Jet's Furkid Palace: Saturday is Dog Day

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Saturday is Dog Day

Well HAI THERE MR SMILEY!!!

As has become the usual tradition, we got up early and took Bender to tracking in the pine forest. He did two tracks, and he did very well. We did some article work today and I got him to pick up the articles by stuffing balls into the socks. It worked. I was also impressed after he picked up the article and gave it to me, and I threw it for him (because it was a ball), I could tell him to 'find it' and immediately his nose went to ground and he was back on the track. It is unheard of for Bender to switch focus from a ball to something else (even food).

After tracking we took both of the dogs for an outing. Now we have a record-breaking long weekend here at the moment - Easter, and then ANZAC day on the end means that everyone has 5 days off work. Before my truck was wrecked, we were going to join the hoards headed out of the metro area. Now I'm glad that we didn't. We went to our regular beach and there was hardly anyone around. Then we bought kebabs and stopped at a local lake to eat them. Again there were very few people around.

Barbie's gonna getcha!!

This is as close as the Swans would allow us to get. I think 'Swan' would be an awesome name for a black greyhound. They both have long necks and their fair share of grace.

Barbie and Bender posing at the beautiful lake with the CBD skyscrapers in the background.

Comments (12)

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Greyhounds CAN Sit · 727 weeks ago

Oh, look at the lovely sand and blue sea, much nicer than the beaches around here, not that my kids care what colour the sand and sea are:)

We had a dog day for Beryl today at a Rally O competition, she's very tired. Poor Frankie didn't get a walk but I'll make it up to him tomorrow:)

Well done to Bender for the great tracking!

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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jetsagenda 82p · 727 weeks ago

it was pretty cold today, the dogs still splashed around in it though! I've got a video of the beach coming to make you even more jealous ;)

I have been discussing making tracking videos with my mate - I have a teeny spy camera and we've been talking about putting it on the back of Bender's harness, but I might put it on the peak of my cap.... both options will probably make the viewer a tad motion sick though!

I was thinking today about all these people who do a million dog sports.... most of the tracking people also do agility and obedience. Their cars are especially fitted out for their dogs and the dogs seem to always be working :) it's almost a lifestyle.

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houndstooth4 82p · 726 weeks ago

I love the idea of the name Swan! It's beautiful!

I am completely envious of your weather and that beach! Bender really seems to be picking up the tracking quickly. Do you follow Aragon Greyhounds? One of their Greyhounds just got her first tracking title.

1 reply · active 726 weeks ago

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jetsagenda 82p · 726 weeks ago

Yes I do follow Aragon! I think Barbie would lack the motivation necessary to do much tracking. I'm going to see how far I can get with Bender first :)

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Honey the Great Dane · 726 weeks ago

Ooooh - just gorgeous pictures! Am so excited to see all these dogfriendly places now when I come to your blog coz of the strong possibility that we might end up there too - and I think we'll be very lucky to! Especially that last picture with the CBD in the background - can't believe how much natural space & beauty so close to the city! And pine forests?? THere are are pine forests near you? I thought it was just desert in WA around Perth? This is sounding better & better! :-)

Hsin-Yi
ps. yeah, I love staying in town sometimes on public holidays and being able to enjoy places without the usual crowds!

3 replies · active 726 weeks ago

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jetsagenda 82p · 726 weeks ago

Hm what do you thing desert looks like? :) there ain't no Sahara around here. Perth is sprawling suburbia.... the pine forests are about a 30 minute drive from our place, and there are proper bush areas, national and state conservation parks.... and if you head East, the size and type of the trees changes somewhat, but I still like the arid zones. I guess you could call the area around Kalgoorlie desert but again, there are plenty of trees and rocks, and even a few water holes.

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Honey the Great Dane · 726 weeks ago

That all sounds great! I guess because people have always been telling me "You know Western Australia is all desert"! ;-)

Thanks also for the info about beaches in your last post. Am copying & saving all your comments into a file about Perth that I'm saving on my computer! :-)

Hsin-Yi

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jetsagenda 82p · 726 weeks ago

Most people on the east coast have never even been here, so you can't really rely on them for an opinion ;) I have been to every capital in Australia now and Perth is still my favourite.

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Desma · 726 weeks ago

Swan is also a great name for a squeaky tri-colour Border Collie mix :)

How exciting for Bender, he'll get his championship in no time! Isn't it an incredible feeling when you go, "wow, my dog is GOOD at this." Dogs never cease to amaze me.

You have absolutely nailed it, it *is* a lifestyle. A successful trial is THE definition of a great weekend! Welcome to the dark side, mwahaha.

1 reply · active 726 weeks ago

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jetsagenda 82p · 726 weeks ago

Swan does suit that lil squeaky BC mix :)

hahah well I think it's a relatively healthy lifestyle choice, for the dogs and their people! :) I can't believe Bender went straight back to the track when I asked him to after playing with a ball/article - it seems one thing can break his ball obsession.... the track!

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Caron · 726 weeks ago

There is a black greyhound named Swan! :-) He is actually half brother to Zephyr. His owners have shown him a lot and he has been at the Westminster show in the U.S. the last few years.

1 reply · active 726 weeks ago

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jetsagenda 82p · 726 weeks ago

I knew there would have to be one somewhere!