A tussle on the flooded dock gave everyone a "taste" of swimming.
Seasoned-boater Harley supervised the boarding process.
And everyone sat back to enjoy the ride.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
New Year's Eve, Florida style
For all of us from "somewhere else," somewhere north of here, the thought of a blissful day on the lake used to be a world away from our December 31st plans! Harley and Anna, with family dog Molly, made the most of our coveted climate today.
A tussle on the flooded dock gave everyone a "taste" of swimming.
A tussle on the flooded dock gave everyone a "taste" of swimming.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Play dates rock
Anna and Page spent the afternoon with Page's three big sisters today. Lots of wrestling, fetching, and catching made for a great visit!
Family dog, Jiggs, stepped in briefly to referee.
The girls helped with lots of obedience practice. Annika has a real knack (and treats!). =)
Family dog, Jiggs, stepped in briefly to referee.
And, later, joined in the silliness right under Kay!!
The girls helped with lots of obedience practice. Annika has a real knack (and treats!). =)
Whoever said an eight-year-old couldn't be "alpha?" Jordan has Anna's full cooperation in a "stay" exercise.
A very happy, very tired group of friends.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
A beautiful day for bocce ball
This year we were welcomed, once again, by a delightful group of people in the Ybor City Lions Club. They have donated naming sponsorships for many of our trainees over the years, and their annual bocce ball tournament helps to raise additional funds for Southeastern. The very least we can do is bring our pups by to meet and greet!
The dogs are always fascinated by the action. (Further justification for why we do not let them play with balls!)
Harley and Leah
The dogs are always fascinated by the action. (Further justification for why we do not let them play with balls!)
Harley and Leah
Nora
(Check back for photos with the winning teams, taken on someone else's camera)
Watch your step!
We Floridians love our "winter!" On a perfect December Saturday, we headed to a park that offered a safe place for the dogs to have some free play after the meeting.
Our first order of business was the introduction of our three new puppies to their role models -- the big dogs.
Harley greets Tyra
After the meet-and-greet, we talked about lots of pending issues and practice several obedience skills.
Ella finds a diversion during announcements =)
One exercise that we practiced with the older dogs, The Star, originally came from a documentary called "Cell Dogs" about service dogs raised in prisons. The dogs are asked to sit in very close proximity -- always a challenge -- then hold a stay and burst out from it in unison, like the arms of a star. Yes, well... Not only is it tricky to get the dogs to hold their sit-stays with their fannies almost touching, but it requires that the other dogs be behind their backs.
So, it took a minute.
Not bad, for a first try!
After obedience came the morning's exposure -- "underfootings." Underfootings are various surfaces on which a dog might be expected to walk: wood boardwalks, drawbridge grates, shiny tile floors. Several of our sample "flat things" would never be walked on, but they provided great variety in textures.
Harley tests a piece of linoleum
Nora sniffs-and-goes across a sample of plastic lattice
Our first order of business was the introduction of our three new puppies to their role models -- the big dogs.
Harley greets Tyra
Paxton wonders if he was ever as tiny as Beth
Nora meets Page
Harley welcomes Page with some lighthearted wrestling
After the meet-and-greet, we talked about lots of pending issues and practice several obedience skills.
Ella finds a diversion during announcements =)
One exercise that we practiced with the older dogs, The Star, originally came from a documentary called "Cell Dogs" about service dogs raised in prisons. The dogs are asked to sit in very close proximity -- always a challenge -- then hold a stay and burst out from it in unison, like the arms of a star. Yes, well... Not only is it tricky to get the dogs to hold their sit-stays with their fannies almost touching, but it requires that the other dogs be behind their backs.
So, it took a minute.
Once in position, The dogs were commanded to stay.
And then the handlers all stepped back and issued the come command.
Not bad, for a first try!
After obedience came the morning's exposure -- "underfootings." Underfootings are various surfaces on which a dog might be expected to walk: wood boardwalks, drawbridge grates, shiny tile floors. Several of our sample "flat things" would never be walked on, but they provided great variety in textures.
Harley tests a piece of linoleum
Liberty sails over some wire mesh
Cracker poses for the camera from atop a window screen
Tyra has no hesitation with a beach mat
Anna cruises over some wire shelving
Nora sniffs-and-goes across a sample of plastic lattice
Page expresses some discontent about the textured dots used at crosswalks
Anna sprints over a section of "tree grate"
Beth conquers the window screen with a little encouragement
Page shows her confidence crossing the metal shelving
And Cracker gives us another glimpse of her winning smile!
Great job, pups and handlers! Thanks for a fun meeting.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
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