Rinnie Pulls

Here is an older video if Rinnie pulling.

Whew, hot and Humid in MN

Yesterday it sucked in MN. The actual temp was in anywhere from 93 to 98 depending on the thermometer you read. The humidity was something like 73% so it was sauna like causing an official heat index of something like 104. And of course it was a busy day for us.

First off Magic had a photo shoot. Now I can’t talk much about it, but I can say that I felt bad for the boy and I don’t think he gave his best performance. First off our car does not have air. So he was hot when he got there. The building was air conditioned of course, but he was still hot and panting when it was time to shoot, and he had to wear a sweater under those lights. Poor boy. To make things worse we asked him to hold something and you know you can’t hold something and pant at the same time. He was a really good boy and he tried, but it won’t surprise me if they don’t use these shots at all.

Then we hopped back into the car to go up to Hugo, MN for our obedience lesson. Magic mostly gets to sit out the obedience lessons as really Nancy is teaching me, so I can more effectively work with Magic. We are so lucky in Minneapolis since we have so many incredible people to take lessons from. Lets just hope I can learn and actually put some of these skills to work. After the lesson, we ran to the meat market and gas station and ran home. Did I mention this was rush hour traffic? And its hot, with no air? I think I did.

So we got home in time for me to change to my tennis shoes and grab Grace to run off to agility class. It was cooler in the building, but once you started running, well let’s just say I was a bit damp. Grace was a stinker too. I am sure she had everyone doubting me when I said how well we did in MI as you sure couldn’t see it last night! Oh well gracie is Gracie and I although she can be a stinker, she is a fun girlie.

Then we ran home I swapped Grace for Dave and Rin and we went back for Rinnie’s nosework class. Siren did pretty well with her searches. We were inside for the first time in a while and although it was cool in the building, there were several big fans going and the air was moving making searches a bit more challenging. It was good a good practice though and even though some of the dogs were having some difficulty finding the scent it was wonderful to see that they were not giving up. They continued to search until they were successful. Which really is what you want.

By the time we were done it was 9, and still hotter than hades. So even thought I had the brats I picked up at the meat market, I had no energy to cook them. Instead I picked up dinner at Popeye’s on the way home. All in all a very good day, if you don’t mind sweat that is.

Siren at the weight pull

I was really proud of David and Siren last weekend at the weight pull.  Siren is David's first dog.  Although we have had dogs for David's entire life, he really wasn't interested in them at all.  Cats he liked, but dogs, meh, not so much.  He didn't hate them he just didnt have any interest.  But that changed when Grace had the puppies.

I never intended to keep 2 puppies.  But then something happened, David fell in love with Siren. And we made a deal.  He could keep her, but he had to do something with her.  And he is. Rinnie earned her weight pull title last weekend.  She is not a natural puller, but Dave trained with her worked through her issues.  And David worked smart with her.  Knowing that she is a little unsure about all the people, dogs and commotion, he asked her for one pull on Saturday. Empty cart is 300 pounds which is enough for Rin at 28 pounds to qualify.   She pulled it quite quickly and relatively easily (6.5 seconds), and most importantly happily. Then he let her stop for the day.

On Sunday Rin pulled the empty cart again happily 8.12 seconds.  Seeing that she was still happy, seemed confident he asked her for more.  She pulled 376 in less time, 7.84 seconds and then 452 in 12.62 seconds, still happily working.  When they got to 528 pounds, he set her up and she surprisingly started pulling without being asked and bumped Dave.  David did the right thing and called the foul. They got started again, and wouldnt you know, she ran into him again which was the second foul and the last.  But Dave and Siren pulled that weight anyways and again she did it happily. She placed 4th Sunday.

David is pretty proud of his girl, and of her awards. I am pretty proud of both of them.

Nosework

Last week we practiced a little nosework with Rinnie at home and she seemed to be struggling with finding the unpaired scent. No big deal, it was the first time we had used scent outside of the training classes, so we thought she might be confused.  Then Thursday night at class she again did fine with paired finds, but really seemed lost with scent only. Now, Thurdsday I worked her since David couldnt be there, but she had worked for me before so I don't think that was the issue. 

Sunday night we did some paired searches at the house and she did fine.  Last night we did some more and she was great. So we tried a couple of unpaired searches. They were both easy searches, one just over her head on the hamper, the other at nose height, but in a place we have never used before and she nailed them both immediately, one where she ran by air scenting and spun around to go right to it.

She does have some issues with committing to the find when she can't get right on the scent, if she cant reach it. She hasnt figured out how to tell us that she has it. She will sniff toward it and circle around but she doesnt really give a clear signal that HEY its there.  Maybe once she becomes more confident? 

Nosework class

I really enjoyed taking Siren to her class last night.  She is a very determined little worker, and in general is pretty good about working her areas.  Last night she only had trouble with one find, and I am not so sure she didnt know where it was, but just felt like continuing to work. She is quite funny, Rin has a very gay tail that curls up over her back. The whole time she is scenting, that tail is going, but when she finds the  scent the tail stops and goes right up over her and its almost like she is pointing out the scent.  Its really quite cute.

Yahoo David has to work tonight!

Ok why is that Yahoo worthy?  Because it means that I get to work Siren in her nosework class.  Dave has been doing a really good job with Rinnie, but I am tired of watching!  So tonight I get to play.  I know, silly right?

Nosework

David and Siren have been going to nosework class for a month now. Well David has been going for a month.  Siren was in season and missed a couple of classes, but she practiced at home anyways.  Its really been fun to watch them progress in thier relationship with each other.  Siren seems to really enjoy finding food in the boxes.

It's kind of funny to see the optimism in the 2 cardis in class. Both of them will search the boxes to find the treat, eat the treat and tehn continue to search, even though there has never been more than one box with a treat at a time.  When it comes to food, I guess a second look is warranted!   Its been fun to be in a class with another cardi, its so rare for us.  Its been kind of fun to see that Lynn's Libby and Siren do some things very much alike.  Libby loves to work with Lynn, you can see it in her eye.  I like Tuesday evenings, cant wait for tonights class.

Nosework!

David and Siren had their first nosework class tonight.  Siren really seemed to enjoy the class, but heck, what corgi wouldn't!  She got to eat treats, lots of treats, and all she had to do was find the box!   Seriously though, I can see how this training will be a whole lot of fun, for both handler and dog.  I kind of wish I were taking the class, not just being Davids backup (since he workes retail, he cant always be off when he wants to.)

On another subject, we got my Mom all moved now. Just a few more things to be done at the house, carpet cleaning and such.  Mom is mostly unpacked, but of course arranging stuff will go on for a while.  Going from a large mobile home to an apartment is quite a reduction and has been a bit tough  for her. But its gone well for the most part and I hope to be blogging a bit more regularly now. 

This weekend is the APDT trial.  Magic and I are going to try to actually practice the rest of the week in hopes of earning his ARCH.

Siren - Herding pictures

Or should I say Siren, NOT Herding.  Siren was way too overwhelmed with this.  She was not comfortable meeting Phyllis, unsure about leaving us and going with this unknown person, and WHOA hold on, there are really big things moving in here.  I don't think so!  Then she spent the rest of her time avoiding having to even glance at those big scary things over there!

This does not mean that she will never have to see them again, but we wont plan her future around herding at this time.

3 girls in season

All three of my girls are in season.  Peace is nearing the end, Siren is in the middle and Grace is just starting.  My 2 neutered boys are both becoming humping champions.  Its making me crazy. The funny thing is that my yard must positively reek of GIRL!  We had 2 loose male dogs appear just outside our yard yesterday alone. I know where the one lives- a very pretty Akita who walks by regularly.(A really nice dog)  He got away from his Dad during thier evening walk last night and hightailed it right to our house, dragging his leash.  His owner laughed when I told him why he was suddenly making 53 pee stops along our short little fence. The other male - not sure where he came from, or where he went.  He was hanging around when I went to bed, but gone this morning.  I tried to catch him, as I hate to see loose dogs in the city, but he wasnt having anything to do with me. 

Fortunately we never have our dogs outside unsupervised. Even in the cold, we are always right there, so I dont feel like I have to worry about any unplanned pregnacies-even though both the brindle girls are really being hussies these days.

Question for the seasoned breeders

Those of you with multiple intact girls, do you have difficulties with them?  I have 3 intact girls. so far I have not had any issues with top dog status or anything like that.  This is the first time that the girls all coming into season at the same time.  Peace started last week, Siren started yesterday and Grace looks like she could be coming in as well, although she hasn't started yet.  What has been your experience. The young girls will be 2 in May and Grace is 4. Any thoughts?

Another note I found interesting.  Grace has always been really clean with her cycles. You rarely if ever see any sign of blood with her.  Peace is a very girly girl  too, she keeps herself pretty clean also. Siren though, wow-her crate pad yesterday looked like she had been injured, blood smeared everywhere and little droplets across the floor.   Sure am glad I picked up the little panty at the show a couple of weeks ago! Although I have to admit Rinnie is none to pleased with it.

David and Siren

My son David has always been a cat person. He has grown up with dogs, but always just preferred the cats. With the puppies coming along, David became more and more interested in all the dogs. Dave voluntarily spent more time with Grace and the babies than I truly expected. Which resulted in his really badly wanting us to keep Siren. I had not planned on keeping 2 puppies, as I knew with Grace and Magic and a new pup I would have my hands full as far as training went. 2 pups, triple the work. So we made a deal, he could keep Rinnie, but he had to help train her, and I am expecting he title(AKC) her in something. Well, by 8 weeks I knew what a smart little girl she was so I started working with her. But then I stopped. This is his dog-he needs to do it, right? Fast forward to this summer and I have asked David to help out a bit at shows lately. He doesn't care for conformation, and won't even think about agility because he is anti exercise (his words). But he did run Magic through a couple of pulls at the weight pull trial and liked that. Last night I finally convinced him to start working with Siren on obedience, as that is the foundation he will need no matter what he goes on to do with her, right?
I had Rinnie heeling at 10 weeks, so its not new to her, but it is new to him. He was simply amazed at how smart his little girl is, she got it right away. amazing huh! I really hope he will stick to this. I am hoping I can get him to try rally with her still sometime this year. Fingers crossed!

David and Siren

Dave's first time showing in the classes. He has taken a dog in for winners a couple of times, but not in the classes. Siren was a bit nervous. David was a bit nervous too, although he wouldn't admit it. He says he really doesn't want to do conformation, but he also ran Magic in the weight pull and he would like to train his girl(Siren) for that. But I explained that although he can train her for that, he also needs to train her for obedience toon because its a good foundation. He also says he wont do agility because its too much activity, but I am still trying to convince him to give it a try.

Killers

The frenzy, green fluff everywhere.

Pooped. See the carcasses!

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!