Tuesday, June 26, 2012

MARLEY AND KALEA-KATE: BFF'S

Marley and Kalea-Kate are the best of friends. They play so well together. I'm so pleased with them. They spend tons of time everyday playing and running together. It just makes my heart smile.

It will be interesting this weekend because I am bringing KK along to the agility trial. I plan on walking her around the venue during our down time and letting her see what a trial is all about. Maybe let her get 'measured'. So curious about her height! I will be carrying treats to reward her good behavior. I also plan on letting others reward her so she learns how to be around other people and dogs and to remain the happy, friendly puppy that KK is.


It will be her first time in a motel so that should be fun. She's only ever traveled to my dad's, so this will be a new adventure for her.


My goal for Marley this weekend is to just stay with me and mind. Which is something she has been doing really well lately.If I make it thru Monroe, we are going to try an USDAA agility trial the next weekend. Just a few runs.

My dad is going to stay at my house with my senior girls, Molly and Missy. They are more comfortable in their own home. Going to trials really takes it out of them and it's not fair to them to drag them all over the country.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

MARLEY'S BACK!!!

Marley had another great class last nite. Worked on handling skills, something we definitely need! Marley is thriving in the lower stress class. She's just a soft, sweet girl and deserves to be comfortable in her class and at trials. I crate her by herself under the bleachers during KK's class. She's all tucked away with her little fan going and she's happy. We are entered in a few runs in Monroe at the end of the month. It will be our first trial since April (where I ran with an undiagnosed hip fracture!) and this is the venue where I broke my hip. So, our goals are to just be happy and work together. :)

KK is thriving in her beginner's class. 3 obstacle sequences. Hitting all her contacts with me soooo far behind her! She will go with Marley and I to Monroe to see what the trial environment is about. If you are in Monroe, please stop by and see her, she's super friendly and loves everyone and every dog. If your dog is snarky, please stay away from my crating area as Marley doesn't deserve to be threatened in her own space.

Missy and Molly are healthy and happy. They enjoy patrolling every nite. Molly will be gone for 4-6 hours a nite. Missy usually only stays out about a half hour before she's ready for A/C.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

PERMISSION

I took Marley back to agility class last night. It was Intermediate Class so it is a little under what we should be in, but Marley can't handle the chaos of the behavior of some of the dogs in the Advanced Class. Marley is a sensitive dog and I will do whatever I have to to keep her safe and happy. So I made the decision to take her to class.

KK was a good little agility dog. She's up to 3 obstacle sequences. She's paying much more attention to me. She's started sniffing the sheep poo so we will be working on keeping her nose up and paying attention to me. She's doing great with her contacts. She's going to be a fast little dog for me but I look forward to the challenge.

Marley sat in her crate with her fan going all during KK's class. When her class started, Marley came out all happy and frisky. She did everything I asked of her and did it perfectly. It didn't hurt that the class cheered for her!

As a reward for their good behaviot on the agility field, both Marley and KK got to swim in the pond. They had a big time!

This class was a deciding factor in Marley's agility career. If she did well, we were going to continue with group classes, if not then we would do privates only. She hasn't been in a class setting since February. I haven't gotten to practice with her since the April AKC trial where I ran her with my fractured hip. I'm just so pleased with her!   :)

Marley's agility trial schedule will be very short this year. I'm just happy for every run I have with her. You never know when your or your dog's career will be over. Everytime I step to the line with her will be winning for me! No matter the outcome, Marley is my girl and I will treasure every moment with her.

I am feeling better emotionally. I think the fractured hip was God's way of making me be still and think and deal with everything. I have finally come to the conclusion that I needed to give myself permission to keep living. I have been just existing for months and I finally feel like I am living again. I will always miss my mom and will always think about how things could have been different, but I can't change what happened. It's time for me to start living again.