Freestyle Friends

We drove out the the kennel club this morning to practice canine freestyle and rally obedience. I really enjoy these activities (although not as much as tracking) because it keeps my mind occupied, I get lots of treats and I get to visit with my friends.


This is my new friend Stormy. She is a Belgian Tervuren and already has her Utility Dog title (UD) which is very hard and takes a lot of work to earn. She and her person are learning freestyle and I bet they will be great. Look at the beautiful attention she is giving to her person. Attention is key to doing well in obedience, rally and freestyle.



Lucky is very good at walking backwards. Here you see him backing away from his person. They are getting ready to compete at a trial in November.



Pree is one of my boyfriends. This isn't the best picture of him-it makes him look like a little mop and he is actually quite handsome. He finds me irresistable and today he ran through the ring gates to get to me. No photos of that since they would be R-rated at least.



Here I am doing my favorite trick-the leap to touch Barbara's hand. I love to do it because I am allowed to jump. See how high I can get.



Here is another picture of me doing it again. It feels so great to leap up.



After freestyle we ran a rally course and then it was back home to take a long nap while Barbara had to work.

Royal's Birthday Party

Yesterday I attended a great social event-Royal's 1st Birthday Party. Royal is an Australian Shepherd and I've known him since he was a puppy. He's a big handsome boy now and is in the Drill Team with me. He has a blog where you can read about all the things he and his person do together.


The Birthday Boy


Royal has a big fenced yard and we had a great time chasing each other all around.



There were nine of us dogs there and we all got along very well. We did lots of sniffing and play bowing but nobody growled at anyone.



After lots of playing we all tried to crowd on to the deck because that were all the food was! The people wanted to eat their food first without nine dogs sniffing around. They got to eat delicious hummus, veggies, chili and cornbread.



Trudy the Italian Spinone tried to climb over the little gate.



Royal's person Jenn made a special dog birthday cake with flour, honey, peanut butter and shredded carrots. It was iced with cream cheese and decorated with little biscuits.



Royal got to blow out his candle and the people sang "Happy Birthday" to him.



The cake was delicious! I ate my slice in one gulp and then licked the bowl clean.



The party was great fun. I got to play with my friends, get lots of petting from the people and ate yummy snacks. To top it off we all got a nice party favors of iced cookies and I got a new stuffie in the gift exchange.

Phydeaux

I was so pleased to get the "I Love Your Blog" Award from my Field Spaniel friend, Hero.


And then I was doubly pleased to get it awarded to me again by those three wild heelers, Gus, Louie and Callie.

Thanks so much guys. I'm glad you enjoy my blog. I love reading yours too.


Phydeaux (pronounced "Fido") is a cool independent pet supply store. They only sell food, toys, treats and all sorts of good stuff for dogs and cats but never any live animals. I would not patronize them if they did! They recently moved to a big new space and I wanted to visit and check it out.


Just look at the great assortment of delicious treats.



One corner is all beds. I bet Agatha and Archie would love this place.



The Wall of Toys!



I had to inspect my favorite treat dispensing toys.



I helped Barbara check out our purchases. She paid of course, but I made sure she was charged the correct amount.

We bought some of my favorite Solid Gold kibble and a moo stick which I have already buried in the yard.

Puppy Class

We took a ride in my new dog crate on wheels out to the Animal Protection Society this afternoon. First I had a run in the dog park to get out some energy. Then it was on to puppy class. Barbara just started teaching a new junior puppy class at the APS. This is a very important class that all puppies should get their people to take them to. They learn proper socialization, basic skills and tricks and how to convince their people to give them lots of treats!

The puppies are so cute but very silly. Here are pictures of some of them.


Copper, a handsome Vizsla puppy.



Grace is a very sweet puppy.



Here is Lulu, the Beagle. She is the smallest in the class.



Puppy socialization time in class.



Grace, Louie and Viva getting to know one another.

Sometimes the puppies are very distracted. This little Akita puppy, Akiko, did not notice that her person dropped a treat on the floor. I noticed it however, and I stole it right out from under her nose!



After Puppy Class we had Drill Team practice where we are learning a new routine. It's been a busy evening and I need to get my rest.

New Dog Crate on Wheels

I haven't blogged in the last 10 days because my person has been very busy studying, test driving and talking about getting a new dog crate on wheels. We have an old sedan which is a very dull car and not convenient for taking me places. I have to sit in the back seat and wear a seat belt (which I cannot stand) otherwise I try to drive the car myself.



After much boring discussion about reliability, engines and mileage we finally have our new dog crate on wheels - a Honda Element. It even looks like a dog crate, all silver and boxy.

Here I am checking out the back and smelling the new car smell. The back seats fold up to the sides, the way they are now, or come out entirely. There is plenty of room for my crate and all the things I need for tracking, rally and freestyle. Barbara says there is even room for more crates so if we get another dog ( I hope soon) there will be room for him to go with us too.



The inside is lined with rubber. Even if I drool it won't matter!





I am so glad that she got this for me but I really don't understand why it took so long. I have only two questions. What fun places can we go to in this car? And how fast can we get there?

Farmers' Market

I've been pretty busy lately. On Sunday I practiced Freestyle and last night was Drill Team practice. Today when Barbara came home from lessons, we went to a little Farmers' Market. It was fun to go there. Lot's of people admired and petted me. Most of them didn't know that I am a Gordon Setter so she had to explain what I am.

There are lots of tents with all kinds of food inside. Most of the tents have vegetables and Barbara bought boring stuff like lettuce and peppers.



One tent had all sorts of jams and jellys in jars and baked goods! I am very interested in baked goods and my nose was in overdrive with the delicious smells. It was late so most of the baskets were empty but we still found a nice apple spice loaf.



It was hard to control myself around all those delicious treats but I was polite. It was most disappointing that I did not get to go to the tent with the cheesecakes. I think that she was afraid that the smell of cheesecake would be so overwhelming that I would jump up on the table and start feasting.



There is a bigger Farmers' Market in town but I can't go there because they ban dogs! This is blatant discrimination and Barbara refuses to buy so much as a string bean there.

My Mohawk

Inspired by my spaniel friends, Hero and Big Pupi, I thought that I would try to grow a mohawk. They look very cool with theirs and it seemed to fit in with my new tatoo and scar that I got when I was spayed. You can just see the start of it in this picture.



Unfortunately Barbara did not think that a mohawk was a great idea since setters are supposed to have sleek, smooth heads. So out came the stripping knife and off came the mohawk. Then she gave me a bath and you know how I despise them.



Barbara was not very sympathetic since she believes it is part of her responsibility as my special person to take care of my skin and coat. This means baths and grooming. Ugh! I think my coat is quite fine as it is. In fact the other day at the dog park a woman was admiring my fur and said that she wished that she had a head of hair like mine!

Then next photo I have to blame entirely on Stanislaw! Barbara thinks he looks so cute in his snood that it gave her ideas. Since I have started some raw meat additions (which I love) to my meals she thought that I should have a snood too. It seems that my Gordon Setter ears are perfect for collecting raw meat on the ends.



Now I have to wear this contraption on my head if I am going to eat anything raw. Even though wearing it means I am going to feast you can see from my expression that I am not loving it.

My New Boyfriend Henry

I am always up for a trip to the dog park and I am always on the look out to add new boyfriends to my pack of admirers. So when Barbara said that we were going to go to the dog park to work with one of her students I was very excited.

Henry is a 2 year old Labradoodle that was just recently adopted to a wonderful family. I don't think he had the proper socialization when he was a puppy because he is very sensitive and he never really learned to play. His new person was concerned that Henry didn't enjoy himself at the dog park. Since I have excellent play skills and clear body language, Barbara thought I was just the dog to bring Henry out of his shell.


Henry came into the park but didn't interact with the other dogs and only wanted to sniff around. If other dogs came near him, he walked away.



I came up to him and we sniffed politely at the side of the face. Notice my low, sweeping tail wags and curved body position. I would never be so rude as to come straight on to another dog's face and stare at them.



I gave him a play bow so that Henry would know that everything that I was going to do was all in fun.



Then I lay on the ground to make myself as non threatening as possible and to do a little flirting.



Finally Henry realized it was ok to play with me. We had a few excellent chases and even a little chew-face game. His person was so happy to see his tail wagging. We had such a good time that it even gave Henry the confidence to go up to some other dogs. I think that Henry is going to be a social butterfly after a few more dog park outings!

But flirt that I am, I was not satisfied with one new beau. I also attracted the attention of a young male Brittany named Truman who seemed quite taken with me.




I was a little concerned that after my spaying operation boy dogs wouldn't be so attracted to me. Fortunately that is not true. I guess when a girl's got it, she's got it!!

Coby

Last Wednesday Barbara drove me to K9 Kindercare, my home away from home, because she was going to visit family in NY. I wanted to go until I heard that she was flying there. I have no desire to sit in a crate in the belly of an airplane. She picked me up this morning and I could tell that she had been with my cousin Coby since her suitcase smelled of Cockapoo.



My Aunt Debby and her family adopted Coby from a shelter last Thanksgiving and they adore him. Who knows why he ended up in the shelter because he is such a great dog. I was a bit miffed to hear that Barbara paid a lot of attention to Coby and took him for a walk, played tug-of-war and gave him lots of treats.

Debby had a big picnic while Barbara was there and lots of their cousins came. Coby had a great time playing kickball with all the little kids in the big fenced yard. I wish I was there for that.




What I am most sorry to have missed though, was the feast. I see that they had fried chicken, barbequed pork roast and cupcakes!! Coby was right there in the thick of things waiting for food to drop on the floor and I know for a fact that Barbara gave him some fried chicken. I am so jealous. I get treated very well at K9 Kindercare but they have never barbequed a pork roast for me.





Anyway I am back home now, tired out from playing with my friends at the kennel. I really need to rest up because tonight is Rally class.

Dog Park Fun

Thank you to all who sent good wishes after my spay operation and during my recuperation. I am completely recovered and back to all my activities of Rally, freestyle and playing with my boyfriends. Unfortunately my person has been remiss in posting to my blog because she keeps forgetting to bring the camera when we do fun things!

We went to the dog park this evening before Rally class. My friend Ayla is in the class and Barbara and Sandi thought it would be a good idea for us to run out our silliness before class.



I am having a good sniff with Ayla, Nate, Bing and Minnie. We all get along very well.




Ayla and Minnie running towards me.




I am enjoying the freedom to run around and sniff.


I have been enjoying the photos of all you dogs in the Paw-lympic events. Congratulations to all the medal winners. I am very annoyed that Barbara didn't submit any of my photos. My specialty is the tongue event. I could have been a contender!