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Posted on February 28, 2010
There were two hints today that make believe very strongly that Spring is on its way. And please don’t tell me otherwise, because I need to get out of this winter depression!
So, in search of good news I bravely went to weather.com today and found clue no. ONE: several days with sun and 50 degrees in our near future. And then clue no. TWO: after a long time of only one paw on the daily “Comfort Index” for pets I finally saw TWO. And I have proof. Please allow me draw your attention to this unshapely red circle I drew for you over there on the right!
I’m simply going to ignore that the comfort index for Weatherford, TX, where I lived only a year ago, is four paws…
Want to get the PetCast for your town? Go here and enter your zipcode. It is also going to tell you the best times to walk your dog. What a handy feature for the hot summer! (or cold winter, but we are not using this word anymore!!!)
Posted on February 26, 2010
As promised, here is my latest project:
Last week I built my own little agility course in our backyard! It was sunny outside and I decided to finally get started on this project. My husband was home to help and I was so excited! The excitement was only lowered a bit by the sudden snow that appeared as soon as I had everything set up and was ready to go.
But I know spring is coming. It’s so close I can almost feel it. Mac’s agility class is starting next week and Maize’s isn’t far away, either. And then these little PVC constructs are going to come in very handy! Because I know at least about the weave poles that you are supposed to practice them more than just once a week in class. And Mac is already getting so good. We just do it once or twice a day. Did I mention that I find these so handy?
And the best thing is, other than what you find in most online stores, this practice equipment is really inexpensive. I lost a few receipts, but I promise I did not spend more than $100. Probably closer to $70. That got me enough PVC for two jumps, a crawl element, weave poles and a (kids) tunnel. Still to be build are a pause table and a teeter. The pause table will be basically for free. We are still waiting for the store to call us about one of their electric wire spools. Once they got an empty one we will put a board on top and maybe some carpet scraps and voila, there is our pause table. My husband did not like the building plans for teeters online, so he’s got his own plan (that still has to be executed). But other than that we are set for practice!
If you can feel the spring now, too, and want to start a project like this visit some of the following websites or do your own search. BUT please, for your own sake, think it through a little better than I did. I just printed out all the instruction and headed of to the store just to come back home and find out that the instructions were missing parts. And then I had to go back because I ran out of spray paint. Then again because I forgot to buy end caps to put on all of the poles. And then again to buy more spray paint… and once I had all of my paint I thought I should have chosen more stylish colors. But the store I went to didn’t have the variety I would have liked so I will just give everything a make-over next spring.
Okay, I was gonna list some websites for instructions,wasn’t I? Here they are:
Canine Crib (nice and cheap instructions but make sure to check your list, they are missing things here and there)
Instant Agility (I liked their idea of the weavepoles, but I was too lazy)
Camp Bandy
Apparently there is a book, too: Do-It-Yourself Agility Equipment
And seriously, there is no need to have a husband around (unless maybe for the teeter). PVC is so easy to work with. Cut, paint, stick together. I ended up glueing a few pieces because I have mine sitting in the yard all of the time and my dogs play recklessly and run everything over that is not glued or stapled into place. And I have to admit that I might eventually invest in an actual dog tunnel. Mac loves it, I’m actually going to have to work on how to have him NOT go through it) and they love to play with it, hide in it, run underneath and so on. Plus, the kids tunnels are just smaller and not so easy to curve. But other than that I am super happy with my setup and can only recommend it. If you plan it well it takes no longer than a weekend for everything to be cut, the paint to dry and everything to be assembled.
Update: I just got my Modern Dog Magazine (Spring 2010) and all the way in the back I found a How to… Make your own Backyard Agility Course. So if you are interested, it makes it even easier than mine with a hoolahoop hanging from a tree and plywood and cinder blocks for a dog walk. Check it out!
Posted on February 24, 2010
Posted on February 23, 2010
As I am working on pictures of Harvey (and procrastinate all the important things that are to be done) I didn’t want to leave you hanging and finally tell you about my latest etsy buys. I had been looking for a treat pouch, one of those you can just clip to your pants, for a while. Unconsciously I have probably been looking around since I got Mac, but I really got on it once I started clicker training not too long ago. You really go through some treats that way! Since I never saw anything decent in pet store or on websites I figured I’ll try etsy. Because that’s just the place I go to for everything cool, unique and handmade.
And actually, there were not too many treat bags out there, even on etsy. I think only about two sellers seemed to have some cool fabrics and sort of the bag I was envisioning. Sort of. So I got in touch with them to see what we can work out. And wow… I found someone who would customize it even after i had already received one bag and wasn’t completely satisfied, yet. I got as many clips as I wanted where I wanted them and she has a load of different fabrics to choose from. So don’t settle for what you can find at the store! Get in touch with Kerrie of Cody’s Creations and let her know what your perfect treat bag (or leash or collar) looks like and I’m sure she can help you out!
And then the second one is once again, another collar. Can you blame me? What else is there to give your puppy a new look (if you don’t have a poodle you can groom into all shapes and sizes)? And it was the right occasion, too. We decided to adopt Maize, so it was time to get her out of that Shelter Collar and into something stylish. I love the collars that are 1.5″ thick. But usually they only look good on Greyhounds or Danes. It wasn’t ever anything I could by for Mac if I didn’t want him to look like he is wearing a turtle neck. But Maize has a much longer neck, so I decided to go for it when I found this gorgeous piece at the etsy store Alaska Leash! She has a lot of cool leashes and split leashes (the ones that look like a bungee cord and have a handle) and she also had this amazing collar of which I luckily snatched the last one. I would have taken a picture of Maize wearing it, but unfortunately her friends have already chewed on it quite a bit… It still looks good. Just a little worn. I guess that’s what they are supposed to look like anyway, right?
So, before you check the big pet stores for something in particular next time, try some of these great people on etsy who will custom make you about anything!
Posted on February 23, 2010
I’m not sure if I have mentioned it, yet. Throughout this spring and summer I will be working on a 2011 calendar for the Pottawatomie County Humane Society. And I am so excited about all the ideas that people come up with for the calendar. Not only will it have great pictures of all the sweet souls that found homes through this rescue, it will also have some sweet features to plan your pets vaccinations and more.
So today I met with the owner of our first calendar model, Harvey. The guess is that he is some kind of a mix between a Boxer and St. Bernard. Super fun and happy is what I say he is. I just couldn’t wait to pull up this favorite picture right away and show it off to you guys. More are to come soon!
Posted on February 21, 2010
Or does backyard breeder only refer people with lifestock? Either way, I have no idea where this sweet girl came from. She was picked up by animal control together with another boxer. But judging by her skittish behavior she has never in her life experienced living in a home with a family. She has obviously had a litter or more and doesn’t know much about interacting with other dogs or people. So now she got a foster home and a name, Charli, and soon, hopfully, a family. She will be up for adoption by a boxer rescue soon. She is not on petfinder, yet. So if anyone is interested, let me know!
Posted on February 21, 2010
Last night I got a little decorating idea, which included cleaning up and painting the area where I feed the dogs. So this morning, as I have to get up at EIGHT AM to supervise my dogs and the new CRAZY skittish foster, I went online to look for dog bowls that fit my idea. And I came across this website that some might see to be a little over the top, but I think it is still acceptable (if you ignore the dog strollers). Expensive, as in: I will loningly stare at most of their items, but super cool! The website is called The Premium Pet, check it out sometime. I’m gonna go back to drooling all over my keyboard now.
Posted on February 19, 2010
These days I’m pretty lazy. I watch the Winter Olympics non stop. But after these two weeks are over I’ll be starting my own little Olympics in our backyard. I have about 30 painted PVC pipes drying in the garage and I cannot wait to assemble my new project. I think you’ll want to hear about. But not until next Friday… I need some time for pictures and stuff. So stay tuned.
For this week I have a little hint for your every day life and training with your dog. Something that I have to remind myself of quite often. And the super cool book I am reading right now reminded me of it again last night. (I’ll post a review once I’m done) How do you speak to your dog? How do you use your voice? Chances are you are like most people, the more frustrated you get the sterner and louder your voice gets. I am no different, and sometimes the circumstance (or dog) requires it. But in most cases it really leads nowhere, except to more frustration. And once I get into that agitated state it is hard to take a deep breath and step outside of the picture to evaluate yourself. However, I am a champ in seeing other peoples mistakes (and I’m not proud of it). So, when my husband gets more and more frustrated with a dog not walking on a leash or not coming I can observe a perfect example of what frustration and stern tones do to a dog. Mainly it is confusion, frustration or even fear. All I want to say then is “Use your happy-voice!” And as hard as it is, I think that is what we need to do: Take a deep breath, put on a smile and get back to the happy language we instictively use with babies and puppies. And we do so for a reason. Dogs as well as babies respond best to those high and happy tones.
(That reminds me of Mac’s first agility class… after I came home the only thing I could remember was a big group of adults talking excitedly in a very high voice… me included)
So remember, as hard as it sometimes seems, relax and have fun with your dog. Because as my favorite principle says: “If something goes wrong, always remember it’s your fault!” (~Silvia Trkman)
Posted on February 17, 2010
I know I suck… I missed the Tuesday pet product post. And I promise I even have something to write about, I just did not have the time to do it. Because I took a well needed four days off from my computer and went skiing in Colorado. So much fun! And then I come back here to all of the cold but none of the snow. The dog parks are still deserted. My facial muscles move r-e-a-l-l-y slow. And I remember that deep down i am a summer child. My office is painted yellow and I reminisc over picture like the one below. I love snow, but that is pretty much all I like about the winter. So I’m desperately longing for the first green buds everywhere. Every time the sun comes out I open all of our doors thinking THIS IS IT! Finally it’s spring! But no, of course not. It’s only February. So until we get the chance for lovely spring puppy pictures I hope this picture of pure summer joy can tide you over!
And for next Tuesday I promise a double post of my two new favorite etsy stores. Believe me, you will want to read it, because I believe I found a treat pouch close to perfect!
Posted on February 14, 2010
So I finally decided to decorate my office with a few doggy pictures. And the first one is Max, the super sweet English Bulldog. I was really excited to get my large print this week. Because the time when the only way to display beautiful photographs was in frames is so over! My favorite, very simple and very elegant option are mounted prints. This one, on 2mm styrene, is the thinnest mount you can do on this size (20″x30″). I hope I’ll be able to show you the bigger options, too. They are all beautiful and ready to hang up. To be honest, I hang the styrene prints with simple double sided power strips. Easy to hang, easy to remove and no holes in the wall.
