Thursday, February 21, 2008

You will never believe this!


Ok...I know I have lost my mind there is no need to tell me about it. I got a call today and Chester may very well become a family member. Yes, this does mean that we will have 4 count 'em 4 Boston Terrier boys. John is totally thrilled that Chester may come and live with us. Chester is a wonderful little guy. He is very sweet and just wants to be loved. He gets along with the boys very well and I am sure it will be no problem for him to stay. He has been accident free
for 18 days now. He even used the dog door in the ice storm and that is a major step for him not to mess in the house when it is cold outside. My grandparents are also happy to learn that Chester maybe staying in the family. They really fell for him while he was here. I think we should know for sure in a week or so if he will be staying.



I guess I should confess now that I have already made training plans for Chester if he does stay. My goal for Chester will be to first pass the CGC test. I know this is going to take some work on both our parts as Chester is still a bit jumpy when it comes to loud noises. We have been working on stay and we are up to about 45 to 50 seconds. We are working toward a full minute. We also need to do some work with down stay and other folks coming up and brushing him as he is not real fond of the brush yet. I have also noticed that when I walk him around the neighborhood that he is a bit scared as cars pass by us. We will definitely have to work on that.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

UKC Agility results

We went to the UKC trial in Columbia this past weekend. We had a great time! Cindy you should have gone Oscar would have loved it. It was colder than a well diggers ass at the trial. Bradley wore his coat the entire time. Saturday we started with AG-I we earned a 200 score and 3rd place. 10 pts yeah! AG-II didn't go as smoothly. We Q'd but not a high enough score for points. The second day we earned 10 more pts in AG-I. Bradley had a great AG-II run but he decided that it was to damn cold to down in the pause box so I NQ him on purpose. I figure what the hey we are here for pts so why to use it as training. Gambler did complete his runs but no Q's this time out. It didn't surprise me that he was just out there having a good time. We have not practiced since summer together. We did have a great time running together and they got some great photos him running.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Woooo Hooo Trial Weekend

I am so excited to be doing some agility. I am leaving today to head for Columbia. I will keep you updated on how we do. Keep your fingers crossed for us. Bradley, Gambler and I will doing UKC agility this weekend.

I did most of my packing yesterday afternoon because I was so excited to be going. I have just a few things left to pack , got to pick up Gambler and then I will be on the way. Marlene you had better be watching, I might need a little devine intervention. I sure hope God can spare you for the trial.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Chester Update


OMG!!! I am so excited. I took Chester and Bentley out to go and work on some training issues. Today I was able to place Chester in a sit stay and walk all the way around him. He has increased his stay to 45 seconds. I thought maybe it was a fluke that he let me walk all the way around him so I repeated the excersize 4 more times. He stayed every time. I was so excited, we have worked on this for a month.

Bentley is still a little slow on come but we are working on it. He is making progress but he must wear the leash. Sometimes when I call him he can't bring himself to pick his nose up off the ground to come to me. He comes to me but he has to track the entire way there. I did get him to do 3 jumps and a closed tunnel today. I can't believe he is doing 4 obsticales in a row now. I just love this not so little guy.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

It has been a while

I know it has been a while since I have written. Christmas went a lot smoother than Thanksgiving. Bentley had a blast tearing paper off of the toys he recieved as a gift. We had some company over the holidays and Bentley just loves kids. I think it is really cute to see him curl up with them.

Just after Christmas I got a 4th little boston to work with. His name is Chester. He is a little shy of new places and noise. What a cute little guy. He will be staying with me for a couple of months. I will be doing some basic training with him. I am not real sure how the boys are going to feel about this. I guess we shall see.

January got off to a really tough start. We lost a beloved friend and teacher. This is the goodbye I wrote to her the night she left us.

Goodbye to wonderful person.

Marlene I am sure glad I told you so many times I thought you were amazing or this would be so much harder now. I am so sorry to have to say Good bye to you. I know that you will watch over all your friends even though you will not be here on earth with us. Marlene you were truly and amazing woman and an inspiration to so many of us. I was so greatful for all the things you taught Gambler and I. I am so glad you got to share our first trial with us. I will think of you every time I put a plastic lid up, a clicker clicks, I do agility, when I see a piece of art, I see a cardboard box and see horses in a pasture. I will miss Valeri saying “Marlene” and you saying “What” when Valeri would tell you it is time to switch. Marlene it’s time to switch, but none of us are ready to say goodbye to someone we love so much. I know heaven has a special place for you to train the dogs there. We love you Marlene.


Chester Update:

The boys have adjusted well to Chester. Bentley loves to play with him. Bradley and Brady could care less. John says sometimes at night Bradley will go curl up next to Chester and nap on the couch. I am sorry I have missed these momments.

Chester has learned sit, down and stay. His stay is not very long right now but we are working on that. He now comes when you call him. He follows me around quite a bit. I think this pisses Bradley off since he thinks I should be his and his only. Chester has also learned to come to a whistle. I am sure his owner will find this useful since they live on a few acres. We are still having some issues with not peeing in the house. He doesn't poop in the house, this is a good thing. He had full house privledges last week but as of 2-1-2008 they have been revoked. He did the one thing that will get you banished to your crate at my house. He peed, not once but twice on my bed. He is of course back to wearing a belly band. I love him and he is a sweet boy. I don't care how sweet or cute you are there is no peeing in my bed. If we are able to keep a close eye on him then we take the band off but if we are going to be busy doing house hold chores then he has to wear the band. I know it is more of an issue when it is cold than when it is warm. He knows to do is job outside and we have a dog door that he knows how to use. He just occasionaly opts not to use it. This is not a popular choice!!


UKC Agility


Bradley, Gambler and I are off to a UKC trial in Columbia this up coming weekend. It has been a while since we have run so I am a bit excited. Bradley and I will be working toward U-Ach points. This is only Gambler's second trial so we shall see how we do. I know Marlene will be watching. I am glad the weather is suppose to be warm the next couple of days. I am thinking I am going to take both of the boys and work on some stuff. Bradley and I need to do a few weave poles and I want to do a refresher of the closed tunnel and hoop tunnel with Gambler.

There will be fun runs the night before the trial so I make take the boys and do a fun run with them the night before. Keep your fingers crossed and I will be sure to fill you in on what happens when we get back.