2011: A Year of Firsts

Go Izzie Go!, originally uploaded by mandypug.

This past year has been full of action. I've done more with Izzie than ever, taken more classes than ever, and logged more kilometres on the odometer than ever.

In July we earned our first title ever. Just a Canine Good Neighbour, but still this is my first dog of my own and lets face it there are a hell of a lot of dogs out there that couldn't pass the CGN test (and it's a pretty easy test imho).

In August we competed in our first trial ever. At that trial, on our first run ever, we earned our first Q and our first first place ribbon.

In November we earned our first agility title, Starters Games Dog of Canada and we're only one Q away from our Agility Dog of Canada title.

We have 8 Qs in 6 trials. Not too shabby i think for a complete newbie to the sport with my first dog who was not raised for agility that was nearly completely shut down when we started with Go Dog Go. Not too shabby at all.

This may have been the year of Agility, but we did other things too!

We also started on Obedience and Rally training, mostly heel work. Never really thought I'd be interested in that stuff but it's surprisingly fun and a very well trained obedience dog is cool to watch.

Izzie and I also ventured into the world of team sports, particularly Scent Hurdle. I'd never taught a retrieve before and Izzie isn't particularly inclined to pick up things other than food. However i taught it to her, took about a week, and she's now a retrieving fool!

Izzie also saw sheep for the first time, which was super cool and kind of funny.

Anyways, we've had a lot of success and learning in 2011 and while we did not obtain our goal (and i hate goals, i never make them) of both starters titles by the end of the year we came very close and Izzie has been running awesome and clean and i couldn't be more proud. I'm definitely looking forward to what 2012 might bring us!

Peanut Butter Face

Peanut Butter Face, originally uploaded by mandypug.

Too cute not to share!
Dogs are fun when you shove a dollop of peanut butter in their mouths, especially Izzie.

Mishmash the Second

It's the end of December and there's no snow and has been blue skies and warmth. This is weird even though wind here brings warmth. I wonder what mother nature has in store for us though, this can't last...

I learned how to gamble at the casino on Tuesday night with my friend AND came away with $160. Spent it at Lululemon and feel pretty good about it, gotta win a jackpot next time though!

Izzie's rally training is coming along nicely, she's getting more and more comfortable with the leash each time we work on it. I'm getting over my issues too.

I've become so wrapped up in clean and perfect accurate runs that i micromanage and freak Izzie out. Must work on letting loose and trusting Izzie's training and taking some chances, it makes her go faster and i imagine it's more fun for her too. She knows what she's doing and i need to stop babying her and take advantage of my straight lines (or Jolayne will yell at me).

I haven't shaved my legs in like two months.

Free shaping is hilarious. Izzie lifted up her back end and planted it squarely into her training bag tonight without touching the edges of the bag, i had to laugh.

Lululemon reusable bags make the BEST training bags. Izzie got a new one for Christmas, I got the hoodie that was inside of it.

Izzie and I went to watch Gyp and Sarah and Pike and Cindy herding a couple weeks ago. Izzie and i ended up in the arena with the sheep for about 5 minutes and it was FUN! Not that we'll pursue it but Izzie was really thinking in there and was pretty intrigued by the fact that if she stepped toward the sheep they'd move away from her. Perhaps she was telling them "Bah Ram Ewe!"

That'll Do Pug..., originally uploaded by mandypug.

Thanks Shay for the funny photoshop job!

My Little Dog

A heartbeat at my feet., originally uploaded by mandypug.

Having a little mushy moment today... I couldn't love this little dog more than i do, she is perfection to me.

Crafty

Achievements ought to be displayed., originally uploaded by mandypug.

Lookit that you lucky readers, two posts in one day! I finished up my little project early and wanted to show you all what i did with the prop in the last post.

Combine a cheap leash rack from a discount store with some old picture hanging wire kicking around in the garage, add lots of brilliant wrapping of the wire around the pegs and voila! A ribbon rack to display Izzie's awards!

Her ribbons were just hanging on a hook, not displayed, in my room and i kinda need that hook to hang other things on so i figured it's about time Izzie got her own ribbon display.

Now to find somewhere to hang it!

One Word

So much better than you..., originally uploaded by mandypug.

You know those self study survey type questions that are often on high school "personal development" assignments? I always hated those (almost as much as goal setting actually), especially the "Describe yourself with one word" question. I could never pick a word for myself.

Izzie, however complex, can pretty much be described with one word and everyone would probably agree. Izzie is a princess.

She's still sweet though despite being royalty, unable to rule with an iron paw like the Queen Jane does. She's just too nice.

Merry Pugmas!

Fill it up!, originally uploaded by mandypug.

Someone is impatient waiting for Santa Paws...