What About My Training?

We are happy to announce we are under contract for a permanent home. It's been a busy week of sanding, painting, building, staining, yard work, etc., in effort to get our current MN home market ready. Zinfandel has gotten more training and exercise than in the past few weeks, but still not what she used to get. We are all so ready to be moved into our new home and settled. Of course that's months off, yet. But at least some training is coming back into the schedule. Yesterday, Kristi was so proud of Zinfandel. She did so well at three busy stores. Walking behind the cart, watching Kristi for cues and not trying to get attention or rub her gentle leader off. At the last stop, the grocery store, they do not bag your groceries, it's DIY. Also, they have two sets of people's groceries going down the one cashier lane, so it gets pretty crowded. Usually we go during the week and they don't have the cashier lanes on either side open, so there is room for two people, their groceries, their carts and a very tucked in dog. Not on Saturday!!! It was wall to wall people and carts. So, I pushed the cart across the way up against a wall and told Zinfandel to sit/stay and watch her tail (tuck it in to her body). I walked back across the aisle and bagged all of our groceries, carried one bag at a time back to the cart and repeated. Zinfandel didn't budge once and kept her tail tucked in!!!! I was so proud of her! The cashier told me it looked like she was in time out, but who cares she was doing so well ignoring everyone walking by her. As we left the manager told me she was so amazed. Of course we all know this should be no big deal for a working dog. But it still made me happy for Zinfandel and her future! Of course, no camera. I can barely keep up with all the projects, managing daily life and Zinfandel, let alone remember a camera. But I wanted to share with you!
Have a great week!

Zinfandel at 8 weeks

Zinfandel Loves Minnesota

We knew Zinfandel would love Minnesota, it's much cooler and she is a cool weather dog. Plus there are a lot more opportunities to swim, another of her favorite pastimes. She hasn't had much exercise or training the past few weeks, with the move, Kristi looking for a permanent house and Lee traveling. So, we think she has decided that being naughty is the way to go. Kristi took her to the preserve the other day and she ended up in the muddy water, (Kristi's fault for not realizing how much rain has been falling up her over the past month). So she got a bath and smelled so nice and clean. And Kristi made a mental note to stay out of the preserve for awhile. So, Kristi took Zinfandel over to a dog friend's house the next couple of days. Moose had company, Cooper. Well let's just say three labs ended up in the back yard muddy pond. Another bath for Zinfandel, but no soap this time. So we have been taking her to the lake to burn off that energy. Well we have had so much rain the past few nights, we now have a small stream and mud hole in our back yard. Of course Kristi didn't know about the mud hole.

You should take me to the lake for a swim so I can get clean!

We will be getting back into the training mode soon!

Zinfandel Has Moved

It's been awhile since we've updated our blog. We have been super busy. On April 25th we decided to put our CO home on the market. Since then it's been a whirlwind of fixing up the house, showing the house, selling the house, doing a garage sale, packing and moving. Zinfandel has done really well throughout it all. She has had a lot of basic training reinforced with a lot of sit/stay, down/stay, out, move, greeting people nicely at the door, etc. Now that we are in MN it's time to unpack, organize and then get back to regular training for Zinfandel. We're just three litters away from callback, as the beach litter is going in for formal training, next weekend.

It's hard work packing all those boxes, better take a nap.

I won't get left if I'm on these blankets!

Hmmmm...maybe staying CO with gma and gpa would be better.

Settling in for our 15 hour drive.

The view for the next 15 hours!

Leaving Colorado.

Who puts snakes on a truck?!?

Watching the guys unload the truck from a nice, safe distance.

Moving

As you know it's been slow on this blog. We made a decision in late April to put our CO home on the market and move to MN, full-time. What a whirlwind. The realtor advised us to get it on the market that weekend, we had four days to fix, clean, stage and go. So Zinfandel got a lot of practice with sit, stay, down, stay, move and out. She also learned about packing up the car and heading out of the house for showings. Lots of park time and play time. Then the work really began. The garage sale was her best performance, ever. She stayed in her down or sit for two full days and only got up when commanded. She was a little worried the first three times our stuff left the driveway with some new owner. It was like she was alerting me, but then she seemed to settle. Until her baby pool left. She really seemed worried then. I tried to tell her she'd have lakes to swim in now which she likes way more than a pool! We are under contract and plan to leave for MN, next week. So it's been packing, packing, packing. So far, pretty good, she doesn't seem the least bit worried that most of the furniture is gone, I work at the kitchen table now and boxes are stacking up everywhere. I think it's due to her water bowl and bed are in the same spots and she still gets her walks and play time in. Nothing new for her!

Also, during this time we have seen a lot of maturing in her. She really seems to get it when we go out, now. But her alert barking has started. She never used to do this, but she always has been a few weeks behind her litter mates. (They have been alert barking for awhile, now.)

We'll post from MN, next, unless there is something really important to report between now and then.

The best way to ignore a move, play with your BFF.

Taking a nap after packing.

Annual Neighborhood Garage Sale

Spot the Priceless Item?

How to Spend a Rainy Day

Happy May Day!

Growing up, I really liked May Day. I thought it was so cool to sneak to my friends' houses and leave plants, flowers or notes on their doorstep. My best friend got married on May Day, so it's easy for me to always remember her wedding anniversary. What does this have to do with Zinfandel? When we went for our play time in the park, this morning I was having a really hard time believing it WAS May Day. And yes, we're in CO and not MN!

Zinfandel is so glad it's still snowing and cold. She much prefers that weather dynamic to the heat!!!

Happy May Day, everyone!