday, November 19, 2009

My Puppy



I recently heard that my grandmother did not have any pictures of pocket; although I did not share this news with pocket. She has lots of pictures of mole, and even some of Abby... but poor pocket was no where to be seen. This is really very tragic. It is extremely important that all her great-grandbabies are shown equal love (we all know that she really loves mole best, though). In trying to rectify the situation, I came across some of her old "puppy pictures".

Pocket was about 11 months old when she came to me. She was full of energy and spice. She was the perfect second dog for me, and the perfect companion for mole. Looking back, I think that I missed so many great training opportunities with her, but I didn't have the resources that I have now. And while pocket is still full of spice, she is now filled with more spice rather than energy!

Here are some of my old favorites:

She used to wear a lot of clothes!


She is still protective of her chewie (this one also shows how sleek her coat was and how narrow her face was)


Typical:

Friday, November 13, 2009

She's Talking To Me!

Abby has been doing amazingly well in class. She is no longer the cowering dog that refuses to do anything when someone else is watching her. For the most part, she is happy and fast - like she is on Sundays when it it just us. This really surprises me for two reasons 1) there are a lot more people in class now 2) its dark the entire class.

When we first started the class, there were two other people - a dalmatian and a Brittany (and the trainer with her BC). Abby was a wreck for most of those first classes. Not only was she in a different yard, there were now people and strange excitable dogs to have to worry about. But now, we not only have those three dogs, we also have a golden, a bedlington, and a viszla. And with those dogs also come (duh duh dun) people.

The other concern when training abby is that the yard is now lighted by flood lights. Sure they emit a ton of light, but they also give huge shadows around the equipment. Tunnel entrances are darker. Jumps now look bigger and longer. Only the up side of the A-frame is now lit and the down side is almost entirely shadow. These shadows are scary for most dogs, not just wiggy iggys.

Despite all these obstacles Abby is doing well. She spends most of her time focused on me and not the entrance/exit door to the yard. She no longer has that worried face when the other dogs get the zoomies. She can do multiple obstacles in a row without veering off course. It's almost like she has forgotten that everyone else exists and that it is just the two of us on a Sunday morning having fun. Well, that was until Laura talked to her. . .

Laura is a very nice lady who trains DJ, the golden in our class. Laura is always very positive with her dog. She never raises her voice, never gets frustrated. She rewards frequently. She is really the only one I admire in the class. Basically, Laura is a nice person who is good to her dogs. We chat frequently in class - partly because she is so nice, and partly because her dog is well behaved and doesn't futz too much with Abby. Abby has seen Laura probably 10+ times by now and never seems worried or afraid of her. That is, until Laura talked to her.

Abby and I spend a lot of time doing relationship building/focus exercises in class. She is rewarded frequently - mainly for just watching me. Most of these exercises are mindless for me and I can easily watch the other students, learn from the instructor, or chat. Abby and I were doing some of these exercises, I was chatting with Laura; Laura said something to Abby. . .Abby looked at her, this strange look came over her face as if to say "are you talking to me?" Then Abby stood up, turned away, and refused to turn back. She wouldn't even look at me! Laura and I both started cracking up laughing. It was so funny to see Abby change like that. And it was also really funny to see Abby looking away like that - almost like the ostrich who sticks it's head in the sand. Or maybe, if I don't look at her, or acknowledge her, maybe she will go away and leave us alone.

Even after that, Abby finished the class well. But I don't think she will ever look at Laura again.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Testing Dogs

I go to local animal shelters regularly and temperament test dogs. Every rescue has their own version of a temperament test (sometimes, and more accurately called behavior evaulation) and every person who performs that test, even in the same rescue, will do it differently. And, as you can imagine, the same dog will test differently with different people. Because I am the only person who tests dogs for the rescue I work at, the dog has to *pass* my test.

Sometimes, when I am testing, I will come across a dog that doesn't pass, but also doesn't fail. This is where good judgment, and past experience, comes into play. More often then not, however, I will take these dogs in. Even if it is just to give them a chance to pass later on. Many of the dogs I see don't do well in shelters, therefore they test poorly - or sometimes not at all... And I hope that by giving them a second chance, they may show something worth saving. And, more often then not, they do.

One of my biggest challenges when testing dogs is testing the small dogs. Small dogs, of all breeds, require a different type of evaluation, because they are completely different from larger dogs. My small dog test, however, is completely flawed. I am a small dog person. I have three of them (sometimes four). I know what to do to help the small dog be at ease in my presence. I know how to behave so that a small dog will not feel frightened when I pick him up. I pass more small dogs then I fail. I think they can sense that I am a small dog person and show their friendly side - and sucker me in to take them out of the shelter.

Some days, like today, I can't handle iffy dogs, or small dogs. I need great dogs. I need dogs that I can stick with kids - even my friend's kids. And on those days, I pull hounds. And that isn't to say that all hounds are great with kids, or that hounds in general are better then any other class of dogs. But, in my experience, most hounds pass my test. I am in no way a "hound person" but sometimes you need an doofy, easy going dog that wants to watch the birds. And sometimes you would rather test an easy going doofy dog then one that *might* bite you. And, in all honesty, sometimes you would rather test a dog you know you can take and easily place then one that might not pass and you will forever wonder what if. . .

Monday, November 09, 2009

Abby Agility Pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!



Finally got a picture up!

Some people who do this have partners/spouses who don't run dogs. Many of those people take photos. After all, there isn't a whole lot else to do. Eric Lee is one of those husbands. He has a beautiful and fancy camera that takes both photos and videos! He took this one of Abby during her standard run last sunday. She has a bit of a worried look on her face, but she was in the covered ring, so that is to be expected. Videos of her in the outside ring, and actually having fun, should come later this week.

and just for fun, Eric took this one of mole.


This is happy mole at a trial - he gave up his second run to the dobbie puppy and just got to hang out with mom.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Fun Match Re-Do

We had another fun match this weekend (awesome pictures to come!)

Abby did about the same as last time - perhaps a bit better. She was slightly more used to the crowds of people, but still slightly nervous inside. Our first run of the day was a standard run. . .with a different A-frame and dog walk then we had last time! Grrrrrr!!!!!! Otherwise she did well. She took a bunch of jumps and only mildly veered off course. (insert great pictures of Abby taking jumps) The next course was a jumpers course outside. She did quite well, but I was a bit of a wreck - we were the first ones up. Since we were first, I figured that if I got there quickly that there would be less people around and would make it easier for her. But that meant that we didn't work focus before. . .I was more worried about it then she was. . .After the run we did some obedience training outside the ring - she did amazing! I really should do obedience with this dog because she seems to get it. Our last run was a tunnelers run. . .this one had huge potential for disaster. We were middle of the pack - literally. There was a line up of people and they were trying to push dogs through as quickly as possible. But Abby seems to get sucked into tunnels, so once we were past the first tunnel things were great. Well, Abby was great at the first tunnel too, but I wasn't. We didn't finish the course - I stopped her about half way. I really want to focus on fun and building her confidence in the ring. She wasn't quite ready to stop - and that was kinda the goal. (insert awesome video here)

Mole had a chance to run today too. He was signed up for a weavers and a tunnelers course. The weavers course was first and he did awesome. He was typical mole -perfect yet super slow. We only did two tunnels and two weave sets - but he had a great time. We gave our second run to the dobe puppy as she really needed the practice more then mole did. Mole and I just laid in the grass on that run - I think he enjoys that about as much as he enjoys the course!