Hot Damn!!!

that's for my friend Lisa but it certainly reflects my excitement level yesterday morning.
Bugsy and I were doing our normal thing, trotted down to 'our' fields, he was let off leash and off he went sniffing and searching.
Then I saw them. At the bottom of the hill, mostly concealed by the trees and tall grasses.
About a dozen deer, white tails suddenly moving in all directions.
I quickly tweeted the Beast - who was transfixed and ready to fly.
The whistle broke his stare and he ambled back towards me, with at least one eye still watching the white tails.
A group of the deer went left into the woods. Whew.
Our intent had been to enter the woods on the right and wander down to our lake access there.
I was tweeting the whistle as necessary. Bugsy was amped and twitching. But remaining near by and checking in with me. I know he was thinking "just give me the sign, Mom" but much to his frustration I didn't.
We continued down the hill.
Oh crap!!!!!!!!!!! More deer! And they went RIGHT, into OUR woods. I had thought they had all gone left but some had just stood still until we got closer.
Another sharp tweet as Bugs was trembling and stalking as you could just barely see the deer moving through the dark woods.
I was trying to decide whether to leash him or keep challenging him.
In consideration for my shoulders I kept him off leash.
We moved parallel to the deer - them to our left in the woods, us on our path through the tall grass on the right edge of the woods.
I waited a few times to try to let them get ahead of us with the hopes they would cross in front of us to the other side of the field.
We arrived at 'our' path to 'our' hidden lake access and whoosh they crossed the path.
I am not sure how Bugsy DIDN'T have a stroke - he literally looked like he would spontaneously combust.
After waiting for them to be out of sight, I relaxed and off he went.
Amazingly not after them, he scented and scoured the landscape for any sight of them but he was able to direct him to the lake access.
Of course we got to the water and the muddy entry was full of hoof prints and a super-sized heron that gronked angrily at us for disturbing his morning

I was beyond thrilled, the adrenaline surge and the intensity of being on top of Bugsy for so long was exhilarating and exhausting.

We wandered a bit more and then headed down 'our' path to 'our' trail that splits the woods and the fields.
Good gracious what do we see - more deer!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This time flying through 'our' field.
Bugsy was very fed up with not being able to chase them so we had another power play with many whistle stays and another success.

Hot damn!!!!!!!!!!
That was a surreal experience for me and the Beast. One I am not sure I want to replicate but what an achievement for both of us.
Love you Bugs! And thanks for being so good.

Bugsy's 7th SPCA dog walk!

This will be 7th year of walking my humans through the streets of Raleigh to support the SPCA which is where I lived for a short time. They are real nice there and its very clean and there are lots of things to do BUT having a family of my own is much better so I try to raise money so more strays can get homes.

I sure hope my humans walk faster this year I really want to be first in - I hate lagging behind!

Thanks,

love Bugsy!

You can sponsor us here if you like!
LINK

Sure, I am biased :)

But Bugsy is the best dog in the world, yup I am a beaming parent.

I had to take him to the vet today for about the one millionth time in his life. I wish that I could say that most of the time the visits are for a physical or a standard vaccination but it rarely is. Today's visit was to check out a lump under his front leg.

As always when I motioned him to come with, he got VERY happy excited. I mean anywhere you go in the car is awesome, right?

When we got there he was sniffing outside (in the pouring rain) and I said, "C'mon Bugs lets go see the doctor" and off he ran, even more excited to the front door.

Inside he was desperate to say hi to the elderly couple with the teeny dog in a crate. I couldn't hold him too well because with the wet feet and slick floors, he was splaying terribly. The couple, chuckling, said its OK let him say hi. Phew.

They left and we had some calm. I told him to 'relax' and he adopted the pose
Here's the pose



Out came a red shiba inu. Two doors away from us lives a red shiba inu. He's never met "Foxy" but he's fairly convinced that Foxy is indeed a fox. He doesn't like fox.
I was concerned.
But after a tense moment or two they were fast friends and trying to play in the lobby.

Next comes a large male bull terrier. If there is a profile of a dog that Bugsy will try to slap down it is a large, male, mostly white, bully breed. The bull terrier approached with his chest puffed and tail high. Once again I sensed some tension in Bugsy so I wrapped my arms around him and held him in place. Within a minute or two both had wagging tails and a serious wrestling match was about to take place. The front desk people were laughing out loud.

Two dogs, both of the tiny percentage of dogs likely to get a negative reaction from Bugsy and all we got was tail wags and attempts to play.
Just love my boy <3

Finally we make our way to the treatment room. Bugsy meets the vet tech as if she is a long lost friend. Next comes the doctor who is also greeted with a wagging tail.
As the vet is feeling the lump Bugsy is slobbering him with kisses. Fish kibble kisses because I had brought a bag of kibble to bribe him with.

Its decided that it is likely a lipoma (fatty lump) but it is best, due to location, to aspirate it. First they have to shave what little hair Bugsy has on his chest.
He wasn't a fan of the razor but stood still as we fed him kibble piece by piece while he got shaved. Then he kissed the tech.

Next was the vet grabbing hold of the lump and sticking a needle in it to draw out some of it for looking at.
More kibble and honestly a completely nonchalant attitude to getting stuck with the needle.
"go on and stick me with that needle just don't come back with that shaver thing!"

Afterwards he kissed the vet again profusely. He was wagging and wiggling and so happy to get a few more pieces of kibble.
At this point the vet said, "Bugsy you really need to try and be friendlier"

I was basking in the relief of the knowledge it was a lipoma and nothing to worry about (although it feels like a real sign that my boy is getting older)and watching him interact with the vet staff and the dogs that crossed his path I couldn't help but feel lucky.
Lucky to have this sweet, over-sized lover boy.
He has some traits that make him so very challenging but he has other traits that make him the easiest and best dog on earth.

Yes I know each of us thinks their dog is the best dog on earth...............well at least some of the time anyhow!

His gift to me for 2012

Bugsy and I decided to take advantage of a pretty morning to do some field work. As per usual he wore his e-collar, for those times when he discovers something more interesting to hunt or flat out refuses to work with me.
Today we were using quail wings tied to a dummy, we have previously been working with pheasant wings and I can say without doubt that quail wings are WAY better than pheasant wings. Well if his intensity and insanity are an assessment of which is better!

He was so excited, yet he sat and waited when asked.
He tore into the long grass or woods, pointing and retrieving as asked. Delivering to hand, admittedly sometimes doing a victory lap around me before relinquishing his cherished wings.

I am not sure how long we worked but it was a blast to see him flying over logs and gullies and cleverly making his way through thick cover.
It was thrilling to work with his enthusiasm and energy.
And when I said ok Bugs let's head home, he trotted, wings in mouth to my car and waited for me.
He gave me the wings, waited to make sure I put them in the car, then hopped in the back and was ready to roll.

Not once did I even think about the e-collar, or struggle to recover the dummy, or have to remind him to stay. At one point he was in a stay over 150 yds from me and he didn't move until I sent him.

I don't think that from here on out he'll always be this good but we've been seeing signs that my silly, crazy, now 6 yr old boy is maturing.
It's wonderful and much less stressful.
Bugsy just when I think I can't love you more, you show me I can.
Thanks for a great New Year's Day hunt
:)

A few photos

Jan 1,2012

Happy 6th Gotcha Day for all of us

Six years ago today, we decided we'd take my mom downtown for a pint of beer. We were a couple of miles up the road and Steve said,"let's go see what puppies are in at the SPCA."

We did. And we brought home the baby Beast, formally known as 'Boscoe' and currently known as "Bugsy". Or Beastie, or Monkey, or MacGillicutty or Kramer or.....

We had a lot to learn, fortunately he is a great teacher, so we've got most of it down.

I've shared many escapades here and I can only assure you that the funny ones were actually a lot funnier.

Today I've been thinking about all the changes in our lives that are attributable to adding him to our family.

Any dog owner can tell you about the hair, toys, fluff, slobber, travel issues and various other 'negatives' of dog ownership. No doubt things are different, my home is not as neat and guests are greeted a little too exuberantly.

However, the changes I have been thinking about are the good ones; the ones that have put this goofy grin on my face.
He makes me laugh out loud at least once a day, usually many times a day.
His joy for life is contagious.
EVERYTHING is exciting.

I've learned so much about dogs: their behavior, abilities, communication methods and most importantly I've learned how to work with them to elicit their best.

It was Bugsy's mischievous nature that led me to a dog forum where I have made many friends, good friends, and where I learned which books to read and was able to debate the methods of working with him.

Bugsy's energy level has dictated that he is walked or run daily (twice daily when he was at his craziest) and this brings me to another wonderful thing he has done for us.

Having walked him daily for 6 yrs I've met pretty much everyone who ventures out for a walk around here. I am the lady with the big black dog. The other day I went out on my own and 4 people (2 in cars) stopped to ask if he was OK.

Through these walks and people wanting to meet Bugsy I've made great friends.
The friends we will celebrate Christmas and New Year's with, and birthdays and Thanksgiving and pretty much every holiday and some ad hoc gatherings too.

I could go on for a long time about all the wonderful things he has brought us and all the wonderful people who are in our lives now because of him but it would bore everyone to tears (some of you have probably already hit that mark).

He has been so much more than we expected: in size, energy, & mischief but more importantly in love and smiles.

Thanks Bugsy, I sure hope we have many more healthy, happy and insane years ahead!!

Duke : take 2

We were very happy to have been selected to return to the Duke Canine Cognition Center, especially when we were assigned to the impulse control study. If you've met Bugsy you know he isn't a master of impulse control so we were sure it would prove interesting.
Today was the day and this is my attempt to write up what occurred. I must first say that Bugsy has been flat since the end of last week and although he seemed more chipper today he still was clearly not totally himself. This actually helped us out I think.
The handler only weighed 5lbs more than Bugsy and we all had a concern about this, although as I assured them he would, as soon as she asked him to work he was very focused on his task.

In the first task one tester was behind plexiglass panels. She had a treat. She called him in a very excited manner and once released he ran up to the screen and then around it. His time was just over 2 seconds.
No matter how they positioned the panels he quickly went around them to receive his treat.
One time he ran up to the panels, stuck his head in the gap and took the treat- this caught the person behind the screen by surprise,..... but not as much as when he then continued around the panel and kissed her.

Apparently many dogs take a bit to give up trying to get through the panels before going around them. The panels are see-through so dogs tend to not process why they can see the person but not get the treat.

Then there was a 2 minute break to settle down (and seemingly for them to get more organized).
Then they ran the same study however when they called him they did it with the flattest affect possible.
It was quiet funny to watch him, he clearly wasn't too sure (think furrowed brow and chin scratching, hmmm) but he went to her, around the panels and got the treat. I think his times were in the 5-7 second range.

I believe that they are allotted 30 seconds to complete the task so his times were quick.
More importantly to me he was very well behaved and focused.
He had caused some chaos on his way in and as we tried to discuss the process; it wasn't as ridiculous as last time but it still put a pit in my stomach that he wouldn't settle down.

Despite them being disorganized (enough so that I lost interest so I have no idea how Bugsy hung in there!!) we finished early and they asked if they could do another test with him.
Of course I said yes as it was clear Bugsy was still enjoying the tests and testers.......and treats!

In the second test some food was placed in a tupperware bowl which at first was not fully closed so he could bang it open and get the treat.
Then they fully closed it and it couldn't be opened.
The tub was placed in the middle of the room and the two testers were in different positions in the room; one looking forward and the other looking away from Bugsy.
They were monitoring what he would do once he realized he couldn't open it; who would he go to for help?

Of course this meant he had to first come to terms that he couldn't open it.
This took a bit of time but eventually he gave up and went over to the girl that had filled the tub and kissed her. He also went to the other girl and stared at her.
They did 8 different variations of this and in each case one or both testers got kissed.
He did give up sooner as the test went on and he started to pay less attention to the girl that did NOT fill the tub, and IMHO more importantly, she NEVER OPENED the tub and gave him access to the treats.
He did not seem bothered about the direction the testers were facing and I feel confident that he saw the one girl as the treat dispenser so that is who he went to for assistance.
On the 8th try he didn't even push the tub he just looked at each tester, quickly licked the 'chosen' one and collapsed in a heap in the middle of the floor. LOL

When we reunited I apologized for him quitting and they said he was the first dog to complete all 8 tries!! Yea Bugsy!!

Once again it was fun to watch, although this test felt less organized so a little less interesting to me. There also wasn't much wrap-up compared to last time and that was the best part for me.

Bugsy performed well and loved doing it. He'll remain in the database and be available for additional studies. Both of the students LOVED him and of course he ate that up.
I do think his energy was subnormal but it was plenty for what he was asked to do. Another fun experience for both of us!

Musings

Life does not pass Bugsy by, he makes the most of every moment.

After a week of monitoring the movements of a mole and a hawk that wanted the mole, he won the prize, capturing and killing the mole.

If you do everything at warp speed you can add more to your day

His philosophy is clearly never be thwarted by the wishes of humans, even if they say they don't want kisses, just kiss them. Barge your way in, keep your tongue licking, and distract them with much wiggling and various frenetic activity. Just when they think they've got you beat, you'll get a full tongue on their lips. It's worth any damage that occurs to your tail.

Lastly stuffed toys are for destroying. Sometimes you might keep them intact for a while but then you just destroy them. Because that IS why they exist.