Everyone is currently sleeping in the living room - everyone, including the cat. Zeeke is laying on the couch, as is Zoe, and Jojo is curled up on the floor (the floor!) in the hallway. I think Zeeke’s keeping half an eye on him. But holy cow. This is progress!

That clicker makes me enjoy training them more. Or at least gets me motivated. I see it sitting there - along with the treat apron - and it’s easy to just start. Only using kibble, though - I need to find some better treats to train with. Zoe isn’t too keen on the kibble (and she’s the chow-hound!).

Zeeke is doing flatly excellent with the clicker. It’s great to work with him because he learns so quickly - the clicker is just speeding it up even more. Although, we never used a marker word with him, so I don’t know if the clicker itself is helping or the marker. Either way, he really really likes that clicker.

Zoe however isn’t paying it much attention. Neither the treats. She just seems kind of out in la-la land. She really doesn’t have that drive that Zeeke does - heck, she doesn’t have the drive that Oreo does (when it comes to treats). I’ve continued to use the “Yes” marker with her, it seems to work well since she knows it. And I’m worried about confusing the two dogs using the clicker for both of them.

Even when I’m involved in a book it’s hard to resist a sweet little dog begging you to play with her. She started with chewing on a toy - noisily - and when she noticed me watching her she ran over to flop down beside me on the bed and kick her legs in the air, grunting. Never fails to get a reaction out of me. So what else could I do, but put down my book and start playing with her?

I ended up getting up and throwing toys up and down the hall for her. But of course Zeeke swooped in, so it turned into me chasing Zeeke up and down the hallway, with him hogging both toys (he’d hold one in his mouth while chasing the other!), and Zoe standing in the hallway watching us both race past. Not quite what I had intended. Now he’s tired (flopped out on his side after taking a big drink), and Zoe’s still a bit restless. Oh well, what can you do.

A very sweet habit she’s developed: I moved my laptop to the dining table out in the living room and have been spending all my computer time out here. And every time I sit down here, she lays against the wall behind me. I have to be careful I don’t run over her tail or foot when I scoot around in my chair. But it’s just so precious! Zeeke likes to be in the same room as you, but he’ll find his own corner or take over the couch. Zoe, she has to be where I am. If I’m watching TV she’s either curled up beside me on the couch or laying on the floor right below me. She is just so precious.

Since we are wanting to start agility lessons I’m looking into our different options around here.

***

ACE Agility Club
(Palmer, MA )

Rebecca Wong
Email: kaneonapua@yahoo.com
589 North St
Feeding Hills, MA 01030-1309
(413) 786-5344
Affiliations: NADAC,USDAA

Services: Agility Classes, Indoor Training

Agility Classes: Beginner & Intermediate classes offered April through November

Indoor Training: Riding arena (60′ x 100′

***

Crystal Wright-Partyka
(East Otis, MA )

Crystal Wright-Partyka
Email: rhastadog@aol.com
P.O. Box 247
Blandford, MA 01008
(413) 269-7326
Affiliations: None

Services: Agility Classes, Facility Rental

Agility Classes: Outdoor agility, packed sand surface

Additional Comments: Location for classes: 446 Lee-Westfield Rd., East Otis, MA 01029 Master level instructors; weekday (day & evening), and weekend classes. Positive methods only. Fully fenced outdoor course.

***

Exercise Finished Dog Training Center
(Chicopee, MA )

Email: EFDTCInfo@aol.com
35 B No. Chicopee Street
Chicopee, MA 01020
(413) 533-0049
Affiliations: None

Services: Agility Classes, Facility Rental, Indoor Training, Other Services

Agility Classes: All levels. Competition classes with Elise Paffrath

Facility Rental: 60′ x 80′ agility ring and 40′ x 50′ obedience ring

Indoor Training: Air conditioning, stall matting

Other: Obedience, puppy training and breed handling classes

Additional Comments: Agility Practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursdays. Facility Rental and hourly ring rental available. Exercise Finished is located in the same building as Clean Run.

What a great day today!! Today was Dog Dayz and we did end up going, but only for Saturday - unfortunately we didn’t know in advance if Den would be available for Sunday, and besides that, we own no camping equipment. Makes it a little more difficult.

It was a one and a half hour drive into upper New York state farmland. Zeeke didn’t do so well with the drive up there, we stopped once to let him empty his stomach. I just don’t know what it is with him. *sigh*

It was very exciting when we got there. People were doing agility run-throughs, there was a flyball demo going on, a dock jumping dog and owner doing some demos (which was really fantastic! I’ve never seen a dog fly like that before!), and even sheep in a pen for a later herding demo. There were also booths set up for raffles, border collie memorabilia for sale, grooming/nail trimming (which we should have done with Zeeke - hindsight), and some great leashes for sale. We didn’t buy any leashes or collars yet, but I’m definitely still thinking about it.

We spent some time walking around watching the demos and letting the dogs check everything out. Zeeke was, as usual in public, the perfect gentleman. He greeted strange dogs and humans alike with politeness, even the rare times when a dog snarled at him (someone’s foster dog, who is still working on socialization). Zoe was doing very well with Zeeke beside her - I knew it would be a good thing to take them both, even if they can be a handful (like when we split up to use the washrooms or whatever - they hate being split up or even just one of us parents walking off!). People really got to see the real Zoe, with her tail up and everything. She was approaching people to sniff them, though she stopped shy of being petted and would generally back off again. But she wasn’t spending the entire time hiding behind my legs, which is great!

At one point I got Den to bring out the flexi leashes so we could let the dogs play in the pond. Other people were letting their dogs off-leash, but our two aren’t at that point of trust yet. Even with the flexi Zoe didn’t so much as dip her little paws in - apparently water is not an interesting thing and she couldn’t seem to understand why Zeeke was in it. Zeeke definitely liked it. First thing he did when we approached the pond was go splashing in. Actually, there was a small kiddie pool filled with water for a water bowl for the dogs, and Zeeke got in THAT too (not the first or the only!), He didn’t go right for swimming, but he went in as deep as he could and still touch. So we took him up on the dock and encouraged him to jump in. He definitely was interested, he was just trying to find an easier way in! But we kept encouraging and finally he leaned down towards the water. He put out his front paws and held himself up by his back paws, leaning forward, leaning forward… until the weight was too much and he let go. SPLASH! There was a look of horror and panic on his face as he disappeared right under water, head first. He came up flailing with his front legs, apparently forgetting that he CAN swim (he has before). Finally he stopped flailing and started swimming and swam to shore. At that point both Den and I were doubled over laughing. I was nearly crying I was laughing so hard. The look on his face as he went under was priceless. He ran around up to the dock and, with more encouragement from us, did it again - so it couldn’t have been too bad!

They served lunch in a dirt-floor building that they obviously use for agility training as well. People were lined up with their dogs standing beside them on leash (not everyone, but some). It again made me proud of all these well-behaved dogs! Zeeke, being so tall, was just too interested in all that food so Den stood to the side with both dogs while I got our lunches. Eating it was a bit tricky, though, as we had to sit on the grass to eat…. and sitting, with food, and dogs? Oh Zeeke wanted our lunches very badly. Zoe at least only sniffs, and then sits back when I tell her to leave it. So it was a bit of a juggle to get the dogs to not eat our stuff, but we managed. In fact, Zeeke ended up laying down. Did I mention we were sitting on a hill? Well we were. And Zeeke, the doofus, tried laying down and almost went tumbling all the way down the hill. Ha! It took him a few tries to figure out that he needed to lay facing UP hill. Den was pretty tired as well so he layed down on his back after lunch…. and there was a “HUMPH” sound as Zeeke noisily layed down beside him, flopping his head across Den’s stomach. Cute award!

Then I talked Den into trying the agility lessons for newbs with Zeeke. I ended up trying it with Zoe as well, though I went in saying, “I don’t know how much she’s going to be willing to do, if anything.” Den wasn’t sure Zeeke would do much, either - he kept saying, “I don’t think he’s going to do well, his attention span is so short” and “He’s really not going to like that teeter totter thing.” But we tried it.

I was right about Zoe - she didn’t really want to do anything. The tunnel thing? HA! Her? Go THROUGH that? Are you kidding her? So we just praised her for going up to it, sniffing it, sticking her head in it. That was as far as we got. She wasn’t so okay with the tire at first, though I do think half the problem was the trainer holding her leash. But after a couple of tries (and eating treats off my hand while sticking just her head through the tire) she walked through it. Big praise! The jump (set very low) was okay with her, she hopped over it (slowly). She did a sit-stay on one side, I’d call her from the other. Yay. The teeter thing was another matter entirely. They had a tippy board (a board with something underneath in the middle so it “tips” when the dog walks on it - it’s what they use to condition dogs to it. So wouldn’t so much as put her paw on it. She saw it moving when Zeeke tried it - nope, nope. I did get her to approach it, put her nose on it, and then I got her to “paw” it, which was great! It was suggested that I either make a board like that, or just use a garbage pail lid upside-down on the floor, and teach her to touch it with her paws, and then walk across it. It’s obvious with Zoe that it’s going to be a very long journey with very small steps. Everything is scary to her, so we need to de-sensitise her to it, then work up to it in baby steps. It’s going to be hard on me, because every little thing I do makes a huge impact - if I rush her even the slightest, she’ll freak out. I can’t push her. If I bump something - or someone else bumps something - while she’s sniffing it it’ll put her back. So yeah, it’s going to be a lot of work. But, I think it will indeed be a good confidence booster for her, once she learns that things aren’t so scary as she thought they were.

Zeeke was another story entirely. We walked in the ring and as we were standing there, Zeeke attempted to climb the A-frame. Den got him off it, of course, but Zeeke wanted to so bad.

First up for Zeeke was the tunnel. He took a while to get what we wanted - like, say, 5 seconds or so - and then he ran through it. Daddy had a cookie at the end! This is pretty cool, says he. After that the trainer could barely hold him back from running through the tunnel until Den called him. The trainer ended up lengthening the tunnel for him. No problems, Zeeke flew through it. So after a while she put a little bit of a curve at the end, saying that most dogs have to start from scratch again when there’s a bend in the tunnel. Zeeke? No problems. Bigger bend - no problems! So she scrunched it up small again and got Den to “send” Zeeke through the tunnel a few times. A little more problematic, although Den remarked, “I think he’s suffering from Bad Handler.” lol So Den was directed on how to hold his body to make sure Zeeke went where we wanted him to - the tunnel - and Zeeke was off. No problems! This tunnel thing sure is fun, dad! The funniest part about the tunnel was that every time Zeeke successfully made it through the tunnel, Zoe would get super excited and jump on him (or jump up and down if she couldn’t reach). It was like, You’re back! You survived!! It didn’t eat you!! Oh she was so happy. And yes, I think his ease and success made it easier for her to approach the tunnel - she wouldn’t go NEAR it before seeing him go running through it. So I think he is going to be a big boost to her training.

The tire wasn’t even worth mentioning to Zeeke. “So I jump through the tire thing? Okay, next?” They did have a bit of troubles with Den running beside Zeeke and sending him through the tire - Zeeke kept going around it. (So then they’d go back to calling Zeeke through it to make sure he succeeded, before trying it again.) And for the tire thing the trainer just unhooked Zeeke’s leash. I think Den and I both had a little heart-hiccup when we saw him go running through it with no leash on, but he obeyed perfectly. He tried wandering off to sniff the fence (it WAS a mostly fenced enclosure for agility), but came with Den called him. So honestly I think that was a big thing for Den and I, to see him doing well even off leash.

Next was the tippy board. Den said, “He isn’t going to like that, this is what he’ll have problems with.” The trainer walked him around the tippy board. Zeeke stepped on it. Click! Praise! Treat! Zeeke’s eyes lit up. He started jumping onto the tippy board, then looking up expectantly for that treat! So they moved him over to the very low training teeter. Zeeke walked across it perfectly! Not one issue with it tipping beneath his feet. Click! Praise! Treat! So he was very eagerly walking back and forth across that thing! And while he was doing that I moved Zoe over to the tippy board to start conditioning her. And as I’m trying to get her to put a paw on it, Zeeke comes running over, jumps on the tippy board (bang as it tips over), and looks at me for a treat. LOL! He definitely knew how that thing worked! “I jump on it, it goes bang, I get a treat. Can this get any easier?!”

Den was SO proud of Zeeke. I was too. I expected him to do well, but I certainly didn’t expect him to go running through everything with no fear and no hesitation, acing everything in two seconds. So someone pointed us in the direction of an agility trainer, who as it turns out lives and trains only a half an hour from our house! She has shelties, which are known for being very anxious and scared of things like Zoe is, so she’s familiar with working with dogs like this. She seems very nice. So we exchanged information, and we’ll try to set up some agility lessons for both dogs! Woo hoo! We’ll have to start with just me handling them both, as Den’s going to be away two weeks in September, but I hope to have Den take over Zeeke’s handling. I think it’ll be a really wonderful thing for both of them. We are a little concerned about the cost - $90 per dog for 6 weeks. I do think it will be worth it, though. Just seeing the look of joy and accomplishment on Zeeke’s face - and echoed on Den’s. And of course Zoe will really benefit from overcoming her fears, though I don’t really see her ever trialing - Zeeke on the other hand… he has the potential to be really really good.

Oh and we ended up winning a raffle, too! A picnic set of dishes - I haven’t really looked at it yet, but it has melamine plates and big plastic tumblers and even some little votive candles. Sweet! And Den was saying how we never win anything.

The drive home was completely silent. I had THREE asleep in the truck - two dogs and a hubby! That’s the FIRST time I’ve ever seen Zeeke laying down and quiet in the truck for any length of time. It was amazing. We stopped on the way home to get some shakes and fries from McDonald’s, and then it was silence again. When we got home Den layed down on the bed and immediately fell asleep, and Zeeke went into his crate and followed suit. He didn’t even bother finding the cat first. And Zoe, well, she figured if big brother was sleeping in his crate, so should she. I found her laying there after my shower. And then I crawled into bed and we all had a nice nap! It was a wonderful day, tons of fun, and we are just exhausted!

I think I’m going to write about the cats at work here, because this is a pet journal, after all.

The exciting news today was about Simon. Now Simon was/is a feral cat. He was there two years ago when I was working there, but he was kept in a cage. If you would go near the cage, he’d flatten himself to the ground and hiss viciously and growl low. In order to scoop the litter box, which was right beside him, you had to wedge a piece of cardboard between the litter box and his bed, so he couldn’t do you any harm.

When I started working there early this summer I walked into that room and said, “Awwww, Simon’s gone.” My boss said, “Simon? You mean him?” and pointed to a cat laying in a cat bed on the floor. Simon was still there - his cage was gone. But he’s still very feral.

Well I’ve been spending time sitting in front of him. A few months ago he was laying in a bed on the floor and I knelt down in front of him and held out my hand. He sniffed my fingers. I stretched a little bit and touched his cheek… he didn’t flinch. I rubbed behind his ear…. and he leaned into it! That was awesome! That was the most anyone had ever been able to touch him. Boss lady could only just touch his nose.

So today, he was once again laying in a bed on the floor. (I found if he’s sleeping in the cat tree is is far less open to having any hands reach towards him.) So again I knelt down and held out my hand. Not only was I able to scratch behind his ears - which he again seemed to enjoy - but I very gently touched his back. He didn’t flinch, didn’t move. I continued to lightly pet him. I was petting Simon! He didn’t seem bothered at all. Before I got up I rubbed his cheek and behind his ear again. He yawned and leaned into it.

This is huge. I’m so happy!

Well Zoe is definitely double-coated. I’ve been noticing little puffs of white undercoat sticking out of her shorts (which I pull out), so today I took her outside with an undercoat rake. Last time I tried using the rake it accomplished absolutely nothing. (That was months ago, I guess when she was still transitioning from her puppy coat.) Well this time that certainly was not the case. I got tons and tons of white fuzzy undercoat coming off of her. So yes, undercoat rake is excellent. I might go over her topcoat later with a bristle brush or slicker brush (though I hate slickers). But now her fur is beautiful looking (as always) and she must feel a lot better.

I’m curious as to why she’d be blowing her coat at the end of summer though. Very strange. Maybe I just haven’t noticed it until now.

Again I am so thankful for my Zoe. In the mornings like this I really like to just sit in the morning sunlight in the living room and enjoy the quiet. She was just laying on the floor next to me for a little while. Before that she was playing with the cat. Now she’s grabbed a toy and is stretched out on the floor chewing it. She just jumped up on the couch with it so she can look out the window - with the toy still in her mouth. She’s such a good dog, so happy to just be near you and occupy herself. And I so appreciate that.

I am simply not a high-energy kind of person, I get easily overwhelmed and stressed and anxious. I wish I wasn’t, but it’s very much who I am - I’ve dealt with anxiety and depression for many years. Oreo was so great during those many years - she was my buddy, my reason for getting up in the morning. She never demanded, but how could I deny her sweet, sad expression of hope that we would go to the park? Oreo was always there when I needed someone beside me, nights when I felt so sad and alone. Oreo’s happiness became my happiness.

And now I have Zoe. Zoe’s a very different kind of dog in many ways - so much more spunk and much more passionate about life. As opposed to Oreo’s soulful, questioning eyes, Zoe’s are much brighter and more joyful. Zoe has complete faith and trust in me, it’s like she never gets sad. I can’t tell you how many times her silly antics and zest for life has cheered me up, made me laugh. She’s taught me a lot about life.

I’m not really a very spiritual person at all. But I really do believe that Oreo and Zoe came into my life for a reason. I am so very grateful for both of them.

I’ve been feeling bad that I’ve not been very active with Zoe lately - somewhat because of the heat, half because I just haven’t been feeling up to it lately. Of course she’s always by my side, but she hasn’t been getting much activity lately. So tonight while I watched TV I found a tennis ball and played fetch with her for a while, watched while she played with the cat, and played some wrestle games with her. She looked so happy.

She’s getting so good about fetching. She chases the ball, jumps on it, then runs back to me and would actually jump up on the couch beside me to drop the ball. If I don’t take it, however, she’ll grab it again and walk off with it - and sometimes when I reach for the ball she gets over-excited and smacks my hand with her paw in an attempt to play keep-away. (I always win.) But I’m thrilled at how she runs right back to me with her toy. The only part that makes the game more difficult is that if it rolls under or behind anything she won’t go get it, because it’s too “scary.” So every few throws I have to get up and fish it out and toss it in the middle of the room for her. I try to throw carefully to make sure she can catch it easily. I was really wishing we had a nice fenced yard for us to play fetch in though.

Den came out to the living room for a little while, and started wrestling with Zeeke. Which is amusing in and of itself, but making it even more amusing is the way Zoe hangs back, mock-growling, and jumping in to nip Zeeke when he’s pinned to the ground. She’s such an opportunist. Granted she does tend to get totally run over by Zeeke if he’s on his feet and she’s not careful, so it’s pretty smart for her to stay out of his way until he’s immoble. But it’s so darn funny to watch her jumping on him when he’s down. (He, by the way, treats her kind of like a fly - he ignores her completely. His entire focus is on his daddy.)

After a while of getting run into, Zoe decided to beat a retreat and jumped up on the back of the couch to watch the rest of the fight. It still cracks me up when she does that! She’s like this little mountain goat. So she was my headrest for a while.

And I still think she’s by far the cutest, most beautiful dog in the world. Her cute little dainty snout, her intelligent brown eyes, her adorable floppy ears. I can’t help but to give her lots of kisses. I’m such a mushy mommy.

Let’s talk about the cat for a little bit. My “bud” - though I don’t pay as much attention to him as I should.

I guess while we were gone he didn’t get a whole lot of attention, as the housesitters were busy with Zeeke and Zoe - he got fed, but that was it. So when Den came home (a week before I did), Jo was estatically happy that one of his buddies was back. So happy, in fact, that he braved Zeeke in order to spend time with Den. This seems to have broken through that last barrier, and now Jo will willingly come out of the safety of the kitchen at any time, ignoring Zeeke. Now Zeeke just can’t let it go and continually harasses the cat, so Jo generally goes stalking back in there out of annoyance - but it’s not fear anymore. There are many times when I’ll find Jo curled up on Den’s lap at the computer desk, even though Zeeke is standing there staring.

Which is great! I love that Jo is coming out and walking around, being part of our lives instead of the cat in the cupboard. I like having him around, even if he can be annoying. I always have an audience when I pee - the dogs will stay out if I tell them to, but the cat always comes sauntering in. Which generally means Zeeke comes crashing in after him, not a fun thing when you’re sitting on the toilet!

Yesterday and today I’ve spent time in the bedroom with Zoe, as usual, but Jo’s been following me in too. He used to be scared of the bedroom, because it was where Zeeke was crated. He no longer has that fear, so he’ll come walking in. (He did it in the middle of the night once, when I got up in the dark - darted in between my legs. THAT was fun - very dark, Zeeke woke up and started chasing him around the room, Den’s trying to sleep, I’m trying to catch the cat and kick him out. No more cat in the bedroom at night!!) So he and Zoe were playing, Jo would dive under the covers and then lunge out to grab her. Then Jo curled up on top of Zoe’s crate right in front of the air conditioner - I think he likes the smells that come in from outside. That, or he’s a hot cat.

Jo still walks around “talking” to us. He’s currently moewling, and walking around giving me his trademark, “Mrrrrr?” He’s so expressive. I find myself talking back, without really knowing what I’m doing. It just honestly feels like he’s holding conversations with you. If only I could understand what he was saying - although I think it would run along the lines of, “Let me outside, you stupid human!” Cats. What can you do.