Happy Canada Day!!

It's July 1st tomorrow and Canada Day.

Have a good one!!

Gardening

This weekend I did a bit of gardening and got more flowers in my new flower bed. I had this old chair I was going to throw out but then decided to put it at the end of the garden. I caught Zack sitting in it a few times so I took a picture. I am not sure whether it is because the chair is in the shade that he likes it so much or whether it is his new "perch" to spy on those pesky robins before he does the inevitable mad dash to catch the birdy!!

Hates

There are not many things in life that Zack dislikes being such a happy go lucky little guy but he HATES HATES HATES rollerbladers. He has never had a bad experience with them and I don't know whether it is the fact that when we are walking along the rollerbladers come whooshing from behind and it scares him or whether it is the noise or the fact they are going so fast. I know they make me bloody jump. Anyways, I am sure if Zack could he would chase, chomp, shake and kill those plastic, wheely little varmints LOL!!!

I shouldn't laugh but it is kinda funny and shows that Zack has still got a little bit of his terrier spirit in him after all.

The Dog's Nose

A dog's nose is an amazing thing. It is so sensitive and smells things we can't - termites, drugs, illegal foods - even some cancers - to name just a few. I never see boogers in it and it never needs blowing!!!! Could we do that? Nope.


I am sure Zack must have been a beagle or bloodhound in a previous life as his nose is always glued to the ground. I do so much with Zack already but may be I should take up tracking !!!

Busy Day

It's hard to ever tire Zack out as he is the energizer bunny but eventually even he surcomes, especially on a warm sunny evening like last night.

Biking Buddy

Tonight for the first time I took Zack out with me while I was riding my bike. He was amazing. He just jogged beside me like a pro. It was a great first bike ride for both Zack and I. Yay, just another fun thing to do with Mr. Wiggles.

Agility Graduation

Zack and I had our last class in beginners agility this evening. Luckily all the rain had passed and the weather cooperated. It has been lots of fun over the last 7 weeks and Zack had finally started to keep his nose off the ground a little more. Tonight we worked on a set of three jumps and began the "bottom" contact, 2 feet on and 2 feet off, and the table.

All the dogs seemed to have a great time and that's what it's all about. I want Zack to have fun doing agility and so far he seems to which is great. I will have to sign Zack up for the next set of agility classes and go from there.

Company

Last night our friends Martin & Karen came over for supper. Of course, they brought Zack's best buddy Dylan.


Dylan was a great guest and helped me do dishes.

He also had a fascination with "Fat Cat". He just loved her and so wanted to go up and see her, but "Fat Cat" wanted nothing to do with him. Poor Dylan.

Pampered Pooch

I think Zack found the perfect pet pillow.

Rain Rain Go Away...

Crikey, I can't believe that I am going to say that I am tired of the rain. I am originally from England and love the rain. Lately, the grass is so long I tend to lose Zack on our walks in the overgrown prairie jungle. Thank heavens for his black tipped tail.

Agility #6

This monday evening yet again we were very lucky and missed the thunderstorm. Just as our class finished it came down again just like the week before. It was a great class and we started learning the jumps with front crosses and rear crosses. Zack seemed to enjoy the jumps and thought his new "food container" was the best thing ever!!! Towards the end Zack's focus wandered a bit but I was truly happy with him - he seems to like it so far!! yay.

Yesterday was my birthday and my husband got me a lovely bracelet and took me out for a wonderful lobster dinner. It was divine. Even Zack,Cuddles and Asia managed to get me this cute card which was so nice. Had a great day anyway --- other than the fact I am a year older. That sucks.

I am up this morning at 4:45 a.m. to go and be a "buddy" for a friend who is doing boot camp. Today she can take a friend so we are doing the sugar bowl down and back up the stairs etc. together. Crikey, what was I thinking. I was thinking I better burn off the gazillion calories I ate and drank last night for my birthday. Anyways, better go and get sweaty (or not as it's friggin cold and wet out there).

Zack's favourite day today, it's daycare!!

Something Different

Over the years I have had some unusual requests for doing paintings. I have painted pet portraits on cast iron fry pans and wood plaques, just to name a few. Recently I had been asked to paint a border collie on a turkey feather.

It is like painting miniatures as the actual painting is only about 2 inches x 3 inches at the most.

Day Trip

Today Pete, Zack and I took a quick trip to my sisters in Bigfork, Montana. We were just going for the day so in the spur of the moment at 6 a.m. this morning we decided not to take the camera. How wrong we were. On the way over there firstly we saw a mother deer suckling her fawn, then through the mountains we saw one of those white mountain goats right on the rock to the side of the road. They are hardly ever seen so it was so great. To top that off on the way home we saw a family of red foxes. There were three of them just in the ditch on the road. We stopped and turned around and watched them - they didn't run away - it was awesome. Crikey, I was kicking myself that I didn't have the camera.

Just a funny note, my sister doesn't have a dog but she was dogsitting a lovely, but very overweight golden retriever (Lilly). When Zack saw the blonde hair he was smitten. He did the usual wiggle, wiggle and they played forever, but then he started trying the rumpy pumpy. Luckily I don't think he knew what he was doing as he was at it at both ends, legs, head, whatever he could!!! I was a little taken a back but it was funny to watch as Lilly is so big and she was just laying there and couldn't have cared less. Poor Zacky I guess he didn't have the right moves (or the wotsits for that matter) to pull the blonde. LOL!!

Cookie Monster

The anticipation

The grab


The crunch and munch....


Zack's I love cookies face says it all. Is that a happy grin I see!!! LOL

Mr. Wiggles...

I just love my wiry haired, scruffy little mutt!!

Update

I have actually done it and it's official. I entered Zack into his first Rally obedience trial on July 31 and August 1st at Spruce Meadows in Calgary. Blimy what does this mean - it means I better get my butt in gear and practice with Zack as I haven't done anything with him for quite some time. I have my rally signs printed now so I better start using them!!

Monday night was agility class #5. It was a great night. Zack paid more attention to me and his nose was not glued to the ground quite so much. Whether it was because it had just rained and the ground was wet I don't know. Anyways, we started some turns, front crossovers and rear crossovers. I am a bit uncoordinated with these moves at this point but I am sure it will come. The trainers make it look easy and when they were running their dog over jumps and turning it makes sense and you can see why we need to learn these moves. The best part of the evening was we started with the tunnel and low A frame. I didn't know how Zack would be but he didn't seem to mind either of the pieces of equipment. I figured the tunnel might be ok seeing he is a terrier and sure enough he just ran right through. The A frame too he just ran right over. Yay for Zacky!!

Our trainer brought each dog a bag of homemade doggy treats that had tuna in them - which was really nice. Zack has a sensitive stomach but yay they were fine and he had no problem so I have found another treat I can use for training. Can't wait for the recipe next week.

Gone Fishing

On Saturday evening Pete and I went fishing at McVinny Reservoir just past Picture Butte. Of course, Zack came along too.

He is not really a "water dog" and has never gone in and swam yet. He is getting braver though and starting to get his feet wet. Was he looking for those pesky fish?


There were monstrous mosquitos out there which cut our evening short as I was being eaten alive but not without taking Zack for a run. There is a path that ran round the top of the reservoir which we took. Oh boy, new smells, new place, long grass,goose poop, critters and fish, what more could he ask for. I reckon he had a good time ahahahahah.

Finally..it's here

Yippee, today Zack's CKC registration came in the mail. He is officially registered and has a number. Thank god, as it has been quite a rigmarole. I guess I have no excuses now not to enter Zack in the rally obedience trial at Spruce Meadows at the end of July. I will enter online tomorrow!! Crikey I am nervous already ahahahaha.

Another Walk with Zack

On the weekends I always take Zack for longer walks. Yesterday was no exception. It was so nice out I thought I would do my 10km loop from where I live in Riverstone to behind the University down the coulees into to the river valley, under Whoop Up Drive and back up bull trail (that is the red shale trail you see up the coulee to the right of Whoop Up if you are heading west). I first walked Zack to the University grounds so he could get his "gopher fix" as there are millions of the little critters there. He was in gopher heaven. On we went behind the University and down the coulee to the river valley.

Then we got to bull trail. I call myself in fair shape as I walk lots, however, I hadn't done bull trail in a while. It is approximately 1 km long with a 300 ft incline. Zack and I started our way up. After we got about 1/3 of the way up the hill and completed the set of 30 stairs I started to huff and puff. Zack was still trotting back and forth on his extendilead with no sign of any effort, while I was plodding one foot after another. At this point I wished Zack was an Alaskan Malamute so he could pull me up the rest of this neverending hill. I wonder if Zack was wishing I was an athlete and could get her fat ass up the hill a little faster. Either way we both made it to the top with me coming off alot worse than Zack - I was definitely sweating like a weight watcher in a cake shop!!!

It was worth it though. I turned and looked at the river valley and it was so green and lovely. Quite the view. It was a good hike and I think I finally may have tired Zack out just a little as as soon as I opened the door he laid down frog legged on the tile floor.

Crazy Woman

Last night after work I took Zack out for his usual walk. I decided to take him across the fields in between Riverstone and Paradise Canyon where I can let him off leash so he can have a run. Zack was having a great time. About half way across the field Zack ran through some mud....then he found the puddle..... this initiated full blown zoomies....round and round, faster and faster, the muddier and wetter he got, the more he zoomed. I was in stitches laughing, crouching down, jumping up, hoot'n and holler'in and egging Zacky on. It was hilarious.

Just as we were ready to move on a giant bumble bee, and I mean the size of a bloody chicken egg came after me, so there I was screaming, flailing my arms and making mad dashes in erratic directions all over the field. Zack thought this was a great game of chase.

When we continued on I realized that from a distance Zack cannot be seen. The grass is now long with all the rain and he is pretty much invisible unless you are right there with him. Blimy, that means anybody who saw me from the field, building site, road or wherever, probably thought I had escaped from the assylum, lost my marbles and gone completely doolally!!!

Geesh. What we do for our dogs. LOL!!!

Roll Over

Oh yeah....

aaaaaahh... that feels good

Ouch my neck!!!!

There's that darn ball

zzzz... time for a nap. Woof.

Agility/Rally Obedience

Monday night was agility class. It is great practicing and learning new things that will benefit both Zack and I when we move to the next level agility class which includes learning the equipment. I haven't done agility for probably 15 years and there is definitely alot I have forgotten and new and better methods. It's like schooling a young horse, there is alot of ground work that needs to be done before moving along to serious training - which I think is a great way to start in any sport. In class Zack was still very much focused on the ground at times so I am going to buy a little food treat container and new tug toy I can put treats in, then switch them around to keep his interest. I can't wait to continue with his journey in agility. I hope he loves it once we get going.



Since finishing our Rally Obedience classes I have definitely "slacked off" with my training. It's amazing how much classes motivate to train, etc. If I am ever going to be ready for the trial at Spruce Meadows at the end of July (which is my goal) I am going to have to get my butt in gear and practice with Zack. I did manage to print off all the signs from the internet for Rally (thanks to Amanda for the link) and will get them laminated. Luckily in my backyard I have a large concrete area where I can practice so I have no excuses. Hopefully we will be ready, but if not, I am not going to rush things and will just wait til November when there is a Rally trial at the Lethbridge Dog Show and enter Zack into that one.

Crikey, that reminds me, I haven't got my CKC registration back yet. I guess everything hedges on whether I get that back in time. Hopefully it will not be rejected this time around.

The Great Escape

One evening last week Pete and I were over at Riverstone pond fishing. I came home early at about 9:00pm and left Pete over there. I had just settled down to have a cup of tea and watch some TV when I heard a couple of bangs in the back yard. I thought Pete was coming through the back gate so I thought nothing more of it. About 1/2 hour later Zack was whining at the back door (again I thought it was Pete). I went to let Zack out and he bolted to the end of the garden and lo and behold out popped Asia, aka "Fat Cat" from behind the bush all puffed up. I was shocked, Zack was shocked and god knows Asia was shocked (her fur looked like she had put her paw in a light socket!) She is an indoor cat so what was she doing outside!!! I initially freaked, grabbed her and took her inside thanking god she didn't run away. Don't know how she got out but she did. I assume those bangs were her taking leaps at the fence but missing (out of shape cat that she is ahaahahaha)



However, since then I may have created a monster. If you haven't seen Asia she is close to 20 pounds (very fat). She doesn't move very fast and waddles around - literally. After the great escape incident, I thought I would start letting her in the back garden with Zack if I am out there to watch her because there is no way she can jump the 6 foot fence and the exercise would do her good. Now she thinks this is the best thing next to a full food dish and howls constantly, and I mean howl, scream, holler as soon as you get up in the morning - "let me out, let me out, let me out!". Crikey what have I done !! ahahahaha.