Dog Shows

I haven't updated my diary in awhile. I've been going to quite a few dog shows over the year. So far I have 7 points and 1 major! That makes me about half way toward my championship.

This weekend I took Winner's Dog on Saturday for a point and on Sunday I took Best of Winners for two points. :)

Dad and I are working on Rally O, we did two trials this weekend but clearly neither of us are ready and we NQ'd in both trials. So we're going to work on that all winter and hopefully by spring we'll be ready to trial again! We need to be over prepared to compensate for nerves!

March 1st 2010 - 1st Agility Class!

Dad and I enrolled in agility! We had our first class and boy did we have fun! We learned five obstacles and almost all of the training was using the method called "Shaping". That's my favorite way to train! I get lots of treats an I get to use my brain trying to figure out what Dad wants from me that will earn me the next one! I would much rather learn like that than have them tell me what to do without explaining why first. I'd rather find out why on my own!

So we had a great time and Mom & Dad think I'm really smart! Mom posted a video of my first class and each obstacle as I learned them. We had a great time and can't wait until the next class!

This weekend March 5th & 6th I have a dog show to go to. Then the next day, Monday is agility! I'm a busy pup!!

Puppy III Graduate!

Today I graduated from puppy 3 class at Proper Paws University where Me, Mom & Dad train. I had to perform all the elements of a CGC test and though I wouldn't have passed a test I got to learn what we need to work on. I am just WAY too friendly and I can't seem to stay seated when someone comes to greet me. I have to jump on them!! After all shouldn't they know how happy I am to see them?? And I want to play with other dogs not sit next to dad while they walk by... oh no! Not me!!

So... I guess that is where Mom & Dad need to focus. I'm good at loose leash walking, I'm good an pretty much all the other elements but I just have to learn some self control before I'm ready for that CGC test. We'll get there!

As for now, its fun to have passed another class. March 1st 2010 I start an agility foundations class!!! How fun is that???

Reserve Winners Dog 1/24/2010

Well Dad and I went to a show in Oshkosh and as usual I was the only 6-9 month puppy. So Mom & Dad just figured I'd come home with two blue ribbons. 1st out of one each day Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday that was the case. I got my blue ribbon from being the only 6-9 month old puppy and then in the winners dog class the judge didn't even look at me cuz I was a pup. Mom & my breeder thought that there was a couple of dogs that weren't as nice as me though.

Then on Sunday Dad and I practiced in the hotel hallway in the morning. Lots of happy down & backs. We went to the show and before I went in the ring our trainer Annette showed up!!! I was SOOO happy to see her!! So she and dad practiced for a bit and when I went in the ring I was a happy boy! My eyes were shining, my tail was wagging and this judge was looking for personality! Well he found it in me!!

So I took first in my puppy class, but in the winners dog class he pointed at me for reserve!!! Mom & Dad were so excited!! Mom cried, dad was just as proud as could be and I got lots of hugs, treats and pets from them. Boy I can't wait till I do well again!! We stopped at Hardee's on the way home and I got my own roast beef sandwich!! YUM!!

Graduated Puppy I Class!!

Dad and I graduated from our Puppy I class last night.

There was a test where I had to sit/stay for ten seconds, Greet Becky the receptionist, target a post it note on the wall. I had to sit at a door being opened. Once inside the room I had to do 10 puppy push ups (that was hard and boring!!). Sit down sit down 10 times. Then I had to sit in front of another door before being opened. We had to weave through cones on a loose leash, walk on a loose leash around the perimeter of the puppy play yard where I go to daycare so all of this was very distracting!!! I had to leave treats on the ground twice, target a targeting stick, then a recall. I did very well and had the 2nd fastest time of the group completing the course.

Then each of us pups was to show a trick we had learned. Dad and I did a demonstration of shaping me to stand on a book. There are a couple of videos from our practice sessions in my video diary! All in all it was a great evening and of course I got to play play play with my friends!!

A few of them are already signed up for Puppy II class which starts October 7th! Can't wait!!

July 8th - Our Biggest Day Yet!!

Today our litter had our puppy aptitude test. We all scored very well and pretty evenly across the board. The evaluator (a nice lady named Cindy) used the Volhard Puppy Aptitude test. You can view the score card with explanations here We all pretty much scored 3's & 4's on everything.

When we know for absolute certain which puppy I am, Mom will edit this diary entry with my exact scores.

Then we had our "birdiness" test! Being retrievers we all found that to be a LOT of fun!! Our entire group was introduced to a pigeon. We were all curious and chased it a little.

Then we were individually introduced to the pigeon one by one and those results were recorded. Mr Green (we think that is me) and two others scored the highest which was 5. My breeder said she wished there was a score above 5 because Mr Green clearly showed the most "birdiness" of the group.

After all of this testing we all went to the vet!! Everyone in the office went nuts over 7 liver flat coated retriever puppies!! Talk about being fussed over!! The vet gave us all a clean bill of health. We were all dewormed AND micro chipped.

So we have our health certificates for our new owners and we are now just waiting for our structure testing on July 15th!

July 7th - Our Day at the Farm!

Our breeder took all us pups to a farm today! We were all very excited in the car and being quite noisy!

When we got there all of us went right out and started charging all over the place! We weren't afraid, but we were very aware of all of the sights, smells and sounds. We met a chicken that led us around a corner to where there were more chickens. All of us pups were following at first. All of a sudden all of the chickens (numbering 150!) came waddling over to see what was going on! Mr Green (me) made the first bold move to go up and check them out. Mr Yellow was right behind me but when the chickens started to multiply Mr Orange was the only one left to face them all! The rest of us just started wrestling with each other a few yards away.

Then along came the cows. They seemed to be more afraid of us than we were of them! Each of us pups made an attempt to see what they were. We weren't afraid but we were cautious! Mr Yellow went up to them several times totally on his own!

Then we ran through a huge garden and hid under everything we could find. We had the best time! Then we ate lunch and had a nap. During our nap the roosters were crowing at some sirens going off in the distance. We hardly opened our eyes we were so tired! Then a tiny little bird tweeted nearby and all of our heads jumped up at the same time! Go figure!

We played a little more then headed home. Our breeder posted quite a few photos of the event. Check it out here

6/18/09 - First Adventure Outdoors & First Car ride!!

Yesterday our crew got to go outsdide for the first time! We had a great time exploring a whole new world and we got to go potty wherever we wanted to!!

Our breeder recapped our adventure for our owners:

"The puppies had a very big day today. They went outside for the first time, and got Uncle Mick to play with them. I took them outside in groups of two. Mr. Lt. Blue and Mr. Dark Blue were following Mick around and he was avoiding them as much as possible. Then Mr. Green and Mr. Red came out. They wouldn't give up. Finally Mick growled and barked at them. Mr. Red ran over to Patsy and started howling! Patsy went over to Mick and started "talking" to him. She was grumbling and barking at him. Mick licked Patsy and seemed to get the message. Mick went to hide under the trampoline, surely they wouldn't find him there...but they did. So he finally gave in and played with them for a few seconds but that was it. I think when they get bigger he will love playing with them, he has always liked puppies but this puppies are still very small. I think Mick knows he could hurt them very easily.

Then the liver crew had lunch and a big nap, then went for their first car ride. They all did great on the car ride, not a single one of them made a peep. They were curious but not scared.

The series of photos describing the scene with Mick, the Puppies and Patsy are on the website from our breeder. It is a MUST SEE!! Puppy Page

6/11/09 First meal, new toy and crate padding.

We're 22 days old now and yesterday we had our first meal! We had a mixture of gruell and puppy formula. It was quite yummy!!!

Mom & Dad noticed that in the photos us pups all really love a certain bear skinned rug toy that is in there. We all love to sleep on it and cuddle with it. Mom & Dad ordered the same one on Amazon and they are having it shipped to our breeder. She will let us all play with it but when the time comes for Dad to pick me up I get to keep it forever!! That way I'll have a toy with me that I've known pretty much all of my life!!

To get me used to Mom, Dad's and my fur sister Nikki's smells Dad bought a crate pad for me. It is laying on top of one of Nikki's beds and she is laying on it getting her smells on it. A couple weeks before Dad comes to pick me up he will ship it to the breeder and she will crate train me with that pad so I will be already familiar with the smells of my new family before Dad comes to get me! Mom posted a picture of Nikki on my crate pad on my page.

My brothers and sister and I are all playing together more and having fun. Mom is feeling pretty much back to normal and life is good!!

6/10/09 Mom is feeling better!

Whew! That was a very long terrible day. The vet had diagnosed Mom with gastroenteritis. Apparently something in her kibble really upset her tummy. It just had to run its course but with Mom feeding us and not feeling well she just didn't do well at all.

Today she has kept down two small meals and is asking for more. She is also nursing us again! It was nice having our breeder try so hard to bottle feed us to give Mom a break but we much prefer our mother!!

So keep your paws crossed that this is all behind us and that Mom continues to improve!