Back to Blogging

Took a break from blogging as other things have kept me busy. Such as out of town company, brochure designing (having a terrible time with it) and just general busyness. I'm working on two new classes for after the first of the year: Therapy Dog Training and Adventure Trails. I have to do tons of research for both to get ready. I was inspired by Moments with Baxter, a 19 yr old therapy dog that passed away a couple weeks ago. If you go to YouTube.com and search Moments with Baxter you will find a few videos of him. Lots of my clients want to do therapy work with their dogs but do not know how to get started or certified.

Adventure Trails was inspired by my Leash walks in the Park which no one was interested in but every one needs. We are going to hike the foot trails of the Hamilton County Parks. There are lots of them and Sage and I have to go and explore them first so I can plan the classes. Each course will be 5-6 weeks and have a one time charge. Possibly $60 or $70.

Other concerns for me have been clients that just don't get the whole positive training thing. They still yell, jerk and worse and their dogs keep misbehaving. They don't understand that their dogs aren't being stubborn (they're just puppies). The pups really don't get it yet. It takes repetition after repetition after repetition in a calm, confident tone with lots of rewards. Lots of practice over lots of time. Dogs are easier to train than people, unfortunately.

A Whole New Meaning for Fall (or Dog Trainer Fail)

Took a hard fall today. Adolescent Great Dane about 100 lbs took me down and busted my knee good. (or is it bad?) Hurts like hell. I put ice and more ice on it. Took some ibuprofren and rubbed Soothenal on it. I don't think it needs xrays or anything but hurts like hell. Slammed my face too. All on concrete too. Booo. Hooo. Might have been funny on video but I don't think I'd be laughing. It's the chance I take when I train. I've been bit before but not often and not recently. And you all know the problems I have with my knees anyway. Oh well. It could have been worse.

Horseback Riding on a Beautiful Fall Day

It was a great fall day to horseback ride. I got a dark horse named Phoenix, Mom rode a white and brown horse named Squanto and Kitty rode a light horse named Tucker. It was a hour long. It was about 20 minutes too long for Mom. She got wore out just riding. But she had great fun and now wants to take riding lessons. Sue took pictures which I will post later when Kitty gets home and sends them to me. Horses are so different than dogs. The biggest being that they are so BIG. You can't yank them. You guide them gently. They could throw you off if they wanted to. I kept talking to Phoenix but when he wanted to eat tree branches and leaves and we needed to go, I had to press in my feet and make kissy noises and say "Walk". When we came upon very muddy parts of the path that went downhill, I didn't try to guide him. He knows the trails and he knows how to get through the muddy parts-I didn't. I just gave him reins and let him find his best way through. It was interesting working with a different species. All in all a great time.

Brrrrrrr!

Why does it have to be so cold? I have fall home improvements I need to do before winter comes and it feels like it's already here. It's quieter now with Flame gone. I used to say I would never get another doberman because they are whiners and attention hogs. I think that's the very reason I loved her. I would love another dobe and I would get a red one again. But right now as my pack gets older and grayer, I'm just going to enjoy them till it's time for them to go. That's the bad thing is when you have a pack that is around the same age. You are going to lose them all around the same time. I just lost Oreo last November, Barney in February and Flame in October. Mo and Mary in the picture above are 8 and 1/2 yrs old. Their legs are starting to get arthritic (so are mine). They are Great Pyrenees mixes. Actually Mo (aka Smokey) seems to be down or depressed since Flame's been gone. He's kind of moping. I sent away for some Nzymes for Flame but she won't need them anymore so I'm going to give them to Mary and Mo. It can only help their old legs. I don't want to lose any more babies for a while. A long while.

Good Bye, Flame.

We lost Flamey this morning. Sometime between 4am and 7:30. She woke me up around 3am and she had peed her bed. I changed her pads and got her new blankets and tucked her in. Gave her some water and chicken broth. She seemed anxious but not sick, not struggling or anything. I did t-touch on her face and ears for a hour and she loved it and did not want me to stop. After I went upstairs, the next thing I knew the dogs were barking because it was morning. I came downstairs and she was gone. I sincerely believe when she went down 3 weeks ago, she had a stroke or seizure and at that time lost her back legs. I know if she could have gotten up, she would have. She was that kind of dog, proud, pleaser, people dog. Loved attention. Drama queen. But drama queen only lasts so long. If there was anyway she could get up, she would have. I sincerely believe that. I guess it was her time. Way too early.

Cancelled-Leash walks in the Park

I'm sorry about cancelling classes. I never like to do that. But if there is not enough interest, I have so much to do, I need to prioritize cuz it's just me. I had many folks ask about the park classes and then nobody shows. It happened in the spring the same way. After about 4 times to both sides of town with only 2 people showing, I decided to cancel it. This time I just did 2 times. I hate to do that because it was going to be a lot of fun and I had a lot of fun things planned. Maybe next spring. You never know.

Howl o ween!

What a great picture! I love this time of year. It's not my favorite, spring is my very favorite but I love fall. I love burning earthy scented candles, walking and raking leaves, pumpkins and mums and all that. My dogs seem to enjoy the cooler weather. Speaking of which, Flame is still not walking. She is half way up which is good I guess. She is pitiful but also plays it to the hilt. I think she likes the extra attention. She's still eating, drinking and whining as much as ever. Is it a dobie thing? That whining, whining, whining. I swore I never get another dobie. Then came Frankie. Another whiner. Oh, great. And she is a diabetic. And as sweet as ever. Never say never.