new years 2009

Changes are afoot for 2009.

I am rethinking many of our homestead choices.

• I am quite happy that the chickens and rabbits are in permanent housing.  I love that.  I’m thinking that we’ll keep fewer rabbits from now on.  Maybe just a buck and 2 does.  We don’t eat rabbit anymore.  Why?  I can’t stand dealing with the slaughtering.  I can’t eat something that I knew!  It comes down to that.
• I don’t want to keep expanding the garden.  I don’t want to scythe the grass.  I keep forgetting that I am not going to get any younger.  I make decisions using generalizations and uniformitarian thinking — in plain English  I decide something based on what was, not what is or will be.  The children might not always be here to help.
• Sheep.  I love my sheep.  I really do.  They are the image of peacefulness and contentedness.  However .  .  . I still haven’t done a thing with the wool from the 2008 shearing.  2009 shearing is coming up quickly.  If I don’t get my butt in gear and get this wool processed then I am going to thin my herd.  2 ewes would be enough to look pastoral — don’t you think?
• I will not buy any new livestock this year.  No goats, no sheep, no rabbits, no chickens, no new “whatever sounds fun.”  NONE!

On a personal level I am getting ready to start a BIG project.  CK and I have decided that I should study and train to be a certified dog trainer.  (This probably won’t surprise KGH.)  I love doing this.

• I have a book list that is approaching 50 books to be read.  Everything from breed specific books, AKC rule books, positive training method books, psychology books, and physiology books.
• I will be taking AKC training classes through the advanced level with Jake.  We are planning on earning our CGC (Canine Good Citizen), PD (pack/trail dog) title, and the CD obedience title.  That alone will keep me busy this year.
• Jake and I will also be taking Rally-O classes and Agility classes.
• CK is planning and building an outdoor training yard for me.  That way I can practice with the appropriate amount of space.   Agility training will take quite a bit of space.  Later on we’ll use that to hold outdoor classes in the warm months.
• I have to make brochures, business cards, a business plan, and handouts.
• I also need to round up 6 clients.  3 for references and 3 for case studies.
• To start I’ll be doing pre-puppy consultations, new puppy/dog consultations, puppy manners class, puppy obedience (10-16 weeks), and basic obedience classes.    I’m thinking of doing a combination of private lessons and group lessons.

More personal goals for this year include:

• reading through the Bible for the 24th year in a row
• getting to my ideal weight and staying there (Helped by the amount of hiking Jake and I will have to do to earn the PD title).
• keeping the garden weeded through September this year.  (August was our goal last year!)
• reading at least 2 non-dog books a month

Whew!  What a year!

So . . . anyone have a suggestion for a cool business name for a dog trainer?  I really need a good name and I am terrible at coming up with such things!

Kim

Charlestown State Park

Today we went to Charlestown State Park.  We didn’t do much hiking, but we did explore the layout of the park, the park office, and one of the shelter areas.  We plan on doing much more exploring and hiking here.

From the IN DNR (Department of Natural Resources):

Charlestown State Park is located in southern Indiana with easy access from I-65, 8 miles to the east on state road 62. With scenic vistas of the Fourteenmile Creek valley and elevation changes of over 200 feet, Charlestown has much to offer the visitor with this diversity. While hiking the rugged terrain you will see Devonian fossil outcrops and areas of karst sinkhole topography. Bird watchers will enjoy the 72 species of birds, including bluebirds, black vultures and an occasional Bald Eagle.

From BackPackCamp:

About Charlestown State Park

Charlestown State Parks 2,339 acres is located just southeast of Charlestown on Indiana 62 in Southern Indiana. The parks four trails take you through diverse terrain including forests, fields, cliffs, wetlands, and Creeks. Elevation changes of over 200 feet make for challenging hikes. Trail 1 and Trail 3 pass near 14 Mile Creek, a popular fishing spot. There is currently no backcountry camping.

In 2005 the park will be adding an additional 2,761 acres from the nearby decommissioned Indiana Ammunition Depot increasing the parks size to 5,100 acres. The expansion will make Charlestown State Park the 3rd largest State park in Indiana.

getting ready to go

Clark Shelter view

Running

Entry

10 weeks

10 weeks

Jake is now 10 weeks old.  He’s learning fast and growing even faster.  He’s 16 inches tall and about 22 pounds.

He’s been corn-free for a week and doing much better.  He’s even had some normal poops this week.  Of course, then he ate some popcorn kernels off the floor — and boy, you just don’t want to be here for the end result of that!  The little red bumps in his ears are almost completely gone, the ones on his tummy and armpits are gone.

We had to let out his collar.  He also outgrew his first harness and is wearing his new one.    He has occasional wild puppy moments.   For no apparent reason, he begins to tear around the house with an abundance of energy.  We’ve added a second walk to  help him relieve that energy and keep the house standing.   His cranky periods are now limited to right before he takes a long nap.  30 minutes before a “good nap” he’s a terror.  Cranky doesn’t begin to cover it!

This week he has:

• met some new adults (hats, cane, long beard)
• met 8 children (the same ones he met last week)
• went to Petsmart (stress!  I forgot everybody and their brother would be out shopping for Christmas.  We must have seen 100 people.)
• went to the mall and played on the grass by the parking lot
• walked on pavement for the first time
• walked on asphalt for the first time
• took a walk several days  in the woods
• let’s go for a hike
• learned down, stop it, and off
• learning watch, stay, take it, bring it, and drop it
• learning “ready, set, go!” (then we race around like crazy people . . . er, dogs)
• played puppy ping-pong in the front yard (Kelly stands at one end, I stand at the other, and we call him back and forth between us until his tongue hangs out and he finally flops to the ground in exhaustion.)
• slept most nights through from 10 to 5.  Yippee!!  Hurrah!!
• decided that banging noises are normal and happen all the time
• decided scratching at the door is a better signal than just standing there or ringing the bells
• learned that there are more rooms in the house (He’s only had access to about half the house until he discovered that behind the gate is a whole ‘nother world.)
• learned that if you throw your body weight at the bedroom door it will open
• learned to go down stairs without pretending you are Peter Pan

merry christmas

As we celebrate the greatest gift ever given, may each of you find happiness, peace, faith, and joy.

We’ll be having a family of 10 over for sandwhiches and gifts for the little children this evening.  Following that we have a Christmas Eve service at church.

Tomorrow will just be us.  Sausage and gravy for breakfast, turkey for lunch, and leftovers for dinner.   We each have 3 gifts (one from each of the others) to open.   Everyone has surprises this year.  That should be interesting!

Kim

perspective

hands and paws

Kendra — here is a picture to help give some perspective on his paw size.  I think your hands are about the same size as mine.

He should be 88 pounds, but you just never know!

The human members of the family are all doing well.    MA still loves his job.  Really loves his job.  He seems to be doing well.  They’ve had pretty steady work until this week.  A lot of people don’t want their house all in a bind the week before Christmas.  His dog Opal is just as nuts as ever!  She is doing pretty well with the puppy though.

HM is contemplating getting either a bassett hound or a miniature schauzer in the Spring.  She really wants a dog of her own.  Jake has taught her that she needs a smaller dog.  She has trouble handling the weight of a large one.  Plus she wants one that can curl up on her bed with her.

CK has a couple of easy weeks coming up.   They don’t have to do for any projects until after the first of the year.  He’s also really tired from not sleeping all night!  He’s doing great though.

I am totally distracted from my normal life right now.  But I bet you could have guessed that!

Kim

9 weeks

9 weeks

Excuse our mess!  He’d been playing hard and I finally got a good picture.    Today really is the 19th, but the camera is a day ahead.

Jake went to the vet today.  He is 15  inches tall and 19 pounds.  He’s still right on target for meeting the GSD standard.  Yea!  He got his second set of puppy shots, was proclaimed the best little man with the exam, and got an antibiotic to help clear up the soft poo.   His corn allergy symptoms are clearing up — except for the soft poo.

Tomorrow will be his first totally corn free day.  I’m looking forward to that.

This week he has:

• met 3 new adults
• met 8 new children
• met with a private trainer (who proclaimed his personality to be great!)
• went to the feed store
• went the vet (conformation and temperament are supberb and that we are doing a great job with him.  Rear dewclaw is attached tight enough not to be a problem, but if we neuter him we could have it removed then.)
• took a walk every day in the woods
• learned to wear the leash nicely
• learned to wear a harness
• let’s go for a hike
• let’s go for a ride
• proofed come, sit and gimme five with distractions and in a new location
• learning down, stop it, and off
• walked on sand for the first time
• walked on ice for the first time
• learned to steal laundry from the drying rack and twigs from the kindling box.  I don’t really mind the later, but the socks don’t need any extra holes!

8 weeks

Sorry for the lack of non-Jake posts.   Between normal life and him, there just isn’t a lot of time in my day.

So for Michelle and all my family here is Jake’s 8 week update!

8 weeks

Let’s see.  What has he been up to this week?

• He puts himself to bed regularly now — in the crate normally.
• Do you want a drink?
• Sit at the door, sit when the leash is being taken off, sit when you want to be petted
• Leashes aren’t that scary–at least not anymore.
• Walks around the yard are fun
• Walks in the woods are exhausting
• Kim will carry me if I get too tired on the walk (umm . . . not for much longer.  He’s getting pretty big.)
• The vet’s office thinks I am so cute.
• Rabbits smell good, run, and are fun to watch.  But we CANNOT chase them.
• Goats smell and are nosy.
• Sheep aren’t ready to be my friends.
• Hay smells wonderful
• Kim will scream if I have a mouse in my mouth.  (He found one in the flower bed and brought it inside.   I took it from him and screamed bloody murder when I found out what it was.)
• Gimme five (Our version of shake.  “Shake Jake”  is just too confusing him.)
• Chasing the cat is more fun than just watching the cat.
• Opal (MA’s dog) is a fun friend.  Just don’t sniff her feet.  She gets cranky about her feet.
• He is 13 inches tall and weighs 15 pounds 2 oz.
• He is being switched to Blue Buffalo large breed puppy food.  It’s yummy!

That’s about it.  Next week he goes to the vet for shots and a full check-up.  He also has a private trainer that is coming to help me evaluate him.

Cute?

7 weeks

Could he get any cuter?  Probably not.  He has settled into the family really nicely.  So what has he learned this week?

• bedtime (Which today also included walking himself to bed, lying down, and groaning with pleasure as he drifted off.)
• to sleep more than a few hours at a time.  Last night 6 hours!  All at once!
• Are you hungry?
• Sit (including sitting before I put his blue food plate on the floor)
• Not all blue plates are for him
• come here
• his name
• we potty outside, not inside.  This now includes letting us know he needs to go out.  He isn’t perfect, but pretty consistent.
• the clicker means “Good Jake”
• collars are for big boys (and big boys in training)
• leashes are kind of scary (they get tangled up in your feet)
• brooms, rakes, and vacuums aren’t so scary
• cats are interesting, chickens are smelly
• kisses are better than biting (not that he doesn’t bite — he does, a lot!)

life with the little man

Jake at 6 weeks

He is home.  We went Friday afternoon to pick him up.  He did great on the trip.  We stopped once for him to get a drink, potty and stretch his legs.

He’s really doing well.  He’s a little ‘gator!  His teeth are razor sharp.  We’re working on controlling that bite instinct, but at 6 weeks – - – it’ll be a while.  Housetraining is going pretty well.  He knows why we go out.  He just doesn’t know that is the only place you’re supposed to leave your mess!

Friday night he was up once an hour.  I finally figured out that the chimes on our mantle clock were waking him.  So I did what any rational (or perhaps sleep deprived) person would do.  I cut the speaker wire!  Worked like a charm.  Saturday night he was up every other hour.  He went outside each time and peed!  Last night he slept for 2 1/2 hours at a stretch.  Maybe we’ll get lucky and sleep for 3 hours at a time tonight.

More later.

Kim