Jedi is Three!

Last Saturday was Jedi's birthday. At three, my baby boy in no longer a baby. We had fun celebrating his first birthday with a doggie cake, silly hat and toys. For his second birthday he got another cake, a collar and some fun balls. This year, we're doing something different. We're giving back.

Jedi is healthy, and happy, and has more toys than he needs. To be honest, what he wants is to walk in the woods and pee on trees. The cake and silly hats are for me. This year I bought a hat and was going to make a cake but it felt empty. You see, I discovered that my unofficial mentor has cancer -- again. I feel angry. And helpless. Celebrating in light of this news just felt wrong.

Backstory: When I got Jedi I said I wanted to start showing him. I had a couple GSD club members who showed and thought they would offer assistance. For whatever reason, they didn't. I was on my own. And then Corgi Woman showed up. We had mutual friends. CW had shepherds in the past, so she knew some good stuff. And for some reason she decided to help me. She sent me information, gave me tips, encouraged me. She would look for me at the shows and watch me from ringside. It sound great -- it is! -- but I'm not a special case. I've discovered that CW is always willing to help anyone, anywhere with anything dog-related. She's the kindest, gentlest, most loving person I've ever met. In some cruel, cosmic joke cancer has attacked her three separate times -- yet dog-killer Michael Vick still lives and breathes. IT'S NOT FAIR!

Just before Jedi's birthday I heard about Bark for Life. The American Cancer Society and one of our local national parks have joined together for a FUNdraiser. Participants will take a 1-mile stroll through beautiful Fort Caroline. In honor of CW, Jedi and I signed up. Jedi will get to pee on trees and I get to feel like I'm doing something to help a woman who has given me so much. Here's our fund-raising page. Relax, I'm not asking for money (though we won't turn it down if you fell moved to make a donation). I am asking for prayers and happy thoughts for CW. And if any of you are/will be in the area, please consider joining us.

OK, enough sad talk. It's Thoughtless Thursday! Hop around below and see what others are thinking (and not thinking) about today. Thank you Ruckus the Eskie, M.K. Clinton and the pups over at Love is Being Owned by a Husky for hosting this hop. -- K

Drogo's Game

Well, it's finally happened. Drogo's fame has gone to his head.

 

 

Seriously, this is one incredible reptile. In fact, Drogo now has his own spin tile game. Hubby's friend took Drogo's photos and turned them into a free phone app. It's mindless fun. Curious? You can find it here. I hope you check it out. Hubby's friend says that if enough people like (i.e. rate) the game he'll add more photos to it.

 

It's Wordless Wednesday. Hop around and see what others are sharing today. -- K

Information (Request) Overload

 

When I took over the presidency of the German Shepherd Dog Club, my phone number and email address were posted on the club's website. I knew that was going to happen. What I didn't know was that I would be bombarded by German shepherd and/or dog and/or club questions from complete strangers. I average a call or email every 4 or 5 days. In the past three months I've gotten information requests from:

• The American Kennel Club
• The German Shepherd Dog Club of America
• The Florida Association of Kennel Clubs
• Other local dog clubs
• GSD owners with breed-specific questions
• People without GSDs with breed-specific questions
• People with vague, non-specific questions
• Rescue groups looking for foster families
• People looking for rescue groups
• People with links to dogs in high-kill shelters but don't know what to do about them
• People looking for breeders
• People complaining about breeders
• People looking to get rid of their dogs
• People looking for a veterinarian
• People looking for medical advice without going to a veterinarian
• People looking for a trainer
• People looking for advanced training tips without paying for a trainer
• People moving to North Florida wanting advice about GSD friendly neighborhoods
• People who live in other parts of Florida but can't find anybody locally to answer their questions
• And finally, people actually interested about the club

I also get about two dozen emails a month from club members. All these calls and emails get overwhelming. I answer the questions as best as I can, but I am not a German shepherd dog expert. Neither am I a veterinarian, trainer, behaviorist or real estate agent. That being said, here is some of the answers/advice I've given:

I will not give out anybody's personal information without speaking to them first. I don't care who's asking.

If you are seeking a donation, please send me something in writing and I will present it to the Board of Directors. We will make a decision and get back to you. If you can't wait then the answer is no.

I can answer general breed specific questions. For detailed questions I will refer you to the breed standard and the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. If you have a question about your specific dog, you should talk to your breeder and/or veterinarian.

We are an enthusiasts group, not a breed rescue. We can't take in dogs. I will gladly pass your information on to the membership and they will contact you directly if they can help. Meanwhile, I suggest you contact a bona fide rescue group. I can give you the names of the few that I know personally, but a Google search will give you better results.

I don't feel comfortable giving out medical or behavioral advice. Please seek a professional. I know they can be expensive. I'll give you the names of the vets and trainers that I know, but you should do your own research.

I will gladly give you the names of the breeders in our club. (I have their permission to do so.) I can't guarantee that they will have a puppy when you want one. However, they may be able to refer you to other breeders they feel comfortable with. I will also give you tips and resources for what to look for when selecting a breeder. Best of luck!

If you are unhappy with a particular breeder, you should contact the AKC and the Better Business Bureau. If you're in the state of Florida, I can give you state statutes about the Pet Lemon Law. I am so sorry you had a bad experience. However, I refuse to participate in any breeder bashing.

I would love to tell you all about our German Shepherd Dog Club. I'll give you the link to our website and Facebook page. I would like to personally invite you out to our next meeting and will make sure that you are welcomed by all the attending members. I'll give you the time, date and a Google map to the location, as well as my cell phone number in case you get lost.

So, what do you think? I shared this list with a friend of mine. She had two suggestions:

1. I designate someone to handle correspondence and
2. We have an FAQ page on our website. 

I'm not sure about the first one, but I think an FAQ page is great idea. Unfortunately, I don't have the time (or talent) to create one. I really, really wish we could find a member who not only loves German shepherds but is also a computer guru. Am I asking too much? Do you have any ideas?

 

 

Anyway, it's my (supposed) day off. I've got emails to answer and errands to run. Then I'm going to join Ruckus the Eskie, M.K. Clinton and the pups over at Love is Being Owned by a Husky and celebrate Thoughtless Thursday, where some of my favorite bloggers share random stuff. Click around below and see what others are thinking (and not thinking) about today. Later, -- K

 

Happy Autumn

The calendar says that today, September 23rd, is the first day of Fall.

The Weatherman says otherwise as he predicts even more temperatures in the mid 80s. Ugh. Nonetheless, Drogo welcomes Autumn with this festive photo.

It's Wordless Wednesday! Click around below and see what others are sharing today. -- K

 

I Can't Do It All

. . . And that just drives me nuts.


Jedi works that nose

K-9 Obedience Club of Jacksonville is working really hard to bring Nose Work trials to North Florida. Many of our members compete in Canine Nose Work and have to travel hundreds of miles to attend a trial.

I've shared that Jedi and I took a few Nose Work classes last year. It's something that we enjoyed and I like the thought of going further. K-9 is hosting a seminar in November, and I made sure to sign up right away. Rumor has it that K-9 will be hosting a Nose Work trial very soon. A venue has been chosen and final details are being hammered out as we speak. [Insert squeals of delight here.]


Jedi works that ring

Then why am I so annoyed? Because before a dog can compete in a trial, it has to pass the Odor Recognition Test (ORT) for the targeted scent(s) -- sweet birch, anise and/or clove depending on your level. And K-9 has set up ORTs for November 1st. Unfortunately, that is the second day of the IABCA shows in Ocala. GRRR.

I've gone back and forth over this for several weeks now. I feel that attending the IABCA shows is the better choice. As I mentioned previously, the critiques made there may affect the rest of Jedi's conformation career. However, the biggest frustration is that if we ditch conformation, Nose Work is the route I want to take. Again GRRR. And I've looked, there are only two other ORT opportunities in Florida between October and January. Both of them are a 250+ mile trip -- not easy for a dog who doesn't like to travel.

So, what's a girl to do? I don't know. Keep looking? Trust it'll all work out? Pray? Swear and throw a hissy fit? (My personal favorite.) Again, I don't really know what to do. But I'll keep you posted on how it turns out. Wish us luck. -- K

Everlasting Bento Ball

Dog shows can be mentally taxing for Jedi as well as for me. I try to find interesting toys and treats to keep him occupied in the downtime, especially in the hotel.

The day before we left I had to made yet another run to Petsmart. It started to pour outside so I wandered the store until the rain slowed down. That's when I found the Everlasting Bento Ball from Starmark. I had never seen this before, but it looked interesting. It was more than I like to spend for a toy but I went ahead and bought it anyway.

The Bento Ball comes in several sizes. I got the large. The back part is round like a ball, covered in little nubbies. There is a slit in the back where you can put in treats. The front of the ball is flat, with a lip where you insert the correct size flavored disc. (See picture.) I gave it to Jedi to see if he could figure it out. Jedi flipped it around to get the treats out -- which was challenging because it wasn't round -- and gnaw on the flavored disc. He loved it, and when he got tired of me taking pictures he picked it up and carried it into the other room. I did good this time! -- K

Best Practices for a Dog Show

We're back from the dog shows. We took first place in our class all three days but were beaten out by another gorgeous German shepherd for Winners Dog each time. For those of you keeping score, Jedi still has zero points. I blame his bad handler (me). However, I ran into another novice handler that I met back in April. Her dog, Enzo, looked really good and she told me some of the conditioning tricks she's been using with him. I think I'm going to try them myself. Wish us luck!

 

Dog shows are hectic, and can be nerve racking for dogs and humans alike. On Saturday, there were nearly 2000 dogs registered in the show. That's a lot of dogs! I like to be on site two hours before we actually have to be in the ring. Jedi is so overwhelmed by all the sounds, smells and excitement that it's really hard to get him to focus. After the 45 to 60 minutes it takes for him to de-spazz, I start warming him up. We trot up and down the sidewalk, practice making left turns and do some stacking. I'll show him the bait -- usually chicken or steak -- and give him small bits to get him excited. (I keep bait in my cheek. It's harder for me to lose and it keeps him focused on my face.) Then I put Jedi back in his crate for about half an hour so that he can rest. About 15 minutes before we go into the ring I pull him out for some last minute primping. Then I get him pumped up and ready to go with a little playing and happy voices. -- I guess you can say we have a routine. I never thought of it that way.

 

We had a series of incidents and inconveniences this weekend that got me thinking about "best practices" for a dog show. Here's what I came up with:

Jedi prefers this type of crate

Take a crate. Dogs need somewhere quiet and familiar to decompress. Hertz Rental Car really screwed us this trip. I'm not going to go into details because I'm still pissed off. However, their ineptitude prevented us for bringing the crate. Instead, Jedi was kept leashed the entire time we were on the fairgrounds. I think his inability to relax before entering the ring showed in his performance. I feel bad about it. And I'm never renting from Hertz again.

Keep an eye on your dog at all times. One of the nice things about a crate is that your dog is safely tucked away so you can focus on other things -- like socializing, picking up your number or watching the judge with other dogs. However, if your dog is on leash you must be aware of what he's doing. ALWAYS. I see far too many dogs sticking their faces in crates or up other dogs' butts because handlers aren't paying attention. This is just a fight waiting to happen.

Follow the rules. With 2000 dogs and even more people, rules must be followed else pandemonium will break out. Rules are put into place for the safety and well-being of all involved. One rule is no flexi-leads on the show grounds. Here's why: Just after we arrived on Saturday morning a full grown lab broke its flexi-lead and charged right at us, teeth bared. Fortunately, Hubby had Jedi. He stepped between Jedi and the ass-lab and firmly yelled "NO!" The lab didn't care and still tried to get to Jedi. A man was running from one direction and a woman from another, both yelling at the dog, but the dog wouldn't stop. In desperation, Hubby karate kicked the lab in the head. HARD. The man finally grabbed his dog and we quickly walked off to hear a second woman yelling "That's why the rules say no flexi-leads!"

See the knee behind Jedi? That's the "Man." Grrr . . .

Be your dog's advocate. Like I said, the show environment can be overwhelming. Your dog needs to know that you will keep him safe. Sometimes that means asking someone to move a dog away from your crate. Or karate kicking a lab in the head. Or risking being rude for the sake of your dog.

On Sunday I was chatting with a couple sitting ringside before it was my turn to go in. They gently reached out and patted Jedi. He didn't mind and I thought that was that. As we were getting ready to leave for the day, I handed Hubby the leash and went over to gather up our stuff. Behind me I heard barking. Without even looking, I knew that was Jedi, and I knew he wasn't happy. I turned around to see Jedi standing between Hubby's legs with his butt leaning against the ring. The male half of the couple from earlier was encroaching on them both. I couldn't hear what Hubby was saying but his body language was tense. I pushed through the crowd and ran over to my dog. Through clenched teeth Hubby said "Let's go."

In the parking lot I got the rest of the story. Man had come over to talk to Jedi and Hubby. During the conversation, Man had leaned over the dog. Jedi growled. Hubby asked him to back off saying "He doesn't like people in his face." Man said that it was okay, because he has a German shepherd. Hubby asked the man to back off a second time, as Jedi backed between his legs. Jedi was pinned in by the ring. I'm sure he felt trapped. That's when he started to bark. Hubby told Man a third time to back off because he was going to get bit. Instead of backing off, Man crouched down at eye level, still in Jedi's face. Hubby centered himself and tightened up on the leash, hoping he could stop Jedi from lunging. Fortunately, I showed up at that very moment. I pushed Man out of the way and gave Jedi the rest of the hot dog we used as bait that day. Yes, my dog was rewarded for not biting.

Buy this sign here!

PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG. Of all dog owners, dog show people should be the most conscientious when it comes to poop. Unfortunately, they are just as rude as everybody else -- if not worse. What kills me is that I hear dog show people moan and groan all the time about not finding venues willing to hold shows and hotels not allowing dogs. Am I the only one who sees a correlation here?! If word got out that dog show people are clean and considerate then more places might be willing to let us in. The kicker: Hotels and hosting clubs go out of their way to leave bags and trash cans in conspicuous places so people can dispose of the poop. But. They. Don't. It just chaps my hide. Can you tell?

It's been a long weekend and I still have to unpack and do laundry. 5 AM comes way too early on Monday mornings. Ugh. One of these days I'll take off the day after a show weekend so I can recoup before going to work. (My friend kindly reminded me that I say this after every show, but never do it.) Later, -- K