Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Training goal in 2011

I decided that in 2011 I'm going to train one new behavior a month - per dog. This should be interesting. Might be simple, might be complex. With my training skills I'm guessing simple will win out most months. But who knows, maybe by next November or so I'll feel like trying something challenging.

I'm also trying to figure out how to something similar with knitting. One new pattern a month? A new yarn a month? A new technique? Maybe just finish a WIP every month!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas has come and gone

After a very full and busy week last week, I've got a pretty quite one this week So I'm going to make up for lost time with the dogs. And do some knitting for me!!

For Christmas gifts I knit up 3 mufflers, 3 hats, a pair of mittens and a baktus scarf. And keeping to tradition, I finished everything up on Christmas. It's a good thing we wait 'til after dinner to open gifts!!

This week the weather is cold, gray and clear. No real snow for a week and a half. The old snow is in crusty, frozen patches on the ground. So I can stil play ball and frisbee with the dogs without loosing all the toys. No snow balls in their feet and much easier to go on walks. But the deep snow sure does a good job tiring them out! And it is kind of pretty...

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Happy Birthday to Kipp

My little dude turns 6 today :-) and I didn't even realize until I got a Happy Birthday email from The Honest Kitchen.

In other news school is out!!! I am rejoicing, the dogs are rejoicing (no homework = more dog time). Still waiting on the final grade.

I've been working on teaching new dog tricks just for kicks (and to enter in an online contest - I always work better with a deadline and a bit of competition). Kenzi is learning to walk a tightrope, or at least the doggy version of one. I'm really impressed with her balance and footwork. And Missy is doing more retrieval work. She brought me a whole stack of DVDs one by one the other day. She begs to train when I work with the other two.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Well, it's not too bad yet. Temps are just below freezing with a winter wind and some snow. I read about other people's dogs that greatly dislike the cold, barely even wanting to set foot outside. Mine, on the other hand, act if their batteries have just been recharged. SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!

Missy sprints like a youngster, Kipp flops on the ground to roll and tunnel in the white stuff, Kenzi, who is still skinny as a rail, plays and chases as crazy as ever. They love the white stuff, they love the cold weather. I'm sure they wonder why it takes me forever to get all bundled up to go out - they're ready now!! Crazy pups...

I'm trying to figure out new random behaviors to teach them. I'd like to get Kenzi walking a tightrope of sorts. I think it's possible. She's pretty sure footed and will try just about anything. Last night I told her hup onto a row of pallets. She had 8 feet of 3/4 inch wide boards with 3-4 inch spaces between to walk across and did so relaxed with a wagging tail. I think the little wild child likes the challenge.

Sadly my knitting has been neglected the past several days due to something called finals papers. But this will change shortly as the papers are all due on Tuesday. Hooray for the end of another semester!!