More information

I got a little more information about my little Calliope this morning.

She is being retired because her partner of almost 3 years passed away. It made me so sad to hear this! Now Calliope is in foster care in San Rafael and the report I got said she is a "nice dog but has issues with small dogs".

I had no idea that I missed her as much as I do!! This is probably because I didn't let myself think about her. I didn't hear much from her partner, and it hurt to not know how she was doing. So I didn't mention her much on here, or to anyone else. On the few occasions that I did talk about her, it was to say I missed her.

While I was raising her, we didn't click at first. I don't know why that was, but while I liked her, I wasn't in love with her. It may have been that I was really busy, and it may have been because she was a challenge. It may have also been that I was used to my independent Patriot, and didn't know what to think of a dog who wanted to be touching me at all times. It may have also been that I seemed to have things destroyed every time I left her at home. She could pull things through the bars of her crate and destroy them in minutes. She cost me a couple hundred dollars in stuff this way.

On the other hand, she was practically perfect in public! I can't think of more than a handfull of times that she caused a problem. She kept me safe one night walking from my car to the house when a strange man started to aproach us. She immediatly squared her body to him and growled, making it VERY clear that he was not to come any closer. He didn't, and walked the other way. That was the one and only time she ever did anything like that. She was always very inteligent and proved that shortly after she graduated. Sorry if that link doesn't work.

Gradually, I got more and more attached to her. By the time her recall date was assigned I didn't want to let her go. She is the only one of my two PIT's (who made it to recall) that I cried over. Funny enough, they were both recalled at Fun Day! With Patriot I was too excited for him to become a guide dog, so I didn't cry when I said goodbye to him.

With Calliope, her recall ruined Fun Day, which was my birthday, for me. I couldn't even be happy that my fiance was there to see me for the first time in over a month! It broke my heart to walk away from her in the kennels. I was very grateful that they let me put her in the kennel myself. Thinking back on it, I guess I could have walked around and looked at who else was in the kennels with her, but I practically ran out after shutting her kennel door.

She flew through training and was immediately matched with Flora. Graduation was amazing, but sad at the same time because I knew it would probably be the last time I saw her. The two times I got a letter from her partner, it made my day and I read them over and over. The last one I got was in April last year!

Now, I don't know what to do..... Every time I look at my boys I think how great it would be to have all three of my babies together. Patriot and Calliope got along when she was a PIT, and I am sure Hobbs would like her too. I feel like it would be easiest for her to come back to me rather than having to go to yet another new home. I am trying to get in touch with her first raiser as well. I know I have first choice technically, but that raiser had her for almost 10 months. If I had had a PIT that long and then had it transferred, I would hope that the second raiser would consider my feelings before adopting it.

I keep remembering all the little things about her that I loved. The way she licked the air like crazy when I blew on her face. The way she would stretch out on her belly and then wiggle to scratch her belly on the floor. The way she accidentally learned to back up because I gave her her food one day after she backed up. The way she was obsessed with chasing, biting, staring at, and licking her tail. The way she would do labbie scoots around the tennis courts and end up with pads so sore she didn't want to walk the rest of the day. Every few minutes I remember something else I miss about her, and it make it hard to think through this logically. I miss my little girl.

Sorry if this seems a little like I am rambling.....I am trying to get my thoughts about this sorted.

Retired.....what to do.

I swear, if I keep looking at this picture it will convince me I can't live without her! I didn't realize how much I miss that little girl!

I just got the news that my little girl Calliope has been retired and is available for adoption. I got offered her back, which means her partner didn't choose to keep her.

I think I have written here that she and I didn't click until about the last week we were together, but when I think about getting her back my heart leaps with excitement. I can't stop the grin from stealing over my face when I think about my little girl who was such a challenge.

I didn't get any more information about why she is being retired (she is only 4 1/2) but I am hoping to get that information tomorrow. This is a HUGE decision, and I don't know if I should use my heart or head to make it. They are leaning in opposite directions......for now.

Back to 4 Days

Ugh....Patriot is having major issues again. Sense about two weeks ago he has been getting increasingly itchy. This week (sense Saturday-ish) he has been so itchy that two benadryl every 4-6 hours isn't even touching it. His bare patches are back on his shoulders, the red patches are back on his belly, and his chin is red and itchy again.

He has still been getting his shot every week-8 days, but I decided to go back to every 4 days. The only thing that makes me worry is that the day after his shot he seems to be extra itchy. Today both the boys got baths and I soaked Patriot's itchy spots with the medicated shampoo. I know I haven't been vaccuming as much as I was before, but that is just life right now.

One thing I did notice is that this flare-up seems to coinside with us needing to start using the wall heaters in the Family room. This is where we spend a great portion of the day so it makes me wonder if it has anything to do with it.

I have a question for everyone....When does the inability to help your dog's medical issue become cruel? Patriot is still happy and healthy in every other way besides the skin issues, but it breaks my heart every time I see the ouchie red patches on his body.

Feeling Mixed

Unfortunately this weeks class wasn't quite as wonderful as last week. I have been sick sense class last week, and Kaylee started getting sick on Sunday. Needless to say, I haven't been feeling like practicing agility. So Hobbs had ZERO practice between classes. I didn't think it would make that much of a difference, but I was SOOOO wrong.

I just couldn't seem to get things right. I don't know if it was because I am still sick or if my brain just wasn't used to thinking agility.

We started off practicing on the weaves, teeter, double and triple jumps, and a tunnel to table combo. Instead of using my weaves we pulled all but 3 poles off the fixed weave base. He got about 50-60% success on those so I added another one and he did it 3 times out of the 5 times I sent him! It was great to see him weaving confidently through fixed poles! I am very happy I finally glued mine. After the first time he went up the teeter, he had no problems with it. The first time, I think he thought it was the dog walk and didn't expect it to drop out from under him. He still stuck his landing though! There were no problems with the jumps or the tunnel/table.

One funny thing that happened was that Hobbs offered his 2o2o on the table. It was set at 8 inches for the smallest dog in class. I am to the point with the table that I tell him "Table" and then wait for him to lay down before rewarding him. Well, he went to the table and then stood there and instead of laying down he went to the edge and very thoughtfully placed his front paws on the ground in 2o2o. While I laughed, I walked into him until he was back on the table and then asked him to down. It wasn't as funny the next time when he did it again, so the last time I did it, I finally told him "down" after the "table" command.

Then came the sequence/course for the evening:



The opening sequence is something that I have actually practiced at home with different equipment. I started with Hobbs on my right and then at the end of the DW had him turn right and go straight into the tunnel. It is basically a rear cross, but I can see how it would be much more difficult with a dog who is running their DW. The closing part of this sequence (#5-#8) was the part that tripped everyone up. There were several ways to handle it. The first way I tried it (the first 5 times) was to have him on my left coming out of the tunnel, post turn over 5 and 6, front cross after 6, then another front cross (sort of) after 7. That would put him on my left going up the A-frame. I thought it would be easiest so that I would be able to block the tunnel opening. NOT!!

Time after time Hobbs went into the tunnel instead of over the A-frame! It was getting frustrating, but I was trying my hardest to not transfer that to Hobbs.

The second way I tried it was to post turn 5 and 6 and 7 with a front cross after 7 bringing him on my right between the two jumps. That didn't work at first either!! Finally I got Hobbs to go over the A-frame and the jumped the contact at the bottom.......just a little frustrating. Granted, it was at competition height and it was Hobbs' first time over it at that height. Then we went back to try it one more time just jump #7 and the frame. He went through the tunnel AGAIN the first time!! The second time he went over the A-frame, but my stupid self just went flying past the a-frame and to the last jump without waiting for him so he jumped the contact again.

Unfortunatly we ended with that because class was over and the next class was starting. I tried my best to fake being excited and happy for Hobbs, but really I was very frustrated and kind of upset. Not with Hobbs, with myself for messing up the end of it and ending on a not so great note.

I don't know if Hobbs was just picking up on that, or if he was tired and discoraged, but he was mopey after the end of the run. He acted tired, and just not happy and it made me feel even worse about the way we ended things. Hopefully next week is better

I am pretty sure part of the problem is that he is not getting enought exercise to be doing agility that hard. They very rarely get a walk anymore (maybe once a week), and we only get out to the dog park once or twice a week. I feel horrible about it, but having a new baby who hates the stroller, car seat, moby wrap, carrier, and sling kind of makes it difficult.

That being said, I would never forgive myself if Hobbs got injured playing agility because he wasn't physically up to it! Now that it is winter I know we will be getting out even less because we can't even go in the yard and practice/play.

Wow, this post turned into a bit of a whine-fest! Sorry! I am just feeling a little like I am letting my dogs down.

Jumper's Only Class

Last night's agility class was great! There were just two dogs there; Hobbs and one other, and one of the handlers came without her dog. We started immediately with a course rather than practicing individual obstacles. This week we were only using jumps and tunnels not any contact stuff.

We all were allowed to walk the course and then talked about how to handle the opening sequence of the course. Here is what it looked like:


I was planning to start with him on my right and do a post turn and then a rear cross at the tunnel. Our instructor then showed us how she wanted us to handle it. The green square is where we were supposed to stand facing our dogs. Then we were to release them over the first two jumps with our left hand out to signal that they were supposed to wrap around the standard of the second jump. Then we would be in position to go with them on our left.

We spit off to practice the concept on a single jump and after two or three tries Hobbs had it down. Then it was time to walk the course one last time and then run it! My instructor wanted to try Hobbs at 20" sense that is probably what he is going to be jumping at in trials.

The rest of the course was pretty easy except for a front cross after a 180° turn...in between jumps 8 and 9. Here is the rest of the course. Click to enlarge it:



I was first to run the course and for the first time ever I got really nervous before a sequence/course. I had to try to calm myself down so I could concentrate on doing it right. After one failed attempt at the opening sequence, we got all the way to jump #7 where I forgot what I was doing. Hobbs started to go into the tunnel and then in my panic to get him back to me, I forgot that I was supposed to put in a front cross. I stopped (another mistake) and re started him in front of #7 and after 2 or 3 more tries we got it right. I don't know why it was so difficult, but I think it was because I let myself get so nervous.

I am happy to say that the other lady had just as many problems as I did. they got the opening sequence on the first try but the front cross after 180 messed them up too.

Then Hobbs and I got to try it again. This time we got all the way to jump #8 before I messed up. I just didn't get in place right that time and Hobbs missed #9. We ran it again from the first tunnel on and we got it right.

When that happened, I realized that when I get it right it seems to go slower than when I get it wrong. I don't know if that is because to get it right I have to slow down my thinking or if it is just because I start feeling frantic when I get it wrong. Interesting.

Then our instructor re numbered the course and we got to walk it again. Here it is:



This time it was the front cross before the 180, which I thought was going to be easier.....not. The first time, Hobbs thought we were doing the 180 at jump #4 again and that threw us off for jumps 6 and 7 and the front cross so he dropped a few bars. So we started over and this time we got all the way to the 180 and he got locked onto the DW so I used my OFF command and he did it!!! It was SO wonderful to see him pull off that contact obstacle and go back to the line of jumps. Hobbs' most favorite part of agility is contact obstacles. We tried it another time and this time I over pulled him at the 180 and he came to me rather than going down the line of jumps. Finally on the last one we got all of it right which felt really great!

Our instructor said that parts of these courses were at the excellent level which is great to hear. that means that if I can get comfortable doing these kinds of things a beginner jumper's course wont be that big of a deal.

I am thinking of trialing for the first time on March 15-16. It will be at a venue that allows training in the ring which will be good. Hopefully we wont need it, but it will be nice to have the option. Hopefully Hobbs and I will be ready by March!

They're Permanent!

I finally glued Hobb's weave poles! Well I glued each set of two together, but not the whole line yet because I need to be able to take them to agility class with me.

First thing I did after they were good and solid was send Hobbs through them. HE GOT STUCK!! Actually he started to get stuck tried to hop out and his back leg got caught on the last pole bringing the whole thing up in the air and it came down on top of him. Good thing it is just PVC!

Now, if this had happened just over a year ago when he was first cc'd I would be working for the next month or two to get him over it. Instead I set them back up and sent him again and he went through them, slowly and carefully, but he did it! It just goes to show how much more confident he is now that he isn't a PIT. Agility is good for this boy!

I am so happy that he is still improving on his weaving. By calling him through them, he is learning what his job is and does it on his own. I can already tell that he understands better that he is supposed to go all the way through...granted it is only 4 poles so far but it is a start. I have been moving to the side of the last pole when I call him through so that he has to make the choice to go through the poles to me rather than just run straight to me. It will be interesting to see if he is better at the poles in class now that he is doing some solid poles at home.

Patriot is shedding like mad! It is coming out in huge clumps, and I am needing to sweep the floor at least once a day to stop it from piling up in the corners....not an easy task when you are taking care of a 3 month old baby. Other than that, he is doing ok with his allergies. He still gets weekly shots, and sometimes doesn't even make it to the 7th day without needing a couple benadryl.

I am truly dreading winter. It is hard enough to get out to walk the dogs now, let alone when it is snowing again.....I need to live somewhere where it doesn't snow.

That Moment

I am talking about the moment in a beginning agility team's training when you run a course/sequence and feel totally confident. Hobbs and I had that moment in class this week!

Class was really great! We started off working on individual obstacles including weave poles, teeter, chute, and the tire jump.

Hobbs had a lot of problems the past two weeks (we didn't have class last week) practicing the poles. He would just run past them or go through the first pole and then run past the rest. I finally just left him alone for a whole week, and then he was back to his old self. I didn't get around to gluing any poles yet but I really really need to! In class he was great! He only ran past the poles 3 times out of probably 10 sends! Then I decided to send him through the 3 fixed poles that were set up and he did them on the first try!! Granted he did them very slowly and carefully, but he did them!

Next he got to go over the teeter for the first time sense we did it at full height in class months ago. Our instructor slowed it down the first few times which was a good thing because he flew off of it the first time over! I think he just forgot how to stay on lol. Finally he got over, at full speed, stayed on, and did his 2o2o. We quit with that because he was very happy with himself. He came off his contact position with his tail wagging away.

The tire and chute were no problem for him so I practiced some distance from it, and sent him through the tunnel that was snaked under the dogwalk as a discrimination. I was actually hoping I was getting him used to going into the tunnel rather than up the DW to be prepared for the sequence later in class. Little did I know that that was opposite of what was going to happen.

The sequence was great with two different push discriminations (last week was pull). This was the sequence:


I found a free design program and it it great so far. Not as fancy as the clean run software, but it was free instead of $80! The #7 tunnel is actually just one tunnel, the program just wouldn't let me tweak the tunnel enough.

The first time we ran the sequence, Hobbs did great....until #6. He kept going up the A-frame over and over and over. Finally after practically shoving him (without touching him) into the tunnel he started to go in, and then stopped and backed out of it! He has never done that before so I thought "I wonder if it is really dark in there?" So I grabbed his collar, and really happily and excitedly sent him into the tunnel again and finally he went through! I praised him and brought him back behind #5 and tried it again. This time he went right into the tunnel and we finished the run. After two other dogs had the exact same problem we figured out that they didn't know it was really a tunnel because it was SO black in the tunnel.

The place we practice in is kind of dark, but there are some lights. They just weren't shining into the other end of the tunnel enough. Someone moved one of the lights a little and none of the dogs had a problem after that.

The second time we ran it was AMAZING! Before I started, I decided I was going to just go for it, and not run cautiously. I didn't stop this time at the end of the DW to reward Hobbs' contacts. I just stopped with him and then released him and on we went! He went right into the tunnel, and then into the second tunnel and we were done! It felt so smooth and together, and afterward I thought "We can really do this!" I actually lifted Hobbs up to hug him because I was so proud of him!

I can't wait to go back to class on Monday. I finally feel like I am getting closer and closer to being ready to trial with Hobbs. Hopefully I will be able to this coming spring and summer.

Agility With Broken Legs

Just Kidding!

No, I didn't break my legs, but I sure did mess them up. The day after I took the agility videos I could no longer walk around the house let alone play agility with Hobbs. I severely strained the muscles above my knees doing a stupid work out video. It got to the point where I had to spend most of the day in bed with everything I needed to take care of Kaylee within arms reach. It was torture, but I wasn't steady enough on my feet to be safe carrying Kaylee around the house. I actually almost went to the doctor to see if I tore muscles.

Luckily on Monday morning I was feeling much better so I felt like I could at least go to Hobbs' agility class and see how it went.

Class was great! Hobbs got to try some regular weave poles and it didn't go too well. He finally did three poles, but it wasn't easy and he started to shut down and get frustrated. I guess he just needs some more practice on his. I am going to start gluing them next week though to get him used to poles that don't move.

We worked over jumps with wings to get the dogs to work further away from the handlers. Hobbs did great! The point was to run next to the dogs while they jumped, but running was out of the question for my legs. So I led out a whole bunch and then walked with him past one jump and sent him over the last one. I am SO thankful for a confident dog who knows his job!

The sequence this week was Jump, A-Frame (with a tunnel discrimination), jump, Tunnel (with an a-frame discrimination), Jump, Tire, Dog walk. This was the first time I have done any obstacle discrimination with Hobbs and I knew it would be tough for him to go through the tunnel rather than over the a-frame. This dog just loves his contacts too much!

After having to re start 4 times to get his a-frame contact, he chose the a-frame over the tunnel so we tried it again. This time I pulled him to me and at the last second sent him to the tunnel and it worked! After that part, I had to hustle to keep up with him over the jump, tire, and across the DW. All the pregnancy agility practice helped though because I just kind of stood in the center of the U the obstacles made. He did just what he was told and went over the jumps and continued down to the contact of the DW while I caught up to him. I was VERY proud of my boy for being so independent.

The second run through, we baited the bottom of the a-frame, and he did the tunnel on the first try. Again, I pulled him way off both obstacles and then sent him to the tunnel, but I wish I had had some more faith in him that he would read my body language.

The other three dogs did well too! All but one had a problem with the tunnel, but the second run, everyone got it!

Luckily I didn't re-injure myself doing agility, and next week Hobbs will have his handler back.

Holy Agility Practice!!

That's right! I actually have video proof that I am practicing with Hobbs! Lol, not once, but 4 times sense our class. He is loving it of course, and is improving every time.

The weave pole strategy is working very well, and I can almost put the poles completely upright now! I am considering gluing them now so they don't move as much, but I am going to wait for a couple weeks to get him consistently weaving them upright.


Hobbs weaving


Hobbs jumping the "sequence"


Patriot joining in the fun

Oh, if you think I look like I am walking funny.....I am! This is why!

Intermediate Agility Class #1

Class last night was so much fun!! I didn't take any pictures because I rushed out the door without my camera.

There are 3 other dogs in class besides Hobbs. The dogs and owners names are (for my memory's sake) Kathy and Ginger Snap, Judy and Ginger, and Debbie and Sadie. We are all about the same place in training, so we are all able to progress together.

The instructor asked me to bring my weave poles so that she could see where he was with weaving. That was the first thing we worked on. She watched me send him through them a couple times, and he was WAY too excited and basically tore the weaves apart. So I ran him around for a little while, and had him retrieve his bait bag a few times. Then I sent him again and he controlled himself more and actually wove through them. Then she asked me if I could recall him to me through the poles. I have never even thought of doing that so I tried it. I had him on a sit/wait and called him to me. He, of course, ran right past the poles and looked really proud of himself. Then I realized that I had called him with "come" rather than just releasing him and then telling him to weave. I tried it again and he again ran past them. The instructor had me take off two of the poles and then he did it!! I was really happy with him, so I did it a couple more times and ended on a great note. That is my homework for this week, and I am supposed to try to be able to call him through all 6 of them.

Then we moved over to the Dog Walk which was set at full height. Some of you will remember our disaster of a DW experience during our first class, and the memory of that made me nervous to send him over the full height one. I just buried my feelings though and trusted that Hobbs knew how to do it safety. I had to trust that I had done enough work after the fall, to prepare him for this. So I sent him and ran with him to the other side. The whole time I fully expected to hear him fall off.....but he didn't!! He even stopped at the bottom and offered his 2o2o!

Next was the A-Frame, which wasn't full height but almost. Hobbs flew over it, and then couldn't stop in time to do his contact. I send him over again and this time he nailed it. It is great to see that he is starting to really understand what his job is.

Then we did a sequence of DW, 3 jumps, tunnel, and A-Frame. It had two front crosses and for the first time, the dogs saw a tunnel UNDER the A-frame. The tunnel entrance was blind and ever dog missed it the first time through. We all overestimated our dogs abilities to find the entrance. I had a little bit of a hard time handling Hobbs because he was SO fast! Part of that was that the jumps were only at 12" instead of 16.....what a difference that makes! The second run through everyone did much better as did Hobbs. He missed his A-frame contact multiple times on both run- throughs. I am considering trying a running contact with him because it seems to be hard for him to slow his momentum enough for the 2o2o.

I can't wait for next week! It is so good to be doing agility again!