Article Indication

My tracking homework this week has been to get an article indication. When I start to work on longer tracks, there will be more than just a start and end article (glove, sock, hat, etc with the track layer's scent on it). There will be a few along the way that I have to show to Mom. We have been trying to figure out what behavior I will offer to show Mom what I found. There are a lot of conflicting opinions on it, so it was up to us to decide. Mom tried a few, but we finally settled on a down. Sit would probably be easier, but most of the time I go into a down immediately after I sit so Mom decided to cut out the middle man ;)

We started this whole process a few weeks ago when the director of our tracking club gave us an article about clicker training to build article drive. Before, I only tracked because I was looking for my wubba, but Mom wants me to be just as excited about the articles. I was skeptical of this because I really love my wubba, but this whole clicker thing involves a great amount of treats, so I decided to play along. Sure enough, that glove became a lot of fun. We would play fetch and I would shake it like i do with my wubba. Not bad!

This week we started to pair the down with the article. At first I was confused-I thought I was supposed to shake the glove like I do my wubba. But Mom explained that she prefers the down so I followed along. We are making great progress so far, and I think I will be an excellent indicator in no time!

Can you spot my articles?

How about now? (Click to enlarge)

Waiting for Mom

First one!

Second

Third (my fave article!)

Fourth

And the last one!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Blizzard!

Since Irie was out of commission from her surgery, Indiana and I got to enjoy the big blizzard last week. Mom let me run off leash all over since there were no cars to worry about. I even helped bring in some firewood! Indiana and I played fetch with snowballs, he wasn't too good at it but I found them every time. We lost power on Thursday so that meant A LOT of snuggling to keep warm. I don't mind, I love to be as close to Mom as possible! I really enjoy running through all the deep snow, it gets me so excited!!! Anyway, here are the pictures-the best part ;)

Me and Wubba supervising snow removal

Look how high the snow is!


"It's in my eyes!"




Catching snow balls

Snuggling with Indiana

Surgery

Last Tuesday started out like any other day. Josette and I pounced on Mom's face when we heard the alarm to make sure she knew it was time to eat. She took us out front to "get busy" and then we came in. Josette stayed downstairs with Grandma and Mom took me upstairs to "help" her get ready. "Uh Mom, are you forgetting something??? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!" Okay, I'm a Labrador so ALL meals are the most important ones, but she didn't need to know that...

We came back downstairs and I smelled kibble on Josette's breath. I asked her how she got breakfast and she stuck her tongue out at me and said something about Grandma loves her better...

But there was hope! Mom opened up the food container and started scooping. One, two...Whoa! Take that Josette! I'm getting double breakfast! But she dumped it into a baggie and stuffed it into her purse. What the heck is wrong with her today! I was throwing out all my tricks-the sad Labrador eyes, the patented Irie-wiggle, my frantic kisses. Nothing was working. When she put me in the car I knew something was up.

We stopped to pick up my pals Farrell and Pandora's mom. I sniffed to see if she brought me breakfast, no such luck. On the road again, I caught I familiar scent. Could it be? We were going to see Uncle Paul!

Mom calls this place "the vet" but I know my vet and this isn't it. Uncle Paul is here and he always tells me how pretty I am in his baby talk and lets me jump all over him. Every once in a while he slips me some good stuff and I take a nice, long nap. He walked out into the waiting room and I locked eyes with him immediately. I pulled out of Mom's hands (which took a lot of energy considering I hadn't had my morning fuel!) and went to greet him. I told him all about Mom skipping breakfast and he promised to alert the proper authorities. I knew Uncle Paul would understand!

Back into the exam room we went and the people talked forever. I did my best to use my Jedi Mind Powers to will my breakfast out of Mom's purse, but it didn't work. Soon one of my pals came to take me and Mom said good bye. I had nothing but a dirty look for She-Who-Forgot-Breakfast.

I took another long nap thanks to Uncle Paul, but when I woke up I was very sore. I looked down at my leg and IT WAS NAKED!!! This had to be some sort of bad dream or a really bad prank. My gorgeous, shiny coat was all gone and what remained was a hairless chicken leg. I was mortified. Luckily I had some good pills and just slept the day away, except for dinner. See Mom, Uncle Paul knows how to take care of a dog...

The next day one of my friends came back to get me. She said Mom was here to get me. I know I was mad at her, but I still got all excited to see her again. She helped me out and in to the car and we headed home. When we got home I saw they had shoveled out a path in the snow for me to "get busy" in. Now that is how a princess should be treated!

The next few days were interesting, with the blizzard and blackout. I don't remember much because of my "special pills" but I hear it was all kinds of fun. Unfortunately I'm pretty much out of all the "good stuff" so I spend my days languishing in my crate in this stupid cone. Can someone please alert the authorities?!?!

Run in the Woods

Tracking

Sorry for the long time between posts, I have been too busy to even think about a computer! Shortly after Christmas I started the exciting sport of Tracking and now Mom and I are officially hooked :) We go at least once a week to our practice fields and Mom learns how to help me to "Find my Wubba"...











...Sorry, got distracted. I hear the word "Wubba" and I get myself into a tizzy. Anyway this is how the Tracking game works. Mom ties me up to something (or someone else holds me) while she walks a long, straight line. After a few steps she puts down a flag and a "start article" (something that has her scent on it). Then she turns around and shakes/squeaks my Wubba, asking "Josette, do you want your Wubba?" Now that is a stupid question, OF COURSE I WANT MY WUBBA! Right about now is the time where I start squealing and carrying on. Mom turns back away from me and keeps walking, with my Wubba! Once she gets really far away, she drops my Wubba with another article on top. Then, she returns to a very excited me!

She grabs my leash and by now I know exactly what I need to do. She switches my leash from my collar to my spiffy new tracking harness and we walk to the start article so I can get a good sniff of what scent I should be following. Then we are off. I sniff a little ways, then look up. Mom reminds me with a point of her finger that we are sniffing for my Wubba, not looking for it. I put my nose back to the ground and we continue until voila there is my Wubba! Mom gets so excited and, if there are other people at practice, they get all excited too. Mom tugs with the Wubba and then throws it for me, and sometimes I get a few cookies too! It is the BEST GAME EVER!!!

We are still at the beginning of our training, but Mom and I eventually want to compete for titles in Tracking. I can just see it now "Josette TD TDX VST" OK, that's getting way ahead of myself, but still it's fun to dream! To compete I have to be an AKC registered dog. Mom took these pictures to send in to prove I am a German Shepherd. What do you think?


On our Off Days from Tracking, Mom still likes to get me outside, using my nose (and getting rid of energy!). With all the snow we had, it was a perfect time to take a walk through the woods. It was so much fun running as fast as I could until Mom called me back for cookies. Plus I love having a little "girl time" with my Mom.


Hopefully we get one more snow so I can go for my walks again soon. All this rain is really cramping my style!

Merry Christmas

Update and Some Pix

Sorry Josette and I have neglected our blog. There really is no good excuse, just haven't felt like it I guess.

I have been on rest for almost a whole month now. I must have injured myself, although Mom and I can't figure out when. Every time I lay down, I find it hard to get back up. My back right leg gets stuck in a funny position and I have to limp around for a while to make it straighten out. Even after it does, it's still a little painful so I try not to put all my weight on it. Mom took me to the vet who gave me all this icky medicine to take. YUCK! Luckily I convinced Mom to stop "pilling" me and to mix it in my food, so I do a lot better now. We were all hoping the meds would fix me right up, but that hasn't been the case. Mom made an appointment with a special vet who may be able to fix me up. Mom warned me that it might hurt a lot at first, but if I'm brave and a good girl I will get through it just fine. I sure hope so because now I'm really nervous.

The good news is that Mom is moving home for good soon! It's been a tough year on Josette and I. Grandma and Grandpa are so good to us, but we will be happy to have Mom back full time! Her visits are nice, but we always get sad when she leaves us again. At least she will be here when the special doctor fixes my leg. I think it will be one of those times when a girl needs her mom.

The little brat, Fay, has taken over my agility classes until we figure out my leg. Mom tells her she is awesome, but she secretly told me that she doesn't hold a candle to me!

Josette has had to take my place in our daily walks, which she despises. We've become pretty close this last year, so I try to help her out but she is very scared of the traffic. Mom took her to this pedestrian bridge and Josette really had a good time. You see, it is over water so there are no cars nearby. Josette told me it was the best walk she has had in a really long time!


She also enjoys quiet walks in the woods, but sometimes she can still hear cars and she gets nervous. She takes a pretty Fall picture, though!



Right after I hurt my leg, my agility school had a big Halloween party. Mom said we were not going to miss it, since we had already custom tailored my costume, so we went but I had to take it easy. I didn't win the costume contest, but I did awesome in the bobbing for hot dogs game! I won a squeaky plush fish, which I love to hold in my mouth and roll in the grass with! I also won a squeaky black cat, but Fay stole it from me. (Don't tell her, but I didn't really like it anyway!)



Speaking of Miss Fay, she had to go to GEB for her yearly shots and Mom took me along for the ride. At first I was afraid that she was taking me back because my leg was busted, but she assured me that I wasn't going anywhere! I did see a lot of my old trainer friends and did my best Irie-wiggle for them. It sure was a nice visit, but I was glad to go home with Mom.

As I'm sure you all know, the holidays are coming up. For Thanksgiving the family is going away. They can't take all of us, so Fay and Josette are staying behind with sitters. Indiana and I get to go along to visit Aunt Wendy, Joey, and Chandler! I wonder if Mom will sneak us a little turkey??? I don't think we have any plans for Christmas, but I heard Mom ordering presents the other day. She's being quiet about it, but I just know I'm going to get something awesome. I always do!

One Big Update (Filled with Lots of Pix!)

Life has been pretty boring for the Forever Girls lately. We've had a few visitors, some outings, and Irie continues with her agility. Mom keeps talking about finding a job for me. I don't think she realizes that I'm perfectly happy protecting the back yard and my frisbee!



A little while ago we had Hattie and Edna over for the night. I don't really like guests, so I did my best to give them the cold shoulder. Mom told me I have to be nice, but I never really listen to her so why should I start now? I guess they weren't horrible, but I was happy when they left.



I went to go see Paul for the day! I LOVE him so much! He is almost as awesome as my mom! But guess what? He had some little punk there for my visit! I was not impressed. I don't get to see him that much, so when I do I want him all to myself. Grin kept trying to sneak in between us, but I told her in no uncertain terms that he is MINE! Then, that little brat had the nerve to try to herd me on our walk. Yeah, that didn't last long...



Mom has invented a new game to help me burn off some energy. I don't particularly like it because it means I have to part with my precious frisbee for about 30 seconds. I am very good at it though.

First, I down and stay


Mom walks to the other side of the yard and calls me


Then I have to sit


Finally my reward-FRISBEE!!!

Hopefully we will have some more fun adventures planned soon. I did hear Mom making plans with Paul for me to visit him! I am beyond excited :)