Auntie Bella

Bella cracks me up! She LOVES Nell's puppies! And Nell is just about done with them....has no problem being a working girl and leaving the rug rats for babysitter Bella.

The pups wait for Bella to come up the stairs to play with them....."hurry Auntie Bella"...... Game On!!!She plays with these babies way more then she ever interacted with her own....maybe because they are not trying to nurse her all the time. Well exercised puppies are tired puppies and tired puppies are good puppies!!!Seize the day!

Ahhhh....Contentment

After 4 months of being pretty close to home bound......it felt great to get in the car and drive 5 hours to a Kathy Knox clinic! Really....I felt freedom! And, as always, I was not let down with any part of the clinic. The weather was fabulous......almost needed sunscreen.....and the dog work was better than the best piece of chocolate!

I love how Kathy explains the details of what she sees in our dogs as we work them.

Bella was the dog for my day's work.....thanks to Bonnie Block from Field and Farm Photography....I have some photos to share!

I have had Bella 4 months.....and took time off training for her litter of pups......and here she is! I'll post more about then and now.....but I could not wait to show how beautiful, confident and transformed she has become!

And, hark, could this be a little eye???

Amazing how her "method" and "style" showed as she began to feel comfortable using her eye! Possibly, it is just the tip of the iceberg of what Bella has inside of her.....beginning to emerge with time and miles. I love training dogs!! I love the challenge of a dog very different from what I have trained before. What an amazing journey......I am blessed!
Seize the day!!!!

This puppy......

This puppy wants me......this puppy needs me.......this puppy is perfectly marked, has a blue eye, is outgoing, explores with confidence and yet loves to play with me...and cuddles! This puppy is tooooooo cute for words. But....this puppy will grow up and lift his leg to pee....and he will go crazy when Sally comes into heat...and then Nell...and then Bella.....I see a life of sleepless nights with howling and fussing! Dear Lord NO!

Oh well, this puppy will have to go.......but he still has a blue eye!

Seize the day!

Teaching a Proper Grip.....

Early training of a proper grip is essential for a good working dog!

Nose grip:

Less effective ear grip:

Face grip:

Foot grip:

A more effective ear grip:

And now for your viewing pleasure.....

A gaggle of puppies!

Beauty and the Beast

And this one takes the cake!!!!
Seize the day!

Give Away Winner.......

You all know I am the midst of picking a puppy...4 weeks and still no answer.......how could I ever randomly pick a book winner! And since I am not Pioneer Woman.....who gets a billion folks entering her give-aways.....I have decided....YOU ALL WIN!!!! Well, those of you who put comments on the blog before this announcement.

There are two rules...1) you must read it and report back what you think! and 2) if you love it, pay it forward.

My email address is to the right.....email me your address where you receive mail....and you too will be reading what I am reading for the 100th time!! A little Rocking Dog Book Club! Miss Kenleigh.....I am not sure it will help you with procrastination......read it and let me know :)

Happy 2010.....lets do it!

Seize the day!!!!

Take A Look

While you are sharing your goals with me, I want to share one of mine with you. One of my goals for 2010 is to find some big fields to haul sheep for dog work. Being in the Grass Seed Capital of the world, it should be easy....right?! Visualize with me now.......

This one has promise.......

This place is just down the road from Rocking Dog Ranch and is a hay field.....so to speak. It has a few trees.....but I think I could rent it....all I need is the courage to ask!This field is my FAVORITE!!!! I Google Earthed it....and could get a 1/2 mile outrun!!!!! SWWWWEEEEETTTTT! So...here is to achieving this goal....the sooner the better!

The puppies are 4 weeks old today. I am soooo in love. I told Kathy Knox I was keeping them all and she laughed and said...I could NOT call her when they turn 6 months old and are no longer "cute!" Oh well, I continue my quest to picking the one that stays.....in the mean time....here is a picture of the pup I call Jake Junior (JJ)....I wonder if he is going to have a blue eye?

Here is another shot of him...Jake is on the left, then the girl who is trying hard to win my heart, and the other boy, (who is cuter than a bug's ear.....I think bug's ears are very cute!) is on the right.

Once I pick my puppy, I have to find the perfect name. Decisions, decisions, decisions.....

Seize the day!

New Year's Day Give-away

HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK??????

It was suggested to me by one of my mentors.....it is not really so much about "horses" as it is about life! I think I have read it a billion times.....well at least parts of it! I know of a few USBCHA top open handlers have read it, apply it, and recommend it. So in the spirit of a new year......in celebration of 2010 and all that it holds.....and knowing that our mindset is paramount to achieving our potential....I am going to give this book to one of the Rocking Dog Ranch Blog readers. Just tell me one of your goals for 2010 in the comment section below...and make sure I can get a hold of you........and I will randomly pick a winner Monday!!

Seize the day!