Woof Waggin'

Ginger has a simple take on the whole thing ...

2010-04-02T10:19:00.004-06:00

for her, this is the hinge pin of a happy existence ...

for her ...

Now this is a Commandment!

2010-04-01T17:20:00.004-06:00

More Tenets, Doctrines & Dogma from the Dogs of Woof Waggin'

2010-03-31T17:13:00.003-06:00

and the Rules keep coming ...

2010-03-30T17:18:00.006-06:00

Dog Rules, Credos, Commandments ... cont'd

2010-03-29T23:04:00.004-06:00

One that's carried through her life ...

Not to hound you all, but ...

2010-03-28T19:51:00.004-06:00

Woof Wars: 10 Commandments of Flyball is coming soon to an arena near you (relatively speaking) ... are you getting into the Spirit of the game yet?

Here's another little tidbit from one of our team dogs to get the wheels turning ... Take it away, Nola ...

"I HAVE AN EMPTY TUMMY OVER HERE!"

2010-03-27T09:24:00.005-06:00

HEY! THAT'S MY TUMMY GROWLING.
TIME TO FEED ME!

More Rules According to Dogs

2010-03-26T17:02:00.004-06:00

Today's feature dog ... Benny the Barking Bo-Jack ...

and the Shelties sayeth ....

2010-03-25T15:06:00.003-06:00

You got your rules ... We got ours ...

2010-03-24T16:10:00.009-06:00

So Woof Wars - 10th ANNUAL! - will soon be here. As many of you know, every year we pick a movie-type theme to go along with the number of the tournament ... this year's:

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF FLYBALL

Could lead to some fun and interesting ideas. Start pondering folks! The Spirit Award awaits.

In the meantime, we thought we'd approach rules and commandments from another perspective ... like ... maybe ... our dogs. So here you go ... our first entry. (Check back for new Dog Rules each day.)

For Jenny and her family

2010-02-02T18:29:00.008-06:00

We have a secret you and I,
That no one else shall know,
For who but I can see you lie,
Each night, in fireglow?
And who but I can reach my hand
Before I go to bed,
And feel the living warmth of you
And touch your silken head?
And only I walk woodland paths,
And see, ahead of me,
Your small form racing with the wind,
So young again, and free!
And only I can see you swim
In every brook I pass. . .
And, when I call, no one but I
Can see the bending grass.

. .
. . . Author Unknown

Dixie's Learning to Play!

2010-01-13T14:12:00.002-06:00

Dixie's getting there! She's still a bit fixated on the little dogs, but Dixie and Tucker have been having some great play sessions out in the yard. She might be a touch overwhelming yet but then she's been all cooped up after her spay, and she's ready to run now that she's all healed up!

Dixie's still looking for her new home. She was spayed last Tuesday, and has healed nicely. She also had two broken molars pulled while she was under. Now she's busy running off the crazies and doing her little Border Collie thing. She's sweet as the dickens... really, she is.

More Dixie

2009-12-28T12:28:00.009-06:00

Dixie is starting to relax here. The border collie is showing in other ways now. She is still not quite trustworthy in the general population. She is more vocal now and desires to be with the humans more and to be more active. Dixie has had some better encounters with the little dogs, but still holds too great an interest in the movements and activities of the woolly cairn mix. And it's not like he moves fast or often.

She loves toys ... LOVES toys, but is protective of them with the other dogs. She has no issue with humans taking toys, although sometimes you must play a waiting game with her before she'll relinquish her ball. More to come as we get to know this girl.

December 2009 - DOG OF THE MONTH!!!!

2009-12-23T08:10:00.015-06:00

Merry Christmas from the River Runners!

We thought we'd take December's Dog of the Month spot to introduce you all to a little girl that's recently joined my household. Dixie is a 16 month old border collie mix (with a wee bit of heeler) that is a failed cattle dog. Rather than allowing her to live her life on a tie-out so she wouldn't chase cattle into the fences, her owners chose to rehome her. She's a lovely girl, and has been learning some quick lessons on living indoors and in the city. We have lots of learning to go, however, including *not herding/chasing the little dogs in the house*.

This is Dixie:

She loves balls, toys, anything really ... if you throw it she will fetch it. She won't always bring it back right away ... yet. She crates well ... it's her safe haven in the house ... settles nicely out of the crate (but only when the little dogs are away, so far). She has a soft mouth and silky coat. She loves snuggles and dog beds (and joining folks on the sofa, apparently).

Because she has such a strong desire to herd the little dogs, she won't be staying with us permanently. We will work with her to gain her trust and focus and to, hopefully, desensitize her to the smaller dogs, but it may be best to find her a home and a job where managing access for all the dogs isn't the permanent solution. If you know of anyone that would like a quick learning, keen to work border collie mix for agility or to try your hand at herding sheep, keep Miss Dixie in mind. Dixie is scheduled for her spay on January 5.

Judy

Dog of the Month

2009-11-24T23:12:00.004-06:00

November's Dog of the Month is Trixie!

Trixie is a beautiful and playful gal who has been with the River Runners for three years. It was October 2006 when Trixie started her first classes alongside her friends Benny, Lilly, and Daisy who still run in the club with her.

Trixie is an SPCA special adopted by Ang & Chris, and she has added much to their lives both in the way of cuddles and entertainment. Trixie is a very sweet girl who can do many impressive things beside flyball, like playing dead, dancing, and of course, fitting successfully into the lap of her favorite humans, despite her size.
.

While Trixie was a slow starter in flyball, early on she showed her drive for the ball (which you'll never see in her mouth, as she likes to carry a little ball, and in a mouth her size, it disappears), and has proven herself to be a very teachable dog who aims to please her beloved handlers.
.

Trixie recently became a big sister to a human baby brother and has already formed a special bond with him. Even going from being an only "child" to sharing the attention of her favorite humans, Trixie has welcomed Fenton with much graciousness and many kisses.
.

We are excited to share the racing lanes with this beautiful gal and look forward to seeing her win many more titles, and even more hearts!

October 2009 Dog of the Month

2009-10-04T15:22:00.001-06:00

Dog of the Month
SAMSON

It is with extreme sadness that I write this.

A good friend lost her best friend today. For those of you that have had multiple dogs, you know that each one holds a special place in your memories, never to be forgotten, impacts you in some way. But you also know that there will be those rare few dogs that not only hold a spot in our memories, but also in our hearts. These are Heart Dogs, and they are truly marvelous animals.

Sam is a Heart Dog. Forever staking claim to a small piece of his owners heart.

Very recently, Samson, an 11 year old Border Collie, was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. A large tumor had formed on his heart. He spent a number of happy days at home with his family after the diagnosis, but collapsed today and was helped to The Bridge.

My heart breaks for his "mom". Know that, as much as Sam has taught you and touched your life, your efforts and dedication to him matched step for step. Heart Dogs have no past-tense. They live as long as the heart they have touched continues. Sam is an amazing dog.

2009-09-29T14:47:00.009-06:00

September, it seems, has caught us dozing.

Dog of the Month has not been chosen.

Let us rather take this space

To salute all dogs that love to race ...

August 2009

2009-08-10T09:58:00.011-06:00

Dog of the Month

Millie

Still a green dog in flyball ... a few paltry points away from that first title, Millie is what people don't expect from an american eskimo. Sweet, soft mouth, great with kids, and loving the game, she's a fast little up-and-comer on the River Runners flyball team.

Found by her owner, Lisa, while attending a country wedding, Millie wandered out of the brush loaded with ticks, but otherwise happy and healthy. A few days' search found the owners, but they never made any attempt to claim her, and after a month or two of half-hearted rehoming efforts (though most of us knew it from the start), Millie was home to stay with Lisa and her two other canine companions, Daisy and Monty.

She's been training and has had a couple of opportunities now to strut her stuff in flyball. We're all very proud of this little girl, and see stars in her future.

Watch for Millie at a tournament near you!
and yes, please come say hello. She'd love to meet you!

Dog of the Month

2009-07-26T17:24:00.002-06:00

For July's dog of the month we've decided to do something just a little bit different. This month, our special little guy/gal is not a club dog. Instead, we'd like to draw your attention to this little gal!

Chi is a mixed breed youngster who was in the River Runner's last set of puppy classes. Always a pleasure to work with, Chi has amazing focus for a puppy. The little girl is fabulous! At the beginning of the six week course Chi was not too fond of tennis balls... but running and jumping? That was her cup of tea! On graduation night we decided to see if the puppies would work away from their handlers and asked that the dogs be sent over one jump to the chute to grab a ball before returning back over the jump. Miss I-Don't-Like-Balls fired away from mom, grabbed her tennis ball, and fired right back! It became quite clear that after only six weeks, Chi knew the game. Her ability to think and work make her an exceptional youngster who will (hopefully!) be a FANTASTIC flyball dog one day!

No, Really!

2009-07-01T20:41:00.004-06:00

Puppy class IS the best!

JUNE 2009 - Dog of the Month

2009-06-26T10:19:00.008-06:00

TUCKER!

Okay, he's not a flyball dog.
Trained, yes.
CRN obtained, yes.
Even reached tournament warm-up stage ... BUT ... no runs, no points.

A wonderful dog, nonetheless, and happy to be part of the cheerleading section.

His favourite things are canine playmates, smelly sloughs, romps through tall grass, a stand of trees and brush to run through and investigate and, well, I'd hang a sign on his neck, but I don't have to ... he makes it quite obvious: PETS & BELLY RUBS ALWAYS WELCOME! Oh yeah, and me. I'm also a favourite thing.

Judy

Most exciting thing in this world...

2009-06-15T15:11:00.003-06:00

... is puppy flyball!!!! Is there anything better than puppy class? I think not. Just sayin'.

The adventure begins...

2009-05-28T14:27:00.002-06:00

The Epic adventure, that is!

So ends our "Name that Jack" game. Now to just wait impatiently for him to age three more weeks...

MAY 2009

2009-05-24T17:17:00.005-06:00

Dog of the Month
Shakespeare

Flyballing since 2004

hanging out, being beautiful and making us smile since 2002

The Whole Nine Yards

2009-05-18T10:40:00.024-06:00

The War of the Woofs!

No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.

H.G. Wells in The War of the Worlds

The Eve of War

That's right! We've been watching you. Studying you, and just a short time ago, we called you to war! The battleground had been chosen. Groundwork had been laid. An environment suited to all. Anticipation charged us as we poured in from all directions. This would be a memorable showdown.

As warriors and generals scurried about readying the field of battle, selecting the most advantageous positions from which to advance and retreat, more came. More positions were taken, more plans were drawn and the battleground took shape. They were traveling quickly. Great distances were covered reaching the site, and all warriors would need to be fresh for battle. So as the last of them trickled off to their camps, the lights were doused and the battlefield was secured.

War

Awakening early still weary from travel, these adventurers and warriors prepared for the day ahead. Perhaps yet unaware of the scope of this venture, they practice their battle rituals … donning their camp colours, loading their bodies with energy and their weapons with ammunition, leaving little bits of propaganda behind to spur the imaginations of those yet unmoved. This would be a glorious day for war!

Once again, they arrived at the battlefield. Positions had been clearly marked, rules of war confirmed, judges in place. “Judges in war?“ you might ask. Yes, this war has gone on before. There are rules and judges. But that has never lessened the intensity of the fray. Once again, this war would rock the grounds.

Conflict raged for two days. Warrior cries carried in the wind, drawing more players in and sending some running in other directions. Lights flashed, whistles were blown, flags raised and dropped, booty won and lost as we rushed in and out of the field. Finally, exhausted, some gains, some losses, the clash was halted. A truce called … until next year.

Next Year! At the War of the Woofs we’ll be ready. We’re watching you. Studying you. We’ll be ready for you.

The Dogs of Woof Wars

Rainy Wednesdays

2009-05-06T12:35:00.006-06:00

are just tops. For napping.

Flyball Years

2009-04-30T09:57:00.005-06:00

A job that keeps you running fast
And makes you smile is not a task
Those spheres of Joy
The perfect Toy
My flyball years have been a blast!

By Samson the border collie, FM (retired)

...

Coming to a Warman near you...

2009-04-29T22:46:00.004-06:00

Is Woof Wars 2009!

Has everyone remembered to mark their calendars? May 9th and 10th the River Runners are hosting their annual flyball tournament out in Warman (Saskatchewan). The action is all day, all weekend! Okay, well, I can guarantee it's from the early morning until the late(ish) afternoon. There is NO admission, so come out and watch and see what this great little sport is all about... noise. Okay, not just noise (although there IS a lot of it). It's always enjoyable to sit down and watch some racing. The fast dogs and teams are always fun to watch. The dogs that aren't quite as good are just as entertaining, and those who haven't quite 'committed' to the sport yet are a hoot!

Alternatively, you could just wish us well! Hosting a tournament is a stressful thing. May we all come through with cool heads, happy hearts, and 10 fingers. A few points would be nice too. I'm not too far off that FM (okay... only 671 points off )(not that I counted or anything *whistles to self* Nope, no counting here)

Name that Jack!

2009-04-22T14:32:00.007-06:00

New toys for a new puppy!

That's right... a new puppy! Come June I will be joined by a little Jack Russell Terrier out of Red Trail Terrier's Isis and Oakley breeding. I have yet to pick which little boy is mine, but mark my words, one of them is!

So it's time for the name game... what fits a little roly-poly Jack puppy? I have a Bentley already... do I want another people name, or something fun and unusual?

If I go for a people name, the little man will be Hayden. Bentley and Hayden... it just works. But there are so many great options that are fun and cute to call out on the flyball lane, while still being good strong names.

On the list right now:

Ender
Epic
Damage
Grumble
Spud

Okay. I'm not saying that Spud is a 'strong' name... but it certainly is fun. There are a lot of good nickname options there: Spudnut, Spudders, Mr. Potato Head, Spuddy Boy... the list goes on. Thoughts, comments, concerns? What would YOU name a little 'terrier'ist? Is Spud too embarassing to call out in a crowd of people? Is it dangerous to name him Damage? What if he lives up to that name? Will I ever wear a pair of shoes without holes again? Do I learn to live without socks now, BEFORE the dog has a chance to destroy them all? Oh the questions...

Help me out! Cast your votes to the side ---->

What the Dog Did...

2009-04-15T19:19:00.007-06:00

See these? These are 8 delicious, chocolate, chocolate chip muffins with chocolate fudge icing. MmmmM... What's so important about them? Well, other than being delicious, there should be around 20 of them, because that's why I made. Didn't feel like having anything to eat, thought to myself... "what, what would hit the spot?"

Well, the answer is ALWAYS something sweet, so off I trucked downstairs. After slaving away for an hour I left the muffins on the counter to cool, waiting patiently for that perfect moment to try the first one... when it's still warm, but the chocolate chips don't resemble molten lava. Came downstairs and who was enjoying my muffins?

Well, she was of course. Kit was standing in the kitchen totally surrounded by chocolate icing... although there was a noticeable lack of muffins and wrappers. So I dove on the floor with paper towel wiping as much icing off of it and Kit's face as I could get. Step #2: PANIC. The dogs stomach was round with muffin-y goodness. So I called up a River Runner pal who jumped into her car with some peroxide, and while she was in transit Kit ate some blackened toast in hopes of soaking up some of the toxins.

Anyway, in the end it took three people to hold the dog down and get the peroxide into her. She was mighty suspicious of our insistence that she MUST drink this substance... as she should have been. Fifteen minutes later she was all puked out and pretty sure she hated all of us. I mean, who wouldn't hate the people who denied them chocolate-y goodness?

She seems fine now. Sleeping on the couch without any signs of chocolate toxicity. No panting, not lethargic... just really really content to have her evening nap after scaring the pants off of her aunty.

Dog of the Month - April

2009-04-13T12:36:00.004-06:00

Is my Sophie!

(Sophie (left), sitting with her sister Lilly)

Okay, so she's not MY Sophie. She's Emily's Sophie, but that doesn't mean that all the River Runners don't all love her to death. Sophie started flyball... some time ago. Emily, a junior handler, has shown great skill and patience working little Soph-a-Loaf through her lacsadasical Wal-mart greeter stage to a height dog who knows her job, enjoys the game, and is a great asset to her team. Sophie, and her sister Lilly, are both a joy to work with.

This weekend Sophie successfully ran a full tournament making it to her FDX and beyond, and proving herself a solid little height dog who is both enthusiastic and capable. I had the pleasure of boxloading for Sophie's team this weekend, and couldn't help but smile everytime I saw Sophie running down the lane towards me. Why? Because she smiles back. I don't know whether Sophie loves the game, or just loves pleasing her Emily, but she is the happiest little dog. She did a FANTASTIC job, posting awesome times and helping her teammates amass points. The River Runners are all very proud of Sophie and Emily, and always enjoy the time they spend with these two.

Hotdoggers Tournament -

This weekend, the River Runners took two teams to Lloydminster for the annual Hotdoggers tournament, competing in both the Regular and Open divisions.

It went so well! (puffs with pride)

We may not be the fastest team, and we may never come in first... but success isn't necessarily a 16 second run. Our dogs ran well, our times were awesome, titles were won, and personal bests were accomplished. In fact, we quite often posted times of 21 or 22 seconds which means that not only were our dogs fast and accurate, our handlers were right on the mark with their passes. In fact, both teams posted times of 20.___ seconds (sorry, can't exactly remember), almost breaking out of their divisions.

As well, our Open team had the pleasure of running with two great dogs, Zoom and Bones. This is a shout-out to our new friends! Thanks for all your help guys!

My personal success? Ben kept to his lane and didn't bite me once. Maybe I won't give him to you after all... Like I said, it's the little things. I'd love to hear what everyone else felt was their proudest moment, so post'em if you've got'em. Brag it up, guys!

Sheep!Sheep!Sheep!

2009-04-04T16:34:00.008-06:00

Sheep skills... we has them!

We had a FANTASTIC time today at herding. I think I can speak for everyone when I say go check out Dogs Tale Ranch. You'll have an awesome time.

Like Romeo: He thought the sheep were most awesome, and he did a terrific job. For such a little guy, he doesn't lack confidence. I believe the trainer referred to him as 'dynamite'. That he is, that he is.

And Sam, Sam did this: Which sorta looks a lot like standing around. He did some snacking too. This isn't to say that Sam didn't get a lot out of the trip. Even if he didn't find the sheep too entirely interesting, he sure as heck liked being there, and got to show off his gentlemanly ways and a beautiful right heel ;)

And Kit, well, she did this:

(The sheeps! The sheeps! They is gonna EEEEAT ME!!)

That's my big brave girl.

But not long after that, Kit did this:Which was far closer to what we wanted, and it got better from there. She's got some skill. We're happy. Trainer seemed happy with her as well. She'll be continuing.

Herding was a ton of fun. There's something awesome in going out there and taking part in the activity that these dogs were bred to do. It's a whole different mentality. In flyball and agility we're training our dogs, and they're working for us... but ultimately it's still playing a game. Herding ... is different. We dropped our border collies and sheltie in there, and THEY did the WORK. And they knew how to. Kit certainly seemed to understand that this was a serious job. Obviously there is a ton of work and finessing to do with a stock dog, but our dogs proved to us just how much of that is THEM, not us. In fact (as i wasn't running a dog I can say this), I think it was the handlers that held the dogs back, not the dogs ability level. Sure, as handlers we have a role in the project, but our job is to influence the dog to influence the sheep. They just need to know when and where.

Proud, anyway.

River Runners are Goin' Herding!

2009-04-01T13:56:00.007-06:00

A few of us River Runner are heading off this Saturday to A Dog's Tale Ranch (http://www.dogtaleranch.com/) to try our hand a little sheep herding. Could be interesting...

This guy's going:Some of you might know him. Samson used to play with the River Runners, but retired after his FM because of health concerns. He's 11 now, but that doesn't mean he won't be interested in some sheep. He's representing the older dogs, who can still be taught new tricks.

This kid is going as well:

That's Kit. She's a new member of the group, and will be debuting on the flyball lanes this season. She's just over a year old. She's representing the young crowd, WHO NEED TO KEEP BUSY AND OUT OF TROUBLE. (go lay down already Kit!)

And last but not least,

This guy's representing the Sheltie-vrse:

You'll know him from that popular blog, Life is Better With Sheltie Hair. Romeo already has his Herding Instinct Certificate. I expect he'll have some mad skills.

I'm not taking the bojack, that'd be a mess. He's got the border collie *oh... sheeps* mentality, but the jack *kill kill kill* attitude. I, myself, will be in attendance though as the groups videographer. Here's hoping for a fun filled afternoon!!

Tournament Season!

2009-03-31T18:27:00.008-06:00

Tournament season is here!

That means it's time for:

The River Runner's annual tournament held in Warman, Saskatchewan on the Mother's Day weekend. Have a team? Come join us!

We offically started our flyball season this last Sunday, sending a small team to Regina for the KAOS tournament. It was ... interesting, to put it mildly.

See this guy?

You can have him. He likes to play by his own rules.

No really, he makes them up. 'Cuz it's more fun to run on the right, even when you're supposed to run on the left. And never EVER let an excited pointer beat you down the lane. Even if you have to miss all the jumps to beat him, you better beat him. Just sayin'.

Other than a few Ben-related problems, the tournament went fairly well. At the very least, we ironed out a few kinks and have a better understanding of where our dogs are at coming into the tournament season. Which is good, because on Easter weekend we're in Lloydminster.

Where we want to get some points. Because this guy:

(has a really horrible box turn...)

Is only 1200 points away from his Flyball Master title. He's been running now for two full years, this year being his third tournament season. So flaky, frustrating, make-your-own-rules bojack or not, the guy can run. You know, maybe you can't have him...

We'll see how he does in Lloyd. He has to catch this guy:

He became a Flyball Master last year. 'Cuz he's awesome like that.

Del: North American Flyball Association's 2008 Region 8 MVP

2009-03-15T09:24:00.004-06:00

Born Jan 29, 1997, Del began her training early in obedience, agility and flyball, enjoying success in each arena. A smart little dog with boundless energy and a desire to work, this little red-head loves flyball. Del became one of the founding members of the River Runners flyball club and has been a great ambassador to the sport, at home and away. She has brought many green dogs and handlers through training, to their first titles and beyond. She is a hit at demos and tournaments, attracting many fans, and has been instrumental in helping to grow the sport in our community.

Del is the top ranked miniature pinscher in NAFA, the first to reach FMCH, ONYX and now FGDCH, often 5 points at a time, and she's still playing as enthusiastically as ever. At age 12, she still tries to beat those border collies (or jacks or poodles ...) in the next lane. She can't understand why she's not in every race, but barks her encouragement to teammates at the line and flies to the box and back for her reward when it's finally her turn. A versatile little dog that can run in any position and for any handler, she is a joy to watch and to run. Please join her teammates in celebrating this little firecracker, Del as the 2008 Region 8 MVP.

Fall Classes 2008

2008-12-07T14:42:00.007-06:00

Restrained Recalls - Beginner Flyball

and a group shot ...

Rufus, Meet Bentley.

2008-09-30T14:40:00.005-06:00

My mom was recently discharged from the hospital after a surgery involving her lower abdomen. It became very clear (through many conversations with medical professionals and friends) that the most important piece of equipment relevant to her recovery would be something soft to clutch to her stomach. After much, ahem, *bitching* about hospital pillows I had an Ah Ha moment. Rufus.

Rufus was won by me during a weak moment at the River Runners Christmas gift exchange. Since then, he's been sitting on my floor by my laundry. Imagine his sadness. And his utter joy at being put to use for such a noble cause! Not every stuffed dog has such purpose in life (unless, of course, you are a thin black basset hound named Sleepy Puppy).

So Rufus was put into service, and travelled home with my mother yesterday. Where he was instantly attacked by Ben, ripped out of the hands of my mom, and dragged to the bedroom where a serious mauling ensued.

Of course, how serious can a mauling be, if you spend most of it on your back?

Twelve Hours in a Cold Arena

2008-09-09T18:49:00.002-06:00

Tournament? No. Seminar.

This past weekend a small representative of the River Runners attended the Touch N Go seminar in Edmonton. Touch N Go are a flyball team from Las Vegas, Nevada, and currently hold the World Record time of 15.096 seconds.

So what did we learn?

1. Pack a jacket... and wear shoes!

In the end, Saturday was a 12 hour day sitting around an icy arena in a sweater and sandals. Because smart kids leave their shoes and socks at home. The horror was repeated on Sunday ... for a more reasonable 8 1/2 hours. Sigh.

What did we learn actually related to flyball? Lots! TNG shared with us many tips and tricks that will not only help us gain speed on our dogs (and those up and coming), but will help make our dogs safer and able to run well into their senior years.

Most importantly ... the seminar did a lot to reaffirm not only our teaching methods, but our club philosophies. Could we ever hold a world record? Sure, if the category is "Litres of ice cream consumed by a sports team". I'm sure we could do it.

Will we ever run 15.095 seconds? Not likely. But man, can those 80 second runs be fun!!

Roll With It

2008-07-20T10:51:00.005-06:00

... but bring Rub Downs!

At a recent practice, Bailey takes off across the field to leave a little something for the next dogs by to sniff out. I follow with a baggie, but before I can get to him (it), he’s off again. This time he sniffs the ground, drops his front shoulder and rolls. And rolls again, and again. I hear “Ewww!” back at the practice area. “I think Bailey found the dead gopher.” Sigh. I wonder if I packed those Rub Downs. I’ve learned, you see.

This is not the first enthusiastic roll in mystery Ewww! Really, it’s been happening since he came to live with me. The off leash park has some fabulous offerings on occasion, in addition to the usual smelly sloughs. Ordinarily these are handled by a short ride home in their crates and a quick hop in the tub to sub out the stench with the minty fresh smell I prefer.

We’re not always prepared, though, and the journeys haven’t all been that short. Last April, returning from a tournament in Lloydminster with a friend and her well-behaved collie, we stopped in North Battleford to switch drivers and let the dogs out for a bit of business. Once again, Bailey bounded off (I stupidly took him off leash) and proceeded to do his business. I followed, bag in hand (this is going to start to sound repetitive here). Before I reached the designated pick up spot, he was off again, and once again proceeded to roll in something that must have been extremely lovely, because he got up and rolled in it again. Then he got up, dropped and rolled in it again and again. Sigh. Eventually he made his way close enough to me to hook him up and bring him back.

It didn’t look all that bad. A bit dusty, but it didn’t smell great. We opened the windows, trying not to inhale too deeply and stopped at a nearby Tim Horton’s, where we wet down some cloths and soaped him up a bit and that’s then the slimy looking stuff came to the top. He must have scrunched it right down under the fur. Ewww! The impromptu bath didn’t really cut it, and we had to spray him down with some Dr. Scholl’s to survive the last part of the ride home (where, of course, he had a bath before bed).

So … Rub Downs. Make sure you pack ‘em!

Judy & Bailey

Three Dogs...Are You Kidding Me???

2008-07-08T14:06:00.002-06:00

For the past four years, I've had two dogs. Two big dogs, about the same size. Similar temperament, very loving with one another and have had few issue throughout their lives as a pair. The past several months I thought, very much in passing, that it would be fun to have a third dog. A small dog. One who would nip at the ankles of my big dogs. But I wasn't actually serious.

Well, as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. On May 31st while at a wedding in the country, this adorable white ball of fluff was found trying to play with the pigs and donkeys on the property where the wedding took place. Much to the chagrin of some of my friends at the wedding who do not share the same compassion for lost animals as me, I took this puppy home with the intent to find her rightful owners. A few days later, I was able to make contact with her family via a local vet clinic, but alas, they never stepped forward to get her back.

So now I have three dogs. In theory. There are three dogs at my house, but I have yet to come to terms with it. Three dogs who need fed, loved, walked and three dogs whose excrement I am now responsible for.

As the three adjust to their new lifestyle, I am constantly laughing at their antics. In Millie, Daisy finally has a playmate who likes toys and doesn't tire of wrestling...as well, a playmate who inspires Monty to want to play also (a miracle in and of itself). Daisy will approach Millie with a toy in her mouth, inviting her to play. When Millie accepts the invitation, Daisy promptly reminds Millie several times that she must submit, as Millie always does willingly. Then the three of them will engage in a very fierce-sounding rampage of ear-pulling, neck grabbing, tail-wagging excitement.

Last night, Millie got the zoomies. It's the first time I've seen this, and it's likely because it rained all day and evening, and she spent most of the time in her crate, and little time playing or walking. It was hilarious! I have one couch that she can squeeze underneath, and she would often shoot under there after doing a few laps around the living room, over a dog, under a dog, and so on. Then she stuck her head out from under the couch, waiting to pounce while Monty & Daisy looked on very curiously. Unfortunately, it was about 11:30pm and not at all an appropriate time for zoomies (which I tried to explain to Millie). Needless to say, she protested when alerted to the end of her play time and there was a little bit of jostling in the crate when she tried to resume zoomies once in her bed for the night. What a turkey!

I swore that I'd never get another puppy. So much work, training, headache...but what a rewarding experience it is. I've been lucky with my dogs. None of them were nightmares as puppies. All fairly laid back and easy to train. So I have three dogs. There. I said it. I have three dogs. Two big ones about the same size, and a little white fluffy one who nips at Monty & Daisy's ankles.

Lisa

River Runners at Practice

2008-07-05T22:02:00.001-06:00

If You Could Read My Mind or Don’t Go Changin’

2008-07-04T20:26:00.002-06:00

Sometimes it’s easy to know what they’re thinking.

Earlier today, I sat with 8 eyes boring a hole in the back of my skull. “Will she drop it? Will she drop it?”
“Sorry boys, you’ve had your supper. This one’s mine.”

Or the mantra that runs through his head as he drops to the ground staring at the object lying between us. “Throw the ball. Throw the ball. Throw the ball.”

But sometimes I’m just too human to get it. Last night, while I sat up doing a bit of reading (and not falling asleep by the 3rd paragraph … huzaah!), he jumps up to take his place at the foot of the bed, and a moment later he’s down again, trots over to the corner and tries to climb behind the laundry hamper, comes back to the middle of the room, stares at me, mumbles something, silent stares and a few more mumbles.

“I don’t know what you want. No snacks! Get to bed.”

He jumps up, and 30 seconds later he’s down again. Pace, pace, pace. Still not sure what he wants, I get up to let him out. Not interested. There are no fireworks tonight, as far as I can tell. What is it? I sigh, yawn, and return to the bedroom. It’s warm so I stop to turn on the air conditioner, turn out the lights and climb back into bed.

Suddenly, all is right with his world. Was the air conditioner now loud enough to block outside noises? Or was it the broken routine of lights-out that had disturbed him?

OCD?! My dog?!

Can you guess what breed?

Becoming the Leader.

2008-06-26T13:32:00.000-06:00

When I was a child, the dogs in the yard were working dogs. No collars, laid around, wandered, hunted, and followed you everywhere when you appeared outside.

When I got older I did not have any contact with the dog world and I wanted a dog. When I finally got my dog, I knew nothing of training. What training? Dogs don’t need to be trained! I ventured into the world of obedience and found that, like children, dogs needed pack leadership, structure, care and love.

Different trainers had different ideas on how this should be done. “I rule and you are subservient” “Oh what a pretty dog you are!” “No treats as this spoils the dog” Tugging creates Aggression “ “ Work with me and we will have a great time!” This last one I like best.

As I progressed through the various trainers I found that, like teaching children, different methods are needed for different personalities and lifestyles and so have taken certain aspects from each, but the underlying core is that dogs, still need a pack leader, structure, love and care.

The little Wolf Pack
“Alpha, Beta, and everyone else”

The ruler in my house pack weighs 10 lbs. She walks into the group or room and everyone takes note. She has the sunniest spot on the rug, the softest cushion, and the choice of where she lays. She is not mean in her leadership and gives everyone a chance to redeem themselves for their indiscretions before she lets them know quickly when they have stepped over the line. The message is delivered without aggression, no blood is shed and it is over in a matter of seconds and then all is right and in order in the pack.

The Beta, second in command, or so he thinks, is the token male. He makes no decisions and has no say. He hunts, barks warnings, sleeps beside the alpha and generally enjoys life. Typical male.
The others in the pack, all girls, enjoy a peace sometimes easy and then not. Who is first out the door today, who marked over the last spot, who got the first reward seems to determine daily placement.

Then there is the last but not least who travels through the pack like a bubble through water. She enjoys all places as she never tries for any. She just assumes everyone lovers her. You know the type? The happy child!

There is harmony in the pack as there is a leader who gives structure, discipline when needed and then there is the ultimate leader, me, who gives love and care which is returned 5 fold.

Ferne and the Rugrat pack

Adventures with Duct Tape

2008-06-16T14:28:00.002-06:00

I washed a piece of duct tape the other day. I was taking the laundry out of the drier, when a little ball of squished together silver tape fell onto the floor. It took me a minute to figure out where the heck this duct tape came from. Was it my last adventure with fixing ducts? Nope ... I'm sure I have done laundry since then. Maybe it was from my last attempt to salvage my favorite pair of shoes?

Then it dawned on me. Flyball.

Now, you may be asking, what the heck does duct tape have to do with flyball ... and even if there is some distant relationship, how does that then result in duct tape ending up in my laundry.

Let me back up a wee bit to help explain. My lovely little Romeo dog is a keener. Really, he is. But we've been having a slight issue with convincing him that the fun game we play is the SAME THING when 4 jumps are involved, instead of just 3. He thinks the rules change when jump 4 is included. This can't possibly be the same game ... flyball is "jump jump jump ball" NOT "jump jump jump JUMP ball" ... right? Many ideas have been suggested to help him get over this hurdle (no pun intended ... or is there?). We've tried racing him to the box. We've tried letting another dog go and steal his ball when he refuses a run. We've tried back-chaining excessively. We've tried having someone else release him and have me standing up at the box to call him. Nothing ever works for very long.

My latest attempt at getting him to complete a full run was to work on some target training. Romeo is VERY target oriented, so many little tricks have been taught with a target. And my target of choice is a little square of duct tape (see, this is all related somehow!). Shake a paw was shaped using duct tape, a trick we call "put your head down" was shaped with duct tape. So in my time of need, I pulled out my trusty roll of shiny goodness, slapped a piece on the wall at the end of the hallway, and started working on send outs. We worked this at home a lot, moving the duct tape from the wall to the couch to the floor to the fridge door, anywhere where duct tape would stick (and it sticks everywhere!) to work on send outs. Then finally, we brought the duct tape to flyball practice. I slapped a piece on the box and he looked at me as if to say "Oh THAT is what you wanted me to do? Well jeez! Why didn't you say so earlier?"

HAZAA!

I left that practice elated, with a very tired pooch sleeping in the back seat, after having many many full successful speedy runs. I was a genius ... a freakin' genius!

Two days later our team held a demo for a group of youngsters on the grounds of a hockey arena just outside of town. It was a nice evening, a little chilly and quite a few bugs, but nothing we aren't used to from June in Saskatchewan. Our team all got to work setting up jumps, measuring out the lanes, hauling those beastly heavy boxes, even marking distances in the run back.

Fearless Leader gives a little intro and we're off running! Romeo gets called in after a couple of races and we settle into our new position, me kneeling on the ground at just around the 5.5 foot mark. The race hasn't started yet, but I whisper our "are ya ready?" words to Romeo. With more force than I could imagine a wee little fluff could have, he wriggles out of my hands, leaps forward and nose dives into the ground about half a foot in front of where I was kneeling.

Huh?

Why a nose dive? And why half a foot infront of where we were? Crazy dog needs his brain checked!

No, you see, he did everything I had asked him to do. When our team was setting up, one keen member decided to mark the run back distances, starting at 5 feet, with little squares of duct tape! So upon the "ready" command, Romeo found the closest piece of duct tape, ran there as fast as he could and came back for his reward.

And that, my friends, is when I promptly ripped up the duct tape, squished it into a ball, and stuck it in my pants pocket.

Romeo ran very well the rest of the night, ignoring all other traces of duct tape. But needless to say, we are not training with duct tape at flyball any more. I just have to hope that the one practice was enough to make a lasting impact in his mind, as I don't imagine KAOS would appreciate me ripping up all their distance markers at their tournament in a few weeks!

Something Worth Biting Me For.

2008-06-15T23:01:00.003-06:00

Well, it may not be official for a few more days, but I believe summer is already here. This thought occured to me while standing underneath a tree today. At the time I was doing a little dance, trying desperately to remove the green worm inching up my shoulder. Trees + Worms = Summer. It's a disgusting natural truth. Summer = outdoor flyball practice, hence my interaction with the worm.

Now, I'm in a weird position. In order to go out and enjoy a worm-filled flyball practice I have to spend 3 hours in the car in order to pick up my dog and drop him off back home again. Every Sunday. Life circumstance's dictate that he live with my parents. I love flyball, and I LOVE my boy, but as you can imagine all the driving is wearing a little thin. To make matters worse... Benny bites.

Not like... bites, bites. Just ... nips. And ONLY if there's a tennis ball involved. So driving to practice tonight I was contemplating what compels me to go so far every Sunday for a dog with vampire-ish qualities. I didn't catch on until I was leaving the city once again, in the dark, with a very tired, very happy little boy laying on the seat next to me doing his best 'Hobbes' impression.

Benny was given to me when I was sixteen. We were on the farm, and as every farm kid knows... there is nothing scarier than walking around the place at night. There are 'things' living out there, you know? No one knows what kind of things... cougars, coyotes, a particularly threatening looking fence post (most likely)... so that walk is a lot easier with a great protector by your side. Someone willing to eviscerate that clump of grass (... I swear to God it moved...) if the need should arise. I would go out with friends and roll home during the ungodly wee hours of the morning, and park my car that 100 dark metres from the house. But it was okay. Because I always had an escort. He'd walk me to the porch, kissing my hand with glee, listening to my stories, feeling so pleased that he had been charged with the care of this girl. When I was safe and snug in my room, he would be outside making sure that all those imaginery baddies never set foot in the yard. Although always sweet as the dicken's with me, I have ALWAYS known that he harbors a certain ferociousness, and I've always found that calming. Whether we live together now or not, we have a history. In it, I'm his little girl, and he's a giant wolf charged with my safety (ya' never know about those fence posts).

So I drive for him. Because he has ALWAYS been my pal, and if he thinks that flyball is worth biting me for, then it's worth fighting for. If he is so driven that he will go through me to get to his tennis ball, then that ball must be pretty special. Because I KNOW he thinks I am.

Embracing the Teal

2008-06-13T11:41:00.006-06:00

It was about a year ago that I came to flyball and the River Runners. Actually, it was a year ago last month that my pal and I started to compete, and I was given my first team shirt. Actually, let me clarify. I was given 3. And 2 sweatshirts. As people pitched clothes at me I found myself caught in a storm of teal. As I listened carefully to instructions, fighting back the nerves as I tried to remember everything I would need to know for our upcoming tournament (my first), I thought... there is no way this will look good on me. They're so... brightly coloured. The fact that I'm still 'green' at flyball will stand out enough, thank you, without me being actually, physically... green. But I put on the clothes and I weathered my first flyball competition, and then the next one, and the next one, and the next one, and I realized... I look DAMN good in green.

So what is flyball? Flyball is a relay race for dogs. The dogs run on teams, and one at a time they go down over a series of four jumps, trigger a special box that releases a tennis ball (GASP!), and they return over the jumps. River Runners flyball is based out of Saskatoon, where we offer classes to all those interested in joining the dog sport community. Big dogs, little dogs... we welcome all.

However, the River Runners are more than 'flyball'. The River Runners promote responsible dog ownership, cooperation, and good sportsmanship through classes, demonstrations, and competitions. To be part of flyball is to come together with like-minded people in celebration of our four-legged friends and family. You may think you're doing this for your dog... which you are. But what you'll find is a community of people who are willing to support you, and your dog, in all of your endeavors. Whether that support is within the River Runners club itself, or from the larger flyball community... dog sport is where it's at!

Remember the last time you went out? I know, its been a while hey? Take a moment and think ... I've got time... there you go! Perhaps you were in the bar, or went for supper with friends... a rare occasion in such a busy life. The conversation flows easily, weaving around between your friend's work, family, and vacation plans. You add the prerequisite comments... "uh huh", "sounds fun", "that's great", not really contributing much to the conversation until finally BAM! They ask what's new with you. So there you are, somewhere between appetizer and entree, discussing how your dog ate a highlighter on the weekend and for the next two days her (ahem) 'leavings' glowed in the dark. A truly HILARIOUS story, not? This is your 15th telling and you still snort pop up your nose upon sharing! You're considering calling Ellen to see if she needs material for her morning mono... why are your friends looking at you like that!?

What I'm trying to say is... we'll look at you weird too. But then we'll laugh (in all the appropriate places of course), and go on to share our stories, or discuss how the new food we're trying the kids on has really evened things out. We like dogs. We like dogs stories. In fact, we like dog stories so much that we've created this blog so that we can share our stories, experiences, trials and tribulations as a community that has come together for the Dog. Embrace it. Everyone looks good in teal.

Woof Waggin'

Ginger has a simple take on the whole thing ...

Now this is a Commandment!

More Tenets, Doctrines & Dogma from the Dogs of Woof Waggin'

and the Rules keep coming ...

Dog Rules, Credos, Commandments ... cont'd

Not to *hound* you all, but ...

"I HAVE AN EMPTY TUMMY OVER HERE!"

More Rules According to Dogs

and the Shelties sayeth ....

You got your rules ... We got ours ...

For Jenny and her family

Dixie's Learning to Play!

More Dixie

December 2009 - DOG OF THE MONTH!!!!

Dog of the Month

October 2009 Dog of the Month

August 2009

Dog of the Month

No, Really!

JUNE 2009 - Dog of the Month

Most exciting thing in this world...

The adventure begins...

MAY 2009

The Whole Nine Yards

The Eve of War

Rainy Wednesdays

Flyball Years

Coming to a Warman near you...

Name that Jack!

What the Dog Did...

Dog of the Month - April

Sheep!Sheep!Sheep!

River Runners are Goin' Herding!

Tournament Season!

Del: North American Flyball Association's 2008 Region 8 MVP

Fall Classes 2008

Rufus, Meet Bentley.

Twelve Hours in a Cold Arena

Roll With It

Three Dogs...Are You Kidding Me???

River Runners at Practice

If You Could Read My Mind or Don’t Go Changin’

Becoming the Leader.

Adventures with Duct Tape

Something Worth Biting Me For.

Embracing the Teal

Not to hound you all, but ...