Still More Thoughts From a Walk

January 9, 2013 By Jodi

Here is another post about thoughts that, Sampson, Delilah or I have on one of our walks. You can find part one here and part two here.

This particular thought process would be thoughts we might have had on our Hunting Bigfoot Walk.

I pull up to the park, sling Sampson’s leash over my shoulder and jump out of the car. I gingerly lift the back hatch, shouting “Wait!” as I do so.

Sampson darts out of the car. I call him back, get him back inside the car and try again. This time it takes. They wait patiently, I unclip Delilah’s leash and say, “Okay, free dog.”

Both dogs race into the park, they are almost at the field by the time I push through the snow.

“Here” I shout.

They both run back to me, I treat them and give them the hunting Bigfoot spiel.

Someone with a big foot has been or is here.

Sampson – Whatever mom, I’ll keep my eyes peeled, but I’ve got pee-mail to check.

Delilah – Bigfoot? What the woof is she smoking? That foot is barely bigger than hers.

Me – I have to pee.

We make our way to the back of the woods.

Me – I still have to pee. We’re all alone up here, no-one would know.

Sampson – This is definitely not eau de dog.

Delilah – Look at her over there, she can match her foot to every print in here, it isn’t going to change the fact that she has man-sized feet. I think I saw a mouse using one of her old shoes for a boat.

We head down the hill towards the field.

Sampson – I think Big Foot took a leak in our woods.

Delilah – There is NO Bigfoot, it’s just someone with a bigger foot than mom’s.

Me – But what would I wipe with?

Looks at hands. Hey I’ve got gloves…

I really thought that, but no I did not use my gloves. I did hurry home though. 🙂

Did you ever imagine what your pets are thinking?

This ‘N That Thursday

December 13, 2012 By Jodi

Today we’re joining our friends over at 2 Brown Dawgs Blog on This ‘N That Thursday. As 2 Brown Dawgs says, This ‘N That Thursday is for times when you want to post about unrelated topics or each topic isn’t quite long enough to make up a whole post. It can be anything you want, so feel free to grab the button and join us!

Courtesy of 2 Brown Dawgs Blog

Tuesday Night Tricks Class

You may remember last week I showed a picture of Delilah balancing a banana chip on her nose. There is a second part to this trick, it’s having your dog catch the treat, once you’ve given the release command.

Her eyes are focused on that treat!

The way you teach this is to throw treats at your dog and tell them ‘catch.’ This is supposed to be pretty easy to teach as the reward is instantaneous.

Delilah does catch fairly well (if my toss is good) and she has managed to balance the treat on her nose 9 out of 10 times.

But she doesn’t quite understand the dynamics of the two tricks together. If I put the chip on her nose and don’t hold another treat in front of her, instructing her to wait, she will snap at the treat almost instantly.

If I tell her to wait long enough so I can get my fingers out of harm’s way, she sits there with the treat on her nose and doesn’t understand that I want her to catch the treat.

We’ll keep working on this. 🙂

I mentioned in yesterday’s post that we were working with a hula hoop. When I went into my camera to find the video of the treat, I realized I had a video of her and the hoop. It’s not the greatest, but you will get the general idea.

The ultimate goal would be to have her jump through the hoop at different heights.

Dogs of Blogville Calendar

Just a quick update. I ordered the calendars last night, they will be printed after the proof is approved (which should be sometime today,) as of right now it doesn’t look like the calendars will be here in time for Christmas. 🙁

I will do my best though, I intend to get all the labels ready this weekend, so when the calendars do arrive, I can get them out the next day.

I of course will keep you posted and let you know as soon as they ship. I did go into the ordering post and took the order form out, because I cannot accept any more orders at this time.

I also have to tell you that they are simply GORGEOUS and it is all due to the amazing and extremely talented Julie Melfi. Julie did the entire design, from adding the print to the photos, selecting the design, the arrangement and the upload (and probably a whole bunch more stuff that I have no idea of.)

This calendar could NOT have happened without Julie Melfi.

I highly recommend Julie for any of your website or graphic design needs. She is truly amazing.

Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU JULIE MELFI.

I cannot wait for you to see the calendars, they are better than I ever dreamed they could be.

This ‘N That Thursday – 11-15-12

November 15, 2012 By Jodi

Today we join our friends at the 2 Brown Dawgs blog for This ‘N That Thursday.

“This ‘N That Thursday is for those times when you want to post about unrelated topics or each topic isn’t quite long enough to make up a whole post. It can be anything you want, so feel free to grab the button and join us!”

Courtesy of 2 Brown Dawgs Blog

Apologies and Thanks:

I’m way over due for this. First I have to apologize to Molly the Wally. Sunday, November 4th our Gone to the Dogs (Human Shaming) post was the focus of share it Sunday. If you’ve never heard of Share It Sunday, go check it out. Every Sunday Molly the Wally showcases a post from someone else’s blog. (Her post today is James Bond related, and I have to say, totally brilliant.)

We have to thank our dear friend Mazzie (and her able assistant) from Mazzie Takes Manhattan for nominating us for Share it Sunday. While I did send Miss Mazzie a message thanking her, I should have thanked her properly in a post.

With all the excitement of the Blogville Calendar along with the work going into the book challenge, I simply fired off the required information and left it at that. Not making excuses, it’s just the way it happened.

I was reminded of my manners by our friends at 2 Brown Dawgs who properly thanked Miss Molly the Wally.

Dear Miss Molly, I apologize profusely for not acknowledging your generosity, and do hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me and I do thank you very, very much for showcasing us on your blog. (BTW the photo your mom submitted for the calendar is adorable!)

Tricks for Treats or Treats for Tricks?

Delilah and I started a tricks class on Tuesday night.

I always have a case of the worries going into a new class, but Delilah seemed fine. We learned four tricks: paw, high-five, wave and paws up.

The first three tricks are all deviations of paw. The last trick, paws up is asking your dog to put their front paws on a chair. No surprise here. Delilah picked that one up quicker than you can say banana chip.

I started giving Delilah the verbal cue almost immediately with this one, since as soon as I held a treat over the chair she put her paws on it.

The instructor came by to check and said, “Wow, that’s great.”

I said that’s because she’s constantly got her paws up at home, I’m usually screaming OFF! (She likes to climb up on the couch and check to see if Hubby left any good snackies up there.)

Our instructor said sometimes by teaching the behavior it stops the unwanted behavior because they will only do it when cued.

From your lip’s to God’s ear instructor, and I do hope you have a direct line.

While we were waiting for class to start, I took this picture with my cell phone. Delilah’s so dark that I usually find it hard to get a good picture.

I love this picture though, I think it’s very complimentary.

I see you holding that treat, why don’t you just give it to me, I’m cute.

Have you ever had any doubts about teaching your dog something? How did it turn out?

Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

Still More Thoughts From a Walk