Today I wanted to get shots of all my dogs leaping over one of the jumps in the backyard. With a little bit of tennis ball reward, they were quite happy to comply.
OKAY!
It was a bit challenging at first, because I don’t generally set them up behind a jump and then crouch down and call them from a face-on position with the facebox over my eye. But dogs are so amazing, they’ll try just about anything!
Of course, I only got one shot with Wootie before he was bored, and wandered off. I should have named him Goldfish. Or perhaps, Carnivorous Goldfish … though that’s a bit of a mouthful.
I even got Piper to go OUT on command, make her away around the opposite side of the jump, set herself up and then leap over on command. Make no mistake, this is a HUGE step for Piper. I spent literally years trying to get Piper to understand what a “go out” command was, and it was just too difficult for her to do, because her default behaviour is to stand on my sneakers. But she’s worked really hard to understand what I want, and even though it kind of makes her unhappy to do it, she will now comply!
And of course, after all that exciting set up, I didn’t actually even get a halfway decent photo of it. And because I wanted to leave it on a successful note, I didn’t make her do it again.
Dexter did it though. And again, for all you worryworts out there ;-) I don’t do anything more than the simplest and shortest of one jump exercises with Dex yet, and very occasional gridwork. I’m just mostly letting him be a puppy.
Still, he looks so happy when he’s playing agility!
I even thought I’d try it with TWooie.
*in unison* Say what, crazy Food Lady??
(look how narrow Dexter is. He looks like I slammed him between two hardcover books before taking him out to play!)
If I close my eyes, this ridiculous request will go away.
It was not successful.
I didn’t even try with Maggins. I’ve done no agility training at all with her, because despite all your pushy comments (*ahem*) she is not making my home her home. I know, I suck.
Why do you banish me, Food Lady? I could play this game!
But I did the next best thing to keeping her … I adopted her to the nice people who have Dexter’s sister Ally! They met her last night, and just loved her right away. But then, how could you not?
We met them at something called Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby, where I met the cutest thing on earth, coincidentally, ALSO called Maggie:
This cattledog puppy was so cute, she made EVERYONE play with her. I mean, EVERYONE.
Another cattledog:
Another Maggie:
Even a Mr. Woo, Official Disdainer of Puppies Everywhere:
And he really liked it!
But Dexter did not play with her. He was very very busy:
So say Au Revoir to Waggie Maggie, who is off to her new home as soon as her new peeps return from Mexico.
Poor TWooie did not get to come to the park(for obvious reasons) – he had to stay in the van (parked in the shade, doors wide open) where he made Sad Noises for the entire two hours. To make it up to him, this morning I let him engage in his New Favourite Activity Ever:
*stare stare stare* *bark* *stare stare stare*
There’s an old trailer on the property that someone used to live in, that is now pretty well empty. Some barn swallows have built a wee nest under the eaves.
TWooie would like very much if they would fall out of the nest, and into his mouth.
Food Lady? A little help here plz?
In case you’re wondering if “I’m Terrible” I did not actually set that ladder up there to teach TWooie how to help himself to swallow the swallows. I put it there so I could take photos of the super ugly babies for you.
This was the best I could do. I feared getting too close, lest the bird lice get me again.
Get down off that ladder and throw me a Dumbball!…. Thank you!!
I have to say, I am really enjoying life out here in the sticks!! The other night I made myself a salad entirely of veggies and fruits grown in my own garden!
I only wish Tweed liked it out here in the country a little more than he does :(
heh heh heh. Fooled you!
Enjoy your super sunny weekend folks!
Lynn says
Is it possible I’m first? Or maybe close to it?! Anyway………. enjoyed your post, always do!!
Mary says
Hooray for keeping it all in the family. So glad Maggy’s got a good home to go to.
Steph says
Congrats to Maggie on her new home. Maggie the puppy is the cutest thing! Oh and I LOVE TWoo. Great photos as always!
EvenSong says
If I were judging horses here, Wootie would win for jumping style (I don’t know what dogs are supposed to look like over fences): front “hooves” even and to his chin, neither rear leg dangling, can’t quite tell if he has as much “bascule” (arch in his back) as Dex or Tweed, but overall, he’d win! However, Dexter and Tweed get bonus points for their smiles.
p.s. Ugly barn swallow babies grow up (tho not much) to be beautiful, mosquito-eating aeronauts!
The Food Lady says
Interestingly, Wootie has been described by people who know more than me as a “natural jumper” so you sure nailed that. Alas, it does me no good since again, the attention span of a goldfish business ;-)
Tweed no longer picks his hind legs up since I jump him at 10″ nowadays and he is very lazy about it. Or maybe it’s something else – he seems to sort of twist his hind end over the bars these days, maybe just cuz he is old and stuff. Dex actually jumps beautifully the few times I’ve put him over a 22″ jump, but I didn’t snap the photo at the nicest time there. He has beautiful extension when he is really moving.
Erin says
That picture of the two Maggies is adorable. Cattle dog Maggie has such a grin on her face. Happy to hear that Maggie has found a home that meets your very high expectations.
Adrienne says
Well, it’s official. The limit of dogs at Casa del Food Lady is five. :-)
Are you going to change the name to 4 WAAW anytime soon? ;-)
Congrats on finding a super home for Maggie!
riosmom says
A happy post all around – Maggie finds a home and we will get to see her now and then, all the dogs are having fun, and the FL is enjoying life in the sticks. Great jumping pictures – sorry you didn’t get Piper. Twooie looks like he is admiring Woo’s jump – which is indeed pretty. He may have the attention span of a goldfish but he is smart enough to get enjoy life the way he wants t0. But didn’t you say a while back that he did well subbing for Tweed in agility class and that your instructor thought he had potential?
Christine says
congrats Maggie and Food Lady!!
Vicky says
Great news about Maggie finding an awesome home. I bet she will always remember her time at TFL’s farm though :)
Judi says
That picture of the two Maggies is one of the cutest pictures ever!
nickelsmum says
Just think how happy Dexter would look if you permitted him to play flyball! You sadist.
The Food Lady says
No no, you are confusing me with my instructor … HE is the Sadist! Not me.
Playing flyball would be masochistic, come to think of it. And also, who would Dexter on their team? He would just go get the ball and then lie down with it to hide behind a jump, or the box, or something.
Carol says
Oh, Tweed rolling around on his back is beyond precious! He’s enjoying his summer!
Ruth says
That puppy was so cute! Dexter looks like a natural!
eli says
congratulations to Maggins – you are a good foster parent.
As to the acd Maggy – acd puppy is one the least resistable forces known.
And Twooie? Those uggly chicks will grow up to pluck his Flamboyance for sport – does not bode well for his state of mind!
Mary says
“Are you going to change the name to 4 WAAW anytime soon? ;-)”
No way…it needs to be 3 Woofs and WooTwoo!
Mary says
Argh…I accidentally hit enter before I added – FL, there is no reference to Twooie on your FAQ page. Surely it cannot be true that he is not frequently asked about.
cinnamondog says
Gawd, that Maggie is a gorgeous dog. I’m so disappointed that you were not able to get her to Chicago so I could adopt her, even though I begged you and begged you and offered you scads of US$ … or did I just dream that I did that???
Srsly I have my hands full with Rowley the Border Cowley and his enormous keenness for sheep. So when I’m told that my dog is ‘very keen’ that means that he is more or less batsh!t crazy, right? In aid of getting him an attention span I’ve put him into a Basic Obedience class. He finds it boring and tries to liven it up by hopping up onto every table, chair, and roll of rubber matting that he finds in the room, or sneaking off to pester the Corgi puppy. This is a karmic punishment and I’m sure I deserve it.
nickelsmum says
And also, who would Dexter on their team? He would just go get the ball and then lie down with it to hide behind a jump, or the box, or something.[/i>
Oh, right, I totally forgot. *smacks forehead.* You’re a totally incompetent dog trainer and owner and could not possibly teach a Border Collie to bring a ball back to you.
nickelsmum says
Hey, my post didn’t format right! Bastards.
amg says
oh, cattle dog puppies are so *cute*!! Little fuzzy pirahnas full to the brim with willpower and evol humour. I remember when my cattle dog was that little and cute. Now he’s big and snuggly, which is just as fun. *sigh* Puppies still turn me to mush though. And yay for BC Maggie getting a home!
Nice strawberries, btw. :)
The Food Lady says
I wouldn’t WANT to teach Dexter flyball. I really, really hate playing flyball. But I am thinking of doing some Rally-O with Tweedums so he still feels special when Dexter takes his place in classes this Fall …
amy says
What is Rally-O and why the hesitation getting the pups over the jumps? Is that some sort of unwritten rule in agility? Let them be pups or a physical concern I am wondering… And truly curious as I have always tried to train everything early as they are willing to take it! (Never done agility) but seriously curious.
Mary says
amy,
Rally-O (Rally Obedience) is like a much less formal version of obedience competitions. You and your dog walk around a course of ordered stations, and at each station is a sign that tells you what behavior to do. Unlike formal obedience, you’re allowed to talk to your dog the whole time and from what I can tell there is much less focus on precision of movements. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rally_obedience
As far as jumping puppies, it’s a bad idea to put that much pressure on their bodies until you’re sure that their growth plates are closed and they are structurally sound. In my experience, most agility clubs won’t train puppies under 12 months at the very earliest (I’ve heard of some that require 18 months).
cinnamondog says
Agility clubs will allow you to train a puppy under 12 months, but they won’t jump the puppy — it will be bars on the ground for quite a while. In my agility class there is a 10-month old Golden who is jumping 8″. My own BC is probably 15 months old now and I just moved him up to 16″ and I mix that with 12″ jumps — in spite of the fact that on his own, he floats over 22″ jumps effortlessly.
It’s more the consistent, repeated jumping at height that is what should be avoided for young dog who are still growing and whose joints and bones don’t need that stress.
Agility venues will not allow anyone to TRIAL a dog under 18 months, I know that. But I’ve started my Shelties and BC in agility well before that age, and they learned all the obstacles and were working on sequencing by the time they could jump their regulation heights.
cinnamondog says
FWIW, FL, I retired Shiri from agility into rally-o. At first she was pretty snarked — WHERE is my AGILITY equipment, please?! — but now she likes it, and gives me sass on her returns and such. She loves, loves, loves the obstacle that is the bar jump where the dog takes the jump and the handler runs by. It’s a total barkfest when that’s in the course.
I think Tweed would like Rally-O! He can show everyone that the moves, he still haz ’em.
nickelsmum says
I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that Mama Swallow may have died of poisoning if she were eating insects exposed to bug spray. Anyone been spraying in your neck of the sticks lately?