8 Years Old

Happy birthday Fluff!

Yesterday Baxter and I went on snow adventures in the -15°C snow. I made an executive decision that -15°C is too cold for naked baby black dogs, at least until I buy a better coat for him. (Also I only have one pair of booties that will fit the boys, and I knew Baxter would need them.)

So just Baxter and I had adventures for his birthday - which is good, because it's colder today and none of us are going out!

Later today we'll have raw bones to celebrate and maybe play with green ball in the house since it's too cold outside.

Me and my boy

Happy 8th birthday to the dog who started my journey into dog sports and positive reinforcement training. Thank you for being so patient with all my mistakes and being the best Fluff a girl could ever ask for. 

Love you buddy <3

Peeper! aka "Poor Penny"

I can't believe it's been 5 years already?! When the heck did all that time pass??

Why haven't I posted about her birthday before?! Oops! I guess, technically I missed it this time too, her birthday was actually yesterday, the 14th of April, but close enough!

Penny - 5 years old

There is a running joke in my family about "Poor Penny" because she doesn't do sports, and I must not love her. For the record, she doesn't do agility because she has bad depth perception and will crash bars at 6" which is really scary when you're tiny.

She's very different from the boys. WAY more independent. Barky too. REALLY does not care what I think. I did "everything right" with her. Puppy kindergarten, basic obedience classes, puppy agility. Lots of socialization outings. Still not a lot of desire to please. Very much a "love the one you're with" attitude.

Training isn't made any easier by the fact that she's tiny. Can't get in a lot of food reps before you're done since the dog is full.

Or dropped crumbs/cookies on the floor in those group classes. I think she's still received MORE reinforcement off the floors in all those classes than she has from me. Hard to block the dog from getting the wrong reinforcement without kicking the tiny Chi puppy in the head so she's VERY WELL patterned to vacuum the floor of errant cookies that dog!

Tiny baby Penny

Despite everything, she's a sweet little dog. So friendly. Love, love, loves the people. Maybe lacking a little in the impulse control department, but at 5 lbs it's a pretty manageable problem.

Happy Birthday Teensy-tiny!

We went down to the lake for her birthday on the weekend. They haven't brought the water up yet, so the dogs were zooming around on the beach like crazy.

Happy Birthday Fluff

Six! Already! (Okay, well 3 days ago.)

Love, love, love my fluffy, handsome boy.

Speedy Baxter at Nationals (from his Steeplechase run, the only event he managed to get photographed in!)

LOVE this one!

2013 was a huge year for Baxter. We really came together as a team, agility wise and partnership wise.

Happy Birthday to the very best little Fluff in the world. Love you Snack!

Growing Up

Yet another year has gone by, and yet again I've failed to post about his birthday ON his birthday.

"Baby Dog" turned 3 on the 22nd. My Christmas baby <3 

It's like she doesn't love me ... never timely posts

This was a pretty big year for Spencer. Regionals, Nationals, up to Masters in AAC Trials. Camping, Swimming in a Lake, Nieces and Nephews. Lots of firsts and lots of accomplishments. Slowly but surely we're overcoming challenges (and then finding new ones!)

Love my spazzy little black dog!

Another Year Older

As the years go on, it's hard to remember exactly how little they were. Or what they looked like. I'm biased, but he was a really cute puppy.















He's grown up just a little. Lightened and then greyed a lot. And exceeded my wildest dreams of what I thought we would do together when we brought him home. I still remember our first basic obedience class where I had worried about my "reactive" dog (who really isn't!) Or asking Kim (our instructor at Hyper Hounds) if he was doing okay with agility after each level of agility class, worried about taking up time and a class spot because he was never going to be able to compete since he's not a "agility dog." Hah! If I knew then what I know now.

He used to fit under the couch. Not so much anymore!  Same couch leg in both pictures. His head won't even fit under it anymore. Still loves to sleep under things though - like my bed at night, or the curtains in the living room during the day.

Happy 5th Birthday Fluffy-one!

I know 5 isn't actually old but he's gotten a lot greyer in this past year - it makes me mushy about him. Thank you for being my "first" dog and being so patient and forgiving with all my mistakes - in  training, agility and just in life in general. You're still the best little buddy ever.

Such a sweet little dog with his people, even as a puppy!

Happy Birthday Monkey

I can't believe I actually missed it! My baby dog turned 2 years old yesterday. Christmas is such a bad time for birthdays.

Who would have ever thought that he'd turn out like this from what he looked like as a puppy?!

        He's so tall and lanky. AND Bald!

He's been so much fun so far to train and to work with. I just adore this little dog. He's definitely got more than his share of issues, but he's naughty and adorable with so much toy drive! He's taught me so much about applying positive training and working through fears. Happy Birthday Monkey <3

Just think, only 2 more times and you'll never have to get measured for agility again!