tales from Brier a digest

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

Good Morning One and All,

First thing to note, we just spent 5 wonderful days with Annie (Gidget 
SeaJay Casino litter)  BTW Happy Birthday to the whole bunch!  Tomorrow 07 
07 02 1 year old.

Annie is the pup who rocked the boat but good, severe HD and has been 
undergoing the new surgery DARthoplasty, I hope to have a web page with 
x-rays soon...  But anyway, Annie stayed here this past week and we had a 
blast.  She still is not up to 100% rip snort but she is doing great and 
would like to be up to 100% rip snort.  She is so darn cute, looks a lot 
like dad, but has mom's mannerisms right down to come?  What's that 
word?  :-)

Gidget was terrible from about 8 months to well over a year with blowing us 
off...  She does come now and so will Annie but not with out some help.  If 
others of you are having this problem you might want to go back to using a 
long line...  It's also equally important to note that dogs do need freedom 
they need to have times that they are allowed to wander about for extended 
periods with out being "under thumb" and being called in.  This time 
allowed to just be dogs also is training...  Trust building, dogs who are 
nagged to come often will blow you off.  It's canine nature...  So find 
someplace safe and let them explore...  When it's time to go do not call 
them do not show them the leash just wander up and matter of a fact place 
the leash on them and just go.  Don't say come don't make it a command, 
just do it.  This is sometimes very helpful with willful pup's...

SeaJay, is HOME!  He's been off at hunting camp and he graduated yesterday 
with well ok marks,,, I  would give him a "C".  He's not ready to run 
tests, he's the king of drama and he really wants to do things on his own 
terms...  So with that said we are going to rest him a bit let it all sink 
in and then just make it fun.  Might run him the end of this season but for 
sure next.  After his vacation I am going to take up where I left off on 
competition obedience work with him which will help with the drama... :-)

DiTTo, was dog napped yesterday!  I made a grave error in judgement, I took 
her along with me to hunting camp graduation.  Renee the trainer was so 
taken with DiTTo she just took her...  So much for DiTTo's competition 
obedience classes....  Oh well, I guess both George and I are going to have 
to run hunt tests next season, oh darn...

Everyone else is well, enjoying picking blueberries, which brings to mind, 
anyone wanting berries please come!  Bring a bucket and a light cover for 
your arms there are some nasty briers out there....  But you are all 
welcome to what ever you can pick!

Well just checking in,

Gina