White Dog Lessons

Well, my Mom's been pretty busy with work lately, but now things have finally settled down and those lazy dog days of summer are finally here!  My favorite thing to do in the evenings if I'm not doing therapy visits is to putter around the shady back yard and find just the right place to lay and enjoy the breeze.  My Mom and my friends are all around me and the grass is so cool.  Sometimes I nibble on a salad while I'm there. 

Mom is back to teaching me new things now that she's got some free time.  We always do all the tricks I already know like sit and down and all that.  Spin is my favorite 'cause it's the easiest one for me to do!  I don't really see the point in shaking hands.  That's something that humans do, not dogs.  But Mom keeps tapping my elbow and then lifting my leg, shaking it up and down and giving me a treat.  I eat the treat, of course, but it all seems like a waste of time to me! 

I amaze my Mom by stepping through a hula hoop held off the ground a couple inches.  Usually I get all the way through, but sometimes I step the front legs through and then forget the back ones are still on the other side.  But she is always so happy and gives me treats, so I do it just to amuse her.  She thinks one day I may surprise her and do a little hop through ... but I will keep her waiting awhile for that one! 

I still like to play in my tunnels, and now Mom is teaching me some new tricks which are really fun.  I'm learning to lay over flat on my side and then to roll over on my back in both directions.  At first I was afraid, but now I know I am not falling and I will get treats at the end.  It's kind of fun!  And I am learning to crawl to reach that goodie.  Mom makes me work on down stay too, and sometimes I get confused and will try to crawl when I am supposed to be staying. 

Mom has it in her head that I would look really cute if I learned to sit up and beg.  But that's another one - I just don't get it!  I can stretch my nose really high and I can almost reach that treat, but it keeps moving just another fraction of an inch so I can't quite get it.  Mom helps me lift my front legs, but I think she is going to pick me up, so I move to help her, but then I just fall over.  I wonder if she'll just stop trying.

Mom has been fostering again for sheltie rescue, so I've had some new foster brothers and sisters around lately.  At first, I got worried.  I thought maybe she was going to keep the new dogs and send me away.  I started making messes on the floor to tell Mom how I felt.  Well, Mom would clean up the messes, but then she would tell me how SHE felt.  Oops!  She was not happy.  She told me I was not going anywhere and that I needed to help to show the new dogs how to keep the house clean and dry.  So now I try my best to show them the right place to go in the yard. 

Here are some funny pictures of me doing french fry k9 nosework!  My instructor would be proud!  I knew exactly where Mom put the bag and pointed right to it.  Mom got the message and hid a french fry for me to find in the empty bag!  Finders Keepers ... losers ... well, that's Grace watching politely as I grab my prize!!

Please vote for Treasure!!

http://www.herodogawards.org/view-entries.html#search/treasure

Please vote for Treasure in the AHA Hero Dog awards contest.  She is listed under the therapy dog category and you can vote once per day per email address/password account.  You will need to create an account so you can vote every day.  Click on Treasure’s picture (it looks like the one above!) once you get to the page and it will take you to her story and you can vote!  The contest runs through July 31^st!  You can vote every day!  Thanks for your supportJ

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

Treasure at the Blue Rocks game last night.
There was a nice breeze and she loved all the new smells!



She met the mascots. 




Looking chic in the sun!



Dog Model?

Who me?  A dog model?  Yes, Treasure was named a finalist in America's Top Dog Model 2011 contest!  She will appear in their 2013 calendar as Miss May!  Visit the overall winner and the other finalists here
 http://www.americastopdogmodel.com/2011_Entrants_Slideshow.htm

Watch their website for more info on how to order the 2013 calendar as the time gets closer!  Congratulations to the overall winner and all of Treasure's co-finalists!  Thank you to the judges and those running the contest!  Treasure says WOOF! 

Beautiful - Imperfections and All ...

I visited a Butterfly House today and took WAY too many pictures!  How amazing each one of them are!  While I was there, I overheard one of the staff members telling people that it was a shame that this or that butterfly was not a perfect specimen because it's wings had been damaged in some way.   I commented to her that they are still so very beautiful to look at, even if they are missing a wing tip here or there.  She stared at me blankly.  I continued on with my visit. 

Yes, there were many near perfect-looking specimens to look at in awe and to photograph.  I got some truly amazing shots.  But this one was my favorite.  This butterfly had landed on the brick walkway right near the entrance door to welcome us in.  It stayed in place while large human feet landed all around it.  Some saw it and marveled at it for a moment before passing on by.  Others did not notice and I warned them before their feet got much too close!  They looked surprised, glanced down quickly, and kept on walking past.

I watched for awhile.  No one really took the time to stop and look at this butterfly, even though they had to go out of their way to avoid stepping on it.  It was not as bright or flashy as some of the others.  It's wings were tattered and plain.  But as I sat on that brick walkway and took its picture, I noticed how the colors and the patterns on its wings were all perfectly aligned together.  I noticed how content it was to sit and bask on a warm brick, to gain some "me" time for itself, ignoring threats from the outside world. 

For a moment, I was reminded of how beautiful and perfect we each are, imperfections and all.  I was also reminded of how infrequently we take the time to notice that about ourselves and others.  I've become much more aware of these things now that Treasure is in my life.  I see how some people treat her just because she does not appear to be a perfect specimen.  I should not have been surprised that they would do the same with this butterfly.  Yet it saddened me for a moment.

This butterfly is most likely coming towards the end of its life cycle.  The younger butterflies are more vibrant and have full beautiful wings.  But thanks to its imperfectness, I found true beauty and was reminded of some marvelous lessons.  And thanks to photography, now I can remind you of those lessons as well.  Thank you, Butterfly! 

May Happenings

Treasure and I have been busy working on her new tricks - jumping through a hoop, rolling over, and shaking hands.  I've been lazy and haven't been working with her on her stays too much, so we've started working on them again.  I'd like to get her CGC certificate, but we need to get her stays longer and so I can go farther from her.  I am also designing a new leash for her which I hope will allow me to give her clearer signals when we're walking together.  My first version didn't turn out exactly how I expected, so it's back to the drawing board.

We're continuing to practice K9 nosework, which she still loves!  We are continuing to make community appearances and do regular therapy visits.  Right now, she is trying to convince me that I should stop typing and come snuggle with her.  She is putting her front paws up on my leg to get me to pet her.  So, I will sign off for now, leaving you with some fun May pictures of us just fooling around enjoying the nice weather. 

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter, from Treasure the Easter Sheltie!  Easter is a great time to practice outdoor k9 nosework using plastic eggs!  Some of the eggs actually have little tiny holes in one end to allow a bit more scent out.  I hid one of Treasure's favorite goodies, vienna sausage, inside some of the eggs and scattered them in the pretty field in front of our house.  The little wildflowers add a pretty background.