It's A Hard Knock Life....

Oh, another rough morning for lil' Ms. Frannie pants...

(hung over from too much fun at daycare yesterday!) 

I always sing this song to her when she is whining (over nothing!) ...'cause you realize, 

"its's a hard-knock life for her..."

Click me to listen...

Please Mama, I don't want a brother or sister!

Last evening a small tornado blew into our little home, it came in the name of Madelyn, Lauren and Marshall.  (My nieces & nephew) I picked them up in Wells, on the way home the questions began, Marshall: "If you're married to Uncle Scott how do you not have any kids?" (clearly child- the answer is IN the question), "Cause Uncle Scott likes lots of birds & dogs and they all keep us really busy & we are SO busy in the summer we wouldn't be able to see our kids..." Madelyn pipes in: "Mom says kids are EXPENSIVE" (ha- so is Frannie!) me: "yes, that is true" 

We arrive home, the tornado enters the house, Frannie is overwhelmed, but hungry as is Sadie the same...I begin to prepare their dinner, (Sadie gets supplements, aspirin, meds) Madelyn: "Ugh what is that, why do you have to give Sadie that? Why do you give her oil?" (I pull out their honest kitchen dehydrated food) Madelyn: "WHAT IS THAT?!" (oh my...I'm tired already-lol!)

Out we go to see the chickens (Frannie just following, staring & not grasping why she is not the center of the world at the moment?!)  Lauren is clearly the farm girl, right into the coop, no fear, no fuss, has her little egg basket (from Doug's mom's house) and fetches her eggs like a pro, Marshall fearing the chickens will peck his ankles to death, (they are completely scared of us-lol!) He does brave the big girl coop & gets 1 egg-oh my! Madelyn is busy trying to name all the chickens! 

They want to feed them so we go into the pigeon loft to get chicken food- Marshall, "it smells like cow dung in here" (he is correct on it being smelly, not sure its a 'cow dung' odor...!!)

The entire time Frannie is standing at barn door (instead of coming into yard & whining because we are inaccessible in chicken area and she is just being ignored!! (can we say spoiled?)

Haircuts occur, (main reason for a visit)...Marshall who JUST had his hair cut last week at barber, insists he too needs another cut. (monkey see, monkey do!)  Lauren has large haircut onto shoulders- and Madelyn, "just a trim Aunt Emily!!!! oh & bangs"-(Are you sure Mommy is ok w/ this?-Oh my!!)  

Frannie attempting to eat the hair off the floor- if I hadn't just pulled a blade of grass out of her rear end (oh the eruption of laughter from the kids!) I'd have let her eat the hair...but not about to deal w/ that tomorrow!

what a child does when you're busy & she has access to your phone.  Educated me that despite the fact my phone was "locked" she can still access my camera (!) 

Eveyone into car, including Frannie (in way back: "hey what the heck am I doing way back HERE mama!") Off to a puppet show at the library stated, "for all ages" well perhaps, if we we didn't act & think as if we are 5 years older than our physical age...Pizza party at Toppings in Kennebunk (thank God for coloring pages!) & THEN unexpectedly my kid anxiety creeps up, Marshall: "Does Jesus and God create".... (OH MY GOD-WHERE IS THIS GOING!!)..."...words" (WHAT?!) Madelyn answers, "No, people create words." Lauren: "and they are all dead" (LMAO!) 

A trip to Scoop Deck to see Uncle Scott, Frannie gets no ice cream but a trip to the end of Eldridge Rd to run around on "our beach" which the kids have never seen before, so I introduce them to it as it is a fabulous place to find little sea glass pieces... they are now getting loud and silly, I think tired is rolling in, I know it is for Frannie & I as it is now almost 8:30 (OUR BEDTIME!) We return the children and the nanny, Taylor, looks well rested after 3 hours of peace, Frannie & I head home.  We arrive home where my kitchen and bathroom look in fact like a tornado has occurred, Frannie looks at me, and I swear pleads, "Mama, please no kids."

Marco...Polo...

It has been a very busy week in review for Ms. Frantastic!! Highlight of the week was by far attending a doggy pool party-wonderfully timed for temps over 90* & humidity hanging heavy in the air! "2nd Annual party" Frannie is reminding me!
Our pal Marcy hosted us at her daughter's pool (she was told she could use the pool while her daughter & son-in-law were on vacation, like a rebellious teenager she invites 3 friends & their dogs over! Only 1 party foul occurred...so hopefully she won't get into too much trouble!!)
Few things Frannie loves more than water-in she went w/out hesitation as soon as we arrived!






With Frannie's 3 water toys we all kept busy!


Nora & Sammy are familiar friends (they're spoiled too & go to playcare @ Fetch 'N' Fun too)...

Samantha is also a vizsla, her mom, Patti, spent a good deal of the party trying to convince Sammy the water was fun and she should partake...as Patti pointed out, when a Vizsla gets something in their mind-trying to change it is no small feat.






Frannie is trying to sort out why Sammy is not amphibious like her...
We a had a nice visit & both Frannie & I were off to bed earlier than normal (yes, before the chickens!) from our swimming & fun!!


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NEW Team mate!

Sometimes ya just gotta bring your dog!

Yesterday was surely a first, and I couldn't help reflecting on what many of my friends would be saying, including my friend, Andi Pants, her voice ringing in my ears, "remember when you didn't even like dogs!" (and I'd remind her I STILL don't like dogs, just mine - oh ok and a few others!)

I love my little town of Kennebunk and all its fantastic resources, one being our amazing library.  Once a year the Library hosts a road race (how cool is our library right?!) This race gives me an opportunity to throw some money to the library & to enjoy an activity I love.

This year for a number of poor planning decisions I ended up without a running partner-in-crime.  I decided to bring along Frantastic Frannie.  I thought it thru a number of times and knew she could handle the mere 3mi, I knew she may tire w/ the increased pace towards the end, but she'd be fine and we could always walk or slow down, I wasn't chasing a PR AT ALL! I had some strong hesitation about the number of people and her reaction to...but decided to chance it.

I reflected on the number of running carriages that appeared at the start line, as this race is very much a "community event" and a "family run" and assured myself that if these folks can bring their child in a carriage, I surely was okay bringing my pup!

We made out just fine and other than having very little patience at the start area (looking at me like, when are we GOING TO GET going-you told me we were doing something FUN!!!) I'll admit on mile 3 I recognized the ONLY advantage of the carriage- when my "kid" got tired, I had to encourage her along, when their "kid" got tired, they just passed out- running pace remained the same! She slowed me down a bit and I will say really needs to learn to pace herself & improve her final "kick" but I have a feeling she'll see another course in the near future-or at least an annual Library Race!

The race definitely went better than posing for an "after race" picture!

So as usual Frantastic impressed me, she had a number of cheers from by-standers and had a miraculous recovery having still plenty of energy to have a good play session w/ cousin Remy at the campground an hour later! I will admit, she has a bit of an exercise hangover this a.m.- good that today is a low-key day for her! Although I'm sure she'll be ready to GO when I arrive back home from work!

Absolutely "crashed" when we finally got to bed last night- like a little Frannie Burrito! 

"G" is for Goats & Grass...

Dear Frannie,

             Please stop eating grass like you are a goat.  I no longer want a goat after having to wrangle the chickens solo this summer and deal with their broodiness and inconsistent egg laying behaviors.  I have had a quick realization being a farmer would be A WHOLE LOTTA WORK! So please go back to being a dog and stop eating grass in obscene amounts when I am not home.
            I do not like waking up to the sound of you vomiting, or cleaning it up when my body really wants to just lie down and sleep and only one eye is actually open.  I feel bad for you 'cause you are sick, but I also want to strangle you 'cause you did it to yourself & now I AM PAYING THE PRICE.  I would like to sit down and eat a bakers dozen of Congdon's Donuts, but I know I would be sick after and so I use self control, please try the same.

Also, do not poop in the ocean EVER AGAIN... I do not like having to go in the water ankle deep w/ my sneakers on to only have to run 2mi back to the car after in wet socks & sneakers.  I'd prefer you find a nice spot along the trail in the woods to take care of that business BEFORE we get to the beach!


xxx
-Your loving but disappointed Mama.

4th of July

Mom had to work really late 'cause those customers are crazy & eat ice cream like its going to be the last day on Earth they can obtain it.  But she tells me this is how I get to have a nice life, travel fun places in the winter and get to go to see my friends at Fetch 'N' Fun ('cause its expensive) and have my friend Dr. Barbara take good care of me...anyways, I was home alone with my big sister Sadie last night, Mom left us with really yummy frozen marrow bones (they were HUGE) to keep us busy (I think she felt guilty about leaving us).

We heard a lot of loud noises, at first I thought maybe Pop was out hunting and I was missing out(!)...whatever it was I didn't like it very much and even though Sadie is basically deaf from being so old, she seemed to not like it either.  We were happy when Mom got home and reassured us it was all okay and settled us into our beds.  We are good girls so we didn't do anything naughty even though we were a bit anxious, we just cuddled up together (with our bones close by) and rode out the storm of loud noises.

-Frannie

Father's Day, Better Late Than...

Although it was almost a week ago, we have not forgotten & are enjoying the bounty Father's Day brought to our resident Pop.
The girls were up quite early (indifferent to any other day), after an early breakfast "wrapped up" their Dad's Day presentation to prepare for Pop's waking.
(Hopefully you can read this... If not I'll tweak in the a.m on my laptop so you can)...

Card reads: (Trader Joe's bag recycled)








Book:
(I heard an awesome interview w/ author really peaked my interest)...have to disclose here BOTH gifts were to be enjoyed by the Mama too!




& outside waiting...
(Yup, I've enjoyed some sunny naps already! I think I've used it more than Scott has-don't tell!!)




This hasn't happened yet...but I'm waiting...(so far she just lies under me (in the shade)....give it time...



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I Can't Hear You....

I had a good Father's Day post, but you'll have to wait as this appears to need to get off my chest tonight...
I often say and have heard many other non-parents repeat, people MUST not be able to hear their own children whining. I CAN HEAR THEM, believe me...in the checkout, in the parking lot, in the bank waiting line...I. HEAR.YOUR.CHILD...YOU however appear to NOT hear YOUR child! I have ALWAYS assumed with both amazement and awe that evolution has evolved to protect every parent from going nuts by hearing only when your child yelps in a time of true emergency (then with supersonic hearing) otherwise, complete oblivion to the whine, cry and general racket.
Apparently being an adoptive mother, not having given birth to Frannie myself (that'd be awkward...along w/ her 9 litter mates-yikes!) I do not posses this ability.  The sound of her whining makes my chest tight and my anxiety reach unhealthy levels.  It is an incessent little whine, at this horribly obnoxious pitch-and worse case it is NEVER when something is actually wrong- its just her way of expressing herself (typically her dismay).
Most children if their parent was out of the house, or out of sight would rejoice, do everything they are not suppose to, take all the toys out, go wild...right?!  While attempting to garden (something I VERY MUCH enjoy) and after taking the little beast for a walk/run at the Blueberry Plains, AND a car ride to scenic Sanford...she stood at the door (ALONG W/ MACK) and whined almost the entire two hours I was outside.  For those of you who have not spoken w/ me today, I have laryngitis...yelling at your dog is impossible (and she chose to ignore my sign language & frustrated faces!) I attempted to ignore the whining and tried to enjoy my work...but it persisted, and persisted....I must be missing something fellow parents, how do you do it?!

Summer At Last

Mama & I are BOTH happy the sun has come out! I got to visit a favorite swimming hole to celebrate our Summer day!! As you can tell-I loved it! Best part, no nasty ticks on either if us!!
We didn't tell Mack or Sadie where we went off to-so keep it in the "QT" would ya?!




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Adjustments

Maybe he's not THAT bad....(& Mama says he's not staying forever...)



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Yes, it is truer than true...we have a graduate yes we do!

-Dr. Suess

Yes, it is truer than true...we have a graduate yes we do! 

I will state again, as I have had to remind my own mother a number of times (we graduated from FUN/AGILITY class, not OBEDIENCE class!) With that said however, she did learn to listen to me, focus on me and did a fantastic job.  Not only did she learn with great earnest how to leap over hurdles, run through tunnels, walk along a see-saw, weave thru poles, jump thru a tire hoop, walk the plank, and yes FINALLY learn the LAY DOWN command, I was most impressed with her focus on her task, desire to please and accomplish her "job".  

Last night we ran thru an obstacle course using all the skills we had learned over the 6 weeks of classes.  Both dogs in attendance did excellent.  Frannie finally conquered the see-saw and walking the plank without baling out 3/4 of the way thru-and welcomed the all new task of jumping thru a tire hoop with no hesitation!

Ronnie, classmate and his dad & brother doing their run through.

A very quick graduation ceremony, presentation of diplomas and pups each got to choose a toy from their sweet teacher, Merri Button (I can't stand it!)...

Scott will surely use this as proof when she is bad that "he" is not her Pop,
and that some guy named Scott Gallant is-lol!

The proud GRADUATE showing off her diploma & her "cheeseburger" toy from Merri (which yes, is already been de-stuffed, de-squeekered, and chewed and is in the trash! Hey it was fun while it lasted!)

Cards, cash, checks and gifts to help us celebrate will be graciously receieved....Cheers!

Goatin' along....

Always the pleaser, I often think she MUST know I would love a goat, and therefore portrays the role of a goat in the yard and on our runs (not that I'd take my goat on a run just for the record). 

 (Although I could hang out w/ the guy in Dover, NH if I did...)

Dover celebrity...

Proof grass is obviously "greener" on the "other side".

A slight change in type (not brand) in her food is my hope that MAYBE she'll slow down on the grass consumption. (note, she particularly enjoys my ornamental grasses by the front door-the ONLY grass I don't need help cutting-thanks!)

Luckily F doesn't throw up the grass (using it as a bulimic tool to keep her girlish figure or her version of "Tums").  After reading many, many theories on why dogs eat grass, I believe she just "likes" the taste of it.   She has "favorite" spots she compulsively stops (on a dime) to eat it, where other spots that look like great grass munching to me, she passes right by...(what do I know?!)

So the grass seems thus far to do no harm, passes right thru her digestive track and perhaps (according to some theories) gives her the fiber she desires (?!)  (that the super expensive dog food doesn't provide-right?!) The only reason I really hate her eating grass, is that occasionally she needs a bit of help with the exiting of the grass...(use your imagination)-always a nice way to begin a day.  (still better than a diaper x 6 a day)!

(Vizh-luh)

Although this is from a childrens' book apparently, it describes a Vizsla well in very simple terms we can all understand...I can't tell you how very often I have to repeat, Vizsla, two or three times, then people say, "oh"...they don't know...how would they?! Few people are familiar with them, I actually am more than shocked when out running or out and about downtown if someone says, "a Vizsla right?" (all proud of themselves), and I too respond with a smile, an impressive nod and am amazed they somehow know this velcro dog is indeed,  Vizsla!

I found this on a facebook page I JUST stumbled upon, I have a feeling it may be a new favorite page (along w/ the other 20 pages facebook "suggests" I may like about Vizslas! I never thought to look for Vizsla pages...there IS some good in Facebook after all!

Enter Mack...

We've all done it, offered a favor and also accepted a request from a friend that you sincerely hope never comes to fruition.  Two weeks ago Scott agreed to helping a friend out by watching his pup for three weeks while he went to take care of an exploratory work opportunity across the country, if his friend decided to go...
It's not that we mind having another dog around for a short time, or that the dog is a bad dog, or that we mind helping a friend out...this dog in fact is familiar with Scott, Sadie and I, as he lived with all of us for a while as a puppy. We eventually realized Mack (Doodle as I called him) was not a dog that fit with our lifestyle.  He was hard-wired for bird hunting, had the speed of a true cheetah (puts Frannie to shame), ran big off leash and paced in the house from one window to the next searching for birds all day long!  He made all of us anxious and in need of high blood pressure meds (including the ever-passive Scott)!  For those of you who have met Frannie, Mack's energy is like Frannie squared.
Scott gave (sold, whatever boys do) Mack to a falconer friend, Jay, who in turn has given him an amazing, active sporting life that he deserved and in turn Jay adores Mack and has had tons of fun and success in the field with him. (a win-win)

SO...we really were the most appropriate people to take Mack for a three week stint.
Monday noon: enter Mack stage right... First night, little sleep happened in our room, like having a puppy all over again...Dear GOD! First morning, Mack springs the fence in the backyard, dumb chicken that should have gone into coop at night like all the rest gets attacked (one of Scott's favorites of course) lives, but barely, my fence is mangled (Scott repairs).   Mack & Frannie play like mad demons every chance they get (but inside 'cause Mack cannot go in our backyard due to chickens, oh that's lovely underfoot, NON stop!) I've had to vacuum everyday because he's long haired (never!), worse yet, my baby pup has been violated by this horned up male dog attempting to hump her (OY VEY!)  (but overall he actually isn't that bad...but sures up many things for me: 3 dogs are too many, long hair dogs-no way, hyper active dogs-all set (1 is enough!, etc..etc...)
Frannie is jealous every second I pay any attention to Mack...I have to take him out to the side yard on a leash in the a.m (due to chickens) and as we enter the house again Frannie nips freshly at Mack to say, "She's mine!" Then just looks and stares at me, "Mama, am I still your Maine dog?"

"We weren't doing anything...really!"

Mack has been spending days in his kennel at the Scoop Deck :(

with a few time a day to race around the back field like the Indy 500!

 but seems happy enough to nap with his kinda cousin, Remy, lying next to his kennel.
(Remy has become the "shop dog", he is my brother's pup and has been at the shop a lot while under construction) he is an absolute sweetheart and greets customers,  delivery guys, and employees with utmost adoration!  

Super Smart!

Despite the fact until recently at two years old Frannie has refused to learn the simple command, "lay down" after mastering tasks like bird hunting, catching frisbees in her teeth, hugging and running thru a tunnel, she apparently exudes some skills I had taken for granted.

We showed up for our second to last agility class to find we were the only "duo" to show! Its been perplexing to me to see our class numbers dwindle.  Having started with only (4) sets of people:dog, after 1st class, down to 3 sets, then down to 2 a couple weeks ago, and then just us left standing!? Have we scared everyone away? (Oh my anxiety is kicking in!)

Having the trainer and course to ourselves was fun but I have to admit I like watching the other owners and dogs struggle, learn and succeed at our common goals.  So a bit lonely!

The trainer, Merri Button (love that!) did chat with me more than normal and asked if I had thought about taking "agility" to a more serious level (as this is just "backyard agility" focused on fun more than building a foundation for competition).  I guffawed and said I hadn't even considered it!  She complimented Frannie on her obtained focus on me in the last few weeks and her natural interest and ability and said she was actually, "very good"! HA- Oh my...what will be next for our duo?!

"Graduation" is next week (not kidding), so we'll get thru that, you know how stressful your child's graduation can be right (?) We'll then consider what our next step may be.  I fear it's the trainer/owner who may NOT be the one with natural ability and certainly NO interest in "performing" where anyone is watching me, not a role I've ever been comfortable in!

I like to read the little free magazine from Tractor Supply, interesting stuff I've discovered in there...this week while reading the Summer issue of, "Out There," I burst out laughing!

 The story, Go Mojo, struck me funny! I said to Scott, here I go, this will be Frannie & I in a couple years! (agility class is just step 1! ha, ha!)

(click this to read it on Tractor Supply's website instead of below)

Mojo, the performing dog

By Page Ivey

Photography by Kevin Vandivier

When Connie Hall adopted the blue heeler-terrier mix puppy from an animal shelter near her Salado, Texas, home, she intended to train this very teachable breed to entertain a very important audience of one — her newborn grandson.
But after the unexpected loss of the baby, Connie started spending more time with the puppy — named Mojo — training and working off his tremendous energy while working through her own grief.
He’s been a quick study, thanks to Connie’s repetition methods and Mojo’s uncanny ability to learn quickly.
Now, Mojo’s purpose is to make as many people as possible smile — in honor of the baby’s memory.
Mojo started his performance life with shows at nursing homes and a school for troubled youngsters and progressed to festivals, small-town concerts, a chuck-wagon cook-off, the Central Texas State Fair Professional Bull Riders Rodeo, and the National Barrel Horse Association Youth World Championship.
The act begins slowly with Mojo following a plastic flying disc and weaving in and out of Connie’s legs; then he latches on to the disc and holds on while Connie swings him around.
When she shouts, “Let’s go,” Mojo begins to run the barrels like a barrel rider.
To teach him the barrels, Connie started with a small pattern, then moved to a second pattern, before putting it all together.
Mojo looks like he’s smiling, she says, when he rounds the third and last barrel and goes running to catch the disc that she lets fly to end the trick.
Mojo will jump up onto a balance beam, sit down, and wait at one end as commanded by Connie, and then walk to the other end when she commands him to.
She has him put either one or two paws — whichever she instructs — on an object and tells him to wait until she counts to three, at which point, she flings the disc and he bolts after it.
He can sit, stay, roll over, and even play dead while Connie gives him “CPR.”
If she forgets the order of their show, Mojo will remind her by starting the next trick in the act. He even taught her a trick.
When they start to play with flying discs, Mojo always seems to pick out one he likes better than the other. Once he has chosen a disc, he won’t even touch the other one, she says.
“With the crowd, I could say, ‘Okay, Mo, I want you to get the Frisbee with an “X” on it.’ Naturally, if he’s already touched that Frisbee, he’s going to get the Frisbee with the ‘X’ on it,” she says. “And that’s his trick. That’s something he taught me.”
Mojo’s smarts may be part of his genes.
Heeler is another name for Australian cattle dog, which are widely regarded as some of the most trainable dog breeds. They were originally bred in Australia in the 1800s to drive herds of cattle over long distances and the name heeler comes from their tendency to nip at the heels of cattle they are herding.
The high-energy breed needs lot of play and work time every day to burn off some of that energy. “You constantly have to do something with him,” Connie says. “I always have a ball at my feet.”
Connie trains and practices with Mojo at the small ranch she shares with her husband, Bill, a longtime auctioneer, who definitely wasn’t looking for a new dog when Connie brought Mojo home.
“We already had dogs — one that’s half coyote — and here she comes with a new puppy,” he recalls.
But Mojo, who’s becoming a bit of a celebrity on the rodeo circuit, seems to have arrived at just the right time.



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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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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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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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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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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!)

Tomorrow

It's been a tough week of lounging around the house sun bathing...




And then our cousins came for a sleepover and more sunbathing & morning napping transpired (after we ran around & slid every oriental rug from one side of a room to another.)








( Pile o' dog as Scott calls this...)
This exhausting behavior explains our early to bed tonight. ALSO Scott is preparing to wake at the crack o' dawn & greet his big Tom the turkey ( the one he "put to bed" tonight), yes turkey season starts tomorrow! (A bit like Christmas for him, but better!)
Frannie and I will be out late in the evening as we begin our very first night of "Backyard agility" classes! Our instructor's name is, Merri Button. (?!) if she is anything except adorable, I will BE disappointed!!
"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one." -Dr. Suess
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Location:High St,Kennebunk,United States