Rain be gone!

I've been really busy lately between work and the dogs. Although with the rain and all of my agility classes canceled, I'm not sure exactly what I'm DOING at night, but I'm sure I'm really busy. And productive. Yeah, that's it.


So the rain has really been cramping my agility style lately. Last Sunday I was supposed to meet some friends at PP to practice, but we got rained out. I did get to practice on Saturday because I worked with Jack at Woodside. He's my 1 year old border collie student that I'm training for a friend because she has knee problems. He is lots of fun to work with, very smart and willing. Our foundation classes are usually Thursday nights, but we have been rained out so much lately I don't think I've been to a class with him for about a month. But when I meet with him outside of class, I also get free field time Icon, which is cool. Last Saturday I set up a fast European course (and you thought that was an oxy-moron!). It had a lot of running and was really a blast to run. I also ran it backwards, which was not quite as fun but it was quite an experience. Icon missed his weave entry the first time through but got it the 2nd time. I'm going back to Woodside to work with Jack Saturday and will probably set up another course for Icon. But I think it will be a jumpers course. Moving those contacts by myself is not fun! On Sunday I'm going to Workin' Paws in Hollister to do some course work with friends. The weather is supposed to be pretty nice, I'm very excited to be able to go outdoors again! Not to mention Sunday starts DST! Woot!

And next weekend... I'm actually entered in a trial! It's been so long, I hope I remember what to do.

Another photo that requires the "Jaws" theme

I was looking through some old photos to see what Icon looked like around 16 weeks old and I came across this photo, which I find hilarious.

Icon is the poor victim in the middle, being circled by sharks aka his littermates. From left to right the sharks are Trace, Pilot and Cassidy. Poor Icon.

I'm 16 weeks old!

And all I got for my birthday was a lousy stick...



But I believe in making lemon aid from lemons, so I had fun with it.








Can I PLEEZE have something more fun than a stick?


No? Well *pppth*

Death from below

(best viewed while listening to the "Jaws" theme music)

It's an earmergency!!!

Last night before going to bed Rampage's right ear, which had been prick for a couple weeks, collapsed! All night I dreamed of Rampage's beautiful prick ears in all sorts of locations. Not necessarily on his head!

This morning I awoke to TWO collapsed ears. So now Rampage is the proud new owner of moleskin earmuffs.

I didn't size them very well so I don't think they'll stay in long. They cover too much fur. And I also think my skinbond isn't as bondy as it used to be (it's 3 years old after all...)

So I will probably be re-doing his ears tonight. But I already feel less anxious! Stupid teething... (Rampage is also missing 3 front teeth).

Yearning for Yarn

(coming up with blog titles is the BEST part of blog writing)

Rampage is fascinated with yarn. I used to knit quite a bit and still have my knitting basket beside my bed with all of my unfinished work in it. I don't know why I still have it because I haven't touched it since I moved into the house 5 years ago. And come to think of it, I don't think I've even touched it since moving to California 8 years ago! I might as well get rid of it. I have a half finished cable knit sweater that I would have no clue how to pick up and finish off at this point.

When we're just hanging out in one room I keep the doors to the surrounding rooms shut to contain a certain adventurous puppy. But sometimes fist thing in the morning, as I groggily wake up and shuffle my way to the coffee maker with my only thought "NEED COFFEE" I will forget. And inevitably, by the time the coffee is brewing, Rampage will running around the kitchen with a trail of pink or blue or black yarn winding around my kitchen table, through Icon's legs, back down the hall and into the bedroom. He looks SO proud of himself with his tail held high and a swagger to his step. He shakes it around, throws it in the air and then pounces on it in order to make the biggest tangle possible. It's ridiculously cute and almost criminal to stop the cuteness, but I don't see how letting it continue could result an anything good, although maybe he'll eventually learn how to put a bow in Icon's fur. So I take it away and he follows me hopefully trying to grab the yarn as I wind it up. But I just put it away and remember to shut the door this time (and usually I force Apollo and Foster to get out of bed at this point - lazy dogs).

If he could speak I think poor Rampage would tell everyone that I don't let him do ANYTHING fun. At least not first thing in the morning.

You know you're bored when...

Holy cow, I really don't do well when I have a weekend free and it's raining outside. And not to mention, it's a three day raining weekend. Luckily I caught the one non-precipitous moment of each day and was able to take the dogs to a park to burn off some energy. My back yard certainly wasn't an option. By Sunday morning there was a lake in place of my lawn.

So I ended up watching a lot of agility DVDs. The 12 poles in 12 days dvd and the reliable running aframes dvd. I also started Moe's foundation dvd, but I had to take a break. I'll get back to that one next weekend, most likely. Aside from that I basically trained the dogs in my livingroom. I trained the dogs so much I actually ran out of training treats (which lately has been cheese sticks and hot dogs).

Anyway, I got a bit of video while working with Rampage this morning. It's a bit boring but best viewed without sound. I hate my voice... I really have to start using music instead of sound.


Training on a rainy day from Agility Dogs on Vimeo.