Jory in the Mountains

Some fantastic shots with the puppy.

This is my favorite.

alien face

oddly enough, he was picking burrs off of his jacket.

checking I'm behind him.

seriously, you coming?

*scoot* *scoot* *scoot*

Jorah?  Where ar-ooooh!  Pretty colors!

Back in the west

On the way home from MN Jory had a sensitive foot, making him a bit wobbly in the car.  I chalked it up to being too picky/fed up to eat much, and especially that time I was stupid and didn't notice we were walking in spiky grass stocks until the poor baby had been jabbed in his paws several times two weeks earlier.  Or maybe it was his nails being so long... So today we cut them!  Wow, what a load off my shoulders there.  His stability Seemed about the same in the car, but a little better.

Jory did fantastic work at herding practice.  He stayed focused in the heat for over 5 minutes, and didn't lose his head trying to grip the strays.  I should know, because I personally was responsible for several blow outs, and barely got the flag in his face before prevention was impossible.  He Still got at a couple, but let off right away.  Shauna came in and held  the stick & my arm to guide-teach me, and that went much better.  (We get two turns, the first was all Shauna, and the second time I tried.)
All was well, Jory even laid down in the water trough like all the cooool herding dogs.
But on the way out he was openly limping, which is serious stuff with this stoic guy.  I assumed it was a nail I saw might be compromised earlier ( but herding is on soft dirt!  Curse my ambition!), got him in the car with AC, and decided to deal with the paw at home, with my first aid kit.
Jory started licking at the joint area, a clue: just burrs, or stung, perhaps?  Then, half way home, he turned around to let the AC blast his back, and there it was, burr and a lump of fur on the seat.  But when I picked it up--- it wasn't a burr at all!!!! It was a flat section of his PAW PAD!!!
Thoroughly horrified, I tried calling bae, but no signal.  Jory wasn't bleeding all over my seat, so I surmised it wasn't serious, and to stick with plan A, since all of the vets just closed.  When he put paw to mouth again i snapped at him, and there were no incidents the rest of the way home.
Ah, home.  I carried my scrawny boy to the door, and once inside he retreated to the living room wall. Damaged paw folded under him: nothing to see here.  I washed my hands and collected the implements of Dr Sad: vetericyn spray, petroleum jelly, vet tape, gauze, and a boot!  He knew he was in for it then, but was a very polite, if hesitant, patient.  The spray tickles!
I went from gauze to sock, decided the boot would never fit, and remembered the vet tape.  He can walk around okay.  This will get us through to Monday.  There is more pad below what he took off, maybe its like a lizard shedding skin?
I wonder if he got a blister?  I don't know what caused this.  :(  its upsetting on two levels, he's jacked up somehow, and now we probably can't go to practice next week.

Blogger on the LG can't post with photos.

Transitions

We moved in may.  When I was unpacking the kitchen in an empty town home he was very uncomfortable.  This was WRONG. He didn't relax until Alpha Male came to join us hours later.  (Yes, it took me HOURS of thought to get that kitchen, the back bone of any god fearing house, poised to be great.)
Well, when I got a summer job in good ol Minnesota I wasnt sure how he would do if moving the house things to another condo of similar layout was a three week adjustment.
The good news is that he is rolling with it faster each time we try somewhere new.  Like: a hotel, moms couch, dads guest bed, sister visits (she calls him her doggy nephew), June rental, and his first camping!  Not that he ever misbehaved, but he closes off and looks uncomfortable, instead of his smiley self.  Also quicker to warning-bark, and does that more persistently.  He's VERY helpful, you see, and that's his best job.

He did so well camping!  His old friend the green cot made a come back, and he didn't mind the zipped up tent.  We got him a petco lifejacket, and he SWAM!  Thrice!  On his own, and his face looked like a cute little otter!  He still preferred wading and dry land, but it was great.  We experimented with a new splashing game.  Bones are there but note sure on the rules.
My first week (day?) in mn I took him to the lake I used to see people exercising their lab's at.  We saw three labs he interacted with two of them.  Haha.  On the way back from our long walk he added into the water like any other place... And something clicked.  He LOVED it!  He was jumping in the swells and going crazy on the beach.  (Pictures will come later.)  Jory did not like bear lake in Utah, and we've had a couple dicey moments when he popped into the current of a river. So his general attitude is more utilitarian and this beach scene was pretty surprising.  My guess is that it's comfortable sand, maybe gradual depth... Waves, wind?  Eh

Today was his first herding class!  It took a while to find a rental for us, and in the chaos I could not logisticate him being three hours from my hometown in the middle of the week.  So about a month off (sad bear) but today was awesome!  He gripped on the leg and nape of the neck of these different sheep (they move weird and get in a single file).  Not for too long tho.  I get to try handling him next week!  The teacher was very nice, said picards were for cattle (?) and gave us the homework of him respecting my body's pressure.  No doorway step overs.  Ill add this to "neutralize lay-down."  also a "there" or something for marking a doggie check-in.

In our St Paul neighborhood there are many rabbits and squirrels.  He really struggled to even relieve himself vs bolting the first couple days, but has improved drastically in a week n a half.

He's in my room while I work, its not entirely ideal.  But I'm very happy to have time with him after work again.  We are seeing into a Minneapolis place bear a dog park and different lake.

We went to a vet out here about shaking ears.  He wasn't letting me clean it well n it seemed clean and clear... Well the next day I find an engorged wood tick!  augh!  163$ pest.  But he has a mild allergy, officially. Showing in ears an eyes.  My best guess is dust/hayfever.  He was getting a lot of "pink eye" in the winter.  Ofa eye doc said "maybe allergies"  and i started going from that angle with cleaning and drops.  But now I know better drops to get, and have a mild steroid cream for his ears.

I also found or that the food bag instructions are for neutered dogs!  Ugh!!!  I feel bad.  He's getting 4+ cups now and his pelvic bones and spine muscles are much nicer.  (Was getting 3.5)  On a scale of 9 with 4 n 5 being ideal weight, I think he was at a 3.5 (hopefully 4), and is how a 5.  Stronger.  I can't believe I was so stupid about following directions for so long. 

Besides dog life i sleep and work.  Its pretty boring but the money is good.  We have explored some cool places in the cities a bit, but mandatory overtime has expanded from early mornings to rob me of my promised weekends. It had better settle down soon.

Jory loves this petco special dog food I tried 🍲.  Half the price of Ultra.  I was told similar quality, but can't help but worry a little.  Great taste and price?  Must be a catch...

It was funny, at the new herding lesson area, Jory was looking for a way to get at the sheep without human meddling.  Testing the fence.  "There must be a way!"

Oh and he does great with my sisters kids.  Jory was Very Concerned when one was splashing with his legs in the water.  Had to break the beach rules and lead him over so he could investigate and be somewhat satisfied no one was hurt or dying. .. Yet.

Living with a little scruffy dog right now.  They both spar with their mouths, yet softly.  Scruffy is  outside during the day and Jory gets the Ac.  They interact monitored to be safe.

"You should adopt him."

So the other week I went to an interview, it's still brisk outside so Jory came with, waited out in a ventilated and shielded car, then we adventured on the way home.  The final leg was the dog park next to the animal human society.  It is NICE.  I'm sure there are better, but compared to the weedy, muddy, uneven, shit-festering ground that the local city offers dog owners, it's the Ritz.  (For real, you'd think our local would be much more dog friendly since it is all about the sporting goods stores.  Whatever.)  It is landscaped, baby trees will provide shade, there is a picnic table, hoses, and a shed with a porch. 
Two lap-dogs existed, then they left.  While they were leaving, the director brought out a boxer.  "Boxers are so cute!" 

...because they ARE, and we say nice things in conversation.

I don't know if this was some sort of green light to the director, who I eventually joined with her friend having lunch, but this pretty insecure fellow was being hounded by my curious and dominant guy.  I was on high alert in case I needed to drag Jory away, but after some initial separating they thought things were going so well, he was certainly putting up with Jory, so they ran around while the humans used the picnic table.

"They are playing so well together!  You should totally adopt him."

I deflected.  "My boyfriend put the kibosh on a cat.  I don't think he'd be okay with another dog."  PS I don't want to train it, because "I'm starting online school soon." 

It wasn't bad.  Though I later had to smile at my neighbor's reaction to the notion.  "How annoying!  I'll have to NEVER go there with [husband who is dog crazy.]"

What got me off comfort was not her enthusiasm.  "I'm gonna find you a home FOR SURE, buddy!  ...He's a great dog, someone should take him home soon.  He'll be okay."  Bless her heart.

It was the fact that she thought they were a good fit!

Bully plus doormat does not equal a happy home.  NO.  I know, from some experience, that there are some gems out there, that Jory just *clicks* with, and this was NOT that.  Eventually Mr. Tail-Between-the-legs-why-are-you-STILL-sniffing-my-butt?! would lose his cool.  I don't want that in my house. 

Hindsight: Maybe I should not have trusted the woman's confidence that they were doing well and taken Jory out sooner, but they did have a couple of separation moments for sniffing and both sets of humans were happy to see the dogs run their wiggles out.

So.  I was looking through some old pictures, and actually found the ONE DOG I considered "I'd take him home with us right now if their owner didn't love them, no problem."

It was this little guy!  I loved standing up on his back paws!  What a character!

Jory about to bolt at him, because Jory.

No big deal!  We're fine!

He had an over-all calming effect on my exuberant adolescent, while still letting him run around and play.  It was straight magic.

They traded who's mouth was open!!!  How cute is that???

It was touching.

So I'd adopt a dog, if I wasn't still trying to metamorphosize myself into a power-earner.  Or Jaren was okay with it.  BUT!  I'll be looking for something like this.  Must have magic.

Adventure in the Rain

Today, Significant Other came home from work at 3 am.  Jory had not gotten his now ritual 11:45pm walk, so was all "take me out!"  yeah, right.  Sleep happened.

So, around 8, despite the rain, off we went before something regrettable happened.  I put on his goat coat to try and water resist a bit, grabbed my umbrella, and we meandered 98% off leash through the western neighborhood and into a little farm/commercial zone.  He had a LOVELY time sniffing the things and trotting at his own pace.

Near the field he found a... what are they... I should know this...

sandpiper!

And chased it down and back across the field.  He went down into a ditch, and hopped through alfalfa or something to get to it.  Didn't quite work out, naturally, and his back feet tripped over a wire in a dis-repaired fence.  I was worried, but he was happy and has not limped.

Then he explored a parking lot, and saw a cat!  More running, but it ducked under a fence gate, and all he could do was check the whole perimeter.  I'm pretty sure he could go under the gate too, so leashed him after his initial running.  Home we went.

He was pretty soaked, the coat helped a bit, but he'd been out for too long and run through too much water.

Thanks to his coat needing some adjustment, he had a poopy butt, so got a spot-bath.  I put his diluted Isle No. 50(?) shampoo in an empty foam hand soap dispenser, and that worked SO well!  Almost like applying shaving cream to him.  he was pretty unhappy to be in the bathroom, but with the easy soap all he had to do was sit in the tub and let me splash him a bit.  So not too bad!

Then he jumped on my bed to rub his face around, as is tradition, and we got him pretty well dried off.  I returned to bed, and Jory came up and dog-blocked me from snuggling my man.  So S.O. hugged him and rolled him to the other side.  It was funny, becuase it put Jory in a state of shock for 20 seconds.  But then he settled in, and we put a blanket on him, (he likes blankets when he is damp) and it was an incredibly touching show of man-and-dog snuggling.  I'm sure S.O., with his hot metabolism, just loved being sandwiched between us.

Jory jerked into REM, and started snoring a little.  stinkin' cute.

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I'm testing a facebook thumbnail fix.

it worked!  Anyone tired of the same picture coming up over and over again, this code works.

From this website.

 However, if you are less likely to just add og:image tags to your template then go to Blogger >> Template >> Edit HTML and just above the </head> tag paste the following piece of code.

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<meta expr:content='data:blog.postImageThumbnailUrl' property='og:image'/>
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First AKC obedience trial

This may be sour grapes, but IMO the AKC is not fun.


My sample of events is limited, so I'll hold out on solidifying this judgement.  But I heard at the herding trial for AHBA that if you try to herd under AKC rules, they'll dock you points for having sheep on the field.  The obedience rules make it pretty cool to see dogs that follow them in action, but I think that they really need levels going up to that expectation, just to be more welcoming to people (like me) that are trying to get their feet wet in the show world.  Jory was pretty on point a year ago, but life happened, and then it happened some more when I thought we had some pre-trial guidance set up.  So we just sort of went in to get a lay of the land.  Found a stuck up judge at the end of the trail.

VENTING ABOUT A JUDGE THAT HURT MY FEELINGS

I'm trying to be understanding.  She's been doing it all day.  Might just want to go home.
That's not my fault.  I didn't put a gun to her head when she took the paying job.

She was quickly acting more impatient and disgusted with every move me made, and there weren't many of them.  This was maybe a 5 minute sequence.  I'd be chill and just draw big goose eggs next to their scores.  Not hard.

I paid 35 dollars for the day (make that 2 days and include gas, that's a small fortune to college student for a recreational activity!) it's not like I didn't want to do well.  Not like I just figured I'd pluck a dog off of my couch and go waltz around with him on some dirt for that much money.  Yet she had the audacity to ask "have you even trained with anyone?"  Bitch.  Just because his heeling is... shall we say... loose-eyed and sloppy.  Okay, his "sit" ears turned off for 2/3 of that, too.  Still, it's socializing in a weird environment.  Value!  Patience!  Where is the camaraderie? 

Jory learned to heel with noms and a constant stream of praise.  (because life/$) I haven't figured out how to successfully wean him off of BOTH of those, only go either-or, but hoped maybe he'd buck up to my nervous body language and do me a favor.  (Noooooooooo.)
                + I let him sniff a dog outside of the ring as well.  Kiss of death to any of those feeble hopes.

Still, she was *too* professional, as far as when I didn't fit the mold of all the other contenders she just fell apart and became a brat.

SILVER LINING

The GOOD news is that I have solid data, and the near future will see us with some pro trainers that can guide as with this very specific "this is the problem we have."

The drive down was also fun.
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Jory behaved very solidly and good at the arena until after our turn.  "leave it" = things were left, usually walking loosely, not starting or being afraid.  Either he was DONE with the stimulus of the big show (we'd waited 4+ hours.  Crate be damned, that's a lot of weird smells and noise.) or the fact that my feels were hurt by the judge antsed him up (likely), or the fact that we immediately went and got his pupils dilated really bothered him.  It was rainy but still pretty bright everywhere.  A perfect storm for an obnoxious puppy.  He started pulling really hard towards what he wanted and occasionally gripe-whining from then on, and it was not improving my mood.

But the news from the doctor sure did!!!

EYE EXAM

History: Last eye doc I went to royally pissed me off.  Worse than this judge: the office had poor communication so I drove 50 minutes for nothing, she treated us like an inconvenience, Jorah like a number, and didn't address any of the concerns that she planted in my head.  "I don't know what the OFA will say."  Will my dog go blind, you jerk-hole?!  "OFA" "OFA"  He's my beloved pet, not just a stud dog.  grrrrrr.

This guy was great!  He took a fraction as long with the light in Jory's eyes, knew exactly what was up, and explained it to me in several very informative sentences.  Something about cells aligned in a Y meeting along a seam, sometimes in a fast growing dog they over-lap and you can see it.  Totally normal, common, nbd.

So my dog has good hips, and good eyes, and he totally stays by me on hikes and listens in the house/90% in the neighborhood and canyons.  Also his herding drives are on POINT.  We can work with this.

FAMILIAR FACE

I saw a guy from my 2014 internship again, he was at the "for fun" local club conformation show we went to in... 2015?  I guess they are pretty consistent!  It was nice to see a familiar face.  Pretty funny to see someone that had a reputation as being the grumpy inventory king dog-talking with his wife.  ^^

But seriously, why do people with small barky dogs volunteer mine to eat theirs?  Not cool, man, not cool.  My dog is an ANGEL.  Unless provoked, but noise ain't gonna do that!  I think it perpetuates negative stereotypes against larger dogs to "joke" like that.  (I don't think it's funny.  But Jory has improved from straining towards these annoying sounding dogs to just being concerned.  So most of my annoyance is a learned response.)

VENDORS

Oh!  There was a Red Barn vendor, and we got some training treats "dog food" at 2/$5.  The nice girl at the concession stand who helped me to open a package was all "whaaaa?!  Those are like $10 a pop at the store!"  Winning.  I wanted to get the tendons, but they were 5/$20.  Jory would ADORE them!  For 30 seconds.  Gulp. Also, the lady in the booth just handed me a slice of the food. "Try this.  [blah blah blah] beef flavored."  That was some smooth marketing, haha.  No small talk, just let the dog's enthusiasm sell her product.

Pro tip: even if you aren't competing, check out the show vendors for outlet pricing!

They had weird vendors, too.  Like the type you'd find at a scottish festival, only pet related. Usually.

DRIVING HOME

Jory sulked in the car while I fumed at how an entire state can fail so utterly at driving in the rain. [The rest of this section has nothing to do with the dog.] Our 1.5 hour drive was more like 3.25 because of lame-brain drivers' spook level.  Yuck.

Some punk pushed their way into my not-tailgating-space and slammed on their breaks, making me slam on mine.  Also taxi behind me.  'Mazda 3-!!!'  Taxi pulled into next lane and honked at me as he passed, and, I am proud to say, the bird flew immediately and righteously.  If he could read lips all the better.  (I usually have a tragic delay.)  Another rude merger almost got me to rear-end them a second time, so I let a semi truck into my lane and no one bothered to steal my reaction space after that.  Who wants to tailgate a semi?  Also, it sort of felt like releasing a dinosaur.  "Come on over, buddy.  I gotchyu."

PLAY DATE

THEN we got home.  His buddy was playing with a sort of friend (both dogs) but my kidneys were in pain.  "leave it."  He left it, and came inside.  good.  good.  Laid down in a defeated way, but once I was ready I just happy-talked him up, opened the door and BAM!  He was off like a VERY happy rocket.  They were about a block down the grass-strip, so yeah.  Lure coursing for corgis, haha.

Jory's wiggles were exorcised, I got to talk to a friend about the disappointment and mean-ness and happiness to get some of MY nerves out; Jory took a few breaks from playing to toilet the lawn, and now we are relaxing at home! 

Phew.  He is a VERY sleepy guy.  Using a flat box as a pillow.  haha.

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MORE INFORMATION

Here is a lightly edited version of the email I sent his breeder after having a night to sleep on it and get my focus back.

I was in a bit of a tizzy when I wrote the blog.  The brutal truth is, judge attitude aside, I did not set Jory up to succeed like I should have.  

MY ANXIETY DEBILITATING HIS TRAINING

As the trial got closer I got more and more nervous, and started to lock up while training him.  Like "do I ask him to do this?  If he can't do it by now I'm going to melt down emotionally and that will just sour the command for him.  He's got to be smelling heat pee today, he's not even close to listening.  I'll back off.  Just get him to watch for a second.  Yeah."  

I realized what I was doing, and tried the mantra "this is about the dog.  Not you.  Just set him up to succeed, don't make it personal."  That worked to jar me a little out of the rut pre-trial... "But what do I DO?  I don't have a regimen or plan and I'm supposed to mix it up so maybe I shouldn't make one at all... oh GAWD!"  The mantra also helped me to be optimistic and lower my expectations for the day "just get some sweet sweet socializing"... right up until things with the judge went sour.  Then my ego kicked in.  Darn it.

It will be pretty ironic if I have to take anxiety medication to consistently train my companion animal, but I'd rather try that first than hand the reigns over to someone else.  (First thoughts are a 4H sort of kid or a friend from our first trainer.)  It is totes bonding.  

I WAS OPTIMISTIC WHEN I SIGNED US UP

When there is no pressure, it's fun, I'm having fun; Jory picks up on it, has a little bounce and grin, and we do well.  Why not show this fine fellow off?  So I'd definitely say the big problem is me, but I think my blog could have focused on what was going on with Jory a lot better.  I might edit it.  [Done.]

MORE ABOUT JORY'S TRIAL EXPERIENCE

I'd say, for not knowing exactly what I wanted him to do, he was stellar.  Checking out this weird place, staying by me.  He was definitely a bit confused when he looked at me "why is she dead?  Is she mad at me?  What's going on?", so then I couldn't quite keep my mouth shut.  We'd already failed the leg anyway.  Also I chatter when I'm nervous.  Death blow.  He had a lot going on to not sit after a finish command.  Or when I told him to before an exercise.  "Sit" is his bread and butter, so I conclude he was over-aroused.  Poor guy.  But he was VERY happy to do the recall.  "I know this!  I've got this!"  The smiles were back on both of us.  Because I thought you could call and use a hand, but in the walk-through found out it was one or the other, which he had not done before.  We went with "here!" vs a lonely hand signal.  He nailed it.  Awesome.

The judge oddly upped her expectations on the stand-for-inspection, she just lightly brushed her hand down everyone else's back, but did three distinct pats on Jory.  He was still for the first two but a butt touch from a crabby stranger was too much, and he scrunched up a little and turned to face her head on--while still standing in the same place!  Small victories.*   

MORE ABOUT MEAN JUDGE

She had a blind eye for a dog that didn't stop barking on the side lines.  It was during the long stays, no less.  She also let this other guy yell commands at his dog without saying anything, so the inconsistencies makes her attitude with us all the more annoying.  "Did you even read the manual?"  Yes.  Did you?  Maybe it is that preference for regulars that I've read about on other blogs?  Maybe they were heavily docked, I can't just assume, but I know the manual said distracting dogs were to be DQ'd, and it performed after.  Her ruffled feathers extended to being crabby with the other Novices that did the long stay (we were excluded, fair enough since we were already DQ'd.)  I'm not sure what her problem was.  I suppose someone that anal generally makes a good obedience judge.

JORY AFTER THE TRIAL

After writing my blog, significant other came home from work, and he had keys to the condo that he closed on while we were at the show.  So Jory got one more new experience squeezed into the day: we picked up some take out dinner and ate it in the empty place that will be our new home.  He was quite pleased to explore it!  I have walked him in the neighborhood a couple times this month, so he was a little used to the outside already.  The lay-out is basically the same as where we are now, so that probably helped it to feel a little more normal.  And I just so happened to have been swaddled in his puppy blanket, so that was there too, haha.

This morning his behavior had a little extra sparkle to it, he wandered up into a heel position without me even asking.  For only a second, yes, but he was watching me, in heel, all on his own.  He got a "good dog!" and was satisfied, so trotted away to inspect and pee on the things.  Really must work on that persistence.  And he responded quicker than usual to "leave it"s and "this way"s when I wanted to keep moving.  It's pretty rainy up here, but I'm thinking I'll take him on a hike today to wash the last of the bad memories away.  I'm sure at this point that I'm more affected than he is.

THE NEAR FUTURE

So next week we will be moving, but I will be able to get in contact with the new trainers (our initial scheduled meeting had been rained out), and while the consistency of a weekly lesson will help, I may as well hit the physician up for some chemical aid to my freeze-up feels.  Two pronged attack!  It will take a lifestyle tweak to have obedience performance that can brave a stranger's scorn, but I think a heel without constant encouragement and solid retrieve (he's not quite there with the "bring") will be worth the investment.  It will keep him safer.  As long as these positive-only types can teach us how to do it without smothering his personality.

On another hand, I'm really antsy to get him properly started in herding!  Part of me just wants to pay to leave him on a farm for a hard core week instead of the obedience class.  But I think that's impatience and throwing a baby out with the bath water.  I know that if he gets the right training he can do this obedience thing.  And the herding trainer will come back from her competitions, her knee will hopefully be heeled, and we can get on with it. 

Sorry I'm not succinct.

*Honestly I'm a little proud he had the sense to pick up on her negative energy and watch out for himself, instead of being a doormat.  It feels weird to expect him to give consent an just anybody to touch him if I tell him to.  I supposed that's a trust-in-the-leader thing, the onus being on me.