Okay, I know this isn't exactly an astonishing event but I thought I would make a blog post about it anyway.

I HAVE SUCCEEDED IN MAKING ACE INTERESTED ENOUGH IN A TOY TO PLAY WITH IT ON HIS OWN!

This is really groundbreaking for me, and especially for Ace. Ever since he entered my life, he has NOT played with toys. Sure, he would tug…

It's been a few weeks now that I have worked on Ace's people skills. Every day, I made it a point that at least one stranger would come up to him. He's done terrific progress in some parts, and is going at a snail's pace in others. What I have discerned from this experiment so far:

- Ace loves the ladies. Of all shapes, sizes, ages and species. If a girl comes up to him, he will go sniff her with just momentary hesitation. What a ladies' man...

- Ace is not as…

I am on such a rush right now! Ace and I just came back from a lovely first glance at an agility class, on a terrain about half an hour away by car. I have never wanted to learn how to drive (and own my own car) so badly until now - I want to go back!

We were allowed to drop in on a beginner's agility course, and eventually the trainer asked us if we'd like to have a go. I was so elated, I jumped into the ring without a second thought. Ace did extremely well on the long-line…

My husband, Ace and I all went to the city prefecture today to pick up my 10 year "Green Card" for staying in France (a victory on its own!). After a grueling half-hour wait in a room that felt more like a sauna than a city hall, I was called forward to a window and Ace accompanied me. The clerk waved hello and made kissy noises to Ace, which piqued his interest in what was going on. He had already been such a good little gentleman until now - despite the presence of many squealing and…

I am SO happy to report that today, Ace and my husband went to the atelier of a photographer (Xavier) who works in the same building as us. Ace was on a very loose leash in the presence of Xav, and did not try to hide behind my husband's legs when first being introduced.

After 6 treats dispensed in the hand of Xavier, Ace allowed the latter to pet him on the top of his head! This is HUGE! I couldn't believe it when my husband told me just how zen Ace was with being touched,…

Sorry for the silence around the holidays! My husband and I have been very preoccupied with work, work and more work. However, that hasn't stopped me from doing a large amount of progress with Ace's training!

He has become such an amazing gentleman; it's truly remarkable how fast he learns. Because I have opted out of joining the weekly "obedience" classes in my city (truth is, they use the Old School methods of fear and leash-pulling, which I abhor), I have made it my…

Ace is now coming up fast on his seven-month birthday and weighs "just" 7.5 kg (or 16.5 lb). I am a little concerned as he is from the USA and the AKC standard calls for a minimum weight of 30 lb for males, ideally. I understand that he's far from fully grown and that it could take up to 2 years for him to fill out, but he is noticeably smaller than other male Cardis we saw at his age.

WRT his weight in proportion to his frame, he is at a really great size - pressing slightly…

It has been a good month now since we've had Ace, and he has made a lot of progress with us. He's still quite aloof and will only wag his tail when he's A) seeing Mom & Dad for the first time in the morning, and B) herding the cats. I had a Basenji when growing up and even though she had that famous double curl tail, it still shook furiously whenever I did the high-pitched PUPPY! voice. Ace couldn't care less about what voice or funny moves I put on for him; he remains rather neutral to…

So, I was sitting on my favorite chair in my patio, enjoying the early morning with my Pupsters when I see an old truck drive really close to my fence (my house is a corner lot and I have an alley way next to one side of my house).  I thought this "man" was going to try to get figs out of my tree that hangs over my fence.  Little did I know that he was about to throw something out of the back of his truck hard against my…

Just came home from the World Dog Show in Paris. What an amazing experience! The last time I went to a dog show, it was in an exposition hall back in Hawaii, in the 90s. Needless to say, this show was bigger by several orders of magnitude.

It was inspiring to see not just beautiful animals, but the people who loved and cherished them so very much. You could just feel the hopeful and happy energy buzzing throughout the place. And what a huge place it was. By the end, my legs…

The photos with the red background are the first pictures we received of 'Olga' on December 1, 2010.  She was 41 pounds when…

Getting ready to go out to a concert by a local band tonight.  My poor kids are my test subjects as I'm going over my settings on my D90 before leaving...and I caught a reflection of the window in his eyes.…

Dog Jokes...and never assume they aren't really laughing at us! Surely, the entertainment factor works both ways...especially with Corgis!

Guinness was looking the other way and suddenly looked back when he heard the focus beep...he's come a long way from when he was a puppy and he'd try to get his chompers around the lens to take my camera away from me!

For those of you who have lost a cherised pet know the anguish, hurt and empty feeling that's left behind. I lost my Daisy on 8-13th of this year and I still cry for her. I only had her for 6 months but it seemed like forever.

On 10-30, my brother, George, received a call from his niece, Robin, up in Santa Barbara; about 2 1/2 hours North of us. She walks her dog on a path near the Marina and has made wonderful pet friends…

For those of you who have followed my Daisy with her struggles of in and out of the Doggie Hospital. Yesterday she came home just after 11:00 a.m. and by 2:45 she couldn't stand up by herself. I called the Vet and told her I was bringing her back and she said OK she would get a room ready for her. I started my car and went to pick her up and she whimpered as I gently lifted her and she passed away in my arms. I couldn't stop crying. I held and hugged her. She worked so…