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| Seven's headshot and pawtograph |
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| Jen & Seven |
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| Cori, her dad Hydro & his person, Carl |
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| Hydro decided he LOVES whipped topping! |
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| Hydro ready to head home! |
Monday, May 6, 2013
Celebrity Hounds Abound!
Wow, these last couple of weeks have put us in the midst of celebrity hounds! April 27, the Greyhound group I volunteer with (SEGA) had a special M&G for the movie opening of Pain & Gain. One of SEGA's former adoptees, Escape Hatch now known as Seven, belongs to a friend Jen Bachelor and played Tasty Reuben in Pain & Gain.
The AMC Parkway Pointe in Atlanta was so wonderful in letting us schedule and have the special Seven M&G at their theater. Seven was a big hit with the crowd. She even got to stay and watch the movie with her fans (ok, she chewed on a bully stick and napped, but she was with her fans). Everyone clapped and cheered every time Seven appeared on the screen.
Then just one week later at SEGA's Greyfest, we got to meet my Cori's daddy, Flying Hydrogen who belongs to Carl Doby (who owns Crazy Collars).
Hydro is a top Sire in the US. I think he's 10th. He was a phenomenal racer winning over half of races before an injury forced an early retirement from racing. Now Hydro is living a life of luxury and leisure and is happy to be Carl's sidekick :) Carl's booth was right next to the booth doing photos of hounds trying whipped topping from a can. Hydro has decided that's his new favorite treat.
Four of Hydro's kids and a half brother were at Greyfest so of course we couldn't let that opportunity pass us by. Those photos will be forthcoming when we get them from our Greyfest photographer Cindy Frezon from Cindy Frezon Photography. It was a long day for Carl & Hydro being as they drove from NC and returned all in the same day. As you can see from the photo, by the end of the day, Hydro was tuckered out and ready to head home.
What a fun and fabulous time we've had of late! Gosh, what's going to be next? It'll be kind of hard to top the past couple of weekends anytime soon!
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Teamwork
One of the things that I enjoy most is teamwork between my dogs and me. In addition to Pet Therapy, I enjoy competing with them in a variety of dog sports.
This past weekend was pretty busy. Friday afternoon, Blaze (my male Greyhound) and I went to Woodstock Nursing and Rehab to visit with residents there. I read a little to them about Dottie Hi Socks (yes, of course it was a book about dogs, and specifically a funny & cute little female Greyhound).
The book prompted questions and discussions about Greyhounds all the while Blaze was loving on them and they back on him.
Saturday morning Blaze and I ATTEMPTED (notice the work is in all caps) Novice Obedience in a local trial. Blaze's heeling was ok, but he under no circumstances wanted to sit unless I told him he had to. In an obedience trial, when the handler stops, the dog is supposed to sit. Apparently, Blaze did not think these rules applied to him. Hence, we had points deducted. Then we get to do what is 'affectionately' termed (NOT) 'sits & downs.' During these exercise, you get to give your dog the 'sit' & 'down' commands.
I gave Blaze the 'sit' command. He didn't think I meant it so I had to tell him again. He sat in between 2 other dogs (an Aussie & Border Collie I think). All 3 of us handlers walked away about 20 feet and stood facing our dogs. I'm watching Blaze and giving him the eye--like don't you dare slide into a down. He looked back at me like, "whatcha gonna do about it?" and 45 seconds in to the 1 minute sit, he slid into a down. Automatic Non Qualification. Then we return to our dogs to do the long, 3 minute down; We got this part, right? Piece of cake! NOT! My silly boy who give me downs all day long, STOOD up about 2 minutes in. He kept shifting his butt and his feet and then up he popped into a stand. Now mind you, he stood perfectly still for the last minute, but I was not happy. Another Automatic Non Qualification.
Back to more classes, training & practice...
Then Sunday, Cori, one of my female Greyhounds and I drove to South Carolina for a Nose Work Level 1 competition.
In NW1, there are 4 search elements: interior (usually a room), exterior (a cordoned off area), vehicle (usually 3 cars) and containers (usually boxes). The odor is essential oil of Birch. The searches are timed and usually between 2:30-3 mins depending on the hide. The dogs searches and must alert you as to the spot where the odor (source) is located at.
This was our 3rd attempt at out NW1 title. The weather was lousy. Cold and rainy. Two of our searches, exterior and vehicle were outside in the rain. The other 2 (interior and container) thank heavens were inside.
Cori is good at Nose Works and really enjoys it. She does NOT like going to new places nor does she like having male judges (which that's all we ever seem to get) stand too close to her. She also gets REALLY distracted if there are too many spectators. All things we have been and will have to keep training through.
Although we did not get our exterior hide (she false alerted right behind the hide--which I found out several dogs did the same thing). She passed her interior search (1st time in a trial) in 2 mins and 19 seconds. She passed her container search (like 1 min 18 second) and she NAILED her vehicle search is 36 seconds!
Even though we did not earn her NW level 1 title, I was EXTREMELY proud of my girl. This was the best of the 3 trials we have participated in. Only 5 of the 29 teams earned their level 1 title. Thirteen teams (including us) passed 3 of the 4.
We'll earn that NW1 one of these days. I think I'll wait for a closer trial though :)
Not to be forgotten about, Team Rio (my lab mix & me) has had a busy spring competing in agility (both AKC & USDAA). She has earned another Preferred Excellent Jumpers With Weaves leg and another Preferred Open Standard leg.
Then let's not forget Autumn. She and and I have not done any sports yet together. We'll have to see what she enjoys. I know she enjoys running. Here's a photo of her for last year's Blur of the Fur fun run.
Chloe has even previously competed in a couple of lure coursing trials.
At 9 years old now, she just gets to run for fun.
And then there is Daisy--well we'll have to see what Daisy wants to do.
She and I will be attending a baby dogs 101 sport class in June with Tracy Skelnar. We'll see what Team Daisy will pursue after that :)
All this to say that teamwork with your canine partners is a lot of work, and a lot fun. To me it is awe inspiring. The fact that they do all these things--things that we ask of them, is a tribute to their intelligence, their strength and in several of my dogs' cases, courage. And above and beyond all that it clearly displays their loyalty, love and trust, not to mention patience! The fact that Rio has not fired me after almost 6 years of agility is miraculous in itself!
I am very blessed to have the pack I do. They teach me new things every day!
Last photo--couldn't resist--this is a cuteness alert!
This past weekend was pretty busy. Friday afternoon, Blaze (my male Greyhound) and I went to Woodstock Nursing and Rehab to visit with residents there. I read a little to them about Dottie Hi Socks (yes, of course it was a book about dogs, and specifically a funny & cute little female Greyhound).
The book prompted questions and discussions about Greyhounds all the while Blaze was loving on them and they back on him.
Saturday morning Blaze and I ATTEMPTED (notice the work is in all caps) Novice Obedience in a local trial. Blaze's heeling was ok, but he under no circumstances wanted to sit unless I told him he had to. In an obedience trial, when the handler stops, the dog is supposed to sit. Apparently, Blaze did not think these rules applied to him. Hence, we had points deducted. Then we get to do what is 'affectionately' termed (NOT) 'sits & downs.' During these exercise, you get to give your dog the 'sit' & 'down' commands.
I gave Blaze the 'sit' command. He didn't think I meant it so I had to tell him again. He sat in between 2 other dogs (an Aussie & Border Collie I think). All 3 of us handlers walked away about 20 feet and stood facing our dogs. I'm watching Blaze and giving him the eye--like don't you dare slide into a down. He looked back at me like, "whatcha gonna do about it?" and 45 seconds in to the 1 minute sit, he slid into a down. Automatic Non Qualification. Then we return to our dogs to do the long, 3 minute down; We got this part, right? Piece of cake! NOT! My silly boy who give me downs all day long, STOOD up about 2 minutes in. He kept shifting his butt and his feet and then up he popped into a stand. Now mind you, he stood perfectly still for the last minute, but I was not happy. Another Automatic Non Qualification.
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| Old photo of Blaze in a down stay |
Then Sunday, Cori, one of my female Greyhounds and I drove to South Carolina for a Nose Work Level 1 competition.
In NW1, there are 4 search elements: interior (usually a room), exterior (a cordoned off area), vehicle (usually 3 cars) and containers (usually boxes). The odor is essential oil of Birch. The searches are timed and usually between 2:30-3 mins depending on the hide. The dogs searches and must alert you as to the spot where the odor (source) is located at.
This was our 3rd attempt at out NW1 title. The weather was lousy. Cold and rainy. Two of our searches, exterior and vehicle were outside in the rain. The other 2 (interior and container) thank heavens were inside.
Cori is good at Nose Works and really enjoys it. She does NOT like going to new places nor does she like having male judges (which that's all we ever seem to get) stand too close to her. She also gets REALLY distracted if there are too many spectators. All things we have been and will have to keep training through.
Although we did not get our exterior hide (she false alerted right behind the hide--which I found out several dogs did the same thing). She passed her interior search (1st time in a trial) in 2 mins and 19 seconds. She passed her container search (like 1 min 18 second) and she NAILED her vehicle search is 36 seconds!
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| Vehicle search last Oct at the Birmingham, AL trial |
We'll earn that NW1 one of these days. I think I'll wait for a closer trial though :)
Not to be forgotten about, Team Rio (my lab mix & me) has had a busy spring competing in agility (both AKC & USDAA). She has earned another Preferred Excellent Jumpers With Weaves leg and another Preferred Open Standard leg.
Then let's not forget Autumn. She and and I have not done any sports yet together. We'll have to see what she enjoys. I know she enjoys running. Here's a photo of her for last year's Blur of the Fur fun run.
Chloe has even previously competed in a couple of lure coursing trials.
At 9 years old now, she just gets to run for fun.
And then there is Daisy--well we'll have to see what Daisy wants to do.
All this to say that teamwork with your canine partners is a lot of work, and a lot fun. To me it is awe inspiring. The fact that they do all these things--things that we ask of them, is a tribute to their intelligence, their strength and in several of my dogs' cases, courage. And above and beyond all that it clearly displays their loyalty, love and trust, not to mention patience! The fact that Rio has not fired me after almost 6 years of agility is miraculous in itself!
I am very blessed to have the pack I do. They teach me new things every day!
Last photo--couldn't resist--this is a cuteness alert!
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| Daisy & Rio |
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