K9-CRAZY

Brrrrrr...

2012-01-18T21:01:00.000-05:00

Wide-eyed wonder.

2012-01-10T08:59:00.001-05:00

Yeah right. In your dreams Lex! Mine, all mine!

We wish you a happy 2012!

2011-12-31T13:11:00.005-05:00

Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

~ Norman MacEwan

Bully ate today. Just not what I had in mind.

2011-12-08T22:56:00.004-05:00

I came home to this in my kitchen:

Sometimes words fail me. This was one of those times.

My dog has not eaten since Saturday

2011-12-07T22:35:00.002-05:00

Lexis is in season and Bullet is going crazy... And he is driving ME crazy. No food and constant hyperventilating is making him lose a few pounds that he really doesn't have to lose. Eight meals totally ignored. Maybe he'll eat tomorrow?

Six months ago I changed jobs and no longer have the privilege of bringing him to work with me at these times. I have never seen him so anxious and he is a pretty high dog to begin with. He's peeing in the house and getting destructive. Chewing the wood on my sliding patio door among other things. One of us may not survive the week...

Happinessity

2011-12-05T13:39:00.004-05:00

I have started tweeting. And, "gasp!", it is not about dogs.

Happiness is a choice. Love is a choice. Not always a feeling. I choose to make the necessary choice to be happy. I choose to love even when I don't want to. Shifting my focus onto the positive shows me that I am blessed.

So I have started to look for, and document, things that make me happy.

Happinessity
Happiness - it's up to you to make it a necessity.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Bite Club

2011-11-27T19:14:00.003-05:00

Welcome to Bite Club. The first rule of Bite Club is: you do not talk about Bite Club. The second rule of Bite Club is: you DO NOT talk about Bite Club!

Fight Club. I haven't seen the movie in years and it's one I really want to see again...

"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything."

"The things you own end up owning you."

"I want you to hit me as hard as you can."

"I don't wanna die without any scars."

The sun will rise

2011-10-05T19:52:00.002-04:00

No matter what happens in your life, each day is full of new opportunities. Make the most of them.

Lex is 2

2011-09-15T22:14:00.002-04:00

For her 2nd birthday Lex thought she'd practice Bullet's tip on Alpha Rolls.

Bullet training tip #1 - How to get the most out of your Alpha Rolls

2011-09-12T22:52:00.003-04:00

To bring your human to their knees, flip yourself onto your back and maintain that position. Bonus points will be awarded for a lolling tongue.

Just watch the human melt to the ground beside you, giving you the belly rub you know you deserve.

Tracy training tip #1 - Sealed with a kiss

2011-09-07T23:31:00.004-04:00

When your dog indicates an article on the track in a way you find pleasing, kiss them twice on the head.

The first kiss will let them know you are pleased, the second will help them retain the information.

Everyone has their way...

2011-09-07T20:03:00.002-04:00

Entering the trail for our bike ride tonight, Bullet and I passed a woman with an Airedale. The dog was lunging at us as we went by.

The woman claimed her dog was friendly, but was a rescue that never learned to greet other dogs well. She was pulling her dog back while mixing "no-no-no's" with "tsssss's", pokes and "It's ok's".

I kept going.

On our return I saw the woman ahead with her dog dragging it's leash on the ground. I slowed down and waited for her to notice we were there - we had to pass them to get home.

Finally she noticed me and grabbed her dog. I couldn't help it - I had to stop and talk to her.

Her dog was lunging and barking at Bullet again (who was sitting calmly at my side, the bike and myself between him and the Airedale). The woman's reaction was the same as before, right down to the "oh, she's friendly, but she's a rescue". While she was dealing with her dog I asked a bit about it.

She was a rescue, 1.5 year old female, etc, etc. Did I mention it was a rescue? I swear it was in every one of her sentences. In praise of herself, to excuse behaviour, to elicit an 'oh, poor dog' in me.

Didn't work.

Don't get me wrong. I think it's fantastic when someone rescues a dog. There are so many out there that need homes.

The problems start when people cling to the fact they have a rescue, as she was doing. When people don't let it go their entire relationship with the animal is tainted. Our perceptions influence how we handle our dogs and can cause more problems than solve them. Creating sob stories and holding on to what can only be imagined as having happened in that dog's life does nobody any good.

This is a real pet peeve of mine. Because a dog shies away when you reach for it does not mean it's been beaten. After watching this woman, I can say that if she'd had this Airedale since it was a puppy it would probably still lunge at other dogs - it's not doing it because it's a rescue.

Animals live in the moment and adapt quickly. With any dog you need to build a bond, teach it basic obedience, self control and give it exercise. Puppy or adult. Focus on becoming a best friend - not fixing a rescue with problems. This tweak in perception can make a world of difference.

Anyway, back to the Airedale story.

After a minute the dog DID calm down and sit. What did the woman do then? She ignored her dog.

"Do you have any food?" I asked. "If I were you I'd be heavily rewarding that behaviour."

"Oh no. I don't train with food." She claimed. "Training with food causes dogs to steal from children." (I didn't even start in on that one)

"A reward doesn't have to be food, it can be play or praise. Something the dog likes." I replied.

"Well, everyone has their way." She was clearly set in her "way". Whatever way that was.

"Who do you train with?" I asked, curious.

"Airedale rescue."

Fair enough. I was just some stranger on the trail and shouldn't have said anything to begin with since it was none of my business. She was following what she had been told to do by people she trusted and I respect that. I only hope that what I saw was a clumsy interpretation of what they suggest, and I wish her success in the future.

Less swimming

2011-09-07T18:11:00.002-04:00

More biking!!! With the cooler weather it's time to hit the trails.

I love biking with my dogs, partially because THEY love it. Finally the slowpoke human can keep up to them.

It does mean fewer photo ops though. Maybe I'll try and get some in motion, duct tape my point and shoot to my handlebars or something. For some reason I don't think that will work so well...

Beautiful ruin

2011-09-04T17:04:00.002-04:00

The warmth of September

2011-09-01T20:55:00.009-04:00

September. The time of year when Nature squeezes copious amounts of orange and red onto her colour palette. Her brilliant glow smears the landscape but for a while. Too quickly overworked, warm hues mix to mud and fall heavily to the ground.

Maybe this will be the year Nature is content with her work? Perhaps she will not feel the need to repaint her canvas white for a fresh start in spring?

I can see you

2011-08-29T21:37:00.001-04:00

Sunset

2011-08-26T07:17:00.001-04:00

Beastie boy no longer

2011-08-19T21:17:00.003-04:00

Before:

After:

I'm not the world's greatest Schnauzer groomer, but it's nice having a clipped dog. If you think that Giant Schnauzers don't shed you are welcome to come sweep my floors when he's shaggy! Most of the hair isn't from Lexis unless she's blowing coat.

KG North Regional Championships

2011-08-18T21:17:00.002-04:00

September 17-18th

Another upcoming event that you don't want to miss is the KG North Regional Championships being held in New Lowell, Ontario.

For more information click here: KGNorthRegionals2011.pdf

This event is planned to start at 5:00 am on Sep 17, 2011 at 5873 Simcoe Rd. #9, RR#2, New Lowell, Ontario, Canada L0N 1N0.

GSSCC Nationals 2011

2011-08-18T20:52:00.004-04:00

September 6-11th

The German Shepherd Schutzhund Club of Canada National Championships and Sieger Show is being held in Niagara Falls, Ontario this year! Don't miss your chance to watch the best teams compete for the honour of representing Canada at the WUSV World Championships.

Hosted by Niagara Hundesport & Police K-9 Training Club

Visit gssccnationals2011.com for more information.

Playing in the snow

2011-08-18T10:15:00.000-04:00

Here's a winter blog post that I forgot to hit the publish button on. Are you enjoying your summer and making the most of it? August is over half over!

Nosey girl

2011-08-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

When I leave my house, Lexis hops onto the window sill, pushes the curtain aside with her nose and watches me leave.

I always wave goodbye with a smile.

I don't know what I don't know yet

2011-08-17T21:29:00.004-04:00

Working with animals there will always be more...

Mullet head

2011-08-15T17:15:00.002-04:00

Cut the sides, don't touch the back! ~Beastie Boys

Black Bear sighting.

2011-08-15T16:55:00.003-04:00

Bully's a hairy beast.

Except for when he gets wet. Then he's a hairy beast with toothpick legs.

"Out" means your feet too, Bullet

2011-08-14T21:29:00.001-04:00

Bookends

2011-08-12T08:35:00.003-04:00

I found the girls curled up together on the couch. As dogs usually do, as soon as you go to grab your camera they move, but I managed to get these shots before they did.

Perfect practice takes practice

2011-08-09T21:38:00.007-04:00

My goal is to live the saying "Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect".

When I talk about perfection, I am not talking about the performance of my dog. It is about my own plan. Taking control of my emotions (a hard one for me as I can be an emotional trainer - not necessarily bad but not always good!) Watching my dog closely and responding as needed. Not moving too quickly, or slowly. Finding the balance.

Not that everything has to be perfect all the time. But I believe that perfect practice is a skill that has to be developed.

It's also not about always having the answers. As long as you are planning your sessions and reviewing your ideal finished picture, where you are in relation to that snapshot and your successes to date, then you are on the right track.

The other day I found a note to myself in one of my old sketch books. Alone on it's own spread, it read "I know what won't work. Doing nothing." Being a perfectionist, I have found myself in situations where I don't even try because I am afraid of failing. Now THAT is sad!

Perfection is not a place anyone can stay for long. But some people reach it more than others and that's simply because it's part of their working plan.

The big plan for Lexis

2011-08-03T21:16:00.004-04:00

Lexis will be 2 years old in September. Wow. Already.

Up until now I've been puttering around with her, not really training for anything specific since Bullet has been my focus.

Now that Bullet has his 3, it's time for that to change. It's time to get serious with Lex. But the big question is... What sport?

Agility? Rally? CKC obedience, tracking, etc? No, no and no. Not agility. Rally has never interested me. And since I let my CKC membership lapse over 5 years ago I have ZERO desire to ever have anything to do with them again. Not only do I dislike the CKC, the thought of the exercises bore me. Not that they aren't challenging in their own way, but you see, they aren't Schutzhund.

Schutzhund.

Yes. Lexis will like that.

What can I accomplish with her if I actually train regularly, with focus and organization? Hmmmm, interesting.

The truth is, I may never know the answer to that question since I don't have the ability to sustain my focus. But I can't underestimate the power of one training day at a time.

Even if we never trial that's ok with me. You see, I don't train to trial. I trial because I train.

And that is my big plan for Lexis.

Bite me – Day 2

2011-07-27T22:22:00.002-04:00

Day 2 of the National Helper Seminar at Capital City Schutzhund Club.
The focus of this day was how to properly catch a dog. Then came the certification test.

They warmed-up, and then practiced the skills without the dogs.

After that it was show time.

I brought Bullet out to help... Marvin earned his National Trial Helper Certification with Bully, congratulations!

The participants of the weekend.

Bite me

2011-07-26T18:44:00.004-04:00

Capital City Schutzhund Club hosted a National Helper Seminar this past weekend with teaching helpers Darin Clarke and Howie Jackman. It was HOT, but that didn't stop anyone from having a great time.

Here are some pictures from day one, July 23, 2011.
They focused on the hold & bark, escape, drive and reattack.

Rotten puppy cuteness

2011-07-25T09:11:00.002-04:00

This little rottie girl was adorable, falling asleep in her mom's arms.

Mmmm... I love turtles!

2011-07-14T07:29:00.001-04:00

We literally stumbled upon this painted turtle trapped between the railway tracks.

Asking the dogs to sit I got out my camera for the photo-op. Trying desperately to get away from us he was having a little turtle panic attack. Those legs could move faster than you would expect.

He found his entrance hole under the tracks but got stuck trying to get through. Giving him a push I watched as he scrambled out of sight through the weeds and towards the lake - away from us.

Lexis was intent on my every move... oh who am I kidding? She was obsessing over the turtle, longing for a snack that was both chewy and crunchy. Not on my watch girl!

Lexkiss

2011-07-13T22:20:00.002-04:00

Glory was pronounced Girly by the kids.

Lexis has become Lexkiss. It suits her!

Houseoftervs Signed Original (Sept 2003-July 2011)

2011-07-11T17:00:00.006-04:00

Every dog that passes through my life has taught me a lesson. Ceilidh's lesson to me was about letting go.

I have never mentioned placing Ceilidh in a new home. It was an agonizing enough decision for me to make without the judgment of strangers sitting behind their screens not knowing the details. Beware of blanket judgements, you never know what is lurking around the corner in your own life.

There was no way I would have let Ceilidh go to just any home. We met Mary the day Ceilidh finished her Championship. Having just lost her previous Terv she was looking for another companion - it truly was a match made in heaven.

My only regret is that time was limited for Mary & Ceilidh. Not quite 8 years old, stomach cancer has taken Ceilidh from this world too soon.

Kamikaze ways

2011-07-07T22:57:00.002-04:00

Man-oh-man. Bullet's kamikaze ways are rubbing off on Lexis.

There is a trail near my house that I haven't taken in a few years. It was fenced off, causing the kids (and possibly adults) to immediately cut an access hole through it. The owner retaliated with barbed wire and solid metal plates.

Curious to see how this fence had stood the test of time, I wandered over with Lex. Nearing it I found the barrier standing strong, but I noticed a side trail around the fenced yard. Good thing too. At the end of the main trail was a cement wall. Lexis took one look down and launched herself off of it. Yikes!

I would have asked her to try a running climb back up, but with the rusty wire poking out it wasn't worth the risk. As a last resort I could jump too... a very last resort.

Telling Lex to wait, I ran back to the side trail and around the compound. Lex was sitting and waiting patiently for me when I came around, good girl!

And we continued on our merry way, my curiosity appeased. Good thing it didn't kill the dog.

My guard

2011-07-05T22:29:00.003-04:00

Wandering the streets I go into my own little world. Having the dogs act as my eyes and ears gives me a freedom to daydream. I am always aware, but often they are the ones who give me the initial heads-up to anything approaching.

Loose on the trails, Bullet alerts me to people in the forest by his body language. He knows when someone is there and stands guard, watching them closely. Once I pass or they leave he relaxes his watch and we continue on our way. Having met some odd and potentially dangerous people in the woods, I am thankful for his presence.

My world would be a much smaller place without Bullet & Lexis, and I consider myself lucky to have such wonderful dogs by my side to share in the journey.

Summertime

2011-07-04T07:53:00.001-04:00

Chiropractor & What's next with Bullet?

2011-06-23T22:33:00.004-04:00

Bullet visited a chiropractor tonight. With the speed he lives his life, and the number of crashes he's taken along the way with the bodily stresses of Schutzhund I had no idea what to expect. What exactly would she feel?

Turns out he's not bad at all. A little stiff in the middle of his back, a small adjustment to his neck but overall he's in good shape. I keep him active, he's lean and muscular which I'm sure helps. He's scheduled for another appointment next week and then I'll see where he's at.

Bullet is still favoring a back leg, it's subtle but there. That means no training until he's better, the timing of that will determine what's next.

Bullet and I can do so much better than we showed at the Regionals. I was hoping to retire him from Schutzhund and focus on Lexis but really want to improve our scores. The GSSCC National is in Niagara Falls this year... sooooo close to home. Bullet is 6. It's now or never.

So yeah. It's a possibility. We'll see.

Training Lex to run with my bike

2011-06-22T19:53:00.003-04:00

Lexis has been going through her third heat (for my record) so she was spending more that her usual amount of time in her crate. The perfect opportunity to introduce her to my bike and let her stretch her legs.

Hooking her up to my Springer bike attachment we walked to the end of the driveway. No problems with any sort of spookiness (not that I thought there would be), so I hopped on and we headed towards the river trail.

Down the first street she kept anticipating where we were going and started pulling towards the sidewalk. I ignored this and kept moving forward and she settled in nicely beside the bike.

One block away we rode through a grassy field where she started to obsess over my front tire. I watched carefully, ready to act if she decided to slam into the side of my bike or bite the tire, but I kept right on going and let it play out.

Reaching out her head she decided to 'test poke' the tire. The friction of the rubber burning her nose was unpleasant enough to end that obsession.

Two blocks was all it took for Lexis to become like an old pro. So easy, so quick. And she loves it!

Dogs love to run.

Working photos of Bully

2011-06-18T20:19:00.003-04:00

I have so few good pictures of Bullet working these shots make me very happy! :) Thanks to RuffDog Photography.

Protection

2011-06-15T22:00:00.003-04:00

Going into the protection routine, all I wanted was to "not fail". How's that for setting your bar high?

The weather had cleared nicely by this time. The sun came out and the water was drying up.

Bullet has never run 6 blinds in his life. We've been training on a field with 3 blinds and playing a lot of the shell game. This was to be a test, would he run them?

The judge did not have us report in, and I could walk him calmly to the end of the field and set him up.

Blind #1, yes!
Blind #2, yes!
Blind #3, yes!
Blind #4, peeked in, started to think about going straight to #6 so I called him, he came, yes!
Blind #5, yes!
Blind #6, woohoo!!!!

Call out of the blind, good.

Set up for the escape, sloppy but ok.

Escape, nice speed and catch... then he tripped Anthony up and they hit the ground and did a complete roll-over. Bullet was UPSIDE DOWN but not letting go of the sleeve.

Photos by Susan St. George, thanks Susan!

Oh-no. Was Bullet ok? Was Anthony ok?

They both held on and Anthony recovered quickly. I yelled my out command, knowing I'd have an issue. Bullet was pumped.

He didn't out.

I was screaming at him in my head and found myself punching the blind as I yelled my second out command. Slowly but surely he listened this time.

Control issues would be a good way to describe the rest of the routine.

Back transport, sloppy, he wanted Anthony and forged a lot.

Side transport, passable.

When I asked Bullet to heel away from Anthony for the long bite he left my side and sat in front of Anthony. I not only said his name with another heel command, I touched his head. After that he heeled nicely down field. Courage test was good, and he outed on one command and again after the reattack.

One last side transport and we were done!!!

I knew it was a pass, we had done it, and my dog was still in one piece. 90 out of 100.

Bullet passed his SchH3 in Bullet style.

Obedience

2011-06-15T20:56:00.002-04:00

There is no other way to say this. Our obedience was one disaster after another and was, by far, the worst obedience routine I have ever done.

Bullet and I made it to the club by 6:30 as the trial was set to start at 7:30 and we were on first. Turns out that the time was pushed back to 9:00 so more people could watch. No big deal, I got my car under the tree I wanted and hung around for a few hours.

During those few hours the wind picked up, the sky darkened and it started to rain. Then it started to pour. And thunder. With lightening.

Obedience - Take 1
At approximately 8:50 the judge told us we were on in 10 minutes. I pulled Bullet from my car and did my pre-trial ritual. But he was high - too high. He crosses the peak performance line and descends rapidly into the pink zone. When he reaches this state of mind there is nothing I can do to bring him back down, no magical button to push. Not good.

Reaching the field we were waiting for the judge to start the day. They then made the decision to hold off for another 1/2 hour hoping the storm would settle. It was actually quite dangerous, lightening was streaking all around us.

Back into the car Bullet went.

Obedience - Take 2
Half an hour later we were told to get our dogs to try again, even though the weather was no better than before. Any hope that this second chance would give me another opportunity to get the right state of mind with Bullet was dashed as soon as I pulled him from the car. He was wound tighter than before. Verbal leakage and shaking is never a good sign. I must work on finding that elusive "calm down" button.

We did our long down first. Reporting in and heeling down field was a whiny event, but he kept his position and he went down, and stayed down. In the SchH3 you leave your dog and go into the farthest blind down field where he can not see you. I could still see him through the hole in the blind though. My poor, poor dog was getting pummeled by the rain, but he STAYED SOLID. Downs have never been our strength and for him to stay there, in that weather, in that state of mind is a massively huge success. We've been working hard on this and I saw results. What a good boy.

The weather got worse in the few minutes we were out there. I thought for sure a tree was going to come down in the wind.

The guy on the field did his heeling and his motions, and was about to do his retrieve over the jump when the judge called it off. The weather was too bad, we'd start again when it calmed down. I couldn't hear a thing and was focused on my dog, the judge had to come over to the blind to tell me this.

I collected my dog and we ran off the field, playing tug with his leash the whole way. Like I said, I was so happy with him for holding his down in that storm.

Obedience - Take 3
Still raining, still thundering, with lightening still streaking across the sky... we were called out to try again. Would Bullet be in a calmer state this time? Um, no. He was a basket case at this point.

Before he was merely whining and shaking, this time he was a barking fool. All the way down field. In his down stay. Woof-woof-woof-woof-woof-woof! He'd had enough. I stood in the blind and felt waves of despair flow over me, I wanted to grab my dog and make a run for it, but you can't do that. Bullet would have nothing to do with the stay this time, he was creeping towards me between barks and made it to the 3rd blind before he stopped.

I managed to pull myself together before the judge signaled me to get my dog. Walking back to him I realized I had to power through, we had no other option. I couldn't give up yet!

Heeling was horrendous. His attention was non existent. He actually stopped in the middle of the heeling pattern to shake water off himself, something he's never done before.

His motions were slow but passable.

Retrieve on flat was meh.

When it came to the jump I set up and threw the dumbbell and it didn't even make it to the jump, it slipped out of my fingers and landed just in front of it. How embarrassing. I had to leave Bullet, grab the dumbbell and throw it again. This exercise was ok.

The wall... oh, the wall. We set up and I managed to throw the dumbbell over this time. Bullet waited until released, ran over, collected the dumbbell then thought he'd loop over and check out the judge. Sigh.

This caused him to come back to the wall on an angle. That, and the rain, caused his front feet to slip out from under him and he crashed face first into the side of the frame. Of course I could see none of this from my angle, I just heard the bang. Bullet dropped the dumbbell, picked it back up and came around the wall into front position. Blood was pouring from his mouth. I took the dumbbell, asked him to heel and finished that exercise.

(They had to come and clean the blood off the dumbbell before starting the next round)

Thanks to Susan St. George for taking this picture.

While waiting for the other guy to collect his dog from the long down I had a chance to check Bullet's mouth for missing teeth, but they all seemed to be accounted for.

The sendout... Not bad at all. His focus was better in the heeling, he spun once and barked before taking off, but once committed he was fast, straight and listened to my down command.

I was in tears during my critique and didn't even hear my score. I was sure we had failed but I truly didn't care. I needed to make sure Bullet was ok, and I was worried that the reason he crashed in the first place was because of his leg - it was all my fault.

Giving him a good examination afterwards showed a hole in his tongue. That's where all the blood was coming from. He was walking fine and looked to be no worse for wear, believe it or not.

Turns out the judge gave us a 75 out of 100. It's an awful score but an unbelievable pass.

Tracking

2011-06-12T16:17:00.004-04:00

Three weeks before trial Bullet injured a leg. I gave him a week off, but when he was still favoring it after 7 days I became worried. Off to the vet he went where the diagnosis was a pulled muscle. The vet knew I was trialing in two weeks but asked if I could manage to keep him quiet another 7 days, then use the last week to build him back up. What choice did I have? Those three weeks were supposed to be my fine-tuning time, but you have to do what you have to do.

He still wasn't 100% by Thursday, the night we were to draw for our position in the trial. I'd rather pull him than push him and injure him more seriously, but he was mostly better... what to do, what to do... I made the tough decision to push him.

Tracking

June 3rd was a beautiful, sunny calm day. Our tracks were laid in a field of hay that was up to our knees/hips. I drew second.

The secretary asked that I have my dog ready to go once the first track was done. Not knowing where my track was laid or how long the dog before me would track and how long the critique would take, I took Bullet from my car too soon.

With Bullet, the less time he has to wait around, the less time he has to build himself up.

The start of our track wasn't stellar. He took off too quickly from the scent pad THEN thought maybe he should get to work and focus. First leg was merely ok. He stopped at the first article but was standing... I dropped my line quickly and moved towards him hoping for at least partial points, but he decided to continue tracking before I got to him. I had to scoop up my line and managed to snag the article on my way over it.

Meanwhile he thought he should be tracking faster which I wasn't expecting. Tearing the line from my grasp I had to scramble to catch up and grab the line from the ground. How embarrassing!

First corner was sloppy. Second corner was better. We came across the cross track of some deer (the tracklayer saw them go through) and Bullet took it. Realizing it wasn't the track he did backup and take the correct path, good decision boy!

Second article was nice, he could have been faster downing his indication.

The last two legs and corners were nice but I could see Bullet start to struggle in the long grass. His gait was lopsided and I was worried about his leg, and my decision to keep him in the trial.

When we got to the last article he decided to indicate with a sit and look around over the grass to see me coming. Damn dog!

Overall we lost points for the first missed article, sloppy corners, inconsistency in speed and inconsistency with the indication of the articles for a total of 79 points out of 100.

Bullet can track much better than what he showed that judge, but it wasn't a fail so I was happy.

Covenant Run to the Battle, SchH3

2011-06-05T09:36:00.006-04:00

2011 Ontario Regional Championship & Sieger Show
Saugeen Schutzhund Club, Orangeville, Ontario
June 3-5, 2011

Judges:
Obedience & Protection – SV Judge & Körmeister Rüdiger Mai
Tracking – Cdn. Judge Frank McEniry

Helpers:
Anthony Hartelaub & Matt Bonanno

Scores:
79-75-90 pronounced

Getting Bullet's Schutzhund 3 has been one of the hardest things I've done. This trial was an experience and a half, filled with crashes, pouring blood, tears, prayers and profanities, all orchestrated by one mother of a storm.

The trial was well run, the judges, decoys and Saugeen members were amazing. Congratulations to all who entered.

One of the highlights for me was when Judge Rüdiger Mai commented, more than once, on how nice of a Schnauzer Bullet is. It's always nice to hear compliments on your dog. Bullet is something all right, I love him and doubt I'll ever be lucky enough have another one like him. We've had a lot of help along the way and I'm thankful for all my friends, training directors and decoys.

I wish I had video of his performances, especially of his protection routine. Some people did take pictures and I can't wait to see those and post them here if they let me. I will also write down what happened in each phase.

The personal pressure I've put on myself to get this title is now gone. We got it in Bullet style, lol!

The big question is "Now What?"

Lexington

2011-05-09T09:42:00.001-04:00

Lexis swimming

2011-05-08T18:51:00.002-04:00

All Creatures Great and Small

2011-04-29T10:17:00.003-04:00

For the past couple of weeks I've been engrossed in the old British TV Series "All Creatures Great and Small". What a fantastic show! I read some of the books when I was much younger and I'm happy to have stumbled across this on Nexflix.

The characters are hilarious, from the vets James, Siegfried and Tristan all the way down to the clients and the animals. It gives you an appreciation for situations your own vet may need do deal with.

I would love to see the show modernized. How many clients would start off a conversation with "I read on the internet..."

Lions Foundation Dog Guides

2011-04-28T14:36:00.002-04:00

This makes me miss fostering. Great promotional video for Dog Guides.

Bully

2011-04-27T16:24:00.001-04:00

The water retrieve

2011-04-25T10:06:00.004-04:00

The wait

The release

The takeoff

The touchdown

The disappearance

The strike

The return

The emergence

The shower

Everyone's out enjoying Easter Sunday

2011-04-24T15:30:00.003-04:00

With gas at $135.3/litre I'm sticking close to home! Crazy.

So this morning I took to the trails with Bullet.
Others had the same idea.

The horsewomen with their horses:

The mountain bikers:

The families with their dogs:

Have a happy Easter everyone!

Scamp (Aug 1995 - Apr 2011)

2011-04-11T12:07:00.017-04:00

Last Tuesday we said our final goodbyes to Scamp. He lived a long life and was much loved.

Scamp was the family dog. He was born just before I entered college and when my brother was still in high school. He was there through our graduations, weddings, the death of my grandmother and mother and the birth of two children.

He was around before my first digital camera, I had to find and scan these photos!

After I moved out we'd steal Scamper on the weekends and for camping trips. When we bought our house and started fostering his visiting tapered out. He never became comfortable with the company of other dogs, I often wonder if this had to do with the fact he was a singleton puppy.

My brother inherited Scamp after he got married and my niece and nephew have not known life without him. He was a pretty good first dog for them.

The twist in this story is that Scamp decided it was time to leave us while my father, brother and family were on vacation.

My aunt called me when he stopped eating, drinking and was having a hard time breathing. I spent all day agonizing over the vet visit that was scheduled for that night but then relaxed. We all knew this was a possibility. My brother and I had talked about it before he left, for which I was extremely thankful. He almost made the appointment before leaving but just couldn't.

We'd leave it in the hands of the vet.

The vet knew my brother was back in 5 days yet did not feel Scamp could be made comfortable for that long. That was enough for my aunt and I, we said goodbye for everyone and let him go peacefully.

Run free, Earls Little Nipper, run free.

Skywalker

2011-04-09T23:59:00.002-04:00

Money

2011-04-08T08:48:00.004-04:00

Our dogs cost money. Buying them, feeding, training, vetting and even giving them a peaceful end costs.

A good friend I met through Aussie rescue asked that I submit a guest post for her blog (You know... that Blog!) which I gladly did by updating "The Cost of Responsible Dog Ownership". Check out her blog! :)

I like to calculate how much things cost me. For example, going to my friend's house to train on a weekend takes half a tank of gas in my Matrix. Let's make it an easy $25/trip in gas. The toll road costs $20 one way which I usually take home to avoid the traffic through Toronto. That's $45 just in driving. Let's say I train once a week for a year: 52weeks x $45 = $2340. Meanwhile I'm racking up the KM's, shortening the life of my car and getting oil changes more frequently.

If I drive the London way there is no road toll, but club costs are more and it takes 3/4 of a tank of gas.

Times have been tougher lately so I've really cut down on Schutzhund training. I hate spending hours on the road and the money it costs me to get there. Schutzhund is one of my favorite things to do but I'm conflicted because the questions "Can I afford this?" and "Is it worth it?" are ALWAYS there.

And it's not only the costs of the car. It's club fees, equipment, trialing. Fear of my dog getting injured (getting jammed, broken teeth, etc.) requiring thousands in vet fees freaks me out. Bullet is an accident waiting to happen! I'm not convinced it's worth it.

I was planning on entering the Ontario Regionals in June with Bullet but since we haven't trained since the fall I don't think that's going to happen. We'll see. Maybe I'll suck it up for another year, get his SchH 3 and then quit the sport. We've come this far already and it would be nice to finish what I started.

Overcoming your obstacles and facing your flaws.

2011-04-01T09:49:00.004-04:00

An impeccable recall is one of THE most important things you can teach a dog.

My dogs have what I would call pretty damn good to excellent recalls. They are explosive and fast. I can call them out of a rough & tumble doggy wrestling session with one word. Lex has turned mid stride in the middle of chasing a squirrel on my "Here!". When I first release them on a walk they turn into frantic beasts, tearing down the trail and screaming to the world that they are alive – it took some practice but I can call them back when they are in this state of mind.

So I signed up for Susan Garrett's 5 Minute Formula for a Brilliant Recall.

Why?

It's simple. There is so much more to the perfect recall than the "come". The flip-side is teaching the dog self control. Through games this is covered in Susan Garrett's course.

I'm really good at creating 'drive'- speed, power, energy. I'm also super-duper fantastic at teaching my dogs to fidget, forge, creep, whine, bark, push... and this must end. Like now.

These self control issues limit what I can accomplish with my dogs and until I tackle this challenge head-on I will forever be less of a trainer. This course is pointing out holes in my training and giving me the motivation to face my flaws and overcome my obstacles.

Let the games begin!

Bogs - A review

2011-03-31T09:52:00.002-04:00

I am an impulse buyer. After spending a few years longing for, drooling over, researching and trying on different rain boots, one weekend I decided I had to have a pair right away. So I went shopping.

Bogs were my boot of choice and I've been enjoying them for the past two months. (This is a personal review, not a paid advertisement.)

These boots bring back a childhood joie de vivre. They allow you to take the direct route through a mud pit and let you stomp around simply to hear the squish. Water is just as fun, I splashed in the lake with temperatures hovering around freezing. Feet stayed warm. Dry.

It doesn't take much to amuse me.

You can walk for hours in comfort. Not something you can say about the Canadian Tire black boot special.

The boots aren't perfect. They do not handle ice well, combining them with YakTrax in slippery conditions would be a smart idea.

The looks. Not my top pick but I wanted comfort and practicality, style wasn't topping my list. The handles bug me as they take up valuable immersion inches. Not to mention that they make my legs look like those of an elephant, especially with my pants tucked in. There are other Bog styles that I may check out in the future.

They are warmer than I expected. This was a bonus for winter but I'm afraid they'll be too warm for summer. Since I only wear boots for tracking in the summer they'll probably be ok, and I think they have other styles for warmer weather.

While they are warm, (rated for -40˚F/C) I think I'd still chose my Sorels over the Bogs if I am standing stationary for long periods of time in winter. For any activity the Bogs win.

I was breaking through a thin layer of ice to get to this water. So much fun!

A totally unexpected fantastic surprise!

2011-03-30T15:06:00.004-04:00

I've had a Geocaching Travel Bug in my possession for way to long, it was time to get it back out into circulation. Since I have been busy I decided to drop it in a cache I found a while ago on a local trail.

Nearing the remembered geocache zone my phone buzzed. Stopping on the main trail to read the text Lexis milled around. While focusing on the phone my dog left my sight. Glancing up I saw her on the other side of a tree... indicating the cache!

This was a totally unexpected fantastic surprise because:
- I hadn't asked for her to search, I wasn't even sure I had the right area of the forest.
- She hasn't had much training.
- She hasn't been caching (where I've asked her to participate) in a while.
- I had no intention of asking her to look and don't think I had given her any indication of why we were there (consciously or subconsciously) as I was immersed in my phone.

The cache had been found earlier that day and there were footprints leading up to it and fresh scent on the cache itself.

She smelled that trail, made the decision to follow it and indicated ALL ON HER OWN.

Wow. Things like this don't happen everyday. I put my phone away and as the Germans would say, we made a party!

I let my dog down.

2011-03-27T17:48:00.010-04:00

Lexis has never been overly confident with other dogs. As a puppy she'd hackle from neck to tail, lunge and bark in quick staccato. She was unsure but forward about it. She's not a submissive dog and can be a bully so I have to add that into the equation as well.

I still haven't found the magical formula to deal with this quickly and effectively - if there even is one - so I did what I always do. I made it up as I went, rewarding what I liked, redirecting what I didn't and taking it one day at a time. My goal has been for her to have lots of neutral to positive interactions with dogs and I've been happy with her progress.

It's important to always be aware of what's going on around you.

When I take my two to the trails I'm constantly watching for loose dogs. If I have any concerns at all I will bushwhack to avoid a dog. Most of the time it is sufficient to down mine off the trail until a dog passes. Sometimes a dog will come over to investigate and I'll block their progress. Most people are good about this and call their dog (to the best of their ability). Once they pass I release my dogs and we continue on our way. I expect my dogs to be tolerant of strange dogs but see no need for them to interact with every dog we meet.

Which brings me to Sunday's walk with Lexis.

My free time was over so I was beelining it to my car. Coming around a bend I saw a family playing with a big male Shepherd up ahead. Stopping, I weighed my decision. Circle the pond (longer route) or pass the family? My pause to decide was too long.

The Shepherd turned, saw Lexis who was standing slightly ahead of me, dropped his stick and came at a dead run.

The number one rule in this situation is not to panic. The good news was that it happened so fast I didn't have time to panic. The bad news was that I didn't have time for anything else either. He slammed into Lex and postured over her shoulders, pushing into her with his chest. She tried to bolt and he was on her, biting at her neck and back as she was trying to get away. Those who have dogs will know what I mean when I say it happened fast, and they were moving away from me so I had no chance to dive in. (I know, I know. Reaching into this is a bad idea, but what else can you do???)

The man kept trying to grab his dog. The noise was awful. If I had been closer that dog would have received a few hard kicks from me but unfortunately I was too far away to be of any good. But I wasn't that far away, I should have moved faster.

The owner managed to snag his dog and pull him away and Lex hightailed it to me.

I was livid and told them to leash their dog since they had ZERO control over him. One of the little girls apologized, the man also mumbled an apology, and they leashed their dog... in my sight anyway.

As they walked away I checked Lex over for damage. Bites can be hard to spot under fur and they may not bleed. A dog bite can be like an iceburg, tiny on the surface with huge damage underneath the surface. She was clear, the Shepherd was more noise than bite thankfully.

After that I asked Lexis to find the toy she had dropped when this happened. She ran around, found it and we had a good game of tug. I was really happy with her at that point. I have no intention of holding on to this experience and I expect Lexis will move on quickly as well. We continued on our way.

Ultimately it is my job to keep my dogs safe which I failed at. But sometimes bad things happen. You deal with it and move on. I'm sure all of Lex's positive experiences up to this point will be beneficial, and I'm going to make sure I'm diligent to prevent any back-to-back episodes.

I'm just SO thankful I didn't have Bullet with me. Bullet would never start anything, but I guarantee he wouldn't back down if a dog came at him like that. Lexis didn't fight back. Bullet would have.

The overachieving German Shepherd

2011-03-26T16:28:00.004-04:00

Last year – March 26th, 2010
Lexis was learning to swim.

This year – March 26th, 2011
Lexis is walking on water.

The nose knows.

2011-03-25T14:00:00.000-04:00

There were a few times this winter when Bullet found a cache that other experienced cachers could not. He found There are 10 types of people in the world... immediately after we arrived at the Geocache Zone. Here is a snippet of the log reports. The blue sad faces on the logs mean the cacher Did Not Find (DNF). I have to admit reading the logs makes me laugh, click for big:

Another one, Mossy Rocks, gave people trouble before and after my find. The only reason I found it was because I had help. Bully's nose saved the day:

I'm looking forward to doing more caching this summer, with plans to bring out the mountain bike for some longer trail runs with the dogs. Lex will get more caching experience under her collar as well as learn to concentrate and search with Bullet there. With a two dog team I shouldn't have to log any DNFs... if only it were that easy :)

Are you ready?

2011-03-24T13:07:00.003-04:00

OK!

Much too happy

2011-03-23T18:57:00.001-04:00

Yes, Lexis is much too happy about this snow.

Well, spring HAD sprung...

2011-03-23T11:47:00.003-04:00

See, here is the proof:

The snow was well on it's way to extinction. The calendar declared winter officially over... and if something is printed in ink it MUST be true. I opened my windows, aired the house out and enjoyed some forest walks without gloves and a toque. I even went into the garage and pulled out the patio chairs.

Then last night went and ruined it all. I woke up to my chairs covered in the white stuff:

(Lex is wondering what the big deal is but the Schnauzers agree with me. Good Schnauzers.)

It is still coming down.

One good thing about a spring snow storm is that you know it won't last long. As long as my Matrix doesn't become a bumper car I'll make it through. Maybe I should get out my skis for the first time this year? Actually, that's not a bad idea!

Gryphon

2011-03-22T11:35:00.001-04:00

Agility in the real world

2011-03-21T09:16:00.002-04:00

RIP Buddy

2011-03-19T18:59:00.002-04:00

We stumbled upon this newly erected memorial in the forest today. Ashes were scattered at the base of the tree next to a trail used by mountain bikers.

Heart wrenching. Buddy was a lucky dog.

GSD collage

2011-03-19T11:36:00.002-04:00

Daycare Fail

2011-03-18T15:55:00.002-04:00

Through the fence:

Blech. I'm sorry I looked.

Mmmmmmm, delicious!

2011-03-17T09:37:00.002-04:00

The perfect meal for an early St. Patricks day, I made this Irish stew with lamb, potatoes, carrots, onions and Guinness. I had three lamb shanks kicking around that I threw in the mix.

We washed it down with the rest of the Guinness.

I HEART Bullet

2011-03-09T19:24:00.006-05:00

This video demonstrates a few reasons I love Bullet so much. Watch how he plays with Lexis, and more importantly, his reaction to the dogs behind us. He's awesome.

I have never allowed any of my dogs to even think of fence fighting. They start barking, posturing or obsessing in any way at a dog they are brought inside immediately. Every single time, from day one. Sure, it takes time and dedication with each dog but eventually it pays off and the effort is SO worth it in the end.

The dog freaking out at the fence is still a puppy (I'm guessing he was born last summer because he showed up in the late fall/early winter at around 8 weeks old).

The woman runs an in-home day care... Um, yeah. Red flags are flapping in my head.

Boy-oh-boy. I sure am looking forward to summertime when I get to spend hours in my garden next to this. I'm hoping the Mennonite Mongrel becomes used to my presence and stops his barking and lunging on the fence, but both dogs have endurance. *sigh*

As an added bonus I own the fence, the neighbours had a chain link up on their side until they ripped it out this fall. The wooden fence is old and not very well constructed to begin with, and when you combine the erosion of the dog claws and their weights being hurled against the boards I'm worried it's not going to last much longer. I don't have the funds to replace a fence this year so I'm choosing not to think about it and have gone into avoidance.

Facetime for Minigo

2011-03-05T22:32:00.003-05:00

If you click play, you'll get to watch 32 seconds of cuteness – Minigo bouncing and spinning around waiting for me to throw her ball. That's all it is.

A few years back there was an incredibly annoying commercial for Yoplait Minigo Yogurt. Whenever it came on I'd sing "Minigo-minigo-minigo!" along with it and Glory would get excited and jump all over me. The name stuck and was pretty perfect, since I already called her our Mini-Giant Schnauzer and "Go".

I've searched the web for a video of the old campaign with the bear but can't find it. (I predict someone who played a part in the creation of that ad removed all traces out of embarrassment.) The newer campaign isn't much better... less irritating, but boring.

Watching you watching me

2011-03-04T12:29:00.003-05:00

Sun flurries

2011-03-03T11:45:00.001-05:00

Zzzzzz.....

2011-02-24T06:44:00.001-05:00

Lexis leads a tough, tough life.

The camera can't groom the dog.

2011-02-23T10:06:00.003-05:00

Bullet is looking a little rough around the edges. I love a nicely groomed Schnauzer and try to keep him looking decent but have let him slide this winter. Those ears! They should be clean!

The winter wind flowing through Bullet's ear hair.

I prefer to groom all the dogs outside to limit the hair in my house. Usually we have a few warmer winter days that allow me to tidy up heads, feet and rears before I freeze, this winter I was working the only warm(ish) day we've had in months.

I have to admit that there is something really nice about the wash & go, run-a-brush-though-it maintenance of the Shepherd coat... until heavy shedding season hits that is. Then there is nothing better than a shaved Schnauzer!

Crossing a lake without a boat.

2011-02-12T15:37:00.004-05:00

We crossed over Puslinch lake today with it's fishermans huts.

With the snowmobiles and trucks driving on it I was confident it was frozen solid enough for us to walk on, although I doubt I'd ever drive a vehicle I owned on a lake in Southern Ontario. Near the edges of the island it was slushy and wet, even with our cold temperatures.

Baby it's COLD outside!

"Black feather" replacing the cache.

More weekend caching adventures

2011-01-30T20:51:00.002-05:00

What a beautiful weekend for getting out.

This was an interesting cache. While I admire the difficulty, I have to question the safety of the surrounding trees:

Bullet had a blast - Brayden threw his toy once.

I was walking ahead when my brother called me. "Um, Tracy... your dog won't let my son move forward". It was true. Brayden would move and Bullet would pick up his toy and place it, and himself, directly in his path. I guess he figured that if the kid threw it once, he'd throw it again. I had to call him off so poor Brayden could join us!

A good Saturday was had by all.

Today my friend and her Smooth Collie service dog puppy in training joined me on the hunt. Frisking trees is part of the game...

Since Lexis is still in heat and Bullet got to go yesterday, I figured Minigo would love an outing. She did. I really need to trim her feet.

I love this picture of Wizard posing for a photo:

Afterwards we went to Subway where he crashed on the floor after his full day in the forest.

Breeding practices & puppy mills

2011-01-27T19:00:00.003-05:00

While I'm on the subject of responsible breeders, here is a timely video about a puppy mill bust that shows the polar opposite of responsible. It's worth the 18 minutes but I warn you, it's hard to watch: CAPS vs. Bauck

It serves as a warning to breeders - be careful to whom you sell your puppies.

As a puppy buyer, don't support commercial breeders like this by avoiding purchasing at a pet store or from the classified ads. Research, research, research. Take your time, interview breeders and don't rush when searching for your next companion. Don't be fooled by the misconception that by buying that puppy in the window you are "saving" it. You are perpetuating the problem. It would be much better to visit your local shelter or rescue group.

What's on the agenda today?

2011-01-22T09:33:00.008-05:00

1- Research de-whining a dog (kidding)
2- Buy a thong for my bitch (not kidding)

Lexis has started her second heat, six months from the first. I was hoping she'd put more time between them but it was not meant to be.

The last thing anyone wants are Schnauzer/Shepherd crosses. Kev & I know the routine and it's no big deal. When we aren't home I'm super paranoid and crate Lex in the basement with the solid door leading down firmly shut. I've read too many oops litter stories and have no desire to write my own.

Lex is supervised at all times when let outside. Our next door neighbor fosters a bulldog for a breeder.... He knows and enjoys his job! And I doubt the Seal cross and Mennonite mongrel in the yard behind us have left their yard long enough for a vet visit, never mind a neutering. Next to them we've got an intact American Bulldog, and a couple of doors over from us there is an intact Shepherd, beside them it's an intact Rottweiler.

Is it just me or is that a whole lot of canine testosterone for one North American, tiny city block?

In my case, Bullet is co-owned with his breeder. Bullet's got a nice pedigree, he's a good worker and his heath tests have so far been excellent. Will he ever be bred? Highly unlikely.

I'm keeping Lex as-is, for now anyway. I am not a breeder and have no desire to become one, but I want to see how she grows up. Will she ever be bred? Highly unlikely.

Glory has been spayed.

Because you CAN breed a dog does not mean you should. It is one hell of a responsibility that too many take lightly and do for the wrong reasons... like because they think they'll make money. Or because they have the best dog ever, and he/she is special. Guess what? Death row at your local shelter is full of amazing dogs, out of special dogs just like yours.

So you want to breed your dog?
Ask yourself a few questions first:

Is your dog from a reputable breeder who tests the health, mind and body of their breeding stock and has all the titles and documents to prove this? Can they also provide pedigrees full of dogs that have themselves been tested? (Not just one championship or two, four generations back. That is meaningless.)
No? Then don't breed your dog.

Are you prepared spend the money and time it takes to test your dog's health, mind and body? To get the "proof"... X-rays, blood tests, titles, etc. before breeding?
No? Then don't breed your dog.

Anyone can say their dog would excel in field trials, on the schutzhund field or in the agility ring, etc. Many do just that - talk. The real proof is in the judging. Training and trialing tests the dog's structure and mind. Their willingness to please. Their longevity and overall health. Their temperaments. Most puppies end up in pet homes but the traits above are all necessary for a well-balanced, healthy, happy family companion. By testing their dogs, breeders KNOW the good and the bad and can communicate that to a puppy buyer and make a good match.

No dog is perfect. Are you willing to be honest about your dog to puppy buyers as well as other breeders? Hiding a health problem or temperament fault does not improve the breed. If, for example, your stud dog starts to have seizures at the age of 5 you can't pretend it doesn't happen and keep allowing other breeders to use him. No matter how nice he is, or how much money you'll lose. The breeders who have used him should be informed. Those would be tough calls to make and some people could get angry with you... Can you be honest and deal with situations like this?
No? Then don't breed your dog.

Do you have a waiting list before you breed? Reputable breeders don't need to advertise their litters in the local classifieds, on Kijiji or Craigslist.
No? Then don't breed your dog.

Not everything goes as planned. Are you prepared for emergencies with the bitch or puppies? These emergencies can and will hit your emotions, bank account and sleep patterns. Are you willing to chance losing your special girl?
No? Then don't breed your dog.

Are you willing to spend time with the litter and provide enrichment? Handle the puppies, introduce them to novel objects, textures, sounds, etc? Keep track of each dog's personality? Keeping them in a kennel until they are sold is not acceptable.
No? Then don't breed your dog.

Are you prepared to keep any and all puppies that don't find the perfect home? One person's "pick of the litter" is different from another person's "pick of the litter" and it's your job to match the best dog for the home. There is more to it than first-paid, first-served. It is also very possible to end up with more puppies than homes, do you have the space, time and money to deal with this?
No? Then don't breed your dog.

The job doesn't end there. Will you provide support for your puppy buyers? Will you take back any dog, at any time, in his/her life?
No? Then don't breed your dog.

So you still want to breed your dog?

Before you do, visit your local shelter. Offer to foster a few rescue dogs. Get a good look at the other side and fully understand it.

There is a market for well bred puppies and breeding your animal is not a bad thing to do if you do it well. Just realize the job you are taking on and do the best you possibly can. Don't do a disservice to the dog population by adding more lives that end up on a cold table at the shelter, breathing their last breath... all because you need some money or because you think your dog is special.

Breeding is one hell of a responsibility all right. Proceed with care.

Just call him Bumble.

2011-01-18T15:22:00.005-05:00

It's hard to get an action shot of the solid black Bullet on snow. As he dive-bombs the drifts and the flakes coat his back he becomes more Bumble-like which makes the job easier. My Abominable Snowman.

Bumble rises from the elements...

...and starts to shed his winter camouflage.

I can only hope this means spring is on it's way?
Super early? Probably not.

Winter isn't too bad, but I do prefer sandals to my 10-lb Sorels (disclaimer – I don't know their actual weight) and the ability to use my hands without gloves... And the sun on my skin, I do miss the sun.

Walking in a winter wonderland

2011-01-16T17:39:00.003-05:00

Lex ran around the bush and stopped dead, her back end taking a second to catch up to her front. The challenge from Bullet is definite.
Capture the frisbee if you can, I dare you.

In the house their play of choice is wrestling. Outside, their game changes to what I like to call "Capture the Kong". (even if it's not a Kong they have) Bullet runs ahead with the toy, Lexis chases him. They can do this for hours.

Bullet will sometimes engage in a game of tug for a while. On his terms. When he wants the toy back all it takes is 'the look' and she obliges.

I love this dog.

Here he's wearing his leather collar with the shotgun shell rivets that I bought from an online bird dog equipment store. It's perfect for a dog named Bullet!

Lexis loves this dog too.

Leaping Lagomorph Lunacy

2011-01-13T12:59:00.002-05:00

My posts seem to be all about Geocaching lately. While I'd imagine that most people do the majority of their caching in the warmer months, my stats show I'm a winter girl. Schutzhund training moves to the back burner, tracking isn't taking priority of my time and the dogs love frolicking in the snow. Enter caching season!

Last weekend I solved and found "Leaping Lagomorph Lunacy". For my log I wanted a picture of the dogs "leaping" and I ended up with the synchronized bound through the snow shown above. That they are both lunatics and have huge, rabbit-like ears goes without saying.

I heard that!

Look at how thick the ice is on the riverbank!

Overall it wasn't a very successful caching day for me. The coordinates for the first stage of a multi eluded me, the second was up a tree I'd have to climb (not something I attempt when I'm alone with two dogs), the third was frozen under rocks, and the last, electricitree, was across a river that I couldn't find a safe way over. Reviewing the area on google maps when I got home, I discovered I may have to wait for the water levels to drop (they've been high after a recent thaw), or I can try to tackle it from the far end of the park.

It's in the tree on the other side of the river... so close, yet so far away!

The area is a nice place for a walk so I'm looking forward to going back. Bully and Lex don't mind one bit!

Call in THE NOSE!

2011-01-06T15:37:00.000-05:00

"THE NOSE" suits Bullet, he is a Schnauzer after all.

There was a cache hidden underneath this daunting expanse of rocks.

"Bullet, find it!"

He made the tough job look easy and saved me from wet mittens and cold hands.

Now for a small container hidden in a forest of fallen trees...

Good boy!

Lexis is learning the game but it will be a while until she's got the experience Bullet does. I'm interested to see how her style develops and if there will be differences between the dogs, and what those differences will be.

Between finds she strikes a pose for the camera.

Sleeping Beauty

2011-01-05T16:45:00.001-05:00

A tired dog is always a good dog :)

The wonder of first time cachers

2011-01-05T12:43:00.003-05:00

Taking family out for their first time Geocaching showed me how different it is caching with kids. They LOVE the "treasure" after the find. I may just stock up on little toys and drop them off when I see a cache a low on inventory. As an adult I don't pay much attention to the trinkets. I'll rake through them to see if there are any Travel Bugs or GeoCoins, and if there is a patch I'll trade for that, but I have no interest in the rest.

It's here!

To see the kids evolve from unsure of what to do, to finding them on their own at the end was exciting. It's a great activity for families to get out and do together, and once you have your equipment it's free but for the gas. Gets you off the couch and outside!

Puzzle caches are among some of my favorites, they work the brain as well as the body. I'm determined to solve Ode to a wonderful, magical animal one day. Preferably by spring.

Sweet dreams

2010-12-31T14:00:00.002-05:00

Dog Blood Donor

2010-12-29T14:00:00.003-05:00

Over the holidays I applied for Lexis to be a blood donor through the Blood Donor Program at the University of Guelph.

We live close to the OVC and Lex fits their requirements perfectly. She's the right breed, size, age and she's friendly and healthy. The OVC replied to my application saying they have a waiting list but are keeping our application and we may be contacted in the future.

If we are contacted I will need more information before going through with it. Lex is very active and I will be trialing her starting next year, I would not want her in danger and am curious if this would affect her training. She's also intact and I have no intention of spaying her at this time, I would need to confirm that isn't a problem.

I found out about this program a few years ago when I had a foster in their clinic for an emergency. A dog blood donor was not something I ever would have thought about before then, but it's obviously needed. It's been on my mind since but none of my dogs have fit their criteria until now.

Have a look for a dog blood donor program in your area and see if your dog is eligible to help. Blood can save a dog's life... it could save YOUR dog's life.

Christmas toy review - Orbee Ball

2010-12-24T10:42:00.003-05:00

My dogs love the Planet Dog Orbee World Balls, this time I bought the one that glows in the dark.

So far the glow lasts a reasonable amount of time, great for playing in the park at night if you have a flashlight to recharge it.

If allowed, Bullet will pick the world off an Orbee ball before ripping the rest of it to shreds. Overall this takes him a while so I agree with it's chew-o-meter rating of "5 out of 5 chompers". Not indestructible but tough.

One thing I have to watch out for with this ball is the extreme bounce. Bullet is crazy and will leap up to catch it in the air. I can't release him until it's dead for his own safety. The last thing I want is him breaking his leg or ripping ligaments from his contorted acrobatic freestyle routine.

Dogs love to chew this ball. It's soft and makes a wonderful squishy sound when filled with slobber. Some would never allow this behaviour with a Schutzhund dog, convinced it encourages a chewy grip. Others feel that how a dog enjoys a toy reward is unrelated to how it will behave on a sleeve. Right now I'm gravitating towards the "never allow this behaviour" camp. I strongly believe that if you have a dog with chewing tendencies letting them practice it can't help but create a bad habit. After saying that I do bring it out occasionally because the dogs really do love it.

Some of the heavier solid balls can be dangerous, but this one is soft and safe for the teeth, so if caught in the air there is no danger of a tooth getting damaged or the dog getting hurt if smashed in the face.

Because I can.

2010-12-23T22:30:00.001-05:00

I recently changed the spelling of Lexus to Lexis. The fact Lexus is a car name bothered me. Really, really bothered me.

Don't worry, I consulted Lex about this change and she shoved her Kong in my face. (We've determined that means she's happy with the new spelling.)

Not only is it a nicer looking word, it also works better for future "A Lexis on Fire" posts - when she earns a new title.

Beschützer German Shepherds

2010-12-21T15:35:00.004-05:00

When my friend asked me to design a logo for her kennel she had a few specific requests. She wanted it modeled after a picture I took years ago of her female, Arlie. (Arlie is Lex's dam) She also wanted flames incorporated next to the kennel name.

Sketching brought me closer to a solution and I was really excited with where my pens were taking me. Usually I work-up multiple designs but this concept would be time-consuming to execute properly and I was that confident she would like it. If not, I'd go back to the drawing board and keep this drawing for myself.

Combining the flames with Arlie running gave my friend all she asked for. It captured the power and speed of the breed, mirrored the complex flame-like patterns of the GSD coat and accurately portrayed the spirit of a working dog.

My friend recently started a blog of her own, check it out: Beschützer GSD. As she is French Canadian some of her posts will be in french.

Beschützer is a German word that roughly translated means defender, guardian, heroic champion.

God loves a Terrier

2010-12-18T11:26:00.003-05:00

God loves a Terrier is the best song from one of my favorite mocumentaries "Best in Show". Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara rock!

If you have ever shown a dog and haven't seen this movie go and rent it. Now if you have never been involved in the world of dog shows you may not like the movie and find it over-the-top stupid. But that's what makes it so funny – the characters aren't that far off real life. Sad but true!

Enjoy the preview:

I love this quote by Buck Laughlin (played by Fred Willard) for obvious reasons:
"That's my favorite, the Miniature Schnauzer. You think they'd wanna breed them bigger wouldn't ya, like grapefruits or watermelons."

Dear Neighbour,

2010-12-16T09:33:00.011-05:00

First off, I hope this letter finds your family in good health and that you are ready for Christmas. Did you get your children everything they asked for this year?

Now what about your dogs? You know, those two creatures you accepted full responsibility for when you brought them into your life? Forget about buying them a gift for under the tree, what they want most will cost you nothing. They are trying desperately to communicate their wishes but you seem to need a translation, so here it is. My Christmas gift to you.

The barking 24/7 means:
I'm lonely. I'm bored. I want nothing more than to be with you. Let me inside!

The scratching at the door means:
I'm lonely. I'm bored. I want nothing more than to be with you. Let me inside!

The whining means:
I'm lonely. I'm bored. I want nothing more than to be with you. Let me inside!

I try to understand your reasoning. Why do you even have dogs when you ignore their existence?

Do you have them for protection?
Neither of your dogs could or would do anything to protect your home or family in their back-yard prison. Get an alarm system.

Do you have them as lawn ornaments?
Buy a statue, your yard will look much better and you will save the minute a day you currently must spend feeding and watering them.

Do you have them for the children?
If that is the case let the dogs play with them! And socialize that Mennonite Mongrel puppy, because if he continues down the path he's on, with his poor temperament and lack of socialization skills I deem him most likely to bite a child. If this does in fact happen, I want to you know that it will be 100% your fault, but unfortunately the dog will pay the price for your stupidity. I can only pray the price it pays will be a new home where he will be a part of the family, but that is unlikely.

I have to ask... What happened to your last dog?

Did she lose her puppy appeal? Did she grow to large? Were the craters she was digging in your back yard bothering you? Did she escape and get hit by a car? Did someone complain about her barking?

She had an excellent temperament you know, happy-go-lucky and able to entertain herself. She was great with the children, but maybe you didn't see that? When you yelled at her for getting in the way she didn't take it personally and went back to amusing herself. This is much better than the puppy you are raising now but it could be that you don't recognize the signs. Your current puppy desperately needs to get out into the world. He needs to be handled and socialized, you aren't going to be as lucky with him as you were with her, this I guarantee.

Maybe you really don't know and I'm expecting too much from you. Let me help you out: People don't like listening to your dog's mournful cries day after day. It's disrespectful to everyone around your home, not to mention to the dogs themselves.

So what do your dogs want most this Christmas? To be a part of your family and your best friend. You'll find that by giving this one gift of friendship you'll receive it back a hundredfold. Try it. You'll like it.

Sincerely yours,
Tracy

Tracking on white

2010-12-12T15:31:00.007-05:00

Tracking on fresh, deep snow isn't something I'd do often, but it's fun to see how the dogs handle it. Sometimes you are surprised at how things play out. That is one of the things I love most about tracking, you never know what's going to happen next.

Bullet tracked with his usual speed and intensity. When you can see your track you can make it more challenging since you don't need to rely on your memory of where you laid it. This track had a lot of corners, serpentines and I used a cross track I found as a proofing exercise. The first time I crossed it he made the wrong decision, a small correction got him back and he was more thoughtful on his discrimination the next time. He didn't make the same mistake twice. I also ran my track parallel to it and he aced that test.

Their noses stayed deep and while you'd think they'd eyeball the track I didn't see that happening with either dog.

Lex has been doing great with her articles so I was surprised when she walked right over the leather in the snow. She didn't even hesitate. No big deal, I chose to bring her back, platz her and reward her "indication". Yes, she didn't find it, but I truly don't think it registered as an article in her head and I prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt in a situation like that. She's still a new tracker. I didn't want to ignore the article she missed but I didn't want to correct it either. I chose to reward as if she'd found it herself. She had no problem after that although I had to give up looking for one that got completely covered:

I know it was down there somewhere!

Lex still has food in nearly every footstep so in this snow I placed it in the heel of my print so it was not visible to her on the white. Bullet only ever gets food after an article indication so him looking for food on the track is a non-issue.

After tracking we had some fun in the snow:

Bullet heeling with Kevin... Kev had his ball so Bullet threw himself into the "sweet spot" to get it. He knows how to work a situation to get his reward.

Kevin getting ready to release Lex for her toy:

More snow than toy in that grab.

Chomp!

Catching snowflakes on her tongue.

!!!

2010-12-11T20:09:00.003-05:00

If a Giant Schnauzer were a punctuation symbol, they would be the exclamation mark.

They love to emphasise all endings with power and wonderment.

Lex at work

2010-11-29T11:03:00.000-05:00

Watching the world go by.

Group shot attempts

2010-11-26T18:31:00.003-05:00

Last year around this time:

This year:

Much better!

I QUIT.

2010-11-14T19:45:00.001-05:00

Competition-focused action movies are often romanticized. The basic screenplay might go something like this:

- Introduction of the main character.

- A conflict brings in the arch nemesis, showing you the challenge that can't be ignored.

- There is then the scramble to find the best reluctant/retired/injured/old master trainer and persuade him to help.

- Training begins.

- An unforeseen obstacle causes them to fail in training and give up.

- They then drag themselves out of the muddy pit they've wallowed in, regroup and take everything more seriously, with incredible intensity, usually in an unrealistic amount of time. This is where you see training in horrible conditions, working through pain, with dramatic music in the background. Everything is in fast-forward.

- The main event starts off well but then things become really challenging. They fall down, break a bone, nearly die! But does that stop them? Almost. But their training kicks into gear and they tear their eyes from the light to fight. And win!!! They accept their trophy broken but victorious.

- The end.

There are no award-winning screenplays or fast-forward buttons in Schutzhund. No shortcuts. No adrenaline pumping, inspirational soundtrack pushing your every step. Real life isn't romantic. Schutzhund takes a lot of forethought and dedication as training a dog to a SchH3 takes years. It can often be incredibly boring... Driving long hours to your club. Watching a track age. Waiting for your minutes on the field with the decoy. There are times you stand in the pouring rain or bone-chilling winter winds for hours. You will get filthy. A hand will be at the wrong place at the wrong time and end up bloody. Your dog will get injured. You will eventually get knocked off your feet and land hard.

If you don't enjoy the journey you won't last in the sport of Schutzhund. Each time I declare I'm quitting Kevin just laughs, he knows me too well. You see, I'm always quitting, but more importantly I'm never serious about it. Well, RARELY serious about it, and then it's not for long.

Schutzhund has shown me how a sun rises on the horizon and filters through rising mist. I've smiled at killdeer providing cross tracks right in front of a dog's nose. Enjoyed being alone in a field, quiet but for the frozen grass crunching underfoot with my breath crystallizing before my eyes.

Because of Schutzhund I've traveled nearly every road in Southern Ontario. Friendships have flourished where neither age nor profession matter – we are all equal on the training field.

The satisfaction is great when I can walk 33 feet behind my dog as he pinpoints with his nose exactly where someone walked over an hour beforehand. When I can complete an entire obedience pattern confident my dog is happily in position by my side. When I hear the loud thunk of him hitting the sleeve with a powerful, full grip and see him take the decoy down.

Turns out Schutzhund might be romantic after all. And very worth it. And so I continue striving towards my goals, one training day at a time.

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Training 2010

2010-11-14T19:44:00.009-05:00

With November half over and Christmas approaching I'm internally reviewing 2010 and planning for 2011. It won't be long until white flakes hit and stick in great numbers.

For me, training in 2010 has been amazing. And frustrating. And extremely rewarding. And irritatingly bang-your-head-here hard. Every year I glean more experience and catch a glimpse of how much I still have to learn. I'm thankful for my friends, helpers and my dogs.

Lex:

There are a lot of exercises to teach a Schutzhund dog and it's easy to ask too much of them, especially with young dogs. Winter is a perfect time to let their training percolate. What they've learned in 2010 will not be forgotten but eagerly recalled once training starts again. Time is our friend. Even if we love our job we never refuse a vacation.

Bullet:

Play = Work = Play, but even play can slip into a monotonous routine. As humans we often fall into patterns without realizing it. We get bored and I truly believe our dogs do too if we are not careful to add variety to our training and be thoughtful in our rewards. A great solution can be as simple as switching gears and doing something different, even for a little while. Take the pack out to free-play in the snow. Cross train. Our Canadian winters give us a natural break for introspection - to analyze ourselves, our dog and our goals.

That's what I plan to do very soon. Along with some good old hibernation. Then watch out 2011, I'll be ready for you!

It's official

2010-11-13T00:29:00.003-05:00

Lexus is mine, I received her CKC registration in the mail today so that makes it officially official. I'm now a "Shepherd person", wow. Still never saw that one coming.

When I asked Lex what she thought of staying here forever she shoved a Kong in my face. I took that to mean she was happy although I have a feeling all it meant was "play with me".