Armada Blog

We went to a water trial this weekend, but it seemed longer than a typical weekend. Mommy hasn't worn her pretty clothes in DAYS!!!!!

It all started on Wednesday, the morning started out almost normal. Daddy woke up first (like always), and he got the kid up and lets me and the Oaf outback. Our typical morning ritual, but when we came back inside Mommy was already downstairs....I didn't get to run upstairs and jump on her to wake her up, which was so not cool! That's my favorite thing to do in the morning. After Mommy went away in her pretty clothes, Daddy took Mommy Doodlebug to meet up with Aunt Cindi an Aunt Mama, and when he got home he didn't play on his computer all day like he usually does. Instead he was gathering things and putting them in Mommy's truck. This got me thinking...when just Mommy and Daddy go on a trip they usually take Daddy's truck, but when we ALL get to go they take Mommy's truck. I got really excited! I like going on trips with Mommy and Daddy. The last thing Daddy loaded into Mommy's truck was me and the Oaf! Yay, us pups get to go too!!!!!!

Daddy met Mommy at Balta's house, and she wasn't wearing pretty clothes anymore, and off we went. We were in the truck for a long time and it was well past the Oaf's bedtime when we got to the hotel. On the way down Mommy told me that I was going to get to do all kinds of fun stuff with her, and the Oaf would play with Daddy in Water. The next day we got to the trial site, and it was beautiful!!! I got to see a bunch of my brothers and sisters, and my little niece that we hardly ever see. What a great little family reunion! Oh and Aunt Jennie and my two-legged cousins came down too. They stayed in our room with us, so I got to cuddle with Aunt Jennie a whole bunch! Thursday was Water Practice day, so all my family took turns playing in the water with their people, except me! It was glorious!!! Mommy told me that I would be having fun later in the day after everybody else had their turns in the water. I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure what else, other than water, there was to do. Around 4:00pm Mommy got me out of my crate and we headed up to where the food truck was earlier in the day. Come to find out, we get to do tracking!!!!! I LOVE tracking and I haven't done it in a few years. The teacher had a really fun way to teach tracking. I got to play tug with a glove, and then Mommy walked away from me while Ms. Donna held on to me. I like to help, so I wanted to go run over and help Mommy pick it up, but Ms. Donna wouldn't let go of me. Mommy came running back and she told me "sook" which means that I'm supposed to find something. When I got to the glove that Mommy dropped I picked it up and gave it to her and she got really excited!!!! We did that a few more times. It was so much fun!!!! I hope me and Mommy keep playing this game.

Friday morning, Daddy woke up really early, he fed me and the Oaf and then he took the Oaf and left. A little while later Mommy woke up, and she took me, Aunt Jennie, and my two-legged cousins to the trial site. Today must be when the water trails started, there was fencing up in a couple spots on the beach, and there were bunches of dogs out in the water playing with their people. Occasionally there were lots of clapping and cheering, that typically means a dog has passed their test. I got to do absolutely NOHTING all day. Mommy got me out and walked me around a bunch and a lot of people got to pet me. That night Daddy made a HUGE mistake and let Trek sleep outside of his crate. The Oaf was ALL over the place, and a few hours after everybody had fallen asleep (even the Oaf) we all heard a huge thud....yep, you guessed it. The Oaf fell out of Mommy and Daddy's bed and woke everybody up. Daddy knows better than to let Trek sleep outside of his crate at a hotel. I just shook my head, and cuddled back up to Aunt Jennie.

Saturday was really cool! Mommy did a clicker class with me. The instructor said that my Mommy was really good with clicker training, so we ended up not doing what the rest of the class was doing. Ms. Marge helped my Mommy learn how to teach me to roll over. We're still working on it, but hopefully I'll get it soon. I'm a little nervous about rolling over thought since I fell off the grooming table a few weeks ago. As long as I'm on the ground I'll probably be able to do that trick pretty soon! Maybe Mommy will video it. Then Mommy took me and the Oaf out in the water to get all wet. She said I needed to get extra wet since we were getting ready to go to the Wet Dog Contest. I got out in the lake and swam a bunch to make sure I was good and wet. I would have swam out more, but Mommy had my short leash on me. The Wet Dog Contest was kind of like Conformation, but more fun. Mommy wasn't stressed out and she didn't make me stack the entire time. After we ran around the ring, which is my favorite thing to do in Conformation. The judge pulled me and another dog out. The judge talked about movement in our breed (Mommy said this was really cool information), then the judge had me and the other dog run around again. The just then said "These are my side gait dogs!" After that I just hung out with Daddy and Mommy played with the Oaf. They looked like they were having a good time. The Oaf ended up getting pulled out twice, the first time was for "Eyes and Ear Set" but then the judge had them go back into the line. Next was "Bite and Muzzle" and Trekkie got pulled out for that one too, and won! I hope Mommy does Wet Dog Contest with me again. It was super fun, because she wasn't stressed out at all.  

On Sunday, Mommy left me in my crate when she got to the trial site, and we didn't stay for very long, but Mommy did get me out to get some pictures of most of us. It was kind of fun! Then we were off to another place. After a few hours in the car we got to a cabin in the woods, and there were family there that I haven't met yet. It was Aunt Crystal, Jeff, and their two daughters (I guess they're my cousins too). My family is hard to keep track of!!!!! After being in the house for a little bit the girls took me and the Oaf to a creek that was right in front of the house. It was lots of fun to play in. The next morning, we all woke up much later than we had been the past few days, and then we all went on a hike next to a river. It was loads of fun! I accidentally peed on the Oaf's head, so after we were finished Mommy had the Oaf do some underwater retrieves to rinse off this head. He did pretty awesome! After they all ate lunch we got to play in the river again, but at a different spot. Then back in the car for forever and we were finally HOME!!!!! It was a super long trip, but lots of fun! I think I'm going to sleep for a few days now!!! :)

Tchau!!!

Since Aidan died a year ago today, Mommy asked me if she could steal my blog space to write about my amazing big, big brother. Of course I said yes!!!! Take it away Mommy!

Tchau!

When you get a new puppy you heart is overflowing with all kinds of emotions, usually happiness, joy, and excitement, to name a few. As the time wears on you start going through different emotions with your dog: love, frustration, fear, helplessness, sadness, and many more. With all of these emotions you also being developing a bond with your new puppy. This bond depends on many things, sometimes its instant, sometimes you have to work on it, but this is something unique to every dog and every person. However, every now and then the universe will line up perfectly and the perfect puppy will find his or her perfect person. There's an unspoken bond that is tangible to the world around them. This bond is indescribable, but it's something you know when you see it and feel it. People often call this your "Heart Dog." You never know when you're going to find this special dog, but this is what happened when I met Aidan. This was the dog I didn't know that I desperately needed. The moment I put my hands on Aidan for the first time, my world immediately became so much brighter.

I was still in college when I met Aidan, and my sister was fostering him (see his profile for his background story) so I would call almost every day to get a pupdate on the little guy. I only had about a month left of school before graduation, but Jennie still drove him out a couple times for visits. I couldn't get this little guy out of my head for anything. My final project in my sociology class was on stereotypes, and I used Pit Bull like dogs as my example. After I moved back home after I graduated from college, this pup had me wrapped around his dew claw. I had always had a personal rule against having dogs in my bed, but somehow as a 16 week old puppy Aidan managed to end up sleeping with me almost every night. As he was growing up, I decided that I wasn't going to let Aidan's puppyhood abuse define him. Although he was a handful, and difficult to manage at times I took him to obedience and agility classes throughout his life. He became my demo dog when I started teaching classes, and he was pretty awesome at it. We fought against Breed Specific Laws (BSL) in our area a few times, and won! He also earned a number of AKC performance titles. He opened my world up to so many experiences and people. He was the best travel buddy ever.

Often, the initial excitement of getting a new puppy overshadows the reality of owning a dog. This reality is that our lives are much longer than our dogs' lives. We know at some point we're going to have to say goodbye to them, which is typically not on our terms. The sudden death of a pet can cripple people for days, months, and even years. This reality was not lost on me. For some reason I had a feeling that Aidan's life would be much shorter than most. This is either because Aidan was a great teacher, or I was a great student. I believe there is something to be learned from every dog that comes into our lives. If you're paying attention you will find these lessons. Aidan taught me many things, lessons you don't think can be taught by a dog. He taught me unconditional love, trust, forgiveness, perseverance, and putting everything you have into everything you do. He helped me be me. He helped me become truly alive. I drew strength from him.

The most important thing Aidan was to me was my unwavering rock. He kept me going when I didn't want to. He was right by my side through thick and thin. When Aidan came into my life, it was just prior to me making the biggest mistake I've ever made and he stuck it out with me. Aidan left me when he knew I would be able to make it on my own. When he knew I would be okay, when he knew the demons in my head, and in my life, had gone away. Aidan's death, while sudden was very difficult in that moment, but it has been easier on me than I ever thought it would have been. I still miss my best boy, and I always will. He took a piece of my heart with him when he died. As time as worn on though, I find that most of my tears for Aidan are happy tears. I'm happy that I got to experience such an amazing dog. I'm happy that he opened up my world. I'm happy that he has allowed me to help other dogs like him. He really was the best thing to ever happen to me.

I love to talk about Aidan. I love hearing and sharing stories about him. I keep him alive by sharing my memories of him. If I happen to cry while talking about Aidan, they're probably happy tears. I thought Aidan's final lesson was teaching me selflessness, but it turns out he's teaching me a healthier way to grieve.

I had a crazy fun weekend...even though I didn't get to go to the pond with Trek and Rhea!!! On Friday morning Daddy took me and Trek to meet Aunt LeAnne and she took us to Aunt Mama's house where we all go into the Portie Wagon, and we all went on a road trip. Everybody went, even Aunt Bela!!!! I had a feeling that meant we were going to see Dr. Spracklen, which we were. When it was my turn to be adjusted she found out that I had fallen off the grooming table the week before, so my adjustments went ouchie more than normal! It wasn't that much fun, but I feel SSSSOOOOOOO much better now. I heard Dr. Spracklen talking to Aunt Mama, she told Aunt Mama that I was only allowed to have 15 minutes of activity per day for ONE WHOLE WEEK!!!! I've been told that I'm laid back for a PWD, but do you know how boring only 15 minutes of activity a day is?!? This sucks even more because Mommy told me that Aunt Jennie was coming to visit for the weekend, and she was brining my favorite cousin, Rhea with her (Aunt Jennie brought the three legged-wheezy-bat eared "dog" too)! That means I don't get to play with my favorite cousin!!! :( (Maybe Mommy will feel bad and take me to go visit Rhea sometime soon.) On a happy note, Mommy did save my 15 minutes of activity for Friday until Rhea got there. I got to show her all around my house and my backyard. After I got finished showing Rhea around Mommy made me get up on the grooming tables and Aunt Jennie took the staples out of my butt. That didn't hurt nearly as bad as they hurt going in. Now I'm staple free, and Aunt Jennie said it looked like everything healed up. I gave Aunt Jennie a bunch of kisses to say Thank You.

After all of that it was bed time. Me, Trek, and my other cousin Levi, all slept in our crates. Rhea and the other "dog" slept upstairs. I don't blame them for letting Rhea and the other "dog" sleep upstairs with their people. It's a big strange house and they got there well past bed time. The next morning I got to have my morning outside time with Rhea. Mommy made sure I got to spend as much time as possible with Rhea, and she kept us from playing too much. Although there were many times that I ended up getting put in my crate, but Rhea would stop by and say hi when she came into my room to get a drink of water. Rhea is awesome! Later on in the morning Daddy came home from watching other dogs, and he let me go cuddle with Mommy for a little bit, then they got up, put me and Levi in our beds and they took the oaf and Rhea...this was strange....why is Rhea going with them?!? After a good long bunch of hours they all got home and Rhea told me that she got to go to the pond WITHOUT me!!!! She said it was a little cold and she was a little scared. I guess next time I'll have to go to the pond with her. I think I'll be able to help her with swimming. I'm the only one who slowly gets in the water anyway, and I bet that's what she needs. After us pups had our evening sustenance, we had cuddle time on the couch while Mommy, Daddy, and Aunt Jennie watched some movies. I got to join since craziness wasn't ensuing, it was lots of fun! I got to cuddle with Rhea!!!!

Yesterday morning Aunt Jennie wasn't feeling very well, and Mommy, Daddy, and the kid were going to my friend Wisp's house to help her Mommy with something, so since I'm a therapy dog I thought it best that I be left out with Aunt Jennie while my peeps were gone. Mommy agreed and let me stay out with Aunt Jennie and Levi. Aunt Jennie put Rhea in my crate with the other "dog" that came from their house. It was a very calm afternoon, and took a while for Aunt Jennie to feel better. Mommy and Daddy bought dinner home with them, and two other small humans (my other cousins Kazie and Nikayla). After dinner they packed everything up and left. Mommy let me have one more little romp with Rhea in the backyard before they left. Last night was quiet, but Mommy made me sleep in my bed, next to Levi, and the Oaf got to sleep with Mommy and Daddy, hmph! So far this "crate rest" situation hasn't been too bad, but I know Mommy won't let me play with the oaf until a week is up, so I have 4 days of resting up from the past weekend!!!!

Tchau!!!!

Yesterday started off pretty fun...Mommy woke up slightly earlier than usual and came downstairs and got all excited and told me that it was my birthday!!!! I'm 4 years old now!!!!! Daddy has been home since Sunday, so he played with me all day! It was so much fun. When Mommy got home she played with me too, and then she took me out back and said I needed to have a haircut since she wasn't sure she would have time before my big test on Saturday.

I was being good (like I ALWAYS am), and Mommy was moving pretty quickly, which is awesome! I like when she grooms me fast, leaves more time for playing and/or cuddling. Mommy was switching from the jacket blade to the butt blade and she said "I gots to get your under carriage Little Man!" I know what that  means, so I was trying to be helpful, and I went to roll onto my side and suddenly there wasn't anymore table.....I have REALLY good proprioception, but apparently last night I proprio-failed and fell off the table (for the first time in 4 years). I was scary at first, and then it went ouchie, and Mommy started crying, so I had to lick her tears away and then I didn't hurt as much, but apparently Mommy saw that I had a cut on my butt. After she talked to Aunt Jennie she decided to take me to the Emergency Vet...a little bit of a wait and two staples in the butt later I'm good to go! See Mommy, no need to cry!!!! :)

Today has been pretty boring. Since I have a super overprotective Mommy, she told Daddy that I wasn't allowed out of my crate, but I have a super fun Daddy and he let me and Trek take turns being in our crates, yay!!!! Since I was at the E-Vet last night, Mommy decided that we're all going to go get ice cream from Dairy Freeze tonight to celebrate my birthday, and we're going to take Trek and MamaBug!!!!! I bet if I look really cute I could probably swing some raw chicken and other goodies out of Mommy!

Tchau!!!!!