Why we LOVE dogs...

I stumbled over a quote, which I really liked                                                                                                "I think we are drawn to dogs, because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be, if we weren't certain we knew better. Being such wonderful uncomplicated beings they need us to do their worrying." George Bird Evans    
I snapped the water pic this summer. I'm lucky to have the creek bordering our pastures. Best place for dog games, swimming lessons, and simply doggy fun in the sun.                                   

A day with doggy companions...

Needed to do some shopping in Calgary (YES some shopping is necessary!) and the dogs spent the day in Innisfail at the Boarding Kennel. Copper loves these outings, meet new friends and play all day (now he is snoring happily back home). Lacy had a beauty day with haircut, pedicure and pampering (time to roll in some horse poo tomorrow again). It is nice to see that other people like having my dogs around and thinking they are well behaved canine companions. As a dog owner you easily think you have the best dogs in the world but it is nice to get outsiders opinions. So get your dogs out there, let them meet friends and let them make new friends. It will make them happy and balanced and that will give you the calm, inner confidence your paw companion loves you for!

Ending on a funny note...I found this on the web and just had to enter Copper with the dog chow movie poster challenge!

Oh boy!

My day started with a FAST walk this morning. Yes, I tried to check out my dad's trick with keeping the dogs closer. I was dragging my feet, my shoulders were hunched, I even limped a little but my dogs, at least this morning, couldn't care less. Off they went, Coppers nose on the ground, and I abandoned by slow walk for a high speed trot. Maybe my dogs ignoring me had something to do with the group of deer, that crossed our path? HUH! Well I guess I have to try it again some other time.
With all that excitement in the morning, I relaxed on the drive to town with the funniest audiobooks I know of Janet Evanovitch "Stefanie Plum series", just finished Smokin' Seventeen.
If you enjoy a good laugh, you HAVE TO listen in. The narrator Lorelei King gives all the characters an individual voice...so funny. Love www.audible.com for getting all my audiobooks.

Lazy Sunday

O.K. I must admit of being pretty lazy this Sunday. Enjoyed the fall colors while walking the dogs this morning and now watching the dancing leaves in the breathe. I phoned my parents this morning and my dad and I were talking "dog" as usual. He told me about a trick to keep your dogs closer to you while walking them off leash. Normally the dogs will go a ways ahead of me, then they stop look back and continuing on quickly. Now my dad said, I should try and walk different, slower, with hanging shoulders and maybe a limp. He tried this with his dogs and when they stopped to look at him, they saw him walking differently and came closer to him checking if everything is allright. He tried this several times and it always worked. So I will give it a go tomorrow, see if I can get Copper to come closer to me again, if he notice my different somewhat "weak" walk. Usually I walk in a fast pace, head up and such...

I will let you know how it goes!

So proud...

September 24,2011
I'm so proud of Lacy today. She passed her evaluation to become a Therapy Dog with an A+.
Now we are part of the Therapy program of St.John Ambulance and will visit patients and elderly in senior homes soon. I'm sure there will be inspiring moments to talk about in Lacys future as a Therapy Dog :)

Inspirations

First I have to introduce the two dogs running my life right now. Lacy is a 3 year old Golden Retriever and (Mr.)Copper a 1 year old Bloodhound. I grew up in Germany where my parents always had Boxers for breeding and competitions. Often I went with my dad to dog trainings on the weekends and admired the partnerships between dog and handler. I always dreamed about having my own "paw"kids but my studies and living conditions just weren't dog friendly in the past. I immigrated to Canada in 2005 and after having a Boxer for two years (sweetheart Amy died of cancer way to soon), I now share my life with Lacy and Copper, two cats, some horses and oh yes a husband.

Talking about Inspirations, besides dogs I LOVE books so ending my first post with two autumn pleasure reads:
"The darkest evening of the year" by Dean Koontz (2007)
"Until Tuesday" by Capt. Luis Montalvan (2011)