Fall Festivities

Good morning audience,

Well it has been almost a month since my last entry.  Mom and I have been pretty busy.  My mom also has been battling some illness, so I have had to serve doctor duties, and didn't want to press my luck with asking to do a blog entry.  We have been enjoying the cooler temperatures.  I especially have been enjoying riding around in my convertible.  I always find it funny that all these 2-leggeds point and giggle when they see me going down the road.  Then I figure it must be because they haven't ever encountered such a cute dog.  Mom says I definitely know how to turn on the charm. 

I hope that I get to continue to go for fun car rides throughout the fall season.  I get to go to dog school three days a week.  Now some of you may think, "wow Boca, you must have a lot of homework to do".  Not really!  My mom is apprenticing to become a dog teacher.  So on Monday night's I get to go and be a "demo dog".  This is a lot of pressure!  All the dogs in the ring and their 2-leggeds are staring at me waiting for me to do something amazing!  Last week, I think I clowned around too much though.  You know trying to make my performance filled with humor to hide that I was nervous that I would mess something up.  I have to own my smartness, and that mom and I have worked hard for me to be able to enter, compete and even win some dog trials.  Speaking of which, my mom entered me into two Rally Excellent trials on October 26th at my school and then two more the following Saturday November 3rd in Joplin.  I can't believe that I am already up to an "excellent" level.  Wish me luck!  I also get to go to dog school on Tuesday mornings to practice and learn my Rally Excellent skills.  Then on Thursday mornings I go for Agility.  My mom tried to get a video of how much I have improved in agility during my last class, but the 2-legged operating the camera hit the wrong button.

In addition to my school outings, I have been hanging out with a new 2-legged family.  Mom said that they heard about me and wanted to meet me.  So, I am always game to meet my new fans, and any chance for a car ride is a fun!  So during my last visit with Jill and Hal, mom snapped some pictures of how good I am at making any place I visit comfortable.

I really like their carpet as I think it matches the color in my fur specatcularly.  I don't get the purpose of hard wood floors.  I have a hard time walking on the hard wood no less jumping. My new friend Hal sits in a cool chair, so I asked my mom if I could sit in a chair too so that I could be closer to eye level with Mr. Hal.  She agreed and helped me into a chair (I couldn't jump myself because it was on hard wood).

 Even the chair matches my fur! I go nicely with their home!  Mr. Hal and I had a nice chat session.  We agreed that neither one of us would share with mom our discussion. Sometimes conversations are meant to be shared with "just the guys".  Mr. Hal uses a cool talking computer to talk to mom!  I wanted to get a closer look, and Mr. Hal was okay with me hanging out in his lap for a little bit.

We are quite a handsome pair.  Mr. Hal even dressed to match me!  I think I could figure out how to use his talking computer....well if I wasn't so wiggly.  It has been so much fun to make new friends.  Mr. Hal said I was even cuter in person.  This man knows his stuff!


Mom and I hope to get some new pictures of me in action at school soon.  Until then, keep checking back!

Keep those tails waggin'!

Boca

Redecorating

Hello everyone!

It has been a pretty uneventful week for the most part.  My mom hasn't been feeling so good.  She keeps talking about allergies or something like that.  I have 2 weeks of vacation from school, so I decided to follow in my mom's paw prints and redecorate my room of the house.

I had a small event happen this week too.  My mom came home from work one day to say hi to me and make sure all was well.  Well....I freaked her out a little. I somehow cut the top of my left eye and well it was a little bloody.

Fortunately mom is friends with a veterinarian, so she snapped this picture and sent it to Dr. Suzanne.  I told mom that I was fine and it was no big deal.  She got a damp wash cloth and cleaned me all up.

And then I was good to go!!

I then convinced mom that I needed my car seat cushion repaired or remade.  It was getting in very sad shape.  So mom went to a fabric store and picked me up some new foam and some cool dog friendly fabrics.

I think that we did a great job! I can hardly wait to put it in my cool wheels and go for a ride around town.  I think the dog bones will go nicely with my seat covers!

Then came today's project of getting all of my awards rearranged in my room.  I have started all of my agility endeavors and won a bunch of ribbons and got a "degree" from UKC.  So here is what the walls of my room look like now.

 This wall has all of my family tree on it, as well as my Most Improved Dog and Handler award.

 This is my wall of Rally titles!  I have my Rally Novice and my Rally Advanced titles and ribbons.  I also have some fun pictures up.

 I have started my Agility wall.  I am proud to show off my UKC agility Degree and ribbons.

This wall as my regular obedience title "Companion Dog" and ribbons.

I have quite a bit of space in my room again now that mom has moved her office stuff out of it.  I am hoping that she'll get me new carpet in my room for my birthday in November.

Until next time...Keep those tails waggin'

Boca!

Summer Recap

BOCA's BACK!!

Well my blog is anyway. I am so sorry that I have not made any updates this summer. I have so much to share. I think I will spend today putting up some pictures with captions. I hope to get my mom back on a schedule where she will make my blog a priority once a week. She has had to start back to school, which means she won't be home as much, but it puts her on a schedule. We both like being on a schedule.

In the month of July, my mom went on a "family" trip. I have to put family in quotation marks because I didn't get to go, nor did my other 4-legged feline family members. So it must have been a 2-legged exclusive kind of event. Mom told me that they were going to bury Granny and GGP. I knew Granny!!!! When I went to visit her, there were all kinds of 2-leggeds who liked to pet me and discuss how cute and charming I was. Granny was the bomb though! She would let me sit on her lap in a recliner and lick her face and hands! It would make her laugh, which would just make me want to do it more.

I'll miss you Granny! Anyway...while my mom was gone, she had some neighbors come and hang out with me, as well as "Uncle Pat". I had seen the kid neighbor across the street, but had no idea he was so much fun!!

My neighbor, 2-legged friend, and dog school! Mateo was nice enough to come hang out and play with me at my house while my mom went on a family trip to New England.

The other cool thing about Mateo is that he has 2 dogs at his own house! He and his mom actually let me go over and meet them and hang out.  They were so nice to share their dog bed with me.  We got along just great!

Hanging out with Cylus and Sage at their house!

My mom's 2-legged friend, Pat, who refers to me as his little buddy, would also stop by while my mom was away. He was always fun in wanting to play in the back yard with me. Sometimes he would throw a toy and I'd go get it and bring it back. Sometimes he'd throw a toy and I 'd sit to wait and see if he was going to go fetch it. And other times he would throw a toy and I would grab it and take it back inside.

Even a speedy dog has to slow down when playing outside when it's 115 degrees!!!

When my mom came home from her trip, I was so excited to see that she brought me back a true New England toy! I got my very own Statue of Liberty bear to play with! Thanks Mom!!

It's always fun to get a new toy from mom when she comes back from a trip!!!

The most exciting series of events for the summer occurred the weekend after mom got back from her trip to Washington DC.  I competed in my first United Kennel Club (UKC) agility trial.  I competed in what they call AG-I.  Mom told me that I would get to run 2 different agility courses on Saturday and then 2 more courses on Sunday.  I was so excited.  Mom was a little nervous because I had spent the week at Gramma and Granddad's, so I wasn't following my normal schedule the week before this competition.  I have made huge leaps and bounds in my agility class (yes pun intended)!  I was ready

Well during the first agility course, I rocked out each obstacle.  Mom said that I got a perfect score of 200!!!  I was so excited. Mom told me that I would get a placement because I was one of only 2 dogs to get a perfect score in my group.  The tie breaker then comes down to time. I got beat by about 2 1/2 seconds on the first course.  This qualified me for second place, which means I got to pick out a new toy!!

Very proud of my 2nd place finish and qualifying score in my first UKC AGI trial ever!  Don't you just love the monkey I picked out.  I do!

Then we ran the 2nd course. I told mom she better be ready to go. I wasn't going to lose based on time again! So off we went. I did awesome on the second course too, doing everything perfectly. I wound up with another perfect score of 200, and had the fastest time in my group. So I took First Place!!!! I was so excited and proud of myself, and then the tiredness kicked in.

My second qualifying ribbon, first place ribbon, and the blue creature I picked out!  This one has a squeker in it!

On Sunday I had to get to school early. It turns out that my division was going to go first, and we began at 8 am. I wasn't really in the right zone when I had to go for the first time on Sunday. I wound up getting a little crazy at the start. I only scored 196, but it still qualified me for my UKC AGI title!! I was so excited to finally have an agility title! I also managed to squeak out a 3rd place finish, and got to choose yet another toy.

The awesome red and white ribbon indicates that I got a new Agility Title!

Four runs, four new toys!!! What a great weekend

I pulled it back together for my second run on Sunday, but decided to sit before going across the teeter totter for dramatic effect. Turns out that when you stop forward motion on the course the judge can take points off. I wound up with a score of 199, and a second place finish. I really had fun during the entire weekend. Agility is tiring but so much fun!

I finally got a haircut in mid-August.  My shaggy do was too hot!!! I still love riding around in my convertible.  I was stoked to show off my hairdo to all who wanted to check me out!

Mom and I have been working on a major room renovation this summer.  I have made several trips to Lowe's.  I have helped pick out the color, wood, curtains, and on the most recent trip the carpet.  I was so excited about the fact that soon my house would have carpet that didn't smell like any other dogs or 2-leggeds!! 

 

Here is the carpet that I picked out in my house.  Doesn't it match my fur??  I will have to share more about my latest school happenings and give some more information about the home improvements that mom and I have been up to. 

 

Thanks for checking in! I hope that it won't take so long for my next entry, but I will do my best.

Until next time, keep those tails waggin'!!

Boca Bear II CD, RN, RA, U-AGI

School's In!!

 Hi everyone!!!

I've been a busy dog for being on summer vacation from school! First of all I thought I would show off my "summer haircut".  I like it! I still look like me, but don't have quite as much fur so I'm not so hot.  I have had a great time tooling around in my convertible.  It is now starting to get a little toasty out, but since I have dog school in the evenings now I hope to be able to get in one ride a week with the top down.

 With the home renovation projects going on, mom has moved the computer into "my" room.  Since mom is moving into my territory, I decided to take over the 2-legged chair that really looks much more like a dog bed to me. It's been quite comfy.  I like hanging out in my room while mom works on the computer.

 I went to a new veterinary for my yearly check up.  It was cool, it was actually one of mom's 2-legged friends who I've met before.  Dr. Suzanne!  She is mom to a cute girl dog Blanca, who likes to say she's my girlfriend.  I am okay with that.  Her mom was so good to me while at the vet's office.  I got all of my shots and took all of my medicine like a good dog.  I showed great bravery and personality.  Mom took this photo of me above to show how relaxed I was during this visit.  Typically I am scampering to be close to mom while at the vet.  It can be a little nerve-wracking as it is always uncertain what is going to happen next.  Not this trip, I was just hanging out and letting all of the staff at the office comment on my cuteness.

 In addition to practicing my school homework, I have been supervising mom's home office makeover.  I am starting to think that maybe I could get mom to trade rooms with me.  She can take over my room, and I can have the new home office.  The only downfall, there is no dog door to the outside from the home office.  Maybe mom and I can just share it.  It's been fun! Mom is working hard, and granddad comes over and helps too.  I have learned that the sound of "tools" aren't really that scary.  I almost sleep through them, I mean I'm very calm during my supervisory duties.

My school classes started back this week!  Mom took this picture while we waited at a stoplight on my way to agility class on Thursday. I really love going to school. I hope to get good at agility so that the next time I compete I will be super ready. 

Other than that I am just doing my best to get through the dog days of summer.  I hope everyone is well.

Until next time...keep those tails waggin'!

Another Title!!! Boca II CD RN RA

I did it! I earned my 3rd qualifying score in Advanced Rally at the Mid-Continent Kennel Club Round Up dog show.  I am going to have my mom combine some pictures from Friday's not so great performance and yesterdays success, just so you can get an idea of what I had to do and how it all went down.

First things first, mom takes me to the trial. As you can see there are dogs, and crates, and chairs, and people everywhere! It can be quite overwhelming for everyone who enters.













Then mom goes over to the ring that I have to do my thing in and signs me in (since obviously I can't write with paws) and gets a copy of the course I will have to do on that day.  The picture here is the course I did on Saturday to get my 3rd qualifying score.  You can see it's quite complicated and challenging.








This is what it looks like while mom and I are on the course.  I am supposed to be hanging out right beside her.  These pictures are from Friday's attempt. 
















I was right where I was supposed to be in this picture.  Right next to mom and trying to pay attention to where her legs move.













This is a picture that shows what it looks like when I get distracted.  I got a little bit ahead of mom, and then as you can see the orange sticking up behind me, I missed one of the signs.  I did a good job of paying attention to mom on Saturday.  I got a little ahead once but when she called my name I went right back and got in line.  You can see from the pictures there are 3 rings all connected so there are other dogs walking around and people moving and it's a lot to take in.  The other big thing are these gray mats! All of the 2-leggeds have commented on how gross they are...us dogs agree, but we can't help but sniff them.








 This was my judge on Saturday.  He was a nice man and smiley.  He didn't make nervous at all when I was in the ring with him.












He gave me my green ribbon, which indicates it was indeed a qualifying score!  Since I got my title, I won a travel mug too.  I'm not too sure how I am supposed to carry that around or even get my nose in it to try to drink out of it.  I guess I will give it to my mom.  She said she would buy me a new toy if I gave it to her.  I was pretty excited, as were many of my dog friends and 2-legged friends from school.  It was so nice to do well at the trial and get all of the pawsitive feedback!









One special thing about Saturday is that I got to see my friend Thor!!  I think he grew another foot or 2.  Mom took a picture of me and Thor and Thor's dad.  Thor was competing in Rally Novice.  For a first timer I thought he did pretty well!
















 I wanted to give mom one of my serious looks to show how studious I can be.  This is my look of knowing I earned my title, rather than my previous look of shock and enthusiasm.  I thought this was going to wrap up our day at the dog trial, but mom had another plan for me...













 I had to get my 2nd measurement for agility.  This is a scary contraptions.  I really liked getting measured on the table at Bridle creek better than everyone hunched over me with that silver stick thing on my back.  Obviously this picture isn't of me, this is the Corgi that was in front of me in line. You can see his mom is having to help him out too, just like I needed my mom to help me.  I was measured at 12".  My first measurement was 11 3/4".  All that means is that I now will always officially jump 12" high bars in agility.  My mom knew that already, phew.

I took the rest of Saturday off and celebrated my new title with a nice nap and a car ride with mom.  On Sunday and Monday I will give it a go in agility.  Mom says it's all pressure free.  That I just need to try it out with a big audience and people walking around and clapping and stuff.  We are just gonna go out there and have fun and entertain!

Keep your tails waggin'!

Not my best

Hi all,
Well I have to admit that I forgot how hard it is to be in competition at the QuikTrip Center.  Mom had uncle Pat video record my performance.  The first 3 signs went great, and then after that well I just got caught up in the environment.  You can take a look for yourselves:

Thee good part of the course CLICK ON ME

The not so good part...click here

Needless to say it wasn't my greatest performance.  Watching it back mom says that we probably should not have been excused from the ring, but I guess when I went too close to the exit gate that was it. 

I have another "test" tomorrow.  I'll let you know how that goes...

Til then, keep your tails waggin'

Odds and Ends

Well hello everybody!
My mom has been really busy wrapping up the school year.  It's not that I haven't been doing anything lately, despite how the picture may look, but finding time where I was awake and alert and my mom was awake and alert and not busy has been challenging.  My mom is officially on her "summer break".  I, however, am not.  I am actually getting ready to have a very busy school weekend, but I'll talk about that more in a few. 

I have been working hard at school in both my Advanced Rally and Novice Agility classes.  Mom and I have been working so hard at school, that there aren't any recent pictures of my skills in action.  Perhaps after next weekend that will change.  Outside of school, I have been helping out mom lots.

On the weekends in April and May, I went to mom's work with her and helped guard the door so no one would be able to sneak up on here while she got her work done.  She had to write tests and grade papers.  Mom shared with me that she is going to try to write a children's book with me as the STAR, oh I mean main character.  That will be exciting and I am going to make sure to keep my paws in the mix.  I don't want to be misrepresented.

Mom has been really watching what she eats and trying to be healthy.  She has stated that I am on a doggie diet too, really?  So when it was a little cooler outside without so much sun, I took mom down to Riverparks for a walk.  I was such a good pacer!  There were times that I felt mom was starting to slack off a little, so I would move a little quicker and pull her along with the leash that connected us.  I didn't bark and any bikes, people, or other dogs while out on the walk.  I knew that I had a job to do...get mom exercising.  As you can see from the photo my mom took, I was working hard and my tongue was really hanging out.  The awesome part of this job was that when we got home, mom had made me some special doggie frozen treats that tasted like cheese!!  It was cold and one of my favorite flavors.  I hope the weather stays cooler in the morning or evening so I can continue to take my mom on walks.

Mom has also been working to get our house cleaned up.  It got pretty messy there as school was winding down for mom.  So while mom worked inside I, of course, guarded the outside of the house.  Now don't get me wrong, mom let's me have play time and does take breaks to play with me.  When I'm guarding the back yard, sometimes my friends come over to say hi.  My backyard friend by the shed is known as "Big Dog Friend" to my mom.  I don't really want to disclose his true name because he may not want anyone to know.  Next door in the back yard, there are 2 boston terriers that love to play "run the fence" with me.  I have actually got to play with them in the front yard a little bit too.  I think I prefer when there is a fence to run.

For now, I am trying to rest up, and thankfully mom is letting me, for my next dog trials!!  Coming up this weekend (Memorial day weekend), I will be competing in 2 different types of shows, 4 days in a row!  I am going to be competing in Advanced Rally on Friday and Saturday, and then my first Agility trial on Sunday and Monday.  This dog show is down the street from my house, so I won't have to go for a long car ride to get there.  If I can get 1 qualifying score out of the 2 days in Advanced Rally then I will have another AKC title.  My official name would then become:  Boca II CD RN RA.  I am only competing 2 days in Agility, so no chance of getting a title in that this weekend, but I could get a qualifying score, or two.  However, mom says we are doing the agility stuff this weekend just to get a feel of what it is like to hop in the ring for the first time for a score, with no warming or sniffing around or anything before hand.  I am a little nervous, and so is my mom, but we'll go and have a GREAT time! You are welcome to come watch.  There will be tons and tons of dogs around.  I compete early in the morning on Friday and Saturday and around 1-2 o'clock on Sunday and Monday in the agility ring. 

I am hoping that mom and I will find time to update you on my performances immediately following the trial.  Until then, keep those tails waggin'!!