Monday, September 29, 2008

wants vs. needs

This weekend reconfirmed what we already knew along about the dogs .... and just in case you didn't know ...

Jane: WANTS a fish to land at her feet. pleeeeaaase.

Gyp: really NEEDS to give up the damn toy. Ya right, GRRRRR.

Kaleb: WANTS to swim all day.
And he NEEDS have something in his mouth.




Gyp: seriously, you really NEED to give up the toy. 
She really didn't WANT too. GRRRRRR (insert fierce Gyppie growl here)


Friday, September 26, 2008

Gyp and the scary ribbon. part 2.

So how can I get a nice picture of Gyppie with her ATCHC Ribbon, I say to my self.
BRILLIANT! I'll get Kaleb to hold it, then she won't be scared ....

(note the very intentional lean, unless she doesn't mind the ribbon, but doesn't like Kaleb)
oh Gyppie.

NOTE: The funniest part of this photo however, is Jane in the background, humping "kermie", I guess we know how she feels about Gyp and her ribbon ....

Here is the video of her final Snooker Q for her ATCHC.

Not to be left out, Kaleb got some awards of his own this week... the dates are based on his last Titles with CKC. All Round Retrievers must have a CH, CD, WC or JH.
Versatility Dog Award must have three titles in disciplines other that the above, and they don't need to have a CH. These are given out by the Flat-coated Retriever Society of Canada, every year at the National Specialty. You have to send in copies of your certificates, he qualified last year for All Round Retriever, but didn't have his title certificates yet. Aren't they pretty, I was impressed with how nice they are!!
I'll leave you a photo of what Jane thinks of this hoopla ...
(she is swearing loudly)

Monday, September 22, 2008

Success comes in all shapes and sizes.

We had a great weekend in Medicine Hat, where do I start...
First off, I was pretty proud we fit 5 dogs, and 3 people in the Element! OH YA! SUCCESS!
We fit 3 people and 5 dogs in a 2 bed motel room (sorry for hogging the bed Amanda, it was K's fault really) SUCCESS!

Classic Gyp shot. - by Amanda

Let's start at the beginning ....
Three Standards and Jumpers on Saturday.

sorry for the interruption, but, Gyp has a cute bum. -photo by Amanda

Gyp ran great standards with just a bobble hear and there and a pop out in the weaves (a new thing, but we will go back to some proofing).

Her Jumpers run was GREAT. She ran it in just over 25 seconds, and had the fastest time in Masters and Q! It w as TOUGH technical course and I was proud to have ran it clean.

K-man had a great day too: he earned his 25th Masters Standard Q!!! SUCCESS! And he Qd in his Jumpers class too!! At the end of Saturday he now has all the Standards for his Silver Award.
Just another classic K photo ... by Amanda

Then Sunday came ....
Gamblers, Team, Steeplechase and Snooker....
Kaleb Q'd 3 for 3 (I didn't put him in Steeplechase), he ran great all day and I was so happy he Q'd in mostly games and gave his all. He now only needs 8 more games for his Silver Award!! SUCCESS!  He felt spunky all weekend and didn't even knock a bar!! What a good boy.

Gyp Q'd 4 for 4 on Sunday.
Her gamble opening wasn't stellar but we pulled off enough points and got the main gamble.

Her Team was a nail biter, and she incurred 5 faults - but it was still a Q (time+faults in Team), that was her Masters Team Title. I was sad we couldn't have gotten it with Wicca and Amanda - as Wicca came up lame that day, but we got it with the next best partners you could have  - Lynda and Cavall (who is normally partnered with K and me - the BOYZ ya know - and helped him to his ATCHC). 

Her Steeplechase felt soooo good, we just went for it. That is when we run best together. Gyp placed 1st and Qd with the fastest time of all the dogs entered. I'll post the video, I promise :)

now Snooker ...
I tried not be nervous, it was just another run, and we again, just went for it.
She ran great and as we were finishing #6, I knew she had it, and I knew she had earned her Snooker Title and .... her ATCHC. What a feeling that was, I am still smiling :)

Not really sure how it happened... but in one year of trialing, Gyp got her SATCHC - Agility Trial Champion of Canada. And I was glad she finished her titles with Darcy, he had great courses and is a great judge and competitor. She got her ATCHC so fast I still am trying to absorb it all, it honestly is weird.

Gyp has a big honest heart, and a cute pointy nose, and every time she is put on the start line I know that she will give it her all, and I have to do my part, she makes me look like a better handler than I probably am :). She has made me a better handler, trainer and person overall. I run Jane and Kaleb better because of her. She has taught me to go for it. 

Her success in such a short period of time is mind boggling to me. As a reward yesterday, she got to play with her buddie Tag in the field after Snooker, and we got home she (and all of the others too) got some yummy steak that Pete had just cooked up - don't tell Jane, but Gyppie got the most :)

A Nationals placement, and an ATCHC in one year really? Pete says "I guess she can retire now right?" sorry, I don't think so :)

The club did such a nice presentation for Gyppie, she was curious of the ribbon.
Do you like my snoopy socks they are my new lucky socks :)

Then... Gyp was freaked out at the ribbon, and tried to run away, it was bigger than her head.

So I tried to pick her up ... then she melted, and still tried to avoid the ribbon. oh Gyppie.

THANKS to:
- Pete for letting me foster Gyp for the weekend :)
- Amanda - for finding Gyp and asking me to take photos of her for rescue (you knew, didn't you,) and being bossy. And being the other half of a KICK ASS team partner!
- All of our training friends and dogs for helping make Gyp the sassy little sweetie she is.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

if looks could kill.


if looks could kill., originally uploaded by sarah ....

i thought it would be cute to put "smoochy" on jane's head.

she thought otherwise.

I think Stewy Griffin (Family Guy) said it best:
"When the world is mine, your death shall be quick and painless."

Calendar Dogs


On occasion I get asked to use my photos for various things - websites, weird bloggy things and sometimes my photos get used when I am not asked (some of you know what I am referring too ... Gyp and her digestive issues.)

This time I was asked if my "Super Friends" photo could be used in a Wet Dogs Calendar as a fundraiser for Parkinsons. She is legit and sent me a newspaper article about her cause etc.

My "Super Friends" photo has been my most popular on flickr, it has over 10,000 views. It features, Gyp, Kaleb and Kristy's dogs Duke and Belle.

So here is the link if you would like to see it, or buy one for yourself!!!!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Sharing

you can see more people and their dog at the back of the photo.

It seems everyone and their dog was at the river this weekend, the weather was so nice and people were everywhere - MY quiet little getaway not so quiet. Normally during the weekdays there are hardly any people down there - I go in the mornings usually, I remembered why we don't go down on the weekends in the middle of the day!

We are so used to having it all to ourselves, this time we had to share.

Kaleb, looks as if he is trying to escape to the other side, and get away from having to share :)

And the dogs got to try our their new water wubba that they won at the Agility trial last weekend, which again ... they had to share.

puullleeeaase just let us play, no more photos!!!

NOTE: Jane not pictured, I missed the photo opp. of her in the water, other than that she just wanted to roll in bird crap and sun bathe ....

Monday, September 15, 2008

Weim's galore!

4 generations of girls.

I took some photos this weekend of Julia's and Pat's dogs, and Alice the tag along Cavalier :)

Friday, September 12, 2008

In your face.

There is something in the air these days...
 the cooler crisp mornings and the shorter days, are making everyone a little wild and crazy...
they must like the cool air in thier fur. 

Or they are just nuts and it has nothing to do with weather.
The Dynamics of three:
Gyp "What is wrong with you, freak, act your age."
Kaleb "Maaaaaammmmaaaaaa I'm cooomming"
Jane "Loser."

I have a WHOLE set of photos on FLICKR dedicated to Kaleb 
they are called IN YOUR FACE, and the Dynamics of Three ...
they are some of my favourite's ....


Thursday, September 11, 2008

too much tongue?


too much tongue?, originally uploaded by sarah ....

is there such a thing as too much detail?

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

If I close my eyes REALLY hard ...

maybe Kaleb will hit the yellow?


 Or perhaps if I close my eyes long enough, the slobber all over his face will go away??

p.s. he did touch the yellow. the slobber remained.

Monday, September 8, 2008

happy and MAD.

We had a great weekend in Kimberley, B.C.! Our whole "WEST L.A." group did great, Dave penned us West L.A. as we took up the whole west side of the ring with our cars, tents and Jan and Dave's fifth wheel! Our whole group did awesome, some great runs!! 

The weather was great, CRISP mornings and nice days! 
Nothing wakes you up like sitting on a cold portaporty seat at 7am.

This photo is Gyp, 2 years ago in Kimberley - her first Road Trip, when I had just had her a week (she was still being fostered then :) ), we spent the trip trying to figure out new names for her, but she ended up being Gyp - the name she came with, I guess it just fits. Her belly was shaved because she had been spayed, that is why she was called Gyppie-long-legs.



Last year Gyppie ran this trial as her first full trial, she was scared of the 'Go' button and wouldn't sit on the start line because of it, I couldn't get her in the ring near the where the "sound came from", she ran well but not with the confidence she has now

THIS YEAR
Gyp finished two titles with 1sts, her "Masters Agility Dog" and her "Masters Gamblers" Title! I still can't believe it really.

She also 1st and Q'd in: Team with Wicca - one of two teams to qualify (the other being Kaleb and Friday!!), and Masters Jumpers.


Kaleb ran great too!!!
He brought home 4 Qs in 6 runs:
Masters Standard, Masters Team, Masters Gamblers and Masters Jumpers!!!

I love this photo Amanda took of Gyp, mostly I love the look on people's faces as well as Gyp's. It makes me smile :)

Thursday, September 4, 2008

happy weekend, soon.


happy weekend., originally uploaded by sarah ....

from jane.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A DOG PERSON WHEN.....

How many of these do you answer YES too??

I'm not telling how many YES's I have ...

.... let's just say, though I didn't write this, I might as well have ....

I'm sure YOU ALL CAN RELATE, and I'm glad I'm not alone :)

You have a kiddie wading pool in the yard, but no small children.
(Yes, I have a flat-coat, though Jane likes it best - seriously)

Lintwheels are on your shopping list every week.
( I actually use DUCT tape, it is cheaper and works better :) )

You have baby gates permanently installed at strategic places around the house, but no babies.
(Nope, you got me, this one I don't do!)

The trash can is more or less permanently installed in the kitchen sink, to keep the dog out of it while you're at work.
( Again DUCT tape to keep the cupboards shut while I'm gone, did I mention Kaleb is 6, keeping the garbage in the sink would NOT stop him, he can pull stuff out of the sink!!)

You can't see out the passenger side of the windshield because there are nose-prints all over the inside.
(This used to be the case, my Rav4 had so much I had to replace the tint!!!!)

Poop has become a source of conversation for you and your significant other.
(Hey, it's exciting when K has a good one)

Your dog sleeps with you.
(Ya, so what)

You have 32 different names for your dog. Most make no sense, but the dog understands them all.
( I can think of far more, and YES they answer to all of them!)

You like people who like your dog. You despise people who don't.
(no comment)

You carry dog biscuits in your purse or pocket at all times.
(And a poop bag or two - one in each size)

You talk about your dog the way other people talk about their kid.
(They are my kids aren't they?)

You put an extra blanket on the bed so your dog is more comfortable.
(YES, and one for each of them on the floor too)

Monday, September 1, 2008

the look of love

This is the look that won Pete over two years ago, she hopped up on the couch, layed her head on his leg, and Gyp never left.

She LOVES her dad, she always runs up to him with random kisses and wiggles, and she loves to cuddle with him. It is a big change from the day she met him, when she ran clear across the yard to avoid him.

This week marks 2 years having Gyp in our home. Time flies when you're having fun.