Weaves 2x2 - outdoors

Today I took my 2x2 weave pole training outside with Ru. Since I'm moving from my confined & sterile living room to the spacious outdoor pasture, I wisely chose to start my weave work from the beginning.

Ru tends to get VERY excited when we go out to the pasture because that's our "play land". The agility equipment is out there, we throw balls/Frisbee's/bumpers and whatever other toy we have and encourage our dogs to stretch their legs and have fun.

Ru and I started tugging on our toy and when she just about ripped my arm off, I knew she was hyped (and I've never felt that much power from her before!). For the first 3 attempts, Ru passed by the weave entry with her eyes glazed over by enchantment for the rustling leaves, the coastal breeze and anything else that caught her attention. I have to laugh, I've never really seen her that hyped before!

The fourth time was a charm, she made the "entry" (going through the gate perpendicular) and off she went with her toy. It took a few minutes for her to burn a bit more energy off and bring the toy back. The next attempt, it was clear to me that she IS pausing at the entrance of the weaves (this is when I start to toss the toy). To get her to move her entire body through, I began tossing the toy only when her back legs were beyond the base. We did a few more reps (working both sides) and that seemed to do the trick.

Tomorrow we'll go back to the same place and do it again. My ultimate goal is to have Ru taking the "entry" from any side, any angle, driving through them and with any distractions.

I should probably note that Ru's training would more than likely move along much faster if I trained several times a day for about 3 minutes. I have to be honest, I'm not interested in moving it along that fast with her and prefer to work my 3 minute sessions on other base work. Burton, our other dog who is about 6 months older than Ru is a perfect candidate for the extended weave training.

Weave 2x2 - Chapter 2 on DVD

So my goals for today's mini weave pole session was

1. to have faith in the toy that I throw, so I've changed over to a braided material that is light (i.e. can't break vases or a window), is long enough for Ru and I to tug on and I can confidently throw
2. To observe how willing Ru is to go to and interact with the poles
3. To observe the number of repetitions and count how many are successful/not
4. Start with Perpendicular poles and move to the poles in the 8 & 2 o'clock position, keeping the success
   
5. As always, have fun!
6. Keep it short, to 1-2 minutes tops

I'm still in my living room and using 2 poles. I'm starting with the 2 poles perpendicular to me and we work only in 1 direction.

Just as I was pulling out the poles, I stepped away to move an unrelated object in the room and saw Ru dart between the poles. Yeah! That tells me she's recognizing them and knows the first action. We did the poles 3 more times (with me moving so the dog is on my right and on my left sides at different times). Ru was successful each time and without hesitation. I played with her after each rep as a reward and to get her nice and excited for the task at hand.

I then moved the poles to the 8 & 2 position. Ru easily continued the game and we did 5 more reps - all with success & play between reps.

In keeping with my goal of a short training session, we stopped there and continued our play. Ru is quite happy with the toy and gets very excited to be working.

Now that I'm confident with our living room training, tomorrow I'll move our session outdoors. Since I'll be in a new environment, I'll start our training from scratch (straight poles) and add a bit of distance. I want Ru to really drive to the poles - getting the correct "entry" of course!

25 Random Things About Me

I was recently 'tagged' and asked to provide a little information on me. I remembered a few things I'd almost forgotten, so I thought I'd share. If anyone wants to add their 25 Random things, feel free!

Lisa

1. I was raised in the Midwest (just outside of Chicago, IL) and moved to Seattle, WA about 5 years ago.

2. I have a degree in Criminal Justice, - I was originally interested in Law Enforcement but quickly realized I was far too gullible for that career. Instead I went on to get a degree in Business Administration and actively used my law background in Human Resources. My last position in that field was with Boeing as an Investigator.

3. Whatever you want to call it, I believe in a higher plane/God, etc. I don't see it as religious, but rather spiritual.

4. When I was 14, I once hitchhiked on the advice of a friend who wasn't the best influence. Let's just say I'm a very lucky girl and never did that again.

6. Suduko is my favorite!

7. 20 years ago while helping me with Calculus homework, an Engineering friend informed me that I'd never use it again - so far, they've been right!

8. I have a concealed gun permit and a registered handgun. That also means I have a clear background check : )

9. I'm a wine drinker with Washington & Australian wines being some of my favorites. Don't worry, I don't mix drinking and shooting!

10. I have a dream that all dog trainers will treat the people around them the same way they treat their dogs. With a smile, a warm voice, openness, respect and sincerity. This seems to be a lost art....

11. Tivo is my friend! Chuck, Designed to Sell, Enterprise, The Mentalist....but usually not reality TV.

12. My grandmother was very talented and got me started in oil painting at the age of 4.

13. I create & sell custom high end jewelry using silver, gold and natural stone. I've been commissioned to create custom jewelry to match a bridal gown and have created custom pieces for my client's significant others.

14. Pinky was my first dog. I could never have imagined the world she opened me up to - Agility, Obedience, Judging. She brought me new friends (most of whom are now old friends, a husband & terrific family).

15. Yes, I am one of the few who met their husband while doing agility.

15. I'm from the Midwest where food equates to love, so, I enjoy cooking.

16. This city-girl once helped show sheep (the ones with big pointy horns!) at the WA State Fair. When we got into our place for the judge's review, I said "Kona, Stay!" The owner laughed and told me sheep didn't know commands. I responded "But, she's doing it!" The sheep didn't move the entire time and we still laugh at my dumb luck.

17. Since moving to WA, I rarely wear makeup and am very happy with that decision.

18. Seattle has the highest suicide rate of any other city in the U.S. and quite a few people here are unhappy and negative. I wonder if Happy Pills were invented with Seattle in mind...

19.I learned I was a fighter - When I was 24, I was diagnosed with a genetic disease that makes my immune system attack my own body. There are days I know that without my dogs, I'd never get out of bed. They make me fight to continue to move forward and to focus beyond myself.

20. My darkest time - I lost my first dog this year, he was young and to make things hard, I made & bare the decision of putting him to sleep. This event threw me into a tailspin and I felt caught in a feedback loop of emotion (the loss, the guilt in "killing" my dog, etc.) and the logic that we all try to put on the passing of a soul.

21. I'll often tell my Agility students "Run" and "One more time!" One day the sentences combined as they came out of my mouth and became "Run More Time!". We've kept it ever since.

22. Why is it that when dog's fart they don't even blink, but when you fart, they turn and smell their butts?

23. At the age of 36 I had cataract surgery (remember #19). The best thing that came out of it - no more contacts or glasses!

24. In the past, my idea of learning a lesson had been to see the situation, think "I'll bet that would be a bad idea...", decide to do it and then think "Yeap, I was right - bad idea!"

25. I've learned that ultimately, your outlook on a situation is sometimes the one and only thing you can control.

Weave Training - Kind of....

Well, I had planned to do some weave training with Ru this evening, but after feeling not so well today, watching a puppy, teaching a few classes - I'll admit, the thought of coming home and just cuddling up with the dogs won out over training.

I have however, dug up a soft tug toy that I'm comfortable throwing (i.e. won't break a window if I'm indoors) and yet I can still tug with my girl.

I also started my beginner dogs on the basic "going through the gate" on weave work and I have to admit, I'm jealous. Dan and Burton did GREAT and Burton is far more driven than Ru is...I'll need to figure out - is it me not quite working enough drive with Ru, or is is Burton outdoors just thrilled with going after treats?

Tomorrow I'll do a test on both, indoors, and let you know! Then I'll move the experiment outdoors and...let you know!

In the meantime, sleep well and I'm off to care for my stuffy nose.

Weaves 2x2 Chapter 1 & 2

Tonight was the second mini-lesson for Ru on the 2x2 weaves. I started training in my livingroom and of course it snowed last night so there was no moving our training outdoors. To top it off, I'm sick with a cold so we'll only have 1 mini session today.

I started with the 2 weave poles perpendicular to us so the "gate" was the simple "go through the poles". After a very brief moment, Ru went between them and I tossed the toy and played with her. After doing that a few times, I moved the 2 poles to the 8 & 2 o'clock position. Ru got it right away, but it began to deteriorate after that first success.

Part of the issue is that she appears to be stopping/pausing (even though I toss the toy and then she continues) at the entry. Part of this may be I'm slow at tossing the toy and I also think that a part of the issue is that all of the things I've been shaping and rewarding has a "stop" at the end (i.e. her 2 on 2 off contact behavior, her stay, her play bow, etc.). Of course I am training in the house and I'll admit a little fearful of tossing a toy toward a window!

I can't wait to get outside so I can encourage her to run more and have the room to stretch and play on a larger scale. In the meantime, I want to be sure I'm not reinforcing a stop/pause prior to going through the poles....

A wonderful thing is that Ru has a ton of drive and really likes to play. Her tail just wags and wags and wags while we're training!

Weaves 2x2 - Chapter 1

Today I started the basics of weave training. I've decided to use Susan Garrett's 2x2 method since I prefer shaping obstacles and I like the concept of working entries immediately. Besides, I've trained with every other method and want to continue developing my Agility Skills.

I've started this method with some of my students and really liked what it did for them, however those that didn't have poles at home were less likely to succeed while those who did work at home progressed very nicely.

Things I like about the video so far (Introduction, Chapter 1 & 2):

• Susan talks about letting dogs figure things out on their own
• Encourages very short (1 minute) training sessions
• Promotes having fun and keeping it a game
• Shows how to do things with an inexperienced dog
• I like that the "line" or "path" the dog is to consistently take is reviewed and
• Susan addresses how the dog should only go in 1 direction at all times
  

Things I wasn't as excited about:

• The main thing that really caught my attention was the poor video quality. When paying almost $70 for a DVD, I was unpleasantly surprised by this. The picture is very grainy at times and I was constantly distracted by the squares on Susan's face (low pixel quality I assume) during "close-ups" while she is talking. Watching a distorted face was very distracting and might also explain the next bullet point.
• There's a lot of talking. I'll admit, I got bored quickly as some of the information was very basic (a good thing to have in a how to video, but things I already knew) - regardless, Susan is sharing a lot of great information that is good to consistently hear.

Overall, no surprises on the video so far and so I began with Ru.

• I first put all of the other dogs away as they have a way of barging in on the play!
  
• I kept my session short (maybe 3 minutes, including lots of play).
• I started w/ 2 poles in my livingroom, treats & a tug toy that Ru loves
• I started out with treats, but quickly went to the tug toy as it was more exciting to her
• Getting her to go between the poles progressed very fast. At first she offered up all kinds of actions (sit, down, play bow, putting her back feet on an object near me, etc.). I simply ignored those actions and when she looked at the poles, I tossed the toy so that she'd have to go through the poles to get the toy.
• After that, she moved in to the poles (to go between them) quickly.
• After I tossed the toy and she brought it back, we'd tug and play.
• A quick session and then we were done for the moment.
  

Training the Teeter

With past dogs, I've trained the teeter various ways.

Pinky was taught to stop at the pivot, push and then walk down - that was 12 years ago and I won't be returning to that method!

Spot was terribly afraid of the teeter and I had to make a compromise with him - if I wanted to do Agility, I was going to have to adjust to what HE could offer me, not necessarily demand what I wanted. The compromise was that I taught him to down at the pivot point. Flattening himself made him feel secure and over the years the teeter has turned into what I would have hoped for, with no pressure from me, Spot began to like the teeter and now he goes into the yellow and rides it down.

Coal had the best teeter of all as he was taught to go to the end of the board and ride it down. He loved the movement and loved his teeter.

With Ru, I'd like the same teeter performance as Coal. Since Ru has had quite a bit of 2 on 2 off training, she tends to offer that behavior at the end of the teeter. I have to be consistent in my desire to have her run to the end and ride it down. She's comfortable with the movement and has been on moving things since she was 4 weeks old (the breeder was great about that).

At this time, she's just starting to offer consistency on going to the end of the board and riding it down - of course we're still at the point where I'm helping with the board until the consistency level hits at least 90%.

Basically, I need to be working this on a daily basis for at least 3 minutes a day.

An Agility "System"

The latest and hottest trend in Agility these days is to be a part of a "System".

For those that hadn't heard of a "System", it's a set of rules designed by a specific trainer that handlers (such as yourself) must follow while handling your dog on course. You see, there are several different trainers that have come up with different systems and most are making a pretty good buck selling DVD's, Books, Magazine Articles, Yahoo Group Memberships and more. There is quite a following of each trainers system and often times mini-arguments will ensue on course during a walk through when different fractions (and even amongst those of the same system) disagree on how a particular challenge should be handled.

Having come from a Training background with extensive experience in Adult Learning Theory, I firmly believe that People are individuals and our dog's don't all fit into a cookie cutter training plan as well. I also have to admit that on a personal level, I enjoy the challenge of tailoring my handling to each of my dog's strengths and weaknesses and love engaging my brain to solve the Agility Course puzzle presented to me vs. having a handling system dictate how I should run. I think most people feel that way since that's where the satisfaction begins and it allows me and you to take full responsibility (good or bad) for whatever the training outcome is.

As I mentioned before, Systems do have some great parts! I'd be lying if I didn't say there was an item or two, or three that I'd embraced from each of the Systems I've seen. I might like them for myself, or I might like them for one of my clients. However, a system is only as good as you train and you can train ANY system, so I really can't say one is better than the other or that's the way to go.

Do you need a system? Systems do have good information and they come up with some great terms for maneuvers most of us have already been doing for years. Heck, everyone likes a hard and fast rules in life - however, life isn't about hard and fast rules and I don't think Agility is either so I'll say "Maybe, but I'd venture to say the best System you could come up with is something that is intuitive for YOU and your dog and then incorporate consistency in your training."

The word INTUITIVE is important. If you can't remember a skill, don't understand why you're doing something, don't move like a finely-tuned athletic 25 year old or simply want Agility to be your hobby, then don't feel you're doing something wrong by not joining the "System Bandwagon".

Finally, I'm often asked what System I use. I have to say the System of Common Sense. Basically, I believe in strong team communication (generally done with body language, which is the dog's first choice in interaction), positive training which shapes correct behaviors (I like a thinking dog!) and I treat my clients the same as I treat their dogs - with respect, kindness and encouragement to try new and different styles to see what works best for them. Oh, and most importantly, I want my clients to succeed!

Young Dog Skills for Life, Obedience & Agility

My puppy, Ru (short for Rouge), turned 1 year old on Jan 5th. Although small and petite, she's still a growing girl and up until now, there wasn't too much I could directly do in Agility (and I'm fine with that). However, there have been training skills we've been working on.

She's been active in:

• Conformation
  
• Socializing with the world
  
• Playing and getting to know all kinds of people and different dog breeds
• Working on her basic obedience & home skills (sit, down, stand, stay, walking on a loose leash, ignoring distractions, going on car rides, hanging out at dog shows, etc.
  
• working a 2 on 2 off position on a flat board in our living room
• working on Agility Flat Work such as a rear cross on the ground, a front cross, following the lead hand, etc.
• Trick training such as crawling in a suitcase, playing with cardboard boxes, balance boards, etc.

I think any positive interactions you can create with and for your puppy will add to their experiences and make them a more well-adjusted dog as well as a positive family member.

Burton's Break Thru - Why Obedience & a Strong Bond are important.

Burton, my husband's newest Chocolate Lab, has been with us for about 4 months now and is about 18 months old.

When we first got him, while well-loved and cared for, Burton was 20 lbs. over weight and typical of a young dog, was very energetic and in need of a lot of exercise to burn off some of his exuberance. As is typical when going to a new home, he didn't exactly listen to us at first (I'm sure he was thinking "Who the heck are YOU?!?!) and so with patience and love, we taught him the rules of our house.

While Burton did have previous training, it was important for us to build a rapport & review the skills with him. Some of the things we worked on:

• Recalls - since it is our job to keep Burton safe, a solid recall is a must to keep him out of trouble. I love making this a fun thing for the dogs so they come running when they hear "Come!"
  
• "Please - may I?" - before Burton could go out a door, have his leash put on, be fed and even petted, we required him to SIT first. In a sense, this was his way of asking "Please". This made him think about his actions and required him to control himself. A good lesson for him, but we reap the benefits as well. After all, he wasn't knocking us out of doorways, jumping on us, spilling food, etc.
• Walking WITH us (i.e. next to us vs. pulling us down the road). Since we're the leaders of our dogs, things like walks should go at our pace. This prevents broken backs, longer arms and potential mishaps on walks, but also, it teaches Burton to look to us, to ignore distractions and he gets rewarded for all of these things!
• Stay & Release Word - Stay is a great exercise to teach Burton to control his impulses and to listen & understand the one word that means he is done. We love to train this game and one of the ways is by playing hide & seek in the house.
  

After 4 months, Burton's really blossomed, bonded, gained confidence and it was very apparent this evening as we did some beginner Agility training.

Dan did some basic tunnel work, taught him the chute and began rear-crosses on these obstacles to get him (and Dan) used to the body language and handling that's envolved. Burton was loving it!

I had started shaping the beginnings of Burton's 2 on 2 off contacts using a board on the ground several weeks back. I love this ground work because it forces the dog to think about their back legs. It wasn't always easy - when I first started, he was still very young, overly excited, wiggly and a chomper when it came to taking treats. However, now that we have the basics on his obedience/house rules training, we've been far more successful on his Agility Training.

Tonight Burton was really offering up and becoming much more rear-leg aware - it was neat to watch! I tend to let the dog figure things out and reward the desired steps, while Dan wants to jump in and manage the actions himself, which is typical of most humans .

Either way, Burton is a champ at going with the flow and really enjoys himself when it comes to training time.

Courses - WI Jan 2009

Potential Fargo (think the movie) Adventure...in WI

Well, the day started off like this - a very nice lady picks me up and says "I don't want you to get scared that we're leaving town and heading out to the middle of no where...I really am bringing you to the trial site..." My response was "Yeah, I saw the movie Fargo!" Luckily, no creepy adventures to report, no wood chippers in sight and everyone was friendly and nobody said said "egh?" (only those from WI & MN will probably understand that joke).

I do miss the Midwest! Not the cold mind you. Heck, the snot froze in my nose when I breathed in and I heard they did a test to see how long a cracked egg would take to freeze outdoors in a pan (BTW, it was 3 minutes). But the people really are the salt of the earth! It was so nice to hear people cheering for each other, sighing when a dog took an unexpected wrong course and just laughing when the handlers were lost on course. There was no talk of "How fast..." or who could beat who and the phrase "World Team" is never uttered. Heck, people didn't brag about "last week..." or say "I need..." instead they chatted about community things (did you know the local Farm & Fleet is having a big sale right now?), ate lunch together (someone brought homemade cookies) and everyone jumped in to help when needed. Just as I'd think I could use another bar setter, one would appear as if by magic.

There were no clicks of groups and nobody cared about who trained with who. As a matter of a fact, one of the BEST trainers I know of is here and she was the first person to step up to help, consistently sets a wonderful example as a person and choses not to travel because her family is her first priority. Anyone want to try to guess who that is?

Any way, coming back home to the Midwest has been wonderful and is something I hadn't realized how much I missed.

Frozen Tundra - 1st Morning

It's -17 here in the frozen tundra (commonly called Appleton, WI) and I'm thinking that if I hide under the covers, the club will never find me. I'm not ready for the Siberian Torture Experience!

The good news, I don't have to be ready until 10:30 their time so I slept in, walked in my PJs down to the lobby for breakfast, brought it back to the room and now sit with the covers wrapped around me. 

The hallway was warm. It was wonderful. I still can't figure out how to work the damn wall unit heater in my room. When I arrived last night the heat was off - yes, it was cold in there. Then the heater overtook the room and I could barely breath it was so hot. At some point in the night the "heater" turned itself to "cool" and by morning it was again cold! I wonder when I'll be overcome by heat again...probably just before I have to go out into that -17 weather. Did I mention they say it feels like -31 below with the windchill?

Reason #1 on why I left the Midwest is clear...although the fried cheese curds last night where really good! I'd forgotten how I missed them.

More later, if I survive the Siberian Torture Experience, Take 1.

Ru's Bird "Gifts"

For months I've been telling Dan I think he should train our young Dalmatian, Ru, in bird hunting (after all, he trains his Labs). He's laughed, but I was so proud when the other day she noticed the local birds flying in the air and would chase them. Now I'm not so sure!

Yesterday and today, she's proven to be a bird dog. Each day she's brought me a bird as a gift. Unfortunately, they weren't fluttering by the time they got to me. I can't figure out if she's finding birds that have hit our window or if she's catching them herself. That will be the mystery I'm going to need to solve!

Goose Feathers & Dogs

Years ago I bought this wonderful down comforter. You know, the kind with a ton of the lightest and fluffiest goose feathers available. With our recent cold spell I thought it would be a great time to bring it out and put it on the bed to help keep our toes warm in the middle of the night.

The dogs loved the comforter, in hindsight, maybe too much. Yeap, you know where I'm going with this story....one day last week we came home to a floor COVERED in these fine, light and fluffy feathers. We're not talking a few of 'em. Nope, they were ankle deep! You guessed it, a dog or two became a bit obsessed with our warm covering!

When you tried to gather up the feathers, they'd flutter away. Any air motion sent them flying to another part of the house and soon they were well beyond the initial bedroom. We were laughing so hard, the dogs would come in and sure enough, our light-as-air feathers would whisk away, often landing on the back of a dog or two. The best part is when the furnace kicked on and our fuzzy feathers would fly up to the ceiling and slowly float down. We weren't sure if it was snowing inside, outside or both!

Any way, here we are on day 5 of our feather collection and I'm amazed at where they're showing up and in such quantities! I should have taken a picture...darn it!

Reflections on 2008

With a New Year coming up, one can't help but reflect on the past year, so I decided to list those things that were tops on my list.

First, the most immediate was the loss of my young dog Coal. I honestly don't know how anyone gets over the emptiness when you love 'em so deeply. Just writing about it makes me gush tears and I suspect it will always be that way. After talking with some people I admire and who have gone through a loss, I've accepted that this is just how it's going to be and that's okay.

However, it seemed to bring out either the nasty in people (gossiping about the situation around Coal's death) or the softness (thank you to those who cried, and continue to cry, with me).

On the other hand, the loss has made me appreciate what I do have. It sounds so darned cliche, but I think that's a natural part of life. Some of the things I've continued to work on over the year:

* spending more quality time with my husband, family, friends and dogs.
* focusing on my home & my relationships
* taking better care of myself (I'll always struggle with that)
* easing up a bit on the tough expectations I have for myself
* not giving a darn what others say, even if it's pure fiction
* and most importantly trying to remember that if I don't have anything nice to say, either say nothing or say it politically correct

I've been successful in many ways and of course there are other things I still need to work on...(I won't be bored in 2009!)

I've learned a few lessons this year that have hardened me a bit, maybe in a good way and then again, maybe not. I've learned that:

* some people are just mean. Strange to say, but there are some people who are just so unhappy with themselves, that they feel it's okay to "share" their ugly side in an attempt to make themselves feel better. My husband has told me to say "Who gives a flying f*uck" and mean it. I'm still trying to embrace that and certainly hope to get better at it!

* Next, egos run ramped in some places. Yeap, goes back to the fact that some folks just aren't happy with themselves and find it easier to blame others vs. taking responsibility for their own actions. This year I've met an out right bully who is so tainted with hate from their upbringing that they systematically take it out on those around them in an attempt to over come their own feelings of worthlessness. No logic in trying to sort that one out and I do have to thank another soul for pointing out that it's their issue, not mine. Nonetheless, it's been a lesson.

* Here's a news flash, did you know that some folks are self-centered...LOL? Now this won't apply to everyone, but boy do a few select really stick out. These folks are so vain, they actually think our actions are because of and ABOUT them. Thank goodness they're not my friends!

On the other hand AND on a more positive note, I have met some of the most wonderful people.

* I have an incredible husband who, despite my qualities and faults, loves me and we can joke about anything (including our funny quirks). I feel safe with him and have realized over the last year and a half of marriage that he really does know me (good points and bad) and STILL loves & accepts every part of that with a smile.

* Newsflash #2, I do understand my husband, quirks and all, and still love him. Since he's an engineer and I can be more of a creative, he's more laid back and I'm a go-getter, this can be a challenge, but it's a good thing. We really do compliment one another and we've now made it through several remodeling projects, a near death experience (he dropped a tree on my head), a car accident (my fault), 2 new dogs, a death and family events (you have to know his family ) and we still love each other and laugh daily at ourselves. I have never doubted that we're here to stay.

* I am also grateful that I have some of the strongest, clear-minded, caring and loving friends and family. They're in the WOW category and always brighten my day! I love my Selthofer Family, from CA to WA and beyond, you guys are the best.

* I have such fun students who allow me to be a part of their life and development with their dogs. That's an honor I hold dear to my heart.

* It goes without saying that I have incredible dogs with such distinct personalities. I've learned a little about myself from each one of them. Sometimes I haven't like what I've seen and more often than not, they bring out a side of me I didn't know existed.

In 2009, I'm going to be 40. I'm not sure I ever saw me making it to this age, but I have to admit that I'm looking forward to it and in some way I'm proud to be reaching this new decade. I have so much around me that is good and those icky things above are things I recognize, but chose not to incorporate in my life. That will be my new attitude and as compared to my younger years, I'm not going to apologize for it. Basically, you either like me for who I am or take a hike since my job on this earth is not to ensure you like me, but to ensure I'm being the best person that I am capable of.

To those whipper snappers with an attitude, they can take a hike. To those loving folks who just want to grow with me, come on along for the journey as it's sure to be a hoot!

From Seattle to Chicago to Dayton, OH

I spent today flying across the country in preparation for judging a dog show. I do this a lot and to keep myself from getting bored and cranky, I've developed a mental outlook that keeps me occupied.

First I always view each trip as an opportunity. Maybe it's an opportunity to finally read those magazines that have been stacking up at my house, or it's time I can spend brainstorming and writing down the dog training items I want to work on or exercises for my students, or it's a moment I can finally draft specific steps to a problem or project I'd like to tackle and it's always an opportunity to buy the latest and greatest books to read.

Even with all of that, my absolute favorite is to look at each trip as a mini-adventure and I try to find moments that I can relay back to my friends and family upon my return. The fun and humorous are what I try the hardest to find (because everyone likes a good laugh), but whatever comes my way, I take it.

For example, on one trip I sat next to a group of people who were flying to Seattle to try out for the TV show, American Idol. One person had flown in from Australia, another from the East Coast and so on. They were from different walks of life and some were humble, some were arrogant and some were...well...just weird! Regardless, here were people actively going out to pursue a dream and were brave (and/or stupid) enough to want to go SING in front of lots & lots of people.

Most folks won't leave their own neighborhoods to pursue a hobby, let alone a life long dream. It got me thinking about what my dreams were/are...and so you see how my "mini-adventure" not only kept me occupied, but allowed me to reflect on my own accomplishments and more importantly, to plan a few more for the future as well.

So back to my current trip....

As is typical fashion in flying these days, 3 of us are cramped into a row on one side of the plane. The guy in the middle was by far the pushiest, least considerate space hog I've sat next to during any of my travels so far. He leans over into our space, puts his coffee cup on our trays (nope, he didn't ask), plops his feet next to ours, elbows us, pushes our arm off the arm rest and at one point, tried to climb over my seat mate without notice so he could exit the row.

After he leaves, my seatmate and I make a pact that we're going to buy each other a glass of wine to ease our bruises . Eventually our middle guy comes back and for some unknown reason, I strike up a conversation with him. Maybe it was out of curiosity, I mean is he really that much of a jerk? Is he having a bad day? There's got to be a story of "why" that is lurking behind the actions.

So as we're talking, the "why" soon becomes clear to me. First, my new pal is raised and born in Boston. I've grown accustomed to the easy going ways of the Western side of the country and my Eastern friend is a product of his environment. I can appreciate the cultural differences and admire them. Next, it comes out that he was an attorney. Not the fancy Wall Street kind, but the kind that works for an organized labor Police Union. Talk about a non-nonsense type of career!

As midi-guy talks, it's clear he's very intelligent and speaks in such a way as you can't help but be pulled into the conversation. I won't bore you with all of the details, but we were daring and talked politics, the economy, society, world religions, about other countries and much more. I left that plan feeling quite a bit more educated, with lots of ideas and even more questions.

Turns out once midi-guy settled in, he wasn't so fidgety and he really was a neat guy to talk with. Not someone I think I would have picked out on the street to talk with, but well worth the time once I looked past the outward appearances.

Another successful trip where I didn't try to gauge my eyeballs out due to boredom...

Today's Quote is on Friendship

I'm always picking up nuggets of information that springboard my thoughts down a path I hadn't expected. Today's quote did just that:

To the soul, there is hardly anything more healing than friendship.
-- Thomas Moore

I'm sure you've had 'em - bad days. I'm sure you've met 'em - mean people. I'm sure you've received it - bad news. Whatever reason, I personally don't know anyone who can honestly say they haven't had at least one day where they felt like a bug who just smashed into a windshield. But there is a bright side to this scenario - friendship.

My friends have helped me to laugh at myself (of course I like the part where we get to laugh at them too!), were a ray of sunshine when all looked bleak, who made it clear they weren't going anywhere, who still liked me when I less than stellar and who shared their energy when it felt like I had none.

True friendship is worth far more than any gem stone you can buy and it certainly is a whole lot more stable!

So the call to action in this message is to be the best friend to those around you. Especially since you never know when that act of kindness will be the event that heals a part of someone's soul.

Going Green In The Dog World

Originally posted on July 8, 2008:

Going Green in the Dog World - It's Easy

Overall, they say that the United States is doing the least to "go green", although we're apparently the biggest offender when it comes to destructive behavior toward Mother Nature. Keeping that in mind, I've been on a personal mission to make my dog life/business as green as it can be!

So far I've made two large changes and I thought I'd share them since it's something that you too can easily do to have a positive impact.

ELIMINATING WATER BOTTLES (AN IDEA TO SHARE):

First, as a member of the Lab Club and a Committee Member of their June trial held a few weeks ago I was allowed the opportunity to try a new concept to eliminate water bottles at trials. As I'm sure you know, water bottles are a huge problem in our landfills, they're often wasted, there's a big clean-up issue as they're strewn all over the trial grounds and of course they lead to full garbage cans which go straight to the landfills.

That's where the "Go Green" water concept came in. At the trial, the only water bottles purchased were for the judges. For everyone else (workers and exhibitors), we provided 2 huge water coolers (picture the kind that get dumped on coaches after a big game) filled with ice and water (store bought) from filtered, fresh water in 5 gallon jugs. We did provided paper cups, but ultimately, the idea is to encourage everyone to bring their own reusable water bottle to each trial.

I'm sharing this idea because I'm hoping you'll each go back to your clubs and encourage them to do the same. All that is needed is

2 - 10 gallon water coolers (on sale now at Home Depot)

4 - 5 gallon plastic/refillable water jugs ($11 each)

water to fill the jugs was a mere $1.75 to fill each 5 gallon water jug (found at the grocery store entry)

ice was less than $15 for a 3 day show

The Lab Club received an overwhelming positive response to this idea and it has already been adopted for other other Agility Trials. Additionally, the Lab Club Board liked the idea so much, they're going to be using this concept in the future.

POOP BAGS

The next idea I've been looking into is biodegradable poop bags. Like most of us, I'm currently using plastic, but with 5 dogs, plus caring for client dogs, it's time to change my ways to be more earth friendly.

Now keep in mind that just like you, I don't want "stuff" on my hands or leaky bags so this concept has to meet the reality test. That's where PoopBags.com comes into play (no, I'm not receiving any kickback for this product ), there is a link on the front of my webpage (bottom right). They're biodegradable and I'm told will meet my cleanliness expectations. So I've taken the plunge and ordered a mass amount of the product so when you next see me, ask to see a bag and inquire how it's going. I suspect all will be fine and so I'm encouraging you to make the "green" change as well.

I've shared a few ideas on how to "Go Green" in the dog world, does anyone else have any they would like to share?

The Truth on Cat Population - Article

Originally posted on July 10, 2008:

Occassionally I come across some interesting animal information and this was one of them. The short story is below and a link to the full story from the Wall Street Journal is below.

Lisa

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Short Description:

Can a single female cat and her offspring really produce 420,000 cats over just seven years? This article examines the validity and origin of this commonly cited statistic, concluding that this statistic is likely an urban myth. A lower estimate is provided and substantiated by research by biologist Michael Stoskopf, who documented six kittens per year with a 75% kitten mortality.

Abstract:

Hundreds of media reports have used the statistic that a single female cat and her offspring produce 420,000 cats over seven years. However, research by reporter Carl Bialik failed to produce the origin of this statistic. It is believed that the statistic may have been derived from "assuming that each female cat survives into adulthood, and along the way begins reproducing herself at around six months, then continues creating litters every half year. That means 14 cycles of exponential growth over seven years." However, this fails to take into account kitten mortality, which could skew the estimate significantly.

Instead, The Feral Cat Times published a number closer to 100, citing research by Michael Stoskopf of North Carolina State, which showed that three quarters of feral cats' kittens die before reaching reproductive age.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB116058075161889442.html