Pre-teen and teething

OMG...yes I said OMG and it should holy**** but it's not. Apparently Nimbus woke up today in a pre-teen mood. He decided that everything the momma said meant nothing to him. So that means he spent a lot of time today by himself in his xpen. It started at 6:30am. I usually take him out to potty because he has been awaken due to Kolton having to get up and get ready for school and catch the bus. Afterward, we go back to bed for a couple of hours or so. However, today my husband started class and so the whole routine was jacked from the get go. Nimbus thought that since Dad got up, he should be up. I again took him potty and thought he was going to go back to bed; which was my plan seeing as how I had very little sleep and wanted at least another hour of sleep. Nimbus said "I WANT TO PLAY" I was not impressed. And to make matters worse, Harley seemed to know that I was not in the mood to let them play so early in the morning and ambushed him and encouraged the play behavior. I finally got him back in his crate where he proceeded to "complain" quietly. I waited for him to be quiet for a couple of minutes and drug myself out of bed and got up. Far earlier than I had planned mind you. Again, I took Nimbus out to potty, all he wanted to do was chase butterflies. Now, let me describe this to you. Chasing butterflies is very rewarding for Nimbus, and he loves moths even more because they are out at night and are harder to see, so it's an even better game, especially when the momma is wanting to go to SLEEP. First he play bows at them nudges them his nose to get them up out of the grass. Then he starts wagging his tail cuz he thinks some how they are going to play with him...or at least that's how he acts...I don't know. But then, the most amusing thing happens, my Samoyed puppy somehow transforms himself into a cat. Okay, not really but he starts pouncing at the butterflies on his hind legs and attempts to catch them with his front paws as if he were a cat. Now at any other time than 6:30 am or 3:00am this is amusing. I even was even amused at 8:30 this morning; however, I am not amused when chasing butterflies turns into, I have to poop so I will circle and sniff, oh look shiny, I have to sniff so I can poop, OH shiny with wings, gotta go in circles, gotta go in circles, ooooooooh more butterflies. This lasted for at least 20 minutes. I am still in my pajamas and the last place I want to be is outside with him being to consumed with catching butterflies that he won't potty. He finally pees, but no poop. So, I figure he does not have to poop because he then heads straight for the door...he heard schnauzers and wanted to see what they were doing. I put him in his xpen, so I can go potty. When I return...the bus pooped. I was not happy. He has done so good letting us know and waiting for us to take him out. He will even go to the door if he is not in the xpen. So, it is time for breakfast. Nimbus is in his xpen "waiting". More like throwing himself at it trying to break free. I continue to get everyone's food together. Nimbus is still having a fit, so he gets no food. I feed the minis who have been so quiet I am shocked because usually I have to wait a few minutes to feed them while I feed Nimbus. It takes him about 10 minutes to realize that his behavior is not getting him food. He decides he wants to sit nicely and wait quietly so I go and get his bowl. He sits so nice, I tell him "wait", which he knows usually, however today there was no wait...so there was no food for another 5 minutes. He would not wait. Actually he would not wait for anything today, the door, the leash, the xpen to open. It was insane. He finally gets to eat and decides that barking at nothing has all of a sudden become acceptable behavior. That earned him some time alone. I left the room and sent the minis outside or down the hall. When he decided to be quiet for a couple of minutes I returned. The rest of the day went ok for the most part. We went outside and played a bit. He pottied like he should; and then came time to go to puppy class. Before I had a chance to get him, he peed in the xpen, again, no warning, just peed. I get it cleaned up. Then I get his leash and go to open the xpen...he decides apparently that I am not doing it right and bolts through the xpen, jumps over my head, and runs down the hallway. The hallway is not puppy approved yet. It is puppy proofed, but not okay for him to go because we cannot trust him all together yet. I get him back, scruff him, and put him back in the xpen. We try it again after he settles down...he doesn't bolt out this time, but decides that he does not have to wait for the okay. So again he gets put back in the xpen and waits. The third time he finally waits for the okay, lets me put his leash on, and doesn't act like a complete fool on the way to the door. I potty him, he pees and is more than ready to get in the car. He was fine at puppy class. Not his usual awesome self, but much better than he had been all day with listening at home. He even did great at handling class. Poor guy doesn't know what to do will all his rear end yet, especially since that's all he has. He really is growing fast. I will post pictures later this week. He is so long and thin right now, not unhealthy looking, but you can tell he is in a growth spurt. After handling class we hang out a bit to help socialize the instructor's great dane puppy. Towards the end of the class, Jenn notice that Potion had blood on her face and head. Nimbus was the last to be mauling her so I check his mouth..and what do I see...bloody teeth. So now my puppy has begun teething...Oh the joys of puppyhood. He is learning tho, I will not stand for things I do not want and will not accept. He is not happy about them right now, however, I know he will be later and so will I. I can see that the next couple of months is going to be frustrating, a learning experience, and most entertaining as we work through the teen "years" and teething. So until next time....

Some People

I have waited a few days before blogging about this, and since I am sure most of who this pertains too won't read my blog, I feel this is a good place for it. I am basically going to rant about certain people who are in leadership positions with children. So here is the story:

My youngest son, Kolton is in 4H. He completes the dog project each year. Two years ago were blessed with the club obtaining a trainer. Not an old school trainer, but one who used positive reinforcement and clicker training. Now, what is funny about this is not two months before I met this trainer my husband and I had been talking about trying to learn how to clicker train with our new puppy Harley. (See where this is leading?) Any how, the trainer was Jenn Stanley. Now, I know if you follow my blog, you know that Jenn and I do lots of dog stuff together and are really good friends. I can honestly say she is one of the best friends I have right now. But there's more to it than that; Jenn likes what she does with her dogs and likes helping others with their dogs. This was such a refreshing change from Kolton's previous year in 4H where the "trainer" used old school methods of a choke chain and reprimanding unwanted behavior. Techniques that were obviously not working with the dog he was using at the time. When Kolton decided to use Harley, we had our doubts about what she would do for him, but by the time county fair came that first year, both my husband and myself were very impressed. Kolton had private obedience lessons with Jenn outside of the 4H training sessions, but it wasn't just Kolton and Harley making improvements; all the kids were making improvements and their dogs seemed to like training more than they had in the past.

After county fair last year, Kolton wanted to do more with Harley, so he started taking agility classes from Jenn and then started trialing in AKC agility events. They haven't qualified yet, but they have improved immensely with Jenn's help and her teaching Kolton how to work with his dog. This year once 4H "season" came around the whole club started training with clickers. The new members were showing progress each week; something that hadn't always happened in the past; and were enjoying training with their dogs. Definitely something that had not happened in years previous. This year is really when Jenn and I started to become close friends. After training each week no one would help her pack up her stuff. All the leaders would get their things and their children and rush out to leave her there by herself. The first couple of times this happened, I admit and not so proudly I pretty much did the same thing, but it did bother me. Then I started helping her and having Kolton help her. It was the least we could do. She was taking time away from her business to volunteer with and help these kids work with their dogs and teach them techniques in which they could overcome barriers that arise. Well at least as best she could in a 45 minute time period. As the spring and summer went on, the leaders were becoming more and more distant from their co-leader and trainer and you could feel the tension from all of them. After the county fair..which let me just say this...was a sham...I have never seen grown adults act so immature in my life: Jenn decided that she no longer felt like the work she was doing for 4H was where she needed to be. I don't blame her, she was never informed of anything, the other leaders did not show any appreciation for the time she put into what she was doing for the kids, nor did they find that attending training was pertinent; as to where Jenn had to be there, nobody else knew what they were doing or would take the time to learn enough to help. Now comes time for State Fair practice. Jenn is no longer helping the club, and we have acquired Nimbus, who has to have some socialization outside of our home and with other dogs and people. Well 4H practice was on Tuesday evenings, the same night as Nimbus's puppy class; which is about an hour or so away. The first week that the club met for training, I had our oldest son take Kolton while I took Nimbus to puppy class. The second week they met, my husband had the day off work, so he was able to take Kolton. The last two weeks, I had no way of getting Kolton there, or if I could get him there, I could not pick him up. I have a small window of time that I can socialize my puppy for him to be the up most well rounded puppy I can expect, and I was not losing that opportunity, especially when Kolton was working with Harley everyday at home. I had also learned that the leaders were trying to deter Kolton from using the methods he had been learning the past two years and revert back to methods that didn't work. So I can honestly say even if I could have gotten him there, I probably would not have taken him there. Now it is time for the State Fair 4H dog show.

Kolton had asked if Jenn was going to be there, and we offered to have her ride with us, and she wanted to be there to support him and the other club members that would be there. When we first got there and set up nobody was around. As we were exiting because I had to move my car out of the loading area, I saw one of our leaders, who greeted me, waved and smiled at me. In my opinion and Jenn's happy to see that we were there. All I can say is she must not have seen Jenn walking along with me because once we got back after moving the car and finding Kolton after he went thru vet check she was not too happy. As a matter fact, none of them seemed to happy. The 3 co-leaders completely snubbed us. None of them said one word to me or Jenn, and apparently the only time they talked to Kolton to say, "Good Job" was when I was not around. Only one of the parents that were there talked to us and her daughter talked to us. Other than that nothing for most of the day. One parent asked me if I knew where one of the leaders was, and although all I said was, "No" I really wanted to say "how the hell would I know where she is seeing as how she hasn't said a single word to me all day?" But I didn't. I am sure they were all wondering where Kolton was on Sunday because he did go to do showmanship. Something that had been decided I do believe before our county show and if not very soon after. Kolton doesn't like it, he gets anxious and stressed when he is doing showmanship and therefore since it is not a requirement, he doesn't have to do it anymore. So he did not go on Sunday because all he would have done was showmanship.

What also bothers me about the leaders of the club is that once the kids get to a level that they are allowed to repeat they are ok with not working towards anything else. I don't want that type of role model for my children. I want them to reach for the sky and beyond. Especially Kolton. If I had said, "Ok Kolton you can crawl now you don't have to walk." Where would he be. He has astonished doctors all of his life with the strides he has made, and there is no way I am going to let others tell him that something bigger, better, and more is not achievable by telling him he can stay there and not work towards the bigger and better. I don't know, I just don't get some people. You put yourself in a position in which you are supposed to role models for our future and then because you are not happy with who others have for friends you teach them that you can choose to no longer speak to them and forget that you were their friend at one point. The person who was hurt the most in situation was Kolton. None of the kids talked to him. When they played games they kept him out, and that had been starting to happen earlier this year when they were at agility class for 4H. I guess because he has worked hard for where he is and is the youngest in the group but the most advanced in the sport that deserves being left out. Oh well, I hope he realizes that true friends like you no matter what. I like you when you are down and help when you are behind and then they celebrate your accomplishments even if it means you have advanced beyond them.

That is my rant, if you did not make it to the end, I completely understand, it's not fun and it's not about my Nimbus...who by the way I am getting ready to post about...but if you did make this far and you have a comment about what has been said leave one for everyone because I would like to know what others think.

What a Beautiful I have

So today we, (Nimbus and I) competed in our first "show". We competed in a puppy match in Muncie, IN. Let me tell you, I cannot really think of a time when I was as nervous as I was before we went into the ring. Nimbus was the only Sammy puppy so of course he won best of breed puppy and went onto group. Well first let me tell you, when I asked how many dogs before us, I was told 4. Not 4 breeds, 4 dogs. Well that was not the case. There were 4 Dobies, 2 Akitas, 2 Danes, 2 Giant Schnauzers, 2 Rotties, a Sammy (Nimbus of course), and a Standard Schnauzer. So by the time it got to be our turn in the ring, my nerves were shot. Once I got into the ring tho, things went well. First off, the judge commented on what a nice puppy I had and that he absolutely loved Sammies. I had a few bumbles as I'll but it...but hey, it was after all my very first time really showing. I have pretended to show to help Jenn and Kolton, but never have I shown for real in anything. So when we were done with breed, Jenn gave me a few pointers and reminded me to breathe and told I didn't do to bad and that 'bus looked pretty good all things considered. Then it was time for the group. We were pretty much the last in line besides the standard schnauzer, but this time I wasn't as nervous and Nimbus seemed to know what he was supposed to do. Well...at least when there were not dropped cookies in his path. The judge started picking and the order went: Akita, Giant Schnauzer, Doberman, and Sammy....YAY...the 'bus placed fourth in group. As the judge gave me our ribbon he said.."you are going to have a lot of fun with him." Also, as I was in the ring, one of the watchers commented how what a nice Sammy he was and told me that he has keeshonds and would take my puppy if I would part with him. NO WAY!!!!! I love my 'bus, beautiful or not. He keeps me very busy and on my toes and he's quite the entertainer...lol. Even if we had not placed at all today, I was very proud of him. He didn't throw any tantrums about having to stay looking pretty and standing. He was very attentive to me and the compliments we got on him were enough for me to know he's going to be turning heads for a long time to come. Thanks Donna for my beautiful little man. I couldn't ask for better. I can't wait for our next match and we will have plenty of practice between now and then, even if I'm not exactly sure when the next one is. I'll have to ask Jenn. She is my "agent" and tells me when and where I need to be. I have been working on finding out which shows have puppy matches and most of the time I already have the dates in my calendar.

Well I really need to get to bed. Another early morning tomorrow, this time for Kolton and Harley...State Fair 4H dog show...so until next time....

OOOOhhhhhhhh DUCKS!!!!!!

Yep that's what it says, ducks. Nimbus loves ducks. He especially likes to tell you off when you don't let him head off the ducks.

Today was the 'bus's first attempt at herding and he got to play with ducks. At first I was a little hesitant because when we first got to the farm Nimbus wanted to charge and bark at the ducks. Once he was in the pen with them he pretty much knew what to do...make the ducks go around in a circle. Well not exactly, but that's what he did, he even drove them out of the corners. I was so proud. The first time the instructor took him in because as with everything else with Nimbus, I have never even considered herding so therefor was completely clueless. She was quite impressed with how he wanted to head them off. She wasn't expecting that from a Sammy. He did really well. He did however not like that he could not head them off and would let you know it. He also did not like the rake that would block him and tried to bite at it once or twice. The second time he got to go in with the ducks, I took him in. I got a bit dizzy...wow, going in circles can do that to you. Nimbus was getting a bit excited and when I tried to make him lay down, I fell over and then could not get back up without help. Yes I admit this. It's part of my experience. Am I embarrassed? Of course, especially since Jenn was there video taping the whole thing. I eventually did get with help and the whole time I was down, Nimbus was over in a corner just watching the ducks and watching me. He was very concerned that his momma had fallen. That made me feel good because one, he really wanted to get to those ducks, but didn't and two, he was concerned for me and even after I got up he was not quite the same until he realized I was fine. I know we have a good bond. I LOVE my 'bus. Even with all of his crazy antics and days that I get frustrated, he is definitely where he should be....with me.

This week he will have his first puppy match. Friday we are going to Muncie, IN to compete in our first puppy match. This will be a first for both of us. Although I have been to handling classes and so has Nimbus, neither of us has competed in conformation and tho this is just a match, I am still a bit nervous. I am sure things will go just fine, but that doesn't make the butterflies I feel go away when I think about it. So, with that said, you can guess what tomorrow is going to be like for Nimbus. Yep, a bath, feet trimmed, and nails trimmed. He does not know this yet and I won't tell him until it's time.

I have recently learned that Nimbus is another Houdini. I have one with my Maggie. She could get out any type of enclosure we put her in. Apparently Nimbus is learning this skill. I am sure the short time he spent with his Aunt Venus didn't help much. He has squeezed through ring gating and just a few moments ago escaped his xpen by barreling through it. I would swear that boy has some kind of wizardly skill about him to walk through solid objects. We have also noticed him trying to figure out the latches on his crate at night. He watches very intently on how we use those and I have heard him fussing with them. I do stop that, however, I cannot stop it when he is in it while we are gone. Hopefully he will not discover how to get them open.

Well I think that's all I have for now...I will post again after his puppy match...wish us luck...and until next time....

What Next???

This week has been very trying. Not only with Nimbus and his incessant barking, but with life in general. Like I mentioned last time, I had spent four days in Cincinnati, OH at training for Pure Romance. I had a great time, however, since I have been home, I really haven't had much time to spend with my family. Kenny has been working late, Brandon has been working and getting things ready to go back to school, Brock has been trying to get done what he needs done for school, and well my baby, Kolton started middle school this week. On top of that I have spent most of the week in doctors' offices for one thing or another. What a week!!!

Nimbus has decided that barking is a good way to let you know everything. When I say everything, I mean everything...he barks because he wants to go out, he barks because he wants to play, he barks because the other dogs bark, he barks because he wants a drink...I honestly cannot think of a reason why he doesn't bark. We have been trying many different approaches to this. The one that works the best is to take him out when he first starts barking and walk him around, play with him, give him time to potty. We usually give him about 10-15 minutes. He also gets a drink during this time. We come back in and put him back in the xpen. If he continues to bark, when he quiets for about 30 seconds to a minute we take him back out to make sure he doesn't still have business to do outside. Again, we give about 10-15 minutes. When we come back in we put him back in the xpen. If he still barks we try to ignore him. Usually he will stop and play or settle down. We have tried squirt bottles with water and shaker bottles. The shaker bottles just got him more excited. Apparently he just thought they were loud water bottle toys. The squirt bottle worked for a little bit, but now he thinks it's a game and bites at the water. I hope as he gets older he will not bark as much. I am thankful tho that his bark is not nearly as high pitched as it once was.

In the past week, Nimbus's ear has finally decided it wants to perk up. He looks so grown up now. He still has puppy face, however with no droopy ear he looks older. He continues to grow. I can't believe how much he has grown in the past week. He has had a busy week too. On Tuesday he had puppy class. He loves it when they get the tunnel out. This week they had the little tunnel, and I know by the time we go back in two weeks he will not be able to fit in it. He is doing very well about coming when called, even when playing with the other puppies. I was so proud of him. He is learning to settle and pay more attention to me when we are out and about. After puppy class we headed on over to a handling class that is just a few minutes away. Nimbus did great for his first handling class. I think he was trying to impress Potion, who did an awesome job at the class. Wednesday, I took 'bus to my cousin who grooms dogs, for a bath. Usually Kenny and I give him a bath, but with Kenny working so many extra hours I didn't have an extra set of hands to help so I had my cousin do it. He looked great when I picked him up. I need to trim his feet and nails, but I will be able to do that tomorrow when Kenny is home. Chuck, my cousin said he and Nimbus had an understanding. Nimbus lets him get done what needs to be done without too much fuss and Chuck will give him cookies. The rest of the week we spent working on the table and basic obedience. He is doing much better with the table, but I have noticed it is time for a new one, well at least one big enough for my busbus. He has almost completely outgrown the one I have for the minis.

Talking about the minis...Kolton and Harley have been working on obedience and agility in preparation for the Indiana State Fair 4H dog show coming up next weekend. They have been spending about 30 minutes every evening working on what homework Jenn gave them. I am excited about the fair this year. I don't expect them to place, but I do expect that they will do much better than in years past. Next week, Nimbus has his first puppy match in Muncie. All I am hoping for is for him to not completely blow his brain and for me to be able to keep mine as well.

Oh yeah, tonight was a bit of a surprise for him as far as Nimbus's behavior was concerned. He started showing some guarding issues. When I caught him guarding, I firmly told him NO and took away what he was guarding. Eventually he ended up in the xpen without any toys sulking. I will not allow that. I do not allow it from any of my dogs. I know with consistency and reminding him who is alpha, we will get thru this.

I am posting a few pictures of Nimbus: some are after his fun in the mud and a couple of are of his face with perky ears...enjoy...and until next time.....

Nimbus with Kenny after his romp in the mud

Who couldn't love that face, mud and all???

Nimbus says,"Playing in mud makes me tired."



I just think this it tooo cute.


"Look Mom no droopy ears!!!" He's growing too fast.

Finally Home

I had a wonderful time in Cincinnati, OH at Pure Romance National Training. I left early on Thursday morning and got home Sunday evening. Well actually just a few hours ago. I was ready to be home. I don't know how many of you have spent three days in seminars and motivational speakers, but let me tell you, I feel my brain is going to explode. It was great tho. I had a wonderful time, met a lot of fabulous, awesome women, and made new friends. On that note, I am happy to be home with my family; and nothing says, "Mommy, we missed you and are glad you are home!!!!" like wet kisses from my furry children. Even Jozie gave me kisses and she never does that. I was excited to see that Nimbus was excited about my return, but saddened to see how much he had grown in the short time I was gone. Even his bark has changed. He went from having a sharp, high pitched puppy bark to having a Sammy woo woo/bark. I thought I was going to cry. I know he has had to have grown at least an inch in those four days and gained five pounds. I'm sure you think I'm exaggerating, but I'm not. I just can't believe how much he has grown since Thursday morning. While I was away, Kolton worked with him doing puppy push ups. I didn't want him to think that just because I wasn't home that he would get off from having to work for at least one of his meals. Jenn was nice enough to send me a quick video of Nimbus and Potion playing. I was so excited to get that. Kenny took him on a couple of walks around the neighborhood, which was very nice of him. I knew my family would meet his basic needs, but they were wonderful and took great care of him. However, I do need to give him a bath. Apparently he and Potion were in a contest to see who could get who the grungiest. I'm sure Nimbus won because I hear he rolled Potion in poop and she had to get sprayed with cold water from the hose. Potion decided that she would just let Nimbus be pressure to stop the bleeding from her loose tooth and stain him with it. Kenny was nice enough to clean that off, however, he is still pretty gross looking, so tomorrow a bath is on the agenda. I am very glad to be home and able to spend some time with my family and my dogs. I will write more later...so until next time....