Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011

And now it's time for a bath

What did ya get dad?

The old teaching the young how to open gifts

The happy couple Jeremy and Sarah

Here are a few pictures from Christmas 2011 and it is defiantly one to remember.  My son proposed to his girl friend Sarah of 4 years, she said YES. :)  The weather was nice enough for Larry to go fishing down at the pond and caught a couple of nice bass.  Ginger and Flirt enjoyed the romp and Ginger loved the pond, that means a bath in the near future for her and the entire gang.

Christmas Eve, Green Chili Bacon Cheeseburgers

Not sure if there is too many things better than a green chile, cheese, bacon cheese burger, YUMMY!!!!!

Pretty Miss Ginger Snap

Too Cute

Cardi Claus

Cardi Claus left the mother load, not only goodies for the dogs, treats and toys, but
there are goodies for the human folks too. A TN package from Laura Prosser of Liberty Cardigans.
Jeremy got into the moon pies, that TN boy is coming out. I'm hiding that TN whiskey.
Flirt got first dibs on toys and the ornament is just beautiful. Thanks Laura.

Making Dog Food

Well I continue to make my gangs dog food (was not sure I'd continue after the first time). I feed them 50% raw and 50% high quality kibble. This batch will contain beef 80/20, pears, cranberries, zucchini, green beans, carrots and garlic. I paid no more then $.99 a pound for any of the items, thanks to Penni for answering my many questions. I love my dogs, my dogs love it and love me for spending time fixing their chow.
OH By the way GO BIG BLUE!!!!!

PETiQuette

I purchased a new book called PETiQuette for the multi-pet household, I'm hoping to get some problem solving suggestions as I now have a pack. Jeremy (my son), Ginger and myself miss Amelia and are ready for her to come home. My old dogs, which believe it or not must include my pride and joy, Flirt must have a very happy, content and non traumatic life. This book talks about jealous and such which I believe is in my pack. I'll let you know how it all goes.

Tracking Sunday

Went out and met Jimbo at Bernheim Forest for tracking, he first tracked William and said he did good. Made him figure it out and he did, Good Boy.
Next up was Ginger and me and I'm proud to say we both did very well. Jimbo was walking behind us and I was telling him different things about the ground cover and where the scent was going with the wind, etc. Ginger tracks very different then William, even though I do not track William I started with him so now I'm stepping back and going in to this with a fresh look. I felt really good about our tracking Sunday.
On another note Amelia has been up at Bonnie's and free whelped 6 puppies sired by Heidi's Rush. She is being a very good mama.
Attaching a picture of Amelia's puppies and a picture of Ginger taking a nap on Bonnie's GSD, Gryphon.

Bernheim/Tracking/Clicker Sunday

We went to Bernheim this morning to track and we ended up doing some clicker work. First was Willey Man and he informed me that he would not stick his head in that hole. Next came Ginger and I figured it was a great time to do some clicker training. As you can see she had no problems sticking her head through that hole so I could get a shot with my phone. Too Cute. :)

A GREAT Couple of Days

All I can say is I feel very special. Friday I celebrated my 20th year at UofL Dental School and Saturday I turned 50 years old. These are pictures highlighting the many specials things. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

Ginger Watching the USDAA Nationals

Ginger and her sheltie friend Hank went and watched some of the USDAA nationals being held right here in Louisville, boy am I lucky. She was over the top, especially watching them wicked fast dogs run and we sat right in front of the chute. Pam and I are heading back this evening for one of the finals. We got to watch some cardis run, I'm hoping Olivia will be in the finals this evening. Letti and Shelly won the 8" performance Grand Prix last night. Go Cardis!!

BEAUTIFUL

I got my photos from Doug Greig for the CWCCWR and all I can say is Ginger is beautiful.
I can not Thank Janet enough, every time I see a show photo or a candid for that matter I am reminded how lucky I am. She is also a complete silly goofy girl, and makes me laugh.

October Morning at Bernheim Forest

FUN Weekend

I went down to Chattanooga to play thing on a string (conformation) with Ginger and took Flirt to play in the coursing field. This is a place where your dogs can be WILD!!! You have to get 3 Q's for your CA (coursing ability) and that's just what Miss Flirt did. I also got to share my love of New Mexican food w/ Janet and Laura, I made spinach enchiladas, one of my favorite. I think they enjoyed. Then I get home and there's a go-cart in the drive way. I took Flirt, my friend Pam and her husband for a ride, that was really fun too. Also if you notice Flirt is in front of the Louisville flag as they have the bragging rights for the next year a state rival. Go Louisville!!

This Is For The Birds

Well I usually use dehydrated raw but I had purchased 20# of chicken thighs and quarters and my organ meat. I definitely did not want it to go bad so I picked up apples, oranges, squash, carrots and broccoli. I had already purchased a meat grinder, great knife, poultry scissors, etc. this was on the advice of Miss Raw.
So off I went to grind up everything, this is a really, really messy job. Broccoli is a pain to grind, don't ask me why but it is. OK then we go on to the meat, I thought I had a decent grinder but I had to stop many times to clean the blades of bone, I was getting a little frustrated, OK a little more then frustrated.
Now I'm on the down hill slide, not. Putting everything in containers is a royal pain the the butt.
I started with the total amount to feed 5 dogs per feeding per bag and decided that was not very practical for me. Then I thought why not make medallions so I made some 2oz ones for Ginger and Amelia, very slow process. I'm getting better as the night goes on, did I tell you I'm a slow learner. :) I brought out my 1/8 cup measure and it makes medallions pretty damn close to 1 oz so that's what were doing. I put as many possible on a pizza tray and freeze then into bags in the deep freeze. I average about 50 per bag, I'm still not done and this is the second day, did I tell you this is a real pain in the ass.
So I figure making 26#'s of raw will take this average bear around 14 hours. I really don't have an extra 14 hours so I will stick with the dehydrated unless I get some game meat this fall for free or really cheap.
Did I tell you MY DOGS LOVE ME FOR THIS.

Ginger goes to school

Ginger started obedience class this past Thursday evening and there is a mixture of breeds.
We have GSD's, Airedale Terrier, Min Schnauzer, and a few others and Gingers liked every one she meet. Looking forward to seeing her learn and grow, she's a smart little whipper snapper.

CWCCWR

For the most part I had a wonderful time up in Oberlin, OH at the Western Reserve. The Greig Family is such a wonderful bunch of folks who work so very hard and do it for the love of this wonderful breed. The downer was the Janet had to head home early to care for her mother and we missed her company. There was just tons of good stuff from the weekend and the most BEUATIMUS girl in the world, that would be Ginger had a very good weekend. She placed in the ribbons all 6 times she was shown in a very competitive class of beautiful dogs, two of which were her sisters. One of her rosettes is MIA, but here is the results: Friday 3rd Sweeps (her sisters Lowri 2nd and Sally 4th), regular class 2nd (sister Lowri 1st) and Reserve Winner Bitch under Cathy O (sister Lowri was WB). Saturday 3rd sweeps, I told Cheryl K I was tired of looking at her and Lowri's back ends and I was going to bet there butts and that is exactly what we did, Ginger 1st regular class. Sunday 3rd sweeps (I see a pattern) and regular class 1st again. Ok now for Miss Flirty, first she had to relearn to gait on grass and not hop, but she got the hang of it. She placed 1st under Cathy O, I'm very proud of this. I learned alot this weekend some wonderful grooming tips, thanks Cheryl M and also some handling tips, you would think I've never been in the ring before, thanks Susan S. Many many thanks to Susan and Cheryl for packing me and my dogs in her van. :) Cheryl was trying to take a picture of me with all the luggage but I caught her.

A Bunch of Stuff

A lot to report about. I went out west and visited with my family, check on my mom and I also got to visit w/ Penni, Holmes and Naughty Nola. I really needed a cardi fix by then, Thanks Penni.
While home I did make a trip to Ojo Caiente and had some girl time with my sister which I always enjoy.
I missed Miss Flirts 8th birthday so we celebrated with Willie Man, his 11th birthday on July 15. I went to Three Dog Bakery and got goodies for all the dogs, it was hard letting Flirt and William pick out the ones they wanted.
Next I went up to Marshall, MI with Bonnie for Gingers be-butt and we came home with a 3 pt major. I would have liked both of them but I shared with Bonnie and her cute little girl Laney.

Ginger Watching The Cows

USDAA

Well we tried to qualify for USDAA agility nationals that will be held in Louisville, KY in October but fell a little short. I was able to get a team Q w/ Bonnie and Lilly our team is The Long and Short of It, cute huh. :) I also squeaked out a Steeplechase Q today. It's a little unfair as if there are not enough 8" dogs they have to compete with the 12" dogs. Flirt and I came in 2nd as she is usually very competitive, so it was 1st 12" dog 2nd 8" dog 3rd 12" dog and that is all they allow to qualify. My friend had a clean run and would have Q'd but they only allow 3 dogs to advance. Boy this is a little confusing. We also have a Grand Prix Q but at last I needed at least 2 Q's in Grand Prix and or 2 Q's in Steeplechase. Well I guess I will just cheer everyone on, buy some stuff and they have great vendors and probably do a little volunteering. I LOVE MY FLIRT with all my HEART.

Ginger and I did really good

We went tracking this morning and I am pleased to say that this was the first time there was no food, 3 turns and I wanted her to be on a harness so she can learn the difference between the many jobs she has to do. Also did I tell you we really don't do this very often, as a matter of fact it's been several weeks. Well she did super, she read the turns and this is also a learning thing for me too. Jimbo was behind us and we both worked through the little area where the growth was very low and the sent had puddled up. We were very pleased with Ginger. Not sure but I'd love to see if I could get her ready for OH tracking.

My little helper

Ginger felt like it was her job to help me sweep and dust, well not really help I think it was more of a hinder. She attacked the broom and that was loads of fun and with the same gusto she got the dust rag, made those jobs take twice as long but they were a bunch more fun with my little helper.

Ginger and The Sheep

Here is a link to a video of Ginger at 5 months old on sheep and If I do say so myself she is pretty damn cute. Joyce said she was a bold little girl and she is just way too cute, oh I already said that. :) She spent maybe 10 minutes out there. There are two video links, enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/user/hapwdog2#p/u/3/2ZHRgMcUetQ

http://www.youtube.com/user/hapwdog2#p/u/2/exz-Z0W1DNg

I got it.

We went herding again Saturday in Irvine, KY beautiful little farm. I've tried this a few times before, I'm sure I can count them on one hand, but I got it this time. This herding stuff is tough. Joyce took Amelia in at first and she did OK. Then I took the helm, Amelia was much more settle with me there was balance we actually moved the sheep slowly in a somewhat straight line, not lots of circles changed directions, really quite smooth and it was really FUN. :).
Ginger went in with Joyce and when I get the video I will post she was too much fun.
Joyce was very impressed and called her a bold little girl, she was a total blast to watch. There was a local newspaper reporter there doing a segment on Randy and his dogs but they also took some pictures of Amelia and Ginger and some info so hopefully we will see them in the news.
I sure hope I win the lottery so I can continue this herding because it's fun not quite as fun as agility but I think I have the bug.

The Girl Did Good

Well we had fun herding on Saturday in Evansville, IN with Joyce Burnham. The weather was very cooperative since we have had 6" of rain and are expecting another 5".
This was the first time Amelia had been on sheep and she did GOOD!
Yes the bad dog did good. I met a gal from Albuquerque out in the middle of Evansville,
she lives in Madison, KY with her cattle dog, her name was Emily and I hope to see them again.
Cathy with Jack (BC) and Georgette with Wicked (Sheltie) were my companions and I have to admit that the border collie did the best of the three for the first time out. We have some video and as soon as the girls Georgette and Cathy can get me the clip I will post it.
So recap we had FUN!