Tell Me Thursday + Fun Video

Hey it's time for Tell Me Thursday!  This week's questions:

1. If you're not at the 2011 Sheepdog finals this weekend what are you planning to do?

2. One item you NEVER walk onto the trial field (any trial field, or training class will suffice) without?

3. Katy wants to know if you have a pre-run ritual that you observe?

4. How old were you when you had your first real kiss?

5. Bonnie wants to know what you do for yard mud control during the winter?

1. If you're not at the 2011 Sheepdog finals this weekend what are you planning to do?

Let's see....move my Grandma into her new house.  Referee some bang up fights between my Mom and my Grandma.  Take Tibby to the local Coffee Fest in her cute Scottish outfit.  Yeah, I know she isn't Scottish, but I am!  (mostly...!)  Drink lots of free coffee and then when I'm all pumped full of caffeine, go back to refereeing.  Fun week-end ahead.

2. One item you NEVER walk onto the trial field (any trial field, or training class will suffice) without?

Well.....I'm very new to the whole dog training thing (see video at end of post), but I guess I like to have my dog, shoes and clothes.  Mostly very comfy pants - very important.  Yeah I can't really think of anything else.  Ask me in a couple years when we have been to a trial!.......or a training class......

3. Katy wants to know if you have a pre-run ritual that you observe?

Do 3 jumps and a tunnel count as a run?  If so, yes I have a ritual:  Get Tibby, make sure Tibby is paying attention, hey!  Tibby!  I have treats!  Ok, then do a trick.  Reward trick and then try to do some agility!  It's working so far!  Oh! I also put my shoes on before the ritual starts.  No bare feet in the backyard.  Not unless you want to step in something Catty caught and killed 2 weeks ago.  Squishy.

5. Bonnie wants to know what you do for yard mud control during the winter?

Good question!  Well, last year my back yard looked like this (it looks much better this year) -

Gratuitous baby Tibby pic

And this -

Tibby last year with my cousin.

See the straw to the left of the picture?  That worked pretty good.  Then winter came the next week, so I didn't have to worry about mud again until Spring - 5 months later......when Tibby was much bigger.  She could jump over my handy little fences and run like a crazy beast through the mud.  Tibby got/gets a lot of foot baths.  I pick her up at the door and take her into the bathroom, plop her in the tub and wash off her feet/leg/belly with the sprayer.  During the mud season she gets at least 3 foot baths a day.  Mud, mud it's coming......then stupid snow.  Which is much worse!  The roads here have tons of salt and sand on them.  So all winter I have to wash Tibby's feet off.  I love summer.  Dry, clean summer.

Tibby says, "What?  Real dogs wear hats."

And do agility!

~

What is awesome about the following video:

1 - Loretta is a super teacher and also was nice enough to video us.

2 - Tibby is not running away.

3 - I will repeat - NOT.  RUNNING.  AWAY.  Or doing zoomies. 

4 - Tibby is jumping over the jumps.  Not running through the jumps.  A small thing, but it makes such a big difference.

5 - I am paying attention to Tibby and not running merrily along by myself expecting Tibby to follow me. 

6 - Tibby goes through the tunnel!! Yay! And she didn't need to think about it for 5 mins before she did it!

7 - We are having SO MUCH FUN!!

8 - Tibby is cute. Oh wait you knew that already!