"Training, or Lack Thereof"

This week I have slacked off with my training Zack for Rally. Don't know why, just had Zack out on alot of long off leash walks and never got focused on much training. We only did a bit here and there in the yard and in the house. However, I did have a breakthrough and got Zack to do a 90 degree left pivot "get in" properly. It only happened the once, but my motto is if it happened once it can happen again!!!! We will keep working on it as well as heeling. We have Rally class tomorrow night so we shall see how it goes. I better get my act together and keep up with Zack's training if I have any hopes in being ready to go to our first Rally trial at Spruce Meadows in August.

"In the Woods"

Part of the walking trail at Park Lake is through a section of woods. It is so naturally beautiful through there and we hit it at a time in the evening where the light was so cool. I took this picture of Zack with the sun going down creating cool shadows and warm tones.

Zack so loved jumping in, through and over all the fallen logs. My husband Pete hid Zukes in some of the log crevices - it was funny to see Zack "follow his nose". We had Zack jumping over this log crossing the trail but the picture didn't come out - darn it. I swear he cleared it by a foot!!!! Agility here we come!!! (although I realize there is a lot more to it - ahahahahaaha)

Gophering - Round #2

So I thought I had a terrier that had not clued in about gophers. How wrong I was. Pete and I took Zack to Park Lake to let him have a run somewhere different for a change. Little did we know it was gopher heaven out there.

We found out that Zack is totally deaf and we do not exist anymore when those little critters are about - ahahahahaha. A true terrier I guess. He is so focused. After much coaxing we finally got him to move along, although I could tell that Zack had other things on his mind the whole 2 hour walk that evening . Cute but frustrating at the same time. I don't know how I am ever going to get him to listen to me when there are critters about. It may be impossible. I will just have to keep trying as best I can. I posted a few pictures of him "on patrol".

Luckily he still is not quick enough to catch one as you can see from his bewildered face - where did it go Zack!!!!!

Serenity

I took Zack to Nicholas Sheran Park for a his evening walk on Tuesday. It was a lovely serene evening. Here are a couple of pictures of our evening stroll that night. Zack had a great time other than when I accidentally dropped the extendilead and he panicked as he drug it behind him bumping all over the grass. I eventually "saved the day" and got that nasty lead back under control. A few Zukes and we were all good to go again.

Windy City Canine Rescue

It is a sad fact that there is such a need for Canine Rescue Organizations, but there truly is. Without these organizations millions of dogs would not have found their forever homes, or someone to love them, provide shelter, food, warmth and a family for them.

In Lethbridge a new dog rescue group has opened up. It is called Windy City Canine Rescue. Their website is http://www.windycityrescue.com/ . So many wonderful dogs deserve a chance and a new start in life. Thanks to organizations such as Windy City Canine Rescue these dogs have hope.

Please spread the word to your family members, friends, co-workers about this new rescue organization in Lethbridge as once word gets out there, more and more will inquire about adopting the dogs that need homes.

Right now at Windy City Canine Rescue there is a wonderful 5 yr old setter cross called Kaity looking for a home. If you know anyone who might be interested, check out more information about her on the Windy City Canine Rescue website http://www.windycityrescue.com/.

Fat Cat - M.I.A.

At about 8pm last night I realized I had not seen Asia (aka Fat Cat) in a while. I called her she did not come. I did not hear her (she is very talkative). I started to look around the house for her but to no avail. I then started to run around the house, up and down the stairs calling her name - nothing. She always comes or meows when called so I was starting to get worried. I then looked in all the closets, cupboards, pantry, basement, under the bed, even the washer and dryer (heaven forbid). Nothing. After about 20 minutes I was starting to get frantic. Zack however thought it was a great game chasing me around the house while I was shrieking. I came to the sick conclusion that Fat Cat must have got out the house somehow so I was upset at this point (both my cats are indoor cats so this would not be good) . I went to phone my husband when Zack jumped on the bed. I heard a squeak!!! I pulled back my quilt and underneath there she was, encased so tightly in our bed sheets she could not move. Literally wrapped tight like a mummy. How Fat Cat got so twisted up and stuck in bed sheets I will never know. I dread to think how long she had been like that and how she could breath. I was so relieved as you can imagine that she had not got out the house. I quickly untangled her and got her out of her body wrap. She then starts to scream at me and I am sure she was screaming "if you would make your ****!!ing bed every day this would not have happened!!!!". She then strutted off with Zack in hot pursuit.

Ready, Set, Go-pher!

Zack is the first terrier I have owned. The terrier instinct is starting to "click" for Zack this year now he is mature, however, he still hasn't "clued in" to what gophers are. He hears them, he sniffs their holes but has never been quick enough to see one. He can't figure it out. I can tell from his stance and senses that he knows something is there but he can't figure out where they are. He looks baffled. It is quite funny actually. He hasn't started to dig at the holes or anything yet. It is so tempting to egg him on by saying "get it" or "where's the gopher" but I have refrained from doing so. I really don't want him to ever get a critter or heaven forbid kill one, but it is probably inevitable at some point during his lifetime because he is a terrier. I am just not going to "train him" to do so. I am sure he will be obssessed in his own time...... ahahahahaha

"Pooped?"

Zack is finally tired - thanks to my husband Pete for taking Zack for a 5km run tonight. Fat Cat makes a great pillow.

"Walkies"

My husband and I took Zack for a long off leash walk yesterday. Zack being a terrier I am only just "getting used to" the idea of letting him off the leash. I only let him off in safe, open areas where I can keep my eye on any "wild critters" or dogs, etc. that might be out there. Zack has been so good - that I am starting to feel more comfortable with it. I know in my heart I will never be able to trust a terrier 100% when it comes to anything like a rabbit running but hopefully that won't happen or very rarely. The highlight of the walk for Zack was when he found a golf ball, he threw it around like a cat with a dead mouse - it was so funny. On our way back we saw a couple with a yellow lab and Zack listened well about "waiting" and not bolting over to them - so I was thrilled. I could tell Zack was just bursting to go so when we were about 30ft from each other I just let him go. He did his usual hello, wiggle, wiggle, leap and roll over exposing his belly.......Pete and I kept walking and I called Zack to let's go and suprisingly he actually followed us leaving the dog behind. I was well chuffed.

Camouflage

While out on our walks lately I have noticed that Zack's colouring blends so well into the brown grasses that from a distance he is hard to see. His coat is also textured like the grasses. Soon the grass will be turning green and Zack once again will be visible.

Rally Class

Last night Zack and I started a new 6 week Rally Class. Had lots of fun. I am pleased with how Zack is doing as we haven't been training for that long and he is doing really well with his stationary work but I have a hard time keeping Zack's attention when we are heeling. His mind tends to wander (or mine does ahahahaha). It seems that if I keep a fast pace that helps and also I am to treat him when he is there "with me" for the next little while. We will work on that when we are out on our daily walks and have a little "focused heeling session" for a couple of minutes here and there and the rest of the time I will let him "do his thing", so he doesn't get bored.

For the first time last night Zack and I did an exercise "off leash". Even though his heeling was not the best, I was thrilled with how he did and that he didn't take off and pounce (in a playful way of course) with the other dogs in the class. It has been a challenge with Zack growing up, he has had a one track mind and that has been other dogs and the need to play, so for him to be there with me was awesome.

I think these classes I have Zack in have helped so much with distractions and that kind of thing, and I think it will help when Zack and I venture into the world of agility training. I will keep you posted!!!

Border Collie vs. Border Terrier

Yey, Border Terrier wins!!!!

"Indestructaballs"

Ever since Zack was a puppy we have had to be so careful what toys we can give him as he destroys everything. He can't have anything stuffed - which is a shame. Zack loves balls, however he has learned to peel the green off of tennis balls like an apple, he skins the hexagons off of soccer balls and he bursts beach balls...geesh. The chuck it ball has lasted and he loves playing fetch with it. My husband bought the basketball for him and so far that has held up and we have not heard the inevitable "pop", but it hasn't been for Zack's lack of trying.....

Air Time

Spring is in the air, and Zack's idea of spring fever is leaping about with his favourite Wubba Kong trying to kill it. I don't know how he doesn't knock himself out as he shakes it so hard that it whacks him in the head!!!! Ahhh - so that's his problem!!!

On Thursday Zack and I had our last Rally O Class and it was graduation night. Our trainer Amanda put us through our paces and we did an actual course. Here is a video of Zack "doing his thing". I was very pleased with him. Our instructor Amanda has been great and gave me lots of good advice. Check it out!! I may even go on to try him in an actual trial if he continues to improve. We have lots of fun trying anyway.

I am just setting up my blog of White's Wiggly Zack. I want to share what a joy and terror this little wiry creature is to live with. I am testing this post to see if it works. Can't get the pictures to work yet. I am working on it.