Okay, so I was worried that Haku wouldn't go swimming without Bruce in the pool with him. Turns out we need Bruce to go in the pool with Haku otherwise HE'LL NEVER COME OUT. Haku just dived right in the pool today and swam around, entranced, for like 10 minutes straight. He wanted no toys, he just wanted to swim. And swim some more. And he just kept on going.

Which is all fine, except for he was entranced with the WATER, and he was chasing the splashes and biting the water and taking in WAY too much. That's not a good habit to get into! So once he FINALLY came in for a break (I was not dressed for swimming!), I snagged him and took him to go wee a fountain. Next time we'll work on getting him focused on something besides JUST swimming! And to think I was worried he wouldn't like the water - none of my dogs have ever just jumped in just to swim around for the joy of swimming! Haku was having a blast. Border collies, they are easily amused.

London could care less if there was someone in the pool with him, he just stares at the water until someone throws something. 6 years old and still believes in Stick Fairies. Very much reminds me of flyball London, it's not something I really do WITH him, he's in 'The Zone', no handler required. Now Fenwick likes the interaction, we had fun, and he did pretty good even with the high jets, which I don't normally swim him in.

My chew order came today, I got a variety of bully sticks and tracheas and pig ears and other rugged animal bits for the dogs. It's winter, we're spending more time inside because of the weather and Haku is teething too - everyone could use some chew action. I was impressed with the quality of the order, one never knows, but the chews themselves look to be really high quality and well packaged. Not too expensive. I would recommend them: www.bestbullysticks.com

As for Haku, along with his wobbly teeth, his ears are starting to deflate as well. Teething is here! He has some pretty funny looks already, he should only get goofier the next couple months. God I adore that puppy, he is so much fun. Bruce and Haku have their class tonight. Bruce trained a new trick this week, it's very cute. I'll have to see if I can get it on video.


Haku's other new trick he learned this week (it took WEEKS for London to master this - Haku did it the first session! Super star, I say ...)

Haku would like to share Brisbee's chewy (Brisbee does not like to share)


Haku wonders why no one wants to share their special treats with him


"Is it because I have a big head?" (A big, but adorable head!)

The leaves blowing around make me think of snow. I do love fall!

• 05:28 Travel tip: you can put your dirty laundry in your dog crates as the required 'soft, absorbent material' when flying home ;) #
• 09:25 The dirty undies that were in my pillowcase @ the start of the flight were not there @ the end. :( jeez. NOT a good packing strategy! #

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I was wiggling some of Haku's teeth last night. He certainly doesn't seem reluctant to tug though. I have to wake puppy up in the morning these days, even when I get out of bed he just gives me a look like, "Do we HAVE to get up?"

London and Allison at the trial yesterday - they look great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCnzObymzP4

London was so happy to have new handlers today! I hear that he won standard with Tammy and jumpers with Allison. See, I knew my dog was awesome - he just needed someone to tell him where to go! Poor guy, I just feel terrible about yesterday, I wasn't there for him at all. I'll make sure to only run him when I'm 100% there for him in the future. He's such a good boy, I need to give him what he gives me every run.

Going to meet Tammy and London up at Unsinkable Dogs tomorrow, have some fun with London and the puppy in the pool. Hopefully London remembers me ...


A very good dog

Just wanted to say congratulations to all the LJ'ers and NW folks you represented in a major way at Nationals. It was very exciting to cheer for people that we knew!

Debbie, Zach and Karen and busting it to get over the mountains before a storm. They may be home as early as tomorrow! Wow! They're shooting for Redding, California tonight. Praying for safe travel to all of you on your way home!

Yesterday, I bought a pair of bright blue and salmon New Balance shoes at Goodwill. Inside was a perfectly good pair of SuperFeet insoles (the ones advertised on Clean Run), worth 35.00 when purchased new. Score!!

Puppy cuddled excessively this morning as I slept in - mission accomplished. Gosh he's sweet. And tall and skinny at the moment!

I measured Haku officially yesterday, 17.25 inches, about what I expected. What I do think is funny is the amount of varying responses I get about his current size. Now I get, "Oh, he's much smaller than I thought - he's not going to get that big," followed immediately by, "OMG, he's going to be HUGE!" I do think that in pictures he seems bigger, maybe because he's pretty proportional. But he's equally rather wispy, actually. He's as tall as a setter puppy a month older than him, but like half the width. On the other hand, he's got no bulk at all, where would he be hiding more dog in there? He just doesn't look like he has a ton more height to grow into.

Time will tell.


All ears and legs


Look - his ears aren't touching! (When he wakes up in the morning they're still prick, but he looks like Yoda with them on the sides of his head)


Grrr - fierce puppy!


If you look at Haku from the front he practically disappears!

Hope that the Bun is having fun at the trial today, I'm happy to be at home today!

• 15:28 Solar had 2nd fastest time in GP semis, made finals! Jester made GP finals in 22". Woo hoo! #
• 20:36 Solar couldn't figure out why we were doing agility in the dark. He was a good boy - 'bout what I expected for a 2 yr old :) #

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If I have ever entertained the thought of having four dogs, that thought has been squashed. Three dogs is difficult enough, but add a fourth, dear lord. No matter how good that dog is, it is still time consuming and hard to remember who has been walked, who needs to be walked, who can have what toy, etc.

London had a sleep over last night. London and Freddie tore the house apart, literally. Blankets, toys, pillows, toilet paper, my umbrella, it all was up for grabs. They mostly wrestled on the couch and then Freddie would have to do a lap around the house barking, dear lord, even my living room curtains were tore down this morning. It was all in fun and I really, sort of enjoyed every moment;) The girls on the other hand stuck to the bedroom. Speaking of bedroom, I had four dogs on my bed last night, four.

I am running London today. It will be interesting to see how I handle running three dogs, two in the small 26" class back to back. I will either have to move a dog, or have a dog wrangler. shall see what presents itself once we get there.

I am feeling more motivated today than I was yesterday thanks to all of the awesome agility I was able to watch last night. Although Nova double Q'd yesterday, they were some of our worst runs ever. I wasn't trying much with Freddie, so today will be a day of great improvements! Haa, well my mind set anyways;)

Awkward Family Photo
ISO is at 1600 and the aperture is f/3.5, I really want my new lens;)

And now I can't sleep...at all. Blah. lol