T.A.R.D.I.S. earned his first title on February 28th, at 7 months old.
He finished his Basic Obediennce Class from IPOC with flying colors, and we happily marched over to take the test. The Canine Good Citizen designation is given by the AKC to dogs who complete a series of 10 tests.
I find this test incredibly important as I would like to continue performing Therapy Dog work with him, as I had with my Delilah and my other boys, before they became just too old to keep performing - and it's the first step for me in his showing career.
The CGC program started in 1989, the CGC Program is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. There are a few other benefits too - your homeowner's insurance is more likely to work with you, some hotels will allow you to keep the dog there or potentially wave the pet fee, and it's listed as your dog's first title.
I have put the CGC designation on all of the dogs I own, and will continue to do so. Whether they keep showing or not, the CGC will always follow my dogs name - it's the first step to making sure your dog is a friendly member of society.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Shenanigan's Don't Blink - T.A.R.D.I.S.
On July 1st, 2011 - a litter of Pembroke Welsh Corgis was born.
1 Day old puppies:
19 Days old - I began falling in love with this pup just with every new photo posted.
Month old
1.5 weeks
Almost 2 months
8 Weeks to the Day:
14 Weeks
Though I had planned on getting a puppy from this exact future, I wasn't sure now was the time. He comes from a good background, wonderful dogs, I have met several other dogs from this breeder and have always been pleased.
But my husband was gone - he had left to Basic Training. Should I really get this dog without him? I had recently lost my Dane. I still had my boys, Thunder and Cozmo, but after years of living with my husband and all three of my dogs my house suddenly felt so empty.
Sometimes, the right dog comes along. I wasn't sure it was the right time. I kept telling myself I should wait.
This puppy was the right puppy. Everything about him is right. His personality is perfect. He is bubbly, affectionate, and a cuddle monster like you wouldn't believe. He is intelligent, learns fast, and has been a joy to have around. I brought him home in October, and he is now just a little over 7 months old.
His name is T.A.R.D.I.S. He's my buddy. We're training hard and learning a lot together. He will be taking his CGC test on Tuesday. He will be starting to learn about Flyball next week, and Agility the week after, and he will begin showing up for Rally classes as well. Together, we're going to take on the world!
He is my first corgi, and although I haven't had a puppy in over a decade - he has been an exceptionally easy puppy.
Well, either that, or all the classes I've been instructing on raising puppies have made it seem that way!
1 Day old puppies:
19 Days old - I began falling in love with this pup just with every new photo posted.
Month old
1.5 weeks
Almost 2 months
8 Weeks to the Day:
14 Weeks
Though I had planned on getting a puppy from this exact future, I wasn't sure now was the time. He comes from a good background, wonderful dogs, I have met several other dogs from this breeder and have always been pleased.
But my husband was gone - he had left to Basic Training. Should I really get this dog without him? I had recently lost my Dane. I still had my boys, Thunder and Cozmo, but after years of living with my husband and all three of my dogs my house suddenly felt so empty.
Sometimes, the right dog comes along. I wasn't sure it was the right time. I kept telling myself I should wait.
This puppy was the right puppy. Everything about him is right. His personality is perfect. He is bubbly, affectionate, and a cuddle monster like you wouldn't believe. He is intelligent, learns fast, and has been a joy to have around. I brought him home in October, and he is now just a little over 7 months old.
His name is T.A.R.D.I.S. He's my buddy. We're training hard and learning a lot together. He will be taking his CGC test on Tuesday. He will be starting to learn about Flyball next week, and Agility the week after, and he will begin showing up for Rally classes as well. Together, we're going to take on the world!
He is my first corgi, and although I haven't had a puppy in over a decade - he has been an exceptionally easy puppy.
Well, either that, or all the classes I've been instructing on raising puppies have made it seem that way!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Loving, loss, and moving on.
Losing Delilah hurt. It hurt when it happened, and it hurts now.
A lot of things in my life changed. There is a big hole she used to fill.
It's been almost three months since she passed - and since I've written anything.
I've grieved, and I've grieved hard. For the first few days I could barely function - everything brought me to tears. I have yet to move her food bowl from it's proper place, and no other dog uses it.
And in my grief I had to keep looking forward. There was no going back. She's gone. If I grieve forever, then I let all the joy she brought into my life fade away.
So I'm done looking at the sad parts. I'll only remember the good things - all that we learned together, all we did together, and all the lives we touched.
She's forever my inspiration, and my official starting place in dog performance sports.
In the time she has been gone - I have rescued a puppy. He deserves his own post, and that will come. He has been rescued and placed into a forever home - and having him around made me realize that I need to open my heart again and keep on loving.
One day, when I'm ready, I will probably adopt another Dane. Right now, the sight of Danes still brings up a flood of memories that are hard to deal with. So until I can handle that aspect -
I've recently gotten a puppy.
And because I am edging myself back into blogging after that nearly three month hiatus, I'll save him for another post.
I'll be back to my regular Sunday schedules from now on. I've done my grieving. I'll always miss her - and I am dedicating NaNoWriMo next month to her, but I am done grieving her loss. I'll just celebrate her memory.
A lot of things in my life changed. There is a big hole she used to fill.
It's been almost three months since she passed - and since I've written anything.
I've grieved, and I've grieved hard. For the first few days I could barely function - everything brought me to tears. I have yet to move her food bowl from it's proper place, and no other dog uses it.
And in my grief I had to keep looking forward. There was no going back. She's gone. If I grieve forever, then I let all the joy she brought into my life fade away.
So I'm done looking at the sad parts. I'll only remember the good things - all that we learned together, all we did together, and all the lives we touched.
She's forever my inspiration, and my official starting place in dog performance sports.
In the time she has been gone - I have rescued a puppy. He deserves his own post, and that will come. He has been rescued and placed into a forever home - and having him around made me realize that I need to open my heart again and keep on loving.
One day, when I'm ready, I will probably adopt another Dane. Right now, the sight of Danes still brings up a flood of memories that are hard to deal with. So until I can handle that aspect -
I've recently gotten a puppy.
And because I am edging myself back into blogging after that nearly three month hiatus, I'll save him for another post.
I'll be back to my regular Sunday schedules from now on. I've done my grieving. I'll always miss her - and I am dedicating NaNoWriMo next month to her, but I am done grieving her loss. I'll just celebrate her memory.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Goodbye, love...
Let your memories grow stronger and stronger,
'Till they're before your eyes.
You'll come back, when I call you.
No need to say goodbye.
'Till they're before your eyes.
You'll come back, when I call you.
No need to say goodbye.
She went Friday night. Quietly, painlessly. The vet gave her a small sedative first, she relaxed and lay down the floor. I pulled her head into my lap, Tyler, my husband, held onto a paw. And she quietly left us. We stayed with her for another 45 minutes. She looked very peaceful.
Moving on has been exceptionally hard. I fed all three dogs like normal, I went to get her pain medication like normal. Hard habit to break.
I can't bring myself to remove her bowl, or her leash from the hooks.
She's being cremated, I should have her back Monday. The extent of this I'm not sure has set in. I feel completely numb and empty inside.
Cozmo is being exceptionally helpful and hasn't left my side. I don't know how to adjust to this.
Friends, co-workers and family have been exceptionally kind, sending me prayers, kind thoughts and other words of encouragement. I don't know how I could survive this without them.
Now, I'm coherent. I drop in and out of contact with everyone as I reach moments that I can't cope with, so if I am not replying to anyone... please don't think I don't appreciate your words or your thoughts. I simply can't always find ways to respond... saying 'thank you' over and over again causes a feeling of numbness. I turned off my phone last night.. I couldn't handle all the 'I'm so sorry' messages all at once. I know everyone meant well... but it was like repeating things over and over in my head. I had about 30 texts and 20 e-mails when I got up today.
I didn't reply to many... but I'm overwhelmingly touched by the amount of people who loved her, and love me.
This was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. She tried to comfort me every step of the way.
I promised her, when I brought her home... I told her I'd stay by her side until the end. This was her forever home - this was her last family.
I used to hate the people who put her in the pound. I don't know their story. Now I'm just grateful that I was able to find my Heart Dog.
Don't discount any dog because of size, age, or color. You don't know who they are, what they can become, or what they'll mean to you.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Fun with Grooming
As I am sure everyone is already aware, summer has begun.
Those of us with double coated dogs? This means that the coat is going to go 'POOF'!
My German Shepherd, Thunder, is blowing his coat. 'Blowing the coat' is a term used to describe how these dogs shed their under coat - it comes out in one big 'poof'.
As it begins to come out, it starts to form little tufts of hair all over his body, and you can pluck them off in small cotton balls of hair.
It is a seasonal process, and it can take a few days or a few weeks. In our case, it takes Thunder two or three weeks to completely blow his coat.
And of course, this translates to extra hair all over your house. You start to see tumbleweeds of hair rolling across the carpet.
Which means, it's time to brush your dog! When the coat is blowing out, it is ready to just be plucked off the dog - and the amount of hair that comes off the dog is astounding. Really.
I've combed enough hair out of him to make a second dog - and I have photographic proof!
And the best tool for this process that I have ever had the pleasure to lay my hands on, is the Furminator. Now, I realize this is priced a bit on the high end - but if you are interested in such a purchase, look on E-bay. I purchased mine on E-bay for $11!
And when I tell you it works - I mean, it WORKS. I brush the dog gently when he is blowing his coat and I am able to pull of mounds of hair at a time - without damaging the top coat of hair. When I'm done brushing him, he looks thinner, and all those tufts of hair are gone.
I brush out the coat every couple of days until the under coat is completely gone, and he turns into a great looking dog with a nice shiny coat - and the added bonus of being cooler!
Those of us with double coated dogs? This means that the coat is going to go 'POOF'!
My German Shepherd, Thunder, is blowing his coat. 'Blowing the coat' is a term used to describe how these dogs shed their under coat - it comes out in one big 'poof'.
As it begins to come out, it starts to form little tufts of hair all over his body, and you can pluck them off in small cotton balls of hair.
It is a seasonal process, and it can take a few days or a few weeks. In our case, it takes Thunder two or three weeks to completely blow his coat.
And of course, this translates to extra hair all over your house. You start to see tumbleweeds of hair rolling across the carpet.
Which means, it's time to brush your dog! When the coat is blowing out, it is ready to just be plucked off the dog - and the amount of hair that comes off the dog is astounding. Really.
I've combed enough hair out of him to make a second dog - and I have photographic proof!
 |
| This is Cozmo, laying next to the mountain of hair. |
And the best tool for this process that I have ever had the pleasure to lay my hands on, is the Furminator. Now, I realize this is priced a bit on the high end - but if you are interested in such a purchase, look on E-bay. I purchased mine on E-bay for $11!
And when I tell you it works - I mean, it WORKS. I brush the dog gently when he is blowing his coat and I am able to pull of mounds of hair at a time - without damaging the top coat of hair. When I'm done brushing him, he looks thinner, and all those tufts of hair are gone.
I brush out the coat every couple of days until the under coat is completely gone, and he turns into a great looking dog with a nice shiny coat - and the added bonus of being cooler!
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