6/17/16
I had a private lesson in both the small training area and the big one. I am having trouble doing my weaves now and I can't figure out why. Back in the small training area I am a wiz doing the weaves but when we get out to the big area I seem to have a mental block.
Marty told me it is okay, that we will continue with private lessons working in both training areas so that I become as confident in the big training area a I am in the small one. She told me that dogs do not "generalize" and I am beginning to understand what she means when she says that. When I go out to the big training area it is as if I'd never seen the weaves before. They are never in the same place like they are in the small training area. I get frustrated but Marty keeps encouraging me and giving me treats when I try. I know that I will be able to do the weaves correctly out in the big training area again.
I say again because during my first private lesson out in the big training area, I was the only dog there. The weaves were set up along the south end by the lattice rails. Not only did I do them correctly every time but I could enter them from a distance correctly and from the weaves run about 20' into a tunnel way ahead of Marty. I did real good that day.
The next time I did the weave poles in the big training area it was during my Foundations 3 class. The training area was filled with dogs, running and doing their agility courses in separate training areas and there was lots of barking. It was so noisy I got nervous. The weaves were set up along the lattice divider between training areas and directly on the other side was a tunnel. When I was trying to do my weaves a big dog was racing through the tunnel. I could see the tunnel moving and hear the dog running through it. I could see the tunnel under the lower bar that held the lattice and I didn't even had to bend my head down. This scared me and I've had trouble with weaves out in the big area ever since.
I had a wonderful private lesson. I ran fast and happy. For the most part I followed Marty's directions. I got to do jumps, teeter, A-Frame, dog walk, table and whole bunch of jumps. I even practice the chute in the small training area before doing it in the big training area. It was so much FUN!!! Now I know why Whispy loves it so. Whispy looked so disappointed when we left the house because it was my lesson and she wasn't included...poor Whispy.
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
1st day of Novice agility
Whispy had class before my class. Marty put me in a small crate on top of a high table so I could watch. I watched until Marty and Whispy left for the far end of the training area. I started to cry and Marty came back and covered the crate. I lay down and went to sleep. When Marty and Whispy came to the training area by me she uncovered the crate so I could watch. I watched not saying anything. Whispy was fast and they looked like they were having a lot of fun.
When it was my turn, Marty put Whispy in the crate where Whispy went to sleep. Our class started out at the far end of the training center. It had two tunnels, a table, an A-Frame, a dog walk and lots of jumps. Everything is numbered. I sat on a chair waiting for Marty to walk the course so she would know how we were going to run the course.
It started with a tunnel to a jump to another tunnel set up under the A-Frame to the table then up and over the A-Frame....I did it right and didn't run back into the tunnel. Then out to a couple jumps back over the A-Frame to a tight turn into the tunnel and then some more jumps to the dog walk. It was so much fun!
We got to do it twice so Marty could work on sending me from a further distance in different places. I did good!
We did a second marked course there and I did equally well.
Then we moved to the south adjoining training area, unlike the first training area which was a slim rectangle, this training area was more square. It was really tricky! I had to pay attention. I ran it one time doing pretty good. Then while Marty was getting some instruction on how to better do the course, I was supposed to be waiting, I ran up the teeter without permission. I was so pleased with myself but when the teeter came to a stop I didn't get a treat and Marty told me I was not to do that on my own. I love teeters!
I ran the course again and this time Marty and I did it perfect. I even got my treat as I rode the teeter to the ground.
I didn't know any of the doggies or their people but Marty knew some of the people as they were running young dogs like me, new to agility. I had a lot of fun and I want to go again. Whispy and I slept all the way home. Today was a good day.
Tomorrow I am going to have a private lesson in the afternoon. I need to practice my weaves and I need to do the chutes that they have at the training center because they are bigger and the nylon is heavier than the chutes Marty has for me at home. I was afraid of the chutes at the training center but I love the chutes Marty lets me use at home.
When it was my turn, Marty put Whispy in the crate where Whispy went to sleep. Our class started out at the far end of the training center. It had two tunnels, a table, an A-Frame, a dog walk and lots of jumps. Everything is numbered. I sat on a chair waiting for Marty to walk the course so she would know how we were going to run the course.
It started with a tunnel to a jump to another tunnel set up under the A-Frame to the table then up and over the A-Frame....I did it right and didn't run back into the tunnel. Then out to a couple jumps back over the A-Frame to a tight turn into the tunnel and then some more jumps to the dog walk. It was so much fun!
We got to do it twice so Marty could work on sending me from a further distance in different places. I did good!
We did a second marked course there and I did equally well.
Then we moved to the south adjoining training area, unlike the first training area which was a slim rectangle, this training area was more square. It was really tricky! I had to pay attention. I ran it one time doing pretty good. Then while Marty was getting some instruction on how to better do the course, I was supposed to be waiting, I ran up the teeter without permission. I was so pleased with myself but when the teeter came to a stop I didn't get a treat and Marty told me I was not to do that on my own. I love teeters!
I ran the course again and this time Marty and I did it perfect. I even got my treat as I rode the teeter to the ground.
I didn't know any of the doggies or their people but Marty knew some of the people as they were running young dogs like me, new to agility. I had a lot of fun and I want to go again. Whispy and I slept all the way home. Today was a good day.
Tomorrow I am going to have a private lesson in the afternoon. I need to practice my weaves and I need to do the chutes that they have at the training center because they are bigger and the nylon is heavier than the chutes Marty has for me at home. I was afraid of the chutes at the training center but I love the chutes Marty lets me use at home.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
I want to brag about Whispy
Whispy is a neat dog. She was the first dog that Marty trained from her electric wheelchair.
Whispy was a year old before she went to her first formal obedience class with Marty. Marty was so afraid she would squish Whispy that she hung a piece of plexiglass down the left (non joystick side) to prevent Whispy from going between the wheels. Then she hooked Whispy's leash to a rod that she held under her left leg. That rod kept Whispy out away from the wheelchair.
Some of Whispy's training was done while Marty sat on the couch next to Whispy. It was too hard for Marty to teach Whispy to "sit" and "down" if Whispy was on the floor.
Whispy told me that one day Marty got down on the floor and looked at her wheelchair to see what Whispy was seeing. After Rainy helped Marty back up from the floor, Marty took down the plexiglass panel and from then on if Whispy had to be on leash, Marty would hold the leash in her left hand.
Whispy went to a couple training schools. First was Canine Coach, C&E Dog Training, Stone Mountain where they trained outside and at the UofM livestock area in the winter and then where we are training now at On the Run Canine Training Center.
Here are some photos taken of Whispy as she learned in the different training schools:
C&E Dog Training
Whispy doing the A-Frame
Whispy jumping 4"
Whispy doing the tunnel
Whispy doing the weaves
Whispy coming out the chute
These photos are of Whispy at Stone Mountain:
Here is Whispy coming out the tunnel
Whispy jumping 8"
Whispy doing the dog walk
Uof M Livestock arena as a part of Stone Mountain
Whispy racing along side wheelchair after jumping 8"
Whispy coming out a tunnel
Whispy running with the wheelchair
Here is Whispy at On the Run Canine Training Center
Running through the tunnel
Whispy was in a UKI (United Kingdom International) agility match
These photos were taken during that match
I get inspired watching Whispy run agility courses. Now that Marty doesn't use a wheelchair and has learned to walk again Whispy is learning to watch Marty's right hand that used to run the joystick on the wheelchair. Marty used to have to use verbal commands to get Whispy to move to the joystick side of the wheelchair and do the equipment (jumps, tunnel, chute, dog walk, A-Frame, weave poles, tire, teeter) by voice command only when she worked on Marty's right hand side.
Whispy is a fast learner and she really likes that Marty can now do the courses on her own two feet. Whispy is faster and happier than I have ever seen her.
Marty takes Masters Classes with Whispy and she was really good with her wheelchair. Without her wheelchair Marty had to start at square 1, that is why she got me, Cricket, so we could learn agility together with Marty using her feet. Marty is learning hand signals using both hands, body positioning and how it affects the dog, turning, pivoting, side stepping etc things that weren't for the most part possible with a wheelchair. I am having a lot of fun learning with Marty.
I already know that I am way faster than Whispy and I am already able to work at distance.
Day before my 1st Novice agility class & a word about Twig
Marty had me practicing the chute today to just make sure I remembered what to do. I did! I ran it many times getting a treat each time.
I played with Twig today, we played chase! It starts off with Twig chasing me as we race through the house. Then Twig stops and I race off as fast as I can running through the house by myself until I pass Twig who is standing still and he barks at me as I run past him. I run even faster passing him again as I race through the house. We do this several times until Twig goes and lies down, that is when the game of chase ends.
I am the first little dog that has played with Twig, I mean REALLY played, you know fully body contact playing:jumping, body blocks, wrestling, rolling on the floor. He was born with a neck problem so he never ran, jumped or played when he was a baby. When he was about 2 years old the problem was diagnosed by an orthopedic surgeon at the UofM. Twig had an Atlantoaxial (AA) Luxation and he had to have a plate with screws put in his neck to stabilize his C1 C2 vertebrae that is when he had to retire from agility. If Twig had fallen off a piece of furniture or piece of agility equipment or got bumped too hard the wrong way when playing he could have severed his spine. No wonder Twig is "mister growly man" when I get near his neck.
Twig was the 6th AA Luxation that his surgeon repaired but Twig was his smallest patient. Marty asked him what it was like to repair Twig's AA Luxation and his surgeon said it was like doing surgery on a squirrel. As you can see Twig had lots of stitches.
Now Twig can run and jump and I love to play with him. He has to take medicine 2 times per day because as he has gotten older his neck bothers him, causes him pain. He has had to go to the UofM hospital a couple of times because of the pain and not being able to move his neck. When that happens his body forms a "C", he looks funny when he tries to walk but I know he is hurting a lot. The screws have moved a little and each time he goes into the UofM hospital they check the screws positioning. Twig avoided surgery the last time his was in the hospital because Marty left him there for a week of bed rest which he would never get here. So far Twig's neck has been "stable" for a couple years now.
So besides showing Marty I remember how to do the chutes I ran playing chase with Twig. All this running keeps my muscles strong and my turning quick. I'm going to have a good dinner and then go to bed. Tomorrow will come early and then Whispy and I will be off to my first novice agility class.
I played with Twig today, we played chase! It starts off with Twig chasing me as we race through the house. Then Twig stops and I race off as fast as I can running through the house by myself until I pass Twig who is standing still and he barks at me as I run past him. I run even faster passing him again as I race through the house. We do this several times until Twig goes and lies down, that is when the game of chase ends.
I am the first little dog that has played with Twig, I mean REALLY played, you know fully body contact playing:jumping, body blocks, wrestling, rolling on the floor. He was born with a neck problem so he never ran, jumped or played when he was a baby. When he was about 2 years old the problem was diagnosed by an orthopedic surgeon at the UofM. Twig had an Atlantoaxial (AA) Luxation and he had to have a plate with screws put in his neck to stabilize his C1 C2 vertebrae that is when he had to retire from agility. If Twig had fallen off a piece of furniture or piece of agility equipment or got bumped too hard the wrong way when playing he could have severed his spine. No wonder Twig is "mister growly man" when I get near his neck.
Now Twig can run and jump and I love to play with him. He has to take medicine 2 times per day because as he has gotten older his neck bothers him, causes him pain. He has had to go to the UofM hospital a couple of times because of the pain and not being able to move his neck. When that happens his body forms a "C", he looks funny when he tries to walk but I know he is hurting a lot. The screws have moved a little and each time he goes into the UofM hospital they check the screws positioning. Twig avoided surgery the last time his was in the hospital because Marty left him there for a week of bed rest which he would never get here. So far Twig's neck has been "stable" for a couple years now.
So besides showing Marty I remember how to do the chutes I ran playing chase with Twig. All this running keeps my muscles strong and my turning quick. I'm going to have a good dinner and then go to bed. Tomorrow will come early and then Whispy and I will be off to my first novice agility class.
2nd Adventure
I think I forgot to mention that Marty and I went on the Walk for Animals again this May 7th. What a difference a year makes. I weigh . 5 oz more than the first time we walked, weighing in at 3 . 8#s and it is solid muscle! I've been working out a lot too.
Marty and I took the shuttle bus to the humane society, getting there 2 hours early. We walked all around, me on a loose leash while Marty looked at things that were for sale. We got a bottle of free water and a nice fresh banana to snack on before the walk began.
We sat down while folks were on the stage talking about fundraising and the walk and then off we went joining hundreds of people and their pets. It was so much fun! Like last year I had my picture taken many times and I am sure I was again the smallest dog there.
We made it to the half way point, the turn around, and had more free water and some free snacks before starting the walk back.
It had rained during the night but the morning air was hazy from the forest fires in Canada. Lucky for us the wind came and blew the haze away before we began our walk. The day was beautiful!
When we got back to the humane society Marty and I walked around until she found something we would like to eat. After our little lunch we walked around to the different booths picking up free things and trying to win some other free things. Marty didn't buy anything but I got a lot of free treats in the bag she was carrying.
Last year when we got home we went to bed because we were both worn out totally. This year Marty lay down for a nap and when the phone rang she got right up to answer it in the little birds room. While she was on the phone she saw that her little lovebird SunKissed was ill and she rushed off to the emergency bird vet. She came home without SunKissed and she cried and cried. Seems SunKissed was a very old birdie, 16 years old, and he was dying of old age. I'll bet that he would have died during the night if Marty had not rushed him off to the birdie vet. She was very very sad.
That was my second big adventure. I would like to do this walk every year.
Marty and I took the shuttle bus to the humane society, getting there 2 hours early. We walked all around, me on a loose leash while Marty looked at things that were for sale. We got a bottle of free water and a nice fresh banana to snack on before the walk began.
We sat down while folks were on the stage talking about fundraising and the walk and then off we went joining hundreds of people and their pets. It was so much fun! Like last year I had my picture taken many times and I am sure I was again the smallest dog there.
We made it to the half way point, the turn around, and had more free water and some free snacks before starting the walk back.
It had rained during the night but the morning air was hazy from the forest fires in Canada. Lucky for us the wind came and blew the haze away before we began our walk. The day was beautiful!
When we got back to the humane society Marty and I walked around until she found something we would like to eat. After our little lunch we walked around to the different booths picking up free things and trying to win some other free things. Marty didn't buy anything but I got a lot of free treats in the bag she was carrying.
Last year when we got home we went to bed because we were both worn out totally. This year Marty lay down for a nap and when the phone rang she got right up to answer it in the little birds room. While she was on the phone she saw that her little lovebird SunKissed was ill and she rushed off to the emergency bird vet. She came home without SunKissed and she cried and cried. Seems SunKissed was a very old birdie, 16 years old, and he was dying of old age. I'll bet that he would have died during the night if Marty had not rushed him off to the birdie vet. She was very very sad.
That was my second big adventure. I would like to do this walk every year.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Agility Foundation and Weave Pole classes
On February 22, 2016 I started my Foundations 1 class. It was also that day that Rainy came home from the hospital, diagnosed with at least Stage III Lymphoma cancer which is terminal.
I would need to successfully compete Foundations 1, 2 and 3 classes each 7 weeks in length.
Each block of lessons built on what we learned in the previous block. All the puppies/dogs in the class needed to be able to get in and out of a container as part of learning our two foot contacts for the contact equipment (teeter, A-Frame, dog walk) that we would eventually learn how to do. Marty found a plastic food container with a lid, some nubby shelf liner, a yellow towel and a plastic lid from Crystal drink container for me to use as a target. We had the tiniest equipment for me to use and it was easy for Marty to carry to and from class.
At home Marty set the open container on the nubby pad in front of my house so that I had to jump in and out of it to get into or out of my house where I eat my meals. That was so easy. Then when I was doing that easily she turned the box over on top of the nubby pad so the box didn't slip and laid the towel on top of the box. I had to jump on and off the box getting in and out of my house. This was really easy.
Then came the hard part. Starting with the box, bottom side down, I had to jump in with all 4 feet then only put my front feet out of the box onto the floor. Marty would turn the box so I never knew if it would be skinny or wide.
Once I got the bottom side down box down pat Marty turned to box over to bottom side up and I had to learn to jump up on the box with all four feet then put my front feet down on the ground. Oh I loved the treats I got as I learned all of this at home.
I was a wiz in class too.
Many of the things we were doing in class Marty will set things up for me to do them at home only the things were smaller because Marty's house is small, not all the space like at the training center.
I had trouble with the tunnels but now I love them. I also had great trouble with the chute because it was dark and the fabric of the chute was heavy. Marty used the kids tunnels we have at home that got me over my fear of tunnels for setting up chutes. She attached some light weight rip stop nylon to one end though it was only draped over the far opening of the little tunnel. When I had no problem going through the chute that way, Marty pulled the whole 6 feet of rip stop nylon out forming the chute. Neat thing was that all the Chihuahuas here (Whispy, Twig and Pin) all ran through the chute with no problems so I just followed them through. We all got treats. Once I was doing that quickly Marty set up a second chute so we had to go through one to come into the room and go through the other to leave the room. All of us ran the chutes until Marty was laughing and told us no more treats, showing us that we had eaten them all up.
That was a really fun training day, it didn't even feel like training either. It was the last thing Pin would do with us because she died suddenly in the middle of the night. Marty was very sad so I didn't do chutes for a few days and then Marty set up one chute and I ran it over and over again as quickly as I could until she was again laughing. It was so good to hear her laugh again. <don't tell anyone but I am glad Pin is gone because she was always trying to attack me>
During the Foundations classes we learned all the equipment except the weave poles. Marty had to sign me up for weave pole classes done in blocks of three in addition to the Foundations classes. It took me only 3 blocks of weave pole classes to be able to weave all 12 poles correctly and find the opening from any direction correctly.
Here is me doing the weaves poles:
First I did them with Marty on my left and then I did them with Marty on my right
In these photos I was moving "fast" for where I was in my training. Now many weeks past those classes these photos catch me moving slowly. I am blazing fast now!
I had to learn to do the weave poles no matter which side Marty is on or how far away from the weave poles she is. Sometimes she is more than 10 feet away from me as I run the weaves.
I successfully completed my Foundations 3 class on 5/23/16 and I will start going to Novice Agility on Wednesday mornings following Whispy's Master's Agility class on 6/16. I am so excited!
When we were in Foundations 3 our class got to go out to the big training area to run courses. It is fun but kinda scary. Marty took me to some private classes out in the big training area when I was the only dog in the whole place. But during class when we trained out there there were tons of dogs and lots of noise and movement. I will have another private class on 6/16 to practice anything I had trouble with during my first Novice class.
I would need to successfully compete Foundations 1, 2 and 3 classes each 7 weeks in length.
Each block of lessons built on what we learned in the previous block. All the puppies/dogs in the class needed to be able to get in and out of a container as part of learning our two foot contacts for the contact equipment (teeter, A-Frame, dog walk) that we would eventually learn how to do. Marty found a plastic food container with a lid, some nubby shelf liner, a yellow towel and a plastic lid from Crystal drink container for me to use as a target. We had the tiniest equipment for me to use and it was easy for Marty to carry to and from class.
At home Marty set the open container on the nubby pad in front of my house so that I had to jump in and out of it to get into or out of my house where I eat my meals. That was so easy. Then when I was doing that easily she turned the box over on top of the nubby pad so the box didn't slip and laid the towel on top of the box. I had to jump on and off the box getting in and out of my house. This was really easy.
Then came the hard part. Starting with the box, bottom side down, I had to jump in with all 4 feet then only put my front feet out of the box onto the floor. Marty would turn the box so I never knew if it would be skinny or wide.
Once I got the bottom side down box down pat Marty turned to box over to bottom side up and I had to learn to jump up on the box with all four feet then put my front feet down on the ground. Oh I loved the treats I got as I learned all of this at home.
I was a wiz in class too.
Many of the things we were doing in class Marty will set things up for me to do them at home only the things were smaller because Marty's house is small, not all the space like at the training center.
I had trouble with the tunnels but now I love them. I also had great trouble with the chute because it was dark and the fabric of the chute was heavy. Marty used the kids tunnels we have at home that got me over my fear of tunnels for setting up chutes. She attached some light weight rip stop nylon to one end though it was only draped over the far opening of the little tunnel. When I had no problem going through the chute that way, Marty pulled the whole 6 feet of rip stop nylon out forming the chute. Neat thing was that all the Chihuahuas here (Whispy, Twig and Pin) all ran through the chute with no problems so I just followed them through. We all got treats. Once I was doing that quickly Marty set up a second chute so we had to go through one to come into the room and go through the other to leave the room. All of us ran the chutes until Marty was laughing and told us no more treats, showing us that we had eaten them all up.
That was a really fun training day, it didn't even feel like training either. It was the last thing Pin would do with us because she died suddenly in the middle of the night. Marty was very sad so I didn't do chutes for a few days and then Marty set up one chute and I ran it over and over again as quickly as I could until she was again laughing. It was so good to hear her laugh again. <don't tell anyone but I am glad Pin is gone because she was always trying to attack me>
During the Foundations classes we learned all the equipment except the weave poles. Marty had to sign me up for weave pole classes done in blocks of three in addition to the Foundations classes. It took me only 3 blocks of weave pole classes to be able to weave all 12 poles correctly and find the opening from any direction correctly.
Here is me doing the weaves poles:
In these photos I was moving "fast" for where I was in my training. Now many weeks past those classes these photos catch me moving slowly. I am blazing fast now!
I had to learn to do the weave poles no matter which side Marty is on or how far away from the weave poles she is. Sometimes she is more than 10 feet away from me as I run the weaves.
I successfully completed my Foundations 3 class on 5/23/16 and I will start going to Novice Agility on Wednesday mornings following Whispy's Master's Agility class on 6/16. I am so excited!
When we were in Foundations 3 our class got to go out to the big training area to run courses. It is fun but kinda scary. Marty took me to some private classes out in the big training area when I was the only dog in the whole place. But during class when we trained out there there were tons of dogs and lots of noise and movement. I will have another private class on 6/16 to practice anything I had trouble with during my first Novice class.
Turbo Pups
June 17, 2015 I went to my first "Turbo Pups" agility class. These were classes for puppies going to compete in agility. I was really excited!
There was so much to learn and I would be very tired and sleep all the way home in the van. The puppies in the class were really nice.
We were going to be learning each piece of agility equipment. I also had to learn a trick and that is when I told Marty I wanted to be a service dog like Rainy. Rainy used to work along side Marty's electric wheelchair but then Marty got surgery and learned to walk again so I never got to run along side the wheelchair like Whispy. Marty thought and thought and finally came up with a great idea....I could push my plush zebra in a little wheelchair.
This trick was fun to learn. I got extra special treats and Marty and I worked on it a lot at home. Marty had to make a small modification to the wheelchair so I could push it and zebra had to sit on a flat heavy rock because I kept tipping the wheelchair back toward me. I also had to stop biting my zebra on the head. Once I got all that down then Rainy snatched zebra out of the wheelchair and ran off with it. I was sad and confused. Marty made Rainy bring zebra back and from then on zebra had to use a seat belt to keep Rainy from stealing it.
I only went to 3 Turbo Pup classes because Marty suddenly got very sick and had to go to the hospital and be on bed rest until just before Christmas, but I got to show everyone in my class the great trick I'd worked so hard on before I had to stop going to class. I didn't even get to say goodbye and I never saw any of those puppies again.
There was so much to learn and I would be very tired and sleep all the way home in the van. The puppies in the class were really nice.
We were going to be learning each piece of agility equipment. I also had to learn a trick and that is when I told Marty I wanted to be a service dog like Rainy. Rainy used to work along side Marty's electric wheelchair but then Marty got surgery and learned to walk again so I never got to run along side the wheelchair like Whispy. Marty thought and thought and finally came up with a great idea....I could push my plush zebra in a little wheelchair.
This trick was fun to learn. I got extra special treats and Marty and I worked on it a lot at home. Marty had to make a small modification to the wheelchair so I could push it and zebra had to sit on a flat heavy rock because I kept tipping the wheelchair back toward me. I also had to stop biting my zebra on the head. Once I got all that down then Rainy snatched zebra out of the wheelchair and ran off with it. I was sad and confused. Marty made Rainy bring zebra back and from then on zebra had to use a seat belt to keep Rainy from stealing it.
I only went to 3 Turbo Pup classes because Marty suddenly got very sick and had to go to the hospital and be on bed rest until just before Christmas, but I got to show everyone in my class the great trick I'd worked so hard on before I had to stop going to class. I didn't even get to say goodbye and I never saw any of those puppies again.
Formal Training Begins
March 17, 2015 I went to my first puppy class. Marty had to get permission because it was for real puppies, you know the babies less than 6 months old. I was too old for that class had I not been a tiny Chihuahua.
Wow those puppies had no manners! I sat next to Marty and growled at the puppies that launched themselves at me without introducing themselves to me first. How RUDE! That was before class started.
Classes were fun. I could already walk on a loose leash and I loved showing off. I was the fastest on the "recalls".
After the first night of class I calmed down about the puppies that ran up to me without greeting me first. I had learned they were nice puppies and just didn't know any better.
We learned things like walking on a loose leash, "sit", "come", "leave it", "down" <-well I still have trouble with that one.
We also got to try some agility things like running through a tunnel and walking over or in my case jumping over swimming noodles. We walked on weird surfaces too. I really liked going to class. I went for the whole 5 weeks.
Wow those puppies had no manners! I sat next to Marty and growled at the puppies that launched themselves at me without introducing themselves to me first. How RUDE! That was before class started.
Classes were fun. I could already walk on a loose leash and I loved showing off. I was the fastest on the "recalls".
After the first night of class I calmed down about the puppies that ran up to me without greeting me first. I had learned they were nice puppies and just didn't know any better.
We learned things like walking on a loose leash, "sit", "come", "leave it", "down" <-well I still have trouble with that one.
We also got to try some agility things like running through a tunnel and walking over or in my case jumping over swimming noodles. We walked on weird surfaces too. I really liked going to class. I went for the whole 5 weeks.
First Adventure
Marty has lots of rules here and I was quick to learn them or Whispy would remind me. We have to wait our turn to get a treat but we always get one unless we act rude. We run to our houses when Marty says "Breakfast!" or "Dinner!" I love eating.
In April 2015 Marty and I went on a Walk for Animals to help raise money for the humane society. I never walked that far before. There were literally more than a thousand animals on the walk with their people. I saw cats in screened strollers an a huge tortoise in a wagon. Nobody bothered me. I just walked right along on a loose leash next to giant dogs and small dogs. I think I was the smallest dog there.
I didn't finish the walk on my own two feet. I was so tired I didn't know what to do so I stopped and waved my arms in the air. Marty scooped me up and tucked me in the front of her bib overalls. I fell fast asleep.
Lots of folks talked to Marty about me and I had my picture taken many times. When we got back to the building Marty bought a really good pulled pork sandwich and she had to dump me out on the ground because I was so hungry I didn't mind my manners. Marty shared the sandwich and some fresh cold water with me.
It was a wonderful adventure and I slept all the way home on the shuttle bus and then in our van.
In April 2015 Marty and I went on a Walk for Animals to help raise money for the humane society. I never walked that far before. There were literally more than a thousand animals on the walk with their people. I saw cats in screened strollers an a huge tortoise in a wagon. Nobody bothered me. I just walked right along on a loose leash next to giant dogs and small dogs. I think I was the smallest dog there.
I didn't finish the walk on my own two feet. I was so tired I didn't know what to do so I stopped and waved my arms in the air. Marty scooped me up and tucked me in the front of her bib overalls. I fell fast asleep.
Lots of folks talked to Marty about me and I had my picture taken many times. When we got back to the building Marty bought a really good pulled pork sandwich and she had to dump me out on the ground because I was so hungry I didn't mind my manners. Marty shared the sandwich and some fresh cold water with me.
It was a wonderful adventure and I slept all the way home on the shuttle bus and then in our van.
In the Beginning
Burrrr! It was really cold when I got to MN. It was early December....Dec 13, 2014 to be exact. I went to see my new veterinarian on 12/16 and weighed in at 2 . 3#s.
I fit right in with my new "family"...Marty is the boss over all us dogs. Cally, the 6# in home service dog Chihuahua is the oldest by far. Rainy the natural ear red/rust dobie is the biggest and she thinks she is a Chihuahua. Cally just laughs at her. Whispy looks like a smaller version of Cally and Whispy leaves with Marty to go do agility, I need to find out what that is all about. Twig and his sister Pin are rather growly. Pin tries to attack me but Marty is right there to send Pin to her "house", that is what Marty calls our crates. I have my own crate because I was in it on the airplane flight to MN.
Marty took Whispy to agility on 12/18 and she got sick while driving and the van crashed. Neither Marty or Whispy were hurt but both went to the hospital in the ambulance to make sure. They came home very late that night.
I was supposed to start my puppy class but because the van was broken I wasn't able to start my class until March 17th.
In the mean time I had to go to vet for more shots and then to get "fixed". All the dogs here are fixed so I just took it in stride.
I fit right in with my new "family"...Marty is the boss over all us dogs. Cally, the 6# in home service dog Chihuahua is the oldest by far. Rainy the natural ear red/rust dobie is the biggest and she thinks she is a Chihuahua. Cally just laughs at her. Whispy looks like a smaller version of Cally and Whispy leaves with Marty to go do agility, I need to find out what that is all about. Twig and his sister Pin are rather growly. Pin tries to attack me but Marty is right there to send Pin to her "house", that is what Marty calls our crates. I have my own crate because I was in it on the airplane flight to MN.
Marty took Whispy to agility on 12/18 and she got sick while driving and the van crashed. Neither Marty or Whispy were hurt but both went to the hospital in the ambulance to make sure. They came home very late that night.
I was supposed to start my puppy class but because the van was broken I wasn't able to start my class until March 17th.
In the mean time I had to go to vet for more shots and then to get "fixed". All the dogs here are fixed so I just took it in stride.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
The Existing Pack
I want to introduce you to my pack:
Rainy, 80# red/rust natural ear dobie retired mobility Service dog, age 12, spayed female; earned AKC CGC. Rainy has at least Stage III Lymphoma, she had completed her 5 IV Chemos and is in hospice for the next 6-9 months. Rainy will be joining her "mom" Cally who went to the Rainbow Bridge in Sept 2014 Cally was 18 years old. Rainy is my Grandmother and I love her a lot...I give her kisses and we play together.
Whispy, 5# smooth coat fawn Chihuahua, spayed female, age nearly 10, AKC CGC; and registered therapy dog through TDI; runs agility. Whispy is my "new" mom. She tells me when I am doing something I should not do, she kisses me and we play together. I love her especially when we snuggle together.
Twig, 4# smooth coat red sable Chihuahua, neutered male, age nearly 9; ran agility but is now special needs after AA Luxation was surgically repaired and retired from agility. Twig is like an old uncle to me. He loves to play with me and we race around the house. He growls at me and I just stand up waving my arms in his face laughing before running off. I don't take his growls seriously at all. He is a silly old man.
And here is a photo of me, Cricket....I am the cute red and white one on the left the other Chihuahua is Whispy. I'm a 3.8# smooth coat red and white Chihuahua, spayed female, age nearly 2; running agility. I am the youngest and the smallest in my pack and by far the smallest at agility. Did I mention all us Chihuahuas do BIG DOG agility, none of that "TeaCup Agility" for us.
Rainy is a mobility Service Dog
Whispy is a registered Therapy Dog and Cally taught her the skills needed to be an in-home Service Dog.
Cricket wanted to be a Service Dog too. Due to her tiny size she is now an in home "service dog" for her stuffed zebra, pushing her zebra around in an American Girl wheelchair.
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