Alright, so I want to go over the goals I've had for January:

• Go to the gym or on a hike at least 4 times a week- most weeks in Jan. I was able to do this at least 3 times a week. Not too shabby! 
• Get through basic agility training- check! We graduated last night. And I'm really encouraged- Baer loves it, we have fun, and we've been training consistently. We get at least 3 official practices in a week, plenty for me.
• Hiking every Sunday- done! Proud to say every Sunday this month was accompanied with a good hike. Hike planned this Sunday too, this tradition I'm not giving up.

So for February, my goals are now:

• Keep track of EVERYTHING I eat, in order to get a good feel on what I'm putting into my body. I've done a good job of it the past 5 days. Let's keep it up! (If I do try my raw food experiment, I need to do this anyway.)
• Increase my strength training regime and my cardio regime- and actually keep TRACK of it.
• Increase Baer's cardio limits, meaning more treadmill sessions and more serious fetch sessions (if it'd stop snowing and being muddy)
• More reinforcement training (targeting, contact work)
• Go to at least 3 Flyball practices this month. March is our next tourney and we don't want to start off the season sluggish.

Anyways, Baer got to play fetch with a little boy tonight at work and I thought she was going to die of happiness. She's been chewing a lot at herself ever since I gave her that marrow bone yesterday, I'm starting to really think she's got an allergy to red meat. Hmm.

 I'm so glad it's Friday tomorrow and that we have flyball practice. Tonight I'm headed to bed early for sure.

Peace out cub scouts.

I bought frozen raw green tripe for Baer!

I've never smelled it before, kind of... curious? Nervous? I'm definitely going to post pictures once I've thawed it.

I really, really want to make those smelly tuna treats soon. I'm too busy.

Tonight was the last night of agility class. We did a few run through's of jumps, A frames, tunnels, and everyone actually did really well.

Tired now (: Exhausted, actually!

It's SNOWING! So my work day is being cut short, in favor of going home, cuddling up to Hubs (who didn't go to work this morning, his car is not snow-friendly!), and making yummy *ie smelly* dog treats. I'm pretty excited to make treats, this will be my first real time making some.

They're the smelly tuna kind that I posted the recipe to a few weeks ago- I will definitely take photos of the my adventure making them. They're notorious for making the house smelly fishy though, and I made the mistake of telling Hubs that. He can't waaaaaaait. (Notice my dripping sarcasm x] )

Stay warm everyone! I'll be enjoying watching the big snow flakes fall.... (:

We hiked Pine Knob Loop on the Appalachian trail today. It was intense, and seeing as how we had 10 dogs, lots of fun.

The frozen lake we had to walk over,

Borders, pits, labs, bassets, oh my.

Lovely views (:

Reese begs his dad to throw the huge stick he found. After he trips and knocks everyone in the legs with it.

Breathtaking.

1..2...3..4 pitties (well... one Staffy)

Hubs giving out loving (like usual).

A frozen waterfall :D

Definitely an amazing hike today.

I've got new plans for exercise routines at the gym. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to aim to go 4-5 nights a week. I've been going every other day now since January, time to step it up (:

This week was REALLY productive for me. I've been recording things in my training journal (I realize now that we train pretty much every day, when before I felt like we weren't training enough.)

I've also found out that Baer loves Jolly Balls. My work is supposed to start carrying flirt poles soon too- you bet I'm buying one. 

Had to miss flyball practice tonight because it's calling for a major snowstorm, and I don't see any snow. Wtf.

Hope your week was great and productive fellow trainers! 

Baer and her agility friend, Jada (:

I've started a training journal for Baer- finally! An official one.

Agility practice tonight was fantastic. Baer was REALLY on cue with everything I asked of her, and she was focused on me pretty much the entire time. Yayayayay. The only issue- she is having issues following my hand instead of looking to where she needs to go. Note to self.... somehow, some way, fix this.


 Nosework was equally fantastic. We were quick to find everything, and this was our first night pairing scents. Perfect performance from all of the dogs- we were all so happy.

All in all, Baer had no issues tonight, she was in a really great mood.

My night has been amazing- now I'm going to play mario kart wii with hubs and relax.

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs: 1. Respect for self 2. Respect for others 3. Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1iHbq7/:1ODtGms72:XedUx5Wn/theunboundedspirit.com/18-rules-of-living-by-the-dalai-lama/

Crossing my fingers... I WILL figure this .gif stuff out.

5 Reasons Why Being A Dog Lover (and working with dogs) Is Good For You.

1) I can now handle copious amounts of vomit, diarrhea, parasites, and bloody injuries. (Especially bloody injuries on me. Hmm, this may just be in the flyball category.)

2) I can handle high stress situations. Like when two dogs meet in the middle of an area, one suddenly freaks out, and you have to stop everything and handle the two dogs trying to kill each other. Thank you, dogs. You have taught me how to keep my cool and act in a way that logically makes sense instead of well... panicking.

3) I've learned patience. I've learned to just Suck. It. Up. And keep trying. Having my dog has taught me that no matter what, you don't give up. And I've found that the HARD problems in the past, when finally resolved, have had the biggest pay offs. Completely worth it.

4) I always remember one thing when I'm stressing: Live in the present. Why? Because that's how I get through some of the worst situations life has thrown at me. How'd I learn it? My dog. My dog always lives in the present. Focus on the now, and you will perform and think so much more clearly. It keeps you grounded and from going off the deep end.

5) You can meet so many amazing friends through dogs. My best friends both have dogs that go with us everywhere. My hiking group all have dogs. All of the people I enjoy working with have dogs. Okay, so we're all REALLY weird. But that just means we're perfect for each other...right?

Sunday's hike at Black Rock was great. Just the right amount of difficult. My friend Laura Van Omer took the wonderful photos, I just want to share them (:

The gym was PACKED tonight. But now I'm sore, tired, and ready to eat & sleep. This, my friend, is the good life.

Had an exceptional hike today with friends and dogs.

This was my view, off the top of Black Rock Mountain. 

It was beautiful, albeit foggy. We were dog sitting my friend's dog who came along, both passed out once we got home.

I'm finally ready to go back to work. I want do to my best and be successful!

But before I do that.. I am ready for sleep.

Good night world!

Rawr!

Just finished up at the gym. I meant to go for half an hour but we ended up being there over an hour. I feel great, and I can't wait for our next session.

Agility tomorrow. And I've done practically no stay work with Baer in the past week (we were too busy hiking!). Oops. It isn't like she isn't reliable, she just isn't 100% reliable. Bah.

This week is wicked busy for me. Tomorrow I have agility class in the evening, Thursday I'm going to a Social Media seminar during the day and then the gym at night, and Friday I have flyball practice. I love being busy, but I can't wait til I can sleep in on Saturday, haha.

Stay strong and train strong, fellow handlers! 

GO HARD!!!!

Nose work class at 10am this morning- we did vehicle searches & exterior searches. Baer did awesome, I slipped and fell on my ass once but it's all good. Next class we start pairing scents to the food- I am psyched for this, I would LOVE to get our ORT's and I think we're going to go all the way with this sport.

We went on a hike to Harwinton later, around 3p. Hiked for a good hour, just Baer, hubby, me and our friend. We ran into a couple dogs, had no issues at all, and it was a good time.

Then I went to the gym with my best friend and her new friend- who was/is in the marines. And I got a GOOD work out. I'm ready to relax at home, eat some popcorn, play some wii mario kart, and hang with my family. Today's been an active, productive day.

Carry on my wayward friends!

Stinky treats! Good for nosework.

Which we have tomorrow. I believe we're doing car searches. Pretty interesting stuff.

Canceled tomorrow's hike, with nose work and gym and cleaning the house I won't have time for much else.

And finally, a pic from our little nature walk tonight. Peace out (:

Tonight's work out was good, heading back on Sunday. May go Saturday, we'll see. I'd be tempted to go tomorrow if it weren't for flyball practice haha normally I come home and crash right after I get home from practice.

I'm convinced that in order to be a team that moves in unison- works together in harmony, you BOTH have to be fit. I see a lot of super fit dogs and owners that are well, not. (Hey, I'm not either, so I can't say much.)

But I do think for things like agility and flyball, if the handler wants to be REALLY good with their dog, they have to be good too. So I joined the gym. I'm gonna get as fit as my dog.

So let's get this shit goin'! 

Notes from tonight's agility:

Work on down stays. Reeeeally work on down stays.

Teach the difference between running to a tunnel or an A-frame.

Targeting.

More later, exhausted now! Just ate home made (by my :D) grilled chicken, whole grain noodle, broccoli curry soup. It was gooooood. Now my belly is full and I'm ready for sleep at an early 9:30p.

(:  Let's go, 2013!

This. Is dog shaming.