Nothing Beats Puppy Breath

Tell me it's true? Your my new Mom - oh please!

Sweet Calvin is a very lucky pup indeed! This little gem of a fellow headed to Lessons From and For 4 Legs last week. Katie and I met through our blogs about 2 year ago, so it was a lot of fun meeting her when she flew to Toronto for her new puppy. 

Seriously, who can resist puppies - indulge me some more while I bombard you with more CUTENESS!

Brother! Have Mercy - You Win!

Bucky is another little awesome dude that has an amazing home except this one is close so I no doubt, will be in his poor face for years to come snapping his picture ;)

Puppies are nature's remedy for feeling unloved, plus numerous other ailments of life.

 ~ RichardAllan Palm


Powerful Huntress the Great Kismet At Work
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
 ~ Nelson Mandela

Little Man Sharpening His Daggers 

You can't buy loyalty, they say

I bought it though, the other day;

You can't buy friendship, tried and true,

But just the same, I bought that too.

I made my bid, and on the spot

Bought love and faith and a whole job lot

Of happiness, so all in all

The purchase price was pretty small

I bought a single trusting heart,

That gave devotion from the start

If you think these things are not for sale,

Buy a brown-eyed puppy with a wagging tail.

~ Author Unknown

Go Fetch!

Do you know what to look for in a responsible breeder?

When seeking to purchase a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the Cavalier Fanciers of Southern Ontario suggest you will want to discuss health testing for;

• Heart (yearly, Mitral Valve Disease by a Board Certified Cardiologist)
• MRI (Syringomyelia)
• Eyes (every other year by a Board Certified Ophthalmologist)
• Hips (x-ray, once)
• Patella (once)

Early in 2012, a new DNA test became available for Dry Eye and Curly Coat. Read about it [here]

Important vaccination considerations.

 
Long term health risks and benefits associated with spay/neuter in dogs

Ramblings, by Debbie

Midsummer Ramblings

Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? Well hopefully that is somewhat true since I haven't posted here in a very long time!

My MIA excuse? Summer and the onslaught of camera fever that came with the warmer days! In my quest to get to know my camera better, I have been on the hunt for new adventures to photograph and have found myself with dirt flying in my face at the race track, dancing to Pretty Woman at the Polo For Heart Match, oh and can't forget sitting in the bush waiting for a hawk, and the not so dainty, tiptoe through a flower bed at the botanical gardens to capture butterfly on a flower. If you want to view a few of my summer adventure photos head over to my photo blog  Beyond the Dog Dish.

I didn't totally neglect the dogs though!

Meet Becky's niece! This little girl is the smallest of the litter but she takes no nonsense from her 4 brothers over at Embee Cavaliers! In fact, Lil' Miss was first to bust loose out of the puppy pen and climb over the wall!

We also got to have a visit with Becky's Mom at the Cavalier Fanciers of Southern Ontario Specialty Show. Reese maybe over 7 but she is in fine shape and looking HOT in the Old Timers Fun Match. Look at that smile - like Mother like Daughter!

Becky really enjoys training. So all winter we worked at learning Rally Obedience. I thought we were ready for our first Rally Fun Match this summer. Whoops, I learned a valuable lesson! Perfection at home or in class in no way prepared us for the high distractions a new location brings on.

Back to the training pad for us! Someone gave me good advice and suggested to train Becky at a busy park. When she had that down, go to a new location - keep practicing in new areas till she can focus right off the bat in a new location. So on that note, I guess I have my work already laid out for this fall.

Rally is not very popular where I live - actually, most dog sports are not popular where I live. So that means I have to be resourceful and seek out my own materials; books Click Your Way to Rally,  Yahoo Groups Attention  Games for Rally and Sport, blogs The Dogs Are Really In Charge, Leash Free Living and competition videos.

At the end of the day Becky got her favourite type of reward - nothing beats a post workout snuggle. My reward was watching her do that whole body wag (complete with a goofy grin) while doing the course - she really loves her one on one time with me.

~ Ramblings by Debbie
Go Fetch!
What Is Rally Obedience
Canadian Kennel Club 2012 Rally Obedience Rule Book
Canadian Association Rally-O
Cyber Rally-O - great resource if your area is like mine and NO ONE will teach Rally :( and I have been known to beg people too... so if your reading this and know I mean YOU, you know what I want you to do :)

Wordless Wednesday: About Face!

This is  a "Blog Hop" Visit More Wordless Wednesday Posts

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Wordless Wednesday: Too Bad It's Not Snoodless

This is a Blog Hop - Click Here - To View More Entries

Pedigree Dogs Excellent

I KNOW! Today is the day everyone has been waiting for. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012

It'sss... Show Time!

Get ready to view the star studded players and runway beauties that flanked the mats at the Markham Dog Show. First up, strutting her stuff on the runway is a very dear to my heart, Lil Miss Molly! 

I am just starting to learn about gaiting vs pacing and for me, learning about movement and structure makes watching the dogs more interesting and a challenge to peg the winner.

Sometimes a pup has to work it to shine. Hey Mom,  stacking might be a breeze, if we loose these knots!

Others have a unmistakable, bigger than life presence all on their own.

Oh :P MOM!! I just wanna have fun!  Conformation Ring Patterns are for nerds.

Sizing up the competition.

Getting a bit of ringside jitters!

While others appear bored silly.

Would I shock you if I told you prior to Cavaliers I owned a Doberman? Mine was not much bigger than Kodee and shy. Nothing like the tall, graceful confident ones I viewed today.

Okay... someone appears a little under dressed for the occasion!

Here is the deal. You have a mammoth treat ready on the exit and I leave the mat clean.

VaVaVoom!! Try as I might, I just can't get a coat to look as perfect as this!

Sometimes it's nice to have someone to lean on.

But the best part, is getting back home to the important stuff - the lov'in.

Do you compete in agility, rally or obedience? Keep those ribbons! I love this pillow and it doesn't look too difficult to make. If your lacking time or is that talent, you can always have Perfect Pillow make it for you.

Go Fetch!

Dog Show Terms Defined

Puppy Puzzle For Evaluation Video

Structure in Performance Dogs

Early Spay/Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athelete

Good and Bad Gaits

Westminster Announces Several Changes For 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Becky COME!

Go Fetch!

Whole Dog Journal's "Teaching a Reliable Recall"

Wordless Wednesday: CavAttitude