Tracking Certified

Today was a small victory before the next test. Bentley has been tracking since he was about 10 weeks old. He has done well and we thought maybe he would certify before now but he just needed to grow up a little. He has done that and matured into a fine little tracker. You don't see to many Bostons tracking so it should be fun to see the looks we get when we get into a test.

He settled in and did beautifully today. I was so proud of him. The best part besides how he tracked is that my husband and some very good friends of ours got to be there to see him do it. There was a place on the track where I said to Bentley, "Son I have no idea where you are going but I am going to buy the story you are selling and go with you." He knew exactly where he was going. I am so so proud of him. Just think there once was a time where I wasn't sure I would ever get to the point that I would believe him. Thanks again Misti for tracking him for me that day. It helped me more than you will ever know. Carolyn thanks for all the advice, time and energy that you put into Bentley and I as a team. We thank you both for all the tracks you laid for us.

Thoughts

I am so blessed to have the life that I do. I have a wonderful husband and family, terrific friends and 4 wonderful Bostons. I am greatful everyday for all that I have. I hope all those that are close to me know that. I enjoy doing the things I do both work and play. Thank you all for being part of my life and teaching me the things you have.

Tomorrow is a day off work for me. I am hoping to get some time to play in. I think I will try to do some agility with Bradley and Bentley. Chester and I need to work on some public manners things as a refresher for our upcoming pet therapy test. I am so looking forward to that test. I think it will be an awesome experience for Chester and I both. I guess I am always looking for ways to give back to the world I live in. What can I say service is my life! Chester and I are hoping to get to be a therapy team on the children's floor of a local hospital. I think it would be priceless if he could bring just one smile to the face of a sick kid and maybe their parents.

Chester got his sutures removed; so he and Bentley have been playing catch up for all the time that Chester couldn't wrestle with him. I am glad that Chester did so well during the down time that he had to endure. I took the "B" boys to the vets on the 15th and everyone is doing well. The only thing we need to do now is brush everyone's teeth once a day. This is new for us because Brady has chronic bad breath and we have been brushing his teeth but not everyday. The vet suggested we do that once a day and see how that worked for him. If the brushing doesn't work they want to try pulse therapy with him. I figure if we have to brush his teeth once a day we should just do that for all the boys. I must say that all the boys are less than impressed.

Boston Pool Party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb5wLFhdNXo

Here is a video of the boys playing in Mom's pool. Chester isn't here with us playing because he is at home with Dad. He has stitches and can't play hard yet.

The boys all go for their shots and yearly vet check this Friday. I am going to bring Chester too. He doesn't need shots but I would like the vet to look at his stitches and this will put him at the 10 day mark. Chester has some swelling below the sutures. He was rocking and rolling Bentley a little to much.

Pet Therapy workshop

We had an awesome day. Chester was wonderful at the workshop stitches and all. It was really cute, at one point we were waiting on some folks to get ready and Chester was doing playbows to himself in the mirror. He only kissed one person, if you know Chester you know this is hard for him to do. He loves to give kisses. He sat on several laps. Everyone was wonderful about being careful with his stitches. My evaluator didn't have anything that she thought we needed work on. We passed the pretest. The real test is in September. Chester and I are planning on doing just as we have been to get ready for the September test. We are hoping to be able to fill a need for a therapy team on the pediatric floor of the hospital that I work at. Chester loves kids and I know he would love that as his therapy job. I am so proud of how far this little guy has come.

The latest happenings

I came home after agility class on Monday night only to find this. Don't look if you are squeamish. http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/emtclk/IMG_0795.jpg This photo is of Chester's left hind leg. We are not sure what caused it. The vet is certain that it was caused by catching his leg on something sharp. We are still trying to locate the cause. Chester now has 10 sutures. He is got to come home at 4pm Tuesday. He is on Rimadyl and Clavamox. He had a couple of days of R&R at home with Dad while I took the other boys to my Mom's. Chester was thrilled when I got home with Bentley today. They are best play buddies. He is going tomorrow to the pet therapy workshop. I am sure we will both have a good time and learn what not to do.

Pet Therapy

I am so excited and nervous at the same time. I have been hoping for this moment for the past 6 yrs. I have been wanting to be part of Pet therapy ever since I got my first Boston Terrier, Brady. We tried together to get to do this but Brady could never contain his excitement when he met new people. He has always jumped. I worked for quite a while to get him not to but I was unsuccessful in my attempts. Bradley was my next Boston. Bradley is a wonderful dog but he has a certain edge to him. I know when and what causes it but I just don't believe pet therapy is his thing. He loves agility and dock diving...those are his things. I so love him for what he is, even his quirks. Bentley, well he just turned one and is a bit on the wild side. He is learning agility, tracking and I have been teaching him some rally. I still hope that maybe some day he might settle down enough to do some pet therapy. Now is just not the time. Then there is Chester. He is a wonderful little dog. Yes, he is a Boston. Chester came to me for some training. When the training was done his owner thought it might be best to rehome him. I put all that work into him so my husband and I decided to adopt him. We love him so. He is our smallest Boston at 14lbs. He has probably been in 3 or 4 homes in his 3 short years on this earth. When we got him he didn't know any commands. He still marked in the house. He was so starved for love. He has come so far in such a short time. He is very laid back. He loves to be held and he loves to play with Bentley. He has such a gentle spirit. He is wonderful with children and offers to sit so they can pet him. I just know he was meant to be my pet therapy partner. We will testing September 13th. I know he has it in him to do this. I know he will do this some day. I am so excited. I found out that the pediatric floor at one of the hospitals has an opening for a team. I just know that opening is for us!