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One trial in the Books!

Thanks for the support and photo Tammy Morse!

We Did It: Stanley’s First Agility Trial!

Sorry for the delay on this! I just realized I never published it! Next trial in less than two weeks! I think I’m addicted!

Last weekend, Stanley and I completed five runs over two days at our very first agility trial—and we survived! More than that, we had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and even came home with a first-place ribbon, and more importantly, points on our record!

Most of the weekend went about as I expected for a first trial. There were nerves, lots of new things to take in, a few moments that did not go exactly as planned, and plenty of lessons for both of us. But we also managed to earn one qualifying run, or “Q,” which means Stanley earned points toward a future agility title. To make it even more exciting, we took first place in that run!

I am so proud of my little teammate.

A Warm Welcome

One of the biggest things that stood out to me was how fantastic everyone was. What an amazing community!

I walked in on the first morning loaded down with a folding dog crate, treats, blankets, snacks, a chair, and everything else I thought we might possibly need. I am sure I looked like a deer in the headlights as I wandered around searching for a familiar face.

Several people I had never met stopped to say hello and asked how they could help. Everyone was supportive, patient, and kind. That made such a difference, especially when I was feeling a little overwhelmed and trying to figure out how everything worked.

The trial itself was very laid-back and friendly, which made it a wonderful learning environment for a first-timer. I could tell that people genuinely wanted to see one another succeed. it was amazing hearing people I knew and didn’t know cheering for Stanley!

Stanley’s Big Weekend

I was also a little worried about having Stanley measured before the trial. The judge could not have been kinder. He did not even mind when I asked him to remove his baseball hat, since hats can sometimes set Stanley off. That small bit of understanding helped Stanley—and me—feel much more comfortable.

Stanley was excited all day and clearly had a great time. He loves agility, and that enthusiasm definitely came through in the ring. Sometimes, though, his excitement got the best of him. He did not always stay with me, and I had to work hard to call him back and keep him on course.

That is all part of the learning process. We now know we have plenty to work on, especially coming back to me at the end of a run. I definitely do not want to hold up the next team because I cannot get Stanley out of the ring!

Still, I would much rather have a happy, enthusiastic dog who needs to learn a little more focus than a dog who does not enjoy the experience. We will keep building that teamwork one practice at a time.

Lessons and Motivation

I am so glad we went, and I am relieved that the first-trial jitters are behind us. It was a great reminder that trials are not only about ribbons, Qs, or perfect runs. They are also about learning how to handle a new environment, figuring out what skills need more practice, meeting wonderful people, and most important of all – having fun with your dog.

The weekend gave me so much motivation to work harder and level up our skills. We are back in classes, working every day at home, and focusing on the things that will help us become a stronger team.

And we already have more adventures planned: I have signed us up for another trial in October and one more in November.

Team Stanley—we can do this, as long as we keep having fun!

Agility Diaries: One Week to Go!

One week from today, Stanley and I will most likely have finished at least one run of our very first agility trial. I cannot believe it is only a week away. Yikes!

I also cannot believe I signed up for a fourth run. At first, I entered three games and no Standard agility, but then I realized that a Level 1 Standard course should be a very reasonable challenge for us. In class, we are usually working on much harder courses—often Level 5—so adding the excitement, stress, and energy of competition to a Level 1 course feels like something we can attempt.

Of course, we will see if Stan agrees!

Four runs may end up being a little much, but I can always scratch one if he seems tired or overwhelmed. I could also use one of the runs as practice time: get into the ring, work together, and make it a positive experience without putting too much pressure on either of us. We will see how the schedule goes and how we are both feeling.

We had class again last night, but the weather did not cooperate, so we were indoors. It was not Stanley’s best night. He has not been indoors in a while, and I think all the new smells, close quarters, and dogs hanging around near the course were very distracting for him.

His first run was pretty awful, honestly. But after that, he started to figure it out and listened much better. That is what matters. The new start-line routine—simply putting him down and going—is still working fairly well. I would still love to eventually have a reliable start-line stay, but with competition only a week away, I think it is more important to use what is working now. We can keep refining the stay after the trial.

Today there is no class, and it is absolutely beautiful outside. I am hoping to make time this afternoon to set up a small course in the yard and do a little practice. I keep the jumps very low so we can work on focus and discipline without putting unnecessary strain on his little body.

Tomorrow should be a fun adventure. A little roadtrip, and we are going to watch some of our friends compete, which will be great experience for me—and good exposure for Stanley—without asking him to do much physical work. On Sunday, I am hoping to find time for some simple obedience practice.

Then next week, we only have class on Wednesday. Maybe I can get out to the outdoor course for a little practice Thursday evening. Some walks and obedience practice on the off days.

And then Friday… yikes!

Stanley and I are definitely not going into this trial expecting perfection. My goal is to have fun, keep him feeling confident, and hopefully finish at least one run together. Everything else will be a bonus. This first trial is about learning what competition feels like and celebrating how far my little guy has already come.

Agility Diaries: T-Minus 9 Days!

With our first agility trial about two weeks out, it hit me: I should be keeping a journal of our training journey. Probably should’ve started this back at day one, but hey, the next best time is now! I’ve mentioned agility here and there before, but from here on out, this is officially our agility journal.

We had a great class tonight. Only two dogs showed up instead of the usual six, which felt very strange, but it meant extra time in the outdoor ring and some one-on-one coaching.

Stan was fantastic tonight. Not perfect, no, but he was listening, and honestly, that’s all I can ask for. My biggest challenge with Stanley right now is his (non-existent) start line stay. We’ve been working on it in class and at home, setting up one or two jumps and practicing wait, jump, wait, jump. We’re also practicing “wait” without any jumps or obstacles at all. The trouble is, the second we’re in the ring with other dogs and people around, he gets so excited that all he wants to do is run. He forgets to listen and tears around the ring with the zoomies! Fun for him, not so fun for me when I’m trying to direct him through a course.

The thing is, he doesn’t have to have a Start Line Stay to be a good agility dog. Tonight we tried something new: I carried him into the ring, slipped off his collar, and set him down right in front of the first obstacle instead of letting him build up steam beforehand. For the most part, it worked! He took off and followed my direction through the second obstacle and beyond.

We also worked on treats. In training, Stanley gets rewarded constantly, first after every obstacle, then gradually less often. But in competition, no treats are allowed in the ring at all. Tonight, I gave him a treat outside the ring when I picked him up, and then we ran our whole course treat-free until he was done! The one exception: he got distracted and wandered off at one point, so when he came back to me, that earned a treat too, and then we finished the course.

I did some work of my own tonight, too, on handling skills. The big one is being intentional about where I’m pointing and guiding him: leaning down to his level and being crystal clear about where I want him to go, using my body to direct him instead of just my words.

Speaking of words, there are two things I need to work on there. First, being quicker to call out the next obstacle. The moment he commits to one, I need to give him a heads-up on what’s next, because the faster he knows where he’s headed, the faster he can run the course.

Second, my trainer suggested I trim down my commands. I’ve been saying “Go jump” or “Go tunnel,” but really, all Stan needs is “jump” or “tunnel.” Dropping the “go” gets the command to him that much faster. I gave it a try tonight, and it’s going to be a hard habit to break, but I could already tell how much it’ll help, especially once the obstacles get closer together.

We have another class tomorrow night, so our sessions are overlapping for two weeks straight. I’m looking forward to trying all of this again and seeing how it goes.

On Saturday, some of my agility friends are competing in Maine, and I’m planning to go watch. The weather looks great, so Stanley’s coming along too — he’ll get some car-crate practice, a chance to walk around amid all the excitement, and a fun car ride to boot. I can’t wait to watch a trial before we compete ourselves, especially since two of my trainers (and some other friends) will be out there running. Nine days until our first competition, yikes!

Dog Freedom?

Does anyone give much thought to their pet’s freedom of choice? I read an article a year or so ago about how walking your dog is an experience for them. Sniffing stimulates their brains, and by allowing them to make some choices on a walk, we’re giving them a small bit of freedom.

I don’t have a fenced yard, and I don’t really trust Stanley to be loose in it. I do take him off-leash in the yard when we’re training, but I keep a close eye on him. He also gets some off-leash time when we’re playing fetch outside, but I can’t just let him wander — he would eventually take off into the woods, and we have a lot of wildlife around here.

An article I saw recently talked about how little freedom most dogs have. They live in our homes. They’re fed on our schedule. Walked and let out on our schedule. Playtime on our schedule, training also on our schedule.

I’ve been trying to come up with little, safe ways to give Stan some more choices in life. Now he gets some canned food for breakfast and some dry food. The dry food is left out all day, so he can choose when he wants to eat it. When we go on walks, I try to let him have some choices. I let him stop and sniff, and I even give him some choice in what route we take.

In nice weather, he gets the choice to be outside in the sun on our back porch, or in the house with me. He has a basket of toys, so he can choose what he wants to play with.

Do you ever think about freedom for your dog? Do you have any routines where you try to give your dog choices? I’d love more ideas on ways to allow some freedom if anyone has any. Leave me some of your thoughts in the comments!

Much better alternative to the Pupsicle — and way cheaper

We started with the blue Pupsicle and while my dog Stanley loved what was inside, I couldn’t stand the toy itself. I could never get it open, even after trying the coconut-oil trick people recommend online — no luck. Eventually I gave the whole thing away, freezer tray included, and picked up this orange toy instead.

Big improvement. It’s noticeably harder but much easier to open than the Pupsicle. I haven’t tried it with frozen treats yet, but I did put a shelf stable Pupsicle type treat in it and it worked out great. I need to make some frozen treats to try.

I’ve been using bigger chunks of dried liver (the hole is a bit large for regular kibble, so stick to bigger pieces). It comes with two freeze compartments so you can make your own frozen treats too; I plan to use baby food mixed with kibble, peanut butter,

Stanley’s New Trial Gear Just Arrived!

Guess who’s got a brand new agility accessory and could not be more excited about it?! Stanley just got his very own custom fleece martingale collar and leash set from Dream Dog Designs, and I am obsessed.

We picked out custom colors just for him, and they even personalized it — so it’s 100% one-of-a-kind, just like my little guy. The fit is perfect (seriously, martingales can be so finicky to get right, but this one is exactly right), and it’s so soft and comfortable for him to wear. The quality is excellent. The fleece is soft, the buckles are smooth and everything is so well put together.

The timing could not be better either, because Stanley’s got his first CPE trial coming up soon, and now he’s going to look as good as he runs. We’ve been putting in the work on our sequences and reverse spins in class, and honestly having gear this cute just makes me even more pumped to get out there with him.

Fake it til you make it… whatever happens at our first trial, Stanley will be looking good!

It’s a Hit!

We used the new booster seat on the way to and from Agility class last night. Stan was a little confused about why he couldn’t get to my lap, but once he figured it out, he snuggled right in to the new bed! It is so plush and cozy!

The inside clip attaches right to his harness and keeps him in the bed. I love that the side facing the dashboard is taller to give him a bit of cushion if something did happen. Stanley isn’t a big fan of the AC vents, so the taller front also blocks him from that a bit which is nice. Having the side facing me a bit lower gives him a chance to sit up like this, and makes it easy for me to reach in and pat him.

And on the way home, tired after his agility runs, the side makes a nice pillow, and he can still keep an eye on me.

I think this is going to be a fantastic addition to my dog care items. So nice to not have him loose in the car, and to know he has a super cozy spot to call his own.

I’m going to try to be better about updating my Instagram, so feel free to check me out there as well at petmomma.co

Zomisia Pet Carrier/Booster Seat Review

I recently bought the ZOMISIA Dog Car Seat for Small Dogs, and after a bit of a bumpy start, I’m officially a fan.

At $29.99, the price was hard to beat, and right out of the box the outer covering felt well-made — rugged, durable, strong stitching, and not at all cheap-feeling. My only hiccup: the listing says the cushions need 24-72 hours to fully fluff up after being vacuum-packed, but mine just weren’t puffing up no matter how long I waited. I decided to take a chance and exchange it for a new one. Amazon customer service was great as usual. I had a new booster the day after I requested it.

Best decision ever. The replacement arrived and the cushions started fluffing up almost immediately — a totally different experience from the first one. So glad I gave it a second shot! I will say a review I read said to put the cushions in the booster when they have started plumping up, but not gotten to full size to make it easier, and that was really helpful when putting it together.

Size-wise, this thing is not small, but it will be great for Stan to have a little stretch room. It takes up the entire passenger seat, which is perfectly fine when it’s just me and Stan riding together. Now that the cushions have puffed up properly, it’s incredibly plush and looks so cozy.

One thing I really dug into before buying: safety. I’ve learned there are very few dog car seats on the market that are actually crash/safety tested (I found exactly one), so for this purchase I mostly had to go with my gut — and I really like how this one attaches. There are three points of attachment: canvas straps on the back of the booster for the seatbelt to run through, a strap that loops around the headrest and buckles back to the booster, and another strap that clips to two rings on the back of the booster and wraps around the back of the seat. There’s also a buckle inside the seat that clips right to Stanley’s harness, so he stays secured in his little bed even once he’s settled in.

I love that the two exterior straps have an easy-release buckle in the middle, which makes it simple to attach each side to the booster and then clip it behind the car seat or headrest. The buckles also make it easy to cinch the straps snug so everything stays put.

Installation was genuinely fast — about 3 minutes. I set it in place, buckled the two straps around the back, and ran the seatbelt through the loops on the booster. Done.

Oh, and I almost forgot — there’s a giant pocket on the front that’s perfect for stashing a leash, treats, and other essentials. It also has two handles so that it could be used as a pet carrier.

Stanley is trying it out for the first time tonight, so I’ll be back to update once I see how he takes to it. He had a booster seat as a tiny puppy, but once he outgrew it, he’s mostly just ridden in my lap or on a blanket on the passenger seat. He’s a pretty good passenger already, but if this booster is a hit — and we start taking more road trips — it’ll be great for him to have his own safe, cozy spot in the car.

Super excited to see how tonight goes!

Deep Cleaning the Catlink Scooper Pro — A Confession

Confession time: I had no idea the Catlink Scooper Pro needed a real deep clean every couple of months.

I’ve had mine for years, and it’s always done a great job with the day-to-day scooping, so it honestly never occurred to me that there was more maintenance involved other than emptying the box under it. Then my son mentioned that he’d taken his own Catlink apart to clean it out, which planted a little seed in my brain — but I didn’t think much more about it until yesterday, when I noticed my box smelled pretty bad even though I had just emptied it.

That was my wake-up call. I pulled up a YouTube video on how to take apart the Scooper Pro, and it honestly came apart way more easily than I expected. No fighting with it, no special tools — just following along step by step.

Once I got it open, I could see exactly why it needed the attention. I cleaned everything thoroughly, got into all the spots I’d never touched before, and put it all back together without any trouble. I’ll admit, I feel a little guilty for owning this thing for years without ever giving it a proper deep clean — but better late than never!

If you have a Catlink, or really any automatic litter box, take this as your sign to look up a deep-clean tutorial for your model. It’s easier than it looks, and your nose (and your cat) will thank you.

Sassy, Classy, and BadAssy!

That’s how I’m attacking this upcoming year! Thanks to Skye for the motivation.

I’ve added a bunch of stuff to my eBay listings, there are over a 100 listings now including handmade jewelry, crystal bracelets, and still lots of books. I’m hoping to add some pet products at some point, but still experimenting and learning how it all works.

Cats

The cats are doing well. I am always grateful for the everyday joy that comes with sharing life with them.

Bean’s fur is growing back quickly—possibly a little too quickly for my liking! I am hoping he makes it through the winter without needing another shave, but for now, it is nice to see his coat filling back in.

Puck is, of course, still Puck: sweet, lovable, cuddly, and always ready to make himself comfortable nearby. Some things never change, and that is one of the best things about him.

One thing I need to improve on is brushing their teeth more regularly. It is easy to let little routines slide when everyone seems happy and healthy, but dental care is important too. So that is my reminder to myself: make tooth-brushing a more consistent part of our cat-care routine. If I need motivation, remember the cost of a vet dental cleaning!

Hector

Hector is her usual cranky self. Yesterday, while I was on a Zoom call, she was screaming, whistling, chirping, and banging toys in the background. Thankfully, I do not think anyone else on the call could hear her!

First Agility Trial!

Stanley and I have been working hard, and I officially signed us up for our very first agility trial. I am so excited! My only real goal is to show up and experience what a real trial is like. If we actually finish a class, that will be a wonderful bonus.

It is a three-day trial, and on the first day we are doing three game classes: Jumpers, Colors, and Full House. We are entering the easiest level in each class, and little Stan only has to jump 8 inches.

Jumpers is a set course made up of jumps and tunnels. We will need to complete the course within a certain amount of time—hopefully without going off course, refusing obstacles, or knocking down jumps.

Colors has two courses set up in the arena at the same time. We get to choose which course to complete, which gives us the opportunity to find the one that works best for us.

Full House sounds like it will be especially fun. There will be a variety of obstacles set up around the arena, but no assigned course. Each obstacle is worth a different number of points, and we will need to earn a set point total within the allotted time. A jump might be worth one point, while an A-frame or weave poles could be worth five points. A tunnel or tire jump may be worth three points. We can choose the order in which we do the obstacles, so if Stan decides a tunnel sounds more appealing than a jump, that is completely fine—as long as we meet the requirements!

I have also signed us up for another Jumpers class on the third day. I am thinking it might be good to give Stanley a day of rest and then return to the trial atmosphere while it is still fresh in his little mind. Of course, I can always skip the Sunday class if he seems like he needs a break.

Back to agility class tonight! We will be doing lots of practicing over the next few weeks as we get ready for our first competition.

How’s your summer going? What are you doing to keep your pets busy and engaged? Let me know!