Getting Ready for the Big Test

Luc and I went to Stay N Play Pet Ranch to hang out for an hour or so yesterday.  The purpose was to aid in getting Luc to sit quietly when someone approaches, to be calm when a dog enters the room, and to leave him with someone for 3 minutes while I disappear from his sight.  The object is that he remains calm and doesn't whine or act up when I leave.  He passed that one with flying colors! 

He did not do so well on a person approaching; he can barely sit still he is so excited.  And, he did not do very well when a dog entered the room. He is beside himself to investigate; although if there is 10 to 15 feet between them, he will remain in a seated position with much prompting.    All I can say is that Luc is definitely a people and dog dog which upon seeing either stirs him into an almost uncontrollable desire to greet and investigate.  I walked him around the grounds for about 20 minutes prior to going into the office but he could hardly contain himself.

In preparation for tomorrow's test by a Canine Good Citizen certified trainer from another kennel, Luc got a bath today (and Maggie too).  I want Luc to look his best and over the past several days I've used a Dremel with a sander bit to trim his nails.  You no doubt have seen Pedi Paws advertised on TV, but a Dremel works just as well, if not better -- you can change the sander and recharge it instead of replacing batteries.  Pedi Paws runs on batteries, at least the model I saw.  I do not use the nail clippers for fear of cutting too close.  If you haven't used a Pedi Paws or a Dremel with a sander bit, here is a little tip:  Don't leave the sander on the nail but for just a second, pause, then repeat 4 or 5 times.  If the sander is left on the nail too long, the nail heats up for sanding creates heat.     

 I'm considering going back to the kennel in the morning to see if we can get his over exuberance for any and all things under control because I'm not sure he'll pass the test.   However, if he doesn't, there is more training to be done, and he can take it again and again until he does pass. lol   If we have to do another 6-week session, then we'll do it.  Again, wish me luck tomorrow evening.

Until next time, God bless.

Therapy Dog Training, Part II

Our Therapy Dog Training class has had two official Wednesday sessions plus one supplemental Friday evening session to get the dogs ready to take the Canine Good Citizen's test this coming Wednesday.  Luc is doing pretty well with a few minor weaknesses; but today we are going to the kennel to work on those two problems, hmm, maybe I should say three, four (?) problems.  lol  The goal is to get the dogs to be consistent in their behavior and actions. 

Happy Luc 

There are ten items listed to qualify for a Canine Good Citizen certificate.  Luc is "iffy" on two of those items:  1) calmly receiving a brushing, and 2) waiting patiently for me to return from out of sight for 3 minutes without whining.  I've been brushing him every day and getting hubby to hold the leash while I walk away for 3 minutes.  He has been doing very well at home on these two test items.  Until now, brushing Luc has not been a priority since he would twist, wiggle and be generally uncooperative.  The walking out of sight has never really been a problem, but apparently he whined a couple of times when we tried it last Friday.  His other two problems which could affect his passing is it takes about 20-30 minutes for Luc to calm down whenever we go someplace and is next to impossible when he sees another dog.  I've remembered another command the other day that I haven't been using which is "leave it."  I've been working on that one over the weekend and hope that will help with other dogs and new smells.  lol  Just remember, Luc is 85 pounds of white-lightening energy; but the good news is that he is improving.  I think.  :D 

I'm off to the kennel today to see if we can get all this under control.  And, if he needs more work, we'll go back tomorrow.  The kennel is most interested in getting a therapy dog training program started; this 6-week course is their first session.  We are welcomed to come to the facilities to aid in the training.  In fact, the welcome mat is out to all of those in various obedience training sessions at their facility, Stay N Play Pet Ranch. 

Our Therapy Dog classes are held in their agility field.  It is very, very nice.  If I can ever find the time, Maggie would no doubt do very well in agility training; however, that's for another day, maybe.  :D  Getting this down with Luc is time consuming. 

As an aside, hubby has always taken Luc on field trips when he does errands but leaves Luc in the truck with either the a/c running or windows rolled down somewhat.  Since I've been taking Luc out just about every day, we cannot pick up car keys without his jumping up ready to go.  He hears the tingle of the keys.  He thinks he is supposed to go and is totally crestfallen if left behind.

Wish us luck today and Wednesday night. 

Until next time, God bless. 

Garden Solutions, Hopefully

As mentioned previously, gardening in Central Texas presents a challenge.  The soil is thin and full of rocks; and, then, of course, there are jack rabbits, cottontails, opossums, raccoons, foxes, and deer -- all of which are attracted to growing veggies and melons.  Last year I made a tiny garden in a corner of my yard and had success with a few things such a few zuchhinis, some broccoli and cabbage.  No luck with tomatoes last year, but then no one had very much luck with tomatoes.  We were in an 18 month drought that did not break until last September.

Nevertheless, I was undaughted and decided to make a much bigger garden this year some distance from the house.  We fenced an area of approximately 40' x 60' with 20' x 6' welded, wire panels, tilled up about 40' x 20-25', brought in 6 yards of compost, spread the compost over the garden area, retilled, made 9 rows, and installed a drip irrigation system.  The rains came and even though I had pulled weeds from the entire tilled area, the weeds flourished.  Time to plant was growing short and reweeded only 5 rows so corn, watermelons and cantaloupe would be in the ground before it was too late.  

I anxiously watched the growing corn and melons.  I was thrilled when I saw little ears of corn appearing on the stalks and tiny melons forming on the vines.  I noticed that one or two of the corn ears looked kind of funny.  I peeled back the leaves and what do I find:  Worms and aphids!  I checked all the corn stalks and all of the ears had worms, etc.  Well, that was that!  The corn was chopped down and thrown over the fence for the cows. I've since found out that sunflowers should be planted in and around corn since sunflowers act as a trap for worms and aphids that are attracted to corn.  Next year sunflowers will be amongst the corn.    

I did plant sunflowers next to the fence.   Not very many reached this maturity because something slipped in to eat the young plants. 

In addition, something either jumped into the garden or ate the flowerheads through the fence and something has eaten the bottom out of just about every cantaloupe that was close to picking!  The watermelons are untouched for the moment. 

  

I've added extra fencing and blocked gaps between the gates and the posts with old lumber and rocks. However, this is my latest line of defense:  ropes above the 4' high gates. 

So far, nothing has taken chunks out of the remaining 5 or 6 cantaloupes or the last two sunflower heads, but it appears critters are very crafty and find ways to terrorize the garden. 

One more item of concern:  grass burs.  We in Central Texas are having a bumper crop.  Somehow these little stickers jump on to your shorts, your shoes, your t-shirt bottoms and wreck havoc on the dog's feet.  In fact, the dogs nor I cannot walk more than 6' from the house or to the garden without stopping to dislodge a grass bur or two, three, err four.  We've pretty much cancelled the dogs' daily walk because they spend more time stopping to get the burs out of their paws than walking.  However, I am in the process of doing what I can in the yard.  It is so dry that I dare not use a weed torch -- I might catch the entire yard on fire.  So, this is my latest idea:  get an old blanket and drag it behind me to get a many stickers as possible.  Actually, I'm beginning use the blanket as if I'm pulling weeds.  Once I tried tying a towel behind the riding mower, backed it up -- oops, there is a towel attached and it got tangled in the mower.  lol  So, bur removal is being done manually.

I do love a challenge and this garden business is keeping me busy.  Just how hard can it be to put a seed in the ground and have it grow its fruit for my table?  I AM SMARTER THAN PLANTS AND CRITTERS.  I WILL CONQUOR. lol 

Until next time, God bless.

Therapy Dog Training, Part I

Luc has two speeds: on and off. 

Luc and I had our first Therapy Dog training class.  There was a change of instructors and class time because the original instructor had a family emergency and returned to Dallas.  Originally, I was told Luc would need to pass the Canine Good Citizen test in the first class or drop out if he failed.  However, the new instructor has changed the test requirement until the third class.  She is taking the first three classes of the six-week course to bring all the dogs up to passing the Canine Good Citizen test.  We'll spend the last three weeks of the course prepping for a dog therapy certification. 

There are several dog therapy accreditation associations which have their own standards and tests.  One such association is Therapy Dogs International. Another organization is the Penny's from Heaven Foundation which centers on wounded soldiers but also works with abused children, hospice patients, court houses, and etc.  I'll probably seek accreditation from these two.  There is at least one more association around the Austin area but I did not catch the name. 

Luc did pretty good overall for Luc.  The other dogs would not have passed a Canine Good Citizens test either. We all have a lot of work to do before next week's class.  His worst fault is his curiosity's about other dogs.  I was pulled several times towards one dog in particular.  However, the trainer told me how to get him under control.  It is going to take a lot of work.  lol  Luc is a very social dog in every way, be it dogs or people. 

I'm pretty excited about the prospect of Luc becoming certified as a therapy dog.  I am very interested in the Penny's from Heaven group; but, no doubt, Therapy Dogs International is equally interesting.  I'll get more literature on the various association as the class progresses.  My schedule is cleared for the next 6 weeks so I can concentrate on his training.  I'll keep you updated on how the training, Luc, and the class goes.  While I took my camera, I did not take any photos because I needed to pay attention but plan to get some class photos.   

Until next time, God bless.

More Texas Sculpture II

Here are three artist interpretations of our famous Texas Longhorn.

While I cannot say for sure, this artist may have used barbed wire then torched the "barb."  Whether barbed wire was used or not, think of the hours it took to lay one strand of wire at a time.

You are greeted by this sculpture when you drive into The Old Oaks Ranch Fiber Arts Center, located on Old Oaks Ranch Road off RR 12 between Dripping Springs and Wimberley, TX.  Last November, I did a series on the Fiber Arts Center when I wove scarves as Christmas presents for my son and daughter-in-law.  If interested, go here, here, here, or here.

Again, I'm guessing but it looks as if the artist used automobile and/or motorcycle parts for this Longhorn.  The sculpture is located on Highway 290 W between Johnson City and Fredericksburg, Texas.  Its pretty impressive when the sun bounces off the chrome. 

The artist used locks, wrenches, bells, gears, and all kinds of objects for this Longhorn which is located at the Lady Bird Jophnson Wildflower Center in Austin, TX.

I'm fascinated with sculpture where artists use a collage of materials in their creations.  My fascination is probably because when I see an object, I see an object, but the artist sees a sculpture.  :D

Until next time, God bless.

More Texas Sculpture

Here's a companion piece to the blue horse in this week's SOOC Sunday.  I wish now that I had included the title on the base of the sculpture. 

New Friends

My dearest friend from the 7th grade came to visit for an all girls weekend.  Hubby took a trip to Portland, Oregon to visit with his sister.  We had a great time doing exactly what we wanted without thought of anyone but ourselves.  It was delightful.

She brought her dog, Clansy Clyde, who weighs all of 6 pounds.  This city dog thinks he is now a farm dog.  Grass burs are as bad this year as I've ever seen; Clansy's hair is somewhat shorter when he left than when he arrived.  lol  Grass burs seemed to leap off the stem to land on poor Clansy. 

He fit right in with both Maggie and Luc.  When they went out, he went out; when they came in, he came in.  When he went out, they went out.  So you might say my dear friend and I got a lot of exercise which compensated for those bowls of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream, the low fat kind, and chocolate syrup .

Luc knew Clansy was a dog but was very curious as to how a dog can be small.  lol  A good time was had by all. 

Until next time, God bless.