Come on the Adventure!

We’ve moved!!

Not physically this time…just in cyber space.

So, please join us at The Royal Coonhounds for all the new fun!  Our first post there should appear today!

Canine Good Citizen

I need to start with some background….Way back when I first read the requirements for the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen test, I immediately dismissed it as impossible. I mean, it seemed to be designed for any type of dog, except hounds. For a long time, I didn’t even think about it. I didn’t desire it; it was totally off my radar.  Over time Daisy has become more responsive to me-especially when we are out in public. She likes to perform.  Even more, I have become a better handler and trainer. So, we had the opportunity to test for free at a local dog event. We had not been practicing recently (my bad), but I am pleased to introduce to you:

Daisy Mae, Canine Good Citizen

Words can not express how happy over-the-moon I am!  I really did not go into expecting for her to pass. I should stop underestimating what my dog can do.  I think I’m the half of this team now holding us back and I plan on changing that for the future.  Watch out world…Daisy is on her way!

For those of you who are curious, or don’t know the requirements there are 10 sections a dog must pass:

1. Accepting a Friendly stranger. The evaluator comes up, speaks to the handler, ignores the dog. Dog can’t jump, paw, whine, pull, ect.

2. Sitting politely for petting. The evaluator goes to pet the dog, the dog must sit. No jumping, ect.

3. Appearance and Grooming. The evaluator runs their hands over the dog, touches paws, checks teeth.

4. Out for a walk.  You have to show your dog can walk on a loose leash.

5. Walking through a crowd. You walk through or by several people. Your dog can show a little interest but must stay with you and not jump up. As we were at a dog event, it was a huge crowd.

6. Sit and down position and stay in position. Dog must do both a sit and down. Then must do a stay in one of those positions while the handler backs up 20 ft.

7. Coming when called.

8. Reaction to another dog. Now, this is normally done with another dog of known temperament. The two handlers approach each other and talk, the dogs can show casual interest but can’t pull, bark, whine, growl, ect.  Now, for our test it ended up some stranger (it was in a public park) let his dog run up on Daisy and sniff her butt and her underside and she just sat there. So she passed.

9. Reaction to distraction.  Dogs can’t panic or show aggression. For Daisy’s test the evaluator threw a tin full of coins near her when she wasn’t looking. Daisy startled, then went right up to sniff the tin and see what it was.

10. Supervised separation. I had to hand Daisy’s leash to a stranger (a lady that was helping the evaluator) and walk out of sight for 3 minutes. Dogs can’t bark, pull, ect. Daisy has zero issues with strangers. In fact, I think she’d be more than willing to go home with any friendly face.

Coonhound Mornings

So, before having a yard, Bella was strictly a non-player. Daisy would try but a few snarks from Bella and that was over.  Now, the girls have room to stretch their legs. It started with chasing. Bella likes to run and she and Daisy would chase each other. Now, its like I have a whole new dog in Bella! She wrestles and gives it right back to Daisy. Daisy growling during play used to scare Bella-not anymore! It has been so awesome to watch Bella earn to relax a bit more and to enjoy playing.

There are a few things about this video to watch out for.  First, my camera ham Daisy is distracted by the camera. She has to stop and make sure no treats are being handed out before continuing to play.  Second, near the end I love how Daisy just flops down like a kid pretending to die playing ‘Cowboys and Indians’.  Third, the sounds of the birds. I like waking up to that sound.

 

Well, Hello There Fall!!

Ok, yesterday morning we woke up and it was muggy and 80 degrees. The same time this morning?  A cool 63!  It feels sooo good! The girls are really frisky this morning. So frisky, that Bella did something totally out of character. She bayed OUTSIDE!  Now, Bella bays a lot. In fact, she is my noisier dog but it is always inside the house. I went out and Bella is in the middle of the yard, hackles up baying at the sky. I didn’t see anything she could be baying at so I’m attributing it to the sudden weather change.

 

So, to catch up….Daisy did awesome in her first time staying in a hotel. We checked in and there were a ton of people in the lobby. Lots of distractions but she stayed right with me. No pulling on the leash, no trying to sniff everything. In the room she went around sniffing everything. Then did it again and again. The housekeepers were still out in the hallway and we were near the lobby where all those people were so she stood at the door wagging her tail over and over.  She would also perk her ears and tilt her head side to side. I think she thought for sure they were coming to give her something!

 

 

I put down her toys so she’d know this was a place we’d be hanging out for a while. I also filled her water bowl and fed her dinner. She had a long day on the road and was hungry for sure!

 

 

 

It took a couple tries for her to decide where she wanted to sleep. I thought that between the couch and TV stand might be a good place but she thought under the desk was better. I probably should have known that. Daisy does generally like to sleep in her crate at night. We stayed at a new LaQuinta Inn and Suites. I would recommend them to anyone traveling with their pets. They don’t charge a pet fee and allow 2 dogs up to 100 pounds each.  Ours also had a free ‘extended’ continental breakfast.

 

Unplanned break…

I’m sort of on an unplanned vacation from blogging…but I’ll be back after the Labor Day weekend!  Life got a little crazy-busy (in a good way).  See you all soon!

 

Wordless Wednesday

Daisy likes to recharge her solar panels in front of the door. She’ll lay there soaking in the sun all afternoon.

And the Winners Are….

OK everyone, thanks for playing along for our first giveaway!

I find the two winners to be quite interesting. Miss Bunny and Gang from Tales and Tails won the big dog prize.  I think I found her blog the first weekend I was blogging. I mean, everyone knows these guys!  I have been reading her all year.

The dog who won the small dog prize is totally new to me!  It is Murphy from  a little tête-à-tête.  Although this isn’t a pet blog there are a lot of great product reviews and giveaways! So, now I have a new blog to look forward to for the next year.

So, one old blog and one new blog!

Thanks everyone for playing along! I can’t wait to see what happens in the coming year.

Happy Blogiversary!

That’s right-today is my one year mark of blogging. Honestly, I am a little surprised with myself. I tend to get excited about a project, work really hard, then give up or get distracted by a new fun project. I think blogging has one big difference than most DIY though.  The readers. Over the last year seeing my readership numbers continue to grow, seeing everyone clicking on my pictures and movies, and knowing that there are people out there who like reading about my dogs has kept me going. So, thanks for sticking with us! I hope y’all enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy reading yours.

I will say the original goal of this blog has not been met. I started writing about the girls in an effort to stop talking about them so much in my everyday life. Instead, I found even more people who love to talk about and listen about dogs.  I’ve learned I’m not the only dog crazy person out there. I’m not the only one who loves collars and taking their dogs to any activity possible and whose cars are filled with dried dog slobber.

So, inspired by my love of Lord of the Rings, I’m going to take a page from our friends the dear Hobbits, and give gifts to others for my Blogiversary. That’s correct, my very FIRST giveaway! I told you that you’d want to read today!! Everyone loves free stuff!

So, I sat down earlier this week and asked the girls what they wanted to send someone. They asked whether one of our small dog friends or big dog friends would be getting the gift. *enter stumped Lady in Waiting*  So…there are TWO giveaways!  One with a toy for a small dog, one with a toy for a large dog.

So, I asked the girls what they wanted to include in the gift.  Daisy wanted to give one of her favorite toys. It’s a Kong brand tug toy. It has everything! The ropes are connected inside the toy and act as the stuffing and there is a squeaker. Bella wanted to send hot dogs. I tried explaining that hot dogs wouldn’t last in the mail. To which, she huffed and said that she still wanted to send hot dogs. I found these great dried sausages and explained they are sort of like hot dogs and she was satisfied. My choice for a gift is Zukes treats. I chose the regular ones (as opposed to the minis) because they are good size to be given “just because” and if you need a smaller training treat-they are easy to break apart. Sorry for the not so good pictures. I had other stuff planned but with the Iphone-this is what y’all are getting!

Large Dog Gift

 

Small Dog Gift

 

I’m going to make the rules easy:

1. Comment to THIS post between 8 am EST August 20, 2011 through 11:59 PM EST August 21, 2011. That right-just a weekend to win. Tell me if you are entering for the small dog gift or the large dog gift. Only one entry per family.

2. Sorry, but no one related to me or the girls is eligible.

3. I’ll use Random.org to pick a winner Monday then email you for your contact information so make sure its a working email!

Oh Dear. I have an Issue.

It seems my camera cord did not make the trip with me. I can even say with 99.9% certainty that I remember packing it. Too bad the fact it is still at Grannie and Grandpa’s means that I did not in fact pack it and I am now making up memories.

This means Daisy’s hotel pictures are trapped in my camera for the time being and you’ll just have to wait a bit to see them.

It also means I’ll have to improvise and use Iphone pics for tomorrow. You didn’t forget about tomorrow did you?

Quick Update!

The girls LOVE the new yard!  Daisy has settled in already and Bella, well… she is Bella and will settle soon enough.  I have a few pictures from Daisy’s first hotel stay I want to share this week.  Of course, moving in and unpacking boxes means I will surely find the camera cord and get my act together soon.

Stay tuned…big announcement coming Saturday you don’t wanna miss!