Mom is getting really anxious for our show on Sunday. We've been working hard on rally the last few weeks, although for the past two weeks we've lost practice time due to constant rain. Mom is worried that might affect us on Sunday.
Then the other night Mom realised that she's never taught me to stand on command. So we're getting that worked on too.
She's so worried about everything that could go wrong. What if we haven't worked enough? We're still working on left turns, I've aced the left about, but just normal left turns are hard.
Then the stand for exam in obedience. That ones got mom worried too. I'm just learning to stand. What if I don't like the judge? Last year I baulked at a judge during the exam in conformation and that was with mom right next to me.
What if I forget everything we've been working on when we get in the ring? Mom is really trying to down play her nerves, but its getting harder with show day so close.
Mom says whatever happens happens, and that we're just doing it for fun. But at the same time she wants to prove everyone who said we couldn't do it wrong. She's knows that bad, and it shouldn't matter what they say, but she can't help it.
At the very least it'll show us what we need to work on. Which with our weather set back is probably alot now. Mom's bf will be recording each event so mom can watch it later.
It'll be good practice for shows later on where we actually have to travel a couple hours to get too.
The worst part for me right now is that I have to get in the tub tomorrow night. I'm not getting a full bath, Mom doesn't think I need that, I just need some of the dirt rinsed off my fur from my recent digging in the garden fun.
With all the dog bites that happen every year, most of them to children under 14 years old, Mom and I can't fathom why parents don't teach their kids dogs manners. Even if they don't have a dog at home, dogs are everywhere and its important that kids know how to interact with them.
Mom says its the responsibility of dog owners to make sure they're dogs are socialized and trained, but she also says its the responsibility of parents to teach their kids how to act around dogs. Its everyone's responsibility to prevent dog bites, as its a losing situation for everyone involved.
Today we met a kid with very poor dog manners. I've made it my job to tell Mom when someone is near our yard. When I do Mom lets me know she heard me and sees the person by telling me Bindi Leave It. Then she'll call me and give me yummy treats.
I was out playing in the yard when two kids came walking by. Mom said she'd gone into another room for a minute and when she came to tell me I could quit barking she couldn't believe what she saw.
One of the kids was jumping around outside our fence, making all sorts of taunting motions, staring at me, and barking at me. Mom immediately yelled at the kid to quit teasing the dog. I think he was shocked he got yelled at. Mom then called me back.
She's been fuming about that kid all day. She says its gotten her thinking about putting a bite prevention class together to teach in the local schools during bite prevention week. I wouldn't get to help teach the classes though. :( Max would get to help teach those. I like kids, but Mom says I wouldn't be able to handle the large group of kids the way Max would. Max lives for that sort of thing. The more people "drooling" over him, the happier he is. I much prefer the company of Mom or my human kids. I'll get along with other people, its just not my thing.
As for that kid, Mom hopes he'll remember that teasing dogs isn't the thing to do, but she doubts it.
Mom has been struggling with my weight since she got me. Other mali owners told her that not eating was normal. Mom had me to the vet on many different occassions. I saw three different vets, at three different clinics and not one could find anything wrong with me. One even played the "normal" card.
Mom threw out my kibble and started me n a prey model raw diet on June 10th, 2008. I'd been to the vet the day before for more tests because I was skinny. The vet also said at that visit that I might need yearly dentals for the rest of my life, my teeth were icky brown.
Mom couldn't be happier with what raw did for me. It took a bit of tweaking at first to get it just right, but once we got it right I started to thrive. I look absolutely pawsome now. I've always been a beauty, but now even more than before.
And best of all I LOVE my food. No more turning my nose up at that "cereal" mom kept trying to feed me. Sometimes Mom's just don't hear you right away. I knew all along there was nothing wrong me other than the fact that dogs aren't supposed to eat cereal. I knew if I held out long enough she'd figure out what I wanted.
But Geez Mom, did you really have to wait 2 years to figure out?!
So the official weights are in for my weight gain over the last few months. When I started raw I weighed in at 42.5 pounds. On August 6th, I'd gained a bit and weighed in at 45 pounds.
On Oct 21st I went in for another weigh in. I'm at a wonderful 53 pounds now, never looked or felt better.
Dogster Obsessions: The Starter Kit for Dogs by Wildebeest
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