As you can tell by the picture, Arkeo got lots of her favorite things from Santa - balls - all sorts of balls. Red ones and yellow ones - ones that sqeek - little ones and ones that can be used in the chuck-it. While the other two dogs chewed away on their bones, Arkeo gathered up all of the balls and just reveled in them.
It wasn't too long after that picture was taken, however, that Ruach came by, took a look over all the balls and just simply picked one up without so much as a by your leave. You see Ruach believes what mine is mine and what's yours is mine. And Arkeo just takes it. I get on Ru to leave her little sister alone and to be nice to her little sister - but she takes the toy or the bone anyway and then grumbles at Arkeo if she gets too close. Arkeo gives me this look like - it's okay. There's more where that comes from. I'll just sneak it away when she goes outside. So far Arkeo has never argued over anything. She seems to enjoy things when she has them but she's not going to make a fush over them - they're not important enough to draw blood over - especially with her big sister.
Wouldn't it be nice if things and possessions had so little meaning in our lives. I mean, we could enjoy them while we have them. Be thankful when someone gives us something. It's always joyous to see to see the girls dance around when I have a treat or bone or toy to give them. They are so excited and happy. But as with the balls, if I take them away or one of them takes it from the other they find something else to occupy themselves. We humans on the other hands, get into fights and wars and lawsuits most of the time just over things.
We have just passed the Christmas season where a lot is made out of giving and receiving. I'm going to try to have more of an attitude like Arkeo has when it comes to things and possessions. If someone else needs it more than I do, I will give it up willingly know that my Creator will supply the things I need. It's really bad when I'm needing to grow my generousity to match my dog's.
It's time to start up training for the dog shows and maybe even start herding lessons so I'm sure there will be plenty of lessons to learn in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, we'll try to keep all four paws on the ground.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
But mom!!!! I'm hungry!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just before Arkeo's surgery we had lowered her Prednisone to 10 mg and her appetite had decreased and she lost 3 pounds. So after surgery, Doc Jen put it back up to 20 mg for a few weeks and said when we lower it we won't make such a big jump down to 10mg - maybe go half way to 15 mg because Arkeo "is such a sensitive girl." Yeah right. So now I have a raving hungry adolescent on my hands. She is eating me out of house and home. If you have ever lived with an adolescent male you will know what I mean. We use to say about my little brother that he only ate one meal all day long.
When Arkeo is hungry she comes to see me and boy is she vocal about it. And it doesn't matter what time of day or night. "I'm hungry mom. Feed me!!!" Now.
We are an instant society. Even our animals have benefited. They no longer have to go out and catch their food. Neither do we. We buy ours in little packets ready to eat in 5 minutes or less. Wait in a line? If there are more than two or three people in front of us we start counting the number of items they have in their carts.Can't wait for regular mail? Just overnight everything.
But not all things come in an instant. It still takes 63 days to grow a puppy and 9 months to develop a human child. But we get impatient in our relations with others or when we're training our dogs if people don't know us immediately ("well he should have known I didn't like that color") or if our dogs don't work like little robots and catch on to a new command or trick immediately ("I know they are just being stubborn. She could do it if she wanted to!)
I wonder how often God has said that about us? How often did Israel go back to worshipping false gods yet God never said, "You're not doing this fast enough. Haven't you learned this lesson yet?" "I'll go find me another people." Yet many dogs are returned to the shelter because they haven't learned fast enough. Aren't we lucky that our God has a better track record as a trainer than most humans do.
So eventual Arkeo will learn to eat at "normal" times but I guess God has spoiled me in this case. Everytime I turn to God for a word of encouragement or some nurture or feeding - in some way or another, God has provided that for me - through a friend, a word of Scripture, some music, sometimes even a stranger - but always the spiritual food has been there. So I guess I can do no less for my furry kid. As long as I hear that cry for food - I will try to be as faithful as my Provider and provide.
Speaking of which - a certain German Shepherd is calling. So until later take care and keep all four paws on the ground.
When Arkeo is hungry she comes to see me and boy is she vocal about it. And it doesn't matter what time of day or night. "I'm hungry mom. Feed me!!!" Now.
We are an instant society. Even our animals have benefited. They no longer have to go out and catch their food. Neither do we. We buy ours in little packets ready to eat in 5 minutes or less. Wait in a line? If there are more than two or three people in front of us we start counting the number of items they have in their carts.Can't wait for regular mail? Just overnight everything.
But not all things come in an instant. It still takes 63 days to grow a puppy and 9 months to develop a human child. But we get impatient in our relations with others or when we're training our dogs if people don't know us immediately ("well he should have known I didn't like that color") or if our dogs don't work like little robots and catch on to a new command or trick immediately ("I know they are just being stubborn. She could do it if she wanted to!)
I wonder how often God has said that about us? How often did Israel go back to worshipping false gods yet God never said, "You're not doing this fast enough. Haven't you learned this lesson yet?" "I'll go find me another people." Yet many dogs are returned to the shelter because they haven't learned fast enough. Aren't we lucky that our God has a better track record as a trainer than most humans do.
So eventual Arkeo will learn to eat at "normal" times but I guess God has spoiled me in this case. Everytime I turn to God for a word of encouragement or some nurture or feeding - in some way or another, God has provided that for me - through a friend, a word of Scripture, some music, sometimes even a stranger - but always the spiritual food has been there. So I guess I can do no less for my furry kid. As long as I hear that cry for food - I will try to be as faithful as my Provider and provide.
Speaking of which - a certain German Shepherd is calling. So until later take care and keep all four paws on the ground.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Patience and Commitment or Was that a Squirrell?????
I wish that people I knew had the same patience and commitment that Arkeo has. She is getting along quite well after her surgery but is chafing at the bit to go out on squirrel patrol. She patiently sits at the back door waiting and watching during daylight hours, conserving her strength when its dark, knowing she can't see all the way to the back fence. But in her mind she hears the scampering of little paws running across the tops of the fence and she waits.
Many a morning Arkeo would spend hours sitting at the fence just waiting. Committed to "protect the yard" against those bushy-tailed little devils. She sits and she waits. Rain or shine. Watching. Eyes traveling back and forth. Always prepared. Ready to jump and run.
What are we as committed about or to? Family, church, work, God? For those of us who have dogs - how often do we train them? Heard a statistic last night that church members attend worship services 1.8 weeks out of the month. When I was in the military we figured that the average airman worked 68% of the workday. We start out strong, but there isn't a lot we are passionate about these days. Someone jokingly (or not so jokingly) said about the airline security, most of us are not the type to strap bombs on ourselves and I thought that in a way that it is sad, not to have something in our life that we are willing to wait for, be committed to be there 4 times out of 4 times for. Just think how exciting life would be.
So I challenge you to go out and find your own personal squirrel patrol. Wait for it and be committed to it and then run after it for all you are worth.
And in the mean time - let's keep all four paws on the ground.
Many a morning Arkeo would spend hours sitting at the fence just waiting. Committed to "protect the yard" against those bushy-tailed little devils. She sits and she waits. Rain or shine. Watching. Eyes traveling back and forth. Always prepared. Ready to jump and run.
What are we as committed about or to? Family, church, work, God? For those of us who have dogs - how often do we train them? Heard a statistic last night that church members attend worship services 1.8 weeks out of the month. When I was in the military we figured that the average airman worked 68% of the workday. We start out strong, but there isn't a lot we are passionate about these days. Someone jokingly (or not so jokingly) said about the airline security, most of us are not the type to strap bombs on ourselves and I thought that in a way that it is sad, not to have something in our life that we are willing to wait for, be committed to be there 4 times out of 4 times for. Just think how exciting life would be.
So I challenge you to go out and find your own personal squirrel patrol. Wait for it and be committed to it and then run after it for all you are worth.
And in the mean time - let's keep all four paws on the ground.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Begin Again
It's been a while since we have posted. Life has been a bit of a rollar coaster as Arkeo battled to find a natural balance in her body that would accept the nutrients that she tried to eat. It is hard to believe that good food can be so harmful to a creature's body. It was a puzzle as we took blood tests and ultrasounds and finally found the right doctor who took Arkeo and I under her wing and found that Arkeo was allergic to a variety of foods and had Irritable Bowel Disease. By that time, she was down to 49 pounds. The prayer requests went up to keep this precious creature of God and my guardian angel well and on some road to health and recovery.
Well it turns out the darling needs to be on a diet of bison, elk or venison. I wanted her on a natural diet. Other vets had tried to put her on a crappy diet that had no substance to it and Dr. M agreed to let me have her on a natural diet even though she wouldn't let her be on a raw diet yet. So I cook for my dog and have frozen dinners for myself. Ah the things we do for our kids - what we do for love.
Well the upshot is that Arkeo has gained 15 pounds. Looks like a German Shepherd instead of an Eithopian Stick Dog. We've got some some retraining to do because now that she feels better she has the mind and emotions of a 9 month old puppy which was when she got sick and marshalled all her bodily resources to stay alive. So I have a 9 month old puppy in a 19 month old body. We have some re-training to do. But I'm sure all will be accomplished in God's time. We may have to try things in new ways but that will be the adventure of it all. In the meantime, we'll try to keep all four paws on the floor.
Well it turns out the darling needs to be on a diet of bison, elk or venison. I wanted her on a natural diet. Other vets had tried to put her on a crappy diet that had no substance to it and Dr. M agreed to let me have her on a natural diet even though she wouldn't let her be on a raw diet yet. So I cook for my dog and have frozen dinners for myself. Ah the things we do for our kids - what we do for love.
Well the upshot is that Arkeo has gained 15 pounds. Looks like a German Shepherd instead of an Eithopian Stick Dog. We've got some some retraining to do because now that she feels better she has the mind and emotions of a 9 month old puppy which was when she got sick and marshalled all her bodily resources to stay alive. So I have a 9 month old puppy in a 19 month old body. We have some re-training to do. But I'm sure all will be accomplished in God's time. We may have to try things in new ways but that will be the adventure of it all. In the meantime, we'll try to keep all four paws on the floor.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Time to praise the Lord
It's been a long, long week. First we go and visit this man that has very gentle hands and he pets me and stretches out my legs and then WHAM he moves my back or my neck and I feel a pop or a snap and it's like "what just happened here?" I turn around real quick to see who got me and there is this real kind and gentle man just smiling at me. Mom says he's suppose to be making my back feel better and you know, I guess in the long run he does, but boy its quite an experience.
And then when mom laid down on his table - well I just didn't trust that so I went and sat right close to her head and stuck my nose in her ear to let her know that I was there just in case he tried anything funny with her. But she seem to know what was coming and didn't seem to mind all the snapping and cracking. I wish someone had warned me. I'll be watching out for this guy next time.
Then came the snow and it was so much fun and we got to have fishheads to eat and snow to run and roll in. Too bad mom has to shovel it.
We've been learning all sorts of new things. We know how to make a circle around mom to keep people away so they won't knock her over. Mom's been teaching us in different ways that makes us need to think more often. It's good to make us think - otherwise we have a tendancy to get lazy and take things for granted.
But because of the snow we didn't get to go to church on Wednesday. That was a bummer. We like going being with our church family and though we don't always understand what Pastor Patti has to say she seems to make other people happy. We like it best whem mom and I get to play guitar and help people howl along.
That's why tomorrow is important. Once a week we get all spiffied up and go to church and listen to lots of words and get up and sit down and sometimes give people something to eat. But the most important thing we do is make people smile - especially the kids. People bend over and ask to pet us and the kids come up and wrap their arms around us and tickle our tummy (which feels so good) but all the while they are smiling and that's the important thing because then they are thinking about good things and thinking about the One who made those good things and thanking God for those good things even if its just the wag of a puppy's tail and the slurp of a puppy's tongue.
So I get sleep while I can while everybody else is yakking and listening cause when we're on the move - then it's my time to work and it's time to praise the Lord. See you around the kennel.
And then when mom laid down on his table - well I just didn't trust that so I went and sat right close to her head and stuck my nose in her ear to let her know that I was there just in case he tried anything funny with her. But she seem to know what was coming and didn't seem to mind all the snapping and cracking. I wish someone had warned me. I'll be watching out for this guy next time.
Then came the snow and it was so much fun and we got to have fishheads to eat and snow to run and roll in. Too bad mom has to shovel it.
We've been learning all sorts of new things. We know how to make a circle around mom to keep people away so they won't knock her over. Mom's been teaching us in different ways that makes us need to think more often. It's good to make us think - otherwise we have a tendancy to get lazy and take things for granted.
But because of the snow we didn't get to go to church on Wednesday. That was a bummer. We like going being with our church family and though we don't always understand what Pastor Patti has to say she seems to make other people happy. We like it best whem mom and I get to play guitar and help people howl along.
That's why tomorrow is important. Once a week we get all spiffied up and go to church and listen to lots of words and get up and sit down and sometimes give people something to eat. But the most important thing we do is make people smile - especially the kids. People bend over and ask to pet us and the kids come up and wrap their arms around us and tickle our tummy (which feels so good) but all the while they are smiling and that's the important thing because then they are thinking about good things and thinking about the One who made those good things and thanking God for those good things even if its just the wag of a puppy's tail and the slurp of a puppy's tongue.
So I get sleep while I can while everybody else is yakking and listening cause when we're on the move - then it's my time to work and it's time to praise the Lord. See you around the kennel.
Friday, March 19, 2010
From Whence Comes Joy
As I watch Rev Keo thoroughly enjoy her fish head out in the snow, I realize how little it takes to bring her joy. Sometimes it is just a matter of me picking up the leash and saying "lrt's go."
We, humans are such demanding creatures. We want and we want and we want.
Having lived with a chronic illness for over ten years now, my definition of joy has changed over the years. Some mornings it is simply that I hurt less than I did the day before. But because my life has been aranged by necissity to focus on more basic things at times, I find joy in seemingly small things (at least to other people). Being able to fill up the dogs wate bowl without spilling it all over the floor. Still being able to play a fairly intricate series of chord changes on the guitar.
But I guess my greatest joy still comes from the communication I have with Cherokee, Ruach and Arkeo especially when I am trying to teach them something and the lightbulb goes on and it just clicks. And then we dance and run around and act like fools and pretend that we have found the great treasure - for in reality, insn't new knowledge the greatest treasure and joy and joy of all. And then they wag their tails and I would, too. And we rejoice that we all are wonderfully made creatures of God.
They don't know why I want them to do the silly tricks I make them do, but they know it makes me happy and so that satisfies them. And from this comes our joy. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this were the way of the rest of the world. See you around the kennel.
We, humans are such demanding creatures. We want and we want and we want.
Having lived with a chronic illness for over ten years now, my definition of joy has changed over the years. Some mornings it is simply that I hurt less than I did the day before. But because my life has been aranged by necissity to focus on more basic things at times, I find joy in seemingly small things (at least to other people). Being able to fill up the dogs wate bowl without spilling it all over the floor. Still being able to play a fairly intricate series of chord changes on the guitar.
But I guess my greatest joy still comes from the communication I have with Cherokee, Ruach and Arkeo especially when I am trying to teach them something and the lightbulb goes on and it just clicks. And then we dance and run around and act like fools and pretend that we have found the great treasure - for in reality, insn't new knowledge the greatest treasure and joy and joy of all. And then they wag their tails and I would, too. And we rejoice that we all are wonderfully made creatures of God.
They don't know why I want them to do the silly tricks I make them do, but they know it makes me happy and so that satisfies them. And from this comes our joy. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this were the way of the rest of the world. See you around the kennel.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Unexpected gift!
Pure joy. Snow is coming. That means we get to have fishheads!. Mom only lets us have those when it snows and they can stay frozen outside. For some strange reason she doesn't like finding them around the house and under the bed half eaten. Friday come quickly. See you around the kennel.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Double Duty
Life has sure been stressful around here the past couple of days. Wednesday night mom woke up in the middle of the night with an awful apin in her stomach. This had happened the night before but milk from the kitchen had made everything okay and we had gone back to bed. Wednesday, Mom made it to the hallway and dropped like a dumbbell from a recall screaming in pain. Ru and I shot off the bed surrounding her not knowing what we should do. Finally we just each lay down on either side of her until she decided to get up.
After about as much time as it takes to get to the kennel and then go there again, mom finally got up but she diddn't seem to be feeling good. She went back to bed but was real restless. Ru and I took up our posts at the foot and the head of the bed and kept an eye on her all night.
In the morning, mom didn't get up when we nudged her. She kept saying she would, then she would moan and go deeper under the covers. Ru and I took turns staying with her. Finally she got up and fed us but she was walking all stiff and hunched over. She called Aunt Nonie who came over and they talked about going to the hospital where I would have gone too, but that's a scary place for mom. Mom insisted she had to go to work.
Either Ru or I stayed with her the whole rest of the day at work until Aunt Tamra persuaded her to go home early. After we ate she just laid in her chair and we lay on either side of her making sure the other was awake if one of us had to go outside. Friday she seemed to feel better but she still didn't get out of her pajamas all day. That's not like her. Ru and I stayed close. Following her around the house. Today was better. We went up to the kennel, but neither one of us wanted to let her out of our sight.
Ru taught me what I need to know as a Service Dog as far as taking care of mom and it was sure good to have her around during this crisis. It was much more than a pup of my age has been trained to experience. It's been really hard work just making sure that everything is safe. I don't know what was attacking mom, but whatever it was I knew I couldn't do anything about it but I could keep her company and provide her warmth and comfort.
Isn't that the way it happens a lot with people we call friends. We can't go after the thing that is attacking them, whether it is a disease, or financial problems or emotional or relational problems. We can't fix that which is actually causing the pain. But we can stay close, gather around them, with more than one if necessary and give them comfort and keep them warm with our kind words and pleasent thoughts. We can nudge them into taking better care of themselves and try to point them in a healthy direction, but the best thing we can do is surround them with our love and care, keep our eyes on them and make sure all our four feet are on the ground, even if their two feet aren't. This is the life of a Service Dog. This is the life of a good friend.
Time to get back to work. Enough rambling for now. See you around the kennel.
After about as much time as it takes to get to the kennel and then go there again, mom finally got up but she diddn't seem to be feeling good. She went back to bed but was real restless. Ru and I took up our posts at the foot and the head of the bed and kept an eye on her all night.
In the morning, mom didn't get up when we nudged her. She kept saying she would, then she would moan and go deeper under the covers. Ru and I took turns staying with her. Finally she got up and fed us but she was walking all stiff and hunched over. She called Aunt Nonie who came over and they talked about going to the hospital where I would have gone too, but that's a scary place for mom. Mom insisted she had to go to work.
Either Ru or I stayed with her the whole rest of the day at work until Aunt Tamra persuaded her to go home early. After we ate she just laid in her chair and we lay on either side of her making sure the other was awake if one of us had to go outside. Friday she seemed to feel better but she still didn't get out of her pajamas all day. That's not like her. Ru and I stayed close. Following her around the house. Today was better. We went up to the kennel, but neither one of us wanted to let her out of our sight.
Ru taught me what I need to know as a Service Dog as far as taking care of mom and it was sure good to have her around during this crisis. It was much more than a pup of my age has been trained to experience. It's been really hard work just making sure that everything is safe. I don't know what was attacking mom, but whatever it was I knew I couldn't do anything about it but I could keep her company and provide her warmth and comfort.
Isn't that the way it happens a lot with people we call friends. We can't go after the thing that is attacking them, whether it is a disease, or financial problems or emotional or relational problems. We can't fix that which is actually causing the pain. But we can stay close, gather around them, with more than one if necessary and give them comfort and keep them warm with our kind words and pleasent thoughts. We can nudge them into taking better care of themselves and try to point them in a healthy direction, but the best thing we can do is surround them with our love and care, keep our eyes on them and make sure all our four feet are on the ground, even if their two feet aren't. This is the life of a Service Dog. This is the life of a good friend.
Time to get back to work. Enough rambling for now. See you around the kennel.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Revenge - Is It Worth It?
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Revenge - Is it worth it?
Humans are funny creatures. We told you all about that rules meeting we were going to. Mom learned all sorts of good information and met new people. Most of the people there were people like her who like to show dogs and work at the dog shows. There were a few judges there too.They talked and they talked about how to do this and that. How far to throw the dumbbell and where to place the gloves. Yesterday was very boring. So I amused myself by rolling over on my back and wriggling my paws and being downright cute.Today it got more interesting because they talked about Rally. Now that's the stuff we do and what mom teaches. They had little movies showing people doing their thing and then people commented on how good or bad the people in the movies did. Now this is where it gets funny. One of the judges said, well they would take points off this certain dog because when she was going through she got dinged for it so she was going to do the same thing to other people.Nothing about whether it was right or not. Just a matter of getting back because it had been done to her. Now, I don't steal Ru's bone just because she's taken one from me. What's left on the floor in plain view all by itself should be able to be judged on its merits by whoever wants to claim it. If no one is chewing on it. It's fair game. No hard feelings.I'm thinking when we go out to play in the show ring judges should be wiping the slate clean of everything that has gone before and just judge each dog on its own merits - not what they think has been done to them in the past. Revenge can get you in trouble. You start plotting and planning and pretty soon you've got your tail all tied up in knots. Dogs don't worry about what's gone on in the past. We live in the present. What's happening is happening now and should be looked at based on now, not what happened 5 minutes ago or two weeks ago. This lady didn't seem like a very happy person. I wanted to go over and share my bully stick with her. Nothing solves unhappinesss like a good gooey bully stick.Oh well. Humans are funny. They worry too much and don't just try to play nice. Maybe one of these days I'll understand them. Play hard, sleep well. See you around the kennel.
Posted by Rev Keo at 11:09 PM
Revenge - Is it worth it?
Humans are funny creatures. We told you all about that rules meeting we were going to. Mom learned all sorts of good information and met new people. Most of the people there were people like her who like to show dogs and work at the dog shows. There were a few judges there too.They talked and they talked about how to do this and that. How far to throw the dumbbell and where to place the gloves. Yesterday was very boring. So I amused myself by rolling over on my back and wriggling my paws and being downright cute.Today it got more interesting because they talked about Rally. Now that's the stuff we do and what mom teaches. They had little movies showing people doing their thing and then people commented on how good or bad the people in the movies did. Now this is where it gets funny. One of the judges said, well they would take points off this certain dog because when she was going through she got dinged for it so she was going to do the same thing to other people.Nothing about whether it was right or not. Just a matter of getting back because it had been done to her. Now, I don't steal Ru's bone just because she's taken one from me. What's left on the floor in plain view all by itself should be able to be judged on its merits by whoever wants to claim it. If no one is chewing on it. It's fair game. No hard feelings.I'm thinking when we go out to play in the show ring judges should be wiping the slate clean of everything that has gone before and just judge each dog on its own merits - not what they think has been done to them in the past. Revenge can get you in trouble. You start plotting and planning and pretty soon you've got your tail all tied up in knots. Dogs don't worry about what's gone on in the past. We live in the present. What's happening is happening now and should be looked at based on now, not what happened 5 minutes ago or two weeks ago. This lady didn't seem like a very happy person. I wanted to go over and share my bully stick with her. Nothing solves unhappinesss like a good gooey bully stick.Oh well. Humans are funny. They worry too much and don't just try to play nice. Maybe one of these days I'll understand them. Play hard, sleep well. See you around the kennel.
Posted by Rev Keo at 11:09 PM
Friday, March 5, 2010
New Rules
We're going to an AKC (American Kennel Club) judges seminar tomorrow to find out what all the new rules are for Rally and Obedience. For some strange reason mom like knowing what the rules are all the time. I say live and let live. Give me a good bone and a nice comfy couch or bed to lay on and I am good for life. A few squirrels to chase every now and then are good, too.
But for some reason, mom thinks its a good idea to know and follow rules. She says it keeps us out of trouble. Well I can attest to what it's like when you don't know the rules. It can get confusing. That older sister of mine, Ruach. Sometimes she wants to play and sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes I can steal her bone and sometimes - man - does she get snarly and grouchy about it. Every have a full grown GSD's gleaming white teeth in your face? You back down real fast (and then steal it when she's not looking.) But it does get confusing not knowing what side of the crate she's going to have woken up on.
So I guess some rules are good, just as long as we don't get hung up on always doing everything by the book. After all, life isn't one big obedience class. But I'll be a good Service Dog and go along and lay on my blanket and chew on my bone and let everyone say how cute I am. Then mom will let them pet me and I'm glad that's one rule she does allow us to break.
Well, we'll tell you what the seminar was like later. Be good. We'll see you around the kennel.
But for some reason, mom thinks its a good idea to know and follow rules. She says it keeps us out of trouble. Well I can attest to what it's like when you don't know the rules. It can get confusing. That older sister of mine, Ruach. Sometimes she wants to play and sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes I can steal her bone and sometimes - man - does she get snarly and grouchy about it. Every have a full grown GSD's gleaming white teeth in your face? You back down real fast (and then steal it when she's not looking.) But it does get confusing not knowing what side of the crate she's going to have woken up on.
So I guess some rules are good, just as long as we don't get hung up on always doing everything by the book. After all, life isn't one big obedience class. But I'll be a good Service Dog and go along and lay on my blanket and chew on my bone and let everyone say how cute I am. Then mom will let them pet me and I'm glad that's one rule she does allow us to break.
Well, we'll tell you what the seminar was like later. Be good. We'll see you around the kennel.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Free at last!!!
Well, mom finally got it figured out. One lousy little letter was missing. The computer had us down as "with all our paws on the ground" instead of with all four paws on the ground" You would think they'd know we had four paws. Count them 1,2,3,4. I know. I had to have all the nails cut off all four paws today.
There is something about being held down and controlled that I don't like and haven't since the day I was born. But that's what drew mom's eye to me. Knew I'd be trouble but knew I'd be the independent spirit she needed also. But I guess none of us like being under someone else's control. That's why mom thinks its so funny that people think God makes us do things we don't want to do. God just puts in front of us all sorts of choices and we make the decision of what we want to choose. You know - like between that hot dog on the ground or the bone I'm suppose to be chewing on. If I think about it hard enough I know what is right and what I'm suppose to do. Don't you? See you round the kennel.
There is something about being held down and controlled that I don't like and haven't since the day I was born. But that's what drew mom's eye to me. Knew I'd be trouble but knew I'd be the independent spirit she needed also. But I guess none of us like being under someone else's control. That's why mom thinks its so funny that people think God makes us do things we don't want to do. God just puts in front of us all sorts of choices and we make the decision of what we want to choose. You know - like between that hot dog on the ground or the bone I'm suppose to be chewing on. If I think about it hard enough I know what is right and what I'm suppose to do. Don't you? See you round the kennel.
Beginnings
Beginnings
We start something new today. Never sat down to share our thoughts with others except in sermons and only mom did those. But its time that we get out four paws planted formly on the grounded and start looking toward our future as a Service Dog and all that it entails.
Thought it best to talk about keeping our feet planted in reality and our head up in the air keeping an eye on things because that is the best way to go through life. There's just no use running around with your head stuck in a treat box or pushed in the nice warm sand of a horse arena with all that horse....well that's another subject. You keep your head down like that and you're apt to run smack dab into the fence post just like I did - BAMM. Now it's one thing to see a puppy splattered all over the floor but its a whole nother thing to see one of you humans splattered all over life because you didn't keep your eyes up and focused and the One who will give you the direction that you need.
When we're training if I keep my eyes on mom I never get dragged by the collar or banged into a pole or end up on the wrong side of the pole in the supermarket aisle (now that has only happened a couple of times.) There are just so mant temptations out there and so many other things that get my attention. But what can I say I'm only 10 months old. ut I'm getting better at keeping eyes on mom and she's getting better at keeping her eyes on her ultimate trainer who helps leads her around the obstacles in her life.
Well in the days to come you'll here some about my training and my adventures on the show circuit and especially about all the fun times I have in church. Cause me and the Creator. We're like buddies and we make sure that we take care of my mom. That's why I'm here, isn't it?
We start something new today. Never sat down to share our thoughts with others except in sermons and only mom did those. But its time that we get out four paws planted formly on the grounded and start looking toward our future as a Service Dog and all that it entails.
Thought it best to talk about keeping our feet planted in reality and our head up in the air keeping an eye on things because that is the best way to go through life. There's just no use running around with your head stuck in a treat box or pushed in the nice warm sand of a horse arena with all that horse....well that's another subject. You keep your head down like that and you're apt to run smack dab into the fence post just like I did - BAMM. Now it's one thing to see a puppy splattered all over the floor but its a whole nother thing to see one of you humans splattered all over life because you didn't keep your eyes up and focused and the One who will give you the direction that you need.
When we're training if I keep my eyes on mom I never get dragged by the collar or banged into a pole or end up on the wrong side of the pole in the supermarket aisle (now that has only happened a couple of times.) There are just so mant temptations out there and so many other things that get my attention. But what can I say I'm only 10 months old. ut I'm getting better at keeping eyes on mom and she's getting better at keeping her eyes on her ultimate trainer who helps leads her around the obstacles in her life.
Well in the days to come you'll here some about my training and my adventures on the show circuit and especially about all the fun times I have in church. Cause me and the Creator. We're like buddies and we make sure that we take care of my mom. That's why I'm here, isn't it?
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