In the Company of Dog

I live surrounded by dogs. Anywhere from four to six dogs reside in my home at any given time. Sometimes it even jumps to seven in the case of an emergency. But how did it all start?
I look back to pictures and stories my mother told me. From infancy I was with at least one dog. Chancy was my first dog experience. She would sleep in my crib with me. She allowed me lean on her as I learned how to walk. And she was not afraid to snap or bark at me when I hurt her. I learned early on what was and was not ok to do to her. She was an excellent influence on my. My mother also did not coddle either of us. If Chancy snapped at me she would know I did something wrong, not her.
During the rest of my childhood, there were always German Shepherds in the house. My mother ran a tight ship and the dogs thrived on this. Things were always calm and balanced and even when life wasn’t, the dogs pushed through the stresses just fine.
Its these same lessons that continue for my dogs today.

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We had a BLAST! Mashi, Saphira and I packed our stuff and headed to Centenary College in Hackettstown NJ last Friday to attend Camp Barking Hills. We attended so many fun and fascinating classes and accomplished so much. Here is a breakdown of what we took:
Friday night:
Presentation of Classes
Saturday:
Better Training Through Communication — Shaping with Verbal Cues or Clickers, Pet Tricks A, Recall Remedies P1, Swimming Lessons (yes Mashi, a shiba, swam), CGC Prep A, Dealing with Fears and Phobias, Canine Olympics
Sunday:
Skateboarding, Pet Tricks B, Recall Remedies P2, On the Ball: Fitness and Conditioning, Pampered Pooch Cooking Seminar, CGC Prep B, Canine Troubleshooting, Craft Night,
Monday:
Two CGC Tests (Both Passed!!) and Self Control, followed by awards and tricky tray.

It was an amazing weekend. Mashi’s team won the Canine Olympics, both of them earned their CGC’s (while Flyball was going on in the same gym), and we learned so many things. I wish that it happened twice a year. We had such a fabulous time and I can’t wait to go back again next year.

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I have been meaning forever to start a blog about me, my shibas, and everything in between.
A lot of this is going to be show and training stuff, but some will be the normal day to day annoyances of someone with too much on her plate but loving it.
So sit back, grab a dog, and watch the fun.

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