Been.So.Long.

Well its been awhile since i have written, but here goes(:
Well my first trial *thinking back* woah that was way back in August...Time flys doesn't? anyway, Mom thought I did pretty well considering my ADD and other problems. No Q's No Placements, and not even a finished course. Mom was pretty happy, but a little disappointed. The video of that trial can be found here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS--tBLxdTc&feature=chan nel_page
Then we had a some pretty good practice sessions in between, one of them can be found here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qUQrKffLss&feature=chan nel_page
And lastly, we had a trial on 11/01, which didn't go very well until Mom did something different on the last tunnelers run and we almost finished it(: mom was veryyy proud of me(: she knows i took alot for me to but my ADD behind me(: lol Here is a discription of the Trial (the camera was not working)

Trial-11-01: We signed up for 2 weavers and a tunnelers and got there way too early haha. Weavers rounds were first. Anyway on Tobys first run he did the first tunnel, something caught his nose and he ran. Second run same thing. After that second round I was in tears. I took Toby, put him in his cage and went outside and walked around. My face was covered in tears. I just couldnt understand why he did this. I was in total disbelief and doubt. Had we come this far for nothing? Is Toby ever going to complete a course? What is wrong??? I stood outside for a good 10 minutes and came back in to see that the tunnelers briefing had already started. I walked the course, even though I was going to leave anyway. At this point I sat down and started talking with my parents. At first they wanted me to leave, and so did I. After about 10 minutes of arguing, talking, and trying to predict the future, my parents had done a total 360 and said, weve only been here 6 hrs whats another half an hour anyway? I was not even excited to go into the arena when my name was called. I just thought that I would end up chasing him back down anyway. But a surge of hope jumped through me. And for some reason I cant explain I decided that I would just walk/jog the course and let Toby take it in stride. He did AMAZAZING! I started him not in a sit, but in a stand and walked to the first tunnel. He went through that tunnel and my spirits started lifting. But a smell caught his nose. Oh crap I thought, this is it. But I just calmly said come and praised with my voice. He did the next 4 tunnels the same way. At tunnel 5 he ran off. I started to doubt again, but I put my doubts aside and calmly called him in the prettiest voice his ears would ever hear. He came and jumped on my and planted a kiss right on my face. I thought Whatever, at least hes having fun. And we continued on. At tunnel 9 he ran again. I called and he started to come, but instead of calling him directly too me first, I called and told him to take the next tunnel. It was a mistake. Instead of him going to the tunnel he didnt hear my command in time and ran to the dogs and people at the start line. I caught him and walked out of the ring. I could hear people cheering for me, even though they didnt even know who I was. I started crying, but this time it was tears of happiness and joy, not tears of sorrow. Words could not explain what I was feeling. Many of you may be reading this saying, Oh boy just 8 tunnels, thats it? Whats so great about that? You would have to understand and see my dog in order to understand why 8 tunnels meant the world to me. This dog is obsessed with anything that breathes moves or what have you. He LOVES everything in the world. My family and friends understand this, because they have met Toby, otherwise you cannot understand fully, even the people that meet Toby cant really understand fully. Only I can. So 8 tunnels may not mean the world to you, but it does to me. But you know what means more? Having Toby by my side to help me traverse that obstacle. Toby is my life, my world, my everything. And I owe him so much more.
I know, and it took me awhile to realize that Toby isnt like other dogs, he has his special qualities, some good and some bad, that make up who he is. I always thought that training Toby would be so easy, yet it has been the hardest challenge i have probably ever faced. It has made me stronger and a better person overall. Toby has changed my life, for the greater good and i am greatful beyond belief for the challenge he has faced me with.
And it is so true
I love you Toby, more than you will EVER know and more than you will EVER understand

Peace&Love
~Toby's Mom and Toby(:

8 days! =)

8 more days until my first trial! =) mom set up some new jumps in the backyard today! wooo! i did really good! mom says i could have been a little faster, but it was hot so she cut me some slack =)

I cant wait! i get to see new people and dogs there! WoOoOoOoOoOoOoT! =) exciting stuff!

~Toby

PS. you can see the video of it on youtube:
www.youtube.com/bigredchops

Please watch and enjoy! =)

Aframe fun =)

Mom finished the a-frame today! OOHHH BOYYYY! =) it is a full sized regulation Aframe (8ft boards) but it is awesome! I went over it and I was FLYING! =) (It was set pretty low though lol. It was so much fun and mom was sooooo proud of me!!! =)

~Toby

Agility and Greatest American Dog =) 25 more- dayysssss.....=)

Well its offically 25 days until my first trial and mom is discovering a few problems... so ill let her talk =)

Well Toby has some motavation problems and he doesnt really "love" agility so to speak. If i dont have a ball in my hand he goes off and sniffs which means hes bored, sick of it, or just plain hates it. So ive been trying to make it more fun. We took a 2 day break from agility and today we came back to it and worked in the sun (because in his trial he will most likely run in the afternoon so i wanted him to get used to it) and made it about a 5 minute lesson and we only went throught the sequence probably about 4 times. The sequence was channel weaves about 2-3 inches apart because i was pushing for speed not accuracy jump, jump and tunnel. It was a completely straight line sequence and i made it as fun as i can and i also stopped and just played too. im hoping if i keep this up he'll enjoy it much more but im worried that, come trial time, hes going to shut down and do a jump and run to the nearest person or dog and socialize and not come back (like usual) i live in the country so ive been taking him in to the town nearest to me and working there too. i dont want to over work him but im on a time limit! I think i entered him a little early lol =) Such is life... you have to play the cards your dealt =)well if anything it will be a good experience for both him and i. We will get to know a few new people and dogs and have alot of fun=)

Oh and this reminds me! Tomorrow Greatest American Dog is on! WOoOoT! I love that show even though its like Big Brother only with dogs lmao! I really hope Bill and Star win! They have a great relationship and know each other well! =) They are truely amazing! WoOoOoT! Go Bill and Star! (Also Star competes in agility myyyy favorite Dog Sport!!! =)

Oh, well Toby wants to take over the computer now...=)
Woof Woof! i see a cat outside the window!! =) hahaha well im out of stuff to write since my mom wrote "fur"ever ha ha! =)

~Toby

How Could You?

Oh my god this brought tears to my eyes! It is so sad but so true....


How Could You?



A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan took out a full page ad in the paper to present the following essay to the people of our community. It really touched my heart and i hope it will tours too.

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, age I became your best friend. Whenever I was"bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?"-but then you'd relent, and roll me over for a bellyrub.

My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams,and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs," you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforte you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person"-still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy.

Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love."

As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch-because your touch was now so infrequent-and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.

There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me.

These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.

Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her."

They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too.

After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home.

They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you- that you had changed your mind-that this was all a bad dream ... or Ihoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me.

When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room.

She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her.

The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"

Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself-a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her.

It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.

May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.
By Jim Willis 2001

A note from the author:

If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is the composite story of the millions of formerly owned pets who die each year in American and Canadian animal shelters. Anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for a noncommercial purpose, as long as it is properly attributed with the copyright notice.

Please use it to help educate, on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life, that animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all life is precious. Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage adoption.

I'm on Youtube!

OH BOY! =) mum has a youtube page! =) just for me!
It is:

www.youtube.com/bigredchops

Check it out! Mom will be posting some videos of me doing agility on dogster but you can see all of them on youtube =)

~Toby

Toby agility

I went to a different place today... I had new people and new smells.... OH BOY!!! =) Mom got out some agility stuff and we worked on doing agility with distractions. It was fun but i wanted to sniff all the time! Mom says my first trial will be August 30th and we are entering jumpers and tunnelers. Boy i hope im ready! =) Mom doesn't care if i Q as long as we have a good time and i finish the course =) Wish me luck! =)

~Toby