Thursday Chat 11-7-13

Jackie:  did you take the dogs with you to the training class?  What did you learn?

Jamison loves the cooler weather, too.  He can actually walk the trail without taking a nap after 5 minutes, LOL.

Deb W

No, I didn't take any dogs this time.  This was a class to train people how to train their dogs.  The trainer had her adorable pittie there.  Her name is Dolly and she was seized along with hundreds of other dogs by the FBI during a dog fighting sting.  It was the largest seizure of dogs ever.

Dolly is a sweetheart and is learning some impulse control.  She has been very challenging to train.  It's always good to know that even the best dog trainers have difficulty training some dogs.  Dolly was never used as a fighting dog but she had no training for the first six months of her life.

Dolly's behavior reminds me of Tracy's Ruby.  She's over the top excited to meet people and wants to jump and spin and goes nuts.  She has learned to focus on Lorraine, the trainer.  She can settle down but not for long unless she has a big stuffed Kong.  The trainer brought three to class. lol

Another thing I found funny was the story the trainer told about her own dogs and how her Mother (she lives with her) has inadvertently taught her dogs to bark, a lot.  The dogs would bark at something and the Mom would go and say "quiet" and then give the dogs a treat.  She very effectively trained them to bark. lol   The trainer said her Mom is her biggest training challenge. :)

Jamison should make a Lazy Boy furniture commercial. :)

Being slave-driven at work. No rest for the weary.

I can't wait until next Thursday; I'm getting a massage after work. I need it.

oooh!  You do deserve a massage, Tina!

Typical New England, the weather has gone from frost on the cars in the morning with temps in the 30s.  Then the next morning it's 65.  The next morning it's back to 35.  I have still not committed to closed-toe footwear.  In fact I am wearing flip flops right now.  Some lady at the post office commented on my choice of footwear earlier this week and all I could think was... you are not from around here!

I took Gracie out for another run in the Rally rings this weekend.  She got to meet a year and a half old male GSP named Henry outside the ring.  She flirted like a total cougar.  Nobody believes she is 10 and a half years old.

35 degrees and you're wearing flip-flops? Wow!! We're not as cold as you are and I've been wearing my boots most days. I'm such a wimp when the weather cools down.

Jackie - that class sounded fun and I agree that it's nice to see that even good trainers have challenges with their dogs.

I'd agreed to help with holiday photos for a rescue group this Saturday. I'm taking Shane and really hoping he's on his bestest behavior. The photographer for this event is amazing, so I might splurge and get some photos of Shane done. I've also been asked to help play an elf the following weekend when they do Santa photos at Homeward Bound. Tis the season! :)

Wow - Paige - flip flops when it's below 60 degrees?  Not for me!  I see that a lot here, but I'm like Cathy (too wimpy!).  Didn't you live in the Seattle area or somewhere in Washington for a while, Paige?  You probably had lots of companions wearing shorts and/or flip flops when the weather was quite cool.  It's a Pacific NW thing, I guess.  I drive by an elementary school just as kids are arriving every morning, and I still see several wearing shorts this time of year!

Jackie, it does sound like Dolly and Ruby are cut from the same cloth.  We don't know what her first year was like (other than she had at least 2 homes), but we think she had little to no training, and certainly no exposure to different sights and sounds.  She took to a crate immediately with no problems, so we think she was kept indoors in a crate, but wasn't socialized with any people, animals, or activities outside the house.  

Too funny about the trainer's Mom teaching the dogs to bark.  I can totally see my Mom doing that.  When she visits us, every time Ruby goes over to her and gives a whine or bark, my Mom would say, "Oh, do you want a treat?"  And the two of them would go over to the treat jar.  Thanks, Mom!  

Cathy, do you get to wear an elf costume when you help with the photo session?  Sounds like we'll need to see a pic of Shane and his elf!  

I will probably wear a Santa hat and anything else I can find to look festive. I remember when I was scheduled for Shane's pictures last year, we had a huge storm come through. It was the closest to flooding I'd ever seen in our neighborhood and I wanted to cancel but the organizer said "nah, come on out", so I did. Considering the wind and rain we had to walk through, Shane and I both looked pretty good. It helps to have 20-30 pictures to pull from too :)

I've been peaking in online at the APHA amateur reining event and I feel snarky saying this but I feel sorry for the horses with the overweight riders some are having to carry. Some of these horses aren't large anyway and it just looks like it's difficult for some of them to spin and stop fast :(

I tried to add a thread to the Support Network but it's not showing up. Please send vibes for my co-worker's dog, a big yellow Lab named Blue, who got hit by a car. He's at the vet's office right now with his humans who are pretty worried. Blue is a sweetie.

Tina

A big bunch of strong vibes from Oregon going out to Blue and his people.  I hope his injuries aren't life threatening.  Keep us posted, Tina.

Prayers and good thoughts for Blue and his family :(

Poor guy.  Absolutely prayers and good thots for Blue and his people.

Long day.  Really dragging tonight.  Nice hot bath and early to bed for me.

Long day here too. Wow. I don't even know what hit me at work this week. It has been insane.