We stopped in at PetsMart on Saturday, just to take a quick look at the adoptable dogs but fell in love instead.
One of the local dog rescue organizations had two groups of mixed-breeds puppies available for adoption. These were a shepherd mix and looked like they'd make a great dog for a family who lived out in the country or had a big yard:
Awwwwwww.
Fifty bucks to cover their shots and care and one of 'em could be yours.
Here's the other bunch, in black and white, just because I can. They're a dachshund mix and a little more higher priced:
Awwwwwww.
No, we've got two dogs already. We don't need another. But they're awful hard to resist.
Almost three weeks ago, Rachel was doing what she thought was a favor for a friend from school when he was looking for a place to board his puppy, Princess, while he and his family went on vacation. We agreed to look her over and see how she reacted with our dogs, Pepper and Lucky. This friend told us Princess was a "toy shepherd," whatever that is, and she seemed to get along fine with our dogs and was playful and puppy-like and small enough and it'd only be a week and so what the heck, we said yes. She wasn't too much trouble, not too much chewing or digging or many accidents in the house since she stayed outside mostly and our dogs put up with her when she was at her most annoyingly playful and seemed to like her when she wasn't.
A week passed. No word from this friend. Rachel tried to text him and call him. No response. Two weeks passed. Still nothing. Well, somebody was bamboozled, weren't they? Rachel finally got a hold of her friend's mother and she said, honey, you can keep that dog. We don't want her.
Well, we can't keep her, we've got two already and Princess is sure to be something a little more than a "toy shepherd" if her big paws and long legs mean anything. I've already put the word out - Erin, at the office, knows of several rescue groups and we'll look for a good place for Princess to go. She'll make someone a nice companion - she's smart and cheerful and easily adapts. And look, how can you resist:
You can't, so why even try?
Interested? Let me know in the comments and we'll get something worked out.
We got hit with a major snow storm on Christmas Eve. Dire predictions all around, of course, but that's always the story. Thursday morning it was just rain and I went on to work as normal - I was the only one in since the staff had been given the day off but Clara was working from home, anticipating the storm and having been given half a day off thanks to good President Obama. No big deal for an hour or so. Then the rain turned to sleet. By 11, things had gotten bad. Okay, weather guys, you get this one. I headed for home.
Winds were going at around 30 to 35 mph with gusts to 50. The sleet had turned to snow and it was white out conditions for a good part of the way. My windshield wipers iced over, making visibility worse. I got off the interstate at the downtown exit and worked my way to Walker. Near disaster at the underpass just south of downtown - cars had gotten stuck at the bottom of the incline and couldn't get out. I darn near got stuck myself but managed to keep rolling and threaded my way past the stuck cars. Walker just kept getting worse so I went a half mile west to Western since Western is supposed to be a major snow route, kept clear with plows. But the plows hadn't made it to the south side so it was barely better than Walker and more crowded. Slow but steady going and I finally made it home.
Of course, Christmas Eve, and likely Christmas, plans were shot so we re-grouped. We'd just stay in, snacking on junk food. The only problem: we lacked junk food. So Rachel and I plunged back into the maelstrom, hitting first Homeland, then the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market. As I tweeted, the crowds were about like those for the fall of Baghdad but we got what we set out for only, well, Wal-Mart didn't have what we thought they'd have so we'd have to go back to Homeland. After a stop at Blockbuster first. The weather kept getting worse, the drifts higher, and more cars and trucks were getting stuck. I gave Rachel a blow-by-blow lesson on how to drive in this stuff so she got quite a lesson. I just hope she never has to drive on her own in a storm like this. So. Blockbuster, Homeland again, and then finally back to the neighborhood and home. For good.
So we spent Christmas Eve as re-planned. Snacks, Night at the Smithsonian on the DVD player, and just snug and warm on a night fit for no one. Turned out to be the best we've ever spent. By 10:00, the skies had begun to clear and it looked like the worst was behind us.
Christmas morning. The dogs bladders know no holiday so they were up at their usual hour and picked their way through the snow to take care of business. Rachel joined me soon after - she wanted to make Christmas breakfast for everyone, like Grandpop Pete does only with her shirt on, and so we had eggs, bacon, and pancakes. Thanks, Rachel! Gifts next. Not a lot because of their high-dollarness but everyone was happy with what they got. What else could you ask for?
With the sun up, we got a glimpse of how bad the snow had been - 14 inches according to the weather service but the drifting made it hard to get an accurate measure. Looking at the table on the patio, I'd say about 8 or 10 inches. No matter. The drifts were several feet high.
Rachel took the dogs out for some snow frolic. Here they are:
But we still hadn't gotten out to check out how bad things were. Well, let's do it then:
The Pinkertons across the street were finishing up their digging out and loaned us their big shove so with Rachel helping out, we made substantial progess; we ought to be able to get the Sequoia out the driveway and, from the reports of the Pinkerton relatives arriving for their holiday dinner about how clear the roads are, we ought to be able to get out later, if we want.
A different kind of Christmas. That's what makes them more memorable.
Lucky'd been bustin' loose from the backyard and I was having a hard time finding out how she was doing - all of the gaps that I thought she could possibly be using seemed too narrow. Still, she was getting out and keeping track of her was an endless hassle.
Not to be outsmarted by a 5 pound yorkie poo, I came up with the idea to shadow her every move. How about a riveting one minute plus of my attempt to do so? Thought you'd never ask. Added bonus: it's from my iPhone!
Wow, the quality of that video is not good, is it? It looked a whole lot better on the iPhone. I tried uploading it directly from the iPhone to YouTube but that seems to be an empty promise for now. I had to connect to my laptop and then upload it. Editing? Ha! Windows Moviemaker didn't recognize the file and I haven't been able to find a free video editor just yet.
For now, long, uninterrupted takes will have to do. Still, I'm quite pleased to have this capability. Thanks, iPhone!
(Need another story of the iPhone's miraculous capability? While tracking Lucky at night, I couldn't find a flashlight with batteries that worked. What to do? Why, download a flashlight app to my iPhone! Perfect! Sort of. No, the light's hardly flashlight quality but it put out a bright enough glow that I could see where I was going in the dark. Cool!)
The weather's turned off simply wonderful so we've managed to take the dogs for a walk at the park. (It's like this only without Emily. Emily can't be torn from her technology. Sorry, dogs.) They've yet to get used to their leashes - they still tug mightily almost the entire session but gradually remember that if they give themselves a little slack, they'll enjoy things more.
They're still not too keen on other dogs - size doesn't matter, they'll growl and yap at everything from a Dachshund to a Doberman. Good thing we keep a tight hold on their leash, huh? But a nice couple came strolling by with their pit bull, its alpha-ness rolling off in waves, and our dogs suddenly had to look the other way in silence. After he'd passed, they went back to their exuberant selves, their shame apparently forgotten but, man, pit bulls. They still don't want to talk about it.
Time for the monthly, or thereabouts, dog grooming. They were getting a little shaggy so off Rachel, Emily, and I went on a Saturday night to get the job done. Of course, that means buying new clothes for 'em - it's their birthday, they're one year old and no longer puppies!
No, Rachel's not asleep. She's just checking out her tie she bought for a buck earlier in the day at the Salvation Army store. A great place for fashion accessories! Lucky's sporting her new outfit:
Pepper's turn. Without her hairs, she's about half her size.
Both came away, freshly shorn, clean-smelling, soft, and happy.
It's time for final semester tests at school so why should obedience training be any different? Emily and Pepper will be faced with the challenge of showing off all of the commands they've learned over the last eight - okay, for Emily and Pepper it's just been seven - weeks. But they're up for it.
First, we have to make our way through one of the dreariest nights of the season:
Fog, mist, just general wetness. The halos around the streetlights aren't an effect of the my cell phone's camera. They're just that halo-y:
Inside, it's warm and dry. Emily and Pepper are ready to get down to business:
And get down to business they do:
Heeling, staying, lying down, sitting - you name it, they did it. Nearly flawlessly.
That's the instructor at the far left and the black blur is his dog, Josey, a standard poodle. He asked me to look after Josey while he took a quick bathroom break and I gladly did. An opportunity to show off to Emily just how things were done. I called my command over the dog awesome; Emily called it bogus.
Emily and Pepper passed with flying colors and earned their certificate. Yay!
Next up: more classes? Maybe. Emily's booked with some other things in the next few weeks so it might be hard to make time. But these last eight weeks have been a tremendous learning experience. Emily did very well. Pepper, too.
Sure, it's Emily and Pepper's 6th class but you'll recall we missed one and it's actually the 7th class, which means there's only this evening and next week's lesson to go. Game face: on!
Pepper's excited herself to a blur:
It's best get yourselves composed before the session starts. Let's put ourselves in the right mind to receive training. It's Zen-like:
Time to gather:
Since it's the penultimate session, they worked on a lot of things they'd worked on before, so nothing really new. Pepper had a bit of a time paying attention but after the break she got more into her stride. Overall, Emily and Pepper did very well.
On to the next lesson. Next week is graduation. I imagine they'll have caps and gowns for the dogs, don't you?
(The training sessions take place in the Oklahoma National Guard's Armory, near the capitol. Where else can you find a wide, open space where it's sort of okay if your dog poops or pees? But I don't know if I've been able to capture the sense of openness about the place. Here's a slightly different shot that might give you the sense of it. Me, I like the wooden roof.)
I say it's Emily's and Pepper's 5th lesson but the instructor says it's their 7th. (With two more to go.) Hmmm. I know we missed one so we could go to Career Night so I've lost count somewhere. Well, whatever lesson this is, it's Obedience Training Night and Emily and Pepper were there and ready to go.
Man, the pictures are getting worse:
That's because Emily doesn't like me taking her picture so I have to do it without her knowing. That means using the zoom. On my camera phone. Without flash. So there.
They worked on turning circles and staying and coming on command. Pepper was a little distracted though so after the break, one of the trainer's suggested a change in collars: a smaller choker with prongs. Prongs! Yikes! Not needle sharp but enough to get Pepper's attention and get it the collar did. Much better the second half of the session.
Emily's a good trainer. She worked hard this session and so did Pepper.
We laid off a week because of last week's career night but Emily and Pepper were back at it this week.
This week's lesson? The "leave it" command, and then some change ups in the pacing of the "heel" command. Lots of stopping and starting and walking fast and walking slow. They worked pretty hard for about 30 minutes and Pepper was ready for a water break. They finished up the next 30 minutes equally hard and both Emily and Pepper were tired when they were through.
Emily's doing a great job with Pepper. No cool tricks yet but that doesn't come until the next series of lessons. For now, it's still the basics.
Emily's third class. She's getting a little pre-class workout here.
Tonight's lessons: heeling turns, the random recall, and heel. Though haven't we learned how to heel already?
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UPDATE: The class went very well. Emily's good with Pepper and Pepper follows along for the first part of the class but the class is an hour long and Pepper's attention and enthusiasm starts to fade. Still, I think she and Emily are doing just as well as anyone in the class, and better than most.
Before Emily and Pepper go inside to begin their second lesson, they go for a stroll.
Tonight's lessons: the sit stay, the "off" command, the back up, praise, and release, the controlled walk. I'm sure they'll both do well.
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Update - The lesson went well. Emily and Pepper were the only ones who started out the heal and sit commands like they were supposed to. Good for them!
Clara and Emily carved the Halloween pumpkin and they did a frightening job:
It spooked both dogs, though Emily only got a shot of Pepper:
I'm tellin' ya, the thing moved. Didn't it move? I saw it move. Did you see it move? It's looking at me right? I can feel it's eyes on me. Is it still looking at me?
Things went as I posted earlier: we had a demonstration of what the dogs can do. Not strictly an agility type performance but impressive enough. Emily should be able to teach Pepper some good skills.
After that, they broke out into their groups with their instructors. Will is Emily's, and he went over the rules and expectations and equipment list and assigned a small homework task. Afterwards, I asked Emily if she thought she was up for it. She thinks so. I do, too.
Er, actually, it's Pepper's obedience class. It's taught by the Oklahoma City Obedience Training Club at the Oklahoma National Guard Armory. We're waiting for the first class to start and they're supposed to be putting on a demonstration first. Should be interesting. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
While I was uploading the color guard pictures in the post below, I came across a series of dog pictures that Emily had taken of Pepper and Lucky. She did quite a good job. Let's just post'em and step back and let Emily and her dog pictures speak for themselves, okay?
We've been having some wonderful pre-Fall weather so what better way to spend it than taking the dogs for a walk in the park? So we - we being Emily, Clara and me since Rachel had a babysitting gig - did just that.
I'd looked back and could only see Emily and Clara in silhouette so I purposefully shot into the sun. Didn't quite capture what I saw but you get the idea. If I'd had time - and something besides my Blackberry - maybe I'd do better. But the charm of the shot is capturing it on the fly. Besides, I've gotta be quick. When Emily sees me trying to take her picture, she dodges out of the way. Like here:
For the post-walk cool-down, it went pretty much like here.
Sonic afterwards. Shakes and cheddar cheese bits while the dogs hoped for a crumb to fall but, alas, no. A good outing for everyone.
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