ResqTails

I was going to post about what we’ve been up to, but I’m sitting here and it’s just a blur. Isn’t that silly? It’s hard to believe it’s already Aug. 1st. Our summer is fast slipping away from us. Although it’s still hot and muggy for here. These daily thunderstorms are making it just humid enough that our swamp cooler is about pointless. It’s actually cooler in the boarding kennel where I use a small air conditioner than it is in my own house. How’s that for priorities?

Anyway, this week came and went like the rest before it, way to fast for my liking. We did go to the park to train with our friends one day. We also have been going to the beginning agility class that our friend is teaching. This Tues was our second week. The instructor is in her 70′s and she is the person that got me started in agility. She is a very strong personality who doesn’t like to admit weakness. LOL This time around though, before she started the new class, she offered that if I would come and help her set up for classes, (moving equipment, etc.) I could run Dare for free. So, it’s a great deal for me. Although just a little sad to me to see her getting to the point that she needs help.

Yesterday was the highlight of the week for us. Utah held it’s very first ASCA Rally Obedience Trial. I entered Dare in Novice B for just Saturday. I didn’t go with really high expectations. Actually I didn’t know what to expect. I figured I could get Dare around the course just fine, but I was really sweating the fact that in ASCA Rally (even in Novice), they have the dogs do an honor (Either a Sit or a Down with the handler either in front of, or beside the dog) while the next dog is working through the course.

I was nervous because even though Dare has worked on Stays, we don’t work them with me standing directly in front of her, or beside her in heel position. When I tried it this week, she seemed to think that we were going to be working, it just didn’t process with her that it was a stay. LOL Thankfully…my friend asked in the briefing yesterday if we could take a few steps away from the dog while they did the honor. He said yes, and that was enough for Dare to recognize that we were doing a stay. Yay!

So, are you ready for the results? There were like 17 dogs in our class, ranging from seasoned veterans just out to try the new Rally program to total newbies like Dare. Dare tied for 1st place with a 199 out of a possible 200! Woot! They break ties like that by comparing the time it took you to complete the course, and we were the slower team, so we took second place, but I was still on cloud nine! I’m so proud of my baby girl. What a nice way to debut! I’ll post the pictures and the video on her blog later today.

Here’s a picture of Dare and I with some of our friends and their dogs that were entered yesterday too!

That gives me a lot more confidence heading to Idaho Falls in a few weeks for AKC Obedience. I have Twist entered in Open A again to see if we can’t get that last leg for his CDX. Dare is entered in Rally Novice. Should be fun!

So, it’s been a busy week so far. We had a friend come visit and she brought her adorable girl Maizey along with her. We spent the week taking walks, doing a little bit of training, taking pictures in the mountains, visiting my parents farm and just relaxing in the evenings! I think we talked about every topic pertaining to pets that you can possibly think of.

Maizey and Layla hit it off like they’d known each other forever. Here’s a picture of Layla, Dare and Maizey up the mountains.

Then we went to the lake. Maybe we could have packed some lifejackets for pets, but everyone seemed to do just fine without them. Penny didn’t seem to want to swim much, but I don’t think she needed a lifejacket. I just think she got sick of Zoe and Raven barking out instructions on how to swim out and retrieve the sticks, while they waited at the shore.

Then we went to my parents farm and visited all the spring babies and also all their dogs. Do you think we could find a few more professional beggers to join this motley crew?

After such a busy day, we came home exhausted. Well, I guess not all the dogs were exhausted, but I know the people were. LOL I spent a good portion of the rest of the evening searching for the best shampoos for pets, after all the sights and smells that the dogs had been busy investigating that day.

Anyway, we sure did enjoy being able to get out and enjoy the nice sunny day with good friends!

This week is getting away from me quicker than I expected. LOL We had a really nice weekend! Friday started off with an obedience lesson for Twist and Raven. We have lots and lots to work on before the Utah Sheltie Specialty at the end of April. That’s good though.

Saturday and Sunday we spent at the DOCNA trial. I only had Zoe entered, but then they offered day of trial entries, so I broke down and entered Raven for the last run of the day on Sunday. Zoe had a nice weekend. She was really consistent and Q’d with first place in 8 of the 10 classes that she ran in. The other two were my fault. I got lost and sent her into an offcourse tunnel on one class, and realized it too late to get her turned around, and the other was a class called Strategic Time Gamble, and you make up your own course to accumulate points in the opening time period of 30 seconds. Then they blow a whistle and you have another 10-15 seconds to cross the finish jump. The problem is that you can’t finish too early or too late, it’s more a gamble of whether you can estimate how many obstacles your dog can complete in a certain amount of time, and I suck at that. We crossed the finish jump too soon, and lost the Q. Raven Q’d in her one jumpers run, which should have finished her Beginner’s jumper title.

Zoe did qualify in the North American Challenge Class though, and that is DOCNA’s qualifier for their Championships, so if we decide that we can get away (time and moneywise), we are qualified to go to Prescott, AZ in Oct. for the Western Championships. That would be fun!

Today is one of those days that you just wish you could have a do-over! I just hate it when a week gets off to a bad start, it’s hard to recover.

First we just got word that one of our friends had to say goodbye to their 14 year old Malinois this morning. He was just one of those dogs that was bigger than life. Even though he was 14, you just kind of expected that he was always going to be around. He had one of those personalities that you just can’t put into words! It would all just be an understatement when it came to him. His passing is just an incredible loss to everyone who had the privilege to know him.

Then I got a call from my husband that they are cutting everyone’s hours back at work. I’m still keeping in mind how fortunate we are to still be employed, but it’s scary…

So, we went for a walk yesterday and Penny found this hole in the snow. I don’t know what it went to, but the series of pictures that I got just cracked me up!

I just had to share a short little clip of Layla and Twist’s morning play routine. They usually play like this for a good 1/2 hour or so before they take a little nap and then start right back up again.

This week is going to be hectic! We’ve got a bunch to squeeze in before we leave on Thurs. to go to Farmington for our first agility trial of the year. It’s a three day trial, but I’ve only entered the first two days. I’m pretty nervous about running with Raven again. It’s been almost a year since she’s trialed. She was getting stressed out at trials so we took so time off competing, tried to concentrate on our training, and did some fun little demo things to try to build her confidence. I guess it’s about time to see if it’s helped her.

Zoe’s pretty steady, so running her doesn’t make me nervous, we just have fun! I’m hoping that Zoe can finally get that last FAST leg that she needs to finish that title. Distance work with Zoe has always been a weak point. LOL

Layla is coming along to just get used to the trial atmosphere. This will be her first trip! I think she’s going to do well, (I hope). She’s a really good little traveler on the short day trips that we’ve taken so far.

Rogue and Twist are going to stay home to keep Penny, Lucy and their dad company for the weekend. I doubt that Rogue will be very happy about being left with him, but I just don’t see any sense in stressing her out more than normal in a trial environment, till we can get her medication regulated. If we can get things figured out for her so that she is comfortable at home then we might start taking her on the road a bit again, but until then we’re just slowing things down for a while.

My husband and I haven’t fostered any dogs for over 2 years now. We got a message from our friends at Sheltie Rescue of Utah though asking for a temporary foster home for two puppies. My husband agreed that as long as he didn’t have to do any of the work, we could volunteer. LOL

Here’s a picture of the little girl. Her name is Lucy. Yes, we’ve now got two Lucy’s at the house, a little confusing, but we’re managing. Is she just about the cutest thing that you’ve ever seen?

The male puppy is named Dakota and he is about 11 months old, so he doesn’t look so much like a puppy, but he’s definitely still one at heart. He is so sweet. He will make a wonderful companion for his person! I guess someone may be interested in meeting him, so we may not end up having him here for long…Sorry his picture doesn’t really do him justice. He’s a real doll and my camera battery went dead before I got a better picture of him. If we have him here longer, I’ll try to get more pictures.

Here’s some pictures of Meeka with our dogs in the yard. She’s our friend’s Rottie that’s been staying here for a few days.

Our friends had to go to California, so we’ve got their Rottie, Meeka here visiting till Wednesday. She’s a loveable goof! I’d swear that she thinks she the same size as the Shelties, so she tries to follow them everywhere and bumps into and knocks things over in the process. LOL You couldn’t ask for a sweeter girl though. Lucy loves it when she comes to visit because she usually brings a stuffed toy from home. Lucy always steals it and destuffs it immediately. The last time Meeka came, her mom sent an old partially destuffed toy, (think she’s trying to tell us something?)

I have to say though, when she goes home, I never miss having a pool of water constantly sitting on the floor around the water bowls! Makes it dangerous to walk around without shoes, unless you like wet feet. I think half the water she drinks spills back out of her mouth onto the floor. Anyway, all in all, she’s a great guest! I’ll have to search through and see if I’ve got any pictures of her that I can post. If not, I’ll have to take some.