Hmmm.......Kibble vs. Steak.....

Kibble wins paws down!  At least that is what Reese thought at our last agility lesson.  Sure she took a few pieces of steak but was just as happy with the kibble, so hey.  It's kibble for my girl.  I was really proud of her considering this was not agility living room style.  This was a full course set up, no fence - which she has done wonderfully at, and sheep in the barn, - baaaaaing away. 

She was focused and worked really nicely.  The only minor problem, is eh, our stamina.  Yes, both hers and the handler's stamina needs a bit of work.  We worked jump lines and some grids and it was exhausting.  At least that is what Reese thought as she plopped down on the ground after each run.  It was hot out, but I don't think it was THAT hot out.

So our homework was to work on jump lines and grids and things that will get Reese's booty in fine shape for rear viewing:))

This past week we started our marathon training in earnest too, so it coincided very nicely.

Wordless Wednesday 14

Timber!

This tree was in my yard.  It was a problem tree in that it dropped a lot of sticks and branches. It didn't provide a whole lot of shade, and everytime it stormed out I wondered when it was going to come down on top of the house. 

So the day came when we had to say goodbye.

It came down, was cut up and hauled away.  Now we have this....

All the better for a game of agility - don't you think!

Happy Belated Easter!

Along with Spring being my favorite season, Easter is my favorite holiday.  I think partly to it being in the Spring - getting warmer out and I love everything that goes with it.

Colored eggs.

 Master Bunny in the background with the new sheepies, that were made for me for my birthday. 

I hosted Easter dinner. The table looked great and the food was great.  I meant to get some photos but didn't remember until it was over.  Maybe next year.

Happy Spring!

There has been a lot going on and I'm not going to try to post it all.  But I will share a few highlights in the next few posts.  (and just for the record, I have been trying to get this post out all week, but blogger has not been cooperating.)  

I love the Spring it is my favorite season.  I think when you live were it is snowy and below zero much of the winter, winter sometimes being 8 months out of the year, you really have a hearty appreciation for Spring.  First, the thaw and then the grass starts to green up, finally all new things come to life.  Flowers bloom, trees begin to bud and most important - lambs are born!

Yes, my friend has sheep and they do their lambing in the Spring. 

Aren't they the sweetest things.  They were so small when I saw them on this day. Much tinier than they look in the pictures. 

One of the Ewes.  Wondering what's going on with her baby.

On this day that I visited the lambs it was my birthday so it was extra fun to see the little baby woolies. I was also asked to help band and dock tails.  Okay so I just had to hold the little buggers but it was interesting to see how it is done.  Much easier then I thought. (Of course I wasn't on the receiving end).

Hey there, whatcha all doin' down there?  Ooohhh!

My friends are great. I appreciate so much that they are willing to share how they do things with their sheep with me.  I am learning so much even the little things that are so mundane to them are fun and interesting to this city girl, wanna be farmgirl.  I want to learn and know as much as I can about the daily care of livestock before I get my own so I know just what I am in for...so far, I love it!

Working for da kibble!

So our new thing is that Reese is now getting her kibble for treats and for work.  Whether it is tricks we are doing, agility work, or just plain "kennel up" time.  She used to voluntarily go in her kennel when she wanted a treat/bone.  She used to get one when she got in her kennel as a reward.  But I wasn't so happy with her deciding to put her self in her kennel, well that part is good, but then for her to expect a cookie as her reward when she choose to go to her kennel, umm yeah not liking that part.

Nice thought Reese and you definitely have the concept down, but not going to work anymore.

I thought I would get a little feedback from my girl when the cookies/milkbones went bye bye.  To my surprise I didn't.  She went in her kennel one night and wanted a reward i.e. bone and so I got her 3-5 pieces of kibble and she looked at and oh, okay I'll eat that. 

It was easy.  I try to have her work for all her meals right now, but if I don't have time to work her I will offer her food and if she wants to eat out of her bowl in the morning great, if not I'll wait and feed her the evening meal, (working for it of course) and she is nice and hungry so is ready to work.

I think because I made a clear mental switch that she was only getting kibble now, it made it easier to stick to, and she didn't even fight it.  

I will still use higher value treats for more distracting environments.  For now we are using kibble in the house.  After a bit I will move outside to the yard with her and then from there slowly move to other places of interest, i.e. the park. 

Remember your dog will not starve themselves, staying alive is a primal to them, they will eat when they get hungry.  The other positives of this are that 1.) it is cheaper than buying treats and 2.) when I don't have time to work her for her kibble she is more than happy to eat it out of her bowl - and finishes the entire thing.  She used to just pick at her kibble.  Love it!  So glad we did it!

Wordless Wednesday 13

MIA Blogger Found

Yes, I am back. I can't believe it has been about a month since I posted last. I have been just too busy to think about blogging and frankly just not in the mood so thought I would allow myself to take a little break.

I am cooking a steak for Reese's treats for agility class tomorrow, hotdogs are just not cutting it anymore, well, frankly (no pun intended) I'm not sure they ever cut it. So tonight I bought some steak and chicken breasts to cook up for Ms. Reese's pieces. 
More tomorrow, I have lots to update you on. But it will have to wait one more day.....