Just a thought...

Well I found out today that the cyst that's had me in chronic pain for anearly a year has finally resolved itself, and the pain I have now is probably psychological. So whooo- I can go back to Karate! I miss it SO bad.

Karate got me thinking. I'm always trying to think up ways to challenge and exercise Jake since I honestly can't walk him in our neighborhood(which upsets me to no end, I WANT to walk this dog but I can't thanks to... neighbors thinking everyone else should deal with their dogs running about)... the flirt pole didn't work out too well in the long run, as he kept going after the stick once he realized that's what made the toy go round and round. I'd like to retry it at some point...

Currently we:

Play fetch with numerous objects
Play frisbee(my throw sucks though)
Walk in focused heel around the yard with numerous tricks thrown in randomly as well as stops
Play controlled tug; grab when I say get it, release when I say drop it
Play chase
Practice tricks, distance work, and anything that involves targeting a specific object
Are working on makeshift agility things

So the idea of Karate*YAY* got me thinking. I wonder if I could teach Jake to heel through a Kata... like, instead of punching, kicking, etc, he could do a trick... maybe I could even teach him speak for a kiai! It'd be similar to my focused heel thing, but a lot more uniform and tight as far as pattern. Sharper turns.

I think of the stupidest things. But it sounds like fun, I just might try it. But yeah... stupid tricks lol. I still have an idea for a 'fish on a line' imitation.

Just wanted to share, and record my thoughts.

I am so sick of it.

I am so, SO sick of freaking neighbors who let their dogs run loose throughout the neighborhood. I'm sick of dealing with them. I'm sick of not being able to have my dog out in the yard without having a dog come to our fence and take his attention away. And it's not even as if it has a normal time frame, so I could go out prepared for it and work on the issue. I'm sick of fence fights, and I'm sick of not being able to walk my dog because they can't put their dogs out on a line if they want them out of the house.

I appreciate that those kids at least TRIED to call their dogs away from the fence this time, but let's face it, none of those kids really have control over the dogs. Not really their fault, I have to go out and get Jake's attention before he'll go inside with me anyways. But he always follows that command as soon as he realizes I'm there. That's the only way the fence fighting stops.

Sorry for the rant, but I needed the vent.

On a lighter note, I remembered earlier today that Jake turns 2 in September. I'll have to figure out a song for a slideshow.

Have a comparison.

Then:



Now:

Sigh... I love this dog.

Wow it's been a while. I've had a busy month, with camping and such.

So I'll just bring you up to date with the most interesting. Jake chased after a bear while we were camping last weekend... and came back with his tail between his legs after being roared at. He's perfectly fine, just hopefully he won't be doing that again.

He also fell into a creek, and I wish I had a video of me coaxing him across the log after that. Again, he's fine, it just terrified him, and now we have the crossing MUCH safer and easier to get across... I was scared when he fell in though, and mom was about to reach out and grab him when he finally climbed up onto the bank.

Can't think of much else... I've just been perfecting his focused heel. I should get someone to video that for me. I also started my writing class for school yesterday, and will be starting the rest of my work on the 24th.

That's all I can think of at the moment, without going off on a neighborhood dogs rant.