So Pig In a Blanket IS Easier To Say. . .

We took a wonderful walk today. 3.5 miles! Yes I know it isn’t impressive for everyone, but for us with gimpy knees, no matter how many of them we have, 3.5 miles in a stretch is cause for a pat on the back.

Turns out there is beauty in the city as our walk showed us. We woke up to snow and while I normally am a huge fair weather walker, that darn clock is ticking down. . .down. . .down. And turns out the 30 miles down walk them selves-I actually have to do it! But back to the beauty in the city. We rousted out between flurries and it was a beautiful time to walk.

Steam on the river walk-proof this weather just can’t make up its mind, is it warm? Is it Cold? Who knows?
With the melting snow dripping from the trees it was just glowing green.
Can you see what I see?
“Lets go crazymomlady! 3.5 miles is nothin’!”
“Uuhhggg. . .3.5 miles is a long way! Are you crazy or somthin’ crazymomlady?”
So sure its easier to say “pig in a blanket”, but “Cavalier King Charles Spaniel In A Blanket” is so much cuter!
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Finally! Maizey’s Level 1 Video

I finally got around to putting together Maizey’s L1 tests into a video. We got some help on the filming and a great place to train when we took our training marathon trip south. Thanks to all who helped there!

And with out further ado her is her video:(just a note, it seems to play smoother if you click it and watch it at YouTube. Not sure why this technical difficulty, but if any of you training video guru’s out there can tell me I’d be glad to know!)

Maizey actually completed L1 back on April 1, 2010 when she could finally work her recalls after her last knee surgery. For an example of how quick it can be to work through the levels I took a look back at her training journal. Of course every dog is going to be unique in their progress and how fast you work through the levels depends on many factors in both the handler and the pup, but the individual working nature of the Training Levels is one of the many things that makes it so great!

We started Training Levels on February 9, 2010. She passed her L1 sit test on February 14, 2010. Then L1 down was passed on February 18, 2010. Zen was next on February 20, 2010. Target was a completely new behavior for both of us so we took our time, but she passed fairly soon on March 5, 2010. At that point she could have passed L1 come, but again that knee. . .

I think its a pretty good testament to Maizey, and the Training Levels for her to test out 5 behaviors 1 of which was completely new in less than two months!

Already she has passed some L2 tests and we continue to work on it, there are many new behaviors and we aren’t in a rush, but just enjoying the learning process. One thing for sure-she certainly learns faster than me!

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Migraines Don’t Motivate Me But My Girls Sure Do!

I been down with the sickly migraine so things have been really quiet around here. It’s times like this, when I am feeling like laying low, that I’m thankful I have two such low laying girls to hang with me! And times that make me highly question my thoughts of getting a “higher drive” dog for our next four legged friend.

Of course the reverse proves true too. On our recent jaunt down south, during a chat about what motivates me to get out and train, my friend looked at Maizey laying upside down in my arms snoring away and commented, “well she’s really not much help!” So true! It’s much harder to roust out when they are content to curl up with me where ever I am. A pup that needed more activity would definitely drive me to give them just that.

This got me thinking about what really does motivate me to train and exercise my pups. The number one thing on the list would definitely be their needs. After two days of laying as still as possible and moaning about my head Maizey just couldn’t take it anymore and made it clear we really must walk today. (That GIANT clock some sadistic maniac planted on my blog that is so clearly mocking me by screaming, “You are running out of time in your 30 miles in 30 days challenge” also helped!) And so out we went.

So the “What Motivates Me To Work With My Four Legged Friends” list:

1.) They are so much happier with regular mental and physical exercise
2.) I am so much happier when I regularly mentally and physically exercise with them.
3.) I am so much happier when they are happier!
4.) When I am irregular in working with Maizey it seems to be a “two steps forward, one step back” situation. Meaning: she doesn’t lose her skills, but for example on a walk it takes her much longer to work out “the wigglies” and get down to paying attention and doing dome good work if its been a couple of days since she walked.
5.) I stay so much more organized if we work a little everyday, so our work time is much more productive.
6.). . .7.). . .8.). . .

And so the list will continue. I would love any hints as to what keeps everyone else motivated to keep teaching and learning those “4 legged lessons.”

My 4 legged lesson of the day?

Turns out walking helps migraines much more than moaning! Thank you girls!

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Nothing Too Much To say When Edie Could have Said It Much More Eloquently

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