The Little Man

Beezer Skeezer is almost 6 months old (on the 25th), and he is turning into quite the little man. Throughout his first 5 months he would occasionally lift his leg. But now....he lifts it all the time! It started about a month ago when he would lift his leg in the backyard, but now he lifts it on our hikes. Frequently. He's also the type of dog you see who lifts it so high, he almost topples over!

In other news, B threw up the other day, and to my mom and I great delight there was a surprise. Worms! Maybe that's why he wasn't growing...the worms were taking all his food! Poor baby. He's on meds and doesn't seem any worse for wear.

He weighs approx 33lbs, and it just a smidge shorter than Amigo. Pictures coming soon!

Agility foundation class

Where are we going?!


Last Sunday, Beezer and I entered our first puppy agility foundation class. Surprise surprise, we were in a class full of Border collies and other breeds of dogs with high drives. Including Bee's good friend, Seven (a Viszla). No surprise that Beezer barked his head off with all the new dogs. He did really well in class though. Tackling the large wobble board, the puppy cavaletti's, and the stairs ( to practice 2 on 2 off method). However, as much as I would like to say he was the star of the class, we did have a few things to work on. Sit stays for one. One task was to have your puppy sit, throw a toy over a low bump and release him over the bump. Well, that certainly didn't happen for 2 reasons. Beezer doesn't have a sit stay ( we're still working on it), and he wasn't as toy motivated as the other mutant puppies. One station had us working with just tugging with our dogs. B didn't have any interest in tugging. Barking is wayyyy more fun! (Note to self: reward next puppy with more play instead of food).

Unfortunately a lot of the exercises have your dog focus on driving towards a toy. He'll tug well enough at home, or where he is comfortable, but not in high excitement areas. Ppfft. His behaviour with the other puppies was atrocious. Screaming and hollering on his back feet trying soooo hard to chase, catch and kill his fellow classmates. Playtime for Beezer didn't last long.

This past Sunday, Beezer was more well behaved. Not as much barking,and he even greeted the other pups appropriately. Not until they start running in front of him does his brain melt.
We did have issues with the table though. Supposedly we don't like to lay down in dirt, or on turf, or when we're told. Awesome. Thankfully, he did really well with the other obstacles.


No lie down! Running more fun.










But the great news is that I did get him to tug for quite some time. But the excitement over my super drivey mutant tugging machine was short lived. Once we tugged viciously all over the barn for a bit, we moved to the next station...and he never tugged again. Small steps, right?!

Next Sunday is our last class. We have lots of stuff to work with, and the class even gave me ideas to help train the older dogs that I work with. Win win!

Next time.....

I just came back from visiting Fanny Gott's website. OMG amazing! I can't believe how much she's got her dog to do, just by shaping! I felt pretty awful about not training my dogs, considering her puppy is the same age as mine, and knows a billion times more stuff. Her puppy, Squid is heeling beautifully off leash, knows dozens of tricks, and has obviously well underway for agility foundation work! I have GOT to get my act together with Beezer. She makes it look so easy though! I get so frustrated.

I hereby make a promise that with my next puppy, I will begin shaping behaviours right away. No procrastinating with the Malinois puppy! I'm so jealous that her dogs can do so much. And you can see them thinking! Meanwhile, once I'm staying at home again, I'll practice more foundation work with Beezer. Her website gave me so many idea. I can practice at home, there is stuff I can do without equipment. We should also really get serious about our obedience. It is the foundation for agility after all!

Dad

As you have read previously, this year wasn't that great for myself or my family. It got a lot worse on Dec 6Th, 2009. My father, Edward Sandberg, passed away in his sleep. He was at St.Paul's hospital for over 2 months. I miss him, and wish I knew him a little better.

He adored the dogs, and they considered him to be a God. Here's one of the more recent pictures I have of him. He was holding onto the dogs during "Demo Days" out in Deep Cove.



Enjoying a lovely summer day with Cody, Amigo and Fyvish, after our agility demo.

Procrastinating Queen

Every once in a while I go through a "I'm going to teach the dogs a new trick" phase. Sometimes I succeed, but mostly I just end up getting frustrated or impatient and then quit. But wouldn't it be cool to teach Beezer to back up? Or for Amigo to cover her eyes with her paw?! Hell yeah it would! And it's not like I don't have the time, or the tools or a dog that isn't motivated by food...'cause I have all those things. Plus I have the opportunity to train a puppy,whose brain is like a sponge just waiting to soak up something new! But then I get that overwhelming feeling again, and suddenly it seems a lot more fun to watch Peak Season (thanks, Jody), and take a nap instead.

For someone who is waiting for a Malinois puppy so that she can get into all kinds of different sports, and have a dog that can do it all, I'm not really taking full advantage of having a "starter" puppy on hand. I don't want to regret not doing enough with either of my dogs. They both have so much potential!

Any why can't I wait for Beezer to grow up?! I know I can't wait to start training him in agility, but there is so much foundation work I could be doing!

Grrrr. Well I guess instead of blogging about it, I should get my butt out of the chair, tear myself away from the computer and do something about it!

An Unhealthy Trend

In just a little while, I'll be heading over to Job# 2. I know what you're thinking....Movie Star. Surprisingly you're wrong (It's only a matter of time before I'm discovered).
I work 4 hours a week at a local vet's office. It has it's pros and cons, like all jobs do. As an animal lover I find it difficult some days. Sure, sure, you get your uptight clients, and the people who think the sun shines out of their dog's ass, but what really gets me EVERYTIME is the amount of fat or obese dogs that walk into the clinic.

People say they love their dogs, but do they realize their loving them to death? My own 12 year old dog, Amigo has recently packed on a few pounds. I'll be the first to admit it. But even though she only needs to loose 4 lbs, I find it embarrassing! I HATE FAT DOGS. To be fair it's not their fault, so I'll rephrase, I hate OWNER'S who allow their dogs to become so overweight. (as it is my fault Amigo is a little chunky). There is no excuse (unless medical, which in many cases can be treated).

I can honestly say that during a day's work ( whether it be out hiking the dogs or working at the clinic, or when I used to work at a pet store, or a daycare for dogs) I've only been able to count on 1 hand the number of dogs that are an appropriate weight. And of course, I've heard every excuse in the book! Many people are ignorant, or uneducated, other's just don't seem to care. And its not an easy subject to bring up. Even the vet's are tired of repeating themselves. Nobody wants to hear their dog is fat, and I can understand that. It's not meant as an insult, just an observance. Please listen! We seem to care about the well being of your dog more than you do!

I'll help you with the first simple step. Less food. More exercise. Brilliantly simple.

Show you love your dog by taking it out for a walk. I promise your dog will still love you even if you cut back on the treats. And as an added bonus, you'll could potentially add years to your dog's life. It's a win win situation!!

Take a look at your dog right now. Really look. Can your dog stand to loose a few pounds?

Next up: "The many excuses for your dog being overweight"

The Virgin Blogger

Everyone, at some point in their life has felt the, (not so)gentle nudge of peer pressure. Whether it be pressure to drink, wear certain clothes, act a certain way etc. Well I am no exception. But, instead of my so called "friends" telling me I need to wear more fuchsia, I have 2 friends who have convinced me it would be a good idea to start blogging.
At first I wasn't into it, I mean who has the time? What do you write about? Why don't they just write in a diary?! But then I got to thinking...instead of looking at it like homework, I can see it as a way to share stories and pictures and most importantly, having a "virtual" scrapbook of your life, and those that affect it.

After those thoughts, I got excited...then nervous...then overwhelmed. Where the hell do you start?
Well I'm done procrastinating, and I'm just going to jump in with both feet. It may not be pretty, or organized or graceful, but the hardest part will be over with!

So here it goes....wish me luck!


If you listen closely you can hear my friends cheering in the background!