CKC Registration

I got Zack from Montana in the US and he was an AKC Registered puppy. I wasn't going to show him in comformation or breed him, so it didn't bother me at the time. Then I got the Rally Obedience bug and was considering entering Zack into a trial when he was ready. I then found out that Zack would have to be CKC registered to compete. It has been such a rigmarole to go through to get him registered in the Canadian Kennel Club.
Firstly, Zack was sold as a pet and had a limited registration with the AKC. That had to be changed to full registration, so the breeder had to sign papers, I had to sign papers. Then I resubmitted everything to AKC. I have now received my full AKC registration. Then I find out Zack's Microchip that the breeder gave him in the US is not acceptable to the CKC. Accordingly he had to be rechipped with a compatable one for the CKC. Now Zack has two microchips in him. I thought that was it but no. Having the new microchip and me registering him was not enough. They wanted a written statement from my vet on their letterhead stating when Zack got his chip, the kind, etc. etc. Blimy, who knew it would be so much hassle.

Anyways, I think I have everything together now (hopefully) and it is just a matter of sending it in. Fingers crossed it goes through this time and Zack will have his CKC registration in time for a Rally Obedience trial later this summer.

Can you tell I am new at registering a dog!!!!! It probably wouldn't have been so much hassle if he was Canadian born. Like me, Zack is an immigrant!! ahahahah

Not so Quiet an Evening

So today with the weather the way it was I didn't feel like going out and neglected to take Zack for his daily walk/run this evening. When Zack doesn't get out, that is when one realizes how much exercise helps keep Zack's energy level down in the house. He tends to get into mischief when he doesn't get out. It has been Zack "no", Zack "off", Zack "quiet" all evening...ahahahah My fault of course.

Also last weekend we removed a whole bunch of sod from our backyard to make room for new flowerbeds and trees. Just my luck the weather turned and now the snow that has melted and all the rain has turned my hard work into great big mud pools/baths and a giant water bowl for Zack's enjoyment. I dread to think when the pools recede then it will just be sticky mud, all the more fun for a terrier!!!!! What was I thinking.

Not Again!!!

When I woke up this morning my back deck had snow/slush blown in and plastered all over it. Zacky wasn't too impressed either.

Let me in!!! Let me in!!!

The Aftermath

Within minutes of getting home from Zack's once weekly visit to doggy daycare he is out cold.

Another blissful, quiet Wednesday evening at the White household.

Agility Class #1

When Zack was a puppy I had him enrolled in a puppy agility class with Amanda. We were only able to attend the first couple of classes and then due to Zack's ill health as a puppy I had to pull him from that class. Now the time has come to try again.

Last night we had our first class. It was an orientation of what was to come. I haven't done agility for about 15 years (when I had my Sheltie) so basically I am starting from scratch again. I am glad to hear that positive reenforcement methods are used as part of the training program. I am all for that.

I am hoping Zack enjoys agility once we start. He is so athletic and fit, not like me who is the total opposite ahahahah. I am sure I will need more training than Zack but I am up for the challenge. I will have to let someone else eat my pringles that I am going to buy and just keep the plastic lid for myself for Zack's target training.

Sarah, one of the trainers had the best toy ever for a terrier. I had never thought about using a cat toy for a dog but there was this circular plastic ring with a rat inside it that spins. I gotta get one of those!!!! I will only use it for agility so it will be Zack's "special toy" reward.

Looking forward to next week Agility Class #2 when we start with the dogs.

Run Zack Run!!!

This boxer was actually a sweetheart and Zack was teasing him trying to get him to play.

Blue Lacy

The other day when we were out for our walk we met a Blue Lacy. I had never heard of that breed before, but sure enough I looked it up on the internet and there is such a breed. Zack and "Lacy" (yes that is what the owner had called the Blue Lacy) just hit it off.

They ran through the fields together.



They played together.



They argued.



They kissed and made up.



They strolled back together. It was so cute.



Lacy was a lovely dog and she reminded me of a seal actually. Her coat was like velvet and it was a true smokey blue colour. Zack met a new friend that day. I wish all dogs we meet "off leash" were so nice.

Rally Class Grad #2

It was our last class for Rally training last night. It was great fun and we had two courses that Amanda had set up with two new signs I had never done before!! The 180 degree left pivot and the moving down. I was stoked with how Zack did in both the courses. After we finished the courses, we had to do sit stays. There were wicked distractions coming from moving dogs each side of me, balls being thrown, and loud noises, and Zack held his stay. I was trying not to laugh as I could tell he was ready to burst the minute the ball rolled by. After about the fourth/fifth sit/stay he did break - he couldn't hold it any longer, but I was happy with the way he did and just laughed. Zack is a busy boy so to stay put is a true miracle!!!! ahahahah

I do feel Zack has improved over the last few weeks and now I just have to keep my training up seeing we have no more classes. My goal is to enter him into a novice rally trial later this summer. Zack seems to enjoy Rally so why not I guess. I have never entered any dog for anything before so this will be my first. A bit nerve wracking not knowing what to expect and how to enter but I am sure I will muddle through and get it done.

Agility lessons start next week, whoo hoo!!!!

Cuddles - The Senior One

I have not blogged about my other cat Cuddles yet, and I think she deserves a blog. I have had her for 13 years and she was half grown when I got her so she must be in her 14th year. A senior for sure. She is such a sweet natured cat, albeit timid, and doesn't have a mean bone in her body.


After the loss of my Cavalier King Charles spaniels in 2008 and the addition of Zack thereafter, it was a bit of a shock to Cuddles system going from sedate, couch potato Cavaliers to a border terrier puppy!! The first few months were not fun for Cuddles she basically ran away from Zack. Over the course of the following months things seem to work themselves out. Cuddles learned if she didn't run Zack would lick her on the face which she seems to enjoy, in turn Cuddles would then bite Zack (with the 3 teeth that she has left- ahaha) on the cheek which for some bizarre reason Zack seems to love. So there was eventually peace and coexistence in the house.



She loves to watch Zack from the back of the couch or on top of his kennel where her blanket is. I am sure she looks at him thinking - "what a little brat" and "stupid kid" - just like an old grandma would sitting on her veranda watching the neighbourhood kids play.



Anyways, she is a dear cat and I hope to have many more years with her.

Little Devil

After the last couple of days the horns, I mean ears say it all.


Aahahahahah.

Pillow Talk

So yesterday we came home from work to find that Zack had disemboweled one of our throw pillows on the couch and the stuffing was everywhere. I thought may be I had spilled some jam on the pillow from my breakfast or something so gave Zack the benefit of the doubt. Today Pete came home at lunch only to find that another pillow had been "assaulted". Zack was put in his kennel this afternoon.

We have been leaving Zack loose in the house now for over 2 months and he has been fine. He was never much of a chewer as a puppy so it was a bit of a shock. Zack gets tons of exercise, stuffed kongs everywhere. Could he still be bored or just a little shit?

I hate to kennel him again but for his own safety and for my pocket book what else could I do. He was pooping stuffing this morning!!!! Has anyone had the same issue (not the pooping ahahahaah)? Any suggestions on how to get past it?

Wrinkles

You either love them or hate them, but how can you not love wrinkles when they are attached to a 6 month old bloodhound puppy!!!





This picture isn't very good but I posted it anyway as Zack has the bloodhound pinned by his wrinkles!!!

The Yorkie that Saved the Day

After yesterday's blog, it is time to blog about the "fun" stuff of the dog park. Zack met a little yorkie x. She was as cute as a button. Zack and her tore around like mad with this little blue toy that she had. They were having a great time.

They even shared the toy and would run along together sideways with the toy in their mouths. It was hilarious.

Being so small, the cute little Yorkie was definitely a terrier all the way yesterday and saved Zack's ass literally!!!! (see previous blog)

Yay for the Yorkie!!!!

First "Incident"

Today I took Zack to the dog park for a run. Everything was great - he was having fun and playing with the dogs down there, the weather was lovely, it was all good. I met these people who had a cute as a button yorkie x and a lovely fat slobbery boxer. There was also a man farther back who had a pit bull. The pit bull was on an extendilead and the man had him close. He told us not to worry about him as he was friendly, so we didn't. We continued on and Zack and the yorkie were having a great time and were playing around chasing each other when the pit bull lunged to the end of the extendilead. The pit bull was so quick it knocked Zack over mid stride and went for him, Zack then went back at the pit bull. Zack must have been pissed as he loves all dogs and is not aggressive. Anyways, luckily the owner of the pit bull and I got there immediately - it sounded worse than it was - then the yorkie literally lept in on the action and broke it up completely (yay, for the yorkie!!). It was a bit traumatic for all (especially me!!). I checked Zack over and I couldn't see any puncture holes or bites and of course the pit bull was fine. Zack just shook himself off and continued to play with the yorkie. It was the first incident I have had with Zack that shook me up. I have nothing against pit bulls and thank goodness this man had this dog on a lead, but I wished he had kept the dog in control on that lead. Geeesh!

I guess now I know that if Zack is threatened, being a terrier he will not back down and I will have to watch out for that. Lesson learned. I would liked to have learned that lesson from something other than a pit bull!!! It could have been a lot worse. We were very lucky.

If I can laugh at this incident it is that the little yorkie x was the one who stopped a pit bull!!! I think she had a thing for Zack (you will see what I mean in a later post) ahahahaahah

Anyways, afterwards I carried on with my walk and we met up with more dogs at the park. Luckily Zack had put the incident behind him and was his usual lovely playful self with them. Full of fun and happiness. The rest of the walk was uneventful, Zack had lots of playtime with an adorable bloodhound puppy and a gorgeous blue lacy (never heard of that breed before but I checked online when I got back and true enough it is one). I will blog more about them at a later date.

My biggest fear is that if Zack gets attacked and fights back, he will start to become aggressive towards other dogs. So far this hasn't happened and I hope never will. I love that he has such a friendly attitude to all living things and I don't want that to change.

Hopefully this will be his first and last incident at the dog park.

Family Resemblance?

I noticed the other day that both my husband Pete and Zack were starting to look more and more alike (in a good way of course). They both have the grey beard thing going on.

Rally Class

Again we had an awesome Rally class tonight. We did lots of heeling, serpentines, 360s left and right to name just a few. I was thrilled with Zack's 90 degree left pivot, that has improved alot. I still use lots of treats at this point but will try and back off gradually.

I am getting frustrated a little with Zack's heeling. One minute he seems right there with me and then another I have lost him. I have tried to keep his attention and some days he is great and I think we have conquered it and then the next time I am having troubles again. Is he bored? Is it because he is a terrier and has an independent streak? I am not sure. I have got to remember we haven't been at this long and I am sure it will work itself out.

Insane in the Brain

After yesterday's storm, Zack went insane in the back yard. He grabbed his wubba kong.... then went crazy. He makes me laugh every day.

Paintings

In my profile I mentioned I love to paint. I mainly do pet portraits, horses and the occasional landscape. I wished I had kept a record of all of my commissions but sadly I haven't. Here are just a few of examples of my paintings.









I work mainly in acrylic paint but do use pastels occasionally. I wished I had more time to commit to my paintings and now only take a few commissions a year.

SO THANKFUL

I was just looking at my calendar from this time last year and noticed Zack's appointments and it brought all the worry and heartache flooding back to me.

When Zack was a puppy he was very sick on and off. His white blood cell count was off the charts and so we ended up at the Western Veterinary Centre in Calgary several times. To cut a long story short, Zack had many tests, ultrasounds, etc. all of which were inconclusive. However, one of his blood tests came back with abnormal cells, so back we went again. At this time the vet in Calgary warned me that it could be leukemia or cancer so we were devastated, but needed to know for sure. Zack was only 6 months old how could this be happening? At Western Veterinary Centre Zack then had a bone marrow biopsy - this would be the be all and end all of his tests. Thank god it came back negative. There was no cancer anywhere. There were times when I didn't think Zack was going to make it and that I would have to make the decision to put him to sleep. How wrong I was and I am so glad we hung in there with all his treatments, different foods, etc. The vets figured he had a bad immune problem as a puppy (hence the weird blood test) and now inflammatory bowels.

Over the next few months though Zack improved and has been fine and his White Blood Cell Count has come back to normal and other than the odd flare up with his digestive system, he is still doing well. We have had a few scares on occasion but all turned out to be ok. Through all of this the vets fell in love with Zack and vice versa and to this day Zack still loves going to the clinic, wags his tail and licks their faces on the table - what is with that??

Zack's health has improved greatly this last little while and is pretty much "normal". He is off his medication and only has an occasional treatment when he has a minor intestinal flare up. He is full of life, love and fun - and I don't know what I would do without him. He is everything I have wanted in a dog and is very special me. I am TRULY THANKFUL he is over his health issues and is in my life for a long time to come.

"Where Are You"

Zack and my husband Pete are best buddies. He has been away fishing for a couple of days and every once in a while I catch Zack looking out of the front window with a "when's dad coming home" look on his face.

I took a couple of pictures - what do you think?

Pete is due home today so I am sure the first words out of Pete's mouth will be "OFF" "OFF" "OFF" (ahahahaha) as Zack will be leaping up uncontrollably when he walks through the front door. A habit I have yet to break him of.

Blogaholic

It started with a friend telling me about the blog for Paws-on-the-Run and as Zack went to daycare there once a week I would check the blog occasionally. Then it became daily. The next thing I knew I got an email from Zack's trainer Amanda about class or something with her blogspot link. I clicked on that. Woo hoo, she had links to more blogs!! I would then check in pretty much all the time.

It went on from there. I have never been particularly computer savvy, but thought I would check into setting a blog up about Zack for myself to keep track of Zack's antics. The rest is history. I started in March, 2010 and don't think I have missed a day without blogging.

Then Thursday, April 8th came, my computer wasn't working. I have been without the internet since then and it has been driving me insane. I have been pacing the floor in the evening, had what seems like hundreds of cups of tea to calm my nerves and take my mind off of blogging (ya know, I am English after all), but still I was craving it more. I missed checking in on all the other peoples blogs to see what their dogs have been up to and missed posting about Zack.

At 2:32 pm, Saturday April 10th, Shaw had the computer up and running again !!!! Whoopi!!! Here I am within minutes posting this blog.

OK OK I admit, my name is Lisa and I am a blogaholic!! I think I need therapy - seriously. Anyone know a good shrink?

Doggie Daycare

Every Wednesday afternoon Zack goes to "Doggie Daycare" at Paws-on-the Run. It is sheer bliss in our house Wednesday evening ......

He must party hard as he doesn't really surface until noon the next day.

Catch Me if You Can

No chance when Zack has the Wubba Kong Zoomies!!!!

Spring Fever

With all this nice weather lately it has been great to be able to walk Zack and not freeze, although the wind has been a bit trying at times. I think I am counting every blade of green grass coming up in the back yard as well as checking the buds on my apple tree on a daily basis. I think I have spring fever for sure.

On our walk this morning in the coulees we saw a coyote, it was both awesome and unnerving at the same time. Luckily Zack didn't see it, but my friend's dog Dylan did. Smart dog just looked. The coyote just went on it's way and didn't bother us. Zack has no clue about coyotes and probably would have thought it was another dog and bounded up to it. I have to be so careful when I am out in "the wilds" of Lethbridge with him.

Had a great couple of days off over Easter. Of course ate too much - hence the coulee walk this morning. I wish I had Zack's energy and fitness - he must have ran up and down the stairs at the sugar bowl about 3 times when I was only half way up. If only - ahahahahaa!!!!

Easter Kisses

I took Zack for a long walk this afternoon and when he got back Asia (aka fat cat) just had to give him a good cleaning.





Poor Zacky, such a hard life!!

Pointer or Terrier?

I think Zack has an identity crisis, am I a pointer or a terrier? You tell me.

Rally Class Tonight

So I did not practice with Zack hardly at all last week and still had a great class. We did lots of exercises. Maybe I should practice less often? ahahah. Probably not, but I felt Zack did really well tonight considering my slacking off with his training. He was heeling with me better I thought and was more upbeat. I still have to work on the stand with him and now it is getting more serious start to "tidy up" his sits etc. which I have not been doing at all so far. Yikes!

Tonight Zack did an off leash recall with another dog in the class doing the same thing at the same time, then there were three or more dogs going at the same time. He actually came when called and sat - didn't veer off after the other dogs. We then heeled back off leash to our "spot". I was super stoked about that.

Zack is the first dog I have had that seems to enjoy learning as much as I do and I hope he continues to enjoy it in the future and we continue to improve. If he does, he will be my first dog I will enter into any kind of trial, EVER. So excited about that. We have a long ways to go but it is a goal I would like to meet if I can.

I have so much to learn tho. I am always concerned I am doing the wrong thing and I don't want to ruin or put Zack off in any way. We shall see what the future brings.

Happy Easter!

I wondered why Zack was going so balistic at the front door and lo and behold the Easter Bunny had arrived on our front doorstep !!! Talk about freakishly good timing.