Puppy!!

So after months of contemplating puppies.. One fell into my lap.  A hairy hairless chinese crested.. that the more I research he may be considered closer to a true or moderate hairless as he has a smattering of body hair, not loads..

Obligatory pictures!!

This is Arson!  He was previously Fred..  He was SO a Fred before I shaved his face...  Picture of him being a Fred ;)

An he's wearing Cider's 'The Brain' Ella's Lead collar ;)

He's making new friends... He finds Dekka sexy, and she finds him similar.  Whippets and Cockers are scary.. JRTs are fine..  Smudge is dying to play with him.  He isn't getting it.  Cider is so scary he rolled onto his back for easy penis sniffing access..

Stuffs..

I like stuff.  Apparently too much..  Have horse, need stuffs!  Bought 3 saddle pads, a tail bag, polos, boots, super duper fun bell boots, 2 blankets, a saddle, a bridle.. a saddle cover..

Spent way too many hours on kijiji looking at stuffs.. but got my blankets that way..

I love pics.. so..

Blingy bridle.. purple reins.. ;)

I have orange tiger boots in the mail.. and my purple zebra tail bag and polos should be being shipped soon..

Oh I also bought new dog tags on etsy from SayWhatCreations.  I got two of these, in brass with my cell number.. till now I've always used my home phone, but we travel so much... heart shaped tags.  I bought Cider a rubit recently.. so Cider has a tag again.. I can't find Smudge's rubit.. I've misplaced it.  Had to take it off at a Rally-O trial in the ring..  And put it who knows where.

I still want one of these for Panzer halter tag.  But until the fence has working electric.. she sticks her face through too much and too often.  She's ripped her halter between two holes..

I found this super awesome store last night.  Sadly they only ship in America.  I want like $200 of stuff.  I need to go on a vacation to America again.

I also found a Frenchie breeder I kind of like.  Still high priced.. but they have an agile water loving bitch.  I'd like to email them this week to see if they'll ever breed her again.  Decalida Frenchies.

Lastly... Rebecca over at Ella's Lead is a terrible terrible enabler!  She is a make up and body product connoisseur..  and I am waiting for some scrumptious smelling body scrubs, spray in conditioner, and other stuffs..

We also got a month ago a matching set of collars.. but I don't have pics yet.  We are uber cute.  First time I've gone for something 'different'.  I got a bracelet that matches Cider's collar too, so when people mention collars and I don't have my pups, I can show them my bling ;)  I also got a wonderful leash from them, my first leather leash ever..  So here's borrowed pics from them for now to tide you all over.

The one one the left with diamonds is Cider's.  The one on top with squares is Smudge's.  The bracelet on the bottom is mine!  We've worn them about a month, been swimming lots.  The leather is darkening but looks fantastic, as always and the furkids go swimming daily now that it's hot as hell out.  New pics to come if I can get Kerri to take pics for me as her pics rock better than mine ;)  Cider has learned to swim all on her own this year, and life jacket free.  I'm super excited for her.  She goes into the pond on her own with little prompting.  If it is hot enough she gets in on her own, if not asking her to go swim she does it.  Considering my little girl acted like she was drowning most of her life, this is amazing.  I took her into the pool yesterday in her life jacket.  For the first time ever, no fighting no digging in claws.  She swam peacefully with me.  It was awesome.  I'm proud of her increased confidence.

Smudge's back as also been an interesting work in progress.  I picked up a supplement at the Greenhawk warehouse sale that is glucosamine and other things.  Both the furkids look chubby and have less muscle than ever.  So we set up a line of ten jumps as single stride bounces and have been running most of the dogs over them.  It's been only about 2 weeks, and they have more muscle, and Smudge's back appears straighter.  He's 2 months overdue for the chiro, as work and the end of school has been hectic.  I'd like them to evaluate him as I think he looks better, and he's more 'adventurous'.  He jumped into a really high truck last week no prompting.  Usually he would put paws on something and wait to be lifted.  My bed is also very high, and he jumped on it repeatedly last night.  Often he does it once.. and then 'asks'.  This is huge as we've been seeing a chiro every three weeks for years..  I love the chiro, but this seems to be a more permanent fix as opposed to the often maintenance.

Ooh it's been a while..

Horses.. Squee!!

What's new..

I graduated school.  Boo yeah.  Lord it was a 2 year uphill battle, and would suggest taking nursing if you want to go into medicine in some way..  The AEMCA is in a few weeks.. = terror.  Rideouts finally ended.  Thank the lord.  The grad ceremony is in a month.

All I want to do is chill and sleep.  I am still so damn tired.

I was told no third cocker spaniel.. so I sure did get a horse :)

And I ordered more Ella's lead collars.  Of course!

This is Panzer.  Thanks SR for renaming her.  She was Callie, and I liked it.. but it made me think of 'calla lily' and she is well... not delicate.   So Panzer is German for tank.  She is built like one.  A chunky monkey. 

This is Ivy frolicking with Panzer.  Panzer has gotten a little bit thinner since coming home.  Most active horse.. ever.

It's like May outside!!!

My weight is down to 156.5 pounds. Boo yeah!

I need 180 more rideout hours, and sadly it will take until super late April. Yay and boo...

My Brain collar is en route.. It should arrive this week!!!! And.. I'm taking my first plane trip by myself. I booked the tickets Monday night for May. It makes me want the end of school to come even faster.. as now I have something fun to go do after.

Sadly, no job prospects yet..

There is an uber duber cute puppy I'd love if he had the right personality.. 13-14 weeks old.. Waned for a show home, and I'm not sure if they'd think I dabble enough. Sadly I fear contacting if he's right or wrong for me.. as I'm not free to go see him till May.. Way way too long.

It's 18 degrees Celsius and sunny outside. My 6 hours of class was brutal. I wan to go sun myself and play with my pups.

February!

Weight Loss: Down 16 pounds, boo yeah! 164. November 2010 I was 163.5.

New Toys: I got a collar for Cider from Ella's Lead! It's so pretty!


I then fell in love with another and had to have it, haha.


And.. 7 more weeks of school.. Whoot!

Weight Loss

I hit an all time high of 180 pounds in December. My uniform pants were so tight I had to breath in and hold it to get them done up, it was horrible. I read up on Keto, and decided it could not hurt as nothing else I have done has really worked. I started January 6th, today I am down 13 pounds. I am almost back to where I was when I started the paramedic program. 2.5 more, and I'll be at least where I started'.

So.. this means I am insulin resistant as this is working so well.

Nine more weeks of school, I am not sure I can last that long as it's gotten pretty terrible. Hard to get up in the morning it's so bad at times for how we get treated..

Reading week cannot come fast enough...

Wow I got lost..

Exams were super stressful, but I passed! Semester four here I come!

This month I am trying keto as a way to drop some of the weight.. I have become the biggest I have been since 4th year university.

Seems the puppy of my dreams is not forthcoming.. The one I'd like puppies from may or may not have puppies ever, and has a waiting list of friends..

So I have a back-up breeder in mind. Here's hoping I'm ready late spring, early summer..

I bought an awful lot of agility runs, so here I am hoping that we have time to train..

At 200/450 hours for rideouts..

Whoo Seven!

Got a neonatal resuscitation in lab today. Did well, passed. Got my 7th scenario, with two weeks left. Boo yeah!

Yay patho!

Never thought I'd ever say that.. I found out today I'm getting an 83%. Boo yeah! I'm far less scared for exams now..

Hoping to pass my scenario tomorrow.. It would be my 7th which is what I need to get through the semester..

More School...

Did my first ride out Saturday night. Whooo.. Sadly, 3/4 calls were alcohol intoxication since with fall back they had an extra hour to drink..

I passed another scenario in lab, so that's 5/6.. need two more of four.

Ride out again tomorrow, saturday and sunday at dawn. SO not looking forward to getting up at 4am..

And then work all day monday.. I want to sleep...

PARTY!

One step closer to being able to graduate... to a job... to puppydom!

I managed a 78 on my patho exam. Last year I averaged 63-68 no matter how hard tried, how much I studied. I've been super anxious worried I did poorly but I did well... So WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

So so hard not to take a break and go look at my breeders list..

But instead I sit here with henna on my head.. trying to do a patho assignment.. while tryign to relax. Work tomorrow, though I don't know what they want me to do..

I hope Becca will call later. I could use the distraction ;)

Ooh Halloween... I dressed Cider up as a fairy.. Sadly she couldn't stay that way for fear she'd destroy the wings.. Seven years.. First time I've really bought her a costume. Sadly, Moo got screwed.. I tried the wings on him he was so so unhappy...

All I want to do is looking for new classes for the dogs in varying things.. Puppy search.. When I should be doing homework, I find myself looking at my top 8 breeder pics hoping for spring litter news. I'm hopeless...

I somehow lost a microdermal in my sleep. Painless, popped out. I found it in my bed this afternoon when I realized it was missing. I couldn't really believe it. *sigh* I will let it heal and maybe get both missing microdermals replaced. I'm sad about removing my lip rings last week still..

I've been looking at doggie daycare options. I am so busy.. School, lab practising, soon there will be work as well and rideouts. I already lack time. I found off leash walks that sound promising. I'd think about paying her once a week to take my two, but I've never handed my guys off before and feel weird about it.

I'm anxiously awaiting the photos I had put on 16 x 20, and 16 x 24" canvases..

Cocker Breeders!

I finally decided to break down and ask cocker agility people. I'm on a yahoo group I use rarely. I wrote a novel and got a good number of emails. Many recommendations, a lot of the same recommendations ;) And 2 breeders I've looked at emailed me themselves. So I have a list of 5-8 with decent agility track records..

Here's hoping someone will have a litter ready spring or summer, and have a boy.. and it hopefully not be black as Smudge is just too hot all the time.. and good drive and be available, haha.

And be able to graduate... 6 more months to go....

Puppies!

AKC Invitationals......

I think Frenchies are out. We had a good agility weekend..

Cider got a steeplechase Q and a Master Jumpers Q saturday. The jumpers Q is her 10th MJ Q. She received an Expert Jumpers Bronze title. Makes her the 16th American Cocker ever to get one.

Smudge came home with a Master Jumpers Q sunday. Not bad for either of them as I haven't take lessons in ages thanks to a lack of time and money due to school.

Cider had a lovely MJ round on sunday as well as a lovely master standard. Sadly both were 5 fault runs. It was a good weekend.


3 Qs, 6 1sts, 2 2nds, a third, a fourth, and a title




So.. We met an agility Frenchie at the trial. Snorty and cute.. but I think I want anther good prospect.. plus a $3000 price tag ouch..

So.. I've got a cocker kennel with multiple invitational dogs. A crestie kennel with multiple invitees.. And mini poodles are still on the list.. but all the sizes are grouped together. I'm not sure there's a kennel or two I like yet.. Lastly there's still the cocker breeder with pretty show dogs I like. Sadly, who knows their drive. I'm finding the more I play with my two these days.. the sadder I am Smudge doesn't have more drive... I thought it would be easier, but actually, I'm frustrated. So I can't pick a breed, or a kennel. I'd adore a pretty blue roan.. but drive is more important...

And no email..

I resent my email from my other email address. Here is hoping that it went to spam as opposed to not wanting to talk to me. When I wanted a second pup I had a bunch of un-returned emails and I don't think it was just a spam issue. I had rude phone calls.. I was too young, and inexperienced and no one would even sell me a pet, let alone a confo prospect...

So I resent the email. I really want a flashy puppy...

Fever Fever Fever..

So I keep looking at breeders. I really shouldn't be.. I find miniature poodle breeders and crested breeders.. but none that move me to the point of omg, I want to contact them.

So of course I keep looking at cocker breeders.. And if I go the cocker route again I really want a flashier colour.. Blue roan being the top of my list, with blue roan and tan, tri coloured, silver, black and white parti, variations of sable being on the list.

Well I found a breeder with a lot of blue roans in their lines who shows well in confo.. health tests decently. Really my only Q is drive and how well some of her dogs do in sports as she herself doesn't appear to.

I've always been turned off of cocker people breeding merle, but she is dabbling with merle with the vision of quality. Breeding champions to merles and outcrossing back to champions again. Her merles look quality. She has a real vision and goals and is working on achieving them in a way I can support. I'd almost contemplate a merle cocker, but really I'd love a blue roan..

Sadly it is not the right time, though the right time is who knows when. I mentioned the want of another puppy and my Mom flipped.. Sadly for the right dog in a colour and sex I want I might need to be planning a year or two or more ahead.. But if she had a puppy in six months I'd need to be able to take it as they have a deposit policy.. and 6 months from now is so not a great time frame.. This year of school is brutal and I'm less than a month in, ahhh. I'd love to post pics, but as I haven't contacted the breeder even though I only have lovely things to say.. I sadly need to post a cartoon instead.

Puppy Puppy Puppy Fever..

Oh I have puppy fever.. Like really badly. Like know why people go to terrible stores to get a right this minute puppy ~ not that I would.. But I can't pick a single breed.. Another cocker would be so easy.. but I like mini poodles, and cresteds.. but have a lot of wants in my next pup. I want versatility, show quality and a flashier colour than my kids.

I found field spaniels and really like, but they are bigger than the size I like (cocker and smaller). Sadly, another far away breeder means no conformation help.. but many other sports I already have enough contacts to learn enough about. My last confo foray was pretty awful.. and while I'd like to try again I don't think I could do it alone..

So I keep looking at breeder sites. And upcoming litters.. but it couldn't be a worse time and I'm not sure when a good time will be. And for any rocking breeder I'd obviously have to pre-plan, maybe even years..

*sigh*

puppy wants...

Pink puppies

I redyed Cider today and hennaed my own.. It's not as pink as I'd like it.. but it's brighter than it was. I guess this means no WCFA dancing for us. Not that we have time anyhow..

I suppose I shall just enter a pink dog in earthdog in the spring for laughs. And do some more pink AAC agility next month..

I miss summer..

This marks week three of school.  You'd think we would be still settling in, but so far I have had 2 exams and 2 assignments with the stress of a lab to be evaluated on coming up.

I miss Ben and Becca, and the Holler.. and just having time to cuddle my dogs...

The easy things..  I'd like to have time to work out more, and sleep more..  and train my dogs more..

I want more of this...

Ella's Lead Review

I forgot I had one of these... Look it's a blog!

So my favourite collar maker is Ella's Lead. They make fantastic leather collars. They make other fun things like rope and leather leashes, but the collars are to die for. I have four. My guys have two they wear everyday though I would love to order more. It was more than I'd ever spent on a collar, but it is more than worth it. They have broken in well, and look lovely.

We actually got to meet the faces behind Ella's Lead this summer on our American road trip.


This is Luke. Sadly he lacks opposable thumbs , but he tries to help the business all he can. Here he is telling me I can stay forever.


This is the other half of the partnership, this is the elusive Ophelia! Dainty and a little shy, but a wonderful girl. She would prefer you love on her rather than make collars.



While on vacation Smudge had this fabulous collar made. After a long hard day of blogging our trip, here he is sleeping in it. It's a custom design, but they can do anything :)


How sparkly and pretty it is! It's 1.5" tapered to 1" although my kids are American cockers, they have a lot of neck and these look really elegant.

They've worn well while swimming all summer, they just need a little conditioning from time to time, and this black latigo is super thick and rich.



But, that's not all the swag we took home. Smudge is sadly so happy he is a little oblivious.. Ella's Lead also makes embroidered things!


He hasn't really worn it yet, but it is also fantastic... Still not done though ;) Cider has a similar collar to Smudge's.


I have to admit I bought this for Smudge... but he looks so great in the red and black that Cider is wearing the congac.


Poor Kat who crossed the bridge this summer also got herself Ella's Lead bling while we visited. It's a little different than the cocker kids collars. It really suited her.


A cute matching set even over the mundane like dinner time..


We get endless comments at trials, and everyone wants to not only look, but touch their collars. I can see how one could have a collar addiction honestly. I have plans already or future collars. I think Cider needs a military collar. Both need embroidered collars that say 'honorary JRT' to go to all the JRT events we attend. I could see a McStolly in Cider's future. Wild and crazy a little like she is. Smude tried on a wonderful white leather collar of Luke's that was way too big, but looked amazing, as did a baby blue vegan collar. That's right. If you do not like leather there are options these days that look just as elegant. I wasn't sold on the vegan, but getting to touch it in person- I'd totally get one too. Sadly there is only so much collar budget while in school :(



Try not to pair too many together though. Not everything works well paired together no matter what Dekka claims.


I think that's more than enough pics for today. I'll post some of the trip pics later. We got some really nice ones. If you are looking for a collar for your furkids, or a present for a pet lover check out the bling at Ella's Lead. They are really easy to design with.