Hip Hip Hooray

DING DONG THE SNOW IS GONE! WRETCHED SNOW, FREEZING SNOW. ALL 18 INCHES OF SNOW!

Me... actually thankful for a monsoon? Definitely, we all had a bad case of cabin fever. We broke free from the confines of the snow. The rain melted it all away. Yes, all 18 inches of it.

The Pug Boys had grins from ear to ear when they heard me say, "Do you want to go to Brecknock Park?"

Ho Ho Ho

Sidney & Jasper had a blast Christmas Eve. That's when they opened their presents from Santa. No colored shiny wrapping paper that could be toxic but brown paper bags. An old pro at shredding brown paper bags, Jasper was more than thrilled to show his little bro the finer technique. Pieces of brown paper decorated the entire living room floor. Sidney would play bow and dart past Jasper with brown paper dangling from his mouth. Such a tease. They loved the paper bags just as much as the toys. One was a santa whose head was a rattle and his body had 12 squeakers in it. The other one was a penguin with a santa hat that squeaks and opens up at the bottom so you could put a plastic bottle, squeaker, or paper inside. Of course Santa didn't forget the BULLY STICKS!

Big Snow

Oh the weather outside is frightful....

Snow. More Snow. It snowed for about 34 hours. In all, we got 18 inches of snow. Six years ago was the last time we got any accumulation of snow to speak of - 20 inches. Usually we only get a couple of inches of snow each year.

Last year was Sidney's first snow. It was about two inches on the ground. This was his second snow. It was way over his head. But it didn't stop him from trying to plow right on through it. I tried to get pictures but when I tried to get a pic he was right in front of me practically on my feet.

Jasper doesn't care for snow. He just wanted to snuggle inside were it was toasty warm with his buddy.

This morning I sure enjoyed a cup of HOT coffee and a warm cinnamon bun snuggled with my pugs in a comfy chair while gazing out the bay window at the snowfall.

Merry Christmas!

New Neighbor

Yep, we finally have neighbors that moved into the house next door that has been vacant for about a year. The for sale sign was taken down and a big red bow was wrapped around the mailbox. Boy that was sure a nice Christmas gift for someone.

This morning I saw a young women in pajama bottoms with a winter coat on walking her Corgi puppy. I can't wait to go over and make friends. I just LOVE puppies. Besides Sidney wants someone who he can play and chase that doesn't wear out.

I'll invite her and her puppy over for a play date. My yard is enormous and fenced in. Perfect for those zoomies.

AKC 2009 Obedience Invitational Results

For the second year in a row, Petra Ford's black Labrador Retriever, Tyler, has been crowned the AKC National Obedience Champion. They are from New Jersey and train at Top Dog.

In the toy group Linda Coates and Otis, a pug, took first place.

Top scoring dogs of each group from Saturday also were honored in the final awards ceremony Sunday.

SPORTING

OTCH High Times Ris'n Above the Tide - Golden Retriever - Kathleen Rasinwich-Platt
NOC OTCH Count Tyler Show Me the Money - Labrador Retriever - Petra Ford
OTCH First String's Liv'n On the Edge - Kathleen Rasinwich-Platt
OTCH Sunsplash No Free Time - Golden Retriever - Helen Smith
HOUND

Ch. Goose Creek Let Me Entertain You UD - Petite Basset Griffon Vendeen - Mike Willaquette
Ripley's Believe it or Not UD - Dachshund - Roberta Pylate
Bellgrey Bella UD - Basset Hound - Sharon Hall
Dreamcatchers Aces High UD - Dachshund - Judy McGlothlin
WORKING

CH. OTCH Phantomwood Halle V Bluespring - Rottweiler - Frances Delony/Karla Ebert
Maine's Atlantic Allure UD - Bernese Mountain Dog - Gwyndean Candelaria
Double Take's Flight Leader UDX - Rottweiler - Jeremy Schuster
Otto's Gunstaf Von Hiser UD - Standard Schnauzer - Lucie Hiser
TERRIER

Emerald Acres Glorious Angel UDX3 - West Highland White Terrier - Mary Lowden
Ch. Brisline Plumperfect Unforgettable UDX2 - Airedale Terrier - Suzanne Tharpe/Georgia McRae
Chloe of Misty Meadow UDX - Russell Terrier - Anne Bidwell
TOY

Who Dun It Surprise Witness UDX3 - Pug - Linda Coates
OTCH Yorkshire's Sassy Chessler - Yorkshire Terrier - Elizabeth Ann Mahan Clark
Ch. Denzel Born to Be Wild UDX5 - Papillon - Eugene I Morris & Ann Arnold
Emma Wonderful Darling Friend UD - Yorkshire Terrier - Ann Mahan Clark
NON-SPORTING

OTCH MACH6 Sanews Abundance of Energy - Poodle - Shirley Balkan
CH OTCH MACH2 Songbird Sandstorm Saketumi - Poodle - Joann Neal
CH OTCH MACH Sandstorm Skedaddle - Poodle - Ronda Clark DVM
CH MACH Taywils Wolf's Bane - Lowchen - Don Roback
HERDING

CH OTCH Trumagik Star Invader - Border Collie - Betty and Curt Cunningham
OTCH Jusdandy Solar Flare - Border Collie - Laura Romanik
Ch OTCH Highland The Next Generation - Border Collie - Louise Fox Meredith / Anne Marie Silverton
OTCH Dune Von Schoerling UDX2 - Belgian Malinois - Anne Paul

Linda Koutsky Seminar

Boy was I pooped after this weekend. I drove 4 1/2 hours on Saturday and 4 1/2 hours on Sunday to this seminar. I should have stayed in a hotel.

Linda is a top trainer. She has Border Collies. Most people that show in obedience have BIG dogs. One of her main points was that people rely too heavily on food or toys. It's hard to make the transition off food/toys for the show ring. She taught us ways to get the dog into you. You are suppose to become the cookie. She demonstrated motivational pops and butt tags. The show ring is suppose to become more like your training.

She does something called a flash training session where she puts music on for 3 minutes. During this time, she doesn't want you to use food or toys.

She helped me with Sidney's heeling. He has great drive and attitude. I've been teaching him heads up attention heeling using a cookie in the beginning stages. Sidney needs to be closer to me not wide on his heeling. He also forges. Linda said he needed to be bound to me to help teach him to be in correct heel position. She had me put an adjustable dog collar around my upper left thigh with the ring on the back side of my leg. I ran the leash through the ring on the dog collar attached to my leg and pulled the leash through my legs. This caused Sidney to be very close to my left leg and brought him from a forged position to a correct heel position.

Bridget Carlsen Seminar

What an experience. I was one of the lucky ones who got a working slot. She makes most trainers look lazy. Her strong work ethic carries over to her dogs. What impressed me most was her Norwich Terrier. This little guy was born without prey or food drive. He didn't work for praise either. She proved that you could take a non-obedience breed and turn it into a reved up highly motivated dog with a nonstop work ethic. How did she create this. Hemi learned that you have to work for your meals. She gets up every morning and he trains for his breakfast. She has a cue word, "Are you hungry?" This guy just recently got his OTCH. She purposely picked a breed that had NOT obtained an OTCH. People stamped her forehead with Golden Retriever Trainer. People only thought she could reach great heights in obedience competition with Goldens. If you ever have the opportunity to watch her compete, train, or attend a seminar, I highly recommend it. It will be worth every penny and then some.

Letters to Santa

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus right down Santa Claus Lane...

Dear Santa,
I have been a very good big brother to Sidney. When he gets something he's not suppose to have, I let out my unique cry to get my mommy's attention. Lately, he's been bringing in those dang dead brown leaves from outside. He prances around the house like he thinks he's Rudolph. His noses isn't red and what about those none existent antlers.

First I really, really want a BULLY STICK. They are great entertainment, give my jaws exercise, and clean my teeth. I also want a Nylabone for my crate when we travel in the car. It will keep me from getting bored when I'm not napping. Last, I want Oreo to be my girlfriend. It's a blast chasing her at Brecknock Park. She is such a cutie.

The Good Big Brother,
Jasper


Dear Santa,
I have been the best little brother ever. I give Jasper lots of exercise. I swat him on his shoulder and run away. I get him to chase me around the dinning room table. Yeah, Zoomies! That's why he' so buff. Would you please tell him not to clean my winky and face every morning. Enough already.

What I want most, a BULLY STICK. These are my absolute favorite. You know how good they clean your teeth. Next, I want a squeaky toy. That sound just pushes the excitement button in me. Finally, Oreo should be my girlfriend. She's 2 1/2 years old and closes to my age. She's too young for Jasper.

The Cute Little Bro,
Sidney

New Friend

At the park, Jasper & Sidney almost missed out on a new friendship. I'm leery about meeting new dogs. I don't want someone to tell me their dog is friendly and then find out otherwise.

Instead of the usual trail, we came out of the woods and headed over to the volleyball nets. Underneath the nets is SAND. I call it the sand pitt. My boys just love to chase each through the sand. I call it zoomies.

What a nice surprise, a little female Shitzu mix. All three of them where play bowing, chasing each other, and doing zoomies through the sand. I had a blast watching them. I wished I had my video or camera with me. I think Jasper fell in love with her. Her name is Oreo and she is 2 1/2 years old.