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Jewel's Journeys

ADOPT 2012 CONTEST

A couple months ago during a conversation my mom told me I was nothing before I got Jewel. Which taken out of context is a harsh comment from anyone let alone your own mother. But I knew what she meant. I was directionless, just "getting by", going through the motions, goalless before Jewel.

It's not many people that I would admit to that a 9lbs dog changed my life but I know dogster people will get it.

Jewel keeps me going, gets me up in the morning, gives me goals. She's aloof to most people but I know it's because she's so connected to me. She got her Pre-Novice CKC OB title this fall and I started crying in the ring. To most of the people in OB Pre-novice is nothing, a chance to take your puppy in the ring. But Jewel and I worked SO hard together.

We also tried to get our Novice A but it didn't work out. I'm hoping to get some Rally-o classes and compete in that with her. I think she'll like it better because I'll get to talk to her more.

Because of all the things I want to do with Jewel I recently (at 28) bought my first car and got my driver's license. As I came out of the dealership office my mom commented to me, "That's one expensive dog."

We've also recently started fostering. I say "we" because I brought home foster dogs and Jewel didn't pack her bags and leave. I thought it would be good for Jewel to pay forward her good fortune. We started with one dog but then got that "urgent foster homes needed" e-mail and ended up with a second. Then #2 left, a week past and #3 came in.

Jewel's a very important part of fostering, she keeps me company in the car to go pick them up, she greets them, plays with them, shows them where to potty, tells them what time supper is, teachs them which dish is HERS and so many other things. How she has time to look after her fosters, come to work with me, be that beautiful and look after me everyday is amazing!

I would say Jewel's come a long way since being dumped at a shelter matted, under-weight and pregnant two years ago. I've come a ways as well.

Second Show - First Title!

1st trial - Great judge but I didn't realize that in pre-novice on the recall the dog does not have to come front! Argh! She over-shot me and was a little bit behind me and I thought we failed so I called her to the front so she wouldn't make the same mistake again. Turns out if I hadn't done that we would have passed, she just had to be with-in arm's reach.

2nd trial - Jewel stood up as the judge was walking away from the sit for examination.

3rd trial - Ribbon! Jewel got her PCD title!! Yay! I admit it I started crying in the ring.

4th Trial - What did she even do right in this one?? Oh the long sit she didn't mess up. My friend said she couldn't believe how BAD Jewel was for this one, sniffing during the heeling, following me out during the recall..total bomb.

Both Judges at this show were AWESOME! Lots of advice, little tips and incouragement!! It was a small show so they had time to talk to us all.

On the down side I felt like the other people competiting came to the show knowing just about everyone else and I was odd one out. I did not make any friends, I actually barely talked to anyone because they were all clustered around in groups yakking it up.

Good day at the office

Woooweee is Jewel having a good day at the office today! First someone was using the hotplate to make bacon and she managed to beg some off everyone. It was back bacon or "Canadian" bacon as some call it.

Secondly it's fall here which means time to refill the yard with gravel! Jewel's got three rules about new gravel; 1. roll in it. 2. Pee on it. 3. Climb it if it's still in a pile.

Two hours after her noon walk she shook herself off and a big cloud of dust flew into the air. Yessss, gravel season is fun!