Tom swears that the pads on the back of Lilly’s forelegs are oversized — like thumbs. Since she *is* good at gripping things, opening things and general dexterity, I’m inclined to
agree. If we don’t watch out, soon she’ll be climbing ropes, scaling ravines and other mischief. Check it out. …
Tom, my hubby and Lilly’s most excellent daddy, was voted 2007 firefighter of the year. Since he joined the fire department 5 years ago, he has won 3 big awards, including rookie of the
year and firefighter of the year twice. I’m always proud of his hard work, but it’s especially nice when others recognize it too. It’s super-duper nice when other firefighters (yes, men) go out of
their way to tell me how much they think of Tom. …
Last weekend, we had a prolonged storm, where snow kept coming for several days in a row. Since the roads were somewhat clear Sunday afternoon, Lilly and I ventured out to class in
Boulder, which for us is a pretty long drive. On the way home, we narrowly missed getting in a VERY BAD car accident. …
One of the challenges of training a dog to run agility is teaching her that having something move beneath her is fun (or at least fine). Since Lilly still won’t do a full-height teeter,
I’m certainly no expert. However, I thought these tips on training that motion is OK around the house might help. …
As she often does, Lilly went shopping with me on Saturday. Many of the little stores on our “main street” allow dogs, so while I cruised for a few final gifts, Lilly came along. She
befriended a woman in one particular store, delivering a gentle POKE with her nose to the woman’s hand when offered and accepting being petted and praised. Hey, who wouldn’t want that? Then, as the
woman left the store, she said something that brought tears to my eyes. …
I like to think I’m pretty self-aware. I know why I am the way I am. And, I think I know my motivation. Yet … if I had a nickel for every time someone questions my motivation for continuing to work and hope with Lilly, I’d be a rich girl, who could quit her job and just be a full-time puppy mom. Now, I really do think about the why and how of everything I do with Lilly, but for some reason, it always catches me off guard a bit when someone suggests I give up, back off, step back, stop trying so hard.
There is something about the angle of the sun when Lilly and I walk in the morning that casts a funny shadow. You know those cartoon wolves or coyotes that are always sneaking up so
that all you see is their shadow approaching? Well, that’s what Lilly’s shadow looks like to me, at times. I like to pretend that it’s a reflection of her true, more confident self. I may have
written about this before, but this time I have photos. See what you think. …
Lilly is learning to be sweet to the mules next door. We’ve been training looking at them without barking or trying to get a rise out of them. If she looks or stays calms, then she gets
treats. I even let her race them along the fence line, as long as she’s quiet. They seem to seek her out, sometimes standing at the fence looking for her. Yesterday, I called for her outside and
found the cutest thing. I think she’s adopted them as her sheep. …
Due to weather and travel schedules, Lilly hasn’t been to class in several weeks. So, we’ve been training on our own. Lilly did snark at some dogs on a walk. It’s the first time in a
long time, so I was a little bummed about that. But, the rest of her work went pretty well. Here’s an update, along with photos, of some of our breakthroughs. …
Sing along with me — ye, of the Mr. Rogers generation. These are the contacts in our neighborhood … in our neighborhood … in our neigh-bor-hood. One of my made-up strategies for
getting Lilly used to performing agility in public settings is to use things we find on our walks (especially in town) as obstacles. I figure if I can get her to do various agility-like things while
other people and dogs are walking by, while cars are zooming past, that it may someday translate onto the training field or the competitive ring. So, here’s a photo tour of a …
