Breakdown!

My old truck broke down on the way to classes today. Heading on to the highway and uh-oh and no one behind or to side of me so I made a 2 lane change and pulled into the parking lot of Ollies. Then hobbled him another mile and a half.. Car guru Jorge said a shock broke and I should probably replace all 4. Great. At least it didn't happen in sub-zero temps. And I was close to home. And I tried to call everyone but also posted on FB, called the Family Pet Center and changed my voicemail. Hope to get it fixed tomorrow but he said I could drive it like that. Um I don't think so. It clunks and bumps and rocks and scares me to death. Down the street maybe. Across town, I don't think so.

Sent from my mobile. Enjoy.
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   Sage is done and wants in. Now! He says!  

Cancel for today

Another cancel. Ugh. I hate cancelling classes. This has been the worst winter ever. I have cancelled more classes this winter than in all my 12 yrs in business combined. We still have a Level 2 snow emergency along with falling temps and high winds. The wind whips my SUV around the highway like a tumbleweed. If there were not also snow and ice I can handle that but not all combined. Some very serious accidents this morning already involving a Hamltn Cty Sheriff cruiser on 71 and a car vs snow plow on North Bend. I don't want to be on the news that way. Soooooo, keep warm, keep safe and keep training. Me and Mac will see you soon.

Cold and snow and cold and snow and...you get the picture...

I looked at the next 10 days forecast. Yep, cold and snow and on and on. Man. How cold, snowy and brutal this winter has been. And more to come. My sister in Missouri had 60 degree weather today. She was going to hang wash out to dry. Wow do I live in the wrong state. I am so sick of the cold and snow. This winter has been the worst in many years. So maybe, just maybe spring will come early. I know it won't be in the next 10 days but maybe the next 10? One can hope. That's all my rant about winter. Snow is coming tonight and tomorrow. Great.

Sent from my mobile. Enjoy.
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   Picture out the back. No dogs in pic. Too cold and snowy for them. And me. Ugh.  

Tonight is a cancel

I guess at some point you just have to believe the weather guys. Sometimes they're right. Wish I had their job. To be wrong such a large percentage of the time and still keep your job. I can't be wrong any of the time with my job. Nor would I want to be. But I went with Frank Marzullo's forcast and the Enquirer and cancelled ton ight. They said another wave of snow is coming from the west. It's in Indiana now and some places got 2 inches with slick roads, accidents and all the rest. So stay safe and warm and keep training and working with your pups. I'll be here working on spring classes and the park plans. It keeps me hopeful and warm.

Possible Cancel for tonight

That doggone weather again. It sorta looks okay now but we are supposed to get another wave of snow around rush hour to later in the evening. With the cold temps it could result in slick icy roads.  I'm worried about folks getting to and from class as well as me getting home. Stay tuned and I will update.

Sent from my mobile. Enjoy.
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   Mac`s best Watch Me!  

Flat as a Pancake

Has this ever happened to you? Come out of the store, jump in the truck, start to pull away and whoa, something's wrong here. Jump out, look around the car, tire flat as a pancake! Ugh! Thankfully a Tire Discounters within walking distance. Walk over, secure an immediate appointment as they close in an hour, walk back to the truck, slowly roll over to them and in less than a hour, two new tires on. ( another one was ready to blow, may as well avoid another disaster, don't know if I'd be lucky enough to have a Tire Discounters so close, open and able to fit me in!) Kudos to them! Fast service, reasonable prices, and got me right in! Yay!

Talk to Your Dog With Your Leash

Your dog's leash can be a communication tool between you and your dog. Your emotions and your energy travel down the leash to your dog. Your nervousness, anxiety, fear, frustration, anger usually results in a tight leash. Your dog feels pressure on his neck (or body or head) and now he's on alert, looking around, reacting to your emotions. And then that travels back up the leash to you. And it just goes downhill from there. So the flip side looks like this: calm, relaxed, positive energy from you, traveling down the leash results in a loose leash. Your dog is calmer, paying attention to you, not stressing out. And that comes back up the leash to you. And you both have a great walk together. How can you accomplish this? Start out by  tiring your dog out a little before the walk. Not too much or it can just rev him up. Then as you are leashing up, picture the calm walk in your mind. Then as you walk out the door with your dog, take a moment to just relax, a Zen moment if you will. Try it today!

Planning Spring Classes

With the polar vortex almost behind us, I am thinking SPRING! I know it's a couple months away but it makes me feel warmer to plan and think about it. I'm trying something new this year with park classes. They will be a pay by the week drop in type of classes. Three classes will be offered- Practicing and testing for the Canine Good Citizen and Community Canine, Help with Leash Walking and Canine Good Manners. I know one will be offered at the Otto Armleder Park, possibly Monday nights. And I want to offer one at Clippard Park in Colerain Township. Possibly Saturday mornings. I am so excited for spring to be here. And to offer you and your dogs some help in the areas you need them. Think Spring!!!!!!

Classes tonight!

Can't wait to return to Tuesday night classes at The K9 Social Club. With the holidays falling on Tuesdays and Wednesdays this year, it seems like forever since we had class. Looking forward to seeing new faces and will be glad to see familiar faces. Lots to learn and fun to be had. Come join us all owners with their dogs 6 mos and over. New dogs and owners can start each and every week at 6pm. See you there!

Into the Deep Freeze

Dogs had their last potty break and night snack. Jugs filled with water just in case. Big flashlight-check. Bed made up on couch in living room because it's warmer down there-check. Cell phone charged-check. Back porch shoveled of old snow-check. All the dogs alsleep and snoring-uh oh. Missing one. Mac is up on my bed sleeping. Colder up there but he hearsd the howling wind and went for his safe spot which is my bed. Oh well. If he's cold enough he'll come down and sleep with me-wrapped up like a burrito on the couch. Wind howling and blowing. Here we go into the deep freeze. My fear is either the pipes freezing or power going off. If neither happens, we're good. Better weather coming the end of the week. 40 degrees will feel like Florida! Spring is just around the corner. Really. It is.  

Brrrr, it's cold out there!

I guess it could be worse. We could live further north or east. But 5 degrees this morning, brrrrr. I do feel sorry for animals outside. I would never leave my dogs or cats outside in this cold and neither should you. But I will say animals adapt. If they didn't they wouldn't be here today. Years ago most dogs were outside dogs and only brought in in extreme cold. Farm animals are outside. Farmers do all they can to keep them warm but they can't bring them all in their living room. Wolves at Wolfcreek Habitat and Sanctuary are outside year round. They can't bring them all in their house. Can you imagine? That all being said, bring your poochies in. It's way too cold. Mine are out for 2 minutes and back at the door hopping on their feet. Keep warm!

Puppy class tonight cancelled!

Due to the weather, I'm cancelling classes tonight. I want everyone to be safe including me. I hate doing that but due to icy roads, blowing snow and dropping temps, it's risky at best. Stay safe and warm with your pups. I'll see you all next time!

Day 2 of 2014

Hope everyone had a great New Year's! Mine was good but earlier in the day I had electrical problems, almost had a fire and my fridge shorted out. Now I have to get a new fridge and electrician to asses and fix the situation. Nice. Great way to end the year. But thank God I was home, caught it in time and avoided a fire. Whew!!!!hope your New Year's was less exciting. Garcia my old dog 14 and a half feeling his age and not getting around as well. Gave a couple soothing oatmeal baths to some itchy scratchy ones. Beer out on the porch as fridge is out. Just heard the high next Tuesday 8 degrees! Are you kidding me? Brrrrrrrr. Keep warm. Keeping an eye on the roads to see if class is on or off for tonight. Will let you know.