Farm Animals

We like to take walks in area that has nice paths around a pond. They also have cows, donkeys, goats and fake sheep. The cows are called Belted Galloways and have a white stripe all around their middle. One of the cows came to the fence. At first I thought that he had never seen a Gordon Setter before and was going to admire me. Then he stared at me. I don't know what staring means in cow body language but if another dog was staring at me like that I would be giving him every calming signal I knew how to give. I just tried to get as far away from the fence as I could.



















Isn't this a cute baby goat? I wanted to get near her and would have loved to have played with her. Every time I got close to the fence the mama goat stepped in front of her to protect her from me.





Here are the fake sheep. I used to be very concerned about them and even wrote a post about "Evil Sheep" last fall. Barbara has desensitized me to the fake sheep so I don't mind seeing them the way I used to. But it is still beyond me why anyone would want to have a herd of concrete sheep when they could have real woolly ones.

My Sister Tori

My sister Tori is a conformation show dog. Aunt Karen brought her down to a big dog show at the State Fairgrounds this weekend and Barbara and I went to the show to cheer her on.

It is very hard to show in conformation. You must have lots of baths and grooming which, as you know, I don't like. Then you have to learn to stand very still while the judge examines you. Tori does this very well but I found it extremely difficult when I took a handling class. Then you have to gait around the ring so the judge can see how well you move. That was the only part I liked to do.

Tori did not win today but she is very beautiful and I know that soon she will win many ribbons at dog shows just like our mom Misty and our dad Garrett. I'll just stick to tracking since it doesn't involve any baths.

Perfectly Good Day - Ruined

I had a great morning. We woke up early and headed over to the dog park where I had a great run with a nice collie and a chow mix. Then I met my friend Amiga to do some tracking. I found many articles with roast beast in them and Barbara was pleased with how well I followed the track on the turns. I returned home for a nap while Barbara went to work. I thought that when she got back we could go for a nice walk. But NO! She said "Niamh you smell like a dog. You must have a bath." Of course I smell like a dog, I am a dog for goodness sakes. What am I supposed to smell like - a squirrel??



We went to Max's Dog Wash where I had to get in the tub and get wet down, soaped up and rinsed off. It was horrible. Even though I got treats through out, I was miserable as you can see from my photos.




Then I had to get on the grooming table and get blown dry which I think is cruelty to animals and worse than the bath itself if that is possible.



I think people are obsessed with baths. They have entire rooms in their houses to devoted to the practice which seems a waste of space to me. They should skip the baths and showers and just stay nice and smelly.

Rally Practice

It was another busy week. I had Drill Team on Monday night, Wednesday I helped Barbara with her new Basic Family Dog class and Thursday I visited Furry Paws and Feathers Pet Supplies to get more treats. Friday morning I went tracking with my friends Amiga, Ayla and Trotter so I thought that I would have a lazy weekend and get to sleep in.

Instead Barbara and I went out to the Animal Protection Society training center and met Ayla and her person Sandi. We practiced Rally obedience which is a fun way to do obedience. Rally is a course with stations of obedience skills like heeling around cones, fronts and finishes, different kinds of turns. You get points off your score if you don't do the station correctly. I am learning the skills so I can do all the stations. Barbara and Sandi set out a course and Ayla and I took turns practicing. Of course we got lots of praise and treats for doing the skills.


Barbara and I going through the figure eight cones.



Ayla doing a right finish around Sandi.

It is a lot of fun to do Rally and dogs should encourage their people to try this sport. Don't worry, you do not have to learn to read the signs - only your people do.

There are Rally competitions with different levels of courses and dogs can win prizes and ribbons. Barbara and Selkie used to do lots of Rally together and they earned the Rally Novice (RN) and Rally Advanced (RA) titles. Here is a picture of them getting their RA at the Gordon Setter National Specialty in June 2006.




My mom Misty recently got her Rally Novice title and has a leg towards her RA. I'd like to get good at Rally so that I can win prizes and ribbons and have lots of initials after my name.

Tracking for Roast Beast

I got up early this morning to go tracking near the lake. It was cool and breezy which always makes me feel skippy. My boyfriend Trotter was there too with his person Chris. Barbara had a very special reward for me - delicious roast beast - which I had never had before. Each article on the track had pieces of roast beast under it. What a wonderful smell.

I was very excited at the beginning of my track and took some time to settle down. It was windy which blows all the scent around. Once I focused I did very well (and found 2 articles with roast beast) until I got to the first turn. I knew where it was and indicated the turn but Barbara had mistaken where she had laid the turn and didn't let me go there. I tried to tell her again but she didn't pay attention so then I got a bit confused. She really MUST learn to trust me since I am the one with the good nose!! Even Chris knew that I had indicated the turn. Barbara must not be able to smell much at all, poor thing.

Finally we got going the right way, I crossed a dirt road, found more articles and made a very good right turn. Then it was straight on to the final article which was a special toy filled with roast beast and cheese. Yeah!

Here is a picture of me with the toy. It is made out of fire hose material and is very strong.


You can see that the bottom opens up to a secret compartment for the roast beast.


I gobbled up the roast beast and cheese so fast that Barbara couldn't get a picture of it. HA!!

Tellington Touch

Tellington Touch is a technique used on animals to help us relax and connect us with our bodies. It is like a massage but very gentle. Barbara thought it would benefit me since I don't like being groomed or having my nails clipped. I can tolerate it but it isn't much fun. Gordon Setters have a lot of hair so we need to be brushed often.

Royal's person, Jenn, has done TTouch on me and it felt really nice. She organized a TTouch training workshop at the APS and it was taught by THE Linda Tellington-Jones who developed the method. Barbara brought me to the workshop so that one of the student practitioners could TTouch me and help me.

Joan really likes dogs a lot. She was very gentle with me, doing very soft touches over my skin. I got a little worried when she started working on my hind legs. I really don't like having my back feet touched. But Joan respected me and got me used to the touches very gradually. The TTouch felt wonderful and I got quiet relaxed. Joan showed Barbara how to do the touches so she could do them on me at home.

Then Joan did something that I thought was really weird. She wrapped me up in an Ace bandage. It is supposed to help reduce anxiety and help me connect. I was not sure about it at all and kind of froze up. Joan gently coaxed me to walk around and then the wrap felt fine but I still think it looks extremely strange.




Later I got to meet Linda Tellington-Jones. She did lovely touches on my face and tail to help relax me. I would have let her do the touches to me all afternoon. Here is a picture of me with Linda and then one of Linda, me and Joan.




I hope that Barbara remembers how to do all the different TTouches so I can have a session everyday. Who knows, I may even get to like being groomed.

Volunteer Award

My special person, Barbara, went to a reception tonight and she got a nice certificate from the County Commissioners for being a NC Key Volunteer for Orange County. She volunteers at the animal shelter doing evaluations of the dogs there and helping them find good homes. It is very sad that dogs have to be in the shelter. By evaluating them she can tell what kind of training they need and help make a good match so they get their own special person to take care of them.



Here is a picture of Barbara with some of the people who work at the shelter. She's the one in the blue shirt. I'm very proud of her and gave her lots of kisses when she came home with her certificate. Unfortunately dogs were not allowed at the reception otherwise I would have gone and eaten lots of the snacks.

My New Friend Riley

I was taking a nice nap this afternoon when Barbara came home and told me that I was going to meet a new friend. I like having lots of friends so I was glad to get up and go. We drove to Karen and Jim's house. I'd been there before and they were very nice to me, giving me lots of pets and treats. Well now they have a new puppy. His name is Riley and he is a 5 month old Golden doodle. He looks quite big for his age but I really think it is all the hair.




When I first got to Karen and Jim's I was more interested in running around their yard than playing with the puppy. He, however, was very interested in me. The yard is fenced and there is a big deck with lots of levels to jump off of. I could jump off the highest level but Riley had to use the stairs. I led him on a big chase all around the yard. He would run up to me and bite on my ears! When I wanted to get away from him I just ran really fast and he couldn't catch up. We had a good time. I love to be chased.




Riley is a playful guy and he chewed on my legs and actually tried to walk underneath me. I think he has quite a crush on me (and why wouldn't he since I am so pretty) because he tried to hump me several times. I would flip him off when he bothered me but he really is very sweet. A girl can never have too many beaus but I think that Riley may be a bit too young for me.

Furry Paws and Feathers

I took a good nap after all my tracking exhertions. Then Barbara told me it was time to go to class but we had to make a stop first. We went to a new little pet supply store called "Furry Paws and Feathers". Well I have furry paws but absolutely no feathers so I was afraid that I wouldn't be allowed in at first. It is a store filled with all sorts of treats and toys for animals (fortunately they don't sell animals there). The whole place smelled lovely and I definitely want to visit there again.

Here is a picture of Andrea, the owner, giving me some tasty salmon treats.





Here I am checking out the greenies.




There is a section of cat food and treats and I had to inspect those very carefully.





Barbara bought some very nice toys for her Family Dog 2 class but she didn't buy any for me. This is cruelty to animals!!!

Private Tracking Lesson

We took a long drive early this morning. We passed the road to K9 Kindercare so I knew I wasn't going to stay there but I did not know where Barbara and I were going. We met up with Gretchen who is a trainer and who taught the tracking workshop we went to. She has big silver dogs called Weimeraners and I thought I was going to get to play with them.

Instead Barbara and I had a private tracking lesson with Gretchen so I can become a better tracker (and Barbara can learn to be a better handler). I was able to show Gretchen that I really understand what I am supposed to be doing out there when I track and Barbara learned some ways to work with the tracking line to give me more information about what we are doing. I also have to learn a better article indication. I am much more interested in the track than the glove or the sock so we have to work on that. But because it will involve more treats I think that it will be fun.

I still want to get a chance to play with those Weimeraners though.

A Very Boring Day

Some days are just dull. Barbara left early this morning for a meeting of the Carolina Trainers' Forum and I had to sit home all day by myself. Boooooring. Now it is important for her to meet with other dog trainers and discuss training issues but why does it have to take so long? People have to talk about everything in such long and boring detail. If dogs were in charge of that meeting it would be a lot shorter for sure. Our communication is so clear. If I want you to play, I bow. If I am not sure about you I turn my head away. If I you do something I don't like I air snap. Very simple and direct.

Since I had to stay home Barbara left me with all sorts of toys filled with goodies. I am very good at getting the treats out. I also spent time ripping apart some of my stuffed toys. I made a New Year's resolution to destroy more toys and realized that I haven't been keeping it up as well as I should. Fortunately I only rip up toys and never shoes.

Drill Team Night

Another fun Monday! We went out to the APS Dog Park for a run before Barbara had to teach her Family Dog 2 class. Here are some pictures of me in the park. You can see how fast I run.

Then we went to class. It is boring for me when Barbara teaches. I have to wait in a crate unless she needs me for a demonstration. I get really jealous when I have to watch her work with other dogs and give them treats that should go to me! Tonight I whined a lot while Barbara and Dana were teaching so she made me go sit in the car by myself.


I was really glad when Drill Team started so I could come back in the building. Here is a picture of my friend Ayla. We were very happy to see each other and she gave me some nice kisses.


I have a new boyfriend in the Drill Team. His name is Hadji. We are in line next to each other in one of the new routines we are learning and we spent a lot of time tonight sniffing each other and flirting. I think he is very distinguished looking. Since we have to do work in Drill Team we didn't really get a chance to play the way I wanted to. But there is always next week.

Dog Parks

I love going to Dog Parks but sometimes it is more fun than others. A lot depends on which dogs are at the park and just how responsible their people are.

Barbara and I went this morning and I met several nice dogs and had a good time chasing and playing. There was a very sweet young Brittany who liked to play the same kind of games that I play. We had a good time with each other. One Australian Shepherd dog thought he could hump me but I soon set him straight and it didn't bother me at all.

What I don't like are the dogs who crowd the gate when other dogs are trying to come in the park. I get a little nervous when 3 or 4 big dogs stand at the gate, stare at me and then get in my face as I try to enter. It is not good dog body language at all and very rude. Barbara never lets me hang out near the gate. Where are those dogs' people?? Probably chatting on their cell phones or standing around talking to their friends and ignoring their dogs.

They are supposed to be paying attention to how their dogs are socializing, not socializing themselves. Sometimes they think that it is OK for the dogs to "work it out themselves" and I have seen some sensitive dogs get pushed around quite badly by bullies. Their people need to wise up and pay attention.

Amiga's First Track

I got up early this morning and Barbara drove me to the dog park so I could run off some energy. There were several nice dogs there who played very well and we had a good time. We left sooner than I would have liked but then we drove up to Ayrmount for some tracking which is always great.

When we got there I was very surprised to see my friend Amiga arrive with her person Mary. I know Amiga from the Drill Team and she is a very sweet Golden Retriever. She is an excellent performer and knows a lot of good tricks like weaving between Walter's legs. She had never done tracking and wanted to try it. Sandi, Ayla's person, laid a short track for Amiga and Mary to follow. It had lots of articles with pieces of delicious turkey stuffed in them. Well Amiga took to the tracking immediately. What is not to like about a sock with turkey in it??



Sandi helped Amiga and Mary find all the articles and then they got to run another track. I was watching from the car and I could see that Amiga really enjoyed herself and did very well.



Watching Amiga really got me excited to start my track so I was whining and jumping around while I had to wait in the car. Barbara laid a zig zag track for me and a straight one very close to the woods. She dropped many interesting articles along the track with sausage biscuit in them-an eyeglass case, a cell phone case, gloves and a makeup case at the end just stuffed with sausage biscuit. Heavenly!!. The straight track near the woods was difficult because I wanted to go in there to investigate all the good smells but Barbara helped me not to be too distracted and focus on my work. It was worth it because I got a lot of liver and cheese when I found the article at the end.

Tracking is such a terrific sport!! It is great to go out with all your friends in the morning and find things in the fields. I'm glad that Amiga joined us for the fun. Tracking dogs rule!!!

Dogs with Blogs

I really enjoy having my own blog. I have a busy and fun life and like sharing it with other dogs and their people. A couple of my dog friends have blogs but now I have found out that lots of dogs have blogs too.

Barbara listed my blog on a site called www.dogswithblogs.com.au and it turns out there are hundreds of canines in the blogosphere! I am amazed. The nice thing is that I have gotten comments on my blog from dogs all over the world. This is very exciting. I love meeting and playing with other dogs so maybe someday I will get a chance to meet these dogs. Or maybe not. Barbara says that I would have to fly in a plane to see them and this I will not do. I much prefer riding in the car.

More Pictures from Virginia

I had a great time in VA last weekend and Barbara has posted a few more pictures.

Misty and me out in the field



My littermates Torie and Travis and me watching Karen lay tracks for me to work.





I had a great time playing with my littermates although Travis tried to hump me. Very rude since he is my brother! But I told him off a few times and then we got along fine.

The tracking was great. I even tracked my Aunt Karen which I had never done before. Barbara lays most of my tracks but this time Karen left gloves with cheese and liver treats. When I went up to the start flag I had to think about her smell a bit but then I tracked her strongly. It was terrific fun and both Barbara and Karen praised me and said that I am very smart.

Crazy, Dedicated Trackers

We have had such a bad drought here that I have never tracked in the rain (and I didn't even know it was possible or why you would want to do it). Usually the ground is very dry which is not the best scenting condition or there is a little dew or frost if I am lucky. So it was quite a surprise when Barbara took me out to the tracking field to meet Ayla, Tully and Trotter and their people in the rain.

The rain let up and Barbara, Chris and Sandi layed tracks for us. Just as they were finished the rain started to come down. I didn't mind since I was warm and dry in the car but Barbara was cold and wet. We waited to let the track age and I thought that we would not track but we did.

When I got up to the start flag to smell my article I found that the sock was soaking wet. Of course I could still pick up the scent but I had to think about it for a bit and circle the flag which I don't usually do. Then I was off tracking. I had to stop several times to shake off the water but continued to work my first track until I found my article and got some sausage biscuit (delicious as always)

I had to run another track with two right turns. Barbara managed to lay it through a big clump of deer fur. What a wonderful smell. I inspected the fur carefully and sniffed it thoroughly. Barbara said "Niamh, use your nose." which is what she says when she wants me to get back to work and so I did. I did the first turn very well but got a bit confused on the second one because Barbara bent over to pick up her marker and stopped me from going forward where I knew the track was. I had to circle around a bit to get refocused but of course I did, found my article and got more sausage biscuit.

Poor Ayla and Trotter had to track while the rain was coming down really hard while I got to sit in the car. I must say that we are really dedicated to tracking to do it in all sorts of weather. No pictures however since we all looked terrible with our fur drenched.

My Mom Misty

Of course you all know that I have Barbara as my special person. She brought me home when I was a young puppy to live with her and Selkie. But before I came here I had my first family in Virginia. My Mom's name is Misty and I was her first born puppy. She took great care of me when I was little, cleaning and feeding me and keeping me and my brothers and sisters warm. As we got older she taught us polite canine behavior.

I haven't seen her since I was a year old . Barbara and I took a long car ride on Sunday to see my Aunt Karen, my breeder. I got to play with my sister Torie and my brother Travis in a big fenced yard. Then I got to see my Mom. I was so happy that I just wiggled all over the place and licked Misty's lips just like I did when I was a puppy. Misty was very tolerant of my giddy behavior and eventually we played together. I was glad to have the opportunity to hang out with her. I stayed over her house and played with all her toys (she has a big basket of stuffed toys) but I didn't destroy any of them. She was very sweet with me.

Misty's full name is Ch Tri-Sett Living Legend CD JH CGC. It means that she has a conformation championship (you can see how beautiful she is in the pictures I've posted) has a Companion Dog title in obedience and the Junior Hunter title means she is good at finding birds which is what Gordons were bred to do. The CGC means that my Mom is Canine Good Citizen as well. I understand that she has two legs towards her Rally Novice title so she will have more letters after her name soon.



Some day I hope to have letters after my name but if I behave half as well as my mother I think that Barbara will be very happy.

Freestyle Fun

This afternoon Barbara and I drove out to the APS to canine freestyle practice. Freestyle is where the dog and her person perform a routine that is choreographed to music that suits the dog. It shows the relationship between the two. Dogs have to be really smart and well trained to do this sport (and their person should be creative too) but it looks beautiful when done well.

Selkie had a routine to Cajun music which got her lots of applause when she performed it at demos. I'd like to have a routine of my own but first we have to find just the right music and then I have to learn all the skills.

Several dogs and their people came to the practice. First the people had to have a meeting (don't they always). It was very tedious for me. Human communication just takes too long. Canine communication is much faster, clearer and much more elegant.



Finally we got to practice some exercises that Jeanine set for us to work on our movement. My heeling is getting much better and I really like doing it to music. But now I have to learn to heel on the right side too just when I was getting the hang of the left side! Then we took turns in the ring. The whippets got to show off their routines which they will be performing at a trial in April. Whippets are very skinny dogs with very short fur. They have to wear coats in this cold weather, poor things. But they do really well at freestyle.



Barbara and I tried heeling to several different pieces of music. Not to be conceited but I look really lovely when I am trotting around the ring. Barbara's friends had suggestions about what music would show off my trotting the best. I liked the calypso piece and a Spanish guitar song. Now Barbara will have to come up with a routine and we will have to practice a lot. It is hard work but it sure would be nice to have lots of people clap for me at a demo.

Another Great Morning

I haven't blogged in awhile because Barbara went to the APDT Board meeting and I went to K9 Kindercare. I had a good time with everyone there (except for a rude Jack Russell Terrier) but was glad to come home.

This morning we went out early to track in a field that I have never been to. We drove past one of my favorite tracking fields and I was quite concerned. I started barking to remind Barbara to make a left turn but she just kept on driving. We went to Ayr Mount in Hillsborough and met Ayla and Sandi and Dreamer and Chris.

Barbara wanted to work on straight tracks with me to help me with my fringing. As a Gordon Setter I like to quarter and check out the edges of the scent cone. The straight tracks with interim articles were to help me concentrate. It was great fun. I got to find some new articles - a metal key chain and a leather cell phone case. I got the delicious sausage biscuit as a reward of course. Chris (Dreamer's person) followed along behind us and thought that I did a very good job and improved on each track.

Sandi took the pictures of me following a track. The part that Barbara was most impressed with was when I found deer poop on the track. I sniffed it thoroughly (very fragrant) but then got right back to work and finished my track.

Dreamer and Ayla ran their tracks which are much harder than mine. They run blind tracks which means that their people do not know where the track is because there are no flags along it. They are both certified and will be doing tracking trials soon. I hope that I can get to that level too.

It was a great morning of tracking but I think the afternoon will not be so fun. I heard Barbara say to Sandi and Chris that I was going to Max's for a bath because "she looks like something the cat dragged in". What an insult!! I have only met one cat in my life and he didn't put a paw on me never mind drag me anywhere.

I'm Exhausted

I barely have the energy to dictate this blog entry. It has been a busy week and today was especially busy. What with tracking in the morning and playing with a puppy in the afternoon I only had a few hours in between to nap while Barbara was giving lessons.

I started out the morning doing a particularly difficult track. We met Ayla and Sandi at Jordan Lake. I thought we were going swimming even though it was drizzling. Barbara laid a 225 yard track with two turns. The difficulty was in the rough terrain (Barbara managed to trip and fall in a hole) with lots of tall grass and then a turn into the woods! On top of that it was very windy which blew the scent around. I wanted to do alot of fringing to check out the scent in the holes and ruts. I had to circle a bit on my second turn but then found the track. But it went into the pine woods. I was not sure if I should go into the woods since we had never done that on a track before. I looked back at Barbara and she encouraged me to enter the woods. Sure enough there was plenty of scent in the pine needles which I tracked to my final article - a makeup case stuffed with sausage biscuit. Yeah! I could tell that Barbara and Sandi were quite pleased with how well I worked. Then Ayla worked her track and I understand that she got slices of chicken at her final article.




This afternoon we went to see Pippo and Snowflake. Their person Jane has been fostering a cute lab mix named Summer and she wanted to see Summer's play style with me. I have good body language so Barbara was happy to bring me over to play with Summer.

Summer was a little pushy but I just turned around and stared at her (I learned this from Selkie) and she backed off smartly. We did some chasing in the yard and in the house as well. I wanted a drink of water and made Summer get away from the water bowl. Puppies should be deferential. Selkie took every opportunity to remind me of this important facet of canine social behavior.

Fortunately Jane has found an excellent permanent home for Summer so she should have a great life with her new people. I am glad to know that because many dogs have boring horrible lives tied out on chains or no homes at all.

Anyway I must rest now. I understand that tomorrow I am going to the dog park. I really don't know if I can keep up this pace

Tracking Fun

It was a beautiful morning -just perfect for tracking. Barbara stopped at the Burger King to get biscuits as rewards. She put the bag of biscuits in the trunk of the car. Did she really think that I wouldn't smell them in the trunk?

When we got to the field Trotter and Tully were already there with Chris. So was Trapper, a Brittany. He and his special person Jeanine have done lots for canine freestyle together and Trapper had earned many titles. He has retired from freestyle and at age 11 is learning to track! His picture is posted above. Barbara took several pictures of Trapper and Jeanine but she somehow managed to erase most of them. She really has to pay more attention to what she is doing.

We had a great morning of tracking. I was very excited since I knew that sausage biscuits were involved. Barbara laid a long track for me - 200 yds. with 3 turns - and let it age for 25 minutes. Even thought I had been very busy over the weekend I still had lots of energy to run my track. The first two turns were easy. Sometimes the track crossed some tire ruts in the field. The scent would pool in the ruts and of course I would have to check in both directions. Barbara stopped going forward and once I realized that the trail did not go in the ruts I was able to get back on track. The last turn was a bit tricky since it was near some tire tracks too. Barbara had to back up and help me a bit (that is what she is there for) but I finally got it and headed for my last article. It was a hairband wrapped around the sausage biscuit. Yeah! I could tell that she was very pleased with how well I did my work.

When we got back to the cars I found out that Trotter and Tully got egg and cheese biscuits for their tracks. It smelled quite delicious. Barbara says that eggs are gross and she will not get me an egg biscuit but I would certainly like to taste one someday.

Resolutions Revisited

I think I may want to revise my resolutions. I want to roll in more dead, smelly animals (it is like wearing perfume) but one of my wishes for 2008 is to have no baths. Barbara has warned me if I roll in any dead, smelly animals I will have to have a bath immediately. This is a horrible thought and very cruel. I am going to have to strike the dead, smelly animals off my list and just work on the treats and toys.

Happy New Year 2008

Happy New Year to all my dog friends and their people. Wishing you a 2008 filled with lots of adventures, tracking, rally, freestyle and no baths!!!

People like to make resolutions at the start in the new year and I thought that I should too. However people are not usually good at keeping them so I thought I would come up with some resolutions that I know that I can accomplish with a little work.

In 2008 I resolve to:

Roll in more dead, smelly animals.
Destroy more stuffed toys.
Eat more treats.

I really don't see what is so hard about this New Year's resolution thing. I'll be happy to be successful with all these resolutions.

I went to the dog park in Carrboro this afternoon and Barbara tooks some pictures of me which she has posted above. There were lots of dogs and I had a good time running with some of them. One dog kept trying to hump me and I had to tell him off. It was all in good fun though and a good start for the new year.

Back Again

I stayed at K9 Kindercare for a week while Barbara went to NY so I haven't been able to blog. I had a good time there with my Boxer friend Dutch. I was sad when his person came to pick him up because none of the other dogs wanted to play "bump and run" which Dutch and I enjoy. But Barbara finally came to get me yesterday and I am very happy to be home.

Barbara's mother sent a Christmas present for me which was a stuffed penguin. I like it a lot and it squeaks very well. I will probably tear his legs off when I get a chance. Barbara got to meet my new cousin Coby and two other Golden Retrievers. I am very jealous. I missed out on a lot of fun. Next year I will insist that I go to NY for Christmas.

Barbara got a new camera for Christmas and says that she will put more pictures of me on my blog. Well she will if I sit still long enough to have my picture taken!!

More Tracking-No Beagles

I went tracking again the other day in the same field where the beagle stole my sausage biscuit and some of the articles. When Barbara and I got there Trotter and Dreamer were already there with Chris. She had brought cheeseburgers from Burger King for tracking rewards. I was very worried that the beagle would be there to steal the cheesburgers but the coast was clear. Barbara and Chris laid the tracks, let them age and then I got to work.

I do so love to track. I made the first two turns easily and found the hairbands with the pieces of cheeseburger under them. There was a can near the track but I ignored it. The last turn was near a woodpile and some sawdust and the scent went all around. I had to circle around many times. Barbara helped me and I made the turn and pulled hard to the last article- a sunhat stuffed with cheesburger!!! Yeah!!! Trotter and Dreamer ran their tracks and got cheesburgers too. A very successful afternoon.

That evening Barbara wrapped Chrismas presents. I love presents and really enjoy tearing up wrapping paper. I inspected all the presents very carefully looking for a dog toy or treats. Barbara seemed quite annoyed when I drooled on some of the presents. I can not understand why-it is only saliva. Alas, I did not find any present for me. I think that Barbara needs to do some more shopping.

Sausage Biscuit Tracking

What a great morning! Barbara and I went out to meet Chris and Dreamer to do some tracking which I love. On the way to the field Barbara stopped at a Burger King and bought some sausage biscuits. But she did not give any to me and I was a bit miffed because they smelled wonderful and even though I had eaten breakfast I could have found room for something as delicious as sausage.

When we got to the field Barbara gave me a tiny piece of biscuit. I thought that she was being stingy. Little did I know that she was going to lay the track with pieces of the sausage biscuit at each interim article and stuff the final article full of sausage! I had to stay in the car while she laid the track and I was whining and carrying on while she was gone. She finally came back and we had to wait while the track aged. Meanwhile Chris was laying a long track for Dreamer. I was very anxious to start my track and was very happy when Barbara finally put me in my special tracking harness. I had a drink of water - it is always easier to track when my mouth is wet- and we set off for the start flag.

There was a bit of biscuit on a sock at the start flag and Barbara said there would be more biscuit to follow. This track had a lot of turns and she wanted the reward to be extra special. I couldn't wait to start tracking and took off in a straight line, nose down into the track. Well we were tricked. While we were waiting for the track to age a beagle came into the field and ate the biscuit pieces and ran away with some of the articles!!! Barbara was bit confused but Chris was walking behind us and helped us restart. I made my turns but that beagle had stolen a glove and a sock and ate the biscuit out of a sun hat. The nerve! Fortunately Barbara has some more biscuit in her bait bag and rewarded me as we went along. I was doing a good job on the track even though it was messed up.

We got to the final leg and I found the slipper which was stuffed with the remainder of the sausage. I am so glad that the beagle didn't find that. Barbara gave me lots of praise for doing such a good job in a difficult situation (and some more treats too). I like the idea of tracking for sausage biscuits but I will be keeping away from kleptomaniac beagles!

Woe is me

My life is just awful. I am in heat and it means that I missed one of the most exciting events of the year- the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade was yesterday and I didn't get to be in it. It was supposed to be my first time in the parade and I was especially excited because my person Barbara was named the Grand Marshall and the Drill Team was going to march in the very front of the parade. Barbara got to ride in a 1955 Thunderbird convertible. I don't know what a convertible is but I love riding in cars and this would have been fun to do although Barbara was afraid I would jump out. So I missed all the fun with my Drill Team friends. I don't like being in heat and I have to wear nasty bloomers so I don't make a mess.

The day got even worse. Barbara made lots of delicious food and then took it away to my friend Lucy's house for a party! I didn't get any of it and staying home by myself with a rawhide chew was NOT my idea of fun.

Bath Pictures

Here are some pictures from a few weeks ago when I had a bath at Max's Dog Wash. You can see how much I am enjoying myself. NOT!! I love to splash and swim in Jordan Lake but I am not happy about sitting in a tub and having water squirted on me and even worse is the blow dryer. I do not understand this human obsession with clean dogs. We are just fine the way we are.

Tracking Workshop

I love to track. This past Sunday I got to do a lot of it at a tracking workshop at the APS. Gretchen and Marge came back to help us. Unfortunately I just went into heat so I couldn't come in the building but I could go out in the fields and track which is what I love to do anyway. Mona, a nice young German Shepherd Dog, was also in heat so we were sequestered at the end of the field so we wouldn't distract the boy dogs at the workshop.

In the morning I got to work on two tracks, one that was straight and one with turns. Gretchen followed behind us and gave Barbara tips about how to work with me (I already know how to smell things-she is the one that needs to learn!!). Sometimes I quarter a bit to find the sent and Barbara stops but when I am right on track we get to go, go, go! I love to lean into my tracking harness and pull. I am learning to target the articles and I get to eat all the delicious treats Barbara stuffs in them.

In the afternoon we went back to the big field on Hwy 54. Barbara laid another track with several turns in it. I was very impatient for my turn to track and did not want to wait while Laura laid a track for Mona. When I get frustrated I bite my leash a bit which Barbara does not like. Anyway I bit through the tracking line and took off to run the track. I found the sock at the start flag and then raced down the track to the 1st article. I realized that I was free and started to run around the field. I made a big circuit and Barbara called me and I came straight to her very fast. She gave me lots of liver. It took me a while to settle down (and even a longer time for Barbara's heart to stop pounding I think) I was very proud of my great recall and then I still got to do the track which was lots of fun. Can't wait to do some more tracking with my friends.