Birthday: May 31st 2011 Likes: Herding, swimming, retrieving, and tugging Pet-Peeves: Reptiles, they freak him out Favorite Toy: His tug toys, Jolly Ball & Egg, and Orbee Ball Favorite Food: Onyx has been eating a raw prey model and whole prey diet since the day I brought him home. His favorites are green tripe, any kind of heart and liver, lamb, bison, and whole rabbit Favorite Walk: Anywhere he can be off lead Best Tricks: Stealing dumbbells Arrival Story: Onyx is from a breeder in Washington state. I told her the kind of dog I wanted and put down a deposit. A couple months later his litter was born, and a couple months after that, I drove 20 hours each way to pick him up. It was a long wait (and drive!) to get this guy, but I couldn't ask for a better dog. Bio: Onyx is from German working lines. We're currently training in herding, Mondioring, agility, and obedience, and competing in UKC conformation. Also planning to try lure coursing, tracking, and possibly dock diving since he enjoys water so much. Forums Motto: Do you even lift? The Groups I'm In: *DDPC4*, *DDPC6*, *Dogster Digital Photography Challenge 3*, DDPC5! The Last Forum I Posted In: Best supplements for GSD mixed for dandruff
Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace. -Milan Kundera
The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. -Samuel Butler
I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better. -George Bird Evans, "Troubles with Bird Dogs"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown
He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog. -Gene Hill
From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog. Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day. If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person. Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human." So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile, because they "just don't understand." -Richard A. Biby
A couple weeks ago my human started loading up our car. I love car trips so I was pretty excited! I started getting a little concerned when I saw all the stuff she was putting in my riding space, but I figured I must have a spot reserved somewhere else. When she put my bed on top of a pile of suitcases in the back I was sure she was joking, but then she picked me up, put me in, and shut the back! I couldn't even sit up all the way without bumping my head against the ceiling.
We drove all day, with stops every couple hours so I could stretch my legs, and ended up in Utah where my human's cousin was graduating from high school. To our surprise, the school was super dog friendly and I was allowed to go to all the events, including the graduation! There was a big soccer/football field to run in, a stream to play in, and horses to meet!
After a couple days in Utah, we got back in the car, and drove up to Idaho where we stayed the night. The next day we got back in the car again and kept driving, but about an hour down the road, all the luggage tied to the roof off the car flew off! Fortunately, it all bounced onto the shoulder and the humans were able to retrieve it. Unfortunately, because the bungee cord hooks were bent, all that luggage had to come into the car, and guess where most of it ended up. Under my bed of course! I couldn't even lift my ears I was so close to the ceiling. I was not happy, to say the least. I had to ride that way for the next seven hours until we finally arrived in Washington.
The car ride wasn't fun but now that we're here, I'm having a blast! I love the weather up here, cool and rainy instead of hot and sunny like at home, I hate being overheated! I've been to the lake where I got to play with my cousin Maggie the Beagle and retrieve my toy from the lake, the beach where I dug holes and retrieved my toy from the ocean, and the lush, green backyard where we do obedience training and I get to retrieve my toy. Can you guess what my new favorite game is? I ask my human if we can go out and play fetch at least ten times a day!
Yesterday we went to a WA state park and hiked around for a while. It was beautiful and more importantly, had lots of interesting sniffs! I was having a good time but then I saw the ocean and convinced my human we should go down the steep, rocky slope that was the only way to get down to it. My human complained at me that we never having an outing that doesn't involve getting wet, but she couldn't say no to my manipulative face.
So I reckon the cramped car ride was worth all the fun I've been having. Human says there will be two fewer people and a lot less luggage on the ride home so I'll have tons of space. She also ordered me a seat belt which arrived yesterday that I'll be wearing on our way back home. I tried it out today when we went to the store to buy me more food. It was alright but I'm still getting used to having my movement restricted. My human says it'll keep me safe in the event of an accident so I guess I'll humor her.
Hope all my pup pals are enjoying their summer and staying cool! Onyx out!
Been a while since I updated the old dairy with all my goings on. I was invited to the advanced obedience class a couple weeks ago which my human was happy about. We've gone to two classes and I'm picking up on the new behaviors quickly with human's help. I've also started going to herding lessons every week and my instructor says I make progress every time. Herding is my favorite so human said it's worth the three hour round trip drive.
A couple weeks ago I went out to a ranch where our obedience trainer tested my drive to see if I might make a good protection dog. I got to play lots of tug which wasn't new to me since I play that with my human. I also got to try some news things like the A-frame, tunnel, and teeter to test my nerves. Our trainer put me on a table and I did some tug work up there which was fun once I was sure I wasn't going to fall!
Human and I work on obedience and/or tug almost everyday and she says my focus and drive are improving all the time. We might try out a foundations of agility class this summer which sounds like a lot of fun. I love going new places and trying new things!
I still go all kinds of fun places with my human like the park, river, snow, beach, trails, and various cities. Today we went to PetSmart so she could weigh me. I came in at just a tiny bit over 70lbs and human says I'm in perfect condition. She also measured my height to be about 24 inches.
Dogster Obsessions: The Starter Kit for Dogs by Wildebeest
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