Keepin’ It Crafty
what have i been doing lately? well, aside from the Jay Oh Bee, and Prez-ing it up for AFL and AXO, and plenty of Domesti-Pups Training with THOR, i have be putting the old Singer to work!
yes, that would be three baby taggers – because everyone seems to be having babers lately,
a knitted cupcake (ravelry link) and a pair of knitted “toast” for a good friend that has been way too kind!
and evidence of another cast-on item (toasty, same link) in the Brown Sheep Company yarn spun in Morrill, NE! (ahem, those are for me!)
tonight is Date Night (Chinese food and a Movie on Demand) so i am hoping to start the second yellow Toasty and figure out how to add the thumbs (this is major knitting progress, people!)… and then cast on the same in purple for a dear Froggie Friend!!!!
Happy Crafties to you all!!!
i’m a sister again… i guess
brace yourself for what i am about to say:
my parents got a dog.
seriously.
i know.
i was shocked too!
it all started as a silly suggestion from my brother, two weeks ago, when he was perusing Facebook and saw a posting from (my new fave doggie group) Domesi-Pups stating: 6 yr old, Blue Merle, Rough-Coated Collie; Retired Therapy Dog; For more info, email info@domesti-pups.org.
The Bro sent the link to my dad saying, “well, if you ever wanted a dog, this is probably your perfect option. 6-years-old, so no ‘puppy stage’, Domesti-Pups trained and sweet… what more could you ask?”
well, we had a collie growing up, she was so sweet (we had the same birthday!) and she lived for almost 13 years. it has now been 13 years since my parents have had a dog.
i never.
never.
never, thought they would get a dog.
and i have heard plenty of times that AJ and I have two too many dogs. (to which, i do not agree)…
but sweet Neil, the retired therapy dog has found a way into their hearts, and i am excited for that.
Neil came home last night, and of course we stopped by with goodies. he’s the most docile dog i have ever met — hopefully Lucy and THOR can take some pointers from his demeanor!
oh, fun times for sure!!
Estes Park
Oh, the Rocky Mountains… how we love thee!
we just returned from a long weekend at the family cabin in Estes Park… we have decided that the trip was ultimately for the dogs.
yes, ladies and gentlemen, we have become those people… but how could you not love those faces? they’re just our babies!!!
pictorial evidence of the travels:
mile two – Lucy is already pumped
ELK SIGHTINGS:
KT & THOR checking out the “Big Dogs” (elk) in the front yard
thus: Elk in front yard
KT & Lucy in the Big Thompson River… brrrrrrrrr
Good Girl, Lucy!
Lucy was pooped from all the fun downtown
we talked ourselves into a “working” backpack for the Therapy Dog in Training… we seriously spend more money on our dogs than ourselves.
THEN, we had the opportunity to watch our friend, Russ, play in his Senior year for Wyoming vs Colorado. My dad and bro came out for the game as well – fun times had by all… well, we won’t talk about the score of the game (or the Huskers’ subsequent loss, for that matter)
GO Russ = #70
Sunday, we drove home… and the pups were pooped!!!
Miss Lu, sleeping on my pillow.
sweet babies!!!
can’t wait for our next trip to “The Shack”… 
Theraputic THOR
Last night, THOR and I did our first Domesti-PUPS “Petting-PUPS” therapy session. We took a trip to the Windcrest Assisted Living Community, and had a GREAT time.
THOR really latched on to his new job. He was so excited when i got out his red “Training” bandana, and hopped right into the car:
i feel like it’s the First Day Of School!
We toured with Colby, a gorgeous Bernese Mountain Dog, and Daisy, the fluffiest little “pure-bred mutt” you’ve ever seen. Daisy was quite the flirt with the two boys and kept the evening fun!
the residents really loved having us stop by, and some even provided Beggin’ Strips!
It was really fun, and rewarding (though, you have to take a moment of pause when you realize that the brightest spot in some of these resident’s day is a two-minute visit from the dogs…)… we are excited for our next visits… six until we graduate! (five more, now!)
and, now AJ is excited to form a team with Lucy this winter!!!!
YEA DOMESTI-PUPS!
SUCCESS
whew.
OMG.
YIPPEE!!!!
THOR and I are now an Official Domesti-PUPS “Petting PUPS” Therapy Team In Training!
Saturday morning, we got up early, had a good breakfast, leashed up (with Lucy in tow… well, or… towing us!) and went for a good walk/jog/mini-training session.
It. Was. Hot… and the session didn’t go as well as i had hoped. but i kept telling myself that i can’t let my nerves flow from me all the way through the leash, or THOR will not do well at all.
we get home, i clean his ear (poor pooch has a chronic yeast infection in his left ear… i am open to suggestions on how to fix, if anyone has them), and then try a few impromptu commands in the kitchen.
he wasn’t having it.
at this point, i decided we were doomed.
instead of going ballistic in the kitchen, i walked away and decided to remain calm and consider today to be our FIRST test, and that would help us prepare for the second and maybe third (fourth?) test until we passed.
we headed out in the heat, to make our 10:30 test time, with a little padding to make sure he had plenty of ops to potty on every bush, tree, blade of grass in sight before the test.
i am attempting to remain calm…
we walk up to the testing area (amidst high heat and high winds… oh dear, this can’t be good), and meet up with Pam #1 – our awesome Class Trainer. From Day One she knew THOR would have a time at all of this… and kept reminding me throughout the class, “if he eliminates during the test, he will NOT pass!” (hence the pre-planned potty breaks!)… and she said to us, “don’t worry- we’ll hold another testing session in October.”
Great. event Pam thinks we will fail.
so i told myself to calm down (not an easy feat, if you know me), and take the test one task at a time, not to look at it as one whole mountain, just little hills to climb… we’ll figure out where we need improvement, and prepare for the test in October.
We were paired up with a test evaluator (she was awesome!) and proceeded to go through the following test objectives:
- Controlled Entry: we had to walk together through a door – THOR could not rush in front of me, or cower behind me = PASSED
- Greet a Stranger: “Hello, may I pet your dog?”, (THOR’s most favorite thing in the world: People loving on him) = PASSED
- Allow a Stranger to Pet: she brushed him, checked his paws and ears, being mindful of the tenderness of the left ear = PASSED
- Reaction to Loud Noises: dropping pans, moving wheel chairs, no problem = PASSED
- Controlled Heal with turns, & Sit Command: walk along an L-shaped course, right turn, U-turn & left turn, while leash is in loose Heal: PASSED (slightly shocked)
- Sit, Down, Stay, Come: Place dog in “Sit” (okay), Place dog in “Down” (still working on this, and didn’t complete), Place dog in “Stay” (90% on this, usually), Trainer to walk 15-feet from dog, turn around and then call dog to “Come” = PASSED (with the caveat to continue to work on “Down”)
- Greet a Stranger with a Strange Dog: we met up with Buster and Paco (i believe), “Double Trouble” as i told THOR, and of course, he thought this mean Play Time, and we had to go back and start over. the trainer was kind enough to give some ideas on how to work on this, we tried again= PASSED
- Supervised Separation: THOR got to stand in the shade with a very nice gentleman he had never met – i hid behind a tree for three (very long) minutes. Upon my return, i was told that THOR really didn’t know i was gone (he would go home with anyone) but that the kind gentleman might have some new bruises on his legs from THOR’s tail! = PASSED
- Loading & Unloading a vehicle: dog is to wait for the command to get in and out of the car – not just jump in and out at his own free will = PASSED
we walked back to the evaluation table, and our Evaluator and Pam #1 quietly discussed our scores, and Pam #1 grabbed a red scarf and placed it on THOR’s neck… um, what? We Passed? WE PASSED? i started jumping up and down… THOR, was kindly aloof, as per usual.
Then i chatted with Pam #2, or other awesome Leader, and one that gave us lots of great tips and allowed us to join her class, and she said, “Wow, THOR definitely gets the ‘Most Improved’ award!”
and very sweet, Kendra, took our picture- which made me realize, i should have gussied up after the morning’s run. oh well!
(taken at my parent’s afterward)
YEA THOR!!!!
what’s next? three-to-six months of on-site training where we will go to approved nursing homes, hospitals and retirement homes and display our “Petting-PUPS” skills. eeeeee!!!!!!!!
nerves
THOR and i have our Domesi-PUPS test tomorrow at 10:30am.
i’m a bit worried… mostly because I, as trainer, have not put in the time and effort.
but, it’s time, and we will see how we do.
Keep your paws crossed.
MORE Domesti-PUPS Fun!
before i pop out of the office for the day, and rescue my pups from their naps… i wanted to give an update on the whole Domesti-PUPS situation.
with my crazy summer travel schedule, I was in Kansas City during the Testing Day for our Domesti-PUPS training group. apparently, this is a big dang deal (duh) as they fly in the evaluator and such… so THOR and I had to miss our day, and reschedule at a time when another evaluator is in town.
Well, once i learned this, i was oh-so-bad, and pretty much put the training on the back burner. THOR and I still went to the pre-test session the week before the actual test (of which we were to miss) and just as we started our pre-test, what does THOR the Wunder Pup do? Yep, potties in between stations… that would be an immediate FAIL!
so i was happy to know we weren’t testing that weekend!!! defintely more work to do!
and now, we are back in class- tonight it is – new people, another great leader, and we hope to be more steadfast in our goal!!! THOR has been doing a better job of waiting until i tell him it is okay to Potty (let me tell you, he was not very excited about this at first!) and hopefully, a few more weeks of practice and we will pass with flying colors.
FINGERS CROSSED!!!!
THOR McNaughty!
Thor is supposed to be my sweet puppy. the one that likes to snuggle, suffers through a chronic yeast infection in his ear, and get’s that “no mamma, don’t make me play in the back yard with that bully, Lucy” look everytime i try to take him outside. (she beats up on him, she really does!)
for the last three weeks, or so, he has been acting out – so naughty!
it started right before my birthday- i had received a few cards in the mail, and for some reason, wanted to open them closer to the date– or at least at a time when AJ was home to share the fun! (you don’t need me to tell you i am a dork!)… and one of the days- i had a crazy schedule and wouldn’t get home until late, so AJ would be the first home to let out the pups and feed them. he thought he would be home around 5:00 but it was actually closer to 6pm. he walked in to find THOR sitting amongst piles and pieces of paper and glitter…
i received a phone call to say- “you got a gift card from betsy, that’s all that is left.” GRRRR!!
I am sure the card was lovely – and the cheapskate in me is glad that the monetary part made it through unscathed! THOR was also kind enough to only nibble on the two wedding photos Betsy included from her March Nuptials
Son of a Beezee– THOR, what is up?
we decided it was his way of punishing us for coming home later than he anticipated. (who is the master, i ask you? exactly.)… funny thing, he didn’t even touch the card from my aunt and cousins that was directly beneath Betsy’s… weirdo.
well, then a few days later, i come home to some very brown banana peels on the ground… that turkey got onto the counter and grabbed not one, but two bananas and ate them – including one of the peels… OMG!
THEN – last week, i said my morning goodbyes to the pooches, walked out to my car, said goodbye to the siding guys, started the car, and realized my phone was still upstairs by the bed… shut off car, walk back into house — 27 seconds total – probably …
there’s THOR spread eagle, with a plastic baggie – quart sized – of chapsticks and leftover “liquids” packed from my flight to/from DC for the AAF National Conference… oh, i was one unhappy chica… 27 seconds! there goes the theory of being cooped up too long… 27 seconds!!
a few days later… more banana’s were devoured – with only the stems remaining as evidence.
what is going on with this dog?
i know it cannot be Lucy, because she is in a kennel all day… maybe its time to invest in a second kennel – hmmm?
if there actually are people out there that read this blog, then they know that THOR and i have been going trough the whole Domesti-PUPS thing (for good or ill)… maybe he’s acting out at being 6-years-old and suddenly being forced to act appropriately?
maybe it’s the three-week process of new siding with strange guys hammering and making all sorts of ruckus around the house, while he’s stuck inside all day… its messing up his chi…
goodness knows.
if any one out there knows anything about dog psychology… or has a leftover extra-large plastic kennel, i am all ears.
oh- and here’s the craziest – since he’s been acting up so much lately, we put him in the OUTSIDE kennel, alone, saturday night, while we went out to meet up with friends. we came home at a reasonable hour, and THOR was not at the kennel door ready to greet us, as per usual. no, he was AT THE CAR DOOR to greet us. he made three tiny THOR-sized holes to squeeze through- we still aren’t sure exactly which of the holes he successfully escaped through… ow! nor do we know how long he hung out in the side yard before we came home… though, i am attributing that escape to the recent rash of (ILLEGAL) firecracker use in our neighborhood… Poor THOR (GOD OF THUNDER) hates loud noises!
weird dog!
well, i’d better add bananas to my shopping list– don’t want the dog to go hungry.
Thor Training, Closet Cleaning & Blood Donating
whew – file this under Doing Good Things!
THOR and I had another Domesti-PUPS session… it was work at the beginning. a true test of wills, on both our parts. but i started to notice, he’s very good around the two Trainers…. we’ll be walking around in a large circle as a group… while we are at the back of the circle, he is all over the place and not really obeying – (hency why my biceps are killing me today, and i have blisters on my hands from gripping and tugging the leash)… and then we get to the front of the circle, near the trainer, and he’s prancing and paying attention… AJ said that’s just how he was in school – ha!… a co-worker (probably, correctly) commented that he can sense the “Alpha” in the trainers… thus, i am still far below Alpha, as far as he is concerned.
Further to this point – we went into a small room – all 15 dogs, “masters” and two trainers, and i was anxious that he would cause a raucous…but he simply sat (shocker) and then… (wait for it)… laid down with a big sigh. Son of a…
show off!
But he did well, and after it was pointed out that i had his choke chain on backwards (eek, sorry THOR), he was much better… imagine that… end user error!
i am also feeling good lately, because AJ and I took some time to clean out part of our closet and donate to the Montessori School for Young Children annual Yard Sale that will occur this weekend. If you are in the Lincoln Area – please consider stopping out. (you can find the info on the site!)
And, later today, i am going to make my second attempt this week to donate blood at the Nebraska Community Blood Bank… darn propensity to low iron!
The best part about giving blood? well, the Cookies come in at a close second, but i LOVE that they tell you to eat three square meals and not work out for 24 hours! whoo hoo!!!!
if all goes well, today will be the 3 gallon mark for me!
This Girl’s Got a Lot of Training To Do!
whew– THOR and I had our first official Domesti-PUPS training session last night… and boy do we need a LOT of work… BOTH of us!
I am very excited to be a part of this organization, and once certified, its something we can do together for a long time. My goal is to also train Lucy so we can be one mega force…
after last night– yeah, we’ll see about that!
We missed our first class because we were in Cabo… and i really didn’t do much of the training because… because… okay, because i am the worlds worst procrastinator. I would look at THOR and think, “well, he’s pretty well-trained already… this will be easy!”… uh, not so much!
i was SO “That Girl” that laughs nervously and says, “He’s so much better at home. I just don’t know why he won’t listen to me…” as i am pushing is bottom to the ground, he is resisting, and i am saying through my teeth, “THOR! SIT! I SAID SIT! THOR!”… Everyone else’s dogs were so intent on their master’s and giving them great eye contact and so IN TUNE with the training. THOR wouldn’t even give me eye contact if i got nose-to-nose with him… rascal!
it also didn’t help that he chose to “mark his territory” every time we walked by the instructor… oy vey! (to which she kindly reminded me afterward – we will NOT pass our certification test if THOR eliminates during the test! nice.)
so, its back to potty training, basic training (sit, stay, down, come)… and he WILL learn that I am his Pack Leader. I am the source of all pleasure and pain! I am the one that knows how to fill his food and water bowls, oh yes, i am….. i think… (tee hee).
Moral of the story: (1) Domesti-PUPS is an awesome organization, and it can always use more support… and (2) THOR and I WILL Conquer this – it is good training for BOTH of us!
