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As The World Turns...So Does Oban!!!

Graduation and Herding

Dear Diary,

Last night was pretty exciting for me and Mommy...I got to graduate from Intermediate Obedience lessons!!! I was so excited, but not as happy as mommy was! I think she started to cry at one point. She tells me it's because she loves me so much! In a week or so I get to start the next class called "City Dog" where they teach mommy and me how to be obedient "in the real world". Mommy says that what that means, is that I get to practice all my skills and tricks while in public areas like the park and Main Street while still have the support of our great teachers. (I love my teacher! She gives yummy treats to me!)

I also re-started sheep herding on Sunday! Mommy and Daddy took me last year, but they didn't like the lady (and neither did I) because she threw the pole at me and hit me and I wasn't doing anything wrong! I was just following the sheep and not very fast either! Well, we went to a new trainer near by and she was really nice. Stricked but nice! I was scared when she brought her stick out so she put it away. She just wanted to see if I had an "eye" for herding and BOY did I!!! After I got over being scared of the sheep and all! Mommy is so excited...again...so I get to go again on Thursday!!! I feel bad though because Mommy is doing all of this to make me happy and so I build my confidence up and learn not to lunge and bark and bare teeth at other dogs. But, she is giving up things that she wants, including a couple of bills to pay for it. I know that she loves me, so I am trying really hard to be a good boy. Maybe some other doggies can pray for me to learn to be a good dog?

Woof to you soon!

Love Oban

Spring Has Sprung in the Mud!

Dear Diary,
Wow. What a couple of weeks it has been! I have had 2 lessons so far at my new school with Mommy and she says that I am doing quite well. I still have trouble on my leash though. When I see another dog I can't help but bark and try to get at it! I'm not sure if I am scared of them or I am just so excited that I want to see it? But I do get growly when I get too close to a doggy I don't know. Mommy gets so sad because she wants the best for me and she thinks that it is all her fault. I am trying my best though.

Since Spring has officially come and the weather has got warm, especially this weekend, Mommy and Daddy are walking us all the time! We don't go into the yard at all because if we did, we'd have to have BATHS!!! yuck! Mommy is really tired from all the walking since she has to walk me and Starsky seperately. She says that it is b/c I am "in training". I feel bad for mom cuz she is still sick. She has a lot of trouble eating food and stuff so she gets tired fast. But she doesn't show it! I can just tell. I'm worrying her though becuase I don't like to go poop on my leash. (I never have!) So I haven't gone in just over 24 hours! To be honest, I don't act like I have to go poop and Mommy takes me out every hour to see if I will go. Maybe I will have to finally go when we go for our bedtime walk. Hopefully I will so Mommy doesn't worry. She is already worrying over Hutchy because she got really sick just before Christmas! She stopped eating and she had to go the doctor and be force fed some special Nutrition Gel and stuff! Now Mom is worried that it was due to the bad cat food that has been "recalled". All the cats were eating PC Brand wet cat food at the time, so chances are that was the problem! Mom and Dad are going to go ask the doc. on Monday.

Some people came to the house today and cleaned up our yard! They took away all the poop me, Starsky and our friend Gazoo leave in the yard! It is still quite a mess out there. Full of wet messy mud and the yucky straw. But the straw will goo away next week sometime when more people come and take it away. I can't wait until the yard is nice and dry again so we can play out there with our frisbees and balls!

Well, I guess that's about it for me. I can't wait until the flowers come up. Then it really WILL be Spring!

Love Oban

New Classes!

Woof Woof! This week Mom and Dad took me somewhere I have never been before. They said that it was Obedience Classes. I was scared to go and I was scared when I was there too. But Mom and Dad stayed with me the whole time and it wasn't so bad. We did a ton of stuff that I already know, so it was easy! Like...Sit, Stay, Look. What really scared me were the other doggies that were there. Over the Fall and Winter I didn't really paly with other dogs except for my sister, my cousin and our friend who lives in our basement. Everytime I go for a walk with my Mom I get kind of scared of other dogs and people and squirrels! (Ok. I just like to bark and chase squirrels. Daddy taught me that and Mommy HATES it!) Anyway, the teacher I have said that I get "growly" with other dogs and barky with people becuase I am fearful. Well, YA! You would be too if you had a so called friendly dog come at ya last summer! Daddy and Mommy knew about it, but didn't know that I was so scared of other dogs because of it. So, now I go everywhere with Mommy which is a lot of fun. She says that she is trying to help me with my "Fear Aggression". Everytime I get near another dog (or another animal gets near me) Mom gets my attention by speaking very excitedly and if I respond and look at her I get yummy treats! I like that game!!! It's only been a few days and I am not very good at it yet, but Mommy says that she is hopeful as I am getting better at it. I am looking at her more just to "check in" and she always tells me "GOOD" when I do look at her or I sit down or lay down or come. She is frustrated though. I heard her tell Daddy that. Mainly because she thinks it's her fault I am growly but it really isn't as she didn't know. I'm her first very own doggie son and she is learning along with me! We are learning together! I just want to make Mommy as happy as I can because that is what I do best. (Besides catching my ball and frisbee which Mommy throws for me all the time. And BOY do I LOVE that!) So, now Mommy is trying to find some very gentle neighbour dogs to walk with so I can learn that other dogs are "ok". I'm still not so sure about that theory, but I am trying to trust my folks on that one.

Oh...Mommy wants to know if anyone has any suggestions to help me or if there are any nice dogs in our area of the world? Email her if you do!

Love Oban

PS: It's going to be my baby brother's First Birthday on Saturday! That is St. Patrick's Day and his name is Shamrock! He is a kitty cat.