Ok, so Im an eighteen year old college student who started a year after she graduated. Umm yea.

Been in 4h youth dog training program since I was 14, and I "aged out" (got to old) this year. I went to state fair with my dogs this year and won Grand Champion in Rally Advance with Hope and Reserve Champion in Rally Novice with Molly. Kirby would have gotton Reseve Champ in Novice B but he laid down on the sit stay.(I know this because my boyfriend stewarded in the ring that day and the judge told him) Hope my scaredy-cat chihuahua, recently earned her "Canine Good Citizen" award.

Is that enough lingo to make non dog show people's heads spin? Probably.

Okay even though I have no readers, I've decided to start posting again. I still read PR blogs, as well as some other blogs that share my intrests. I'll get some readers eventually, hopefully...
here are some pictures of the absolute best thing that has happened to me since I stopped posting.....my nephew Lucas.....

He is such a good boy, and he loves my dogs!! what more can any aunt ask for?

Just and update picture of Kirby for ya.

things have been going fine for me. At a recent match Hope took second place in Rally Novice with a 99. The judge said she was the best working chi she'd ever seen, haha. The next match I took four first places' in Novice obedience and G&H (4h match) with Kirby and beginner obedience and rally novice with Molly. Hope was entered in Rally advanced, what she will be doing at state fair. She did really well too with a score of 92. but 4h only annouces 1st place, and she was beat by a 96. The most recent match was this past weekend, in which I had all qualifiying scores :) I got one third (Molly, Beginner Obedience) and a second (Molly, Rally novice) woooo! my dogs are smart!! lol

No title for you!

K, I'm officially the weirdest person I know (for now...) I don't have to much time to talk, but since almost losing my dog, I have been...slightly more protective. "slightly?" my mom asks

OK ,OK I've been a lot more protective. It wasn't until this past month I was able to let him play with other dogs at the dog park, and I look like a freak now, Screaming if he exits my field of vision for more than a half a second. I got in a sorta-ish fight(she was doing most of the yelling, I spent most of the time wondering what she was yelling about) with my aunt. Once I understood she was complaining about Kirby, who hadn't done anything wrong and was being good,I stood up for him. You can yell at me about nearly anything except my dogs. On a happier note Kirby started Novice obedience training. Novice for those of you who don't know, Novice is the first level of AKC obedience. It involves a heel on leash, heeling around a figure 8 on leash, heeling off leash, recall (come when called and return to heel position) and stand, sit, and down stays all off leash. during this time you cannot treat, touch or talk to your dog other than commands. Kirby dose most of this pretty well, but he lags during heeling especially off-leash with NO FOOD! If he able to do this at 3 AKC trails under 3 different judges, he will earn his CD (companion dog) title. He's not quite ready for competition, but he will be soon!

A scary week

We had our state fair qualifier last weekend. Our group stayed from Friday-Saturday. It was pouring rain on Friday, it was fun to set up the pop-up camper in the rain. And guess what? The rain meant none of the dogs could sleep in there crate under the awning as we planned. And no-one could use the non-sealed tents. So a four person campers slept six people and about eight or ten dogs. the show went well though. Kirby got a 151/160 in obedience, Together we got a 89/100 in grooming and handling, Molly did bad in obedience with 100.5/160, and Hope did the best with 96/100 in Rally-O.

On Sunday after the show however, things got bad. Kirby had diarrhea. Not to uncommon, and since we had been traveling, I wasn't concerned. then he started throwing up. again I wasn't to worried. until his vomiting started getting closer and closer together and he started vomiting blood! we rushed him to the emergency vet hospital, we he collapsed. we weren't sure weather or no he'd make it, and he almost needed surgery that would cost $5-10,000. thank God they decided to try him on antibiotics first. he pulled through and is doing fine now. He came home today, and is on his way back to health.

Match!

we are going to a dog match from Friday to Saturday this week-end. For us it's a qualifying show, we must qualify there to progress to state fair. Kirby will be in G&H and graduate beginner obedience. Hope will be in rally. Molly may be entered in something i don't know for sure she's been really senile lately:) anyway we are trying to practice everyday, we need a good score here for another wonderful state fair performance.

Noel update

nothing much new to report. my mom saw Noel and her raiser the other day at a church gathering. according to my mom, she's now nearly as big as Kirby and has earned her puppy coat. according to her raiser, she's doing well and has calmed down a lot.

up and running

4-h is up and running again (finally) we haven't been meeting lately due to bad weather and no indoor place to meet(temporarily) tomorrow, Kirby and I will be helping out with a canine 4-h booth and doing dog obedience demos at a local festival . there will also be agility demos, but although Kirby loves agility he hasn't had much training in that area. I'm actually bringing my camera for once, so I should be able to post some photos. also, Kirby went on his visit as a therapy dog last month. it was at a nursing home that was just a few blocks away so me & Kirb roller bladed there while my mom with molly drove ahead. everything went fine. a little pulling towards other dogs, but he left them when i told him to. there was also a few bunnies, which Kirby felt he needed to keep tabs on at all times. however, the residents seemed to think it was cute, and many were impressed, because he's just over 2 years old. i held of visiting with him until he was older even after he passed his test, because being a therapy dog is more than being an obedient petting tool, they are being used for emotional therapy. i needed to make sure he was mentally able to deal with that.

on a sadder note, my hamster died last weekend. she was obsessed about escaping from her cage and a little anti-social, but I miss her anyway. my cavy passed away in November, so I'm officially rodent-free. i miss my little guys, so I may get another in June.
well i guess thats all, so i'm done now