Enjoying the Sun

It has been warm and sunny here all week but I just haven’t had time to enjoy it.  I decided to take a break on Saturday to go hiking with the dogs and enjoy the sun and the plus 5 c temperatures that we’ve had.

The clouds were hanging low around the B.C. border.  But there was barely a cloud in the sky here.  It was so warm the snow was melting away.  It’s amazing the weather we have had for February.

The dogs were enjoying the sun as well. One of the very few decent pictures I have been able to take of Ande on a bright winter day.

They were running more than usual.

I wonder if the rays made Davin a little more crazed. The pieces that make up his head all seem to be doing their own thing.

I ended up hiking for about four hours, longer than I intended but I enjoyed every minute of it.

This Sunday morning I went to Lethbridge for some search and rescue training and it was like entering a different world. Like the world was black and white.  It was also very foggy and cold.  There was hoar-frost on everything including me by the time I left.

It was nice to come home to the sun.

 

Small Dog on a Sunday Morning

My sister has a small dog.  I have two biggish ones.   Sunday morning is usually the only morning of the week that I can relax before I start my day.  However the dogs are not of the same mind.  My sister’s dog “Timbit” is more like a tidbit.

He likes to play with Ande.  She plays nice even though she is ten times bigger then him.

Davin on the other hand can be a bully.  We have to make sure he doesn’t get too rough with Timbit.

It’s a good thing they are buddies.

But don’t you know…he’s a small dog, he can take them on.

It ends up Sunday mornings might not be so relaxing but they can be entertaining!

Guilty as Charged

Number 237, you are accused of committing a crime.

How do you plead?

Exhibit #1

The evidence speaks for itself.

Not only chewing up your own leash but another’s leash as well.  What do you have to say for yourself?

Guilty as charged.  You are hereby sentenced to the chain gang.

No appeals allowed.

Agility Class

Last night I went to my agility class.  The drive was fine until we started getting closer to the city.  Then suddenly I was driving in a thick, heavy, icy fog.  So I just slowed down considerably and all was well.  It does keep the drive from getting boring.

During this class we did some straight line jumping over four jumps.  I was happy with how Davin performed with this excercise.  His jumping hasn’t always been the best.  He tends to be lazy (I think) and knock bars.  He seems to be knocking less bars at the moment.  He also worked well on both the left and right sides.

Then a pin wheel was added to the jump sequence at the end with four more straight line jumps.  Uhmm…He didn’t do too bad but kept wanting to run where the food originally was for the last exercise and therefore missing the pin wheel jump towards the last sequence.   When we changed sides he started missing/avoiding some of the jumps.  This is where I notice that my handling and timing generally sucks. 

We went on to do front crosses.  By this time I think that I was starting to lose Davin’s attention.  We were in two groups and when I would start the excercise Davin would run over to the other group where Amanda was. We switched groups and he did a little better.  When then moved on to rear crosses and for sure my timing and handling sucked.

Over all I thought Davin did pretty good and I am learning lots about timing and handling.  It was a fun night except for the drive back home in the fog.

Puppies

On the weekend I went to the ranch where Davin’s dad and sister are.  It was cold as usual but great fun for the dogs.

Davin’s sister on the left and his dad on the right having fun on the bales.

A winter walk on the prairie…brrrr

with huskies and Aussies

But then the best part, the real reason I went to the ranch.

Puppies!  Cute four-week old Aussie puppies!

There is a possibility that this one thinks he is a retriever.

Apparently being a puppy is very thirsty work.

I’m just happy I didn’t get any urges for another puppy.  I was a little nervous going to see them in all their cuteness.

Snowball Dogs

It’s amazing around here how one day it is -20 c and the next day it is +5 c.   Of course me and the dogs had to go and enloy the great outdoors on New Years Day.

I never get tired of the scenery around here.

The snow is quite deep. But that’s good since it gives the dogs a good workout.

With warm weather and deep snow there happens to be a slight problem.

Snowballs!

Apparently Davin finds them annoying.  At every opportunity he drops and starts ripping them out of his fur.

But really it is a lost cause.  They just keep growing.

If you are little, you will actually start turning into a snowman.  Much to Tim’s relief we were able to stop the process just in the nick of time.

As Davin looked on in amazement.

Shortly after we got home the house seemed a little too quiet.  Quiet can mean that Davin is up to no good so I went searching for him. I guess my bed is the most comfy place in the house for a tuckered out dog.

Snowshoe Fun

We have a lot of snow already.  And if we have it, I might as well have fun in it.  Although most days I’d rather be somewhere warm.  Anyway I packed up the dogs the other day and snowshoeing we went.  It was a great day with no wind and just the right temperature, about -12 c.  The dogs just loved it.

The sun was trying to shine with no success.

First there was the serious business of digging a hole.  Business before pleasure.

On the lookout for the German Shepherd because…

The German Shepherd could be camouflaged!

And when there is a German Shepherd on your tail you’d better run…fast!

And when I fall I need to get up in a hurry or else the big pounce will happen.  Needless to say I didn’t get up fast enough.

After three and a half hours of snowshoeing we all needed a nap.

Way Too Cold

These days have been very, very cold and snowy.  It’s hard to be outside for any length of time when the temperature is in the – 20’s Celsius or lower.  So I don’t spend too much time out doors when it’s this cold.  I’m sure various body parts will snap off when it’s this frigid outside.  I’ve always had this secret fear that the tops of my ears will snap off when they freeze up.  I have never been brave enough to test my theory out.

What do you mean go out?  Don’t want to be freezing these pretty ears off!

This is the best place to be on a cold snowy day.

And this is the best thing to be doing.  I hope he leaves some room for me.

Bath and Zoom

Davin had a bath.  Well actually the whole bathroom had a bath.  I couldn’t take any photos because my hands were full trying to do damage control.  I got him into the tub simply by lifting him in.  He didn’t seem very happy about it but he just stood there for me. I turned on the water and so far so good. Then I started spraying him down and not so good.  He decided to leap out of the tub.  I grabbed for him and in the process dropped the shower head.  Well everything proceeded to get very wet including me.  Now I was holding on to a dripping wet dog in the middle of the bathroom with the shower head merrily spraying away.  I had to yell for help as two hands just weren’t enough.  I finally got him bathed and out the door.

Davin is very happy that the bath is over.

Then the zoomies start!  Whenever my dogs get wet they get the zoomies.

It takes special skill to take a picture of the zoomies with a point and shoot.  A skill I apparently don’t have.

After all the action he finally settles down to lick himself dry.  And time for me to mop up the bathroom.

I guess I need to bathe Davin more often.

Big Dog is Watching

With all the renovations going on there are just a few holes here and there.

Peek a boo!

Sometimes when we are working we have to put the dogs into another room.  The air intake is where a certain dog can try to make her escape.

Without success I might add.  But I had to give her “A” for effort.

If you get a creepy feeling that you are being watched, you probably are.

Davin on the top floor looking down.

If you come to my house… big dog is watching you!