Pay Attention! BRRR!!!!!!!!!

BRRRRRR!!!! IT is 3F this morning!!! I am so glad that I added bedding for the critters yesterday..wicked cold night! Luckily, the Shetlands have heavy fleece and seem to prefer being out in the cold. The goats, also have developed some nice winter coat and are fat little things. They will definitely get extra alfalfa & grain today.

Got in a quick 2 x 2 session again this AM, but so cold!!!! and also did outdoor flyball boxwork with Q, C'ura, FFire, & lane to boxwork with Moss & Clayton....ground so hard, sharp edges-someone cut their feet :(  Too cold to train for too long, FFire also got to work on control & walk-ups with the Woolies, while they ate their breakfast. At near 17F now, feels almost "warm", at least sun out compared to the dismal, grey-cold of yesterday.

So...in working on the 2 x 2 weave poles...Cool to see what the red girls show me. Yesterday we had six poles!!! I was seeing more curving back in C'ura on 6-wasn't sure if from being cold/uncomfortable footing-ground so hard & frozen,  or changing the picture from 4 to 6 and being a little less confident....but when I reopened the poles a bit, big difference! So, today we started slightly open and worked on closing-video from today, to edit!

I leant my Susan Garrett DVD to a friend, and couldn't remember if okay to open some, all, or just the new added set..so think I was not being more tentative in my training, yesterday. Today, I had a much clearer "picture" so off we went! I need to know the big picture..to know how to approximate the behaviors, towards the final result, which may have affected C'ura-who is more sensitive to me. Thanks to my cyber coach for the quick feedback!!!  

Haunt has the softest eye!!!

Think, since I seem to notice every nuance of behavior in my dogs, just trying to pay attention to what she was showing me. Want her to enjoy the process, and know that to up criteria can be stressful, but measuring in her response, I can judge what may block learning or is helping her to push through, to the next level. Quechee, well she is a savant...but then even though I know she "loves" me, access to the activity & ball is that much more lovable, for her. We continue to do well with our "other" work though...I feel the force field coming down a bit, she even took a turn draping across my lap/shoulder on the chair last night-which she used to do regularly, before this new stage hit. :)

So.....Just when you think you have analyzed, scrutinized and noticed every detail....you realize you missed a big one! My poor, baby Scream!~I looked more closely at the photo of him from our agility party that I received, and looks like he had a red bruise on his inner thigh, from his boxspring exploration tangle. I had noticed his belly was a little red over the weekend, but that would have been a few days later-happened 8 days ago, as of today. 

My poor, poor boy! And to think I also did the puppy stacking video that day, feel beyond guilty..no wonder he looked a bit "off" in the rear. If I had taken any advice on him last week, would have been "off" as well, but know he and my ability to evaluate was suddenly perceived differently, by some others. Always good to pay attention, to your own ability to see what may not be evident, at face value.

Scream! Stylin' newest dog-fashions on 5F morning

Of course, first thing I did when I noticed, what I had not paid attention to enough-was to check his belly-no redness, so if he had some soft tissue bruising, must be feeling better-never slowed him down, that's for sure, but it is up to us to notice these things. I am dumb! And he is obviously a spectacular pup! Not only game to train & hit the road over several days, but was just his sweet/tough self, as always....maybe a bit more goose vocalizing, but probably sore :(




Maze with arm around Moss :)

 I guess I also have not paid attention to and have missed what others have been saying to me for weeks..he is MY puppy. Funny how some people pay more attention to what they know of me and my dogs and what I look for in a pup, than I sometimes do. I think I have been pegged :) But, then Haunt thinks he is MY puppy too! Haunt is incredibly handsome!!!! He is also a drivey, smarty-boy, lovely jaunty side gait & foot rhythm and also more snuggly/affectionate-which Scream! is not, but the fire & connection in his eyes already with the "what are we doing next" question...Haunt maybe a notch better in structure than Scream! So..do you decide based on objective analysis or what your heart tells you? Just trying to pay attention to the details.

8F last night...the little men taking turns napping on my lap, when Maze & Moss gave enough room....ah decisions, decisions....  


I guess part of why I hate to "choose" between pups, feels to me that it implies one is "better" than another-when they are all equally spectacular. It all boils down to who suits one another in energy & personality...so what may be perfect for one, may not be for another, or for me. I still hate to choose...maybe two isn't so out of the question???? :) 


Either way, just going to pay better attention!