Class Day 1, March 30 (one day after Spur’s first birthday)
We arrived at the facility and weren’t sure where to park or go. Doug parked alongside the building and I went to go find people to get started. We worked with two trainers, Courtney and Seth. Courtney was our main trainer, while Seth was tasked with circling us, unobtrusively, while shuffling his feet, loudly organizing the garage where we were training and stomping as he walked from area to area.
We crated Spur for a bit while we discussed Spur’s new birthday gift, the actual e-collar. It’s a Dogtra 300M. The remote has three buttons; vibration only, nick (quick tap,) and continuous (but only for 8 seconds max.) It also has a dial to adjust the level of stimulation from 0-100.
We worked on loading our “YES” with treats (trying to get him to associate the word YES with good things) and walking at a heel.
By the end of the class, we were tasked with practicing the following at home: YES, FREE DOG (have to retrain ourselves from our 5-year release word of “OK.”) walking on a loose leash, and COME resulting in a front sit without command.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Spur: Training the Beast, the prequel
I haven't posted much of anything about our life with Spur. If I can say anything, really, at all, I can say it's been challenging.
He was supposed to be our "Show Dog." But, most likely he'll never see the inside of a show ring. We are heartbroken in coming to this realization. He was not the friendly, happy-go-lucky kind of puppy we were expecting.
As soon as he turned 4 months and had all his puppy shots, he was out! We took him to his first dog show as a spectator. It all started in the parking lot. On leash, as we walked from the car to the building, he began barking at other people in the lot. As we got closer to the building, he barked at the other people out taking their dogs to potty. Once we got inside, he was a different dog, though. It's like, he just knew that he needed to be on his best behavior and didn't make another peep until we left. He was shy and wary in meeting new people. Our friend Carson was the only one that was able to pick him up and hold him. And that was after bribing him with lots of treats. After the show was over, we took him to some other friends' RV set-ups. One friend had short hair that she had styled to stand up on top of her head. Spur BARKED! She bribed him with treats and he still barked! He was more accepting of the other people at the RV's.
He began puppy kindergarten. He would bark at the other participants as they arrived and class would start. After 6 weeks of classes, he was much more comfortable with the people and earned his AKC S.T.A.R. puppy certificate. He also started beginner agility. Also, he'd greet the other participants in a manner that was less than friendly. But after the course of 6 weeks, also became more comfortable with them.
We took him to doggie daycare during the work week since he wasn’t housebroken and really too young to stay home while we were at work. This helped with his dog socialization. But he’d still bark at strangers as he was arriving and leaving.
Over Thanksgiving week, Spur's normal doggie daycare was closed, so we asked our Puppy Kindergarten and Agility trainer, Deb, if she'd keep him. The first day Doug took Spur to stay at her house (mind you, all the training classes have been in her backyard; he knows the yard, he knows the trainer) Spur barked and carried on like Deb was going to harm him or Doug. Deb kept him some again at Christmas time. Her husband Carl would come home from work to a frantic, scared, aggressive Spur. Carl worked on Spur, throwing him treats; lots of treats until Spur finally learned that Carl was Okay.
Deb is a trainer that uses techniques of Positive Reinforcement. We tried clicker training. For us, it just didn’t stick. Denali had been food motivated and was so easy to train compared to Spur. Spur is stubborn and scared. And he’s not the ‘shy away and hide behind daddy’ kind of scared. He’s the ‘in your face, I told you to get away or I’m gonna eat you’ kind of scared.
With Denali competing in agility, we’d take Spur along, crate him on the side when we needed to, and had him out to socialize him when we could. Some of our friends knew that Spur had issues and they were very calm, quiet and patient with him. At one venue, one friend set up her crates alongside ours in a horse stall and sat with us for hours. Spur got to hear her voice, smell her scent, and her dogs’ scents, and get fed by her through the crate. Yet, when it was time to come out and greet her in person, he leapt up, bopping her in the forehead with his teeth (really I think it was more an act of excitement than aggression) and left her with a huge goose-egg bump and migraine.
At Christmas time, Doug’s sister came to the house. Spur acted up and we kept him crated for most of her visit. His barking was annoying. We told her to ignore him. After we had a meal and wanted to move into the den, I leashed Spur and we used treats to bribe him for good behavior. We moved closer. Jann was nervous. Spur was nervous. Jann fed him treats. Spur got excited and jumped at Jann’s face. Jann got spooked and tensed up. Spur went nuts. Spur went back into the crate for the rest of the visit.
He’d act up at the vet’s office. The vet, before even putting a hand on Spur, handed us a card for a reputable, local trainer. We called Christen who came to our house for a 3-hour session. She ended up staying 4 hours. She gave us some techniques to use that included jabbing Spur in the shoulder to grab his attention. Months of trying that, along with the positive reinforcement, just make him tougher, more bold.
As I looked online at my Facebook account, many of my Facebook friends are dog show people, Australian shepherd people, and agility people. 2012 and 2013 were the years of the puppy, it seemed. Everyone posted photos of their sweet, cuddly, precious, FRIENDLY puppies, out and about, at dog shows, meeting strangers, loving people and life. Then I’d look at Spur, who only loves three people in his life; Doug, Ian and me. So loving and sweet at home, just like all those sweet puppies on Facebook. But, take him out to do his business, and if he spots a neighbor (that he sees EVERYDAY when he’s doing his business) he becomes Mr. GET-OUTTA-MY-SPACE-OR-I’M-GONNA-EAT-YOU. And the thing is, they weren’t even in his space. They were in their own space.
By the time Spur was 11 months old, he was getting bigger, more muscular, and sounding even more fierce when faced with strangers. The techniques we knew weren’t working. Something had to be done.
He was supposed to be our "Show Dog." But, most likely he'll never see the inside of a show ring. We are heartbroken in coming to this realization. He was not the friendly, happy-go-lucky kind of puppy we were expecting.
As soon as he turned 4 months and had all his puppy shots, he was out! We took him to his first dog show as a spectator. It all started in the parking lot. On leash, as we walked from the car to the building, he began barking at other people in the lot. As we got closer to the building, he barked at the other people out taking their dogs to potty. Once we got inside, he was a different dog, though. It's like, he just knew that he needed to be on his best behavior and didn't make another peep until we left. He was shy and wary in meeting new people. Our friend Carson was the only one that was able to pick him up and hold him. And that was after bribing him with lots of treats. After the show was over, we took him to some other friends' RV set-ups. One friend had short hair that she had styled to stand up on top of her head. Spur BARKED! She bribed him with treats and he still barked! He was more accepting of the other people at the RV's.
He began puppy kindergarten. He would bark at the other participants as they arrived and class would start. After 6 weeks of classes, he was much more comfortable with the people and earned his AKC S.T.A.R. puppy certificate. He also started beginner agility. Also, he'd greet the other participants in a manner that was less than friendly. But after the course of 6 weeks, also became more comfortable with them.
We took him to doggie daycare during the work week since he wasn’t housebroken and really too young to stay home while we were at work. This helped with his dog socialization. But he’d still bark at strangers as he was arriving and leaving.
Over Thanksgiving week, Spur's normal doggie daycare was closed, so we asked our Puppy Kindergarten and Agility trainer, Deb, if she'd keep him. The first day Doug took Spur to stay at her house (mind you, all the training classes have been in her backyard; he knows the yard, he knows the trainer) Spur barked and carried on like Deb was going to harm him or Doug. Deb kept him some again at Christmas time. Her husband Carl would come home from work to a frantic, scared, aggressive Spur. Carl worked on Spur, throwing him treats; lots of treats until Spur finally learned that Carl was Okay.
Deb is a trainer that uses techniques of Positive Reinforcement. We tried clicker training. For us, it just didn’t stick. Denali had been food motivated and was so easy to train compared to Spur. Spur is stubborn and scared. And he’s not the ‘shy away and hide behind daddy’ kind of scared. He’s the ‘in your face, I told you to get away or I’m gonna eat you’ kind of scared.
With Denali competing in agility, we’d take Spur along, crate him on the side when we needed to, and had him out to socialize him when we could. Some of our friends knew that Spur had issues and they were very calm, quiet and patient with him. At one venue, one friend set up her crates alongside ours in a horse stall and sat with us for hours. Spur got to hear her voice, smell her scent, and her dogs’ scents, and get fed by her through the crate. Yet, when it was time to come out and greet her in person, he leapt up, bopping her in the forehead with his teeth (really I think it was more an act of excitement than aggression) and left her with a huge goose-egg bump and migraine.
At Christmas time, Doug’s sister came to the house. Spur acted up and we kept him crated for most of her visit. His barking was annoying. We told her to ignore him. After we had a meal and wanted to move into the den, I leashed Spur and we used treats to bribe him for good behavior. We moved closer. Jann was nervous. Spur was nervous. Jann fed him treats. Spur got excited and jumped at Jann’s face. Jann got spooked and tensed up. Spur went nuts. Spur went back into the crate for the rest of the visit.
He’d act up at the vet’s office. The vet, before even putting a hand on Spur, handed us a card for a reputable, local trainer. We called Christen who came to our house for a 3-hour session. She ended up staying 4 hours. She gave us some techniques to use that included jabbing Spur in the shoulder to grab his attention. Months of trying that, along with the positive reinforcement, just make him tougher, more bold.
As I looked online at my Facebook account, many of my Facebook friends are dog show people, Australian shepherd people, and agility people. 2012 and 2013 were the years of the puppy, it seemed. Everyone posted photos of their sweet, cuddly, precious, FRIENDLY puppies, out and about, at dog shows, meeting strangers, loving people and life. Then I’d look at Spur, who only loves three people in his life; Doug, Ian and me. So loving and sweet at home, just like all those sweet puppies on Facebook. But, take him out to do his business, and if he spots a neighbor (that he sees EVERYDAY when he’s doing his business) he becomes Mr. GET-OUTTA-MY-SPACE-OR-I’M-GONNA-EAT-YOU. And the thing is, they weren’t even in his space. They were in their own space.
By the time Spur was 11 months old, he was getting bigger, more muscular, and sounding even more fierce when faced with strangers. The techniques we knew weren’t working. Something had to be done.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
BIG A... little r
I use a software program at work. We’ll call it “Software R.” “Software R” is owned and developed by a large company we’ll call “Company A.” I actually use a few pieces of software from “Company A” but this post is more about the actual name of “Software R.”
“Company A” has an online forum for its users. I have a valid/active username in that forum and visit it only rarely when I need help from other users with “Company A’s” software. Over the years, they changed their format and it’s now very difficult to use and find information if you need help using their software. “Company A” also holds an annual conference where users can gather and learn about all the software that “Company A” offers. I’ve attended the conference for 7 years; several years, on my own dime because I felt the education I received there was worth it to me and my career.
Another online software-user-based organization actually has the name of “Company A” in its name; they also claim to be “International.” I also have a valid/active username on that site and use to use it primarily for all my software help requirements. (Recently, this organization shifted from a free online organization to a fee-based membership. I’m not sure I see enough benefit from switching my username from a “Basic Member” to something that would require an annual membership fee.) This online organization was (mostly) friendly and helpful and somewhat easy to use.
In 2010, while at “Company A’s” annual conference, “International” user group had a foul up with their site and data and lost YEARS worth of user-based help. Upon returning from the conference, needing additional help using any of “Company A’s” software, “International” user group simply had nothing to offer. It took months for “International” to gain access to all the legacy data that they had lost.
“Software R” was hot and (relatively) new. Users were coming on line with “Software R” in droves. Those users were searching for help and couldn’t find it in the usual places. So, a good guy in Denmark, an architect got fed up with “International” and their lack of duty to their users; he enlisted a group of pals that shared a passion for “Software R” and they created and footed the bill for a new online resource called “RevitForum.org.” The castaways from “International” found it when they were searching for the help they needed with “Software R.”
(By this point, you may have figured out that “Software R” is in the domain name of the new online resource.)
“RevitForum.org” has grown over the past 2 years to a community of “Software R” users 17,500+ members strong. They don’t advertise. They don’t sell their product. They are completely non-profit, running a completely voluntary fund-drive just before the web-hosting fees are due. Once they’ve collected the amount they need, the fundraising drive is closed.
Now, along comes “Company A,” hiring a group of lawyers to send off a letter to “RevitForum.org” and any other website that has the name of “Software R” in the name saying, “Give up your website name. NOW!”
Hmmm. Those 17,500+ users that signed on to “RevitForum.org” looking for help and guidance? Those are ALL customers of “Company A.” Those 17,500+ users all got an email today to let them know what “Company A” and their lawyers are doing.
In the Architectural and Engineering world, the name “Software R” has become so commonplace, sometimes it’s used as a verb; “hey, that conceptual plan? Will you revit-ize it for me?” Meaning, place the information into a Building Information Modeling (BIM) program so we can better visualize it. In our industry, the “Software R” name has become common like Xerox, Kleenex, Coke and FedEx; all brand names, but used in common language to indicate copy, tissue, soda and shipping.
So, “Company A” wants “RevitForum.org” to give up their name because it has “Software R” in it. What do you think?
More information can be found here:
http://www.revitforum.org/out-there/12753-revitforum-org-domain.html
“Company A” has an online forum for its users. I have a valid/active username in that forum and visit it only rarely when I need help from other users with “Company A’s” software. Over the years, they changed their format and it’s now very difficult to use and find information if you need help using their software. “Company A” also holds an annual conference where users can gather and learn about all the software that “Company A” offers. I’ve attended the conference for 7 years; several years, on my own dime because I felt the education I received there was worth it to me and my career.
Another online software-user-based organization actually has the name of “Company A” in its name; they also claim to be “International.” I also have a valid/active username on that site and use to use it primarily for all my software help requirements. (Recently, this organization shifted from a free online organization to a fee-based membership. I’m not sure I see enough benefit from switching my username from a “Basic Member” to something that would require an annual membership fee.) This online organization was (mostly) friendly and helpful and somewhat easy to use.
In 2010, while at “Company A’s” annual conference, “International” user group had a foul up with their site and data and lost YEARS worth of user-based help. Upon returning from the conference, needing additional help using any of “Company A’s” software, “International” user group simply had nothing to offer. It took months for “International” to gain access to all the legacy data that they had lost.
“Software R” was hot and (relatively) new. Users were coming on line with “Software R” in droves. Those users were searching for help and couldn’t find it in the usual places. So, a good guy in Denmark, an architect got fed up with “International” and their lack of duty to their users; he enlisted a group of pals that shared a passion for “Software R” and they created and footed the bill for a new online resource called “RevitForum.org.” The castaways from “International” found it when they were searching for the help they needed with “Software R.”
(By this point, you may have figured out that “Software R” is in the domain name of the new online resource.)
“RevitForum.org” has grown over the past 2 years to a community of “Software R” users 17,500+ members strong. They don’t advertise. They don’t sell their product. They are completely non-profit, running a completely voluntary fund-drive just before the web-hosting fees are due. Once they’ve collected the amount they need, the fundraising drive is closed.
Now, along comes “Company A,” hiring a group of lawyers to send off a letter to “RevitForum.org” and any other website that has the name of “Software R” in the name saying, “Give up your website name. NOW!”
Hmmm. Those 17,500+ users that signed on to “RevitForum.org” looking for help and guidance? Those are ALL customers of “Company A.” Those 17,500+ users all got an email today to let them know what “Company A” and their lawyers are doing.
In the Architectural and Engineering world, the name “Software R” has become so commonplace, sometimes it’s used as a verb; “hey, that conceptual plan? Will you revit-ize it for me?” Meaning, place the information into a Building Information Modeling (BIM) program so we can better visualize it. In our industry, the “Software R” name has become common like Xerox, Kleenex, Coke and FedEx; all brand names, but used in common language to indicate copy, tissue, soda and shipping.
So, “Company A” wants “RevitForum.org” to give up their name because it has “Software R” in it. What do you think?
More information can be found here:
http://www.revitforum.org/out-there/12753-revitforum-org-domain.html
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Spur Pick Up Day...
Today's the day!!! We picked up Spur from the breeder!
When we first got to the breeder's house, Spur was out, but very shy. He wouldn't even come investigate us; he just stayed glued to Jeff.
We arrived at 1:00 pm and I knew we'd be there at least 3 hours. We had a nice visit with Jeff. We talked about all sorts of things from when he first started showing Aussies, how he met his mentor and kennel partner J. Frank Bayliss, to what kind of scissors we might need for thinning this guy's abundance of coat.
I was disappointed that Spur wasn't more curious about us. He found all sorts of hiding places and kept his distance.
So, as I told you before, Spur's dad is the litter brother to my friend's dog Bummy. (He wasn't home; he'd been shipped off to Italy to show for a few weeks.) Well, Jeff also has Bummy's litter sister, Kitty. Kitty was in the house; she had a recent litter that wasn't so easy on Jeff. She needed an emergency C-section and then her milk dried up, so Jeff had to hand feed all the pups to keep them alive. I was sitting on the floor, trying to get down to Spur's level so he could get comfortable with me when all of a sudden, I had a lap full of Kitty. She didn't even introduce herself; just completely filled my lap!
Then it was time to meet Spur's siblings. There were only 4 pups in Spur's litter. One of each color. Of course, Spur is a Blue Merle male. He has a Red Merle sister who is going to Texas; his Black Tri sister is staying with Jeff and his kennel; He also has a Red-Tri brother who is going to Germany.
Jeff placed the pups on the floor and everyone started running around, jumping up to greet us. By this time, Spur was among his siblings, feeling much more comfortable and he joined in the greetings. Once all the pups had run around some, Jeff brought in their momma for us to meet. This is Rapper:
Jeff had said that, since this letter was born, whenever people come to the house, Rapper would bark at them (to tell them to stay away from her litter.) She didn't bark at us. She must have felt we were appropriate to be around her litter. That's good, because we were going to be leaving with one of them!
Everyone got put back up except Spur and we continued to talk. Spur was finally interested in us!
When it was time to leave, Jeff put a leash on Spur for his first time ever and showed us how he "moves"... He's going to be amazing in the show ring!
Before we got in the car, Doug made a few more moves to get into Spur's space so that he'd be comfortable with Doug...
Hard to believe he's ours!!!
When we first got to the breeder's house, Spur was out, but very shy. He wouldn't even come investigate us; he just stayed glued to Jeff.
Everyone got put back up except Spur and we continued to talk. Spur was finally interested in us!
Friday, May 25, 2012
The Waiting...
The waiting for "Allie" to go back into heat seemed to go on forever. We wondered if there might be something wrong with her.
In the meantime, we attended dog shows and agility trials. We met a lot of "Aussie" people who have become friends of ours. They offer advice and answer our multitude of questions. Most have told us to be very wary of the breeder we've chosen for our pup. "He's a used car salesman." "Nobody can pick a show quality pup at 3 weeks; what is this guy thinking?" "Can you get your deposit back?" Doug was starting to have concerns.
Denali and I attended agility classes with a woman named Jodie and her dog Bumblebee. Bumblebee is a finished AKC Champion Australian Shepherd. We call her Bummy.
For months she told us that if the deal with that other breeder fell through, she'd help us find the perfect show-quality pup. She called her breeder-friend Jeff and told him about us.
Doug decided that talking to this breeder couldn't hurt anything. The first phone call lasted about an hour.
Jodie was so excited for us, "You're on the List!" We weren't so sure about the List. Who was on the list? How long is that list? Who's ahead of us on that list? Was there really even a List?
I tried to "Friend" Jeff on Facebook so I could communicate with him (Doug's not on Facebook.) But my Friend-request went unanswered. I could see the items he posted publicly, but I could not comment. We saw that his partner's mom became very ill. We saw that he had a litter born on March 29 (one day after Doug's birthday, and the same day as my brother.) I messaged him through Facebook congratulating him on the litter (wondering if they'd all been spoken for.) Jodie knew he had another litter due about the same time, but he sort of disappeared from Facebook for a couple of months. He wouldn't even return her phone calls. It all seemed odd. We were getting concerned about this breeder Jodie had introduced to us. I messaged him through Facebook again to let him know I was coming to a dog show in the same state where he lived. I was hoping he would be there and we could meet. Still no answer.
Then, on Mother's Day (5/13,) Doug got an email from him. Jeff had a puppy he thought would be perfect for us. A little blue merle male. Were we interested? The dad to this pup is Bummy's litter brother! So Bummy is this boy's Aunt! Doug responded back that he was, indeed, interested in this pup. And then there was silence again... We were so confused and on edge. Were we getting a puppy, or not? We didn't know for sure.
On May 20, I got a text from Jodie. Jeff had posted 7-week photos of the litter on Facebook. These were the pictures he posted on Facebook:
Because he had yet to accept my friend request, I couldn't see the pictures from my phone. I asked Jodie to tag me in them. NOW I could see the photos, and make comments, too! Jodie and Jeff had been commenting about how this was the one Jeff had picked out for Doug! Just LOOK at that face! We are so excited!!!
In the meantime, we attended dog shows and agility trials. We met a lot of "Aussie" people who have become friends of ours. They offer advice and answer our multitude of questions. Most have told us to be very wary of the breeder we've chosen for our pup. "He's a used car salesman." "Nobody can pick a show quality pup at 3 weeks; what is this guy thinking?" "Can you get your deposit back?" Doug was starting to have concerns.
Denali and I attended agility classes with a woman named Jodie and her dog Bumblebee. Bumblebee is a finished AKC Champion Australian Shepherd. We call her Bummy.
Doug decided that talking to this breeder couldn't hurt anything. The first phone call lasted about an hour.
Jodie was so excited for us, "You're on the List!" We weren't so sure about the List. Who was on the list? How long is that list? Who's ahead of us on that list? Was there really even a List?
I tried to "Friend" Jeff on Facebook so I could communicate with him (Doug's not on Facebook.) But my Friend-request went unanswered. I could see the items he posted publicly, but I could not comment. We saw that his partner's mom became very ill. We saw that he had a litter born on March 29 (one day after Doug's birthday, and the same day as my brother.) I messaged him through Facebook congratulating him on the litter (wondering if they'd all been spoken for.) Jodie knew he had another litter due about the same time, but he sort of disappeared from Facebook for a couple of months. He wouldn't even return her phone calls. It all seemed odd. We were getting concerned about this breeder Jodie had introduced to us. I messaged him through Facebook again to let him know I was coming to a dog show in the same state where he lived. I was hoping he would be there and we could meet. Still no answer.
Then, on Mother's Day (5/13,) Doug got an email from him. Jeff had a puppy he thought would be perfect for us. A little blue merle male. Were we interested? The dad to this pup is Bummy's litter brother! So Bummy is this boy's Aunt! Doug responded back that he was, indeed, interested in this pup. And then there was silence again... We were so confused and on edge. Were we getting a puppy, or not? We didn't know for sure.
On May 20, I got a text from Jodie. Jeff had posted 7-week photos of the litter on Facebook. These were the pictures he posted on Facebook:
Gone to Talk to a Guy about a Horse... Part 2.
Did I leave you hanging? Sorry.
Doug decided he wanted another Aussie! Denali has stolen his heart and he's become so astounded by the Aussie breed. He wants one to call his own!
So, last summer we went to go talk to a guy. About a horse. NAH! Just kidding. We went to a local Australian Shepherd breeder to talk about his breeding program. Well, I thought it was just to "talk." Denali is fixed so we cannot breed her. But this guy had a young red-tri female that looked so much like Denali, Doug was caught. The breeder was considering breeding her depending on when she came into "season." We wouldn't want her to come in too early; her 2nd birthday is in early December. Before we left the breeder's place, Doug handed over a deposit check to have first pick from this girl's first litter.
We were pretty excited when we left there. First pick of a litter is pretty awesome!
I was still pretty stunned about the events of the evening; during our "talk" with the breeder Doug mentioned that he'd want to show this dog in Conformation Shows. Over the course of the next few months, we attended a few Dog Shows and for Christmas, I gave him a whole mess of Puppy and Dog Show books. The breeder called us around early December to let us know that "Allie" had gone into heat; he called again closer to Christmas to tell us that she had been bred to "Smokey" and to mark our calendars for 63 days.
Two weeks before the puppies were due, the breeder called to give an update: "Allie" had been to the vet and had an ultrasound. Either it was a very small litter, or she was not pregnant. The vet wanted to see her back the following week. That ultrasound confirmed there were no puppies. Doug was given some options by the breeder and he chose to leave his deposit in place for first pick of "Allie's" first litter.
Doug decided he wanted another Aussie! Denali has stolen his heart and he's become so astounded by the Aussie breed. He wants one to call his own!
So, last summer we went to go talk to a guy. About a horse. NAH! Just kidding. We went to a local Australian Shepherd breeder to talk about his breeding program. Well, I thought it was just to "talk." Denali is fixed so we cannot breed her. But this guy had a young red-tri female that looked so much like Denali, Doug was caught. The breeder was considering breeding her depending on when she came into "season." We wouldn't want her to come in too early; her 2nd birthday is in early December. Before we left the breeder's place, Doug handed over a deposit check to have first pick from this girl's first litter.
We were pretty excited when we left there. First pick of a litter is pretty awesome!
I was still pretty stunned about the events of the evening; during our "talk" with the breeder Doug mentioned that he'd want to show this dog in Conformation Shows. Over the course of the next few months, we attended a few Dog Shows and for Christmas, I gave him a whole mess of Puppy and Dog Show books. The breeder called us around early December to let us know that "Allie" had gone into heat; he called again closer to Christmas to tell us that she had been bred to "Smokey" and to mark our calendars for 63 days.
Two weeks before the puppies were due, the breeder called to give an update: "Allie" had been to the vet and had an ultrasound. Either it was a very small litter, or she was not pregnant. The vet wanted to see her back the following week. That ultrasound confirmed there were no puppies. Doug was given some options by the breeder and he chose to leave his deposit in place for first pick of "Allie's" first litter.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Gone to Talk to a Guy about a Horse...
(I originally began the draft for this post on 6/21/2011. It's the back story to an upcoming post...)
No. Not a real horse. I posted this as my status on Facebook and I had two people ask me if we were getting a horse. Sigh. Haven't y'all heard the saying? "Gonna go talk to a man about a horse." Their next response was, "Well, is the dog going to be as big as a horse?" No!
My Aussie, Denali, is such a joy! She's beautiful, smart, sweet, loving, loyal, trusting, fast, agile, funny; and did I mention Beautiful???
When I got her from Desert Willow Aussies three years ago, Doug had been working out of town. Ian was home for the summer, but was preparing to leave for his first year at college. When it came time for puppy obedience training, I was it. I was the Alpha. Denali and I bonded. She's my girl! Doug's been home, now, laid off from work for over 6 months. She's been spending a lot of time with Daddy. I feel like he's stealing her from me. He claims she camps by the door all day and waits for me with a heavy sigh. I want to believe she's still my girl. I certainly would be lost without her.
Over the three years she's been with us, and we've completed Obedience training and started into Agility training, Doug's been a little jealous of our bond. He's been wanting his own dog. One that camps by the door and waits for him. He's clearly got the time right now to bond with and train a dog.
When he was younger, he raised and showed English Springer Spaniels. When Doug and I first got together, we had a little Lhasa Apso who was much more Alpha than me. When Ian got older, we got him a mutt; mother was supposed to be Golden Retriever and we could only guess the father was a Border Collie or something (though she looked just like a Belgian Shepherd.) After I got Denali, he's been thinking about what kind of dog he wants to get. He's just a little snooty when it comes to dogs; he refuses to have a mutt or rescue. (I don't know why... it's just him.) He loves the Bernese Mountain dogs. We have a neighbor that walks theirs through the neighborhood. A very large, Valentine's day puppy named Walker. Oh, what a big, lovable teddy bear!!! Oh, but what a BIG dog!!! Once Denali and I started Agility, he considered another Aussie or a Border Collie. Each day, his mind would change. One day Border Collie; the next Aussie... Last week he finally made up his mind.
(oops! I guess I never finished the post... maybe that's why it was still in my drafts folder. LOL!)
No. Not a real horse. I posted this as my status on Facebook and I had two people ask me if we were getting a horse. Sigh. Haven't y'all heard the saying? "Gonna go talk to a man about a horse." Their next response was, "Well, is the dog going to be as big as a horse?" No!
My Aussie, Denali, is such a joy! She's beautiful, smart, sweet, loving, loyal, trusting, fast, agile, funny; and did I mention Beautiful???
When I got her from Desert Willow Aussies three years ago, Doug had been working out of town. Ian was home for the summer, but was preparing to leave for his first year at college. When it came time for puppy obedience training, I was it. I was the Alpha. Denali and I bonded. She's my girl! Doug's been home, now, laid off from work for over 6 months. She's been spending a lot of time with Daddy. I feel like he's stealing her from me. He claims she camps by the door all day and waits for me with a heavy sigh. I want to believe she's still my girl. I certainly would be lost without her.
Over the three years she's been with us, and we've completed Obedience training and started into Agility training, Doug's been a little jealous of our bond. He's been wanting his own dog. One that camps by the door and waits for him. He's clearly got the time right now to bond with and train a dog.
When he was younger, he raised and showed English Springer Spaniels. When Doug and I first got together, we had a little Lhasa Apso who was much more Alpha than me. When Ian got older, we got him a mutt; mother was supposed to be Golden Retriever and we could only guess the father was a Border Collie or something (though she looked just like a Belgian Shepherd.) After I got Denali, he's been thinking about what kind of dog he wants to get. He's just a little snooty when it comes to dogs; he refuses to have a mutt or rescue. (I don't know why... it's just him.) He loves the Bernese Mountain dogs. We have a neighbor that walks theirs through the neighborhood. A very large, Valentine's day puppy named Walker. Oh, what a big, lovable teddy bear!!! Oh, but what a BIG dog!!! Once Denali and I started Agility, he considered another Aussie or a Border Collie. Each day, his mind would change. One day Border Collie; the next Aussie... Last week he finally made up his mind.
(oops! I guess I never finished the post... maybe that's why it was still in my drafts folder. LOL!)
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