Izzie's Favourite Things: Paco Collars

Pretty sweet no? I also got her a plain leather leash too but it's a leash, nothing special other than it's from Paco Collars and they're pretty awesome over there.

The design is called "The Pisces" originally designed much larger for a belt and since Izzie is a diva she needed some sparkle added so there's a few clear rhinestones substituted among the flat silver spots.

This is her third collar from Paco Collars. Her first can be seen in the header photo and was an x-dog mini, that now belongs to her friend Gyppie who wears it well, and the second one was a Swirl Deluxe that now belongs to the Roo-tard. Both given away simply because they didn't fit her any more (too big for her). So that left Izzie Paco-less for quite a while, a sad state indeed. 

Start to finish it took about six weeks to get the collar, two of those weeks were spend with me humming and hawing over what I wanted. The Paco peeps were ultra helpful with me and very patient, we finally came up with this and I said yes and we proceeded to production which took about two weeks as well. Each Paco collar is hand made individually at the time of order, you can buy sample collars or used ones if you're into instant gratification but each one you order specifically for your dog is made for them therefore you get the exact measurement you need to fit them perfectly. It's a small operation though so often there's a whole queue of collars that need making so it does take a little bit to get them made. Normally shipping doesn't take so long but I'm in Canada and the border enjoys holding my collars hostage for a while, it took just over two weeks to ship from California to my doorstep. 

Like the first two collars we've had, this one and the leash are no exception to the quality they produce. The leather is lovely and not stiff at all. This is something I especially like in the leash as I have bought some cheaper ones and have had them be super stiff and not nice to walk the Pug with. 

Paco Collars is a great small business started by a gal that wanted a nice leather collar for her Pit Bull that didn't have huge spikes on them, she couldn't find what she wanted so she set out to learn to make her own. That eventually grew into the Paco Collars that we know and love today. Their customer service is exceptional and they'll even accept bartering sometimes, I actually paid for Izzie's first collar entirely with treats and chews, they also have great designs and are willing to customize one or make a completely unique one of a kind collar for you too. I highly recommend them, definitely worth the price. 

So if you're looking for an awesome leather collar for your doggy pal, click here to check out Paco Collars. You won't regret it!

Just a Little Bit O' Izzo

What's that Izzo? You want me to blog photos of you being adorable?

I dunno if you're really THAT cute...

Okay. You win. You're fecking adorable.

This weekend is the first full weekend I've worked in months. Lamesauce. I'd rather spend it with the Izzo, training or playing ball. I'm sure she'd rather that too.

Oh she also got a new collar. More on that next time.

On Teachers, Trust, and Training

46/52: Don't Stand So Close to Me, originally uploaded by mandypug.

Some thoughts from my day off today...


I have the best teachers. They really work hard to ensure I have the support I need to succeed and the toughness to make sure I do my homework. Plus they're people to look up to. I see the success they have with their dogs and beyond that I see the great partnership and bond they have with them and I say to myself "I want that".


In obedience training or even life in general, trust is a huge thing. Izzie must trust me to not step on her, she must trust me to ensure her that the scary judge that's following us isn't trying to hurt her, and she must trust me to absolutely know what I'm doing so she can do what I want her to. If I question myself even a bit the connection is broken and she hesitates. In agility I need to run balls out but know what I'm doing. When I do, it's magical and we have great success. When I don't, we fail. I don't like to fail myself and I really don't like to fail my dog. I trust her to do what I ask and all she wants in return is to be able to trust me to guide her confidently. I'm working on it Iz, I promise.


I tend to call myself a lazy perfectionist in training (and life). I like perfection, I crave perfection, but often I don't have the drive to work for it. I do make excuses time to time and I can be a bit of a pill because I'm so competitive, but Sarah and Amanda are always there to call me on it and tell me to smarten up (and even if I snark back sometimes they still keep me around). I'm learning to be a better trainer and my dog reflects that. The one excuse you'll never hear me use is her breed. I did get a little angry at someone on Facebook because they blamed a problem we have on her breed. My dog's breed is not an excuse for my lack of skill as a trainer or my laziness. It bothers me that there are people in my breed, a large percentage of people actually, that will use the dog's breed as an excuse. That doesn't fly here.


Anyway, we continue to have fun working toward our goals whether we achieve them or not. Because really, isn't that the whole point of these games?


“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” - Greg Anderson

LDKC 2012 Recap

This will be short and sweet as I have to go to work, more substantial stuff to come tomorrow.

This past weekend was the Lethbridge and District Kennel Club show and Izzie competed in 3 rounds of rally obedience and one scenthurdle race. In rally she earned 3 qualifying scores with two high in class placements which completed her Rally Advanced title in one weekend! Good girly! Then in scenthurdle she debuted with our team, no nonscents, and actually did very well. She was a little hesitant to go up the line but she did it and she fetched the right dumbbell and didn't cross the line or drop the dumbbell at all. Super good girly. The scenthurdle people that were there were all very nice and really wanted us to succeed, even if it meant running up with Iz the first time when she stalled out. I think for a sport with such a small following right now it's important to encourage the newcomers like these folks did to me.

Anyway, time to go make money to pay for all this dog stuff. Here's the show photo I got for Izzie, it's a rare shot that includes me too.

Mishmash VI

Oh jeeze I haven't had a mishmash post for months now! I guess I haven't been thinking randomly for a while. Anywhoooo, another collection of ideas that are not quite big enough for their own blogs...

- There's a rapper called shorty shit stains, this fun fact courtesy of Sarah. Yup, google it, it's true. I laughed when she woke me up with that text message.

- I have cried in the past month when I come home from work. I think the general pet owning population is getting more clueless.

- I think a large percentage of people around me think I'm an alcoholic... Or at least the nice folks that work at the liquor store I frequent.

- No I'm not taking Rescue Remedy for the alcohol content... Though I think it's probably more socially acceptable to drown yourself in rescue remedy ring side than a bottle of wine.

- There's a couple of businessmen that sit in their BMW every morning shift I have and eat their McDonald's breakfast sandwiches. They leave when I go into my store. I have no idea who they are but we wave at each other now. They seem nice.

- I have a kick ass blender.

- I have the best dog in the world.

- My facebook feed is being filled with people talking about how CM is their hero.

- I don't care for that ^

- I have really bad ring nerves lately. I think I need to stop taking myself so seriously.

- Or buy mints to cover up the smell of my nerves from my dog and smack myself in the head when I'm losing it like Sarah told me to.

- I'm wearing my red shoes all weekend, even if they clash with my outfit. I absolutely LOVE my red shoes.

- This song is stuck in my head:

Thirteen pounds of pure cute.

Thirteen pounds of pure cute., originally uploaded by mandypug.

Just going to leave this here for you all. Try not to drown in all the adorableness.

Pain in the Ass

Photo by Wendy Devent of Paws on the Run Photography

Literally.

Izzie's a very healthy little dog. We rarely have had to see the vet save for her spay, her eye injury, a couple allergic reactions and now... Anal gland issues.

She's had 2 ruptures in the past year. Before 8 or so months ago there was no issues. She didn't lick/chew or drag her butt, didn't really even have enough soft poop to make me think there would be an issue. She's four and it's just this year that it's happened twice. Sigh. 

So 10 days ago we visited our vet again because her left gland ruptured. Not cool. Especially 3 days before a trial. A couple days of metacam and a round of anti-biotics and she's all healed up and was okayed to trial that weekend too. She even ran really well despite having an extra hole back there! Wasn't bothered a bit by it.

This has been a major pain in the ass, literally for the pug and figuratively for me. She'll be getting her butt checked and squeezed regularly from now on. I'm not doing it myself, no way. But luckily I have a friend willing to help me out haha (go check out her page).

Anyway, Izzie is back to her old self now and we're headed off to yet another trial next weekend in cowtown. I love trialling and Izzie does too, she gets extra treats though so I think that's mostly why.