I love to see the fruits of my labor! Boot Camp has definately paid off for Penny. I took her & Sherman on their first joint walk in a long time. I did use the Easy Walk (which I'm now calling the Pull A Lot) at first and it sucked. So I put the lead on her collar & guess what...no pulling what-so-ever. She got to the end of the lead a couple of times & I gave her an "Eeeasy" and she slowed down. It was wonderful. AND...she came face to face w/ a cat and when I said "Leave it" she turned, looked at me, then kept going. I love it!

Lola is another story. She just isn't getting it. Well, that's not true...toward the end of our walk she was starting to get it. Her new thing is...she pulls, I stop, she sits. At the end of the tight leash. I'm gonna have to try a new approach.

Maybe they should be called "The Great Hunters of Jackman Avenue"...at least for Sherman & Penny. Only, their way of hunting is staring intensely up at the squirrel they have managed to run up the big tree in the yard. I tried to take a picture of it taunting them, but it was too high up.

"If we watch it long enough, it may just fall out of the tree...


Lola just prefers to dig...

Shermie & I got up early to continue his Gotcha Day Celebration. It was actually cold in the woods, but perfect weather for him. We hiked about 1/2 hour & he had a blast.

Here he is kicking up his heels...

A well deserved drink at the of the trail...

Ahhh...this is what I've been waiting for. Glorious summer days. The temps have cooled to a comfortable 80ish and the humidity is much, much lower. I'm in heaven.

Lola & I went for a hike at Riverview. This was her first solo "big girl" hike...she went on one with me when she was about 4 1/2 months & has gone a couple of times with Penny & I. But when I take the dogs on a solo hike, I use a 16ft flexi to give them some room to move. Lola is a great hiking partner. I don't think she hit the end of the flexi once. She would get about 10 feet from me & then stop, turn & wait for me to catch up.

Once we hit the loop on the road, she did react to an Eskie across from us. I just kept backing up and using Penalty Yards and after 4 or 5 times, she gave up on the barkfest. We headed up a steep hill only to be met at the top by a guy & his beagle on the trail. The guy had no intention of stopping or moving aside...just kept on walking toward us. And although Lola saw them, she willingly walked off the trail w/ me, sat down & waited for them to pass. Nice!

We ran into 2 dogs off leash further down the trail. I yelled to the owners "Please call your dogs!" and they did. One listened and one kept coming toward us. The guy kept calling her but she was tuning him out. "Is she friendly?" I asked while I stepped in front of Lola and the guy said "Yes", although she didn't seem real thrilled w/ Lola wiggling around her. The guy leashed her up and they went on their merry way. I hate that. If I would have been w/ S&P & the dog would have charged up on them the same way, they would have flipped. I don't need to be worrying about other people's dogs. Just keep them on a leash...it is the law.

But the hike was lovely regardless. Lola had a great time & so did I.

We had a little summertime celebration at Debby's in honor of her b-day. We did this a couple years ago & it was a lot of fun (although the attendees have greatly changed). Penny & Lola came with me as they have been around Debby's dogs a lot & love to be fawned over by absolutely everyone.

Penny started out the morning in a mood...it wasn't bad, just very clingy & needy. She was very anxious and whiny. Scott warned me that I should just leave her at home...but what does he know???

Apparently a lot b/c she was pretty snarky w/ the other dogs. She put up w/ Trent following her around and licking her...she never has a problem with this. And as soon as Lola arrived, he turned his attention to her...alternating mouth licking and guarding everything from ice cubes to potato chips to balls from her. Something didn't sit right with Penny & as soon as the first guest arrived, & she flew off the handle at Trent. The spat was quickly diffused but Penny was still stressed & Trent continued to snark at Lola, pinning her under a chair & giving her a nice big scratch on her face. I decided if I was going to have any fun, it would be in my best interest to take the girls home...which is what I did.

In hindsight, I think Penny is feeling the need to defend Lola. She's had two squabbles w/ Debby's dogs, one w/ Kera & now this one w/ Trent. Both occured in Lola's presence and while I don't recall Kera challenging Lola, she very well could have growled at her and Penny could have taken that as a threat. Same goes w/ Trent. There have never been any incidents (that I know of) w/ Penny & any of Debby's dogs when Lola is not around. They generally get along great.

The rest of the day was a lot of fun and I actually got in the pool this year! It was, after all, 95 in the shade!

The girls were back to their old relaxed selves once we got home.

"It is the right of every dog, to have one person who thinks they are the greatest dog on earth." - Sue Sternberg

OK...so my dogs have two people who think they're the greatest. We have the greatest Black dog

the greatest Brown dog...

and the greatest White dog ...

The sun keeps blazing & the humidity keeps holding steady. It's been in the 90s for 2 weeks and the heat index is over 100. No walks for anyone. The girls are getting antsy and bored. I can't say I blame them, but it's miserable outside. We keep the first floor cool w/ the AC so everyone's been stuck hanging out downstairs. Hopefully we'll get some relief soon so we can resume the neighborhood patrol.

Sherman & I had a sleepover at my Mom's house tonight. She is keeping him while we are on vacation and I just wanted to make sure he'd be OK w/ her cats. They have been harassed by Kevin's Golden, Shamus and Mom is a bit leary about having dogs in the house w/ them. Sherman was pretty good. Movement causes the need to chase but he's pretty good with Leave It and I kept a leash on him the whole time. They shouldn't have a problem with him.

We went to visit my Grandparents and Sherman proved what a great therapy dog he'd be. He's very calm, doesn't jump, parks himself right next to you for rubs. He showed off a little w/ some of his tricks...high 5, lay down, "spring" (where he jumps up to a sit from a down), speak. Everyone was very impressed. We'll probably go for the TDI later this year. I think I'm gonna enroll him in Shelley's CGC class starting at the end of September.

It really sucks when you finally have to admit to yourself your dog is getting old. 3 different Vets at my Practice have estimated Sherman to be anywhere from 9 - 12 as of today. I like to think of him as 6...the BCHS said he was a year when we adopted him & that will be 5 years next week.

But if I'm gonna be honest with myself...I have to face facts. He is closer to 10ish. He's a spry 10ish...but his age is starting to show. He's slow getting up from laying down. He tires after about 20 minutes on a walk. He's good for about 5 minutes of playtime till he gets bored & goes to rest.

I told Sherman he had to live to be at least 20...so we have another 10 or so years ahead of us. But at what price?


He still loves a good hike in the woods & as long as he's able...we'll go. We'll just keep the hikes short.

What a doll! Love the jowly lips!

It continues to be HOT...Shermie gets his 20 minute walk around the block b/c he's such a good boy...

But the girls continue to be in Boot Camp.

Loose Leash all the time. Penny is WAY too smart for her own good & this is a piece of cake for her. Lola is taking some time & is still a bit reactive...so we're working when there aren't a whole lot of people around & I'm making a HUGE deal when she doesn't react to the normal "spooky" stuff...people, dogs, cats, trucks, motorcycles, bikes, etc. It's becoming less & less & I think we're almost home free...

They are so damned cute when they're pooped! Lola loves to lay on the tile in the bathroom...

& Penny's favorite spot is on the deck...

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.