Our mushing gear is here and we are practicing getting used to it all. This weekend we re waking up at the crack of dawn to meet some other mushers in town and go out together. If I take both wheels off the scooter I can just get it into the car.
The biggest news this summer was that I had Porter neutered. It was a tough decision but I knew I would be doing it eventually. His recovery was really slow though. I felt bad for the poor boy since his scrotum was really swollen. It must not have hurt though since Porter didn't seem to care. He was really great about just napping all day long.
After a week of no activity he injured himself. I was filling a water balloon for my daughter and was about to carry it out front, away from the dogs. Porter noticed it and thought it was a new ball for him. In his excitement to rush out the doggie door first, he slipped and scraped his underside on the doggie door which opened up part of his incision.
Finally at about 2 weeks out his incision site looked closed, but still needed to heal more. I took him on his first walk in two weeks and that burst the dam. Prior to this he was content to just lounge around the house and sleep all day. I wash impressed he wasn't begging to go out and play. But once he got the taste of the good life he used to know he was eager to rejoin it right then and there!
Three weeks after his surgery we went in for a booster shot he needed. The scale said he lost 3 pounds since he was neutered. Three pounds in 3 weeks! I told Ian that Porter must have had balls of steel. Poor guy...but no longer!
Friday, September 27, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
Slow Summer
I've been horrible about writing. Not a ton has gone on this summer. Porter is still in his agility classes but his performance has been spotty. The heat really sucks it out of him.
I finally ordering his urban mushing gear. The scooter arrived yesterday so now I am just waiting to have someone put it together. His harness will hopefully be there in a week or so.
Porter and Indi's favorite past time is eating the pears off my tree. Porter jumps up and grabs one, sometimes knocking down others in the process, which Indi scavenges.
I finally ordering his urban mushing gear. The scooter arrived yesterday so now I am just waiting to have someone put it together. His harness will hopefully be there in a week or so.
Porter and Indi's favorite past time is eating the pears off my tree. Porter jumps up and grabs one, sometimes knocking down others in the process, which Indi scavenges.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Lake Hike
Porter and I met someone from a local Meet Up group and took a hike around the lake close to our house.
We did see a king snake just off the trail. Porter either didn't notice or didn't care, even when I got closer to take a picture. The snake was pretty chill and barely moved, so I think that helped the dogs not be so interested.
We did see a king snake just off the trail. Porter either didn't notice or didn't care, even when I got closer to take a picture. The snake was pretty chill and barely moved, so I think that helped the dogs not be so interested.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Porter Weaves 6 Poles!
We've finally made a break though after being in a rut with our weave pole training.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Ramona Romp
My city dogs rarely get to stretch their legs and run off leash in a big area. There are not a lot of legal places dogs can be off leash. We have dog parks, but most in my area are pretty small and can be very busy. I don't trust most people to bring dogs who are well mannered. Plus, Indi can't go to dog parks since *she's* not well mannered. I also stress about taking Porter in a remote area off leash because what if he runs off! I know, not likely with my momma's boy, but it's still possible.
One of my clients was nice enough to offer the use of her fully fenced in 2 acre property so my dogs can have some fun. She lives about 30 minutes away which is about how far Fiesta Island is (the off leash dog park island near SeaWorld). It's not a bad drive at all and her property is great. It's covered in oak tress so most is nice and shady and it's mostly flat.
After Porter's agility class today we picked up Indi from home and headed on out. There were a couple of spots Indi could have squeezed out of the yard if she really wanted to, so I just made sure to keep a close eye on her and called her back if she got to close. I also kept them away from one corner since I noticed poison oak.
It was a great day and the dogs really enjoyed themselves. I found some dog toys so Porter chased a ball for a bit. Indi was more concerned with marking everywhere and sniffing the plentiful holes in the ground made by who knows what. Some were tiny and others big enough for a fox. I'm sure most were from squirrels or rabbits.
We were very fortunate to have access to this property. It was nice to just let the dogs explore and be dogs and not be stuck on a 6 foot leash. It might not seem like much, but if you live in San Diego, this size of property is rare (or several million), so my pups have to make due with our tiny suburban yard.
One of my clients was nice enough to offer the use of her fully fenced in 2 acre property so my dogs can have some fun. She lives about 30 minutes away which is about how far Fiesta Island is (the off leash dog park island near SeaWorld). It's not a bad drive at all and her property is great. It's covered in oak tress so most is nice and shady and it's mostly flat.
After Porter's agility class today we picked up Indi from home and headed on out. There were a couple of spots Indi could have squeezed out of the yard if she really wanted to, so I just made sure to keep a close eye on her and called her back if she got to close. I also kept them away from one corner since I noticed poison oak.
It was a great day and the dogs really enjoyed themselves. I found some dog toys so Porter chased a ball for a bit. Indi was more concerned with marking everywhere and sniffing the plentiful holes in the ground made by who knows what. Some were tiny and others big enough for a fox. I'm sure most were from squirrels or rabbits.
 |
| Anyone home? |
We were very fortunate to have access to this property. It was nice to just let the dogs explore and be dogs and not be stuck on a 6 foot leash. It might not seem like much, but if you live in San Diego, this size of property is rare (or several million), so my pups have to make due with our tiny suburban yard.
Dogwalk at Location #2
This morning was Porter's class at J's. I mentioned to her the horrible time he had on the dogwalk this week at G's so she asked me to do just the dogwalk so she could see. He was a little slow, and almost stopped at what would have been the pivot point on the teeter, but continued. He wasn't shaky and didn't jump off. She had me do it again but without cookies and he did much better the second time around.
We did a short sequence with the dog walk as the second obstacle and then the reverse and he did fine...except for his contact behavior since I didn't have the target plate out. He still hit the contact, but didn't do 2on2off.
I didn't have his mat for the a-frame so he went really slow going down and did 4on. J didn't like his speed so I made sure to get his mat the next time and he was wonderful.
One thing I loved about Porter today is he was very focused when he was working. A few times his sequence ended with him facing the line of dogs waiting and his ball even rolled within a foot of one young female. Porter rushed over, grabbed his ball and turned back toward me! It's not like him to ignore a cute girl, so I was really happy! Especially since his reward was a toy not a food-filled toy. He knows though that if he gets the toy I'll bring him food, but it's not a lure or an immediate reward like the food-filled toys. He had to make a conscience choice to pick me (food) over playtime with other dogs.
We did a short sequence with the dog walk as the second obstacle and then the reverse and he did fine...except for his contact behavior since I didn't have the target plate out. He still hit the contact, but didn't do 2on2off.
I didn't have his mat for the a-frame so he went really slow going down and did 4on. J didn't like his speed so I made sure to get his mat the next time and he was wonderful.
One thing I loved about Porter today is he was very focused when he was working. A few times his sequence ended with him facing the line of dogs waiting and his ball even rolled within a foot of one young female. Porter rushed over, grabbed his ball and turned back toward me! It's not like him to ignore a cute girl, so I was really happy! Especially since his reward was a toy not a food-filled toy. He knows though that if he gets the toy I'll bring him food, but it's not a lure or an immediate reward like the food-filled toys. He had to make a conscience choice to pick me (food) over playtime with other dogs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)