Agility Seminar Notes

Wow! I learned that Magic and I have a LOT to learn. But it was a ton of fun and we have a whole new list of stuff to work on. And the best part, I can work on this stuff with all of the dogs as we have not had any training on switches, turns, to me's etc. We did a bit of "out" work and while I thought Magic kind of understood out, its situational for him at best, so we can really work on that alot. Along with better obstacle descrimination. Although it might sound like we did horribly and really shouldn't even be playing at this game, we also got some really nice comments and found that Magic is super at reading body language and that is what has gotten us to where we are so far. Both instructors had really positive comments about what an awesome little dog he really is, and that for a first dog, with less than 2 years of training we really are a good team. I am super pumped and wish I didn't have to be at work as I would love to be playing with the dogs some more!

Agility Seminar with Sharon Nelson

Magic and I are away from home at an agility seminar with Sharon Nelson. I am super excited as I have heard she is phenomenal with fast dogs, and Magic is a very fast boy. Well at least compared to me he is. Most of yesterday was lecture learning, today will be more hands on. But late last night we ran a few sequences with some distance sends. I was so surprised, Magic actually went for the send the first time I asked. He didn't take all of the obstacles out on the send, but he went all the way out the first time I asked. What a good boy! Now if we could just figure out the turns! I am super excited to see what we learn today.

puppy training

I am so happy with this little girl. She is a smart little peanut and so very willing. Didn't get that from her mother!

A weekend of Goodbyes

Yesterday, both Nine and Dolly left for thier new homes. Dolly has been staying with me for the last few months and has gotten to be part of the family. Nine is, well a very special puppy. I adore this boy and was teary all day yesterday just thinking about him leaving. But today when he went to his new Mom, I just knew it was going to be a great home. He is going to do some obedience and rally, and maybe if he grows up pretty he will be in a conformation ring. He will be living with some collies and I am sure will have a wonderful time. Dolly went to her new family where she will be pampered loved and spoiled, just as a girl should be.

(I will post the picture later)

It was a long day, but a good one, over 14 hours and almost 600 miles of driving. Since I was driving Dolly to Madison to meet her new people, we also were able to help in the transport of a rescue pem towards her new home. She was a puppy mill brood, but soon hopefully she will also be in her own home, pampered and loved as she deserves. Fortunately I had a good friend along and the day really seemed to go by quickly and enjoyably.


But then on Monday little Chance leaves too. It is sad to see the babies going, but yet there is something really wonderful when a new puppy owner going home with a smiling happy new family.

Bad Hair Day!

Motherhood really wrecks a girls doo! Gracie has lost so much hair she has a rat tail, bald spots and the worst bad perm hair I have ever seen. Fortunately, you can see dark hair starting to come at at the roots, and the pink skin is no longer shining through. Now if we can just get thta girlish figure back!

The Brindles at 10 weeks

This is Peace, Daybreakes Peaceful Dreams

This is Siren, Daybreake's Mariners Dream. I believe Siren will be staying here.

This is Nine, Daybreake's Dreamin on Cloud Nine, or maybe Daybreakes Dream Come True.

If you want to see the larger version of the picture, you can click on each one. We took the tape off their ears for the pictures, but its going back on!

Rover, Red Rover...

Send ZIGGY on over!

Blu

This is Blu. He is a pacific parrotlet and he is my little buddy. Up until Sunday he was a fully feathered beautiful boy. Over the course of one day he has removed almost all of his tummy and back feathers. I dont mind a feather plucking bird, I have 2 others that came to me as pickers, but it makes me sad because I can't figure out what is bothering him. Other than the plucking, he seems perfectly normal. He is sitting on my shoulder yelling PEEKA in my ear. Hopefully I can get it figured out.

9 week pictures

Nine weeks already. I guess I really need to take the time to work with the pups on the table. They were not real happy up there- well they didnt mind being on the table, but they do not want to stand.

I have to remember what I did to train Grace-it was only a couple of years ago, but I do not remember at all. I took a clicker training the conformation dog class with her as a pup, and somewhere I must have the handouts.

Pictures are:
Chance

Ziggy

Nine

Peace

Siren

Bolt

Reba, now Talie

Reba, now Talie went to her new home on Saturday. She is going to be so loved, and probably just a bit spoiled! According to the reports I got yesterday, she is doing very well and has only gotten into a little trouble so far. Which for my little devildog is a good thing. Fortunately for me, her new home is just a few blocks away and I will be able to see her frequently. I adore this little gal, and miss her a whole bunch.

Griffin- Update

I think he looks happy- don't you?

Mixed Emotions

Goodbye Bug, Hello Griffin!

Bedbug left for his new home last night. I was terribly worried that he wasn't ready to go, but according to the report this morning, he had an excellent first night.

According to his new family, he is the perfect boy. He's been pottying outside, slept through the storm last night, and is working hard at befriending his new big sister, Morgan the Pem.

It was very hard to let him go, not because I wasn't sure about his new home, but just because I wanted to make sure he was ready. I guess he was.

Although I let Grace watch them leave, later in the evening she acted like she was searching for something. Going behind the chairs where the puppies like to play is not a normal behavior. I wonder if she is sad? The thought makes me sad.

Well, Griffin, be a good boy and know we love you.

More pictures

Photos courtesy of Diana Mann

Time goes by

Way to quickly sometimes. The pups are 8 weeks old today. Soon they will be leaving to go to their new homes. I can't even begin to think about it. Don't want to, really. The problem I am having is that I love all the pups way too much. Yes, I know some of them are not destined for the show ring, which was one of my goals with this litter, and I should focus on selecting one of those pups. I don't want to decide, it feels almost traitorous. If it weren't for wanting a show pup, the decision would be easy! Well maybe not.

Anyway- yesterday was a big day again, we had a check-up, our first shots and they all got microchipped. Argh, big vet bill, but as hoped they are all healthy little ones. Then we went to Diana's and had some playtime with all those corgis, as well as picture time. We played with toys, the big dogs, and we got to run the big dog walk. Well, some of the pups were more excited by the dogwalk than others, but they all tried it out. I think Reba could be an agility superstar-no fear or hesitation in that girl at all.

Today, we stayed home but had lots of visitors. And then this afternoon we were asked to help with a photo shoot, so a photographer took lots of pictures of us. Hopefully, they got the picture they were hoping for. They said they would give me some prints, so that would be nice. If not, it was good fun, although it was pretty hot outside.

A day in the country

Darryl and I took Grace, Magic and the pups to our friend Jean's house today. It's about a 3 hour drive. Jean is Magic's breeder and he absolutely loves going to her house. All the dogs spent the day outside, playing and running and having a great time. The pups were so exhausted that they slept the whole way home with barely a sound out of them. Here are some pics from the day.

Magic decided to cool off in the water pan. It was a bit hard to do tucked into the corner, but when Jean pulled it out for him, he made it work!

This is Riley. He and his mom lost pretty much everything in the flood in Iowa. Hes a pretty handsome boy for 13+. It was a super day with great friends, lots of dogs, good weather, lots of dogs, good food and oh, did I mention LOTS OF DOGS!

Puppies at work

I took 2 puppies to work today for an hour or so. I honestly have to say I don't think anyone in the area got a darn thing done. Ziggy and Nine went, and they were complete gentlemen.








First they visited with the people in the office, then we went across the street to the Federal Courthouse, and played in the sculpture garden.

Magic the high flyer

I was looking at the photos from both trials now. there are some pretty fun pictures in there! I hope to get a collage made, if I can just narrow it down to the 4 or 5 pictures that I like best. I may have to include the one from last weekends trial- Magic is jumping the broad jump at about 12 inches-and looking like he is having the time of his life. My favorite picture though is one that looks like he noticed the photographer, or heard the previous shot, because that is just so much a Magic expression. Enjoy!

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