Sara's Blog

agility league

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST

I got into the agility league, and am very excited for our first match on Saturday.

They provide the course maps ahead of time! How cool is that?

It is especially helpful for the "games" run, which is not a typical game you see in a trial. Now, I can study the rules/map for a few days.

In our standard course there is no table (yea!), but there is a chute. We've never had to do a chute in a trial setting, since all our trials have been outdoors. I think judges tend to leave them out, since it could be a windy day, and chutes can be disastrous in windy conditions.

I pulled our chute out to practice for a few days, since we hardly ever do! Oreo loves the chute. At least at home. I'm hoping he loves it Saturday. Don't think he'll have as much fun as he did in this video. No wonder why my neighbors don't talk to me. They must think I'm nuts! But hey, you only grow old when you stop playing. I'm sure my neighbor's dog wishes he could come hang out with me for a day.

What I didn't realize about joining a league was how many emails would start piling up in my inbox! Oh my goodness!!!! I can't tell you how many emails I have gotten through the yahoo group. Wow. It is a lot to sort through.

I am looking forward to getting started, and seeing how Oreo does at his first new indoor environment.

Now the question is....Should I run like it's a trial or give him treats during our run?

Happy Veteran's Day

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST

Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served and are currently serving. I always feel bad that I have the day off, and Jeff, the true veteran, has to go to work.

(Jeff doesn't smoke anymore. So funny to see him with a cigarette in his mouth. Does the US Army really allow 12 year olds to join? LOL.)

I heard this week from one of my former students who graduated in June. He finished his basic and AIT training, and is about to be deployed to Afghanistan. He seems like such a baby to me, but I guess he is the same age as Jeff in this photo.

Wonder if he'll be writing his girlfriend letters, or just sending texts and emails? Won't be the same....they won't be covered in sand.

_______________________________________

I set up the course Lian had posted the other day. At least to the best of my ability.

Oreo had some trouble with it, especially the jumps out of the tunnel. I wasn't sure how to best handle them. Therefore, I kept making the same mistake over and over. At least I was consistent.

So, I got out my other dog, ya know, Misty, and tried it with her. Poor thing, got treated like a guinea pig.

I had time to think while running Misty and tried something new! Misty did the whole thing with no problem. I didn't even have a treat to reward her! Of course, she moves much slower.

Hmmm.

I finally got Oreo to do it successfully once, then we stopped to play ball, and Oreo spent some time rummaging in the dog garden.

I was going to set up the "shorties" sequence that Diana and other people have been doing, but I feel like we've been doing a lot of agility lately. I don't want to overdo it. Trying to keep it a game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59x8VaUJ4TM

Early in the morning, the dogs were chasing each other, and it was really fun to see Misty charging through the tunnel to try and cut off Oreo. I remember a day when she was terrified of the tunnel. Now it's playground equipment.

tricky t-day- take a bow

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:00:00 PST

OK, so this isn't an entirely new trick, or the one I had planned for this week.

However, my new tricks aren't video ready yet. The time change has resulted in less trick training time. We're walking instead of training tricks in the morning.

I was inspired by some video footage I caught of Oreo in the yard, and thought I'd show an update of our "bow" trick. This has been a very hard trick to fade the treat lure. In fact, I'm learning that any trick I've taught by a lure is hard to fade. So, I'm trying to use treat luring less and less, now that I am more trick training savvy. LOL.

Anyhow, Oreo will now bow if the treat is in my lap. Still somewhat of a lure, but at least I don't have to hold the treat at his nose anymore.

Hopefully we'll have time to work on some of our new tricks this week and show one next Tuesday.

For today, this is what you get (sorry the lighting wasn't the greatest for this video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prx6BgtfH14

monday morning

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST

"Please Mom, go to school already. Weekends with you exhaust me."

"Sigh....How long is this photo shoot gonna last? "

"A dog needs his rest."

"I'm too tired to make it the 3 feet to my nice, comfy, squishy, monogrammed bed."

"On second thought..."

fun in the sun

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST

Went to another agility class on Saturday. We were lucky enough to be able to play outside! I haven't been on an outdoor course since the end of September. It was really great.

We broke the course into two parts, and then put it all together at the end.

Oreo did super. I had some trouble with the obstacle discrimination. He was supposed to take the dogwalk, but my body language kept sending him to the tunnel.

On our first run Oreo was super confident. He ran past a bunch of people, and did the teeter without even a glance toward them.

With each subsequent run, his sideways glances seemed to increase. Not sure what the difference was. Maybe he was getting tired. Maybe the people were moving more. Maybe he was reaching his stress limit. Overall though, he seemed pretty happy. He was barking in his pen, and even tried to jump out at one point.

Once we had to wait on the start line, while my teacher was giving some "homework" tips to another classmate. I had Oreo do some dance tricks, and I was surprised at how receptive he was to performing in such close proximity to other people.

Here is a video of our final run. We had one flub at the jump before the obstacle discrimination. Not sure what happened there. Perhaps the area was stressful, because we had revisited that jump several times in an attempt to handle the discrimination correctly. In our previous run, I just kept going after he went in the tunnel instead of doing the dogwalk, but after our run, we worked the jump/dogwalk in isolation. Maybe I should have just waited until our next turn, and tried again.

Also, Oreo did have quite a long stop on the teeter. His longest of the day. If I had been on the opposite side of the teeter, that may have been avoided.

Other than that though, we got our discrimination, and I was happy with our run. I'm always happy with Oreo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZUwNCCuobU

It was such a fun class, and great to spend the day outside in the sunshine, avoiding cleaning the house and yardwork!

Hoping to hear soon that I got into the agility league....if so, our first match is next Saturday.

put it in the jar

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST

I try and keep Fridays mellow in my resource room. I'm tired. The kids are tired. However, I still want to keep order, somewhat of an academic environment, and encourage appropriate social skills.

Typically, we do an activity for half the period, then play a game together, and if they have done well that week (i.e. not driven me crazy), I give them snacks/candy.

This Friday, one student, "Matt", came into class a bit cranky. Whining. Saying, "It's Friday, why do we have to do anything? Can't we just watch a movie?"

Then, Matt proceeded to flop his head down on the table.

Having spent the past two months getting to know Mr. Moody-Pa-Toody, I decided to try a new tactic with him.

I got out my "complaint jar", and handed Matt a pile of blank "complaint slips".

I said, "Here write down your complaints, put them in the jar, and I'll read them later."

Well, Matt perked right up!

He stayed quiet, wrote out his complaints, and even engaged in my "stupid" activity.

Some of the other students were curious, and wanted to add some complaints to the jar as well.

"Sure, write down as many as you want!"

During my prep period, I opened the jar, and started reading....one slip at a time. This is always an amusing occasion. I looked forward to it all day.

Here are a sample of today's complaints:

-I hate doing work on Fridays.
-I want to sleep.
-I'm tired of doing work.
-I'm mad.
-I'm bored.
-This school smells like a garbage dump. (we are having a septic issue)
-Louie is bothering me.
-You should get a new jar.
-We should watch TV on Friday.
-More selection of candy (This I don't understand, I had over 10 different kinds of candy in my bowl today! Surely, there was something he liked?)
-Junior Scholastics (the magazine we were reading) are not fun. Just because they pay for books, doesn't mean we have to read them.
-This complaint jar needs to be bigger, because I can complain all day. (No kidding)

And then my favorite student put in a slip that read:

-Matt has 2 many complaints.

Oh, but then how would I amuse myself on a Friday afternoon? I'd have nothing good to read.

times are a changin'

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:55:00 PST

Yesterday, in an English class, students were given a group assignment related to The Crucible.

After reading some recent real life examples, students were supposed to come up with their own definition of "mass hysteria".

As I walked around the room, I noticed 3 out of 5 groups using cell phones.

No, they weren't texting their friends about the upcoming fight in the cafeteria.

They were on the internet googling "mass hysteria".

This was a first for me. Besides using the calculator function, I really have never seen kids using their phones for academic purposes. It may not have been totally appropriate, but was somewhat resourceful.

Three groups ended up with "wikipedia" definitions, 2 with their own version.

The only difference was socioeconomic. If the other 2 groups had a family who could afford or chose to indulge their kid with a blackberry, they would have been on the internet too.

Technology. Times, they are a changin'.

what a difference

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:54:00 PST

Went to agility class last night....in the dark! That clock change brings us light for a morning walk, but makes the drive to class pitch black. I guess there is no making me happy.

What a difference the weather can make! No rain/wind this week. The building wasn't rattling. Oreo was relaxed, happy, and dare I say.....confident.

Oreo had one weak moment when a dog barked and a loud truck drove by at the same time, and he went running away from me. However, I called him to the tunnel (the obstacle he was on), he went in and I rewarded him. Then, we were good for the rest of the evening.

We practiced some teetering in a sequence, and I did some isolated teetering as well. He did pretty good. A few times, I caught him stopping to glance around, but only for a second. I kept my movement going, so I think that encouraged him to go too.

What I found most thrilling last night was Oreo taking obstacles on his own! Without me directing him to go to them.

Now many people would be upset, and correct their dogs for taking off course obstacles, but silly me was thrilled! I was saying, "OK, you can do an extra obstacle!"

Oreo was showing signs of independence. He was working away from me. Showing love of the obstacles themselves. He was playing. Aren't those signs of confidence?

When I had walked into the building, my teacher had asked, "Is there anything in particular you want to work on tonight?"

I said, "No, I just want Oreo to be happy."

Goal accomplished.

teeter work

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:00:00 PST

After reading the Clean Run article about teaching your dog to teeter, I wanted to go back and retrain Oreo's teeter.

Oreo has always loved his teeter. Almost to the point of obsessiveness. He would go in the yard, and teeter all on his own.

I think he picked up some bad habits, because I never put a stop to it. I didn't know better at the time. I really am new to all this dog training stuff.

At trials, the teeter is often a place where Oreo stops and looks around, especially right before it pivots down. Not good for a dog who stresses.

What does he do in the yard? Walks as high as he can on the teeter before it tips, stops and peruses the yard, neighbors' yard, woods, searching for movement.

After reading that article it all clicked in my brain. I've created this "stopping" problem. However, do I need to go back to square one? There seemed to be an enormous amount of steps in the process.

Yea, let's just go on to the next article about "speed". Another issue.

One part of that article which stood out was something about rewarding speed with speed.

Hmmmm. That gave me an idea.

Today, I got our teeter out, and began throwing Oreo's ball and later his treat tube after he tipped the teeter. The ball seemed to be quite effective. What else is new?

Here is a video of what we did today.

I have also pushed the teeter to the side, to discourage any random teetering on his own.

You'll see we have some table issues. I don't work on table much, since there is no table in DOCNA (love them for that), and CPE just requires a touch and go on the table. However, I think we may have to do some "real table" stuff in our agility league, and that could be quite embarrassing if we don't practice a bit!

tricky t-day.....trick or treats?

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:00:00 PST

OK, so I got nothing this week for tricky t-day, due to the fact that I was away visiting my sister and nephews. Does going trick or treating count?

Here are a few photos from our weekend, which unfortunately was quite rainy.

Oreo behaving in the car.

Here is Oreo keeping his distance from very cute, yet unpredictable 3 year old. Who seems to be enjoying the video game the most in this photo? I don't think it is someone in a green shirt.

Misty tries to get in on the action, hoping the cute, unpredictable 3 year old may spill some food on the ground. Misty makes a great "hoover". She enjoyed doing a lot of vacuuming this weekend.

My clever, smart, and super creative 7 year old nephew came up with his own idea for a costume....a mix of the two teams playing the world series. Half Yankees/half Phillies. He even had on one red sock and one blue sock. He drew quite a bit of attention while out trick or treating, in a neighborhood that was blanketed with "Go Phillies" signs.

We heard lots of, "Did you see that kid's costume?" As people walked past us.

I wanted to say, "Yea, he's with us!!!! Isn't he fabulous?"

We even had a run in with Uncle Sam. That's my 3 year old nephew in the batman costume looking waaaaaay up.

So no tricks, but I hope you enjoyed the treats.

see you in a few days!

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:00:00 PDT

Going to visit my sister and nephews for a few days. The dogs are coming with. I'll try and take a few photos while we are there. I thought about dressing the dogs in costume for Halloween, but I just can't do that to my dogs. Oreo may wear his Polish bandana, and my mom suggested Misty wear her "chilly buddy" cooling coat. Everyone always says she looks like an astronaut when she wears it.

Hope everyone has a happy Halloween. See you in a few days!

My oldest nephew made the news last night! He was in one of the "l's". You'll have to watch to see what I'm talking about. I hope he doesn't mind me bringing him some Yankees (the "evil empire") stuff!

then & now

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:00:00 PDT

Ricky had a great idea to show some old videos of when our dogs were puppies.

Since Misty was 2 when I got her, I don't have any puppy stuff of her, which really stinks.

I didn't have a video camera when Oreo was a puppy. However, I did take some short videos with my camera. Here is one for our Then & Now series. You've seen our "now video" before. Boy was my house a disaster area when I had a puppy!

Oreo after his bath THEN.....

Oreo after his bath NOW.....

Not much has changed.

me & my shadow

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:00:00 PDT

tricky t-day...stand in the corner

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:00:00 PDT

Ricky gave us the idea for this week's trick...stand in the corner.

We've been working on it for a few weeks, and Misty just started learning about a week ago. She's doing better than I thought.

I can think of numerous times when Oreo could use a good "time out". Not so sure if time outs work for dogs! I'd sure like to send Oreo to the corner each time he steals one of my gloves. Not only does he steal them, but he hides them too. Sometimes, they are buried at the bottom of his toy box. I've found some stuffed between the couch cushions. I really hate it when he puts them under the bed. Takes me forever to find those. Why does he do that?

Silly boy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElWZ5ybHCWU

Oreo usually gets lined up in the corner a bit better than in the video, but I think it had more to do with where I was standing. Usually I stand a bit more behind him, rather than off to the side. I would have been right in the way of the camera though.

Have I ever taken you....

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:38:00 PDT

Jeff and I went to lunch at Panera's today. After lunch, we got in Jeff's car, and were about to leave the parking lot, which is adjacent to Walmart.

Jeff said, "I've taken you behind Walmart before, right?"

I burst out laughing.

Jeff said it as though he were asking if he had taken me to some fancy restaurant before, rather than the loading docks of the world's largest Made in China store.

For whatever reason, I could not stop laughing to answer his question, until it was too late. We were already heading home. There would be no fun filled excursion today.

Finally, I was able to say, "No, you've never taken me behind Walmart before." I'm so deprived.

Jeff said, "Well, we don't have the truck today anyway, so it's not like we could have done any good dumpster diving."

Did he honestly think I would take part?

Then, Jeff said, "I read your blog ya know. About my dumpster diving. It was funny."

"Yes, you are, " I said.

Jeff replied, "That's not what I meant. I meant your blog was funny."

Same thing.

green tunnel of love

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:16:00 PDT

Oreo was a bit out of sorts at class today. It was pouring rain and windy outside. This creates some weird sound effects in the coverall building. Oreo usually isn't bothered by weather related noises at home, but I guess this was a different location.

His safety zone was a green tunnel. Whenever there was a strange noise, he headed right into the green tunnel.

This was the same tunnel we had so much trouble with at a DOCNA trial this summer. After the trial, I gave him lots of treats for going in the green tunnel! Guess he never forgot that?

So, it wasn't our best class ever. Oreo was very distracted, even though there were hardly any distractions around!

Just not his day. It happens.

He did do his weave poles correctly each time, so that was an improvement from last time. My teacher had gone out to the field to bring a "good" set inside for my sensitive boy.

My teacher wanted us to leave on a positive note. She set up a speed circle using a few jumps set at low heights, the beloved green tunnel, and another tunnel at the opposite end. First I ran with Oreo, and he seemed happy and was speedy.

Then, she had me run Oreo and Misty at the same time. That was fun. You could see a bit of sibling rivalry coming out, as Oreo had to keep pushing forward to stay ahead of Misty.

It was a good way to end class.

My teacher mentioned me joining the local winter agility league. The group was actually written up in the October issue of Clean Run, page 38. I think it would be great for us. You get to try out different venues. Treats are allowed. Plus, you only do a couple runs.

Sounds like it would be a great way for Oreo to gain some experience in a positive, and less stressful manner than an actual trial.

We haven't trialed in a while. I have an entry ready to go for a CPE trial over New Year's, but I'm only signing us up for 2 runs. We may not even get into the trial. It usually fills, and ends up in a lottery.

I'm thinking we may forgo trialing over the winter, and just do the league. Then, hit the circuit again in the spring, after Oreo gains a bit more confidence. If we stay in level 2/3 CPE for the rest of our careers, I'm really ok with that. I'm more about personal Q's, than the ones on paper.

news from here

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:00:00 PDT

Good news, Dad is home from the hospital.

Bad news, I haven't done agility in over a week!

Misty is sighing incessantly and talking in her sleep.

Oreo is constantly climbing my leg trying to get my attention.

Work is stressing me out. Maybe that's because I feel stressed/worried in other areas of my life right now.

Glad I have my dogs, reminding me to take a deep breath, and go outside and play once in awhile.

I'm going to take an agility class this afternoon. Hope my head is clear enough to remember to put my treat bag in the car this time.

the whole story

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:00:00 PDT

For those of you who thought Misty was being "motherly" in my Then & Now post. You didn't get the whole story.

Misty says, "Don't even think about taking my chewie."

Oreo says, "I'm cuter. I get whatever I want. Dontcha know? And I want what you got!"

Misty's thinking, I so want to bite your head off right now, but I know you're just a toddler.

Oreo says, "Did I do something wrong? Why'd you give her another one? Can I have that one too? This is so unfair."

My hip Dad is doing well. He made it through surgery, and now we have to hope he behaves himself in the hospital. They want you up and moving as soon as possible. Mom said "Mr. Exercise" was already doing exercises he read in a brochure last night. I fear my incessantly competitive Dad may start challenging interns and young doctors to races down the hallway.

my hip dad

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:36:00 PDT

My dad is getting a new hip tomorrow. A few months ago, I told him he should ask the doctors to put his old hip in a jar, a souvenir of sorts. He could bring it to his office at school. I bet the biology majors would think it was cool.

Just think about where that hip has been, and what it has done!

I can't even imagine how many revolutions it has done on a bicycle. Must be in the trillions. Dad has ridden 100 miles, in one day, many times. Century rides they call them. That hip has pedaled hundreds of miles to raise money for MS and the Leukemia Society. My Dad has also trained many other riders to do the same. I wonder how much money has been raised for Leukemia research as a result of all those revolutions?

How many miles has it walked? More than most people for sure. Always walk on a diagonal when you can though.

How about the time Dad snow shoed to the grocery store? Instead of removing the two tennis racket-like contraptions from his feet, Dad chose to clomp around the grocery store in them. I'm sure that was great for the hip, and my reputation in high school. Having a dad who donned lycra pants 10 months out of the year, without inhibition, wasn't enough humiliation.

How many laps has it kicked/run in a pool? In Lake George? Lake Michigan? OK, maybe Lake Michigan was just too darn cold to swim in.

Hiking in the woods, with your young daughter on your shoulders? Skipping the trail, choosing rocks to step on through the creek bed instead. Or walking the Erie Canal, singing loudly, "Low bridge, everybody down..." Hiking Tongue Mountain, shouting, "We're not deer! Don't shoot us!"

Cross country skiing at Lapland Lakes. Dad would ski ahead, wait, and when we'd finally catch up say, "OK, ready?" We'd never get to rest!

From playing half ball and basketball on the streets of Philadelphia, that hip has traveled to Delaware, New York, Chicago, Tampa, SanFransico, Ireland, Canada, Colorado, Arizona, Maine, New Orleans, and countless other places.

It has competed in the Empire State Games, and walked across the stage of several schools and universities to accept numerous diplomas and degrees.

Isn't that hip jar worthy? A trophy of sorts?

Here's to your new hip Dad! I can see why you need a new one. You've totally abused this one. Shame on you.
Can't wait to see my new bionic dad in action.

Now for all of you who feel compelled to leave goodwill messages to my dad, feel free. However, please remember my Mom. She will be the one who has to listen to Dad complain about not being able to ride his bike while he is recovering. Mom may be the one who deserves the trophy in the end.

dog shows & circus animals

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:43:00 PDT

One of "my favorites" was sitting at my desk today getting some work done. He must have been looking at some of my agility photos, because he asked, "So, you train your dogs?"

I said, "Oh yes, lots."

He said, "You should go on channel 28 then!"

"Why? What's on channel 28?"

Instead of verbally answering me, he gets up and does a perfect impression of a dog show strut around the ring...pretending to hold the leash of a dog, holding his nose in the air. Clearly, he has watched a lot of dog shows.

Now, if you saw this kid on the street, you would surely hold on to your purse a bit tighter. First impressions would have you thinking he's a thug.

So, seeing him do a Westminster Dog Show handler impression was just too funny.

On the way home, all I could think about was him sitting in front of his TV watching a dog show. Not exactly what I thought he would be watching.

Moral.....Don't judge a kid by his baggy pants.

Another kid had to write an essay stating his opinion whether animals should be used in a circus.

He was really fighting me on writing this essay. He wasn't allowed to use the word "I" in the essay. CRISIS!

After I gave him some sample sentences, without using "I", he began arguing that he couldn't decide whether animals should or shouldn't be used in a circus. He was right in the middle.

I told him, just pick a side and go with it. Make up stuff if you have to. Lie. Just get it done, your grade is in the crapper.

Boy, aren't I motivational?

He grudgingly picked up his pencil.

Here is a snippet of what I got!

Animals should be chilling in the wild killing each other. The ugly people should be in the circus and we should throw food at them. Let's see if they
enjoy it.

I really don't know what he has against ugly people, but it seems like he cares about the animals.

I was most impressed by the fact that while he used a slang term, he spelled the entire word out. Rather than write "chillin" he added the "g" at the end. Nice touch.

If any ugly people are offended, his class had discussed how people with unusual characteristics were once commonly used in circus side shows. I believe he used "ugly" as a catch all for the "world's smallest man", "armless wonders", etc.

Can't wait to see how he finishes this essay up tomorrow!

Tricky T-day...shy

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:00:00 PDT

Yes, Oreo is a shy dog. Timid. Lacks confidence. Term used most in our house - freakboy. "Shy" is a nice way to describe his shirking behavior around strangers.

I've been trying to teach Oreo the shy trick, where the dog puts his paw over his face, for almost a year.

Seems to me that all methods to teach this trick involve annoying your dog. Putting a piece of tape on the snout, so he will brush it away. Using a post it note, a band aid. Putting a hat on your dog.

I tried tape & a post it, and it did work, but I couldn't seem to fade the tape being on his nose. Besided keeping Scotch in business, I felt like I was wasting my time.

One night, Jeff blew on Oreo's face. My dogs hate that! Oreo swiped his nose!

"SHY!" I shouted. "That's how I can teach him!"

Jeff said, "I want credit for that."

OK.

The next day, clicker/treats in hand, it took one puff in his face, a click/treat/cue word and Oreo had "shy" down.

All those wasted months and rolls of tape......

Yes, I was still annoying my dog, but I only had to do it once or twice.

I'd like to get Oreo to hold his paw on his nose, because right now the trick looks more like swatting flies, than playing shy. However, I figure if I push for more, it may qualify as torture. We'll keep practicing....with our cue word & clicker....no more annoying stuff.

Strange, dogs love wind blowing in their face. They stick their heads out car windows. Yet, they don't like it when we blow air at them. Wonder what the difference is?

then & now

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:00:00 PDT

THEN.....

NOW....

photo shoot friday

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:00:00 PDT

After I get home from work on Friday, I like to take photos of the dogs. Good way to unwind after a week. The dogs like it, because it usually involves treats.

Had to take some this Friday, before the rain/snow forecast for today ruined the leaves.

I'm really liking the overhead shots, which I've been doing a lot of lately....where the dogs sit, and I stand over them and look down with the camera. Isn't that how we usually see our dogs anyway? With them looking up at us? Sometimes Oreo's "broken ear" flips back, and sometimes it stays forward. I'm not used to seeing him with two ears straight up, but I think he looks cute. They're so pink on the inside, like a bunny.

Oreo stealing the shot.

side shot...can't believe I got them both to look at me.

Treat time!!!!! Look who's keeping up with Oreo. I think some one must have cheated a bit on the stay line.

what planet am I on?

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:54:00 PDT

On Friday, I had to cover a class for another teacher. It was an AP (advanced placement) government class.

I told the teacher, "I don't even know what AP kids look like!"

Being a special ed teacher at a small urban high school, the population I work with tends to be poor, minorities, disadvantaged, many born to drug addicts. They have emotional issues, on top of their learning problems and attention difficulties.

Therefore, the classes I co-teach are usually the lowest level classes. Certainly not honors classes, let alone advanced placement college courses!

The AP teacher briefed me before he left.

Give them a quiz. They can study first. When they finish, they can start on Monday's homework. It is OK if they want to chat with each other after the quiz...if it is OK with you.

Sounds easy.

When I got to the room the door was locked. The kids were outside the door, waiting....ON TIME! STUDYING!

After I got the door unlocked, I told them I'd let them study a few minutes before handing out their quiz.

In my classes, if a sub showed up, chaos would erupt. Paper throwing, pencil snatching, wandering the room, a bit of pushing/shoving, etc.

In this class, the kids put themselves in small groups and quizzed each other. Looked things up in THEIR BOOK!

What planet was I on?

A girl handed me work that she had missed when she had been absent.

What? You mean I don't have to nag and remind you to make up work that you missed? I don't need to call home?

The minute I handed the quiz out....complete SILENCE.

Not once did I have to say, "No talking, there's a quiz on your desk." Not once, let alone 20 times.

No one asked me for a pass to the bathroom, locker, guidance, water fountain or nurse. No one asked me for a PENCIL! I don't think that has ever happened in one of my classes.

Some one's phone vibrated during the quiz. Everyone turned and looked at the person. One person said, "Could that be any louder?"

A bit of public humiliation. Thanks kid, for handling it for me.

After the quiz, they all looked in their notebooks/books to see if they had answered correctly. Talked amongst themselves. Discussed politics, special interest groups, Kate Hudson movies. At one point, a kid said, "On the count of three everyone say your favorite Elton John song."

They DID!

What planet am I on?

The kids I work with have no idea who Elton John is!

Then the bell rang. They all filed out. No one pushed anyone. No one swore. No one threw their papers on the floor.

Awwww, don't go. Please, let me be your teacher all day.

Oh well, back to reality.

I went on with the rest of my day. With my usual kids.

And you know what?

They aren't so bad either. They sure are characters. You never know what they're going to say next. Maybe perfection isn't all it's cracked up to be.

A period never goes by when I don't laugh out loud, even if it is in disbelief.

Can't ask for a better job than that.

pinwheels

saralovesdogs2@gmail.com (Sara) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:40:00 PDT

I set up a pinwheel exercise in the yard, and have been working on it sporadically. I rarely practice pinwheels at home, because they seem easy to me.

However, when we encounter them in class, we often struggle, or I tend to baby Oreo through them. Perhaps, that's because we don't practice!

There was also a set of weave poles in the exercise.

Well, Oreo didn't have many problems with the pinwheel, but we did have some weave pole problems.

Not sure if it was actual problems with weaving, or if it was due to the ground surface conditions. It was wet, with wet leaves on top. I think that may have been part of it. However, I think he was popping out early, because I stopped before the last pole. Usually, I run past the last pole. When we had problems early in the poles, I think it had more to do with the entry not being straight on. New things to work on.

Oreo ran into some weave issues in class this week. My teacher thought it was because the poles were not resting on the dirt floor properly. Oreo is very sensitive to any change in the set up of the poles, especially the part of the equipment that rests on the ground. Makes me want to order a real set of weave poles for home.

Misty also tried the pinwheel. That was interesting. Were my feet most of the problem?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2rHHhwz8WM

If you look closely in the background, you can see the massive treefort our next door neighbor is building. It is only in the beginning stages, but we just know this is going to be huge! The floor itself is already at least 6 feet by 8 feet. This is in addition to the two story victorian playhouse (with porch, Anderson windows, and electricity) and jungle gym, neither of which their children ever use. In fact, the playhouse is in better condition than their actual house, which we have watched slowly fall apart over the past 13 years.

Anyhoo, Jeff is now calling them the "swiss family robinson", and keeps saying we are living amongst the "tree people". I think they are trying to recreate their own Ewok village, from the movie Return of the Jedi.

Wouldn't mind so much, if it all wasn't 10 feet off our property line.