Well, we’ve survived week #1!

Housebreaking is going very well, though I feel like I’m constantly taking someone outside! The other night Cookie was in the kitchen with me and I saw her circling – I had just taken her out recently but thought “hmmm – that looks like a signal …”. Let her out of the kitchen and while I was getting my coat she ran to the front door and stood there, looking at it and looking at me. Sure enough – she had to go. Good girl!

My cats are being surprisingly tolerant – especially the Evil Kacey! In turn, she’s TRYING not to chase them … at least when I remind her. But its soooooo harrrrrrrrd … I see a lot of herding behaviors in her – I wouldn’t be comfortable with a really tiny sheltie on sheep, but perhaps a visit to meet some ducks is in her future.

Bryce is fine with her – but he pretty much ignores her. She wants to play with him sooooo bad and he won’t have any part of it! She reminds me a lot of him as a puppy – not exactly, but there are a lot of similarities. Not that surprising, she IS 3/8 “Timmy” (Bryce’s father). The funniest one? There’s this little turtle toy that she likes and a few times she’s almost taken it outside when she goes out to potty. If I put it in my pocket and give it to her after she does her business she proudly carries it all the way up my driveway, up the steps, onto the porch and back into the house.

Just like Uncle Bryce and his “Yucky Ducky”!

(I think she’s also going to have a hairy HEAD like her Uncle Brycey!)

Jayda still isn’t thrilled but she’s a lot less nervous than she was and is no longer snapping at the puppy just for breathing the same air. She will also let the puppy sniff her and will sniff the puppy. The back end that is -the bouncy, squeally front end’s still a little scary.

It’s a start!

Jayda’s breeder sent this to me the other day and I just had to share – is this TOO CUTE or what???!!!

She’s a Brycey niece – her father is his half-brother Ch. “Greyson”. Her mom is a Brycey grandniece – granddam is Bryce’s half-sister “Wendi” – a VCX sheltie (versatility title – an American and Canadian Ch. with titles in obedience, agility and herding) who’s also a full sister (from a different litter) to DKAGCH DKSPCH Toven the Full Monty (Danish agility champion ).

Enjoy! Maybe I’ll do some holiday pix of Bryce and Jayda this weekend but it will be hard to top this one!

Bryce and Jayda went back to class yesterday after a LONG break. Sorry, no new pictures (this one of Jayda is from a trial last Spring) – our training building is dark and besides I wouldn’t have taken my camera anywhere in the downpour we had yesterday!

They were both happy to be back! I was a little concerned about Bryce because he’s had some problems with his front on and off this year, but he seemed none the worse for wear (though he slept well the rest of the day). He was a bit of a goofball and we were both WAY out of synch – hopefully we’ll get our act back together before the first trials in a few weeks!

I was pleasantly surprised with Jayda – not only did she not “forget” anything over the 3-4 month break, she was making some VERY impressive weave pole entrances as if she’d been doing them for years and years! Other than a few tunnel-contact discriminations (which I *know* is her problem area) she didn’t make a single mistake the entire class!

I’m not a big fan of home workout equipment (or the gym, or workouts in general), but I do have an exercise ball. I’ve also discovered I like using it as a chair. I sit a lot and besides being more comfortable than a traditional chair, there’s some residual benefit to those core muscle groups as you shift around and balance on it. (There is such a thing as a BalanceBall Chair – Bryce and Jayda’s chiropractor uses one and loves it – but I’m OK with the less-formal version.).

Want to pump up your workout a little more? Try staying balanced on the ball while playing tug with a pair of Shelties who are determined to see you roll you off on your a**!!

Tags: balance ball, yoga ball, shelties