Busy, busy, busy.

Hysterical!

Hmmmm...

Tazz, "I could push her in."

"I'm really cute.  It makes up for all my naughtiness."

No pictures for now

Started my day at 5:30.  Everyone out to potty, breakfast, then a quick neighborhood walk with Fin/Tazz. 

All dogs in kennels by 6:15.  Puppy play and train for 30 minutes.  Got some good tug this morning, tried a little shaping to put feet on the bowl.  Got tons of interest, much leaping straight up in the air, some trying to figure out, stopped before interest was lost.  Tried tugging again, but no interest in tugging.  Wanted more clicker training.  I need lower value treats.

Took her for a short walk in the backyard, a bit of retrieve with the ball for some bursts of exercise as well as circle work.  Then nap time.

7:00am.  Wake husband up and I'm at work.

9:00am Break and a quick training session.  Got some tug and played fetch. 
Notes:  Still looking for chicken from morning clicker session.  Less interested in tug second session.
After the play session, I had a bite for breakfast.  All dogs were loose.  Miss busy never stopped moving.

Now back to work for me, nap time for all the pups.  Busy day ahead.

A lot can happen in a day...

First this little cutie had to get some exercise.  Lots and lots of running around carrying things.  Tons of carrying things to piles.  The piles are hers.  But if you want her pile, no problem.  She'll just make another pile.  No worries mate.

Arriving at the new field the grass is looking better.  Still lots to be done in making sure the grass is perfect for agility.  Even with the gopher fencing we are getting damage along the sides.  Water system needs work.  Isn't that the way it always goes.

But overall it is looking like a sports field and that is what we want!

Workers arrived.  This worker is a little unsure of the quantity of the work.  He is thinking sitting in the shade might be the thing.

Got a ton done.  I was the lucky one.  Had to go to the house multiple times and sit in the shade and stare at my puppy.  I did lunch runs, weeded, and picked up trash.  I might have been caught digging a little, but most of the hard work was done by my peeps!  Thanks Greg, Penni, Jeannine, Leigh, and of course Laura.

Mmmmmmm...look what the cat drug in....

This is little Roja.  She is visiting for a while.  Could she stay.  Well I'm not promising anthing, but if Tazzie has anything to say, he really likes her.  Ask Fin, and nope, the munchkin is not really wanted.  Hopefully she'll warm up.

Yep.  You are not looking at a Sheltie.  Nope that isn't a BC.  You might be thinking, why that looks like a JRT, and you'd be right. 

Tonight I am exhausted.  We spent the day building fences at our new agility field and I spent time making sure the new little pup would be tired tonight.  Success!!!  She spent a little time wrestling with her new best buddy "Hotshot" learning about border collies and how they hog the ball. 

Back at home she fits in nicely.  Maddie and Fin ignor her (not sure Maddie even knows she is here yet).  Rocky and Tazz are very interested but also very nice.  She is amazingly appropriate with all the dogs.  She is starting to seek me out a bit and that is a start.

This week it is about proofing contacts...oh and maybe a little package might be arriving tomorrow...

Setting up a little something in the back yard to work on contacts.  Notice where I'm placing the tunnels.  My plan is to move the tunnels closer and closer to the contacts to see if I can get some breakage.  Little Finster is going to rock her contacts this weekend!

Tomorrow there might be a new face at Whizworld.  Yes of course four is enough.  But seems that we've gotten a little relaxed at home and it is time to mix it up a bit.  I think you'll be surprized.

The Road to Colorado does not necessarily have paved roads

Planning a trip to Colorado in September.  Really want to go and want all my buddies to go.  But it can be stressful. 

I am qualified.  Even have a bi for Steeplechase Semi's.  But still need one more Grand Prix.  I have friends who are running amazing, but still need a couple Q's.  The question I keep asking myself is, "am I having fun". 

I remember trying to qualify for the AKC Nationals coming off Fin's injury.  She and I weren't clicking.  I was going to every AKC I could find in the Bay area and everyone I knew was trying.  After a while I quit trying because it just stopped being fun.  Some of it was the disappointment, but I get over that easily.  Most of it was the stress of all the competitors trying to get there and the attitude when the Q's didn't happen.  Normally happy people had frowns on their faces showing clearly how disappointed  they were for not getting that double Q or points needed. 

Now, I'm not having a problem at all in AKC.  I go, have fun and even qualify (imagine that!).

At this point, my run for the gold is still amazingily fun.  I want to keep my attitude that I have everytime I run.  Each run is for the joy of the connection I have and continue to build with my dog.  Yes there is a goal "run in all three events."  But if I don't attain that goal, doesn't mean life isn't good.

As I go into the next trial (in two weeks) I am on a team with a friend hoping for a Q.  In all my heart I hope that we do qualify.  But honestly for me, it is about being on a team and enjoying the company of the girls and dogs I'm playing with.

Maybe the road isn't well paved, but I'm ready for some off road fun!