5 Years Old!

Happy Fifth Birthday, Sydney! Surely there must be a mistake in the math, because I can't believe the Josie x Jake litter is 5 years old!

Happy 5th Barkday to Bella, Bo, Breezy, Meme, Sydney, Tater, and sweet Encore, who is waiting at The Bridge... I remember getting the call from Jacque like it was yesterday, and I'm so thankful to have been able to be a part of their lives right from the start!

Sydney, NAP and 2 Open legs!

I'm so proud of Sydney. She went to an agility trial in February, one in March (finished her NJP), got one leg on her HT at a herding trial in April. Then she took Maternity Leave in the spring and summer. I took her to one session of classes, and entered her in the local Labor Day weekend trials.

Syd did really well, picking up an Open Jumpers leg the first and third day, and finishing her NAP the second day. I was proud, as usual, of her willingness to work with me even though we don't train very much.

I need to go back and retrain the teeter, since Syd really hesitated every time on the teeter. So no more Standard until we get a chance to go back to the beginning. :-)

Her puppies went to the trial for a bit to meet new friends and hang out, and her little mini-me daughter had to get in the photo of the happy agility girl!

Syd's Herding Lesson, March 13

Here's Syd's herding lesson from today. A light lesson in the pen because I don't want her to re-injure herself from last weekend's teeter mishap. She has the HT in just a few weeks, so I have lots to do to get myself ready. Syd seems to know what she's doing, I just have to get better so I don't mess her up.

New Title, and Video to Prove It!

So proud of Sydney, this morning we left the house at 3:30 am to drive over to Lake St. Louis for agility trials. Her JWW course was a basic figure 8, and I was hoping that she could eek out her title today. She didn't disappoint, and came through with a nice run. I was so worried that we (ME) would make a silly mistake and NQ. Thank goodness my dog is smarter than me. :-)

So Syd is now CH Kingsbury's It's My Alias NJP* (pending AKC confirmation)

3 for 3 Agility Trials

Syd ran in agility trials this weekend, and she did great! She hasn't gone to any trials in almost two years, and she hasn't had much opportunity for training recently, so I had no idea what she would do.

I was really proud of her. Saturday, she NQ'd in all three events, because of slight bobbles, including the weaves, but I have not done re-training so I could not fault her for that. I was pleased that she was focused, stayed with me, and she seemed to enjoy herself.

On Sunday, she ran Novice Fast and Q'd, with a send bonus of Aframe and tunnel. I was so proud, because contacts are not Syd's strong suit! Then she qualified in Jumpers, and finally in Standard. So on Sunday, Syd picked up three legs, one NFP, NJP, and NAP! This video is her Standard run. We almost had a crisis at the teeter when she let it tip back, but she persevered. A couple of refusals because of my handling, and at the end of two very long days. But Syd did it, and contacts, weaves, table all very well.

If the embeded video doesn't work, here's a link directly to YouTube

NAP run: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FM4lBcxVEw

And here's Syd's Q NJP run in Jumpers from Sunday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMzanRlAj0Q (direct link to YouTube)

And finally, her first run of the morning, the NFP leg that was my favorite run of the day:

direct link to YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmGNq0QH3JQ

Training the Youngster

Sydney takes training very seriously. This winter, she feels that her son Biscuit is old enough to learn to "really" play in the snow. She's tired of holding back, going easy on the puppy, being a "good" mom... Look out Biscuit, this will really be an education!

Poor little boy, he has NO idea what his mom has in store for him. She looks sweet enough... And now for Syd's 12-step program!

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Step 1: Bite your opponent on the neck to get his attention. That'll really increase the odds that he will chase you. .

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Step 2: Take off, watching over your shoulder to be sure loyal subject, err, Biscuit, is following.
(ed. note: Now that's what I call some FLUFFY PANTS!)

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Step 3: Pause for a moment to let your opponent, uh, son, get his mind wrapped around what's happening here.

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Step 4: Take off again, leaving subject in your (snow) dust.

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Step 5: Stop again, review rules of the game with trainee. Ask him to recite rules 1 through 4.

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Step 6: Run THIS way.

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Step 7: Run THAT way.

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Step 8: Pick up speed, since he almost caught you in Step 7 (above). But DON'T get yourself into a skid (below).

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Step 9: Dash left, zig when he zags.

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Step 10: Change direction, never let him see your next move.

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Step 11: feel sorry for poor subject, uh, son, and let him rest for a minute. Fall for his sad, sappy expression when he asks if this lesson is over.

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Step 12: Lead trainee "back to the barn," time well spent, knowing The Biscuit has had training from The Master.

Please...

Please can I go back to class and dog shows? I promise to be good...

New Spectator Event

Syd and Jazz have created a new spectator sport, and they hope to become famous by performing at agility trial halftime shows around the world.**

Introducing, The Great Sydini.

And her assistant, Jazzarooni.
Their basic moves include synchronized A-frame leaping, all together now, UP and Over.

But the move that brings the crowd to their feet is the Double-blind, Up-and-over, Mid-air Cross with an over-the-shoulder twist. Oooh, it's so dangerous, and daring. I could hardly watch them during the practice and perfection of this move. When they pull it off, it's a sight to behold.

Applause, Please.... Tah-Dah!

**(shh, I haven't been able to break it to them yet that there are no halftime shows at agility trials)

Where Did the Puppies Go???

Sydney decided it was time for her to reclaim her blog, and I decided it was time to really start working with her again and getting back to training. I'm hopeful that this summer, Syd will get back to agility, and also get started in obedience.


But where did the puppies go???? No worries, the puppies have their own space, and it's right here:

http://hurrikanepuppy.blogspot.com/

So if it's [muddy] puppies you are looking for, run on over to the Hurrikane Puppy Blog!

Now I can keep the puppy blog, and Syd's blog can get back to Syd's training blog. Everything should look familiar over at the Hurrikane Puppy blog, and all the posts moved successfully.

We are officially back to our regular Sydney broadcast at the Sydney blog! There are still some housekeeping items to tidy up on both blogs, but the main content is all straightened out.

Multi-tasking Momma

I'm sorry, but there should be some type of award, certificate, title for this kind of talent. Syd is participating in Extreme Multi-tasking. She's nursing one puppy and wrestling with the other while contorted into a canine pretzel in her favorite dog bed.
No puppies were harmed in the making of these photos.

In fact, Syd's lower half never even moved, so Mr. Brindle was completely oblivious to the Corgi Wresting Federation match taking place. Take a look at her back leg that's propped up on the side of the dog bed. No matter what her front half is doing, the back half never changes position!

She's one happy (albeit totally destructive) momma dog, enjoying the pure fun of puppyhood once again!

And after one final face grab by the fuzzy pup,

Tah-dah! Game over, everyone's happy.

A Mother's Love

It's the only thing that explains this kind of patience!

24 Hours

The puppies have crossed 24 hours, and they seem to be doing well. Each has gained over an ounce from their birth weight (I'm so tired, I spelled that "wait" and had to go back and fix it- haa). So I'm hopeful that for now, they will continue to be OK. I'm seeing the slightest fuzz of fur on their toes and muzzles now. The red boy is a bit slow in the eating department, so I'm supplementing him a bit. Thankfully he took right to the bottle (I am now the proud owner of every brand of baby bottle Walmart carries in the baby section). The Playtex bottle worked like a charm, and everyone is happy! I just keep watching and waiting for some sign that the puppies are either out of the woods, or taking a bad turn. Right now, they are looking healthy.

I want to thank everyone for the thoughts and prayers for the boys and Syd, and for the puppies who were lost before they ever got started. Yesterday was tough for me, and the events were so quick it was surreal (until about the second time my alarm went off at the 2-hour increments). I'm so happy to have the two boys, and relieved that Sydney is OK. I also feel thiankful that if the other puppies were not able to make it, they didn't linger on and struggle.

Syd has taken to motherhood quite nicely, and I might even call her an over-achiever to the point where I have to tell her to knock it off on occasion. She'd really rather lay on my bed and have me deliver her puppies to her there for nursing, but we're going to have a talk about that one. Stay tuned for Sydney's bedtime story that she tells the two baby boys.

Early Delivery

Syd's puppies are here. Yes, they are here 5 days early. Like 58 days after ovulation. Syd's temp dropped last night, and this morning (sparing you the reason I took her to the vet) she had an emergency c-section. She was carrying six puppies (5 dogs, 1 bitch), but one was not alive from the start. Five were 'breathing' and we got three to cry. Two were trying hard to keep breathing, but they were just too early. In the end, by the time I left the vet, I have two boys, and I'm going to do my best to keep them going strong.

It was not a good morning when I was carrying Syd to the back for surgery, and Dr. Becker said, "We just have to hope for the best" when he's usually so optimistic and reassuring. After all was said and done, he thinks it's very lucky that two puppies are doing as well as these boys are.

Basically, in a nutshell, Dr. B says that one of the puppies was trying to abort, and in doing so, it detached all the pups (? it was really stressful, so I might have butchered that explanation).

Syd is doing OK, she's still very groggy, but she's let the boys nurse twice, and she did sniff one when I held it up to her. Her eyes got really wide, and I have no idea what she thinks it is, but she was not growling or trying to get away from it (yet!).

So keep these two baby boys in your thoughts and prayers, I don't think they are by any means out of the woods yet. Nothing like worst case scenario, damned if you get them out, damned if you don't for the first litter.

It's Official!

As long as everything continues to go well, we WILL be hearing the pitter patter of Sydney-Mick puppy feet the day after Thanksgiving!!!

I was such a wreck at the vet today, I made Dr. Becker write it down and fold it up for me. I didn't watch his face as he palpated, and he really played it up, asking how many days from first or last breeding, etc. I was really discouraged, but he's quite the actor, because I got out to the car, and unfolded the paper to a big YES!!! written across it.

Slow It Down

How do you slow down a Cardigan who usually moves at the speed of light? Easy. Put a diaper on her and her back legs are suddenly rendered useless.

I never would have guessed

-that Sydney has such an affinity for Vall-pups! She's not exactly "best friend" material for the most part. It takes her a while to warm up to new dogs, and even then, she is pretty bossy about how the playtime games are run, etc. When Hawklet arrived, I put him in an Xpen in the living room, and Syd was nearly wiggling her body in half on the other side of the pen. This morning I was holding the Hawklet and let her sniff. She had zero concerns, so I put him down and they were instantly off and running. Amazing to me, especially since Vallhunds are very vocal in play.

Um, did anyone notice Syd let the Hawklet flip her??? Who knew she was such a Vallhund groupie???

And yes, I'm aware that it looks like a tornado came through the living room. For some reason, Vallhund puppies like to drag dog blankets, beds, toys, etc. all into one pile. Both the Vall-pups in residence do this. The tan blanket? Well, that was dragged from Nick's kennel, around the corner from the kitchen, through a baby gate doorway, and into the living room. Oh well, it makes for a cushy play zone!

Good Girl, Sydney

Sydney with all her goodies from the NADAC trial this weekend. NINE events entered, SEVEN Qs, TWO new titles (TN-N and NAC), one Jumpers leg, one 1st place, five 2nd place, one 3rd place. The rest of the photos (Kevin Devine Photography) can be viewed here: http://hurrikanecardigans.shutterfly.com/1566

And now, for the newest method of Weave Pole Training, the "Weave and Woo"

First we have the WEAVE portion:

Then we finish it with the WOOOO portion:

Sydney's Rules for Play

I will admit, I really have absolutely no idea why Sydney and Darby are so compatible. Not because of Darby, but because of my little "angel" Sydney. Syd desperately wants someone to play with her, but she plays SO rough, the other dogs just cringe and run away after a body slam or two. And Syd is *very* persnickety about play. "OK, now you will run to the left corner, then I'll chase you and knock you over, and then you get up and chase me back to the other side of the yard, and then you spin around and I'll tackle you." She organizes and runs the show when it comes to play time. And oh, if you DARE to not follow Syd's rules of play, well, then there is heck to pay.

One of the KEY rules to Sydney play is "You will not flip the Sydney on her back." If anyone dares to play and Syd flips over for some reason, she will get up as her evil twin and grab whoever it is by the face and tell them they'd better not do that EVER again.

In nutshell, Syd has some play issues.

1. She plays WAY too rough for the other dogs in the house.
2. She must make all the rules, and those who don't follow will catch heck.
3. She isn't really much on other girls. Period.
4. No flipping Syd on her back, EVER.
5. No flipping Syd on her back, EVER.
6. No flipping Syd on her back, EVER.

So, when Darby came along, I was very watchful and never let Syd and Darby into direct contact for quite a while. Darby is so amicable I was afraid she would walk into a Sydney Play Trap and get herself chewed up and spit out. So we did gradual introduction, through the fence of the dog yard, then with Darby on leash with me and Syd running around, then both loose and me with the rake (I felt like I was at a herding lesson), and then finally I let them play for a few minutes at a time, then put someone in the dog yard so that every session ended on a good note. I wasn't sure how Syd would be because Darby is a girl, but I was hoping that maybe being a puppy would work in Darby's favor.

Nowadays, I can put Syd and Darby outside together for hours, and there are no problems. Syd is so happy, and Darby is smart enough to handle Syd. When Syd gets really wound up, Darby will still engage in play, but she uses the A-frame, or under the deck to put some space between them for just a split second, then she pounces out and tackles Syd. Yes, you heard it right, Darby can tackle Syd. The first time I saw Syd flip over on her back while playing with Darby, I sucked in a breath and prepared to go save Darby from a real discipline session. But when Darby let Syd get up (yes, you read that right), Syd just did a play bow and took off running for another chase. I'm sure my heart stopped beating for a moment.

I even have it on video, because those who know Syd best would never, ever believe that she and Darby are the unlikely best friends, and this clip even catches (gasp) Syd, flipped on her back! I wouldn't believe it either, if I didn't see it myself every day!

This Is How I Roll

and slop, and run, and splash.

Ugh. THIS dog really doesn't even remotely resemble my pretty girl in the photo to the right on the blog, or the Redemption photo from a couple of weeks ago. Syd is never happier than when she's sloshing around getting dirty. And for some reason, with the torrential rain we've had over the last week, the mud has a different consistency, more like paint than mud, and it seems to be sticky, too. But how can I get mad at that happy face?