No dogs here!

What an awesome afternoon for a trail run...the rain has stunk, but wow was everything GREEN out there on the plains today!

Frannie enjoyed her romp for SURE! Running wild & fast like a cheetah let loose!

Technically the "leash & staying on the trails" ordinance started May 1st...

 I didn't see a dog running wild thru the grasses...did you?!

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Location:High St,Kennebunk,United States

Allergies

Well we all survived Memorial Day weekend...some less exhausted than others.  I think my husband and my father-in-law could sleep for an entire day & still feel tired!

Now it will go all quiet till Thursday when we hit record 80* weather...(the shop tends to be quiet during the week till kids are out of school).

I managed to reprimand 2 groups of children in the 10 minutes I was outside during open hours, God bless them that I wasn't outside more than I was.  I picture myself needing a whistle around my neck and a whip in my hand!

Violations included:

1) Hanging on 1 of our 35 (labor intensive) new signs/signposts for parking.  Said words: "Could you not hang on that sweetie, we don't want to break it." Preferred: "God gave you two feet- now STAND on them child!"

2) A tribe of children running up & down creating a circular track w/ the handicap ramp (ok...) then pushed my limit by using the very expensive railings on either side as parallel bars (as in gymnastics). Said words: "Can you guys not run on this, it's our handicap ramp & we don't want to break the railings, (shamed faces 'cause they know better), thank you." Preferred words: "Were you and your parents raised by wolves, there is an ACRE of field to run in out back-WHERE ARE YOUR PARENTS?!")

3) Comment to Doug: "you have too many handicap spaces" (3 out of 40+ spaces) Doug's response: (so shocked no reply).  My preferred reply: "Come over here and let me break your two legs & see if you still think so!"

I'll stick to my dog, thanks. (really I have to blame the parents too-if you can't control your kids, put 'em on a leash till you train them...same as my dog! Or stop reproducing.)

Frannie 5.28.13 a.m.

Why lay on my bed when Mama's sheets are on the floor waiting for wash...(she thinks they're dirty, I think they smell...just right....) 

Don't Shoot the Dog!

So Frannie has 2 major behavioral issues. Well, maybe they are "my" issues, not really hers as they don't bother her a bit...me however- MAKE.ME.CRAZY!!!
So 1 of the 2 is an insane, loud, incessant whining in the car. She has learned that most often if she's in the car, she's going somewhere fun...hunting, snowshoeing, to the beach...
She is extremely vocal in general (apparently common w/ vizslas)...no barking (thank Goodness but lots of dog talking!)
I have been learning a lot about "shaping", "labeling" and "rewarding" in our agility class. I also have been reading what Scott (& many) think is THE dog training guide book, Don't Shoot The Dog.




I have been rewarding the behavior I want repeated & labeling it, "quiet" & ignoring the bad whining...it's really cool to see it actually working!



My ears & peace of mind are appreciative as well! There is hope!
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Location:High St,Kennebunk,United States

Back to School

First day back at Fetch 'n' Fun(playcare)...wired when I picked her up...crashed hard after an hour at home...
S...O....SLE-EP...Y!!


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Location:High St,Kennebunk,United States

Are you my mother? ...Dr.Suess

A happy Mother's Day it was! Although no fabulous gifts or cards presented themselves, no trouble or poor behavior did either- and as any mother would agree, THAT, is a gift in itself!

I will say Frannie was very nicely behaved during our walk yesterday & even got a compliment while passing thru the Farmers Market downtown. A young woman asked if she was in fact a Vizsla? I replied yes, she explained she herself had 2 at home...visiting w/ Frannie she stated what a well behaved dog Frannie was. (I thought, "self, what in the world are your dogs LIKE?!") But F was actually being quite good, I must admit.
We had my folks over for brunch along with sister Sarah & her guy, Kevin. Nice visit- & again I'd give Frannie a B+ for behavior...
Sadie of course is a doll, such a good girl, a mom couldn't ask for a better behaved big sister to set a good example for the little one!



Amazing to think not long ago this was our little lady & big sis, Sadie! (3/2011, 3 months old-Sadie already ignoring her!)



Thanks to my mother-in-law, Deb, for sharing this great image with me today!! Those that know me well know, being a mom to Frannie & Sadie has surely been a life altering experience for me! Imagine ME loving a dog (*squared) so stinkin' much!!



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Location:High St,Kennebunk,United States

Well, la de freakin' da!

Not having a "proper child" I am assuming it is faux pas to rave about how amazing your own child is.  However I know I've suffered through & conversely hung on every word from a number of proud parents over my 35 years. (you're all asking yourself if "that" was you! ha!)

Last night was our second night of "backyard agility" class!  We returned home, Scott inquiring how class was, I simply stated, "she's too smart." Yes, if there was an "honor level" class she'd be in it!
(there I've done it- boast, boast, boast!)

Last night opened with a series of quick repeats from class 1, which of course the over-achieving mother had the student practice every night last week. She hardly suffers doing "homework", she LOVES it and relishes the "high value treats" associated with it!

One of our new skills was learning to go through a tunnel.
Our not so friendly (or brave) classmate, Robbie, had to be coaxed through with a number of treats.
Chatz, managed to knock down his aging german accented mother by barreling through the other end of the tunnel once he finally got his courage up to try it.
Frannie blasted through at the speed of light, no hesitation, particularly when seeing my face at the other end (OH-and a treat!)  The instructor ended up modifying our tunnel game to make the tunnel longer and have Frannie run through on her own as I ran along side the tunnel. (I know ADVANCED!)

As a class we did a jumps over low hurtles and learned to associate the word "over" with jumping (yup, you got it- OVER something)! This is called "labeling" I've learned.

Buddy who nipped at Frannie last week was not present for class, not sure if his Mom just couldn't make it- or perhaps he was asked to stay home or take a remedial class until he was over the nip/mild attack behavior, Frannie didn't seem to miss him.

Over all the class has been fun and Frannie is enjoying herself and amazingly tuned into me and being braver than Scott thought she'd be.  Of course I knew she'd be a star, that Frantastic Frannie of ours!

*DISCLAIMER: These Pics are a stunt fill in for Frannie.  Scott hasn't been able to come to class yet, so no pictures to post...(& she doesn't know how to do the sticks- but who knows what's next!)