Like I said earlier, in just two weeks I see a significant amount of progress in raising her pasterns. My pretty little werewolf.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Two Weeks Progress
Like I said earlier, in just two weeks I see a significant amount of progress in raising her pasterns. My pretty little werewolf.
Gaiting
Last night we practiced some gaiting and free-stacking in the driveway and down the street. She's really quite good at maintaining a nice little trot and a loose leash. We did that for a while and then we practiced free-stacking right in front of me instead of to the side of me. She's not as clear on that concept because we've never done it before, but she'll get it soon enough. I had Mom play judge mainly because we don't want Audrey to end up like Mackenzie who can't function anytime Mom OR Dad is anywhere near the ring. Of course Mom thought Audrey looked great even when she had one leg totally out of place like a GSD show stack. :)
After doing that for a few minutes I still had some bait left so I ran inside and traded dogs. Now I know this blog is about Audrey, but I must talk about Mackenzie for just a few sentences. When I came inside last night I was sniffling and breathless from the cold front that swooped in while we were out there and all I could say was "Mackenzie is such a BADASS."
It was the middle of 5PM traffic, two other people were walking their dogs (both stopped to say Hello and watch us for a while), neighbors were coming home from work or unloading groceries, cars were speeding down the road, and Mackenzie was focused enough to HEEL in the STREET with me. We worked pace changes (normal, fast, slow), about turns, fronts, finishes, everything I could think of before it got too cold and windy to function. She was absolutely incredible. She is so ready for the San Antonio show at the end of February. Too bad we didn't enter. :(
After doing that for a few minutes I still had some bait left so I ran inside and traded dogs. Now I know this blog is about Audrey, but I must talk about Mackenzie for just a few sentences. When I came inside last night I was sniffling and breathless from the cold front that swooped in while we were out there and all I could say was "Mackenzie is such a BADASS."
It was the middle of 5PM traffic, two other people were walking their dogs (both stopped to say Hello and watch us for a while), neighbors were coming home from work or unloading groceries, cars were speeding down the road, and Mackenzie was focused enough to HEEL in the STREET with me. We worked pace changes (normal, fast, slow), about turns, fronts, finishes, everything I could think of before it got too cold and windy to function. She was absolutely incredible. She is so ready for the San Antonio show at the end of February. Too bad we didn't enter. :(
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Stacking/Pasterns at 17wks
A couple weeks ago Dad took some pictures of Audrey and I (she was 17wks at the time) practicing her show stack. I was thinking she was looking pretty damn good, but once we (her breeders and I) checked out the pics, we noticed that she was looking quite down in her pasterns (front wrist area).
We've started some supplements (just Vit C and Fish Oil so far, I'm still waiting on the "real" supplements to come in the mail) and I constructed a raised feeding station for her out of a cardboard box cause I'm super crafty like that and I can honestly say that today I see some subtle improvement. I will post some updated pics later so we can track her progress on here.
Audrey's sister Quest is doing fine by the way. :)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Parvo
Unfortunately Quest (Audrey's sister) was diagnosed with Parvo on Tuesday. Currently she is stable in the hospital on IV fluids.
Audrey tested negative this morning. Thank God.
I'll keep you updated.
Audrey tested negative this morning. Thank God.
I'll keep you updated.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
A Video!
Here is a video from one of the first few days that Audrey was home. She is about 10 1/2 weeks old.
Catastrophes!
Somehow my dogs (and me) seem to attract all kinds of catastrophes wherever we go.
Yesterday was time for Audrey's final puppy shots. We got to the Vet and everything was fine. She was all wiggly to meet everyone and sniff them and their dogs/cats. She was a champ getting her shots and everything was great except when I went to lift her off the table I mistakenly grabbed her at the injection site and she yelped. Thankfully we recovered and left on a high note (she met a cat and that got her all wiggly again).
After the Vet we went to PetSmart to buy her some treats and a new BIG toy (since April de-squeaked her giant Stingray). We were in the parking lot talking to one of my groomer friends when I saw out of the corner of my eye a truck with a big tail wagging out of the back. I thought nothing of it and we said bye to my friend and kept walking. Suddenly out of nowhere a GIGANTIC Great Pyrenees mix (I know the odds are slim that he was one, but that's what he looked like) comes RUNNING, GROWLING, AND LUNGING AT AUDREY.
I go into Alpha protection mode and I sort of crouched between the dog and Audrey and yelled "NO NO NO STOP IT GO AWAY." Then I grabbed the big dog by the scruff/collar and told him again "NO NO NO". By this point the owner was on his way over (nonchalantly of course) saying "Oh don't worry, he won't hurt her." To which I yelled "HE'S RUNNING, GROWLING, AND LUNGING AT MY DOG. GET HIM AWAY FROM HER."
Once he was contained, Audrey literally shook herself off and wiggled towards the door as though nothing had happened (Thank God). Once inside she wiggled and said Hello to a few people, played with a dachshund puppy (who she probably thought was a way friendlier Mackenzie), and sniffed every inch of the floor. I was grabbing a few things for her and didn't think I needed a cart or basket so I had everything in my arms. Right at the front of the store are the MilkBone Gravy Biscuits which everyone loves (especially Mackenzie because to her they are ginormous) so I went to grab a box.
You can probably tell where this is going... as I reached for the box, I became aware that I probably had too many things in my arms to begin with, and the box fell. Yes, it fell, right on top of my little Audrey. She proceeded to yell and scream at the top of her lungs and try to run away, probably more so from the shock, than it actually hurting her. I spilled everything from my arms, got on the floor with her and fed her cookies. We recovered again after a short time but the noise of the biscuits being shaken in the box still worries her, but she'll get over it once she realizes what the box actually contains.
That was our last catastrophe of yesterday, but as you can tell we live a life full of adventure.
Today Dad had his left knee operated on (in March of '08 he had the right knee done) so we're playing nurse. Hopefully she doesn't rip off his bandages, chew on his ice pack, or pounce on his leg until he's feeling better. :)
Yesterday was time for Audrey's final puppy shots. We got to the Vet and everything was fine. She was all wiggly to meet everyone and sniff them and their dogs/cats. She was a champ getting her shots and everything was great except when I went to lift her off the table I mistakenly grabbed her at the injection site and she yelped. Thankfully we recovered and left on a high note (she met a cat and that got her all wiggly again).
After the Vet we went to PetSmart to buy her some treats and a new BIG toy (since April de-squeaked her giant Stingray). We were in the parking lot talking to one of my groomer friends when I saw out of the corner of my eye a truck with a big tail wagging out of the back. I thought nothing of it and we said bye to my friend and kept walking. Suddenly out of nowhere a GIGANTIC Great Pyrenees mix (I know the odds are slim that he was one, but that's what he looked like) comes RUNNING, GROWLING, AND LUNGING AT AUDREY.
I go into Alpha protection mode and I sort of crouched between the dog and Audrey and yelled "NO NO NO STOP IT GO AWAY." Then I grabbed the big dog by the scruff/collar and told him again "NO NO NO". By this point the owner was on his way over (nonchalantly of course) saying "Oh don't worry, he won't hurt her." To which I yelled "HE'S RUNNING, GROWLING, AND LUNGING AT MY DOG. GET HIM AWAY FROM HER."
Once he was contained, Audrey literally shook herself off and wiggled towards the door as though nothing had happened (Thank God). Once inside she wiggled and said Hello to a few people, played with a dachshund puppy (who she probably thought was a way friendlier Mackenzie), and sniffed every inch of the floor. I was grabbing a few things for her and didn't think I needed a cart or basket so I had everything in my arms. Right at the front of the store are the MilkBone Gravy Biscuits which everyone loves (especially Mackenzie because to her they are ginormous) so I went to grab a box.
You can probably tell where this is going... as I reached for the box, I became aware that I probably had too many things in my arms to begin with, and the box fell. Yes, it fell, right on top of my little Audrey. She proceeded to yell and scream at the top of her lungs and try to run away, probably more so from the shock, than it actually hurting her. I spilled everything from my arms, got on the floor with her and fed her cookies. We recovered again after a short time but the noise of the biscuits being shaken in the box still worries her, but she'll get over it once she realizes what the box actually contains.
That was our last catastrophe of yesterday, but as you can tell we live a life full of adventure.
Today Dad had his left knee operated on (in March of '08 he had the right knee done) so we're playing nurse. Hopefully she doesn't rip off his bandages, chew on his ice pack, or pounce on his leg until he's feeling better. :)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Being a puppy is tiring!
Sorry for the lack of pupdates. My internet has been spotty.
Yesterday was Audrey's first official grooming! I took her and Spencer out to Paws and Claws (our breeder owns and operates a boarding kennel) to get them groomed and let them play with some of their dogs.
Spencer, who I am clearly mistaken about, was a perfect gentleman with everyone. Usually I say that he is iffy around other dogs because of his reputation for getting picked on/attacked at the dog park. Even Wicket the Borzoi (who honestly, might be the only dog in the world I've ever been scared of at first sight because she's so huge and breathtaking) didn't phase him. He hung out/ran around with a Flat Coated Retriever, a Springer Spaniel, a Silky Terrier (more on her later), a Corgi, a Field Spaniel, and the Borzoi and Audrey.
Audrey, on the other hand, has this effect on other dogs. They all want to eat her. Everyone was fine at first but then the Silky decided Audrey would be a nice snack and was determined to eat her face. Then the Big Dogs decided to all sniff Audrey at the same time so she was flopped on her back, kicking her legs in the air and simultaneously showing her teeth just in case. Once we got the Silky put in another kennel run, we brought out Quest (the puppy that our breeder chose to keep from Audrey's litter). So Quest comes barreling out and also decides that Audrey needs to be eaten. After a few loud and toothy scraps we decide that maybe it's not a good idea to have them play together. Later though Audrey did get to play with a crazy, gorgeous 1yo Pomeranian who Spence even played with.
In addition to the socializing with other dogs, Audrey also heard a lawnmower, walked on a wooden slatted thingy, said HI to the cat, and got groomed. It was her 2nd bath, but her first time getting her nails clipped, her paw hair was trimmed, and her head, neck, and ears got shaved.
As far as people go Audrey's met probably close to her 100 people thus far. I had a small get together last week, she met my Aunt today, and I'm having a party tomorrow. She gets a car ride nearly every evening too. She's also gone to PetSmart once a week since I got her so I think we're doing pretty well.
Yesterday was Audrey's first official grooming! I took her and Spencer out to Paws and Claws (our breeder owns and operates a boarding kennel) to get them groomed and let them play with some of their dogs.
Spencer, who I am clearly mistaken about, was a perfect gentleman with everyone. Usually I say that he is iffy around other dogs because of his reputation for getting picked on/attacked at the dog park. Even Wicket the Borzoi (who honestly, might be the only dog in the world I've ever been scared of at first sight because she's so huge and breathtaking) didn't phase him. He hung out/ran around with a Flat Coated Retriever, a Springer Spaniel, a Silky Terrier (more on her later), a Corgi, a Field Spaniel, and the Borzoi and Audrey.
Audrey, on the other hand, has this effect on other dogs. They all want to eat her. Everyone was fine at first but then the Silky decided Audrey would be a nice snack and was determined to eat her face. Then the Big Dogs decided to all sniff Audrey at the same time so she was flopped on her back, kicking her legs in the air and simultaneously showing her teeth just in case. Once we got the Silky put in another kennel run, we brought out Quest (the puppy that our breeder chose to keep from Audrey's litter). So Quest comes barreling out and also decides that Audrey needs to be eaten. After a few loud and toothy scraps we decide that maybe it's not a good idea to have them play together. Later though Audrey did get to play with a crazy, gorgeous 1yo Pomeranian who Spence even played with.
In addition to the socializing with other dogs, Audrey also heard a lawnmower, walked on a wooden slatted thingy, said HI to the cat, and got groomed. It was her 2nd bath, but her first time getting her nails clipped, her paw hair was trimmed, and her head, neck, and ears got shaved.
As far as people go Audrey's met probably close to her 100 people thus far. I had a small get together last week, she met my Aunt today, and I'm having a party tomorrow. She gets a car ride nearly every evening too. She's also gone to PetSmart once a week since I got her so I think we're doing pretty well.
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