Agility anyone?

I finally got all my equipment in good working order-Yeah! I retaped my tire and jumps-they look so much better-we have a very patriotic theme going now, I only wanted to order two colors of tape because they came in huge rolls. And I repaired my chute and put out my new weave poles.

I realize you may not actually be that interested in just looking at pictures of our yard and equipment but hey-it's my blog. And Josie and Legend are in one of the pictures so it's all good!

Because I can

That's why

Click on the picture to enlarge if you can't see it!

Sleepover

While Jerry was away at a football game we decided to have a little girl's night at my house so we were joined by Becky, Kristen, and Kennedy for some fun! We had plenty to eat and drink and played with the baby until she went to sleep. Then we headed out onto the deck and I even got to light my cute new tiki torches. The dogs

thought it was great that we were outside and they could play in the yard and Barney was so happy that someone came to hang out with him and he didn't have to sit in the deck chairs by himself for a change. Josie has especially learned to love playing outside-she'll just stay out in the yard by herself having a good old time!

Kennedy got to wear this cute new outfit this morning-doesn't she look adorable?

Everyone has headed home now and I'm getting ready to run some errands and mow the grass. Fortunately it's a lot cooler today. And we seem to have gotten quite a bit of rain overnight so everything should green up a bit now.

The Babysitter

Zodiac worked 12 articles again tonight. He does the metal one perfect and then had a bit of trouble with the leather. I'm not sure if he just has trouble with the leather itself or he does not realize that we have switched articles. Anyway, he is working the pile well and really trying so at least he's not just giving up and guessing.

Legend had a nice agility practice tonight. I should be working her in obedience with the trial coming up, but it's more fun to work her in agility. Could make for an interesting trial.

He did it

Zodiac successfully did all 12 scent articles tonight-with just one mistake. Not bad for his first attempt at all 12! I think I'm starting to see the light at the end of the utility tunnel!

Legend practiced agility at home tonight-class got called off. But we did get our new weave poles set up and she got to try them out.

Oreo had his first acupuncture treatment done yesterday by a fellow vet and new friend who has done some training in pain management and physical therapy. We'll see how it helps him over the coming weeks.

That's all!

10 things about me

I was tagged by Paint Girl over at Adventures of the Painted Creek Farm for the Honest Scrap Award. So here are 10 things you might not know about me.

1. I will eat ice cream in place of any meal.
2. I used to want a Golden Retriever when I was a kid, and I really want my next dog to be Pomeranian
3. I'm addicted to my iPhone
4. If I had to do it over again I may pursue a career in graphic arts
5. In high school I was more interested in succeeding at sports than at academics (fortunately the academic part came pretty easy)
6. I'd really like to own a palomino paint horse someday
7. "Virtual" rides often give me motion sickness, but "real" rides usually do not (unless they do a lot of spinning)
8. I do not like seafood except for tuna and White Castle fish sandwiches. (I have no explanation for this.)
9. Milk goes with everything and I don't drink soda
10. I love new sweatshirts because they are so soft and fuzzy inside-I put off washing them as long as I can.

Now I'm supposed to tag 10 more people but I'm too lazy so if you want to play, then consider yourself tagged!

For Levi

Rescue is a great thing-we save lives, we make families happy, we provide friends for those who need them, we get to see great success stories, we get a lot of warm fuzzy feelings. Rescue is a hard thing-we see dogs in terrible situations, we are forced to leave some behind in shelters, we have to say good bye to foster dogs we've grown attached too. But today we did the hardest thing. We had to let Levi go. Not because of the heartworms or any medical problem. Because he became unexplainably fearful and aggressive to everyone but Cheri. The decision was difficult and painful but the liability and danger he represented was just too great.

Although we were sad, we did take comfort in knowing he had a few great weeks, finally surrounded with people who cared about him, and he didn't have to die with strangers in the pound where he had been left by uncaring owners.

Rest in Peace Levi.

Busy, hot, and tired

My sister visited this weekend and we had a very busy time. We did a lot of eating out, gambled in Oklahoma (with no success), went to Silver Dollar City and to the outlet mall. Yesterday was really hot at SDC but we had a good time. And Josie managed to go all day in her carrier without having an accident. She's such a good girl. Except that she learned to climb out of the x-pen so now she can't be left unattended in the pen while we leave the house. Jackie left after lunch today and Jerry had an out of town football game and is not back yet so I have just been hanging out in the house, relaxing with the dogs. It's like 90 here. I think we will not do too much the rest of the day and just spend some time recovering before another hot week! Only 2 weeks left before the obedience trial though. I don't know that Zodiac will be truly ready for Utility by then but I think I will still let him show just to get the experience and see how much more work I have to do. He is also entered in Rally both days for RAE legs and Legend is entered in Rally Saturday and Novice B Reg on Sunday. Should be a busy weekend.

All grown up

I hope her mom won't mind me posting this picture she sent me but here is Peyton-nine months old and so grown up looking!



I hardly recognized her, but isn't she beautiful? She's come a long way from that tiny little pound puppy! And her family totally adores her. Yeah for rescue dogs :)

Remember these?

The kittens are growing up! These pics are actually a few weeks old but I forgot to post them.

Interesting

This was the excellent standard course from the agility match last weekend. Check out the 15, 16, 17 sequence. The layout of the course actually forced you to later the dogwalk (or be really creative!). The dogs did not seem to have trouble with this-by the time they flew out of the tunnel hey were right on top of jump 17. I just thought it was interesting because I had never seen something like that before at an AKC trial-although other people said they had.

Left out-Poor Levi

This sweet fellow is Levi. He was pulled by MOKAN BC rescue from Springfield animal control about 2 weeks ago. But Levi doesn't get to play with the other dogs because he is being treated for heartworms and has to stay in a crate or on a leash. Plus he now has kennel cough (thanks to animal control's total lack of hygiene). He was staying at the clinic but since I can't have dogs with contagious disease there he is now staying a few days with us as part of the "foster dog shuffle" while we figure out who can take him for a bit. He's very sweet but pretty tough looking-a solid 46 pounds and missing half an ear. He'll be a great dog for someone when he's all better.

Meanwhile, the rest of the dogs had a great time in the yard. Zodiac herded everyone up-after his obedience practice. He has moments of greatness and moments of total futility. I know he's getting is but sometimes it's like he totally forgets everything and quits trying. Why, why, why do they suddenly act like they have no clue what to do when 3 minutes ago they did it perfect?

Oreo preferred to just look cute and watch everyone.

Legend showed both her intense and goofy sides. She had a really great agility practice today-yeah!

Josie played tug, wrestles Legend, chewed on the ball and ran in circles for no reason.

And Barney-did this....he's very ambitious.

Still got it....sort of

He actually did a pretty good job of catching for an old man. Although some of the pictures looked like he was getting hit in the face he really did catch-and that's a soft ball so he's ok!

Notice Legend watching closely in most of the photos. That's her current favorite toy.

Black, White, and Blue

First the Black and White...this little cutie pie is Josie. She's an 8-10 week old BC mix available through MOKAN BC Rescue. She's hanging out with us for a little while and is already wanting to play with the big dogs!

And now for the Blue...here are our photos for Blue Bandana day at The Portuguese Water Blog. You can check out all the rest of the photos there if you like.

Naps

I used to frequently take a nap when I got home from work on Tuesday afternoons (my afternoon off). But I found that it seemed to significantly cut down on the amount of stuff I got accomplished to I have done pretty good at breaking the habit. But I didn't have much planned this afternoon and was really tired so I got in a nice nap. Then I got some work done with the dogs-which went ok and re-organized a closet and did laundry.

There are just random photos I've taken recently since I obviously did not have a very exciting day.

Agility Match

One of the AKC clubs in North Arkansas was holding a match today to try and get certified to hold an actual trial. So Linda, Chesney, Legend and I headed south today to participate and get in some good practice runs. Legend had a nice standard run and got a "Q" and first place (ok she was the only qualifier). She had sort of a wild run in Jumpers with a bunch of off course obstacles but she did do great weave poles in both runs. She was not overly fired up but did not seem too stressed and ran at an average pace. Not blazing, but not pokey. I think it was a good experience for us. Chesney did great-she didn't Q but it was her first time doing anything AKC and only her second trial experience. She was much more focused than her runs at the NADAC trial last fall and probably would have gotten a Q in jumpers if she was solid on her weave poles!

The field behind the arena made a really pretty backdrop for photos so I snapped these while Legend and I were out playing ball.

Venom Game

Last night several friends and I attended Jerry's first football game. The night was a little windy but otherwise great for a game. Plus the Venom won and so everyone got to go home happy. Here some pictures from the game. Jerry is #27

The final score...

And of course the littlest Venom fan-baby Kennedy at her first football game! She did great and never fussed once (she actually slept through the second half).

After the game we all went to Andy's for ice cream!