Wednesday, June 20, 2012

UKC Premier

What a busy weekend it was at Premier!  The weather was hot and dry except for a brief drizzle one morning.  Peace was BOB all 4 days, she made her qualifying weight pull and earned a total dog for the second year in a row.  She was pulled out in a couple of the groups, but not placed at all. However, she showed pretty well, gaiting very nicely on a loose leash for the first time ever.  

Magic and I finished his UROG and UACH titles.  I wasnt sure were going to get either one since by Saturday I was so tired and heat affected that I was making major mistakes, but in the end we pulled them both off.  Magic as usual was a wonderful boy.

The best part of the trip though was being able to share and spend time with others. Christi and Maggie, Connie and Burnie, Marsha and the paps, Denise and Al, Barb and Siri, Carol, Tracie and Donna and Jennifer. It was wonderful to see so many old friends and be able to cheer on thier successes.  It was also great to meet new and renew aquaintances from last year.  Thank you to everyone - time with you all made the weekend that much more special.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Premier Day 1

I am very happy with our first day of the UKC Premier. Peace won breed in the Top Ten competition, and was pulled in the cut in the semi finals.  We didn't advance, but that was OK, there were some really nice dogs in our group.  Unfortunately while we were in that ring, the Rally All Star ring was waiting for Magic, so as soon as we were done, I swapped dogs and ran in to run him in rally. He scored OK, but he was just kind of not with me, so we were not in the placings, but thats OK.  We had 3 very nice agility runs though, and one NQ where for some reason, Magic is getting spooked by the tire whenever we run outside late in the day.  It happened a couple of weeks ago and again today.  I think maybe its the shadow, but its something to work on. 

Tomorrow we have more agility rally and Peace has weight pull. While we are having a good time, I got the news that Gracie is back in the hospital with another bout of pneumonia, so I am feeling sad and a bit worried about her.  I know Darryl and David will take good care of her though so she will be OK. At least I pray she will be.

Monday, June 4, 2012

My dog is Fearful, and I BITE

Had a nice weekend and I will post about that later, but first I want to talk about something else that happened this weekend.  On Saturday, I traveled to Fargo for a dog show with Peace.  On the way home, we stopped at a wayside rest in order for me to listen to a voice mail as well as getting Peace out to potty.  I parked with several spaces between my car and other cars in the lot.  I got Peace out of the car, gave her a drink of water and was turning to take her over to the potty area, when some woman with a terrier of some kind running over towards me.  The dog was straining on the leash pulling, hackles up and yapping, towards Peace. MY reactivity kicked in. Peace is not a dangerous dog, but she is a fearful dog.  I turned my back to the woman, put myself in front of her dog and told her "NO. We are not interested in meeting your dog. Thank you.  Please take your dog and move away". 

Guess what, her comment to me was something along the lines of  he just wants to play. No surprise right? My response was "No my dog is fearful and  I bite-please leave. We did not ask you to approach us and had you approached quietly and respectfully we may have chosen to meet you, however, both you and your dog needs to learn appropriate manners."   The woman was offended and rightfully so, however, it really is a simple manners issue.  Probably on both of our parts, but at that point my dog was shaken, shaking and very frightened. Its my job to protect her and that is what I had done. Would I do it differently again, maybe.  But I doubt it, my dogs(or child's) safety is more important to me than a rude strangers feelings.

Why am I posting about this meeting, because it really bothered me.  It bothered me to think that people think its OK to run up approaching a stranger with a strange dog in such an innapropriate way.  I do know I could have handled it kinder, but quite frankly, why bother. Maybe my rude response back to her will stop her from this behavior in the future. Maybe, Maybe not.

My friend Crystal (Reactive Champion blog) posted about a similar situation. She probably in general handles things nicer than I do, but its a nice thought provoking read.