I'm the one who Understands you.

I've been thinking a lot lately.. I know I always start my blogs like this.. But really I don't know how to start them.. I just cant come up with ideas for my blog! haha... Welll....

I've been struggling with Katie since I've met her.. and no one really understands that like I do.. or have see us grow as a team. So here's the story from the beginning... Its of our struggles and how we continue to over come them..

3 years ago, I walked into the SPCA to look for a dog for my Grandma.. Yea I know a lot of you have already heard this story time and time again.. But please listen.
I vaguely remember that day, so please understand my lack of details. I remember the walk into the shelter, looking outside at the dogs, there was this one.. It had "the look" I can't really explain that look, Grandma looked at him, I insisted, but we kept going. We then walked into the shelter and a grey car pulled up.. I looked into the car, two dogs were in the car, The lady came out with one, I saw the dog and instantly got on the ground to go face to face with the dog... I remember petting her.. kinda being in a trance, I asked the name, The lady said Katie.

I remember the lady caring alot about Katie, I remember her paying extra money so that she could go to the perfect home... I remember looking at Katie's collar, it was pink with a red heart tag on it that said "Best Friend". I remember My grandma signing the papers that day..

A week later, we went to the vet to pick Katie up.. I remember her being very tired from the spaying operation. I remember it was myself, my auntie and my grandma. I remember getting in my Aunties White car and Me holding her while we drove to Grandmas. I remember getting to my Grandma and Just watching her.. I stayed at my grandma's three nights and just watched over her while she recovered... I remember my Brother saying she wasn't very tough, that she wouldn't play with him.. I remember her proving him wrong. ;) I remember once I left my grandma's that I still went over there everyday to see her. I remember the day we lost Katie's "best friend" Tag, Maybe it was a new beginning.

I remember going online and seeing the Pawsitive Steps agility camp and asking my mom about it. She agreed, I remember sending my form in. I remember being excited for summer so I could go to camp. I remember the night before, thinking about who else was thinking about the camp.
I remember being the only junior at camp. I remember feeling left out, I remember sitting by Katies crate and eating lunch while everyone else was in the gazebo. I remember getting really excited for every day. I remember the end of Camp and taking the photo.

I remember going clothes shopping with my cousin and begging her to go to Pet Cetera and seeing the Agility Kit and rushing to the phone to call my mom to ask her if I could get it. I remember buying it. I remember the day that Katie finally was weaving. I remember showing off to my family. I remember being SO proud.

I remember going to the club. I remember mistaking Leslie for Linda. I remember trying the equipment.. I remember when Katie would run off and get into fights.... I remember going home crying.

I remember Katie not being aloud to come over because of the cat. I remember trying SO many things. I remember rubbing a towel on the cat then the same one on Katie. I remember Katie and the cat interacting through the door. I remember treating Katie every time the cat was in the room. I remember the break through I had when they started to get along.

I remember preparing for Katie`s first trial. I remember going to practice and then her getting Kennel Cough. I remember my mom telling me that the Vet said we shouldn't go to the trial. I remember going to watch the trial without Katie. I remember hearing Katie`s name being called and crying.

I remember preparing for Katie`s real first trial. I remember telling Linda that we were going to beat her. Haha. I remember Gamblers, I remember her running out of the ring and then coming back.. I remember her getting the Gamble but some ladies told the judge that I stepped over the line. I remember getting first and being SO happy. I remember Katie getting her First Q in Jumpers.

I remember Katie`s Second Trial, I remember Katie just going Nuts and not listening. I remember crying and wondering why. I remember our last run, Almost Qing.. Wow. She really knows when to kick in.

I remember Making Jumps in my backyard with my mom. :)

I remember Katie getting AWESOME in my backyard. I remember when we trialed it all fell apart. I remember getting our Gamblers Q. I remember trying harder and harder. I remember trying Obedience and trick training to try to get focus. I remember going to winter camp.

I remember going to trials and wondering whats going wrong.. and I`ve come to a conclusion... Katie has stress issues.. She stresses from environmental changes. I know so many people would have given up on Katie, and I know I`ve though of it. But if I give up, Katie wouldn`t be the same dog, she needs me and if I give up I`m losing the opportunity for Katie to teach me.. Katie is what I need. I can learn so much from her. I already have. I love Katie SO much. She means everything to me. She continues to teach me new things.

Thanks Katie! Every tear I cried was a new lesson and I wouldn`t take it back. Ever.

Trying not to lose my Head.

Where do I begin? Everything has just been hitting me insainly...


Last week was crazy for me. Thank god Savannah could take my shift. I love you Savannah!


Monday:


Worked. Was mad because it was agility night.


Tuesday:


Took Envy and Katie to agility at the feild. Katie wouldn't listen, so I played with Envy most of the time working on watching other dogs play and not reacting and teeter bang game.


Wednesday:


Worked


Thursday:


Reesa and Heather were in town. We had a great time. I got to meet Jayde. Envy had a great time playing with both. Katie was different, it took her along time to get used to others in the backyard. So we worked through it. The dogs had a great time playing. We then Had Dinner and then ran Katie, Katie had a great time! Then we ran Rosco and Jayde! Jayde was crazy fast! Rosco was feeling sick.. poor dog. We then walked Katie home (Poor Reesa had to walk Rosco and Envy!) and played on the schools equipment. Then we ran the dogs to see who was fastest.. Envy's herding instinct messed it up when he ran after Rosco. Ha ha! We then were on the computer and then watched a movie.. Reesa fell asleep and Heather and I talked till Reesa got up.. then we talked some more and went to bed at around 3.


Friday:


Raced the dogs again. We hung out for a bit, then I had to get ready for my trial and then eventually Laura showed up and we went to the Hotel for the night.


Saturday:


Trial


Jumpers:


Tried something new, Katie runs off to look at a sand bag, I run off we are done. No second chance


Snooker:


Stupid Handler! Katie was SO focused. We could have Q'd! We finished the opening but Stupid handler forgot the rules and went into the closeing before finishing the opening....


Standard:


She was going so good! Had great speed on the Dogwalk and got her contacts.. then when she was on the table she looked behind her and there was a dog there, I released her from the table to keep going.. but she went to look at the dog. Heather ran Jayde and they did amazing! Great girl Jayders!






Gamblers:


She was done for the day.. Wouldnt listen


After that we ate dinner, I was pretty down.. I've tried so many things and they just aren't working. I dont know how to help Katie's ring stress!


We then had fun games, Katie sat out of the hot dog eating contest and the frisbee one because she eats like a lady and likes to watch the frisbee fall to the ground. Ha ha! So Katie partisipated in the "Best Trick" contest. We watched other tricks like walking throw legs, playing with soccer balls, and roll overs. Then it was our turn, so I did the jumping over my back trick. Katie won best trick. :)




Sunday:

Woke up in the tent.

Gamblers:

Not focused. She was going good, but they had to restart the time.. and it messed her up.

Standard:

Saw some people who were watching, turned around and barked at them.. I lost it.. I cried. We were encouraged to run the course... but she wouldn't listen.. I cried more.

Snooker:

Course wasn't as flowy, so when I took my eye off her so got distracted..

Jumpers:

Wanted to end the trial on a good note. So we did the last four obsticals. Great focus baby :)

I then ran Nestle the Lab in Advanced Jumpers! FUN dog!


Over all, tough weekend.. I think I'm going to have to back chain for a couple trials.

I came home to Envy being sick.. I was so worried.. I cried, I asked to take him to the vet but mom said to wait it out. He's doing good now. Poor baby.

Everyone thinks its so easy...
~Alyssa


Photos Copyright to David Greenburg. Great photos David!


Dreaming about the day when you wake up
And find that what you're looking for has been here the whole time


If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along. So why can't you see?
You belong with me
You belong with me



~Taylor Swift You belong with me

A little Over my head?

So, I was FORCED to write an entry by the amazing ShayLee of the "Going for 'Good Dog!" Blog, Check her out! :)


I really have nothing to write about.. Hrm.. Let me think, whats been going on lately? Lets step back to July 20th.

July 20th, 2009, Reesa (DogTrainingGirl101 on Youtube) came over! Awesome time. We went to go pick up Katie, but Katie was in her "crazy dog" stage. Where it takes her about an hour to cool down. After that, Katie was ready to do agility! :) I ran Rosco, and Reesa ran Katie. We then went to go see Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppies! So cute! Reesa had a great time throwing apples for Chime! Reesa and I, then stayed up till 3 am.

July something or other 2009, We went out to the creek with Envy! :) I love this dog, SO much. Gosh, he listens like theres no tomorrow. He hung out with the other dogs while we swam. Made some great friends :) OH gosh, He's such a goober, When he first gets into the water he has this expression like "ewww" and then he's fine.
what Else, what else? When Reesa left she lent me her book "Control Unleashed" and I started reading it. Wow! great book, I've been making great progress with Katie. Katie also went to the reactive dogs class at Kim's Camp... when she didn't feel like reacting, go figure? So I've come to the conclusion that Katie doesn't like the slight changes in her environment. The little things set her off, a bark, a new person being added, etc. So I'm working on that plus her reactivity to certain dogs, Its only certain dogs, go figure x2? So I took her to the one she reacts the most too and work her slowly by. If she freaked out, we'd step back until she was calm. I can proudly say that we made it past the dog :). Good girl Katie. Trial this weekend!!

Much Love
~Alyssa, Katie & Envy