Tansy Gotcha Day

Today is Tansy's Gotcha Day!

I have had the little guy for 1 year. 

This time last year I was going into the feed store a couple of times a week, just to look at the bunnies.  I kept telling myself,  "You don't need a bunny.  You're just looking, but you don't need a bunny."  Yeah.  Right. 

So every week I would go in to the feed store and every week the bunnies would be sold out.  Week after week after week.  Then one week there were 2 white bunnies with red eyes.  But I didn't want to separate the little bunnies.  I also didn't want a Red Eyed White (AT ALL!!).  Hmmmm, and Kiwi?  Yeah.  Never say you will never do/have/be something.  Kiwi is the sweetest REW ever! 

Back to Tansy.

The next week there was one tiny brown bunny in the bin.  It was all by itself.  It was flopped over on its side watching the people go by.  I put my hand into the bin and it crawled right into my hand and sat there.  I picked it up and it sat there.  I really wanted this bunny!!!

But I didn't buy it.

I left and did some errands.  If the bunny was still there when I went back - it was meant to be.  If he wasn't there?  It wasn't meant to be.

It was still there!!!

You might notice that I keep calling him an 'it'.  Baby bunnies are very hard to sex.  Tansy was in the 'Female' bin when I bought him.  I couldn't see any male signs until a couple of days before he was ready to be spayed.  Even then I wasn't positive.  When I dropped him off to be spayed I told the vet,  "I think Tansy might be a boy.  So maybe it will be a neuter?" 

That's why Tansy has a 'girl' name. 

Too bad, because I have a really good boy name that I want to use someday.

I couldn't use it on Kiwi, because obviously as a New Zealand White he had to be called Kiwi!

Finding out Tansy was a boy was very hard.  I had all sorts of pink toys, blankets and pillows for him.  I had thought of him as a girl for 3 months.  I actually called him 'my sweet little girl' for those 3 months!!!

Poor Tansy. :P

Now some pictures!

Sleeping.

Catty and Tansy.

Big boy resting.

Garden bunny!

Catty and Tansy pre-friends.  I was afraid to let them be together, because Catty has killed wild rabbits before.  I went on vacation and the pet sitter came home one day to find Catty and Tansy chilling on the couch together.  I guess they decided that they wanted to be friends.

When I still thought he was a she.

Baby Tansy with his stuffed bunny buddy.

Really baby Tansy.

See why I fell in LoVe with him?!?

Sleeping in my arms.

Ittle wittle baby Tansy.

  First night at home.

Tansy baby!

Strange Day

Today was just off somehow.
 Tibby and I went hiking again, but it wasn't very much fun.  We set off on our regular path.  We were making pretty good time - even with the slushy snow.  We crossed the final ski path, which always makes me feel better, because I don't have to worry about holding on to Tibby's leash (she just drags it).  Tibby stopped after we crossed the ski path and she wouldn't move.  She growled and barked at something that I couldn't see in the trees.  Freaked me out!!  Tibby NEVER growls.  Ever.  I can count on one hand the number of times she has barked at something.  We turned around and went back up the path toward the car again.  Tibby kept turning around and looking behind us.  This isn't normal behavior for her.

 I was disappointed that Tibby wasn't going to get very much exercise, so I took a side path and we hiked on that for a while.  The path goes through a big open field.  Tibby was frolicking along through the snow.  I was sinking in the snow!  Yuck!  We got to the tree edge and Tibby went alert again.  Barking, growling, running away and then back to me.  Generally telling me,  "Let's get out of here!"

We slogged our way back to the first path and went back to the car.  She kept looking behind us the whole time we were in the forest on the path.  When we got to the road and started walking back to the car she was fine.  Very scary.  I figure she can see, hear and smell more things than I can. 

Maybe it was coyotes?   There were some very near us last Fall.  Super scary.  When you are alone (with Tibby) and they are howling and barking all around you.  Not fun. 
My friend (Zoe's Mom) always carries a knife and a gun when she goes hiking.  And now you know not to sneak up on her when she's hiking!  LOL!

We went home and took a nap with Catty.  Best part of the day!  Tibby is so funny.  She gets underneath the covers and sleeps with her head on the pillow. 

We trained a couple times today.  It wasn't great.  Tibby didn't want to work with any props - steps, skateboard.  She did heeling, weaving between my legs and some other tricks.  Before our hike we worked on the box.  Finally got 4 feet into the little box!  Twice!  Then she went back to only 2 feet.  We did have fun tugging/ chasing.  I bought Tibby a new purple tug toy.  She loves it!  OK I guess it was a good training day.  Just a little strange.

Hmmmmm

How creepy would this be?  I just checked Tibby's breeder's website.  They had a cute black/sable/white male for sale.  Someone who bought a puppy from Tibby's litter just bought him.  AND they live in my town.  AND they live like 4 blocks from my parents.  Internet = way to easy to look people up.  Creepy if Tibby and I walk by their house a few times?  Wouldn't it be fun to have a TT playdate?  Hmmmmm
I can't even imagine having 2 puppies in the house.  Lots of work.  Fun.  But lots of work.

Petfinder Adopt the Internet Day

Today is Petfinder Adopt the Internet Day.  I love looking at Petfinder.  Not that I'm looking for another dog, but it makes me appreciate my puppy more (somehow) and I love looking at dogs.

So for today:

Tibetans looking for loving homes.

Click the pic to go to their petfinder page.

Daisy is 7 and looking for a home after her owners had kids.

 Fostered in Illinois

This is one that has bothered me for a long time.  Lilbit is 4 years old and deaf.

  She does not play with toys.  ????
Lives in Ohio.

 

Speedy just turned 1.  He lost his home after his owner died.

Sad. 

 Fostered in North Carolina.

 

Bobby McGee  What a pretty boy!
Fostered in Arizona.

 

Misty is 5 1/2 months old.  A little baby!

So cute!
Fostered in Oregon.

Keika has 2 blue eyes!  She is 2 years old and in Alaska.

Good thing or I might be tempted....

There are many more Tibetan Terriers on petfinder.  They get added everyday.  The sad ones are the CA high kill shelter postings.  So sad.

Now this last one isn't a TT, but I really like this little boy.  Not sure why, but here he is.

 

Snowball.  He is an Aussiedoodle.  Australian Shepard x Poodle. 

He was rescued from a puppy mill.  He is very shy.  He hates to be crated - just like Tibby.

 Fostered in Minnesota.

Well, there they are!  Looking for a friend?  Check out Petfinder!

Tibby's Photo Shoot - Day 11

The 11th and last picture.

This is just a plain sweet picture.  I like this one a lot.  My Mom calls this one a perfect baby puppy picture (from someone who claims to not like dogs!). 

I like the way she is looking at the camera, her tail is curled up and her body is angled.  She looks so soft too!  It just makes me want to snuggle her!

To vote for Tibby: Click Here

Today is the last day to vote!

Official Contest Picture

My Personal Trainer

Would I have gone for a 2 hour hike if I didn't have Tibby?  No.

Because: it's cold, it takes 20+ mins to drive to the park, I'm tired, I have things to do, it's Monday, ect.

Why do I take her?

Because: I love her, I like to sleep at night, the sun is out, it's 30F, it makes her happy, ect.

My little personal trainer.

I didn't snowshoe today, just hiked, because while the snow is still there (still 3-4 feet deep and deeper where it drifts) it is really hard and crusty.  It didn't make sense to wear the snowshoes.  Boots worked just fine today.  It was a nice hike.  We didn't meet a single person.  Tibby was so, SO happy!  We did some recalls (up hill - hee hee) and she did a great.  She needs to work on her braking system a little bit, but otherwise it was perfect.

Tibby's Photo Shoot - Day 10

The 10th picture.

I LOVE this photo too!

I just wish Tibby looked a tiny bit happier! LOL!

She was sitting on a wooden folding chair and the chair was on a 3 foot high platform.

I was so terrified that she would decide to jump off and hurt herself.

So what I was thinking during this shot, "Please hold still!  Wait!  Wait!  Don't jump!"

I like the skirt in this pic, because it covers Tibby's naked little tummy.

I still can't belive that she sat for this photo.  I basically slipped the skirt, beads and boa on her and then just plopped her in the chair.  She looked at the camera and sat perfectly still.  Amazing, because she was zooming around the studio in between outfit changes.

To vote for Tibby: Click Here

Only one more day left to vote!

Official Contest Picture

Tibby's Photo Shoot - Day 9

The 9th picture.

Tibby looks so loooong in this photo!

I do like how her tail is curled up.  It's nice to have a picture that caught that.

To vote for Tibby: Click Here

Official Contest Picture

Training Update

11AM - We have puppy in a box!!!  Big Jackpot for all 4 feet in.  Total time: 1min.

11:17AM  - Lots of drive and excitement!  Result:  Puppy jumping into box.  Total time: 10min.

1PM  -  Around The Cone - great!  Only going right around the cone.  (free shaped)
Puppy in a box - very good.  Jumping in with all feet.
Skateboard - Awesome!  2 feet on and in the middle of board.  Excited to get to the skateboard.
What I changed:  Me.  Lots of excited talking and breaks to run around the house with Tibby.  Using the running as a reward.  Total time: 10 min.

Tibby's Photo Shoot - Day 8

The 8th picture.

My Mom calls this one 'Superdog!".  She thinks Tibby looks like she is wearing a cape. 

I just wanted a nice one of Tibby in her raincoat.

I have the other one with her bowing, but this one is different.

To vote for Tibby:  Click Here

Official Contest Picture

Training Update

Worked on PERCH.  Really great!  Front feet on and back feet off.  Went right and left.  Left was easier.  Treated with cheese.  I need to remember to talk more.  Click/treat isn't rewarding enough for Tibby.  She moved around the perch faster and with more enthusiasm when I talked to her.  Total time: 5 min.  2 slices of cheese.

Training Update

Practiced skateboard/ 2on 2off / Hold.
(treated with cheese)
-Last night had 2 feet on SKATEBOARD.  Today only 1 foot on.  Treating for duration and location of foot (feet) on skateboard (middle).  No cue yet.
- Would like to get more duration of HOLD with tennis ball.  Still getting lots of pawing.  No cue yet.
- Short 2o2o - just to introduce idea.  Used stairs.  No cue yet.
Total time: 5 min.  2 slices cheese.

Tibby's Photo Shoot - Day 7

The 7th picture.

Just a nice earnest profile shot. 

I wish that is wasn't quite so profile-y.  I would like to see a little bit more of her other eye, but I still bought it, because it's cute and she looks so serious.

To vote for Tibby:  Click Here

Official Contest Entry

Tibby's Photo Shoot - Day 6

The 6th Picture.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture!

This is my favorite.

Tibby looks so happy!

I wish I had picked this one to enter in the contest.

The night before her photo shoot I bought the boa and necklace and tried to get Tibby to wear them.  She was more interested in trying to eat the feathers.  So I wasn't sure how it would work at the photography studio the next day.  At the studio, Tibby was so pumped up and excited that she didn't care about the boa or beads.  She would have let me put anything on her!  Then she just looked at the camera and sat for her picture.   

To vote for Tibby: Click Here

Official Contest Photo

Wordless Wednesday