Country Teefs, Now With More Country!

We have the same little routine when I get home from work. I go down to my office and sit in my chair. Bella gets in my lap and we have our how-do-you-do’s. Complete with lots of cooing and whining.

Only, on Monday, the conversation went like this…

How are you?

*whine whine whine*

How was your little doggy day?

*whine whine whine*

Wait…??

*whine*

Where the hell is your tooth?!?!

*er?*

Missing chicklet!

I couldn’t figure out what the hell she could have possibly done at home that would cause a tooth to make a run for it, then I remembered her PVC run-in on Sunday. We were lure coursing. They use 4-6” pipe cut in half to cover the lure at the start and end. On their first run, Bella tried to grab the bag as it snapped up going into the pipe. I was looking right at her and thought she hit her chin. I checked her chin out, no blood or anything. I guess that’s not what she hit.

Owie!

Isn’t it amazing how these guys do things that would put a grown man on his knees and they don’t even blink? I cannot think of a single activity where I would not be stopped dead in my tracks if I had a tooth knocked out of my head.

We did make a vet trip. All’s good in the hood. No surgery or anything.

I think she experienced more discomfort in the photographing of used-to-be tooth spot than she did when it got knocked out.

Let’s see ‘em, Bella

No, don’t just crinkle your nose. I want teeth!

No, dang, Bella, in focus teeth

Forchistsake! The bottom ones. Come here.

*deep sigh* Would you work with me, please?!

Sorry

Much better !

Although, perhaps not as menacing?

Maybe we should quit agility and take up hockey?

I Totally Know How They Felt

Was cleaning up my hard drive at work and came across this pic of the girls from 2007.

We were at a Christmas party. A Boston Terrier Christmas party.
Scrappy little dogs, those.

The terriers, they know how to party.

The collies? Not so much.

HAHAHA!

Trial Ramblings

We had an absolutely phenomenal weekend. The weather was unreal. Not unreal like the rest of the country. Quite the opposite. No snowpocalypse for us.

Heatpocalypse

I’m not complaining.

I think it was 77° in San Jose on Sunday. Not quite as warm at our trial site, but pretty damn close. It was warm enough to warrant running the AC in the hotel room because I had panting dogs! Odd to be playing the agility in short sleeves the first weekend in Feb.

Bella had a great weekend. We are overcoming our weaves woes, which is to say I am trying very hard to keep my damn mouth shut and let her do her job. I don’t know why I yammer at her so much. I am, generally speaking, a fairly quiet and introverted person. On course at a trial, however, I can’t keep my pie hole shut. At our prior trial, we had a straight tunnel (a Bella fav) next to the A-frame. I called her once, she adjusted her line perfectly and was clearly committed to the A-frame.

What do I do?

Called her again.

She goes “boom-boom” as she hits the A-frame like a flyball box and comes right back to me. Why must she listen so well?! I need a little less obedience and little more mind reading.

Get to working on that, Bell.

Yeah, start holding your breath now.


Kate did well this weekend, too, although she was having some stressy moments. She seemed to be either really on or really over it. I didn’t realize what was going on until I was thinking about it on the way home.

When Kate is stressed she gets sort of disconnected. She’s not looking for the next obstacle, not looking for lines, she looking for the point at which This Will Be Over.

I don’t see no nothin’


She doesn’t shut down like she used to, which is great, but still, we should be enjoying ourselves, yes? This trial was a one-judge one. The lower levels are always small classes, but even smaller at the one-ring jobbies. Like one or two dogs small. The classes she was being weird in were the ones that I didn’t have time for our normal pre-run routine. It was walk the course and grab your dog ‘cause you’re on. Didn’t have time to prep her. No getting her in play mode. No tugging and tricking and practice jumping.

She really needs that time to loosen up mentally as well as physically.

Good news is that’s a super easy fix. When we run into this time issue again, which I have been lucky to avoid so far, I will just make Kate’s time my priority. If that means scratching runs for one of them, then so be it. No point in putting her that situation, right?

We don’t want to see Stressy Pants


We want Happy Pants

Atta Boy Luke!

Master Luke made the CPE Top Ten in Specialist for 2010!!


Not bad for a one-eyed dog, yeah?


Good boy Lukie Duke!! Congrats to you and Mommy Marie!!!

Maybe Bella will let you hump her now.

:-)

More Fear Mongering

So, I’m sure by now that you have read the news that sleeping with your pets can, and probably will, kill you. It’s a wonder I am still breathing.

I heard it first on the radio on my way to work yesterday. Then read up via everyone’s BFF, The Interwebs.

The first article I came across was this:

Daily Mail

Oh my, where do I start?

How about here…

“Among the more serious medical problems animal lovers risk by snuggling up to their pets are chagas disease, which can cause life- threatening heart and digestive system disorders.”

Have any of you ever heard of chagas disease?

Me neither.

Google is my friend. From Google Health:

“Chagas disease is an illness spread by insects. It is common in South and Central America.”

“Risk factors for Chagas disease include:

· Living in a hut where reduvid bugs live in the walls
· Living in Central or South America
· Poverty
· Receiving a blood transfusion from a person who carries the parasite but does not have active Chagas disease”

I don’t see Fluffy mentioned anywhere, do you? Just how the hell am I getting this tropical bug disease from Kate? I guess I need to start worrying if I lose my job, move to a hut in South America and somehow end up needing a blood transfusion. Until then, the bitches can sleep where ever they like.

Oh, and this..

“Cat-scratch disease is another problem. It can come from being licked by infected felines, and can cause lethal damage to the liver, kidney or spleen.”

From being licked? It’s called “Cat-scratch” for a reason. According to these folks, simply having a cat is an issue. Is your cat beating the crap out of you while you sleep? Seems to me it would make more sense to warn people about playing with their cat. Sleeping with them seems much safer.

From Wikipedia:
“Cat scratch disease (CSD) … is a usually benign infectious disease caused by the intracellular bacterium Bartonella. It is most commonly found in children following a scratch or bite from a cat by about one to two weeks.”

Benign.
Not quite life threatening, yeah?

A real doozy…

“A nine-year-old boy from Arizona even caught the plague because he slept with his flea-infested cat, according to the report. “

Of course he caught the fucking plague because he slept with the cat. We are just going to skim over the “flea-infested” bit? Would he have caught the plague if his parents had spent 3 dollars on a

damn flea comb?!

And my absolute favorite…

“The study also showed that most of the dogs allowed to sleep in beds were small, but 41 percent were medium. One in three was large.”

OK, so writers are not mathematicians.
Let’s break this down for them, shall we?

“One in three” = 33%

All dogs sleeping in beds – medium dogs – large dogs = small dogs

100% - 41% - 33% = 26%

26% does not equal “most”

Jesus H!

If you are going to spew crap at least make some kind of sense! If you want me shaking in my boots, give me something to fear. And for fucks sake, buy a calculator!

The only thing I am at risk for catching at my house is a bit of The Crazy.

If They Only Knew

You ever have one of those conversations with someone wherein they say something with the assumption that you agree with them and you totally don’t? You have that awkward not-sure-how-to-handle-this pause?

Do you bring up the fact that you don’t agree and risk pissiness and/or judgment or do you just let it slide? Perhaps imposing the standard neutral gesture of lips pressed together, one eyebrow raised slightly coupled with a slow nod?

Outside of the dog world, it’s usually political or socioeconomic commentary. In the dog world, for me anyway, it’s always about 2 things: feeding raw and chiropractors.

The raw feeding one is probably not so much about feeding raw as it is about how not feeding raw is cruel and unusual punishment.

Now, I am not putting all raw feeders in one lump. I know lots of you and you are very nice and sane people. You have to know, however, that the fundamentalists in your ranks are a smidge kooky. The Kibble Is Death In A Bag folks are a bit out there. These are the people that make me nod in agreement when agreement is about as far from reality as it could possibly be. Trying to have a conversation about it with these folks ends up being as productive as trying to get Fred Phelps to carry a rainbow flag.

MY DOGS FOOD COMES OUT OF A BAG!

There, I said it. Judge me.

*gasp*

Now, what I would say if I didn’t fear for my reputation and well-being is that if it makes you feel good and you can afford it and your dogs do well, feed whatever that hell you want. I just don’t think it matters all that much. Now, I wouldn’t go feeding my dogs Ol’ Roy or some shit like that. They do get good kibs, but it’s kibs none-the-less. My personal feelings are that dogs are not strict carnivores. They are scavengers.

Eating poop makes me happy!

I do not believe that some lonely cave-lady stole some wolf pups and *poof* we have dogs. Dogs come from lazy wolves. The first dogs came from the slacker wolves that figured out it’s much easier to just eat our garbage than chase some fucking elk around the plains for hours. I think that’s why we get along with dogs so well. We are essentially lazy-asses ourselves. Our brains got so big because we spent so much time inventing things so we wouldn’t have to work so hard.

Wheels, guns, remote controls.

If I just look cute, people hand me bull bits to eat. No running required!

Dogs developed on left-overs. I can promise you that what is in my bag of kibble is better for them that what is in my garbage can. It’s a step up!

The chiro thing is another funny one for me. I always seem to end up in conversations with people who are hard-core adjusters. Those people that believe that anyone who does anything with a dog should take them to get adjusted as a normal course of doggy maintenance. More nodding.

MY DOGS HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A CHIROPRACTER!

There, I said it. Judge me. Again.

Even thought I don’t do it, it makes sense to me if you have a dog with messed up structure or an injury or some chronic something or other. If taking a dog like that helps them, aids in pain management or whatever, knock your socks off. I do not, however, understand the regular visits for a young, perfectly healthy dog.

I self-adjust

I mean, if my car needed a realignment every 4 months I would start to look for the actual problem, not just continue to band-aid it. Yes? I don’t get it that people put all this time, effort, research, and money into buying a puppy from “great” sport parents with “outstanding structure” and a “topline to die for” and the dogs are always out somewhere.

Why?

At what point does one start to look at other things like fitness level or injury or training or something? If you have a normally structured dog who is always throwing something out why just put it back? Look for a solution, maybe?

She prefers her hips under her chin

Bella cracks her own neck

Again, if you want to do that as a maintenance thing for your dog, great.

Your time, your money.

But, enough already with the attitude toward us non-adjusters, though.
Or, perhaps, get a feel for your audience before your sermon?

Yes, she hate us

Please take me home with you?

Good Night, Webby

Yes, this is a dog blog, but cats are people, too, right?

Dear Webster, Little Webby, The Webinator, passed yesterday due to kidney disease.

13 years is a long time to know a cat, but not long enough.

Not ceiling cat, Sink Cat!

Traveller Extraordinaire

He was one of those cats that thought very highly of himself. Always up for a conversation. He was a legend in his own mind. Really just a chicken at heart, but loved to pretend like he was some tough, wild beastie.

He played a key role in the Raising Of Bella, teaching her very important life lessons like:

It may be smaller than you but it can still kick your ass


Sure, chase the kitty, but for your own well-being it's best to stop about 10 feet out


Sharp things come outta no where. Often for no good reason


And the most important lesson...

The cat always gets the best sleeping spot
Ah, who are we kidding, they get the best spots, period.

Run free Web.

No more pain.

No more suffering.

You can probably eat string where you are too.

See you on the flip side little buddy.

What's A Vacation?

The company I work for is always shut down the week between Christmas and New Year's. We all look forward to it. There is something different about a forced shut down. In typical American fashion, most of us don't take like actual vacations. A day here and there, sure, but like a week or more at a time? Doesn't happen often. And even though we work for a very relaxed and understanding small company, there is still that weird feeling that someone will be irritated or angry if you take time off. No one actually does, but it's there. Plus, since the company is small, we all wear many hats. The thought of digging out of the pile of shit that will be left after returning from vacation makes taking one not worth the trouble.

Christmas week, though? Different story. No one can get irritated because no one is there! No one to leave extra work on. No one to screw up your stuff up in your absence. No one to steal your favorite pen.

So what do I get to do on this fabulous free week?

Jury duty.

I know! WTF?!

So far it hasn’t resulted in me having to actually do anything other than check back in after 5, check back in after 5, check back in after 5, but I feel like I’m being held hostage. Can’t make any sort of plans since I don’t know what day to day will bring. I may be called on to execute my civil duty and send some crack head to jail at any minute!

So, my grand vaca has so far consisted of lots of laundry and ball throwing.

I even managed to plan a dog trip that involved the sun. We have not seen much of our fiery friend of late.

Sunnies make for a happy Belly


Happy big-eyed Belly


Who even got warm enough to engage in the summer time cool down roll

Refreshing!


She was like a spring chicken


And occasionally, a little like Kate


Not so surprising, Kate was like Kate, too




That is to say weird with a dash of annoying.

We also got to go to work on vacation.

You totally wish you were me right now, right?

Hey, it's the end of the year and shit needs counting.

It's a little hard to work with Kate, though. Smidge on the OCD side. This is what I get the whole time we're there

You may say, "just put the ball away."

Tried it.

She can stare at a drawer, too.

Note the little torn open packet? Yeah, that's the ibuprofin I lifted from the first aid cabinet.

So much for dogs lowering your blood pressure.

The Damn It I Missed Bark

Kate has a little quirk known throughout the South Bay dog parks as the Damn It I Missed bark. Whenever she misses the ball, which happens to be a lot, she barks. It goes a little like this…

Ukiah from 2halves on Vimeo.

If she’s really excited, it’s more like this

Untitled from 2halves on Vimeo.

Now, this has never really been an issue. I mean, who cares, right? A little woof-woof never hurt anyone. However, about a year and a half ago we changed our exercise routine. When my office mate went on maternity leave my work schedule had to change. Gone was the in at 6 out at 3 sched. Since I refuse to do the dog park thing during peak hours, we changed to AM runs. 6:30 AM runs. And since our dog park runs right behind a residential neighborhood and people’s back yards are like right there, the barking had to stop. I just can’t be that dog owner.

I tried yelling at her for barking, praising her for being quiet, little time outs, treats, nothing worked. I ended up just managing it by running them individually as the barking tends to be Bella-inspired. This works, but it also means that they either get half the amount of exercise or we stay at the park twice as long. And, contrary to what the dogs may think, I actually do have other shit to do.

I decided to try walking her down. She barks, I just head right at her. Not fast, but no saunter, either. End up meeting her about half way. She sits in front of me looking confused as to why I am no longer in the throwing spot. I quietly explain that she needs to STFU and turn and walk away. Four times I did this. Barking stopped. She finally made the connection. Woots for Kate.
I would say she is quiet about 97% of the time now. When she does have a slip it looks like this…

Throw the ball

Eye on the ball

Overrun the ball

Damn-it-I-missed bark

Shit, did she hear that?

My bad

At least she seems to be getting it. :-)

Miss Kate In Action

I can't tell you how fun(ny) I find these vids. Little Kate. The dog that would pee when you asked her to sit. The dog that hates doorways. The dog that runs into fences.

Just having a good old time. She's running like a puppy. Hey, she ain't trotting, so I'm good. And watch her tail. The damn thing never stops.

Kate STD Fri from 2halves on Vimeo.

When I go online to check records, Bella's are more about business. Where are we at? What does she need? What should we enter next. There may be a "oh, that was a fun one" thrown in, but more about the record keeping.

Kates? Ha! Everytime I scroll down to see tht she has a little growing list of Q's it makes me smile. My Kate has titles. I never thought that would happen. Of course I would have been totally fine if she had never started enjoying agility. Everyone needs a good Auxillary Dog.

It just tickles me. Totally puts a smile on my face.

Kate STD Sun from 2halves on Vimeo.

That a girl Kate Kate!

She's So Handsome

No one ever mistakes Kate for a male.

Bella?

All the time.

What's his name?

I guess she is a little tomboy-ish, yeah?

Would totally play softball if she were a person



Eh, that's OK.

I *heart* her manly ass anyway.

:-)

Even When You're Good You Still Get Tortured

Kate still continues to impress me with her newly found love of trialing. I ran her twice a day, all three days over Thanksgiving weekend and it was seriously the most fun I have had running her. It still sorta feels like I was running someone else’s dog. Like, “where did you come from?”

I fell outta the sky. Now throw my damn ball.


I was worried that our agility break would have a negative effect on her. I knew Bella would be fine. Thought maybe having 5 weeks without touching equipment may have set her back a tad. Not at all. She was kinda – “yay, this again!?!” – all weekend.

Leave me alone. I’m judging you for doubting me


The problems, as per usual, we all me based. I keep catching myself babysitting her. I don’t even mean while actually running. I do it while walking the course! I have to keep stopping and asking myself why I am doing X. I don’t do this out loud, mind you. I do have to keep telling myself that if something happens I’ll just fix it. No need to walk the damn fix!

It’s a wonder you get your shoes on in the morning


That whole Trust Your Dog thing is tough.

Trusting your handler sucks, too


I said it’s “tough,” Kate. I didn’t say it sucks.

Well, you should have


We certainly have stuff to work on. I decided to try one thing on each run and see how she did.

Sending to weaves – check
Fading weaves – check
Fading contact – check
Rear cross – fail
Obstacle discrimination – epic fail

The rear cross thing I get. We don’t do a lot of those. The obstacle discrimination? Whew, we need some work on that. Kate has decided she is a tunnel-sucker. Tunnel under contact? Damn it, we are doing that tunnel!

And again. And again. And again…

I also noticed that she is stressing a bit when I lead out. Her little ears go back and she sits there like she waiting to fail.

Kinda like when we're at home and I ….



Maybe I should put a cookie on her head at the startline?

I could stay like this alllll day!


This is so them.

Bella – say “free,” say “free,” say “free,” say “free,”

Kate – Holy mother of God, I’m going to die!

Cookies on my feet, cookies on my feet.

*happy place* *happy place*



Being one of my dogs kinda sucks sometimes.