Fries and other things

I would like to think that I’m pretty good with my “leave it” command and the concept behind it. But I can't help myself. I just have to smell the forbidden things. Around campus, lots of people drop chicken bones for me to smell. I never pick them up but I can sniff them out at 30 feet. (I don’t know if the measurement is right but I think it’s a saying). This morning I found a french fry. I tried to explain to Mom that I had to move it off the grass in order to be able to smell it best. The grass was just clogging up the smell. But I dropped it and walked away as soon as she asked what I was doing. You want to know the hardest one? Movie theater popcorn. It just smells so tasty!
I met CoachDarlene for the first time last week. Mom had me do a few things to show her where we were and what I know but we didn’t really play any games. *Sad Puppy*. We did go outside and she gave Mom some ideas to help me with walking. Since then, I haven’t worn that Halti thing. I like that idea. Mom still carries it with her but I haven’t seen it.
We went to the hospital with AuntyMaigen the other day. She got her back hurt at work. Some silly dog was flailing around while getting their nails cut. While we were waiting in the room with lots of chairs, AuntyMaigen had a really bad panic attack! I was worried about her. So was Mom. Mom managed to hold onto herself and not have a panic attack as well. When they were ready to actually take Aunty back, they said we couldn’t go with her at first. I was so confused and upset as to why we couldn’t go with her. After a while, Mom found a way for us to go back. I was so relieved to see AuntyMaigen. So was Mom. Since everybody seemed to be stopping with the freaking out, I just laid beside the bed and rested for a bit. I really hope that AuntyMaigen will be okay
In other news: Dad’s home for a while again. He’s hard to trust. He’s home and then he’s not. It always takes me a couple days to get used to him being home and just when we’re starting to have fun again, he leaves. *Sad puppy*

Home Alone

It was completely terrible. I don’t know where she went but she left me home alone for a whole evening. The last time I had to stay home alone…. I can’t even remember. I was so worried about her.  She was so relieved to see me when she got back. She says she went to a “concert”. No idea what that was. But she told me that there were a couple of points where she needed my help. She says she has to teach me how to go to concerts. And football games. And a few other places still. Then I won’t be home alone any more. She says there will always be a few things that are dog inappropriate. “Paint ball” for example. But I will be with her 99% of the time.

That was Friday evening.

Saturday we had a bunch of stuff to do with Hope Heels. I got to see Haylie and Vimy. We met a lady who is going to be the next trainer with us and the first one with the Bravo K9 side of the program. She’s just waiting for her dog.

All day Saturday my tummy was upset. I think it was because I was so stressed out from being left home alone. I really don’t like not knowing where Mom is. And we played a game that confirmed this yet again. They ran me through the “RADISH” test. Something that they are using to screen candidate dogs. At first I couldn’t see where Mom was so I didn’t want to play. We she came and sat where I could watch her, I played a long with their game. They made me do all sorts of silly things. Walk on different surfaces, Look at little wind up toys. Fetch a ball of paper. Investigate a hair drier. Try not to trip on these orange cones. They said that I did pretty good at the game until they tried to walk a dog past. What can I say? Dogs break my brain.

Speaking of dogs breaking my brain: When we first got to the office, Vimy was already there. I wanted to go and say hi so bad but Mom had put my vest on me and didn’t want me too. She worked with CoachSJ for me to be able to get closer and closer to Vimy while in control of myself. We made it to the sitting area without out too many complications. I’m very proud of Mom. She stuck with it and got through it even though she was having a bad day.

We were still sitting there when Haylie came in and sat down kind of close to us but still pretty far away. I wanted to say hello to my bff so bad! I was squirming and trying to get out from my “under”. Mom worked with me with some really tasty treats until I calmed down. Once I calmed, Mom took my vest off me. It had twisted around me as far as it could go and was so uncomfortable. We had to stay there, nice and calm, for a little bit more and then we, all the dogs and trainers, went outside to say hello.

Mom has decided to use Haylie’s super retrieve to her advantage. Haylie is really good at getting her own leash so Mom is teaching her “get Paige’s”. Now if we’re hanging out together, Haylie is going to get both of our leashes so we can go out.

I’m a star!

We went for a photo shoot at the mall. Check out the hh website to see me and Mom in action. www.hopeheels.com
Also, Mom is uploading a bunch of videos of me strutting my stuff on to YouTube. Some of them will be linked on our facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hope-Heels/152261748180562 Don’t forget to like the facebook page to keep up with all that Hope Heels and Bravo K9 are up to.
My YouTube address is www.youtube.com/user/melrhansen

Rabbit convention

The other day I saw 7 – that’s right, 7 – rabbits in one field! And I managed to walk past them fairly calmly. Mom let me watch them because I was being so calm. It was pretty cool.

Today I was shopping with Mom. She was looking for pop. When the store had every type of pop except the one she wanted, she started to wonder around. I think she was starting to get dizzy. She bent down and put her arm around me and started to rub my chest. I knew something was wrong. I let her hug me like that while she fed me kibbles. Yum. I leaned against her but just a little. You have to be careful not to knock dizzy people over. When she started to feel better, I laid next to her and we just hung out until she was feeling better. Then we carried on and went to a different store and got her the pop she wanted. Who knew pop could be such a big deal.

The Monthly

Last night we all got together at headquarters. The first Thursday of every month us collies get together. We have big things to discuss. The humans seem to do a lot of talking too but I doubt it’s important. Then again, Mom always spends tons of time on the computer and shuffling papers after these meetings.

Yesterday was AuntyMaigen’s birthday. Happy Birthday AuntyMaigen!! Mom made special cupcakes for her because she’s allergic to eggs but Mom didn’t make any goodies for us dogs. Maybe she honestly forgot. She has been pretty busy lately.

Today was our last day of that boring temp job. I tried my hardest to convince Mom that we should play hookie but she said we had to go. She had to practically drag me in there under protest. The good thing about last days is that I get to say hi to some of the people that I’ve worked with. It’s a nice treat.

CouncellorPam came over today. She is totally one of my favourite people. There is just something about her even if she only pats my head instead of scratching me good. They keep trying to convince me that she’s there to talk with Mom but they must be wrong. All the HH people come to visit with me.

Now we’re at the store. Mom’s working 2 jobs in 1 day! The things she does for money.

A change in the look

It’s now becoming fall. And for reasons that are unusual, it is really cold here in the beginning of September and the leaves are changing. I decided that I was sick of the neon green so I’ve updated the blog to match the seasons. Ah…. Much better.

The dangers of working in an office

It's been a busy week. But not really - don't tell Mom I've said that because she says she hasn't had a down moment. We're still working at this terrible temp job. I'm so bored and the floor here is particularly uncomfortable. The people love to look at me and I can't wait to say hi to the lady we come in to replace tomorrow. Mom always lets me say hi to a few key people on our last day at a temp position. She says it's a reward for the people for ignoring me all week but we all know who's really getting the reward.

Yesterday I had the worst luck while at the office. A guy came by to deliver some stuff in boxes. He went to take the slip that needed to be signed to Mom and he didn't see me laying beside her past the stuff he was carrying. He stepped on me. Right on me. I'm okay but it did hurt. I showed him my teeth and everything just to let him know how unhappy I was about this. I promise I just showed them and I didn't use them. As soon as his weight was off me, I jumped up and Mom helped me calm down. I've had some trouble feeling quite safe and confident here today but Mom keeps encouraging me. I barked at a guy today. *blush* There was one guy who was doing something weird at the counter and then this other guy came around the corner and surprised me. I tried to tell Mom that I didn't mean it but she was disappointed in me.

I got to go to the park with Hailey yesterday. My favorite. We played and we played. It was collie day at the park. We ended up meeting up with a whole bunch. They were chasing Frisbees and balls. Such fun.

Mom says she has more fun planned for me for tonight. She won't let me know ahead of time but I'll tell you about it.

And something gross: One of the cats is failing at the potty training and pooping in the bathtub. Yuck!!! Mom has been putting a little bit of water in the tub for the last little bit in order to stop this behaviour.

Also, Dads STILL in town. It's so wonderful having him here. I've missed him. But he was supposed to leave again a while ago. He's getting annoyed at his work for not knowing when he's going away again. I hope he never goes away. I like him here.