The Unknown Weasel

Ok... maybe not "unknown" so much as un-run. Betty has been out of the ring for about two years. I wanted to concentrate on getting Frank's PAX and it was easier to focus on one dog. Plus, Betty is a bit... well... easily distracted. She has been known to visit judges (she's a bit more social than Frank!). Now that Frank has his PAX, I decided to enter Betty in a three day trial. I ran her a bit over the summer at home and got her on some equipment last week to brush off the cobwebs. I was not expecting a whole lot this weekend - I mostly wanted the two of us to start together and finish together and have a little fun in between. Day one has exceeded my expectations and taught me some lessons. The unknown weasel moves a LOT faster than Frank - time to put on the running shoes. There are some things that I can expect of Frank that I canNOT expect of the unknown weasel (ie... my little screw up in standard that cost us the leg). Oh well - we had fun!!

Vinnie's first fun match...

4RK9's was having a fun match this morning - eight minutes in the ring for five bucks ($1 for additional runs) - can't beat that with a stick, so Vinnie and I got up early this morning. OK - I got up early - getting him out of bed in the morning is like having a teenage boy. He lays there like a limp noodle grunting and groaning about having to get out of bed. If you know him, you would not think he's that way, but wow - get out of bed already!!

He was a very good boy at the fun match. He needs fun matches to get used to all the distractions - he likes to look at and touch everything (butterfly... shiny object!!). Kathy Davidson set up a couple of nice little novice Rally courses for us (Thanks Kathy!!) and Auntie Rilda taped us on the second one.

He is now taking an afternoon nap... I guess fun matches are exhausting!!

Frank PAX

Back on December 10th, Frank finished his PAX. I'm awfully proud of the little guy. He is very brave (he finds all those crowds of people and noises pretty frightening). My friends were VERY kind and chipped in to buy me one of those really neat blankets that you have made with your picture on it. I decided to take a photo of Frank at home (where he would be comfortable and relaxed) with his PAX bar and ribbon. As fate would have it, Frank's PAX certificate arrived in the mail today (I was getting a little nervous - the AKC had him sitting at 19 legs for a loooooong time!). Here are a few of the shots that I am considering for the blanket (any votes?):

My. Dog. Has. A. Problem.

My dog has a problem... maybe it's an addiction. He loves balls. Squeaky balls, rubber balls, plush balls, Chuck-it balls, Hole-e roller balls... he doesn't care as long as it's a ball and there's someone willing to blow out an elbow throwing said ball for him.

His newest, brightest, best ball is a Christmas gift from Tammy. I think this was meant as a torture device for the humans connected to the dogs. Everyone got one - no one was spared. Fortunately, the ball Vinnie got was a bit shy in the squeaker department (thank you God!!). He loves his ball - it goes with him everywhere. I think the egg babies are being neglected. That's fine by me. The egg babies get stuck under the furniture. This results in said Poodle scratching at the side of the offending furniture until I can't take it anymore and move furniture to get an egg baby - and it must be THAT egg baby. Never mind that there are TEN other egg babies scattered about the house. But I digress...

Here is the newest addiction in the house:

Martha's Fault...

Don't worry about Martha... she'll take the blame for poor Vinnie's addiction (ok... it's the best toy ever!!). When he was a poor innocent little puppy (yeah right) she gave him an alligator with these yellow "eggs" in it's belly. I don't think Vinnie has ever played with the alligator, but he has loved those eggs for the last year and a half. A couple of them have "died" and gone to egg baby heaven. He carries those eggs everywhere and panics if they get under the couch or dresser. He will pace and scratch at the offending furniture until the egg baby is rescued from the grips of rabid dust bunnies.

Today, after finishing up some Christmas shopping, I came home to some boxes on the porch (love UPS!!). Sitstay had been delivered. Did you know they make egg baby refills? Someone was thinking!! The funny thing about this video is that Frank NEVER plays with toys...

ICDOC 2010

ICDOC (Iowa City Dog Obedience Club) had another successful trial. It is always a great trial with lots of good friends, food and FUN!! This year our days were color coded. Friday was orange. Saturday was pink. Sunday was red. Saturday's pink was for breast cancer awareness. Jeff made some fantastic agility equipment (I REALLY REALLY wanted the weaves, but they went to Tony O. in Minnesota - I offered to store them for her, but she declined) and they made over $1000 for the Susan G Komen foundation!! Here's a little sample of our weekend:

Moley Moley Moley Moley

I don't post much - I am a baaaaaad blogger, but some things are cause for celebration. I have captured a mole that has been wrecking havoc in my yard. I am NOT one to have a glorious, gorgeous golf course perfect yard, but I don't want to be tripping over mole mounds and staring at all the little trails they make around the yard. Those little mounds and trails also make it difficult to make my jumps and weave poles sit up straight.

At agility class Wednesday night, I was explaining my dilemma to Bill and he offered to let me borrow one of their mole traps. I got a lesson in setting the trap and headed home to begin my quest. Unfortunately, memory being what it is, I forgot about the trap in my van until last night. I checked the yard and it looked like Mr Mole had left for greener pastures (aka my neighbor's yard). I stomped down his trails and put the trap next to my fence so if he decided to come back into my yard, he would... well... not get very far.



So.... look at your own risk...



He's not pretty...



You've been warned...

LOL - that scene always cracks me up... so here is MY mole: