BOY Am I Happy

  Oh my gosh. Donny was so good today. Like... so good. I could have kissed him! And I did. We walked, we trotted, we halted, we worked on ground poles, on turns, on straight lines, on stretching, and even popped over a low crossrail once. I think I tired him out. He was ready to be done for sure! But he's super lazy, he's ready to be done as soon as we get started.

Toddler Toilet Training, Day 14

    Well, training is going well. She usually is really on top of it and rarely has accidents. I'm so excited that she took up potty training so easily. I was dreading the process for months and months, but she has made it a breeze!

Toddler Toliet Training Day 2,3, & 4

   Yup, I have the cutest kid in the whole world. And she's a super star to boot! Today is day four and she's already able to stay completely dry all day even when out shopping or out to dinner.

Toddler Toilet Training Day 1

   Yup, I've finally sucked it up and decided it's time. I kept telling myself.. "Once we move in I'll start." Well, we've moved in. "When she turns two!" Well, she's two now. "Alright, once we are settled in." Guess what? We are settled in...

Rainy Days

   I love rain. love rain. I probably love rain so much because I live in Texas and rain is such a scarce thing here. We can go months at a time without a drop, with temperatures way above 100 degrees some days. So when we have rain, we enjoy it!

Oh Donny

   Well, Donny has made big progress recently. I feel like all the sudden he just grew up! It's as if he woke up one morning and bam! He's a horse. Or maybe I was the one who woke up one day and decided it was time for him to be a horse, and not an over grown pet colt with a malicious attitude? I'm pretty sure that's what happened.

A First

    Donny will be turning four this summer. July 14th, 2008 RH Donatello was born to the world a small helpless foal. Three years and eight months later Donny is no longer that small little colt, and we are taking our first steps into the big scary world outside of the ranch.

Puppy Starter

  Some of you know that I've taken on my first training client. A beautiful black standard poodle named Duchess. She's so smart and a joy to work with. I'm amazed by the progress her family and her make every week.

Pink Cowboy Boots

   What's more adorable than pink cowboy boots? Well, my sister has some! She wore them for her riding lesson the other day for the first time. I couldn't resist but take a few photos.

Bath Time!

    So Donny hates water. Hates it! Puddles, rain, shadows that look like puddles, hoses, hoses spraying out water, and everything else that has to do with water. Which is awesome, seeing as I’d like him to do Eventing. Sarcasm

Donny's Second Ride

 

     Today I rode Donny for the second time ever in his life! The day was just beautiful outside, the wind was calm, my sister was able to assist and all was perfect. He was amazingly well behaved and did so well. I feel as though Donny understands the meaning of working under-saddle and really enjoys it.

Bad Dog - Part III - Accidents Happen

 

   

   So you have a dog that's “potty trained” but she still has accidents while you are away. You KNOW she knows better than that, you KNOW she knows she’s supposed to go outside. So why doesn’t she? Actually, the answer is really very simple.

Agility Days – Creating Drive, Self Control and Focus

     You don’t have to love competing to love a fast paced, smooth, personal best, run on the agility field. A course well executed by a very eager and driven canine partner is one of the best feelings in the world. I, personally, love taking that feeling to the competition ring where I can put our hard work to the test. There is little joy in having to prod and coax your dog around the agility course. So I’ve got a few tips for you that I know have helped me over the years of training.

BAD DOG - Part I - Boredom

    I hear it all the time. "I don't know what's wrong. Every time I leave the house he eats the furniture, or digs in my garden.. He's a bad dog!" Actually no, you're a BAD OWNER. Your dog is BORED out of its mind! Welcome to the BAD DOG series. Over time I'm going to address different behavioral issues that owners face with their furry companions and very simple ways to fix these problems. Today's issue is boredom.

Agility Days - TARGET!

   In my experience with Agility (seven years of training with various dogs) the two most difficult tasks to teach your dog are to weave through the weave poles and to not jump off the yellow contact zones of contact obstacles. So, with my newest project, Roque, I'm determined to successfully teach him to master both control and speed on course. Which is much easier said than done.

Loving Horses

  
    Growing up loving horses is as much fun as it is good for the soul. There is just something about being involved with horses that is just so addicting, that no matter how much money you have to spend or how much poop you have to shovel, you can't get enough.

It's Official

    I received my official certificate today from the Animal Behavior College. I am now officially an ABC Certified Dog Trainer. Such great future possibilities!

Agility Days - ¿Qué manera?

   "¿Qué manera? " is spanish for "which (or what) way?". The question every dog is practically screaming at their handler while whipping around the agility course. The reason the sport of agility presents such a challenge to handler and dog is that question exactly. Agility presents the challenge of conquering the communication barrier between species, between human and dog.

Agility Days - Intro

    This is the first blog entry of many to come. Agility Days. A series that will follow the development of Roque's blossoming agility career as well as the casual fun Mickey and I have reliving his former agility career, the days before his knee replacement. Also, Vegas will be joining us on occasion as she takes on the obstacle course. Welcome to the agility field.

My Airbud

   When I get home from being gone all day, I come home to not just any dog. I come home to the jumping bean of all dogs, the flying furry object in the room, the airbud of all airbuds, Roque. My own personal spring loaded dog.