No Rest for the Weary

 Just because Daddy is helping out at the show and doing work, he still has to train the Spice. You can't say, I don't have the time or the desire or - well tomorrow.

Okay every now and then you can but you must make those times rare. All it takes is 5 to 10 minutes a day to make a difference. It's worth it, honest!!

If you are at the Purina National show tomorrow at 6900 Airport Road at the International Centre, come and say hello. Nathan and I will be there tomorrow at 9:55am. We are not showing any of our dogs but we will be there helping out and would LOVE to talk to you. Plus, it's great dawg shopping you know. :-)

Frannie in Class

Frannie is a social being and that's not a bad thing - it's actually a good thing.

I just adore her attitude. Yes, sometimes she has to be roped in to focus but that also means she is an intelligent soul with her mind always working.

In class you learn how to get that attention and how to use it. It does work. Treat to nose, bring the treat in the direction you want them to go in, bravo and then give them their prize, the treat.

Frannie's owner is delightful too. She just loves her more than anything and that does our hearts good.

Frannie had her first professional grooming and did really well, we are told.

As you can see, Frannie can be very attentive when she wants that treat. Mommy, you are the best. You have all those wonderful prizes just for ME!!!

We were afraid we wouldn't make class and barely got there on time. The weather was awful and the driving around us even worse. Have you ever gone at a snails pace on the 407? Yeah, we pay for that.

Spice did wonderful in class but she is rather creative with her finish, Nathan too. It's what works.

But she gets bored at times. Okay, I have had enough treats, now what? But she is a good one about non treat, you are great conversations. That's a good thing and will bode her well in the ring.

She's doing well in the car now even looking forward to it but Daddy is her grounding. I look forward to when she is her own grounding but one step at a time. This is a journey into getting her to find her own coping skills no matter what happens or whatever is new.

Starting late to get her out in the car and socialized I thought would be a huge process but its turning into a faster process. Still, we are doing it daily with a day here and there missed and we will continue to do so. It's a must and will give you a better dog to expose, expose, expose in a positive way.

Teaka's Visit

Teaka is just a riot. She can get a bath done and look like this 2 minutes later. What... but I am having fun. She is an adorable dawg with a truly fun personality.

There's a big show in Toronto this weekend so Teaka is either getting shown or we are finding a forever home for her.

Has she had practice? Nah... But that's okay as she is a 'look at me' dawg!

You can't help but love this dog but Spice reminds her, this is HER house.

Spice is off to class tonight. Did she work on finish? You'll have to ask Nathan. heh

What's in Store?

Tonight I get to go to Petsmart to get Fish food for Dennis and practice, practice and practice.

We've been playing retrieve and I usually manipulate it so I get it first every single time even if I have to use distraction.

What does that say about me?

I went out yesterday for a walk with my grannie and enjoyed that. But mommy has been sick - I think she is still sick and that's way crazy so she still plays with us, grooms us but is not up to snuff. That's okay, other than the treat, who really likes all that grooming stuff? heh

Conditioning

We are continuing conditioning. How? Walks, car rides, visits to Petsmart and Global. We also have visitors that come to play with their owners and our crew gets tuckered out, I get to gab with human adults and everyone gets tired and stimulated. It all works.

It's important to expose your dawgs to different environments, people, dawgs all in a safe and controlled environment, of course.

Spice goes to class in 2 days. That also means practice, practice and more practice.

She's starting to like these walks too.

Weaver Visited

 Weaver came to visit. He's not one of our breedings but he comes to visit to play and hang out and then go home and sleep, sleep and sleep. I am sure that is what he is doing now.

There's something to say about that cool winter weather mixed in with vigorous play. Our dogs will sleep tonight too.

Nathan took Spice around the block tonight. She put on the brakes momentarily and then went oh I remember this and didn't even need a treat to be motivated. Tomorrow back to the car conditioning.

Nathan is getting a headache which comes with whatever I have so I am hoping he doesn't get sick as he will be down for the count. Me, I am stupid and keep on going....

Baxter Came for a Visit

 Baxter, Spice's brother came for a visit today with his mom and he had a wonderful time and so did we.

Did Wasabi know him? YEP!

Did he play with everyone? YEP

And oh that coat - soft and wonderful.

WE enjoyed his visit and it was nice that he came over so we could get snuggles and kisses in.

Hope to see him again soon!

PS: We also got a card with a photo from Doozie and Coco - great photo and are they looking wonderful. Now that was special - thanks!!

Puppy Visits

Two of our pups from Wasabi and Abigail's last litter now reside in Montreal. One of our dear friends, Lillian has made sure they are welcomed just as she did with Missy.

Today Charlie went to a visit to Lillian's place and here are a couple of photos that she was so kind to send.

Lillian says she's not sure how Lexi (her Havanese shown in this photo) feels about all these puppies but youngins are good for the soul.

Thanks goes to Lillian for opening her home and sharing the moments with us.

It truly does our heart good.

Charlie is Spice's brother and we are hoping when we go to Montreal that they will get together to play.

I rather loved this photos as Charlie sure looks loved.

It's wonderful to look at Charlie as he actually looks like Risa's last litter. He looks rather similar to the pups we called Deak and Chi.

Thanks again, Lillian!!!!

Second Class

Okay, what do they do in these classes, anyways? These two have so much fun, you wonder if they get any serious work done but they do.

Even Frannie who I want to call 'wild child' calmed down to do what she was supposed to.

Spice was more relaxed. She knew what to expect and her tail never went down.

Gee, this isn't so bad.

That doesn't mean that her car trips and conditioning stops. Nope....it continues.

Practice, practice, practice.

Check out the photos of these wild kids. Honest - they were brushed BEFORE class. hahahahahaha

Spice had a bath today and as you can see she is already dirty. We have mud out in the back and that's where she stuck her face.

I meant it, I give UP!! This is the 3rd time I cleaned her up and I am going to forget about it even if she looks dirty for class. I am too sick for this craziness of a juvenile that loves to be mischevious.

Normally when I am feeling well, I laugh but I am not laughing now that its happened repeatedly.

But Mommy, don't lose your sense of humour. You know you love me!

Here's a scavenger hunt that we do during the 6 weeks in class. It's homework but I am sharing as it is something you can do that will help your pup be all they can be.

1. Expose to a vacuum turned on
2. Go for 3 car rides
3. Have a bath by you or a groomer
4. Meet 2 grey haired senior citizens
5. Meet a person with a cane or wheelchair
6. Visit a garden centre or hardware store
7. Visit the vet, no appointment just sit in the waiting room and tell the vet what you are doing
8. Visit 2 friends at their homes
9. Do sit and down for a stranger
10. Go for a walk with a friend and you stay at home
11. Take 3 biscuits from children of different ages
12. Visit a strip mall
13. Go to 3 different parks
14. Ride on public transit
15. Meet a man with a hat
16. Ride in an elevator
17. Walk along a noisy road each week
18. Meet another domestic animal
19. Take a treat from a man with a beard
20. Take a treat from people of different ethnic backgrounds

Yikes

Too sick but grooming, laundry, taking dogs out and when the son gets up, he will be walking the crew but I am not up for it. Wish I was.

Nathan promised he will take Spice out with Wasabi for her car ride. More conditioning. I went to the door to answer it and she came running to it not away from it. Hey, that's progress. heh

More tomorrow when I feel better.

Today is Another Day

Got our walks in, grooming too! How do I groom so fast but make sure no knots exist? It comes with practice. The more you groom, the faster you get as you don't think, you just do.

I always brush and use a comb to find any knots. This way I stay on top of them and although when they need baths, like they do now, they look good for 5 minutes or so. hahahaha

But tomorrow is a new day and I am hoping I wake up feeling better. That way I can get baths in. We shall see.

Spice needs to go out for her conditioning. Let's see when Nathan gets home how that goes but sick or not, if he doesn't, I will. You have to be consistent.

You can't keep saying NOT TODAY as today will never come that you will.

The dawgs - well they are worth it! Plus the end result is so worth it!

PS: Just walked Spice with Katsura and though she put on the brakes while we were heading out the door, she soon forgot and galloped around the cul-de-sac and I just had to treat her every once in awhile. Kat was definately the right dog to take her with. Conditioning works with patience and consistency. That means tomorrow we do it again.

There Goes the Consistency

Can't get out today. I suppose Nathan could have gone WITHOUT me but I am sick, bronchitas or something so he's doing lead training upstairs. Spice heeled perfectly. heh Go figure. Now to try her outside tomorrow sick or not it's a must.

Tonight she will get tablework along with the others. Me, I am finding a couch or a bed or a something.

COLD FX does NOT work!

Training, Socializing & Conditioning

Got to make it all fun! Check out these photos taken today and this video below.

Socialize, Socialize

What did we do today to get Spice be all she can be? Instead of going to Petsmart, we took her to the school and their playground.

This is what we mean by creating fun moments. Sure she will go back to doing Petsmart, Pet Valu, Global etc during the week but she has to think these outings are fun. Right now when I get my coat on she heads for the crate. hehehehe

She started out slow. Where are we? What are we doing here but as soon as the lead came off, she was running with Kat and Wasabi. That's who was with her.

We practiced recall and we played.

I even took a video but have to convert it and who knows how it came out. :-)

I will post it tomorrow if it did. No energy today and I want to watch Idol (I am behind) and cuddle with dawgs and chill.

I do believe today was a success even though she is still saying, no car for me MOM! You have to watch the progress and bank on that adding up if you are consistent.

Daddy still has to practice heeling, table and look at me but he tends to do that just before bed. It works!

What did you do today?

Glossing it Up

Last night we went out to Petsmart. Well, I actually went to Best Buy for a part for a remote control and Nathan took the Spice to practice heeling in Petsmart and scope out new tunnels for the puppies.

We need to do it again, tonight. It's a daily, get her out and like the car thing. She would only heel in Petsmart as long as the treats kept coming. There was a lot of activity in the store. This is a good thing and by class next week, she should have her first lesson of heeling with distractions down pat. She is also working on her scavenger list.

This is how you get a well balanced dog. You ignore the stresses, make the experience fun and be consistent even if you don't feel like going out again like I feel like at this moment. But we must as she counts.

It's sort of like exercise. I don't want to but the end result is really a 'good thing' but it just may take a bit of time to realize it.

What are you doing for your puppy to help them to become balanced?

PS: We are going to get a fish bed for the pups tomorrow so that will be our outing tomorrow with the Spice. I promise pix of the pups in it.

We Survived

Well, we survived the 1st class. Mommy could have brushed me before I went inside. Daddy kept playing with me and messing up my hair 5 ways to Sunday but that's okay. I am a puppy dawg and this isn't a dawg show.

I wasn't sure where we were going and the road was mighty bumpy to class. It was a long car drive. I swore I was going to the vets but then all these big dawgs, then Frannie my half sister and a shih tzu and the rest huge dawgs was there and I wasn't shaking in those white boots of mine but I wasn't totally relaxed either. Still, when the big dawgs came to say hi, my tail stayed up and I obliged them but play, I leave that to Frannie. She's the total play monkey but she hangs out at that shoe store of hers in Whitby and sees all sorts of people and more. Me, I need to get out into the world now that the pups are doing really well.

Daddy got me heeling, doing look at me and I need practice on staying on the left side of him and oh my treats bring them on! I think I can do this. I hear I will be getting treats every night too as Daddy will be practicing 5 to 10 minutes a day and we have a scavenger hunt to complete so tonight I am back out to Petsmart to do lead training in a strange place. Then when I get used to that place, I will move on to Global and then... handling class - oh my.

I hear that also means mom will feed me less to take in consideration the treats I will be getting so I don't get fat. The conformation judges don't like fat dawgs. What the hey is THAT about. Mommy thinks that is totally unfair.

Check out the photos.

Full of Life Frannie

 Well, been to class and saw the Frannie and wow what a little pill. She is so full of life, not afraid of anything. Big dawgs, little dawgs, people - oh you came to see ME!

Spice was going - oh I remember YOU.

I will have to put up some photos tomorrow. Some came out blurry as I had to have the flash off to eliminate a distraction but you will get what I mean.

Spice started out slow. What is this place? She wasn't afraid of the dawgs but hadn't been anywhere but Petsmart yesterday so it took her 5 minutes or so to loosen up and then forget me, she only wanted Nathan and rightly so.

Frannie said, well forget class, Mommy aren't we here to PLAY?

Okay, if you are going to treat me, I will do what you want but please can I play NOW!!!

I wanted to laugh and laugh and at the end of the class, both were playing with each other.

Spice, well she was taking everything serious. Oh and it is serious but every now and then we have to let loose - don't we?

Now to practice daily and take Spice out to the store each day. We have a scavenger hunt to do, you know.

Playing a Game

 Well, we were playing a game of retrieve today getting in some fun. Spice is learning the command 'out' and Teaka wants me to run after her to get it which I won't. So, if Spice gets it first, I get it but if Teaka gets it, she hides it. Logan, he just counts coo. What does that tell you?

Spice is off to class tonight and Frannie is in her class. We are excited to see her again. I will be bringing our camera but seeing that Spice hasn't been out and about as much as she should have due to pups, well I don't expect much except exposure but maybe she will surprise us. We won't be feeding her so..... her treats will be her dinner. She'll work for kibble - can you believe?

I just weighed Spice and she's about 6.3 lbs.

More tomorrow about class.

Falling Down on the Job

I need to get a latest photo of Spice. She gets bathed tomorrow as she has her first class tomorrow night.

Spice has not been socialized outside of the house as we should. She's gone outside, gone to Petsmart twice but it's not our usual exposure. She needs it in a big way but puppies and their health had to play a part in delaying her socialization. She didn't have all her shots so her immune system could be low and she could bring something home. Can't do that with pups. <sigh> It's hard for us as I truly believe that the mind is just as important as the body but we balance this when we have pups.

So, now we play catch-up in a big way. You can tell as today when I took her out to do lead training, she didn't like the cars. She shook and wasn't happy but she did work for treats. A treat motivated dog can play catch-up. We have been here before with Raylan who played catch-up quite fast.

Usually Spice does walks with another so she is distracted but it was just me and her, speeding cars, barking dawgs and now Nathan is at Petsmart and is not back yet. I guess he's doing a marathon of exposure. Tomorrow another exposure. More training at home and more socialization. She'll be more than fine but the first class may not be productive in ways that we hope. We shall see.

But do I feel guilty when I have to delay socialization? YEP! Sure she has exposure to a number of dawgs at home but this is her home so it's not the same for her as it would be for a visitor.

But its okay - we will get there.

PS: Her half sibling is in class too tomorrow.