A little more suspense

Today was T.H.E. day. The day I've been looking forward to, and dreading at the same time. Leo's breeder was going to meet me to go over him and decide his fate. Well, fate can be a funny thing sometimes. Leo is looking good in all of those aspects that are important to conformation showing... but his teeth remind me of the Donkey in Shrek (sorry Leo... sorry Betty)! He's got an odd combo of baby and adult teeth, so we're still playing the wait and see game. I sighed with relief, because I'm really not wanting to face the reality of him going to another home if he doesn't turn out to be show quality (which is the reason I got him in the first place). Now that the shoe is on the other foot and the grass doesn't look as green, I find myself thinking "what the heck is wrong with just keeping him as a pet and loving the little furball like mad??" I also think, "how the heck do people do this as a hobby?" "Do they really want me out there prancing around with a dog on a teeny tiny little show lead?" I'm starting to get sweaty just thinking about going out there and make a fool out of myself! I guess like showing in agility trials, the feeling that you're going to throw up at any given moment passes, and you just find yourself out there doing your thing and enjoying yourself and your dog.
I also did Leo's first real grooming other than a bath, blow dry, and brush out. Let's just say he was less than impressed or thrilled. All the while, Cosmo is longing and inching closer and closer with eyes that are saying "hurry up mama, it's my turn already!" I've been spoiled by Cosmo. He's the only fella I've ever seen who is addicted to being groomed. Pull out a brush, comb, set of clippers or the table and you're done for. He's practically hoisting himself up there so he can be first in line. Maybe Leo will learn from Cosmo that it's cool to be groomed and to look nice and pretty, uh.. manly.

Happy Birthday 'Mo!

Happy 2nd Birthday to my silly boy! I can't believe Cosmo turned two yesterday. Where has the time gone?? My son and I stopped at the new Three Dog Bakery that is just down the road yesterday, to pick up some pupcakes for Cosmo and Leo. My husband and daughter made yummy blueberry muffins for the rest of us. We also came home with some Beagle Bagles and peanut butter training treats. My kids sang Happy Birthday to Cosmo, while my husband was holding the camera and was video recording it. I will say that even though he thinks we're nutty, he did manage not to laugh out loud at us. I wasn't going to be the ones to tell the kids they couldn't celebrate his birthday. Cosmo and Leo thought all of it was just wonderful. When agility class starts back up (hopefully in a month), he'll get to celebrate with his doggie friends then.

Important update-- we had SNOW in SC!

It happened. It really, really happened. It snowed! I even woke the kids up so they could play in it because it's such a rarity in SC! The two silly boys LOVED it and didn't want to come back inside. Cosmo was starting to get little snowball attachments in his ears. He could stop snuffling along in it. Too bad the camera was slow or I would've gotten a really good picture of him looking straight up at it while it was falling-- pure amazement on his face! Leo thought it was pretty interesting, as it made him slip and slide as he tried to run across the deck. I was so glad that they didn't run and slide and drop off over the steps going down. Maybe one day we'll get more than a sprinkling. I'd be more than willing to clean up the muddy mess in my house just to be able to see my two silly boys and my silly kiddos playing in a ton of snow together.

Friends

It's nice to have, and a bonus to have really good friends. Cosmo and Leo have become really good buddies-- albeit there has been a little rivalry going on. Cosmo has let the green-eyed monster get hold of him. He loves Leo, but has become somewhat jealous of him at times. Maybe he thinks Leo is stealing his thunder? Maybe he thinks Leo is going to eat all of his birthday cake??? I'm sure we'll get it worked out, and I'll be glad when we do. They are so sweet playing with each other, especially when they are rolling around on the floor sounding like little Chewbacca's.

Leo went in for his Rabies shot this afternoon. Poor Cosmo was looking so dejected when he was being crated and Leo was getting put on a leash. When we got back home, my son walked Leo around the back and into the backyard, while my daughter and I went in to let Cosmo out. He didn't even greet us. He was looking mighty miffed to be honest. Then he didn't see his little buddy, and I think panic mode set in. Not sure if it was a "woo-hoo he's gone" or "oh-no! where's my buddy??!!!" Obviously now, it was the latter as both of them are outside playing on the deck before the cold, icy rain starts in. Secretly, I'm hoping for a miracle. I'm hoping that it snows a ton so the kids and I can stay home, drink hot chocolate, and play in mounds of snow in the yard. My son has seen a little snow in his short 5 yrs, my 3 yr old has not. Neither of the four legged boys has either.

Cosmo's birthday is next Monday, the 21st. We're secretly planning his birthday pawty. We now have a Three Dog Bakery in town, so we're going to pile in the car and go pick the boys up some pupcakes. We did it last year, and my kids thought it was the greatest thing-- and I have pictures to prove it. I can't believe my little man is turning two. It sure doesn't seem like he's been part of our family for that long. Like they say, time flies when you're having fun!

Handling Classes

I can't complain a bit about handling classes last night. It was fairly relaxed (even though I only knew 3 people there and they were the ones in charge!) Leo always struts his "stuff" and last night was no exception. He was the youngest one there (next youngest was a H.U.G.E. four months old Bull Mastiff puppy who was not thrilled to be there), and did a really good job of letting us go over him, stack, him, and look at his bite. We had three times in the ring up on the table, and walking around the ring like a judge would ask us to do. In those three times, we had two different "judges", male and female, which I thought was pretty clever to be able to do so the dogs could get used to both sexes poking and prodding on them. Poor Leo was pooped by the end of it all (2 hrs total with one 10 minute break). It started off with him falling asleep, balled up on my foot. I woke him up, and he took two steps towards me, then plopped down again. This time it was on his side, and he was determined it was for good. No amount of talking, and slightly tugging on the leash was going to wake him from his nap. So, I picked him up and he was still sleeping with his head in one hand, while the rest of him was draped in my other hand. Still talking to him (while there were some light hearted snickers in the background), I placed him on the table. In mid motion of being placed on the table, one eye rolled half way open and as I went to set him down, he promptly rolled onto his side. The snickering got louder and I told him that albeit cute, I didn't think it was going to earn him any extra points in the ring. Huge sigh from the little guy, and up he got to be gone over again. Pranced around and out the ring, and out to the car for a super power nap on the ride home.

The instructors there really liked how he looked and how he moved, so I'm really hopeful that he gets to stay at our house. I'm really thinking it will be hard to let him go back and into another home. Fingers are still crossed and silent prayers are still being said, for another 21 days and counting.

And last but definitely not least, poor Cosmo saw me get out the slip lead and the bag that I normally take his agility stuff to class in, and thought that we were going to have some fun together. He was so excited, jumping up and down, then sitting patiently by the door. I felt so bad for him. I told my husband to get one of his special hambones and give it to him in hopes that he would forgive me for leaving him home and taking Leo out with his agility bag. Cosmo wouldn't touch the bone that he would normally chew on til there was nothing left but a few little crumbs. Note to self: be a good doggie mom and get a different bag for handling class so I don't confuse Cosmo.

Happy 2008!

So, I'm back with Cosmo and Leo's resolutions. Cosmo's resolution is to kick butt in agility this year, and maybe even enter a trial by the end of the year (ok, so early next year would be ok too). The teeter is almost lowered the entire way and we've had no set backs there, however the weaves are another beast to tame! I'm going to have to persuade his Auntie Mary to come over while lessons are on hiatus and help me set up some channel weaves so we can practice at home. He has done so well the past year with training, and I want so badly to be able to take him out to trials and run him with our friends. Maybe we all have that as the same resolution?
Leo's resolutions are a little longer. He's resolving to become housebroken (hey, he's making it through the night in his crate and staying dry-- that's a step!), to stop chewing on stuff that is off limits, staying out of the trash can in the kitchen (our mantra with our kids is that "we do NOT eat out of the trash can-- sorry, inside joke there), to learn some basic obedience manners, and to not flunk out of handling classes that start this week so that if he is truly mine and I get to keep him, then we can start conformation showing as soon as he turns six months old.
Other than that, we're resolving to all get along this year.
Happy 2008!