Tandem

Over the weekend, I took Henry and Blitz for their first long walk together. It was Blitz's first long walk, period. Blitz and I are in desperate need of exercise to fight the winter flab, so this may become a regular weekend routine.

We did a three-mile loop on a hard-surfaced road, so it wasn't hiking. We kept up a very good pace -- 3 miles in 65 min. I consider that pretty good when you factor in the occasional potty breaks and stops to let cars pass.

As I said, it was Blitz's first big walk, and he wasn't sure what to do when we passed a house with barking dogs. Henry showed him how it's done: ignore them and keep moving -- quickly!

Really, it was amazing how well they walked together when I shortened Henry's leash to be about the same length as Blitz's. They kept this formation most of the walk.

That's What Friends Are For

Good friends (like Blitz) are always there to help you dry off on bath day.

Back in the Tunnel Again

Our second class was much better than the first, but not perfect because I'm still puzzled by some of Henry's behavior.

Most of the class went very well. At the final session of our last agility class, Henry suddenly showed hesitation going into the tunnel, so I was worried about how he was going to do after not seeing the tunnel for several months (they're just too expensive to buy).

Miraculously, he ran right in and got it on the first try. On our second run he went full speed out of the tunnel into 2 jumps, and let me tell you, that was something beautiful!

But perhaps I'm a little biased.

Snow Days

We've gotten to go hiking at Coopers Rock twice in the snow. It's been far better than the one time we tried last year, which must have been right after or during a snowfall because a lane of the road hadn't been plowed. This year there's been one lane plowed and the other lane left alone for cross country skiers. The road is completely closed to vehicles during the winter, so it's perfect for dog walking.

Shameful Start

Oh boy. Tonight was one of those that made me think this agility thing is all a big mistake for me and Henry.

After getting used to the equipment again, he was fine, as far as equipment was concerned.

He was, however, a complete terror (terrier?) otherwise.

From the very beginning he was on edge. It's a big class, about double what we're used to. Plus, there were several excited barkers, and some of them had squeak toys. With so much going on, Henry was wound up. He barked. He pulled. It was a nightmare.

The instructor assured me everything was fine, that Henry was a "reactive dog." Everyone was generally a good sport, and I did my best to keep Henry away from the barkers and ones that he seemed most upset by.

It would break my heart, but if this continues, we'll have to quit.

Henry's Dance Party

Add Wii Dance Dance Revolution to the growing list of things that can't be done with Henry in the room. He's an expert at choosing songs. He selected the same song for me three times in a row. Good times.

Winter Wear

I received some teasing, of course, when I bought Henry a new coat for Christmas – a Lands' End coat, no less. Bahahaha, Lands' End for a dog. Bahahaha, crazy dog lady.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

But consider this, you can get a cheaply made, ridiculous looking dog coat or sweater at Walmart for about $10-15 (that’s what I did last year). For double that, you can get a well-made, sporty-looking coat from Lands' End. You know, one that says, “Here’s my athletic dog that I like to keep warm” instead of “Here is my dog that I like to dress up like a child. I read him a story before tucking him into his bassinet at night.”

Plus, the Lands' End coat has some wicked reflective properties that are perfect for walking around town at night, an especially good thing since I’m usually too absent-minded to put on light-colored clothing and give us a fighting chance of being seen by motorists. No, the coat doesn't glow. That effect in the photo is from the flash. :)

As impressive as its reflective strips are, the coat has an even more prized side-effect: it slows Henry down!

He can run in it. That’s not the issue. He’ll run or jog occasionally while wearing the coat, but he does not sprint non-stop around, under, and over fallen trees and bushes. It is a glorious thing to see him walking politely even in the squirrel-infested park!