TMT 2012 #5

1. Julie would like to know one frugal tip this week.

I guess this is a throwback to my depression era grandmother, but I save plastic bags.  We have spent entirely too much on zip lock bags and other plastic storage devices.  Instead of throwing our plastic bags away I save them.  All of them.  Zip lock bags can be washed (10% bleach/water mixture), bread bags (excellent for left over pizza and home made cookies), grocery bags (for the garbage can) the list goes on and on.  My kids & husband are used to me shrieking "DONT THROW THAT AWAY!"   I am also guilty of washing and reusing every plastic container known to man.  Cream cheese containers, margarine tubs, cool whip tubs, etc.  Why throw them away when they are perfect for left overs. 


2. What are you reading this week?

I am not a huge TV fan.  I tend to read 2-3 books a week.  Now that I have a kindle and can take it everywhere I expect that number will increase.  I just finished
 Claiming Ground, by Laura Bell.   and started "Winter Bloom" by Tara Heavey. While finding the links to these novels I ordered another book for my Kindle Secrets of the Wolves - book two in the Wolf Chronicles.

3. Barbara wants to know: do you hit the snooze button on the alarm clock, and if so how many times?

I work from home thus I do not have to get up with an alarm.  If I do have to set the alarm I generally do not hit the snooze.  I shoot up like a rocket thinking I am late - because I usually am - I have been known to completely sleep through the alarm, forget the snooze button, I don't even hear the alarm going off.   

4. If you had to travel in a sedan (or if you already drive a sedan type car) and you had five or six dogs, how would you handle it?

Wedge as many crates as I possibly could in the back seat.  Then let the rest ride loose, or juggle who comes with me and when.


5. How much do you filter what you put on your own blog?

I have an issue with my own personal boundaries, if you have been reading my blog for any length of time you will know I am an open book.  HOWEVER there are certain things I will avoid writing about.  Anything serious related to my marriage, my children, and family.    I try not to deliberately malign someone.  If anyone is going to be made fun of, it will be me.  Basically I try not to cross the boundaries of privacy for anyone else, other than me (with restrictions). 

TMT 2012 #4

1. How do you search for and then choose a trainer?

We are fortunate to live in an area where many trainers visit frequently.  When I first started in this 'voyage' I made a common mistake and scheduled with every trainer that came through the area.  My brain was overwhelmed with an agglomeration of conflicting training methods.  My obvious lack of knowledge left me unable to differentiate which method would better serve me or my dogs.  The over kill of information left me dazed and confused. 

It all came to a head when I walked out on a clinic, drove home in tears and vowed to buy back yard agility equipment.

Later I attended a clinic with Patrick Shannahan and through him I met Dianne Deal who clicked for me...that was almost three years ago. 

When looking for a new trainer, pick one, work with them for a while - give it a few sessions.  Then ask yourself a few questions: 

• Do you feel comfortable or intimidated? 
• Are you able to learn from them or do they leave you confused? 
• How does your dog work when with them?  Does your dog shut down?
• Do you like the way they treat your dog and livestock?  
• Do you feel listened to?  Are your concerns addressed?  
• Do they help you focus on goals and give you homework?  
• Are you moving forward? 

2. The dog world is small and... uh... talkative. After choosing a trainer how do you handle those people in your life who don't believe in that trainer/trainers methods and criticize them to you?

I will consider the input.  Take what I want and then dismiss the rest.  It is much easier said than done, but everyone has an opinion.  I am comfortable with the direction we are heading in right now, not much is going to sway me from that path other than my own experiences. 


3. Do you believe that a person's personal life should influence your choice of a trainer? (i.e do you believe a person's choice to be a party animal outside of work would affect your choice?)

Every person needs to work in their own comfort zone.  To each their own.  I do not judge or dismiss someone simply because their personal choices are out of alignment with my personal value system. 

Regarding the example of a possible trainer being a party animal:  I know if I drinking heavily I am not able to function well the next day.  If I am paying money at a clinic for someone's advice and then see them out drinking themselves blotto the night before, the next day they are hungover at the clinic, or they are actively drinking while teaching the clinic....I am going to have a wee bit of an issue with that. 

Bottom line, it is your money, you have the right to chose whomever you are comfortable with.  It is a personal decision, but if you do use information about a trainer's personal life in the decision making process consider it may be based on nasty gossip.  Go to the source and ask if you have any questions. 


4. When you have a break through moment with your dog, do you feel that moment makes your connection stronger with that dog and makes the next step in training easier?

I have a break-through moment almost daily, retaining them and building on them is the challenge.  I don't think a particular break-though 'moment' is going to make my connection to my dog any stronger.  It might aid in understanding - but won't change our connection.  


5. Do you stick with just one trainer, or do you go to multiple sources for help? 

I started with too many trainers.  Narrowed it down to one (Dianne Deal) and now that I am more grounded and understand things better I am able to take a lesson with Scott Glen when he is in town.  Instead of feeling confused, I am able to find the common ground and apply what will work best for me and my dog...then build on it.   The great thing is Dianne encourages me to work with him too. 

Laura's TMT 2012 Edition #1

Laura is back with a new edition of Tell me Thursday, 2012 Edition #1.




1. What is your favorite new toy? I know you have one, so you might as well go on and fess up. 


Obviously my favorite new toy is my iPhone.  Although now I am going to challenge myself to turn the damn thing off.  And I am going on a FaceBook strike. 



2. If you're going to be caught under the mistletoe, who would you LEAST like it to be with?

My ex husband. 



3. New Year's Resolutions - for your dogs - share!

Short, sessions, working my dogs properly on one or two things.  If I am distracted, worried or my mind is not into it, don't set myself or my dog up for failure - focus on ONE thing.  Make sure that one thing is correct and end on a good note.  This prevents me from overwhelming myself.  The training is a process - a long slow process - it does not all need to be accomplished in one session. 



4. New Year's Resolutions - for yourself - share!

My personal resolution:  Make a conscious effort to choose compassion over contempt.   Compassion helps me understand, I may not agree with the way another person is acting, but compassion will help me see that their behavior or choices are 'theirs', not mine.  Compassion leads to understanding, and then to forgiveness.  Contempt only leads to isolation. 


This has been making the rounds on FaceBook... 

My personal resolution for trialing:  I resolve to not participate in the behind the post immature, harmful chatter I have had the misfortune to overhear and am ashamed to say have participated with in the past.  It has always made me horribly uncomfortable.  When I have been at the post, during small trials, I have been able to hear things that have been said, muttered, talked about.  It makes me a nervous wreck.  I feel badly about myself and terrible for other people. 

If what I am going to say is not "True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary or Kind" I am going to opt to keep it to myself. 

The reason why I am trialing is to grow personally.  Getting up in front of people, building this relationship with my dog, learning to trust in my dog and myself has been a massive personal journey and is the reason why I am here.  I need to remember that and know in my heart that this is not a popularity contest.  It is about proving to myself that I CAN DO THIS. 

5. How did you handle the holiday food situation?

There was a food situation?  Perhaps that is why all my pants now have elastic waists.  

Jorgen's TMT

I have been out of the TMT loop for a few weeks. Jorgen posted the questions again this week and I thought I would give it a stab.


What is your favorite clothing to wear?

I have surrendered my vanity or vestige of a waist line and enveloped my immenseness in comfy stretchy waist denim britches. I bought my first pair a few weeks ago. I am never going back. My fat rolls have never been happier. In the cold weather I combine them with a roomy fleece vest, tee-shirt and wool socks I am a happy farmer. If I am at home I adore sweats or my pajamas.


What do you think your dogs thinks about you?

My new Canine Thought Interpreter has reached experimental stage of product development and this is what it told me was on my dog's minds in general. Since dogs live in the moment, I was only able to dissect a small window of thoughts.

Ranger: Food? Pet me? (pee on wall) pet me, food? TOY! (lick privates) FOOOOOD? "Let me turn on that light switch for you...gimme FOOD!" (pee on couch - hide while camera face wails) WALKIES! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG. Scratch my butt please. Aren't I cute rolling around like a puppy? I love you. Food? SQUIRREL! CROWS IN MY TREE - KILL THEM! (dammit, why do you have to put the bark collar on when I am having fun?) I hate you.

Beth: Leave me alone unless you are gonna throw the ball. Throw the ball? Screw the sheep, throw the f*cking ball now or you will lose your knee caps. I am so cute, see me wag just the tip of my tail? My big brown eyes are so adorable...now throw that doGdamn ball or I will shred stupid f*cking ugly elastic waist pants you old fat b*tch. (Yes, Beth has a potty mouth and thinks I am an idiot).

Bonnie: I have a bone, see my bone? No one else gets my bone, here you can hold my bone then I am going to launch myself into your lap and remove most of the skin from your thighs, but you really want me on your lap, I know you do. How about now, while you are typing? No warning, I can leap from the doggie bed and clear the desk, no problem. Key board? Who needs a key board, you are put on this earth to pet me and adore me. I have freckles. Please take the dingle berry off my ass - can't reach it. Thank you, I will leave it on your pillow next to my chewed up bone that I know you want, you love me, I love you. Soooo sleepy, FEEEEEEEED ME.

Brynn: Sheep? Now? What do you mean we are done? I can still see them. You get in the crate. NO do not turn on the WINDSHIELD WIPERS! I WILL DIE! (hides and shakes in crate all the way home while raining). Where is my bone.  Jolly ball! Must kill my Skinny. Wag it in Ranger's face...SUCKER. Growl, snarl, you cant have it Ranger Moron. What? Camera Face says I have to stop being a bitch.  Time to eat. It is 5 minutes past dinner time, get off the computer and feed me please. I have my head on your lap, see my squinty eyes - they are begging you to feed me because I am hungry. I work so hard for you. Buy me more sheep. I bit one yesterday, it was fun. Need to barf, you clean it up...I know it is the middle of the night, so I will barf on your pillow. You wont mind. When are we leaving for the sheep in the morning? How about now, it is 4am. I am ready. Thanks. Lets go....

Bea: I love you. I am happy. Food is good, sheep are better. I just want to make you happy. I love you. Happy Happy Joy Joy. Take my picture. I like to play and bite Ranger's neck. Brynn is my best friend. Sheep? Where? I love you, you need a hug. I like to lick your neck. Sheep? I am happy. I am happy. I am happy. I just want to be good and for you to be happy with me. I love you.

Are you happy about the past year trialing, do you think next year will be better?


Yes, I am happy. I look back at the beginning of the year when we were running novice and compare it to our Pro-Novice run at Sleddin' & Sheddin' I am very happy. I have made some huge changes in my support system and it has made a tremendous difference for me emotionally. Brynn is coming along, I think I am improving, slowly, and that is okay. I still have a long way to go, continue working on the tone of my voice & projecting emotion, but we are getting there. I look forward to next year & taking the pressure off a bit & having fun with Bea.


If you would ask a TMT question that you did not have to answer, what question would you ask?

I really want to ask something but I am afraid it will sound VERY catty. So I am going to decline to answer this question.