Getting ready for Therapy Dog International (TDI) Test

Jackson awaits his turn

Myra watches Lindsey for her next command

Tuesday's class was the last class before the Pensacola Dog Fanciers Association's (PDFA) big January event.  There will obedience, fly ball, rally, and agility.  There will also be a judge who will be testing aspiring therapy dogs.

Brendy is so excited she can't contain herself

We think Winston is ready for his CGC test and maybe his TDI test.  The CGC is a little bit easier, but it won't be offered this weekend.  We think if Winston is 'tuned in' he will pass with flying colors.  However, if he becomes distracted and, instead of watching me, he is checking out that cute little poodle with the fancy do, all bets are off.


Our plan is to get there early and have plenty of time to burn off the excitement of a new venue before starting his exam.

Winston watches Kelli, Kelli watches Lindsey, & Lindsey
 explains the test.

Tuesday's class was a mock TDI exam.  All the dogs went through every step in the test.  Winston did get right up to the point where he flunked out.  When released from an extended stay, Winston ran to the treats aisle instead of running to Kelli.  We can just hope there is not a treats aisle at the equestrian center where the event will be held!

Winston eyes the cute yorkie on the toy aisle

Winston allows a 'stranger' to examine and groom him

Winston demonstrates walking w/ distractions.

Kelli gives Winston the 'Stay' command before she walks off.

 

Winston follows the 'stay' command and waits for his release.

Kelli smiles b/c Winston is obeying her 'stay' command.  Then when she released him, he ran the wrong way!

Winston sez I'm so cute I shouldn't have to take no stinking test!

Look at my family, am I a lucky guy, or what?

Will Winston pass the TDI and become a certified therapy dog?  Will he bite the judge?  Will he bite me?  Will Winston bite both of us?  Stay tuned until next week to find out.  I can tell you the suspense is killing me.

Mid Winter Tracking Refesher Course

Weather conditions:  NW wind, 10-16 mph, clear, 54 degrees F, 14:30 CDT.


Winston was complaining today that he hadn't been tracking all year!  The weather was nice so I asked Kelli to set a short but challenging course in the vacant 2 acre lot (50 yds x 200 yds) beside our home.  The lot lies North to South lengthwise so as she laid the track she would pretty much be working north into the NW wind. Winston loves working a track into the wind as this by far the easiest to work.  Today we would age the track by just 30 minutes.

Winston finds the 3rd turn and a treat.  He will make a 90 degree turn here and head towards the camera.

He made the turn and has no trouble following the scent at a run.

He finds a treat at this marker and continues straight on.

Winston becomes aware of his surroundings and suddenly stops.  "Hey, isn't that Mom over there holding a camera?

Having made another right angle turn, Winston is heading straight for the next marker.

At this marker, Winston finds another treat.  He has learned if you find a marker, you will find a treat.  It's time to switch it up on him.

Winston finds the lost bandana and a jackpot of treats at the end of the track.

Kelli set a track using our marking stakes so I'd know exactly where she had walked and where she left treats for Winston.  The track ended where she 'lost' her bandanna and coincidentally a jackpot of treats.  If Winston got off track, I'd know EXACTLY where Winston could be encouraged to reacquire her scent should he get sidetracked by an interesting bunny or field mouse scent.  But he wouldn't be needing my help today.  Once I put his tracking harness on at the start of her trail, he was on her scent dead on balls accurate (it's a tracking term) for the short length of her track.  Winston really didn't need a refresher.  His skills are still sharp even though we haven't track trained since last year (He found my game for me about a month ago).

Gotta love a dog as good as this one.

Good work, Winston.  You make me proud!

Happy New Year!

So I wanted to get some pics of the doggies for New Years Eve.

Winston, of course, was  a very willing subject!

He will let you pose him almost any way!

Carly and Elliott were not quite as willing as Winston and it gets better...

Carly looks less than thrilled here! I think she is plotting my demise!

Carly and Elliott do not look like they are ready to party like it is 2011!

Here, Carly looks like a disgruntled teenager in a family photo... pretty sure she hates all of us!

Now Elliott appears as thrilled as Carly-whom I gave up on! 

Winston, however, is almost always pleasant and easy going!

Winston had a fabulous 2010! He has done so much in his short little life already!

Happy New Year everyone! See you 2011!

Winston's day job

We have been transitioning the dogs off the Royal Canin dog food and back to Canidae since we seem to have Winston's itching resolved. I had been mixing the two foods in varying quantities to help the dogs adjust and Carly decided she liked the new food much better!! She picked out all the new food pieces and started putting them on the floor! I thought this was so funny.

Back at the office, Winston tries to get me to fill up his water bowl.

Just in case I did not get the hint...

Back to paper shredding.

Hard work!

Paper shredder extraordinaire!

Cutie pie!

More Holiday pics...

I had to include a post with some of Mark's great pics from his new camera.

Winston waiting for Santa.

The" movie star dog" poses with  me at Nona and Pops.

Hasten and Elliott in a brief moment of peace and quiet!

Hasten in all her adorable cuteness!

A very rare photo of the whole clan together!

Holidays=Dog days

We all took a road trip to Seagrove to see Mark's family.

Mark's niece, Ale, loves the doggies!

and the doggies love her too!

Back at home for Christmas Eve, all the doggies got "Lucky" dog toys from PetSmart. Winston poses with his toy. They sorta favor each other.

Visions of sugarplums danced in their heads...

On Christmas Day, we all went to Nona and Pops house where everyone met my sisters new puppy, Hasten.  Poor Hasten was so sweet and adorable but no one wanted to play with her. Hasten moves so fast  I think they were  not even sure if she was a dog! Hasten showed us some of her  "free shaping training." She is so cute.

Winston loved all the gifts and unwrapping since paper shredding is his favorite form of activity! It was like a dream come true!

Of course all the doggies got their fair share of presents! Winston had no problems opening his gift from Aunt Toni!

Elliott looks like he had too much eggnog!

We also learned for the first time that Carly is a pyromaniac!

She was so entranced by the fire that she watched it for hours!

After all the gifts were opened everyone was soo tired.

Time for a nap so we can all be ready to play with all our new toys!  What a great Christmas!!!!