Beth's Blog (56)

Why I'm not a fan of dog parks

After a couple not-so-great experiences with poorly socialized dogs at our local dog park, we really never go there, choosing instead to let our dogs run around with a small group that meets in a quiet area of a regular park. However, both of ours like to wander off and eat rather than play, and the dogs meet in an unfenced area, so it's less-than-ideal.

I was happy to hear of a new dogpark opening in a neighboring suburb. We went a couple weeks ago and had a nice time. Great view,… Continue

Added by Beth on November 6, 2010 at 10:36pm — 19 Comments

Jack let me Dremmel his back nails!

Whoo-hoo, celebration!

I have mentioned that Jack is awful, awful, AWFUL about having his feet handled. I have worked and worked and within the past six months or so have finally gotten to the point that I can play with his feet if he is lying down relaxed. (He's over three, and it does not help that this is the farthest thing from a cuddly dog. I know they say to play with their feet when they are in your lap, but he comes in my lap maybe once a week and there is no way I am going… Continue

Added by Beth on October 12, 2010 at 9:43pm — 15 Comments

Congats to Ann and her lovely Corgi, Joy, for going BOB at the National Specialty

I finally was able to find some results for the National Specialty, and Ann's beautiful bitch Joy (Ch Kestrel Leftbank Rejoice) went Best of Breed and was the week's big winner.

For those who followed our search for a second Corgi, Ann was the owner of Becky, the adult we considered getting before we picked out Maddie. Becky is a very sweet girl, but she was too laid-back for our house, and Becky happens to be Joy's dam. We met Joy that day, but I have no pictures because… Continue

Added by Beth on October 5, 2010 at 8:48pm — No Comments

Must-see agility video!

For all you agility folks, and people who just love animals, what a great video this is (and only 3 minutes).

I think Jack is faster, but the competitor in the video definitely has better focus than my guy! Haha.

Not sure which I like more, the tire or the… Continue

Added by Beth on October 3, 2010 at 7:00pm — 5 Comments

National Specialty results?

The National Specialty for Pembroke Corgis was this past week and I don't see any results online. I even checked InfoDog and nothing was there.

Has anyone seen results anywhere? Last year the PWCCA website took ages to get them up.

I always like to look for the tiny handful of kennel names that I recognize.

Added by Beth on September 26, 2010 at 10:28pm — 2 Comments

Does AKC actually want people to get involved, or not?

I have come to think recently that AKC and the local clubs have not done a very good job in promoting the joys of purebred dogs.

I believe in rescue too, but the rescue people have definitely done a better job by far in promoting adoption than pure-bred fanciers have done in promoting the pluses of breeding good-quality dogs, working with them, playing with them, and competing with them.

Case in point: this morning we were walking the Corgis in the park near our house. On… Continue

Added by Beth on September 25, 2010 at 9:30am — 6 Comments

Congratulations to Maddie, our newest therapy dog!

Hooray for Maddie! She passed her CGC/ TDI test tonight. Now I just need to fill out some paperwork, get the vet to sign off on her medical records, and send in for her ID tags.

She was such a good girl! She had to work very hard for this. Concentration does not come naturally to her. Thank goodness for the "look" command (one I never used with Jack) because I had to use it about a half-dozen times in the test tonight. There were people out in the hall and she didn't want to sit, she… Continue

Added by Beth on August 31, 2010 at 8:36pm — 11 Comments

Happy 1st Homecoming Anniversary, Maddie!

It's hard to believe, but Maddie came to live with us one year ago this weekend. Happy first anniversary, sweetie. She's our sweet, cuddly, fun-loving girl. We could not ask for a better dog. She's the first one waiting by the door for us when we come home from work. She shimmies her whole backside when we get up in the morning. She's great at the vet, tries so hard in her training classes, and is an absolute joy to be around.

And she's pretty darned cute, too!

Added by Beth on August 21, 2010 at 9:29pm — 10 Comments

This is why we work so hard on socializing our dogs

Jack just recently turned three, so I still vividly remember all the hours we put into socializing him. We would take him to as many busy places as we could on his walks and weekend outings, and I would take a deep breath and overcome my normal shyness, and ask every single person who looked at him and smiled (and who doesn't smile at a Corgi puppy?) "Would you like to pet the puppy?" If they looked a little hesitant, I would quickly blurt out "We're trying to socialize him!" Most people like… Continue

Added by Beth on June 28, 2010 at 9:05pm — 3 Comments

Those crazy little herding minds....

Very hot day today (near 90), so rather than taking the dogs on a long walk, we decided it would be nice to stroll our way over to the Adirondack chairs in the shade near the public pool.

We have walked by this pool several times a week the entire time we've had the dogs; as far as I can tell, the dogs don't really acknowledge that the pool exists, and why should they? Of note, though, is the fact that we got Madison late last August, right before the pool shut down for the… Continue

Added by Beth on June 12, 2010 at 6:15pm — 6 Comments

First Agility Class! Jack is a good boy, we have a blast, but Jack does get attacked by a poodle

After much delay, we finally had our first agility class tonight! Jack was so good, I'm so proud of him! We spent the first 40 minutes doing ground work, and to be fair it's all stuff Jack and I have worked on before, so he was a star. We did sit/stay off the left and right, then the handler runs forward a few steps before releasing the dog with "ok!" to come running up next to you. We did restrained recalls and some other stuff.

It was during the restrained recall that the standard… Continue

Added by Beth on June 4, 2010 at 8:54pm — 6 Comments

Spring hike, lots of pictures!

Today was a very rare perfect spring day; about 68 degrees under a blue sky laced with puffy clouds. A perfect day for a hike with the Corgis! And a chance to try out my new camera.

There are lots of pictures but I shrunk them down so hopefully the page won't take too long to load.

The dogs were happy to get out off-leash.…

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Added by Beth on May 15, 2010 at 9:32pm — 10 Comments

In which Jack and my husband have a conversation about whether or not the ball should be thrown.

Maddie has the usual range of dog vocalizations: assorted barks, nervous or excited whines, and the occasional growl.

But Jack makes the weirdest sounds of any dog I've ever owned. Besides the usual barks, yaps, and bark-growls, he has the full assortment of Corgi aroos, monkey sounds and Wooki noises. In this particular video, he's moaning at my husband for not throwing the ball. He normally doesn't pester me, but since it works with my husband, he… Continue

Added by Beth on May 9, 2010 at 7:48pm — 6 Comments

Someone's Doberman peed on Jack

Ah, I will reserve the worst of my comments for my own private monologue inside my head.

Some people give dogs a bad name.

We frequently see someone with her rude adolescent Doberman, who is loose (with a metal choke chain!) in the park. I have watched him get ruder as he got older; not the dog's fault as he seems to have no boundaries. It's a shame as the dog is positively stunning and actually has the makings of a very polite boy, if he were…

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Added by Beth on May 7, 2010 at 7:42pm — 8 Comments

Happy Birthday Jack!

It's hard to believe, but my sparkly boy is three years old today. Where does the time go?

So a very Happy Birthday to Jack, the dog who everyone loves, the one who thinks there are no strangers in the world, just friends he hasn't met yet. He does everything with grand enthusiasm, and I positively adore him.

(He's the one with two toys in his mouth, because one just won't…

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Added by Beth on April 30, 2010 at 10:00am — 10 Comments

New addition!

We recently lost my dear cat Alice after almost 17 years of companionship. I wasn't sure if I'd want another cat at first, but we soon realized how much we missed having a kitty in the house.

I was at PetSmart and spied a kitten who seemed promising.

She was right at the front of the cage, looking around at everything and… Continue

Added by Beth on April 19, 2010 at 7:03pm — 16 Comments

Spring!

It seemed it would never happen, but spring is finally coming in all its muddy glory. The daffodils are coming up, the cardinals are singing their breeding territory songs, I saw a robin, and the park is packed with people and dogs.

I love the warm weather and all the activity, though I must admit I also love the quiet of the park in winter, when there is just a hard-core group of joggers and dog walkers. But from now til school starts back, on every decent day we will share it with… Continue

Added by Beth on March 16, 2010 at 6:43pm — 3 Comments

Maddie Goes To the Pet Store

Maddie thinks guinea pigs would be good squeaky toys, and doesn't understand why shoppers won't share their treats:…

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Added by Beth on March 6, 2010 at 7:09pm — 4 Comments

Danish dressage star Blue Hors Matine RIP 01/25/10

This has nothing to do with Corgis or even my household, but I cried a little this morning when I learned that the glorious mare Matine from Blue Hors farm was euthanized yesterday at the age of 13 after breaking her front leg in a pasture accident. She was only 13. She was retired after hurting a tendon getting off a van, and was going to be a mother soon.

I know there are some horse lovers among us. Grand Prix dressage competition can be a bit dull, but exhibitions are beautiful… Continue

Added by Beth on January 26, 2010 at 10:24am — 4 Comments

Latest update on my cat, Alice

As I explained in a prior blog post, my sweet sixteen-and-a-half year old cat, Alice, was diagnosed with cancer soon before Christmas. At that time, the vet drained the large lump on her side and gave her a shot of a cortico-steroid.

We were back for a follow-up today. Other than losing another 3 ounces, she seems to be doing well. She eats, drinks, uses the litter box, and meows for attention. She will sleep lying on either side; I would think if she were in pain she would avoid… Continue

Added by Beth on January 7, 2010 at 3:23pm — 5 Comments