SearchKay's Grown Up Some More!
Can you believe it?! Kay'll be 2 years old in 52 days time.
People always say how fast the time goes...Well, I'm not one of those people. It feels like Kay's been here forever. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but she's finally, finally a dog I'm completely happy with.
I was a little worried a month or so ago, when she began reacting to people with a nasty bark, but that was a phase that passed by very quickly with a little prompting on my end. She's still known for her Cujoette attitude toward the MAJORITY of stranger dogs, but that's fine, because she's improving like the good little Gremlin that she is, and it isn't ALL stranger dogs now. She's not nearly as loud, obnoxious or as over the top as we both were a year ago.
We've kept up the botched-scentwork that she's oh-so-natural at, and I've never known a dog find a wallet so quickly. We've moved on from drops of essential oils on objects to day-old socks being walked (not dragged) up the road. She's found a person (set up - not an actual missing person, we aren't THAT good) in a small wood, and next year I'll try and redeem her reputation as a good girl by taking her along on lost-dog searches as a helper, seeing as she's such a focused worker and I get rather lonely trawling fields with complete strangers while searching for someones missing Greyhound who may or may not have gone left from the main road.
She's got a bit of doob - dog boob - going on. She actually has a fatty chest. I think she'll have to start coming on my evening runs with me.
She's a very obedient girl, and we've finally understood that "Stand" doesn't mean "stand up and come over here". She still does her Pointer thing when given the command, though. It makes her look a bit confused, but there you have it. I've recently re-discovered the fun in trick training, and she's learned "Rollover", "Wave", "High five", "Weave", "Twist" backwards around my static legs, "Reverse" and "Circle" - the last two were put together and created a pretty awesome routine. I'm pretty proud of her trick achievements. It helps that she's a show off, as she performs a lot better with a crowd.
She's a lot more focused at the Friday evening dog class we attend (after the first five-ten minutes, of course). She's taken an instant disliking to one of the dogs, but even he doesn't make her snap and go all Gizmo-Gremlin on his butt.
We're a pretty happy team right now!
-Jekyll and Hyde. ;-)
I think your Kay is absolutely stunning. Bravo on the scent work, she's coming along very well. Congratulations and thank you for posting
Sounds like a full life with her!!!! can't wait to hear more about how she does on her scent work that has got to be rewarding to watch your dog excel at finding living beings.....she is very pretty and seems to be very alert and into her work and fun alike.....(Ben's jealous, hahahaha)
I keep going through phases of posting, lurking, and simply being without a computer - not because I have no computer, but because I just don't turn it on. I've nicknamed it the Dust Bucket.
I've been looking around for a trainer to help me fine tune her scentwork, but the closest is a few hours away. Seeing as it's just a hobby to keep her pea-brain dusted and in working order, I'm looking for someone no longer than 45 minutes away. I doubt I'll find that someone in this lifetime!
I've done a pretty good job. Her natural "It's here" reaction is a very, very loose circle near the object. If I keep telling her to "Seek", she'll wander off and look elsewhere, but ultimately, she goes back to where the object actually is. I'm trying to get her to lie down as a sign that she's found it. Haven't done all that much scentwork lately, as I've been focusing on her distance commands, off-lead work and tricks.
We've just been for a lovely 4 hour walk with a family members dog, and the owner, so Kay'll still be knackered by the time dog class comes along. Should do me a favour, as I've pulled a muscle along the side of my ribcage...It just so happens to be the side that Kay would be on.
I was too much of a wuss to take my camera, as it looked like it was going to rain (it didn't), but here's a photo of Kay laughing at my expense.
Now that gives new meaning to the texting phrase: ROTFLMAO
Jeri
hahahahahaha too funny
The other handlers look at me like something they stepped in when I'm at class. My dog barks, jumps and acts like Cujo for the first ten minutes, while their dogs sit there like little angels and ignore Kay's howls of protest at not being able to say hi.
Until, of course, she performs off lead like a pro and completes multiple tricks and routines in less than 3 minutes at the end of class, and they fail to get their dogs sitting on command.
Oh yes, we are victorious once again. I don't mind the looks they give me. It's nice being able to surprise so many people in one go.
Here are some photos of Kay on a walk this afternoon.
It's a shame I didn't change the exposure. The sky behind her was so blue.
Here, she watches as her ball rolls steadily away from her, as she's too incapable of holding the ball in her mouth after I've told her to "Wait".
SAVAGE!
She was seriously tired when we got home.
And a little blast from the past.
Same dog, same place, same demented horse run.
March 2010 - September 2012.
Great pics!!!! love the story too, that'll show 'em, hahahahaha good to have a tired out sleepy dog at the end of a long day :))
It is; I usually just do some scentwork with her and knock her out that way, but I've been religiously taking her for a walk a day (along with her usual run in the field) for the last few months to help improve her behaviour. It's working!
I attended a companion show with a friend and her Staffordshire Bull Terrier today. It was in aid of a rescue (Hula) and the judge was a British trainer, Lynne Davies. I'd attended the same show back in May, but hadn't entered Kay into the classes. I was brave and entered her into two today, and the last class, we came away with Kay's very first 1st place rosette, as well as a lovely little speech from the judge praising the improvement in Kays' behaviour since last time.
It was a great day...I ran out of breath a lot, though. She requires a lot of praise. I was repeating "Good girl, well done, how good are you being, oh, goodness, you're such a good dog" for most of the day in order to keep her calm and in the happy (and quiet) mode...It was really fun. I'm glad other people can see the improvements she's made.
She doesn't look very happy here...I'd woken her up, you see...But I wanted a picture before I put the rosette away, so here we go.
Great picture this one should be framed for her wall of accomplishments!! I think this is terrific!!! and Ben says he really needs to get up and do something, cause he loves awards of any kind, hahahahaa
FABULOUS photos---seriously. She is beautiful AND smart---what a combination. DJ says she wants to be like Kay when she grows up.
BTW---what does it say on her vest?
Talisin, I've got a box labelled "OUR DOGS" filled with all the dogs' accomplishments, vaccination certificates, vet receipts, etc. When I first started doing the companion shows with one of the little dogs, I was going to make a wall for her rosettes, as she placed in every class I put her in for the first couple of years.
I decided against it. The furthest I ever got to actually displaying a rosette was leaving it on the front room window sill overnight by mistake, LOL.
DJ's Dad, Kay's flattered. ;-) Judging by your posts, DJ's already smart and beautiful. All she needs now is the big loud bark, and they'll pass as long-lost sisters!
On her vest it says "Dog In Training" and under that, "Please DO NOT", and under that, "Approach".
I got it for her when she was going through her "everyone who looks like they're going to talk to me is evil" phase. It stopped people from coming over to say hi, but I still have a few "what d'you think you're playing at" moments with people (mainly guys) who think it's a good idea to grab her tail as we walk past.
We'll be getting a better quality one in a couple of weeks, as this one's wearing quite a bit. It'll hopefully say the same thing, but if I can't haggle it, then it'll be a simple "In Training, Ignore Me" message.
It was originally going to be used until she stopped with the barking at people (we'd have been using it for about 5 days had I stuck to that plan!), but I'm still using it now. It's a lot more effective than I thought it would be. Keeps the people who don't have a clue away, and means any stranger she is introduced to has common sense and knows how to behave.
I contacted a guy my mate told me about last night. He does agility classes on Sundays. I'm hoping he's feeling brave, because I'd love to get Kay into something like that. It'd help shift the doob she's got goin' on, as well as help with he reactivity.
Now we play the waiting game...
I love the vest idea---I had been looking online for something similar.
Agility? COOL---we just signed up for a basic 'agility for fun' class that starts the 21st of October and runs 6 weeks. Not a competition level class by any means, but just something to keep us busy and to let DJ realize that she DOES have back feet---dogs tend to realize that when they have to walk across an 8 inch wide board that is 3 ft off the ground. LOL
The trainer responded and invited us along to the new class on the 7th of October...
And Kay's just come into season. Eye twitch time.
Love the vest!!! Great idea.....
Kay met Miniature Pinscher Tizer today...He's smaller than her foot...And definitely a confident little man. Not a good picture at all, and doesn't show his personality in the slightest, but just the one for now.
Fantastic photos, so much to be proud of!!! I particularly like the one of her on the ground rolling!!
I think I'll try to keep this thread alive!
I was brave today, and went from semi-manual to fully manual on the camera. Just a few photos...
I was going to take Tizer out and get some shots, but the neighbours were home, and I'm keeping him a secret until he can go out for his first walk...TThese are the neighbours who spend all day cleaning their house, but can magic up three wastebins of rubbish in the 15 minutes I'm out training Kay...
I finally found a ball that she can't chomp in half in five seconds flat. This ball has come out with us multiple times a day, and we've had it for nearly three weeks now. There's barely a dent in it!
When she gives me this look, I just KNOW that if I wasn't her owner, she'd bark at me in the street.
BRILLIANT!!
Beauty and Brains.. you are doing great with her... love the pictures .. keep us informed.. love this forum..
hugs, Bet
What a beautiful girl!!!!, she is so strikingly pretty, you did great with the photos and the min pin is so tiny they should make a funny sight together, great pics keep them coming...
Thank you, Bet, Lady Kate and Talisin...! I always thought that Kay looked like a lovely DOG. People always ask about HIM. How old is HE, what's HIS name, etc. And nobody can seem to pronounce her name, either. I've started introducing her as "Kay, as in the alphabet" or else people pronounce her name 'Kye'.
Her new jacket came in the post today. It's much better quality than the last one, and it fits her a lot better. The text could've been bigger, but it's not a problem. I'm really happy with it.
As you can see, I tried going manual with these photos, too. Bit of a fail, but there you have it. How good can a photo of a dog in a brightly coloured jacket be, anyway?...
Her face...It isn't always pretty.
Love all of this. 
You have a way with words and made me chuckle. Kay, you are beautiful and I love your gremlin spunk.
oh she looks so spiffy in her new duds, she is styling now!!! you know you could put different text messages on other pieces of cloth and velcro them to the sides according to what message you want to get across. They make sticky velcro that doesn't require sewing or you can just stitch velcro/hooknloop on each piece and it would be permanent and could be washed with no problem that way you could stick "Do Not Pet" or "Do Not Feed" etc. to her too. Just thinking out loud..... again she is styling....Ben says to tell her vests are the best....
Kay is soooo pretty and from what I can see, very smart. You have obviously put ALOT of work in her and it shows. I am definetly taking your advice on the training of Axel. You know what you are talking about and it shows on your beautiful Kay's face. Thanks for all of the pics and I especially like the vest idea. Im going to get and or make something like that for Axel.
Tess
Whoop! Agility starts tomorrow! I'll be taking Kay along, but leaving her in the crate, in the boot/trunk of the car...With the boot open. ;-) Kay's only been out of heat for around a week, so I'm not expecting to do much with her at all because it won't be fair for the other handlers/dogs...But if the trainer, "Steve", wants to see what kind of training she's had, then it won't be a problem...
Otherwise, I'll just stop off at the woods on the way home and let her have a run.
I'm also looking after a friends' two Staffordshire Bull Terriers until the 18th of October.
This is Loki!
And this is Kay!
And this is Lo-Kay!
Ohh, tense...
Not really!
"Er, no - this is mine..."
"Fine - I don't want it that much anyway."
"...I actually want it back..."
That awkward moment when that joke you told wasn't as funny as you thought it was.
And trying to make up for that awkward moment by doing a weird dance to make people laugh.
I think Kay would be that person at work who looks and sounds serious even when joking...
Until the punchline.
Dobie,
I have never seen a Dobe with both the tail and the ears in their natural state. I must say, I like the look. Kay is gorgeous and I do love the Amstaff. I have a friend who has the amstaf and I have made the mistake of calling them Pits. I personally think they are all beautiful and smart and I love to watch them play. I had taken Axel over to her house and she was concerned that he couldnt keep up with her dog. It wasnt a problem. Anyway, thanks for the pics.
Tess
I lurve her floppy ears, but I'd feel a lot better if she was docked. I just know that she's going to need an amputation within the next few years!
Loki's lovely. He's so much more laid back than the other Staff. The only breed that looks like a Staffie in England...Is a Staffie. They vary in shape quite a lot, though. They can have pinched noses, square noses, up ears, down ears, be long and lanky or short and squat.
I always thought "Pit Bull" was just a shorter name for an American Pit Bull Terrier (Kind of like "Dobermann" was the shortened version of Dobermann Pinscher). APBT's are meant to have longer legs and a more agile body, whereas American Staffordshire Bull Terriers are meant to be stocky little buggers, but I've seen dogs that resemble Amstaffs being called Pit Bulls, and dogs that resemble APBT's being called Whippet mixes...So I've no idea.
You can get Loki confused with whatever you like; he doesn't mind!
love the pictures.. she is a great looking dobie.. i love her head.. the shape of her snout and brow..
she is perfect... I didnt think I would like a tail on a dobie but she looks terrific..
hugs, Bet
LOVE those new pics, they seem to be great friends and the play time must keep you very entertained. I bet you both miss the two "pits" when they are gone.....I thought the pit bull was just what Loki is the staffordshire to me can't be mistaken for the pit bull.....but really doesn't matter they are dogs and looks to be having a great time!!!!
She is truly stunning and it gives me great inspiration and hope that one day Buddy too will be well behaved and a pleasure to be with most of the time! Great job!
Mama
It's been a little while, again. O_O Kay turned two on the 8th of November, though you wouldn't know. I don't think her age even matters. She still acts like a puppy.
A fat puppy...! She still has a layer of flub, and has been put on a strict diet of "nothing unnecessary". We go up the field twice a day for 15 minutes at a time with the ball, plus she comes up with the other dogs twice a day for about 20 minutes per run...Thinking her food might need to be changed. She's turning out to be one problematic dog.
Not that I mind. :-P
Here are just a few pics from today.
...Plus Batman!
Kay is a beauty.. she has that look that she has it all under control.. you have done great things with her and still really a puppy.. but she has that look... i have seen it before mom you watch that girl she will be a step ahead of you most of the time..
Bet
Happy Belated Birthday, Kay! Love these last photos.
I have to admit, I'm biased with her face...I've always wanted a square-faced dog. I can't see much passed the beauty of her square-faced-ness! But..Is it just me, or are her eyes tiny?!
had to laugh about the last photo scanning the pics several times it looks like she suddenly shrunk hahahaha I think she is a striking female, she's what I would call a "handsome" female; as for her eyes in relation to her head maybe they are smaller but she is beautiful.......I had a collie that would have pulled best in show locally except the judge said his eyes were a bit too small but I thought they are just right for my baby and so it is. Her heart is probably that much bigger you don't need big eyes to fill your heart with love......
I never noticed.. when she is looking at you in a straight on picture I never thought her eyes were small.. if she is looking up at you maybe in a little squint they prob looks small.. I wouldnt worry she is a great looking dobie..
lhugs,
Bet
Kay isn't scared of the little Tizer anymore, so it's cool. She actually tries to play with him now, but he's all talk and no action...He'll mess with her for ages, and when she finally gives in and starts to play, he runs away squeaking.
Piggy eyes to go with a piggy body! I don't mind...They're big enough for her to see out of, so there's no problem. ;-)
Here are a few pointless photos that I'd like to share of Kayenne and the 18 year old, blind-as-a-bat cat who rules the roost...But, being 18 and blind has it's downsides. One of them is that she isn't allowed out of the house whenever she wants anymore. One of the times she can come out is when I take Kay for her morning run up the field...The cat decided to follow me the other day.
Kay heard the cat.
Kay ignored the cat.
The cat came a bit closer...
And a bit closer...
Suddenly, the cat bumped into Kay! (I missed the actual contact...My bad.)
The cat recognised the obstacle as Kay.
And peace was restored!
Kay is a stunner. Seriously I love how the sun glistens off of her coat. Keep up with the pics. Kay is one Dobe that I cant get enough of..
Tess
I second that Tess...I love the look of Kay. Love the pics..
What do you feed her to keep her coat so nice..
Bet
I mix some salmon oil in with their food. Not a lot, and only twice a week. (The bowl gets really gross.)
I started when Kay began going bald around her neck for an unknown reason. (That's when her flat collar came off, as well.) Figured the salmon oil wouldn't do her any harm. It didn't bring back her fur, obviously, (an anti-histamine shot and once-daily non-drowsy Piriten tablet did that - this dog has seasonal allergies...!) but I noticed a massive change in all the dogs' coats and skin conditions...So, the salmon oil became a regular thing.
I bought a bottle of salmon oil.. do you have to keep it refriged once you open it.. my husband says it smells gross lol I will use a little for little Levi my toy poodle until i find my dobi girl..
hugs.. thanks..
Betty
You don't have to, but I store it in the fridge once the bottle's been opened. It keeps longer that way. :-)
I love her pictures, she has one of the most intriquing faces and head shapes, and her coloring is so handsome on her, and the cat is great, beautiful dog.......
She is gorgeous and commands such respect just by sitting there! I nearly fell off my chair at the last pic with Tizer... so cute!
Also, I hope Kay doesn't hear you call her "Fat"... things like that can really scar a girl's confidence. lol
I think Kay could do with a little dent in her confidence...!
I heard a weird, airy noise last night, coming from beside my computer desk. Turning to my left, I see Kay has sprouted a second head out of her mouth...Upon closer inspection, I see it's just Tizer trying to take up refuge amongst her molars and canines.
I missed the shot of Tizer being knawed on, because Kayenne thinks that when I get the camera, it means we're going out, and that she must stop everything she's doing to await my orders...But here's a couple of snaps anyway.
And, just because it was a weird sight...He looks a little bit like a mole that's sprouted from her back.
Great pictures.. it is so great they are friends.. ME and MINI ME
Bet
I agree.... never enough Kay.. She is so special and Sofia would like to add her two cents with ummmmm ( We're not allowed to use the "F" word here) If Kay is a little full figured so be it.She's regal,dignified and totally gorgeous!!
I think she is beautiful and such alovely picture of them both asleep on the couch. You can tell she is so gentle with him from the pictures. Please more piccies!!!!
Its been 6 weeks away from my dog and won't be home for 2 weeks and 3 days more so I'm getting my dobie fix through this website. So please more piccies.
She's such a beautiful dog. Lady Kate has it right, regal is the word for her!!!!!!!
I like the picture with the paw in the air. It looks like " I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth.......... Tizer did it!"
Oh, those are terrific pictures! I love, love, LOVE the high five photo!! She's beautiful, and congratulations on the results from all your hard work with her.