chihuahua training for show

getting help from the instructor

Pepsi and I went to class tonight and practiced very hard.  We got lots of suggestions on how to improve and will put those into practice.  We will practice this week and then go to class again next week. 

stacking Pepsi

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't take this pic!

around we go

 

preparing to show

As you know I am taking this show thing seriously.  Pepsi and I are doing lots of training to prepare him for the shows in August.  There is a Chihuahua specialty on the 13th, and toy shows on the 14th and 15th.  We do not enter the Sunday shows because that is a day of rest for us.  Also, I believe in setting a good example for my children.  God comes before doggies....

So I have been checking out websites and found more info on the Chihuahua specialty show.  They are offering mirco chipping and testing for eyes, cardiac, and patellas at the show.  I have signed Pepsi up for the whole enchilada.  He won't be happy with me when all is said and done... but it will be accomplished.  Here is the link to the website for info on this testing, in case you are interested,

http://www.crossroadschihuahuas.net/

  I am glad that there are a couple more classes at Orlando Training Club.  It is good to get Pepsi around all those other dogs in the ring.  I hope this next set of shows he will concentrate at the task in hand, in stead of, who he is going to play with!!!!  Here is the link to their website with loads of info on all sorts of classes.  

http://www.odtc.org/classes.htm#INTRODUCTION

Training Again!!

I am doing a lot of training nowadays and it is keeping me out of trouble!! lol.  First is Snicker Doodles.  I am taking her to Petsmart for socialization with dogs and people.  She doesn't bark at dogs but she is uncomfortable around them.  I want her to realize that she is okay.  I won't let them hurt her and she may even have fun playing with them.  Also, she is being cuddled and petted by strangers.  She doesn't like it much but I want to see if she will learn to like it, or if she can at least be less uncomfortable.  If she learns to like it we may pursue therapy dog work with her.  The problem is that she will do what I ask even if she doesn't want to.  I want her to have fun too!!

Pepsi and I went to the conformation class at the fairgrounds.  The Orlando Dog Training Club conducts all kinds of classes for you and your pet.  They are very professional and knowledgeable.  Pepsi got a lot of practice in the ring and I got some pointers.  What he really needs is to be around all the other dogs and to do what is expected of him.  He gets distracted by them and wants to play!!  He did very well, and like any good mummy I gave him lots of play time.  I am very happy with is progress.  I still can't believe how quickly he picks up skills.  He is one of a kind.

This afternoon we are going to check out an assisted living facility to see if Pepsi can make some new friends.  Now that he has is vest and ID it is about time I get out of the house!!  My girls went on a little vacation so I have the time to set up interviews and not have them with me.  Children are not allowed on therapy dog visits so that the team can concentrate on their visitations and not be distracted.  It is a good policy but it is a shame that my girls can't come and visit with folks too.  I think it would be good for them and may have to set something up for them.

Professional Photo time

Yesterday we went to Kelly's house for a photo session since Huey (Tito's brother) is visiting us for the week.  We also got to meet Kelly's new little man who is adorable!!   All the kiddos played in the pool while Kelly and I played with the pups! 

  Pepsi went swimming in the pool but we he did make some time for a photo or two!

Here is Huey, he looks just like his Dad, Nacho. 

 Not sure who Tito looks like?  He is loosing his puppy coat and looking a bit ugly at the moment.

Our first Show!!

This weekend was the Brevard Kennel Club Show here in Orlando.  It was Pepsi's and my first time out.  First day I was nervous, and so was he.  He howled a few times.  Everyone turned and looked.  But as time progressed he relaxed.  We did pretty well the first day.  I do see lots of room for improvement though.  We one first place for our class, 12-18 months.

We met some really nice breeders.  One lady in particular has shown for 50 years.  She is very sweet and is a wealth of information.  Her name is Myrle Hale.  She gave me lots of tips and it was a pleasure meeting her!!

Saturday we were in the ring again.  This time we did better!! Pepsi was very relaxed the whole time. We won first in our class again!!  I had more fun and wasn't as nervous.  Mattie came today and is interested in Junior Showmanship.  May let her give it a whiz.  I did a little shopping - comb and a show lead. 

Here is 

Thank you to all my friends who came to support me on our first weekend of showing!!! Jo McGinnis, Kelly Richardson, Jessica Benzel, and Robin Snow (Pepsi's breeder). 

Thanks Kelly for the photos you took of us!!

Thanks also to Sandy from Serenity chihuahuas for support and help.

cool grooming bag from Petsmart

I went to Petsmart today to get puppy Bil Jac and a Pet Botanics meal in a roll.  But I came home with something extra.... yes, Martha Stewart has infiltrated the pet industry.  I purchased a nifty grooming bag for $19.99 + tax.  Very cool. 
I have put all the necessary items in for the show...

shout wipes (for me when I spill food down my front)
scissors
toe nail clippers
comb
wet wipes
poop bags
dog treats
entry forms
camera
water bottles (water for Pepsi) and bowl
Hair rolly thing that takes pet hair of  your clothes....

I think Pepsi can smell all the treats......

Getting ready to show!!

Pepsi and I are working hard for our first show.  We are crossing all our "T"s and dotting our "I"s.  His stacking is coming along.  When I look at his photos I can see where he needs some more work.  But we will do our best.  Hoping to have fun, buy some cool stuff,  gain experience and make connections.  If lightening strikes we may win something!!!!

Pepsi is a courting!! Again.

Fiona is here for a visit with Pepsi being that she is now in heat.  She is a very sweet dog, and cute as can be. So I am hoping those qualities will be passed on to the pups. Pepsi and Fiona are having fun chasing each other around the house and enjoying their courtship.  If all progress well, Pepsi will be a dad again in the middle of August.  I am so excited to see what these two will produce. 

Guess what came in the mail today!!

Today is a great day.  The rack cards came in and Pepsi's registration came in.  He is now a fully fledged therapy dog.  Now we can continue on the road to therapy!!  The rack cards will be handed out on visitations!

Oh I'm in trouble now....

So I wrote about Pepsi passing his CGC but not his therapy work...  he passed his therapy work with flying colours too.  Jo observed him the last two times and was very impressed with him.  Especially since the day he got his tail stepped on and his ear / nose grabbed by a very excitable child.  Pepsi, of course, doesn't want to go back and neither do I.

He has passed all his therapy evaluations,  I sent the paperwork off and can't wait to receive our certificate.  He is one clever dog!!  Yet another notch in his belt!!!

AKC Good Canine Citizenship Test

Well we took the test today.  Mattie was the photographer and took videos.  She did a great job.  Pepsi Passed with flying colours.... We all knew he would.  He is an excellent doggie!

Pepsi's little road trip!!

Pepsi and I went for a little road trip to Leesburg Florida today.  It was a lot of fun meeting Sandy from Serenity's Chihuahuas.  She gave us a lot of pointers on how to stack, walking around the ring, free stacking and grooming.  And she thinks he is very cute!! She even gave us a show lead!!  She is one very nice lady.  I can't wait to see her and her dogs again. 

So we are going to work on a few things so we will be ready for the show circuit this summer!!!

Play dates and swimming

Yesterday evening we went to Kelly's house for pizza.  She has a cute chi named Bella and a large lab named Diesel.  My girls had fun in the pool.  Walt fixed Kelly's computer, and I did bad bad things with Pepsi... ok, maybe not so bad but it depends who tells the story.

I put Pepsi in the pool.  Kelly's dogs seem to like it, especially Diesel.  Pepsi was okay.  He just sort of stood there.  But he did seem pretty mad when I wrapped him in a towel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB8Cf9s_Cu0  this is the video of him standing there!!!

Training training and more training....

Sorry I haven't written anything in a while.  I have been busier then usual.  One thing is the training of Pepsi.  I have been working with him a lot.  He goes to a trainer once a week for an hour and we are working on the skills during the week.  I am hoping that when it is time to show he will be in excellent shape to win some points.

This weekend we have the opportunity to do a run through of the AKC canine citizenship test.  He has it mostly down.  Just a few squeaks here and there that need to be polished up.

He is progressing well with the therapy training as well.  The training really kills two birds with one stone.  He is over trained for the therapy work at this point.  He didn't really need all this training but it is good for him.  I was sick the last two weekends so we didn't do anything with the therapy work.  But we are on schedule for this weekend.  We are going to a site to work with children.

I went to the hospital to do the orientation.  I would have brought him along if I had known he was welcome.  Oh well.  It went very well and I have started the paper work so we can do hospital visits.  Just have to wait until he is properly registered and I have the paperwork in hand.  Then we go for an interview to see if we can fit into the hospital setting.

I also got myself a part time job as a gardener.  Some of you know that I love gardening.  I get paid for my time and for the flowers.  This also gives me some spending money for all our doggy needs!!

Tito is charting to be around 2 1/2 lbs fully grown.  In eight days he will be four months old.  He is so tiny, he feels like a 6 week old chi to me, but I have started to train him as well.  He is getting the sit command down, and he did well with the "park it" command.

                                                                     Pepsi and Snickie in the garden.

Therapy dog Extraordinaire!!

Pepsi Cola has been training for a couple of weeks so that he can be tested to become a therapy dog.  As you know, the trainer at Petsmart who tests for the AKC was very impressed with him. I think I mentioned that he is taking classes for obedience training.

Well, the tester this morning, Johanna, was also very impressed. Johanna was looking at his personality; as well as, completing tasks. He finished most of the test.  Just a couple of items we need to cover next week- walking up to a seated person,  how he reacts to a person walking erratically, and how he reacts to a person rushing around him.

He will also go on 3 visits to facilities where he can be tested around senior citizens, children etc.  The first visit is next week.  If he passes I can send off for his official tag

I was so pleased with Johanna's reaction to him today.  She said he is wonderful and she hasn't met many chihuahuas with a personality like his.  That he will be good at therapy work.  I just hope I can pass!!  lol

Wekiva Springs

We decided to go to Wekiva Springs this week.  Being nice and warm out.  Took Pepsi along for the ride.  Not what I expected but nice.  We had to sit on the side under the tree cause we had a dog.  We were watched carefully.  So the gnats bit me up.

Pepsi had several admirers and we worked on his "stay" while we were there.  Most of the time he lay on the blanket in the shade and he was very well behaved.

I dared to go in the water... slowly, until my "friend" pulled me in.  I could have killed her.  WOW was it cold, but once you got used to being frozen very nice.

Huey comes for a play date.

Today I visited Huey at his new home and then brought him back here for an over night play date.  He did really well in the car on the way home.  He slept on my lap.

When we came here he played in the garden with Snickie, Chica, Pepsi and Tito.  Everyone was excited to see him.  It has been two weeks since he left but he still remembers us. I got some cute videos of them all playing that I posted on youtube.  

He seems a little lighter in colouration and a little bigger since he left.  Still the rambunctious adventurer that he always was with a new twist.  He was very interested in Chica!!!

The Wheelbarrow

We have been working on putting up a new fence.  Any how, there is a wheel barrow in the back garden.  My husband puts the dirt in it from the post holes.  Pepsi and Chica like that dirt!!  One of my daughters caught them in it and took these shots!  I can just imagine what these two are thinking!!!  "we are just sunbathing", "WE didn't do it", " Hey Chica, act like we are just sitting here doing nothing!"

Bath time

Pepsi's fur is so thick that I find it hard to get him wet enough for his shower.  I put him in the kitchen sink and use the spray nozzle to shower him. So nowadays he gets both a shower and a bath.  I fill the sink with warm water and stick him in, then shower the top of him with the spray nozzle.  It takes longer with him to get his fur wet enough to suds him up.  But it is worth it in the end because he smells so good and he is so fluffy and cute.