I bought these chicken feet from Hare Today and they've been in my freezer for a couple months. I finally brought a bag out today for the dogs & let me tell you...they are repulsive!

Lola thinks they're Deeelicious!

It's back to Camp Bow Wow for the Sprout. She just loves it there. She's too funny...when it gets too crazy, she seeks safety on the A frame...


This was her buddy for the day...she like 'em big!

And when she's tired...she rests...

Lola had graduation tonight from Shelley's class. I now officially have another dog that makes me look better at this training thing than I really am! I haven't done diddly w/ Lola all week (other than usual day to day stuff & the LLW) and she was superb. I concentrated a lot on rewarding her for automatic attention. In addition, there was a 2 year old right next to us that she desperately wanted to play with. Every time she got the glimmer, I told her to Leave It and she plopped her butt down and stared at me! Yahoo.

We also won the graduation game. Somewhere along the way Lola has learned Stand...on cue. Interesting. I've spent very little time on this. She's such a smart puppy! We still struggle a bit w/ her laying down on the SitStay, but I just need to put more time into it. Can't expect her to learn if I don't teach her, can I?

It continues to be HOT (temps in the 90s) and none of us have had much motivation to do much of anything.

I am still working on Penny & Lola's LLW and am determined to keep at it until this pulling stuff is extinguished. I've actually been having a lot of success w/ my own little version Penalty Yards as opposed to Be a Tree (which just wasn't cutting it). I'm forcing myself to be more patient and it's working well. I realize it's going to take some time & am OK w/ that. The girls are just happy to be getting some one on one time w/ me.

It is HOT! Temps have been in the 90s this weekend & while I'm not complaining, the dogs are not happy!

They are all pooped!

Guess who is a therapy dog!!!

Penny!!! This was the second time we've taken the test. Last time she failed b/c she pulled the little old lady out of the chair during the supervised separation. But not this time. She was not thrilled when I left, but she held her SitStay for all three minutes and didn't whine once. Three cheers for out of sight stays!!

We did have to do the Dog to Dog w/ a dog we knew & Penny does NOT like...at all (Brady, an awesome Yellow Lab that Annette & I had in class...Yep, she hates him. He was all wound up when he came in & she snarked at him.)! Figures. There were 4 other dogs there that she loves. But all of our work on attention paid off. She gave him one (teeny, tiny) hard stare and then looked up at me when I asked her to.

I'm so proud of her (and me too LOL!). I even had one of the testers tell me that she wishes her dogs worked like Penny...happy & enthusiastic.

We'll be taking a new class at the WPHS, Dynamic Dogs. It's for TDI dogs to get used to doing therapy visits.

"Dynamic Dogs is a class for dogs who have completed Super Puppy, CGC/TDI class or have already gotten their TDI license and are ready to get started in the community. This class addresses Doggy Etiquette for Community Sites, and improves handlers’ skills for traveling politely with their dogs in many new places. This is a perfect class to help dogs increase their confidence by visiting many community sites across Pittsburgh. These visits allow handlers of dogs who have gotten their TDI to gain experience with TDI visits. The first two weeks of class are held at WPHS, the first is orientation with NO DOGS. The remaining weeks are scheduled in community sites. The class is limited to 8 dogs, and participation in the community visits is at the discretion of the instructor"

Marsha's teaching it & we love her so it should be fun.

Congratulations Penny!

Lola had class tonight. I almost didn't take her b/c one of her eyes has been red & goopy. But I talked to the vet & I'm to flush it 4x per day w/ Tears and keep it dry w/ cotton. She's not contagious as S&P are fine so I figured she could use the practice.

Boy am I glad I took her! First of all, Shelley (and her asst. Darla) both reminded me that Lola is very young and most likely will grow out of this reactive stage. Just keep working w/ her & take it slow. That made me feel better. Second...she was outstanding. We worked a lot on eye contact & name recognition. Her stays are getting better although, my homework is to stop the DownStays & only work on SitStays this week. Lola tends to slide into a down after 6 or 7 seconds of sitting. We did 2 recalls...the first one she flew to me like she was shot out of a cannon. The second started that way, but I am no match for another puppy she's been playing bowing w/ all night. She eventually did come though, so I was pleased. Her heeling & LLW were great too. I just need to keep plugging at it.

Heeellllloooooo Adolescence! Ready to go yet? ~sigh~

Lola is in, what I believe (and hope) is a fear period. She is freaked out by the smallest thing (Ex. she can no longer eat next to the fridge if I open the door...it comes no where near her, but she runs out of the kitchen if I open it) and is reacting to anything and everything that moves. Walks have been put on hold while this passes and I've been working w/ her out on the front deck on attention, name recognition and eye contact. She is stellar on all of these in a low/no distraction environment (in the house, in the backyard, etc). But hit outside & she forgets everything. Selective attention. So I'm gradually moving her outside...starting w/ the deck. We'll then move to the front porch, then the front yard, then the sidewalk in front of the house & so on & so on. I'm learning a lot w/ her. Patience for one...and to take things slow & not push her. She doesn't need a 20 walk every day and I'm not forcing myself to take her on one if she's not ready.

I've also been having success w/ Penny & her reactivity w/ other dogs. I've been having her Sit & Stay when I see the dog and as long is it's across the street, she'll squeal a bit, but no barking, lunging or flipping out.

We're going for the TDI again on Saturday. I'm very confident that she'll do wonderfully on most everything and somewhat confident that she'll handle the supervised separation OK. Debby suggested cueing her to Stay when I leave & I tried this w/ Annette last week. She didn't make a peep, nor did she move. She didn't take her eyes off the door, but that's OK.

The 4th of July weekend was pretty lazy. We really didn't do a whole lot of anything.

The pups hung out on the deck...

And practiced their down-stays...

Penny & Apache had their obedience demo at Robinson Mall today. As they didn't advertise much, the only people that stopped to watch were shoppers. But Penny was tremendous. Even though she was very distracted, she did everything I asked of her.

One thing we had practiced was Penny in a down-stay & Apache jumping over her. It was very impressive when we first tried it, both for Apache's jumping & Penny's attention. At the demo, she stood up right as Apache was sailing over her. Fortunately for both of them, his range is stellar & he managed to make it over w/o even clipping her. It was pretty cool.

Wednesday, I came down w/ a wicked case of food poisoning. I haven't been that sick in my life. Penny & I missed meeting up w/ Annette to practice for the demo next weekend & Lola missed Shelley's class on Thursday.

Saturday morning Lola started throwing up. She threw up all of her breakfast and I didn't give her much else during the day to help rest her belly. Sunday she again threw up all of her breakfast and I started to think it was the new food I had started a week or so ago. So I boiled some chicken & rice and gave her a small amount. She managed to keep that down but early Monday morning she vomited a lot of liquid and also a large hunk of something. It was about 2-3 inches long & the shape of a hotdog. I put it in a baggie & called the vet.

Turns out it was a HAIRBALL!! Composed of short & long black hairs. Apparently I need to do a better job of cleaning! Lola is a garbage raider but usually just makes a big mess. I really think that she got into the garbage after I brushed Sherman (and disposed of clumps & clumps of hair). So, Dr. Nagle sent us home w/ the instructions to give small bland meals for the next few days.

Lola was a maniac all night. She was bouncing off the walls and driving Penny nuts. But I'm really, really glad she's OK.

Lola had graduation from Maribeth's class tonight and performed Roll Over like a pro. OK...I did have to lure her the first couple of times, but then she just started volunteering it. And kept on, & kept on, & kept on...just rolling her self around on the floor. It was very cute!

We also played clicker games and she managed to do everything w/ a little help.

Scott & I broke out the baby pool today to see if the dogs would enjoy lounging. It's been almost 90 the past 2 two days. I figured that Lola would like it b/c she loves water. She follows me around when I water the plants and drinks from the hose.

Scotty coaxed them in...


Lola just wanted to drink from the spout...

Sherman loves to lay in puddles so I thought maybe he'd lay down & cool off. Not a chance.

He just stood around & ate liver brownies.

Well, as Scotty predicted, they used it at a giant water bowl & not much else. So we're getting rid of the pool. It was worth a shot.

She IS a Boxer! Lola went to CBW today & I caught some great pics of her playing!

Nice play bow!

That's her in the upper left corner Boxing w/ another Boxer!

We apparently have talked 3 people into going there b/c she has 2 free sessions waiting. Yahoo!

I love summer!!

Lola & I started Shelley's class tonight. Apparently we worked way to much to BANG! b/c she spent 1/2 of the class flinging herself on her side when I ignored her. I stopped c/t unless I cued it. It is very cute though. We got a chance to review a lot of things she already knows...sit, stand, target, attention, not jumping & mauling Rita & Shelley. It is very nice being in that class b/c they both know what to do when she does jump...they ignore her until she sits & then c/t. By the end of class, she was sitting politely for petting when they approached.

We then went over to my friend Tara's house to drop off our veggies (Tara & I split a summer share at http://www.kretschmannfarm.com). Lola had a ball running around in the grass and rolling all around. Poor thing doesn't get a chance to play in real grass much. Next time I go to the park, I'm gonna take my long line & let her go nuts in the field. Anyway, she snuck out of the yard in the one little teeny spot that's not fenced (they're building a wall) and ran up on the hill. I called her to me & she took the chance to blow me off. After about 20 seconds of running like a maniac, she took a flying leap off the retaining wall & crashed head first into the ground. She was very shaken & I really thought she broke her neck (literally). Tara's husband then said "Jen, her leg" and I was sure when I looked it would be broken in 10 places. She was holding it up and not putting any pressure on it. It wasn't broken that I could tell, but she had bitten her tongue and it was bleeding. We got her some water & by the time she was done taking a giant drink, she was walking on it. Damn dog nearly gave me a flippin' heart attack!!! By the time we got home, she was as good as new...much to Penny's chagrin.

Penny & I had a lovely hike at Riverview today. We took the long route & hiked for an hour & a half. I tried to get some good pics of her at Pope's Point (or Lookout...I forget what it's called), but she was hot & not cooperating. Plus there are all of those fascinating noises in the forest!!

But a nice roll in the grass sure does feel good!!

Lola has class tonight & we've been working on our trick all week...BANG! (she rolls on her side & plays dead). The past 2 weeks tricks have been a bust b/c I haven't worked on them except in one specific spot in the house. Generalizing...it's our problem. So this week, I practice in a bunch of spots and Scotty is really impressed when I show him. But will she do it in class???

Go to Mat and Kisses! have been a big failure. Lola gets so distracted by the other dogs. But not this week! While we wait for the rest of class to show up, Maribeth talks to us about various training things. I keep one eye on her & one eye on Lola. Lola is throwing herself into BANG! postition...over & over & over. And everytime I C/T (yes...lazy training. I love it!). I start ignoring Maribeth & repeating our cue over & over and she hits it every time. And then the funny thing happens. Maribeth & I are talking & Lola is hitting BANG & I'm not clicking (I didn't cue it, after all). So she starts rolling over. And fortunately I'm watching out of the corner of my eye & C/T for each time she rolls over. By the end of our talk, she's offering her Roll Over repeatedly. That's our next trick!

We spent the rest of class doing agility stuff...tunnels, place board, broad jumps. Lola really will be a natural if I can invest the time to work w/ her. She's fearless!

Oh, when they're good...they're really good.

Full moon, my ass. My dogs have truly been wonderful the last few days. I still walk S&P together and we've really been working on sits at intersections. C/T for me in my consistancy...which is a big fault of mine. I'm usually...sit every 5/10/15 intersections...whatever. But in the last week or so, I've been really good about stopping each & every time & they've (well, at least Penny) become automatic. Sherman often takes a little reminder, but not much.

So, we're walking down Jackman and at the second intersection, I stop, tell them to Sit & they do w/o issue. We wait for 5 or 6 cars to go by & I'm very impressed that neither dog breaks (it's been about a minute). I release them w/ "Let's Go" and they exhuberantly cross the street. A woman on the second floor balcony of the apartment across the street (that I didn't even see) starts applauding. "It's so very nice to see well behaved dogs", she says. I smile & say "yeah, sometimes"...but I'm so proud of my pups!

Then I'm walking Lola past the Vets office & we see an elderly gentleman & his elderly dog leaving. Lola turns on "Guard Dog" and Woofs! at the nice couple. I command "Leave It!" and she does ("What a smart dog you are!!). Then I tell her to Sit & Wait...and she actually does!! Yippee! This training thing really does pay off!

Lola graduated from Bob's class today and part of it involved a mock CGC test. I was very happy that Lola passed on all levels...well, we didn't do the stays & I could use food, but it's a good start. I need to start really working on stays w/ her...they are just so boooorrring!!

Rita was supposed to fill in for Shelley and it turned out that she had car trouble & couldn't make it. So Lola & I filled in & ran the Advanced Basic class. There were 3 dogs in there that I already knew so it was fun.

I took Sherman & Penny on a nice 45 minute walk in the neighborhood...nice as in the weather was perfect. Not nice in that we got jumped by 3 different dogs. OK...jumped makes is sound worse than it was. But 3 separate dogs were off leash & charged at us. S&P hate that & it's no wonder I have leash reactive dogs. 2 dogs backed off when they snarked at them but one took it as an invite to strike back. That was fun (not!). I have such a pet peeve for people who let their dogs loose in their yard & have no control over them. There is a reason for the leash laws!

Lola loves to dig, Lola's not allowed to dig...the good thing about a white dog...the evidence is written all over their face.

"What? Someone was digging?"



"Wasn't me..."


"I swear!"

Lola & I went back to class today & it was fantastic!! I remember the day when things just clicked for Penny & I. It was if she figured out how to read my mind & everything just fell in line. That was the day I really became interested in training dogs. When your hard work starts to pay off & you and your dog become a team. It's really amazing.

Well, today was that day for Lola & I. She was really focused on learning & paying attention to what I was asking of her. We haven't done a whole lot of work on stay...nothing consistant anyway (I use Wait a whole bunch more and she's great w/ that)...but we were doing Sit Stays & you could see she was really trying to figure out what I was asking her to do. Our problem is she doesn't want to sit long. She doesn't get up, she lies down. So we'll just have to continue to work at it.

This is the fun stuff!!!

This may be my favorite picture of Sherman ever. I just love the expression on his face...he looks so sweet. Scott thinks he looks really old as the flash makes the white on his muzzle really stand out. Sherman is 9 (ish) and is showing his age. Long walks really take a lot out of him, he's often stiff & slow to get up from laying down, his hips are sensitive when I brush him.

It makes me very sad to think of him as old.

Scotty & I had a very nice Memorial Day at home. More working in the yard, but it looks awesome!!! It was still hot & the dogs loved being outside w/ us.

I took some pictures while they were out there. My pups are so cute.

It was another HOT day...it's been in the 90s all weekend. It's amazing how the heat really tires the dogs out. They don't run around much...just hang out in the yard w/ us while we work. But the end result are 3 very tired pooches.

Class was cancelled due to the holiday so Lola went back to daycare. They were all so happy to see her & were amazed at how big she got. Scotty worked in the yard all day, spreading mulch and it looks great. It was HOT (perfect as far as I'm concerned).


Penny gets so hot, yet refuses to see shelter from the sun. She loves to lay in it & bake.

I drove up to the New Castle dog show to pick up an order of meat from Hare Today. Annette left me 2 messages that the lady wasn't gonna make it but I missed her calls. It was very interesting to see all the different dogs and vendors. I walked around a bit & pick Sherman up a new Lupine collar w/ turtles on it. Then I drove home & picked Lola up at daycare. She was pooped! I love Camp Bow Wow!

I took the day off so Mom & I could have our annual gardening day. Every year my Mom graciously comes over to help me weed out my garden and assists me in planting some new Perennials. I have no idea the difference between a weed & a new seedling so her presence is much needed.

I love to tell the story of our first year at the house when I was prepping the front flower bed to plant some petunias. I was tilling the dirt & said to Scott "What the hell did they plant so many onions for? There must be 100 onion plants in here!!". So I pulled them all out & we had no tulips that year.

Well it was spitting rain all morning so Mom & I went to the nursery & then to lunch. By early afternoon it had cleared up enough do to some planting & it only took a couple hours to get the garden in pretty good shape. Just some mulching & we should be looking good.

A bird has made a home on one of the ferns off of the front deck. I've named her Trudy & I think she's a finch (actually, I have no idea what she is...but if I had to picture what a finch would look like, it would look like Trudy). She has laid 4 eggs & I'm trying very hard not to disturb her, but I take a peek every so often to see what's going on in the nest. She doesn't seem too bothered by the dogs or me. She just hangs out on the chain or in her nest.

Last night, Penny & I met Annette at the shelter to practice some agility stuff. The Agility Games class starts on 6/14 and we thought it would be fun to goof around and run through some of the equipment. Penny had a great time, as did Apache & Cheyenne. She hasn't done agility in a long time and was kind of rusty, but she picked it up quickly. Annette gave me some really good pointers. She also volunteered to run me through the stations of an obedience trial to see how much work we'd have to do. I need to work on the Stand this week and then we'll see. There is a fun match on 6/17 I think I'm gonna go to just to see how Penny likes it (and how I can deal!!)

Lola's housetraining problem seems to be correcting itself...thanks to some good work from Scotty & I. He's been really great about taking her out (a LOT) when I'm not home & for the first time, ever, I really yelled at her when I caught her peeing on the carpet. Up to this point, it was just "UH OH....outside!" But she's old enough now to know better...she just didn't want to get wet (little priss). But we're doing a lot better & I'm hopeful.

Well the rain started and continues to fall ~Ugh~...~double Ugh~. I hate rain...hate it, hate it, hate it! I've got flowers to plant, I've got a yard to clean up, I've got dogs that need to learn how to walk nicely on leash! ~Ugh~!

But all is not lost. While Project LLW is on hold until the rain stops, I'm still getting some training in. Lola's been to two classes in 4 days. She's still a maniac, but it is taking her less & less time to calm down. She just loves everyone & everything. She desparately wants to play w/ the other dogs & there are quite a few that would make great playmates for her. She's just gonna have to suck it up. We've been doing some clicker work at home too. More attention & reinforcing heel position. I'll but much happier when I can take it outside. We have a big house, but little rooms.

Penny & I have been working some too. I'm concentrating right now on her having a very clear understanding that Sit & Down are two different commands, longer stays and straighening out her automatic sits (she still swings out). Penny has a pretty clear idea of where heel position is, but I've also been doing quarter turns and Heeling against walls to reinforce it.

Sherman was feeling kind of icky over the last week & has been grouchier than usual. He & Penny actually got into it on Saturday. First time in over a year & the first time it started when I wasn't in the room. I was able to diffuse the situation pretty quickly and no damage was done. For the next 24 hours however, Sherman wouldn't let Penny near him. He would growl every time she came in to the same room & she was obviously bothered by it. I promised her I wouldn't let him hurt her & she thought it was a good idea to stick to me like glue for a couple of days.

Sherman is back to his old semi-grouchy self now and is waiting for the rain to stop so he can resume patrolling the neighborhood.

Lola has competely forgotten that she should be doing her business outside and not on my carpet. ~sigh~ I cut her some slack after her spay as I know they move her parts around and her bladder is probably sore & weak. But it's been 2+ weeks and she just doesn't like going out in the rain. Well...tough toothpicks! I'll stand out there for a 1/2 an hour under my umbrella until she does her business. It's up to her how long we have to be out there. Let's hope she catches on quick. Cleaning up pee is getting very old!!

Some random pics...

Lola at daycare (no wonder she loves it!!)

Lola's mom & dad (Jessie is the fawn & Buster is the little mini w/ the cone on his head!)

My beautiful diva dog...


Sherman Snuggling.
Checkin' out the back yard..

Day 2 of Project LLW...

Penny loves this. She really does. We are, after all...working. I had to stop about 10 times on the walk & not at all on the 2nd half of the block. Right now, I'm using the clicker. When she pulls, I stop...she turns & when the leash is completely loose, I c/t. I also c/t when she is in a position I like (not right next to me but a couple feet in front w/ a completely loose leash). This walk takes us past the vet's office, which gives me an opportunity to practice Leave It w/ other dogs. She hasn't had one flip out in the past 3 times we've worked & we've seen 1/2 dozen dogs. That is major progress for her & I'm thrilled!

Lola's progress is not going so well. She is a brain dead adolescent right now. I called the Vet b/c her spay incision is starting to puff & she is really broken out. I thought it was almost like razor burn b/c they shave her before the surgery. I just wanted them to check it out & put my mind at ease (I'm a worrier!). On the walk down, she was a maniac. She just didn't get it...she pulls, I stop. She pulls, I stop. Took us almost 10 minutes to get 1/2 a block to the vets office. The office was packed. She was obnoxious...barking & whining & bucking at the end of the leash. I made her sit in my lap & settle and that helped. Turns out, she has skin infection. Dr. Moore indicated it was Pyoderma (huh??? I love doctors.), which is an infection caused by staph bacteria (I googled it). She's on antibiotics for a week & has to take benedryl 2x per day. The walk home was much, much better (train a tired dog! Duh!). I only had to stop once. We'll just keep at it.

Day 1 of Project LLW...went better than I had anticipated. I suppose I should clarify this whole thing. I am very lazy. And training a dog to walk nicely on leash is so boring and does take a considerable amount of time. I don't want to put the effort into it...especially if there is equipment that will enable me to just get a decent walk in. So I tried the Gentle Leader, the Halti, The SENSEation Harness, The Freedom harness, The EasyWalk harness, the Good Dog collar & a prong collar. Sheesh...I have enough equipment to start my own store!! All work fine at first, but Penny eventually learns how to manipulate her body so that she can pull. Fortunately, the one thing she's never really been able to pull on is a regular old collar (at least not for the last few years) because I never walk her on one!! So I won't have to break a habit that she's had for 4 years.

So...Penny & I started our walk and it really didn't take long before she accepted that she will not be allowed to pull. And what she really liked...when the leash was loose, she got treats! I will not be walking S&P together for quite a while. Penny loves to lead and having to compete w/ Sherman will impede any progress we may make. I'm guessing it'll take me two weeks to make it around the block w/o having to stop. She's a quick study.

Lola's walk went just as well. It is boring & it does take time...but now that I'm committed, I truly believe it will be worth it. Her problem is she has sooooo much puppy energy right now & gets very excited when she sees people, another dog, a squirrel, a bird, a leaf blowing in the wind. She forgets what her job is. Well it's my job to teach her.

Sunday morning was dedicated to the dogs. Sherman & I took a wonderful 45 minute walk around the neighborhood. This is truly one of his favorite things to do in the world and the spring in his step when it's just he & I is undeniable.

Lola has officially begun her LLW training. I'm not one of those dog owners who requires their dog to heel the entire walk. I want them to sniff & enjoy the walk as much as I do. So far, Lola has done well on the Easy Walk, but she's started pulling on it as well. Enough is enough. Time to get to work. Didn't take long for her to figure it out...leash is tight, I stop. We're gonna do the same short block every day till that darn leash is loose the entire time. Then move on.

I decided to take Penny to the park. We had a really nice hike until we ran into a gaggle of deer. There were about 5 of them & she, of course, went nuts when she saw them. So we turned around & went back the way we came. She also has the nasty habit of pulling on leash. I bitch & complain about it all the time. What's that saying? "Don't complain...Train!". And that's exactly what I plan on doing. Time to get off my ass after 3 years & finally teach her how to walk politely on leash! Penny will be on the same LLW training plan as Lola. She gets plenty of exercise running around in the yard w/ the Sprout so I'm not worried about that.

The pups hung out on the front porch all afternoon soaking in the sun. It was a nice Sunday.

Shelley was unable to teach class tonight & asked if I would cover for her. No problem...this is a very nice class & I'm pretty comfortable teaching clicker. So I took Penny as my demo dog. I just love her to pieces. Other than hating the crate (which she found to be very beneath her), she was perfect. We reviewed Sit, Down, Attention, Touch & started Heeling & Stay. It was a fun class.