Crazy week!

It's been a crazy kind of week. First the speedometer on the van died again on my way home last Saturday night. That scrapped my plans for Sunday that I had been looking forward to. So I dropped the van off at Sullivan Tire near work Monday morning to have them take a look. I was really hoping that it would be a matter of some loose wires since I knew that the computer was going to need to be replaced. Well Monday they called and said that everything going on was tied to the computer and there wasn't anything they could do. The car had to go visit the dealer. UGH! That was going to be difficult enough since when the speedometer dies the car goes into Safety Mode and it won't go any faster than 35 miles an hour. That means no highway driving ... and the nearest dealer was at least 30 minutes away on the highway. So obviously this was not making me happy. I go to pick up the car and see a note about the exhaust leaking. Ummmm ... you guys were supposed to have replaced the exhaust in May - why is it leaking????? So the tech goes out and crawls under my car again - guess what THEY NEVER REPLACED IT! On one hand I am horrified, but on the other - since I decided that I really just needed a more reliable vehicle I am kind of glad that they did not replace it. Now I will get that money back. So after much debate I ended up buying a 2008 Forester. It sure is nice to be able to go faster than 35 mph. All the stuff that was in the van is now piled in the entry way so I have a bit of organizing and cleaning to do.

We never made obedience class last week but we did make it to agility class on Wednesday night. We were working on "go outs" and Steeler did really well. I really need to find the battery charger for the camera so I can go back to getting some video!

Today we went down to Rhode Island for an agility Match. Steeler did really well. We got there about 2:30ish and hung out for a while with Lisa and Bob. Met Kelly who also trains with Catie. I get pretty stressed out about Steeler's behavior sometimes and Lisa was there to remind me that he is just a normal dog. But I still asked Lisa and Bob to stand at either ring entrance just in case! His first run was pretty distracted. He really needs to check out the environment in new places. But he is definitely getting a bit better about that. He didn't try to leave the ring but he did have to say hi to the ring crew. I was able to get him back and working. Then his second and third runs were GREAT! No visiting the ring crew or checking out other stuff. Lisa was kind enough to video - so hopefully I will get those this week. Steeler is now napping on the bed. Tomorrow is going to be cleaning day. (YUCK!)

Agility Night

Tonight Steeler went to agility class but didn't get to run. I don't want to take any chances with that left foot. He still had a good time. We went early to help set up and then hung out and did our own thing during the obedience for agility class, then only one person showed up for the 7 PM class - so Steeler got to work on watching the golden retriever run. That was good for him because he sometimes doesn't care for goldens. Then we watched a bit of our class and steeler worked on just chillin' out and hanging with the crowd. He's decided that one of the Papillons is just the cutest thing! He was wagging his tail and trying to get her to play with him. It was really cute. I really do LOVE how he just loves EVERYONE. After not seeing them for a week he just had to greet everyone - hopefully that won't translate to greeting the ring crew and judge when we trial. I am not really sure I should have had him at the barn - so he got a foot bath when we got home. He is not thrilled about that - but did jump into the tub on his own! :-) And now to get some sleep!

"Crash"

Steeler was given a new nickname Monday night at obedience class. His buddies are now calling him "Crash"

I can't wait till his stitches come out! We did go to obedience class last night though. We mostly just worked on some heeling, recalls and Stays. He still has a little bit of trouble with one 8 month old puppy in the class - but he is getting better and better every week. So it was a good class for not putting to much stress on his left front leg. The other incisions look great ... but that left front he definitely did a number on. Poor boy. On top of that he is ITCHY ITCHY. *sigh* I am guessing that the kibble I tried for the week I was gone is the culprit ..., or maybe a delayed stress reaction? At the moment he is crashed out next to me though and not chewing on his feet anymore. Hopefully going back on raw will get the itchies back under control. For the past couple of months we had been doing a really strict no grain, no dairy and no root veggies diet and his feet were doing GREAT! The kibble was no grain - but one I hadn't used before.

On Sunday we were up in Westford at the agility trial to watch some friends compete. Steeler was an awesome boy! He made a couple of new friends, and didn't react much to the ridgeback that lunged at him - he just looked at me .... "Did you see that? Where's my cookie!" It was great to see old friends that I haven't seen in a while! Steeler was even polite to a friends 5 month old puppy! What a good dog!

Tomorrow night is agility class .... and I think Steeler needs another week to heel before we are doing a lot of running and jumping. *sigh* I will probably go help set up and then work him in the obedience for agility class - that won't be too taxing for him. Thursday there is nothing on the calender and then Friday we are going to a Rally Training party. And then I will have survived the week at work. :-)

Bad Blogger!

WOW - the end of March was my last post. I guess things kind of got away from me.

Steeler has been doing pretty well the last few weeks in agility and obedience class. I'm sure I have lots of video of various activities. Check out for his latest activities. I actually took a week off and went to the beach with my folks, and my sisters family. For the first time ever I boarded Steeler. Poor Steeler - he is officially a serious mamma's boy. He ended up going through a glass plate in a screen door less than 20 min after I left him. He ended up with a trip to the emergency room and stitches in 4 spots. The first 48 hours were kind of rough for him - but he got better every day and Katrin took excellent care of him. For the most part he got along with the 3 resident dogs as well which made me very happy.

Logan got to stay with my friends Ann and Paul and I think she wants to go back! She got to go for a walk in the woods every day with Nico and Brandy and basically took over the furniture at their house. I think she is officially going deaf though. She didn't hear me come through the gate or talking to her when I picked her up. She definitely was not going to let me leave their house with out her though.

Keegan stayed with Brian who always takes great care of him when I go away. I am sure he was happy to have some time away from the other two and some undivided attention.

It is HOT back here at home! It was so nice at the beach! Hopefully I will be back to getting some video soon! steeler is out of commission for a little bit longer - so probably no agility this coming week.