Food for thought.

I am reading Suzanne Clothier's book called "If bones would fall from the sky" and she describes 3 types of trainers.

1) The Mechanical trainer - how to make the dog do what you want him to do

2) The motivational trainer - trying to figure out how to motivate the dog to want to do what you want it to do

3) The spiritual trainer - who try's to figure out how do we accomplish it together

I know with Mickey we were number 3 and with Maverick we were number 1. Having been really connected with a dog in my lifetime I hope that I can have that connection with Bug and that is my dream with her. To train and work to accomplish everything together.

So - Food for thought. Which one do you want to be and then when you really think about it which one are your really?

Where does the time go???????

One minute the time it ticking away every so painfully waiting the arrival of Bug then all of a sudden she has been here for 2 months and I have not had time to update her page ( or do anything else due to major sleep depravation). They say that a puppy is not able to hold its bladder until its 4 months old but I did not wait that long. After 6 weeks of no sleep because between a puppy and an old 13.5 year old on fluid tablets, I was up 2 -3 times every night. This did not make for a happy person so Bug has been banished to sleep outside for the summer with Ben in hopes of all of us getting some rest. I have to say, I am very happy and less grouchy for it so out she shall stay.

What's it like living with a Koolie? Well I have had a god 8 weeks with her now and I am really enjoying not knowing anything about a breed and learning as we go along. Here is what I have learned so far.

- Not every Koolie chases a ball. Instead my Koolie prefers to chase the Border chasing the ball. I mean why waste the energy on something so silly!

- Not every Koolie knows how to jump. So far she has not attempted to jump on anything. This unfortunately includes the car, the van or anything else that would make sense. Given that she is now as big as Ben ( 42 cm) and the fact that she cant jump ( or wont) amazes me ( doesnt both me though as that will come later).

- While finding chasing the ball a complete waste of energy, her energy is much better spent attacking the broom, mop, vacuum or anything else that moves. Favourite weird toys - the hose with water coming out and the blower van in the face ( that is a truly weird one)

- Koolie's really do think things out. I can actually see her brain clicking over in an extremely calm way trying to figure out what I want or trying to solve a problem. I am really enjoying watching this.

As far as training goes we are primarily working on play both with toys and with me. She adores interacting with me and is slowly getting the hang of playing with the toys I ask her to. He favourite by far is anything rabbit fur so I am using that to my advantage. She also sits, drops and hand touches. Thats about it as we are enjoying finding out a lot about each other and in the next few weeks Ill up her training routine.

So until then, Merry Christmas and see you in 2010 when the fun shall really begin.

Bug -v- pink squeaky toy

I think its safe to say she has settled in.

Things I had forgotten....

Well I found the missing link. The Bug has landed and after a few days to settle in she has started to make herself at home. The boys are really excited to have her and they even had a fight at 6 am this morning as to who's room Bug is going to play in until Mummy can get her eyes open. So we are now onto taking turns to bug sit.

So at the end of day 3 here are some of the things I had forgotten about having a puppy.

1) dont wake the puppy up at 10 pm to put her out and then expect her to go into a crate for the night straight away

2) worming tablets should be on hand for when puppy comes home

3) to buy chicken wings

4) how much they can scream when they dont want to do something like stay in a crate away from you ( her record is an impressive 70 minutes)

5) the poop

6) that Maverick will never change

7) the poop

8) that even though you know so much - you actually realise that you know so little.

9) sleep is for everyone else in the world except for me

and my favourite thing I had forgotten

10) how soft and loveable the pad of their feet are and how they will roughen over time with all the miles you will walk together in her lifetime.

Something is missing.................

let see if I have everything under control.

cute pink Rogz puppy bed - check

pink collar - check

pink lead - check

pink sheep toy - check

pink puppy kong - check

filling for pink puppy kong - check

lamb ears - check

puppy pen - check

puppy pen assembled in loungeroom - check

puppy food - check

pink puppy toys - check

pink water bowl - check

pink mat to put pink water bowl on - check

puppy - hmmmm......thats what is missing. 7 sleeps to go.

The Bug has been hugged!

Well the Bug has had her hug and it was great to meet her. I am finally home after a long 4 day trip to visit Bug in Victoria and then compete at a 2 day agility trial at Wagga.

When I got there on Friday they were sound asleep but she woke up and after the initial greeting she came out of her shell. She was a bit perplexed to start with when she saw her band new toy ( a monkey) but as you can see from the Movie below, she got over it pretty quickly.

She could not figure out how to carry it as it had such a big head but after the video stopped rolling she went back and took it on again.

She is going to be bigger than Ben and a medium height dog I think with a thick coat and she will be jetting up on a plane to Sydney for me to collect her when she is 8 weeks old. So only 3 1/2 weeks to go and any type of sanity I may have had ( which is not much I assure you) will be gone and chaos shall quickly follow.

what do you think?

Bug at 3 weeks

I am amazed at how much she is changing just in a few weeks. Her colours are more prominent and I think she is going to be a really interesting dog to watch grow. I am getting very excited as I am going to visit her on Friday and I will get to "hug my Bug". Then 4 weeks after that life in our house will change as we know it.

bug at 6 days

Kerrie sent through some photos of the girl at 6 days and we are very excited. She says she has "racoon eyes" and I could not have asked for a better colour. Just perfect

Bug is Born

After a very long wait of three months, I finally opened the email that I have been waiting for. Diamond the bitch I was waiting for to have puppies had 5 healthy boys - BOYS! I could only take a girl due to the house being over run with males so luckily for me another litter was born the day before with Diamonds sister Sassie and she had 2 boys and 2 girl.

Instantly, one of the girls took my eye and due to a few unusual circumstances, Bug was ours. Here she is with her brothers and sisters at 3 days old. I just fell in love with her colours and she looks "interesting". I may live to regret those words.....