So my dogs make funny noises

Get over it all ready.

Every agility class I've been to has a somewhat different vibe. Some are all business, some very cliquish, some will chat it up the whole hour if given the chance.

Kittie, Abby and I decided to switch nights, same location & instructor, but a different group and totally different vibe. This ended up being the 99% traditional agility dog group. Dogs that bark, and don't scream, proper agility dogs apparently should not scream, or take treats like starved wolves.

I know all of these people, have for years...just have never been in class with them as a group. It felt like the entire topic of conversation revolved around how "troll-like" my dogs are........ They weren't even particularly noisy. Abby gets scared if big dogs get too close to her crate, and Kittie goes berserk right before she runs, they sound kind of funny. I expect people who have never heard them to comment, but really after five or so years, can't people just get over it.

Must....make...myself

I'm sitting here this morning, just staring at entry forms, with "preferred" on them. It is so hard to wrap my head around jumping Kittie at 4"

What if she doesn't even see the jumps, and just runs full speed ahead into them....seriously, if you know Kittie, you know that could happen!

I may put Abby in Nov. P as well, and just work her back up to excellent too. I'm curious how she'll do at 8", unlike Kittie, she's just past the height cut-off, so it's a big jump for a stocky little pug.

This and That

I just have no time to post lately, I'll put the blame on Indy. She keeps me busy!

Here's a quick run down of what we've been up to:

Kittie will be moving to preferred, it's just the best move for her.....and my mental health. There is nothing worse than running course after course beautifully, with one or two knocked bars. She has more than enough points for her MACH 2, but the DQs just aren't coming, we need to have fun again.

She was invited to the invitational again, ranked #1.....with a completely embarassing points total for the year. Between taking off most of the Winter, only doing a few trials over the summer and knocking dozens of bars she ended up with less than 500 points for the year. As fun as the invitational is, we'll be skipping it and waiting to watch it from home. We'll save the money to put it towards Indy's education fund!

Abby couldn't run at the last trial, she was off all week, and by the end of the week before the trial she wouldn't even come up the stairs. I think she hurt her back. She saw a chiropractor, and rested up, she seems back to herself now.

Indy went to her first agility lesson last week. Instead of group classes, I'm mainly working with her myself and taking periodic private lessons. We're starting weave poles (2X2), her dogwalk contacts are looking great (Silvia's method), I'm loving her teeter, she charges straight to the end, crouches down and stays until released. We're working on foundation work for front and rear crosses, and forward and lateral sends. I'm pleased as can be with how she's doing!

Rudy's healthy, just waking up earlier and earlier for some reason lately. And Willy's....well, Willy. He's the laid back guy who prefers to hang out at home, living in a house of crazy girls.

The Gang in black & White

OK, so most of these are bit out of focus and I really need to really learn to use my camera, but how funny are the expressions on Abby and Kittie's faces?!

Kittie's always happy when she's on the move

Abby just has the dreamiest expressions

Is it possible for dogs to be camera shy? Indy just does not like the camera at all, maybe because she associates it with sitting still?? The only good shots I get of Indy are with the 12X zoom.

We all had a nice hike in North Park, then a relaxing night of grilling some food.....and the fireworks began, it seemed like it went on forever. It was a beautiful night, but the windows were all shut, in an attempt to block out the noise. Abby was really stressing out, luckily the others only seem slightly annoyed with the commotion.

New Website

I finally (almost) finished my business website. www.adogslifepgh.com and yes there are some pug pics on it too!