Christmas photos

Gift opening happened Dec. 23rd for the dogs because our family celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve with a semi-traditional Ukrainian Vigil Dinner. Which is followed by gift giving.  I knew it would be too chaotic to have 4 young kids and 5 dogs all opening presents in the same small room.  So the dogs got their presents a day early. :-)

Coyote started in on his (he's a gift opening pro):

Then Dazzle got started:

He made short work on the shipping box I used:

Once he had it pried open, it didn't take long:

Instead of getting the toy out, he chose to continue turning the box into confetti:

Coyote was still working on his:

 But it didn't take long. I used a lighter weight box for his:

Buster needed a bit of help, but got out his new Antlerz chew:

After he got the rope toy out, Dazzle started in on his second gift

 A Skineez! The dogs really like these stuffing-free toys:

King got his out with help from his dad:

Dazzle got a Jumbo Himalayan Chew which was supposed to last a long time, but he had it crunched up in about 10 minutes.

Too much excitement... I need a nap

Dazzle discovering the chew:

What's in there Bear?

It's a Skineez!   He's not as interested in the toys, but he liked the chew bones

Official Christmas photo by my parent's tree (left to right: Bear, Dazzle, Buster, King, Coyote):

Are you SURE all the toast is gone?

Dogs in the temp yard at my parent's house. My parents shoveled out the fenced in area and cleaned off the deck so Bear wouldn't be buried in the snow :-) The snow that is in there now was what fell just before we arrived and then during the visit.

We're done, can we come in? I had no idea just how often the dog door at home gets used!

Dazzle is obsessed with basements (where we train at home) so if anyone got close to the basement door, he would run over.  Sometimes he just sat in front of the door looking hopeful :-)

My husband left this morning with 3 of the dogs to get back home, but I'll be staying up here till next year.  It has been a great Christmas! I hope everyone reading this also had a wonderful Christmas holiday.

Santa is everywhere!

I stopped by Home Depot today to check on the wheel (almost done!) and Santa was sitting right by the entrance.  Dazzle went to say hi, so I took his photo with him :-)

Dazzle visits Santa

Taken with my camera:

 Taken with Bass Pro camera (they can't move the camera but the photo was free):

Snow photos

I don't know if we got the 5" of snow that was predicted, but it's plenty for me!

Drift by the back door

Bear trying to avoid the deep snow

Dazzle sitting in the drift- big falling flake in front of his nose

Bear just finished his business and makes a bee line for the house at top speed. Once inside, he flies onto the nearest lap to warm his feet.

Looking for ???

Results of playing "snow plow"... 

UKC Agility Show

Dazzle has a new title to add to his collection UAG1 (level 1 Agility).  He finished the title with a 2nd place ribbon and score of 196 out of 200.  Only lost 2 points for a crooked dogwalk entry or exit (not sure which) and 2 points for entering the table on the wrong side. Sorry, no photos or video.  I had entered twice for level 1 just in case, but ended up scratching the second level 1 run since I didn't need to stress my knees for it.

We tried twice for level 2 Q's, but the darn weaves got us both times.  I have concluded it is the actual weave set that is the issue since he doesn't have an issue with other weaves.  It's an old spring base set (spring base required in UKC) and the poles are all leaning different ways.  Dazzle kept skipping the poles that were leaning into his path.  Another issue may be that I think they are 20" spacing instead of 24" between the poles but I'm not sure on that.  So I have given up on the level 2 Q.  That's 6 tries so far (this show and the last show) and it's been the weave poles all but 1 time.  The one time he got the weaves last year, he took down a jump bar.  I was told that I CAN have someone else run him as long as it's not a "professional" handler.  So if he gets the level 2, that's how it will have to happen.  And it will likely be somewhere with a better set of weaves.  Since so few places around here have UKC agility, that's why I said it's likely he won't get that title.  Oh well, plenty of others!

Dazzle killed his ball machine

Well the Go Dog Go machine is dead.  It was a used model, so I don't know how much use it got prior to our getting it, but it died.  We're going to see if my brother in law can fix it.  Because of the snow and ice (and cold) I'm reluctant to throw the ball for Dazzle.  So I have been motivated to start on a new adventure.

My goal:
Create a stationary platform for this wheel to spin on:

It's a wheel my dad made and Dazzle has been having fun with it, but I want to put it on a platform with rollers so he can use it as a stationary exercise wheel.  I started with the challenge of finding rollers (like those in a conveyor belt).  But all the places I called had "minimum orders" of $50 or $100 and the rollers weren't going to cost that much. 

Eventually (thanks dad!) I found a company that had some in stock and it was in Cinci.  The nice guy there took pity on my plight and GAVE me the rollers for free!  So I got the rollers today and then stopped by Home Depot on my way home. 

Unfortunately, the company with the rollers didn't have the mounting brackets to go with them, so I was doing some brainstorming on how to create brackets with the guys at Home Depot and they liked the challenge so much they offered to pick-up the wheel from my house and build the frame for me!!  I can't believe my luck!  So hopefully before the end of next week, I'll have it back, ready to go and will post some video of Dazzle using his new exercise wheel :-)

Another Q and Flyball practice

Yesterday (Sunday) was a VERY long day!  We started by getting to the show TOO early.  On Saturday, there were notes posted on the score boards saying that Sunday started an hour earlier.  Because these were hand written notes, placed prominantly, I thought it was a schedule change.  I took it to mean that everything was being moved up one hour.  So my class was supposed to start at 10:20, so I thought it was instead going to start at 9:20.  Wrong.  The note was just a reminder that the show started at 8 (as scheduled) on Sunday instead of 9 (as scheduled) on Saturday.  So we arrived WAY too early.

Thankfully Dazzle was happy to relax in his crate while we waited.  I got him out when there were still a few people waiting to go in ahead of us and warmed him up a bit but didn't go over the top with it.  I think it worked well and he had a good level of "readiness" going in.  Then he saw the jump and the toy in the figure 8 and his brain went out the window :-)  He REALLY wanted to go check out the toy and until we got there, that's where his focus was. 

It was a jump, right into the figure 8 around both a toy AND food.  He gave both a very careful inspection and sniff, but didn't pick up the toy (YEA!!) So we lost points for the sniffing/distraction, but then I had my dog back.  He did even better once we got halfway across the ring.  We ended up with a 93, but since it was an "extra" run it didn't really count for anything as far as titles go.  I was just REALLY happy he left the toy!

The photographer (Dick Clark) was at this show and I got the photos from the Dayton show in September .  I'll most likely get ones from this past weekend too but those weren't ready yet.

After a celebration, he went back in the crate while I worked the check-in board for Advanced and Novice Rally.  About 4:30, I was on the road north to Columbus for a Flyball class.  I had a bit of time to kill so we stopped at the outlet stores so I could get some thermal clothing. 

At Flyball class, Dazzle did great.  He really liked the jump chute and was getting the hang of getting his feet on the box.  We also did a bit of sleeve work and practiced his release cue.  His strength and confidence has really increased.  He was one tired pup by the end of class! And by the end of the 2 hour drive home, I was pretty tired too :-)

New title!

It wasn't his usual precision, but we managed a 91 and got the RE title!  No placement ribbon, but we did get a nice title rossette shown below with his prize from yesterday.

Nice judges and nice courses today and yesterday.  We'll be going back tomorrow for the practice.  I want to try something different and see if it provides a balance between the over amped, ready-to-go dog I had Friday and the "Ho-hum, no reward waiting" dog I had today.   

RE Q

Went to a Rally trial today at QC

We got a qualifying score of 94 and 4th place.  We would have had 3 additional points if Dazzle hadn't "yelled" at me at the start.  He was SO ready to get going! After the first sign, he settled into working mode and did well.  We still would have gotten 4th because there was a 100 and two 99's :-)

Just one more Q needed for the Rally Excellent title.  I'm entered tomorrow and Sunday, but they are predicting a snow storm tomorrow.  So if roads are bad, I might skip tomorrow and just go Sunday. Have to wait and see what it looks like in the morning.

cute photo

I was updating the DSA website and needed a photo of a dog reading a newspaper, so I created one!

I think it really turned out cute!
This is the website page where it's featured: http://www.dogscouts.org/DSA_in_the_news_.html

Ready for Christmas

Spent some time with the hubby tonight listening to Christmas carols and decorating for the holidays.

Left to right:
Buster - 14 years old next March
Coyote - 11 in January
Bear - Just turned 7
King - 12 in February
Dazzle - 2.5 years old
Not in the photo: Splash cat - 10 yrs old

Merry Christmas everyone!

Agility Practice

Dazzle's agility practice is coming along nicely!  I went in the ring on the second run through and got some photos.  I really wanted some photos of Daz over jumps, since his jumping has gotten SO much better!  But my camera has WAY too much delay for that.  I pushed the button when he was over the first jump and 3 jumps later, the camera finally snapped the photo! Of course it was the only bar he took down. :-)  Maybe because of the flash?

And I learned I need to stay off the course because at one point, I was right in front of the obstacle he needed to take!  Ooops!

Oh well, I'm glad he's doing well and lovin' the course running. I think he understands that Sarah is the one he runs agility with now.

Instead of getting the jumps, I ended up getting the "longer" obstacles.

Video of new ball machine

Today is chilly, but sunny.  We had rain last night so that's the water you see on the patio.  I set-up the ball machine again and got some video of Dazzle playing with it.  I think he really likes the anticipation as the machine "winds up".

VIDEO: Playing with GoDogGo (:30 sec.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ut8nhXYoo

The gate is to keep the other dogs from sticking their nose into (or getting their body in front of) the throwing area. Especially Coyote who has trouble seeing.  I don't want them to accidently get hit by a fast moving ball.  It also prevents Dazzle from trying to get the ball out of the thrower base when it's winding up.  He hadn't tried to do that, but it prevents him from trying.

I also got him using it with me inside- YEA!!!  Gonna love this even more when it gets frigid outside :-)

New Toy

I got Dazzle a used GoDogGo automatic ball throwing machine today.  I didn't get back home till after dark, but I set it up and had it do a few throws off our patio.  Dazzle figured out that he should drop the ball in the bucket right from the start.  By the 5th or 6th throw, he was backing up to the catch point to wait for it. LOL  I can see this getting a LOT of use in the coming months! Hopefully it works with balls covered in frozen slobber :-) 
I'll try to get some video tomorrow if it's not raining. 
To see how it works, visit the website: http://www.godoggoinc.com/index.html

Busy day!

It was too nice of a day to spend inside, so Dazzle and I went to the park where he pulled me on the bike.  After the ride, I found a shady spot on a slight hill where I sat to throw his ball for him with the chuck-it.  I had planned to let him rest till agility practice, but the neighbor decided to do some target shooting.  So I took advantage of the gun shots and got out the bite sleeve.  Each time he fired (about once every 30-60 seconds) Dazzle got to bite the sleeve.  We were both tired by the time the guy called it quits.

Daz took a short nap before dinner, then we went to agility practice where he and Sarah had 2 nice runs on a difficult course.  He needs a bit of work on obstacle descrimination, but his jump bars are staying up now!  All the work we put in with the cavaletti and jump exercises is paying off!  He did a good job on his contacts too. I forgot to take the video camera, but Dazzle did both runs with me completely outside the ring gate.  He looked my way a few times to make sure I wasn't going to run off, but went right back to work.  I think he's learning the routine now.

All dogs adopted

All the dogs seized in the hoarding case (36 chihuahuas and 1 elderly Beagle) went to new, approved homes on Saturday within 2.5 hours!  The only one left (a brindle lab mix) is not up for adoption at the moment because she is nursing her new puppies, but she is in a foster home and will be adopted once the pups are weaned.  Tri-State CART and all the other folks and agencies that helped are awsome!

update on hoarding situation

The hoarder has signed over the dogs to the Brown County animal shelter so they can be adopted!

The dogs have been spayed/neutered and will be available for adoption tomorrow morning. More info and photos of the dogs can be found at: http://www.tristatecart.com

The case has been kept in the news and at least 2 of the TV stations have been doing on-going reports on the progress of the case.  Hopefully lots of good people will show up to adopt the dogs.  The animal shelter has been screening potential adopters and anyone showing up tomorrow needs to bring photo ID, the name and number of their vet and the $100 adoption fee.

Death of a pumpkin

Today Dazzle got to try his paw at carving a pumpkin of his own since he was the only one that showed interest in the whole pumpkin (organic, grown by the friend of a club member). 

He grabbed it and ran around the yard like he had a brand new toy:

 I called him back:

He settled down with it, making sure it wasn't trying to get away:

That's a mouthful of pumpkin!

He found out he could bite into it and the carnage began... 


The first cuts:

Paw for leverage:

What's IN there?! Eewww, it's squishy!

He didn't like the squishy middle so he started working on the other end:

Big bite:

Another mouthful

What if I pick it up and shake it?

Almost done...

Finishing up the last details...

Voila!  One pumpkin carved by a Malinois!

Then he brought in some of his prize to work on it further

I made sure all the dogs got some. Coyote was not willing to share no matter how much Buster begged

Buster was devouring it like he had not eaten in a month- really loved it!  Coyote only ate it so the others dogs wouldn't get it.  Bear and King seemed to like their pieces.  Dazzle liked the carving more than the eating, but did eat a bit.

All in all, a successful day after halloween :-)