California plans a bill to have all dogs spayed/neutered by the age of four months, with the exception of dogs registered with the AKC, UKC, or ADBA being dogs that are guide dogs/service dogs, police dogs, or the owner has a letter from a vet stating that this dog is too sick to be spayed or neutered.
The legal info: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1601-1650/ab_1634_bill_20070223_introduced.html
The idea behind this bill is great, but (and it's a big BUT), the dogs should not have to be guide dog, service dogs or police dogs in order to be bred. We would be saying goodbye to responsible breeders who truly care about the health and well-being of their dogs (and cats). I am all for shelter dogs, but just because a breeder doesn't train therapy dogs or community service dogs does not mean that a great specimen of a conformation or working dog should not be allowed to breed and produce more healthy, intelligent dogs.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Last Week's Class
I planned on having these photos up last weekend, but I wasn't able to get them off Patrick's MacBook unil the other day. So, here they are!Our class last week was great. It was just me with Jade and Liz with Blue because Kate (with Bella) was sick, and the nice lady with the handsome Yellow Lab didn't show. I've never had such a small class, but I loved it! :)
We did our first off-leash heel, and Linda introduced us to a little rally sequence, which we also completed off-leash. So fun! I'm not sure if we are having class this Thursday because Linda and her Shelties are competing in the Salt City Cluster dog show at the fairgrounds. The show starts Thursday, so she might have to be there Thursday evening. I hope not, though. I love going to class... Waiting another whole week would be agonizing! ;)
I am looking forward to the dog show, though. We make it a point to go every year, along with the Wine Country Cluster on Seneca Lake in the end of September. That is always a great show. So many dogs, so much to see... So much fun!
This afternoon, Patrick, his mom (I think) and I are running to Syracuse. I have to buy Jade his fifth bag of the Innova EVO Reduced Fat, and I need to stop at Pe
tCo to buy another bag of Zukes (they don't sell them atPetSmart). It's kind of chilly today, only in the low 40s, but the sun is shining brightly. I hope we get back from Syracuse with the sun still in the sky because I'd like to take Jade for a walk and work a little bit on some of his commands outside of the house. His enthusiam to work is much better when we're not in our own house or yard.
tCo to buy another bag of Zukes (they don't sell them atPetSmart). It's kind of chilly today, only in the low 40s, but the sun is shining brightly. I hope we get back from Syracuse with the sun still in the sky because I'd like to take Jade for a walk and work a little bit on some of his commands outside of the house. His enthusiam to work is much better when we're not in our own house or yard. Alright, enough rambling. On to the photos!
Oh, to Linda and Liz: If you want copies of these photos and more (I only posted the best ones), send me an e-mail and I'll send you the full-resolution images.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Photos from Class #2
Patrick photographed us last night during our class. Class went well. Only being the second class, we had a dog join us that didn't attend the first class - He's a bouncy 13 month old Yellow Lab named Cody, and he's a handful, but he's soo handsome and seems very sweet. :)
Below, from left to right we have Liz with Blue, Kate with Bella (Liz and Kate are sisters) and Linda holding Jade during our "supervised separation". He can't see me - I'm in another room, but he's definitely keeping an eye out in my direction, hah. He did perfect, by the way. Not a whine, no tension in the leash... CGC prep. :)
Hehe, Jade's a serious leaner.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Class #2
Tonight will be our second intermed. obedience class with Linda. I am looking very forward to it, as always. :)Jade is so funny. He's been going to the door and tapping the knob with his nose. This does not mean he has to go pee - it means he wants to go somewhere. Anywhere. Tonight he'll know where we are going the second I grab his leash and his other collar, heh. Dogs are so smart. It amazes me, the things they figure out.
Before class, I'm going to trim his nails again and clean his ears. The quicks of his nails are finally starting to recede, thank goodness. His nails are so thick and so black, it's impossible to tell where the quick is, so I think that until recenltly, I hadn't been cutting them short enough to make any difference in the quick. While I was trying to get the nails shorter, they were actually just getting longer, and the darn quick was growing out further. Blah, annoying thing. I did buy a dremel for his nails a couple months ago, and that works really nice in smoothing them after I trim them. It also helps in getting the nails shorter than I will comfortably cut them. That way, I can dremel right up to the quick without drawing any blood, while knowing that I've gotten them as short as I can for the time being. Hopefully that made sense, haha.
The yeast infection in Jade's ears is getting better. The veterinarian said that his worst ear was his left ear, but I seriously think he may have misspoken, because Jade's left ear (though he was scratching it this morning) is the ear that has most noticeably gotten better. His right ear is the one that still has lots of black gunk deep down. Poor guy. The enzyme gel really seems to be helping, but I think that if his ears have not completely cleared up in another week or so, we'll have to go back to the vet, since it's already been almost two weeks.
Well, I'm going to hop in the shower then work with Jade on our new commands a little bit more and get him ready to go.
Hopefully we'll have some photos from our class tonight. I told Patrick that if he doesn't take pictures of us, I won't buy him his cheese quesadilla and nachos from Taco Bell for dinner, haha.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Change of Plans
Hiii, it's Jenny.
Jade's not going to be writing his own posts anymore because it's quicker when I do it, haha.
Jade's not going to be writing his own posts anymore because it's quicker when I do it, haha.
Skidboot and Collectibles
Jenny watched this video this morning and loved it. It's a cute, heartwarming story about a Heeler/Kelpie ranch dog named Skidboot. He is so smart!
The video is short. You should definitely watch it, and then give your dogs big hugs.
Jenny wants this collectible Danish blue plate because it's a handsome Dobe with natural ears like mine! She found it at at http://www.agathaandlouise.com.
The video is short. You should definitely watch it, and then give your dogs big hugs.
Jenny wants this collectible Danish blue plate because it's a handsome Dobe with natural ears like mine! She found it at at http://www.agathaandlouise.com.
Obedience Class and a Weekend of Abandonment
The chili that Jenny is eating smells s o o o good! Toby is hanging out on the deck in the sun, but the snow out there is still a bit too cold for my butt, so I'm hanging out inside, laying in the sun at the patio door with my kitties.
Last weekend, Toby and I were home all alone. Jenny and Patrick left, and then Jenny's mom and Kat left, and I was in my den. Patrick put lots of pillows in ther for me, so I was pretty comfortable, but it was still lonely and quiet. Patrick's mom, whom I will refer to as Momma S., came over Friday evening and hung out with Toby and me for a while. She brought yummy treats and gave us dinner, took us outside and I stretched my legs a bit. She came over the next morning, too, with more goodies! Toby and I wrestled in the living room and chased each other while Momma S. read her book, and then we said goodbye.
Saturday night, I was nice and toasty in my den when I heard a key in the door. Toby's paws padded down the hallway and I jumped up. The door opened, and it was my Jenny and Patrick! They were finally home! I was so excited, I could have burst right out of my crate. When they opened my door, I ran as fast as I could through the kitchen and living room and couldn't wait for Jenny to throw her arms around me. For the rest of the night, I was snuggled up with Jenny in the living room. I was so happy to have her home.
* * * *
Last week, Jenny gave me a warm bath and trimmed my nails. She even used the blowdryer on me. I'm not too fond of the noise, but I sure do love the heat. After all of this, I had a feeling we might be going somewhere, and when I heard her jingle my other collar, I knew I was going for a ride!
We pulled up outside a building that two other dogs and their people were walking into. After Jenny clipped my leash, I bounced out of the car, full of excitement. She told me to pee, but I didn't have to. The air was very cold, so we jogged through the parking lot, in a hurry to get inside the building. Oh, wait - Right before we went inside, I decided had to pee. When I finished, Patrick pulled open the door and we walked into a room where there were two dogs that I recognized... Blue and Bella! We had taken our first agility class together back in October and November! Seeing those two instantly made me feel more comfortable. I sniffed around a bit, and my senses were wholly overwhelmed. So many dog smells... I was liking this place a lot when the door opened to a big room full of toys and things to climb on, and I heard a familiar voice - It was Linda! She was so much fun in agility class, and I loved having her as my teacher. She's really fun and gives me treats!
Jenny and the other girls talked for a bit, and then we went to work. I did a lot of basic stuff, and I also am learning to "stand" and work on my "finish." One time, when Jenny and I did a recall, instead of having me front, she turned and ran away from me and I chased her! I was initially surprised, but that was a lot of fun. At one point, while Blue and Bella and their girls were working with Linda, I decided to climb on top of the PlaySkool house and perch up there with Patrick. It was fun - like being on top of a fort!
Class passed really quickly, but I am excited to go back this Thursday. I love learning with my Jenny.
Patrick is going to take pictures this week, too, so you'll be able to see us in action! :)
Last weekend, Toby and I were home all alone. Jenny and Patrick left, and then Jenny's mom and Kat left, and I was in my den. Patrick put lots of pillows in ther for me, so I was pretty comfortable, but it was still lonely and quiet. Patrick's mom, whom I will refer to as Momma S., came over Friday evening and hung out with Toby and me for a while. She brought yummy treats and gave us dinner, took us outside and I stretched my legs a bit. She came over the next morning, too, with more goodies! Toby and I wrestled in the living room and chased each other while Momma S. read her book, and then we said goodbye.
Saturday night, I was nice and toasty in my den when I heard a key in the door. Toby's paws padded down the hallway and I jumped up. The door opened, and it was my Jenny and Patrick! They were finally home! I was so excited, I could have burst right out of my crate. When they opened my door, I ran as fast as I could through the kitchen and living room and couldn't wait for Jenny to throw her arms around me. For the rest of the night, I was snuggled up with Jenny in the living room. I was so happy to have her home.
* * * *
Last week, Jenny gave me a warm bath and trimmed my nails. She even used the blowdryer on me. I'm not too fond of the noise, but I sure do love the heat. After all of this, I had a feeling we might be going somewhere, and when I heard her jingle my other collar, I knew I was going for a ride!
We pulled up outside a building that two other dogs and their people were walking into. After Jenny clipped my leash, I bounced out of the car, full of excitement. She told me to pee, but I didn't have to. The air was very cold, so we jogged through the parking lot, in a hurry to get inside the building. Oh, wait - Right before we went inside, I decided had to pee. When I finished, Patrick pulled open the door and we walked into a room where there were two dogs that I recognized... Blue and Bella! We had taken our first agility class together back in October and November! Seeing those two instantly made me feel more comfortable. I sniffed around a bit, and my senses were wholly overwhelmed. So many dog smells... I was liking this place a lot when the door opened to a big room full of toys and things to climb on, and I heard a familiar voice - It was Linda! She was so much fun in agility class, and I loved having her as my teacher. She's really fun and gives me treats!
Jenny and the other girls talked for a bit, and then we went to work. I did a lot of basic stuff, and I also am learning to "stand" and work on my "finish." One time, when Jenny and I did a recall, instead of having me front, she turned and ran away from me and I chased her! I was initially surprised, but that was a lot of fun. At one point, while Blue and Bella and their girls were working with Linda, I decided to climb on top of the PlaySkool house and perch up there with Patrick. It was fun - like being on top of a fort!
Class passed really quickly, but I am excited to go back this Thursday. I love learning with my Jenny.
Patrick is going to take pictures this week, too, so you'll be able to see us in action! :)
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
As the sunshine poured in, I felt Jenny's weight shift and she moved her legs to the side of the bed. I knew what that meant - rise and shine! I yawned and stretched my front legs, spreading my toes, and then slid my front half off the bed. My back legs remained stretched out behind me like a frog. With a groan (or as Jenny calls it, a "moo"), I lifted my butt into the air. My back legs stood on the mattress and my front legs on the floor as I st r e e tched and pffffftt...
Oh, hey guys. Welcome to my blog.
My Jenny set this up so I can write about the stuff we do each day and about the fun training classes we take. Tomorrow is my first class at the Intermediate level of obedience. Jenny has been working with me a lot, and I think I'm doing pretty good, so that's cool. I'm really looking forward to our next agility class which will be outside. It starts in the beginning of May!
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