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December 27, 2009–what a difference a few days make!!!…

December 27, 2009 on 1:04 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments

December Snow… we were buried and a week after the historic snow, we were still buried and it was icy and hard to get out for a decent walk… mind you, the dogs didn’t know that, so three walks a day were still on their radar screen….  and thank goodness, I only had one fall that caused actual soreness in my body and limbs… it could have been worse.

Last week and all the way until Christmas Day:  

 

 

The snow was pretty and fun for the first few days, then I was tired of it and ready for bare ground and safe footing…  I thought we would have the snow until Spring, but two days of solid rain and temps in the low to mid 40’s took care of all but the biggest pile of snow… 

 

and the same shot today:

I’m guessing after today’s warmer temps (in the 40’s), all the snow, even the piles, will be gone… and none too soon it seems, as the weather people are already talking about the storm expected over New Year’s Eve…  I’m hoping for wet, not snow or ice…

After two weeks off from training, Charlie and I went tracking this morning.  What with the lack of snow and the wet, warm ground, it seemed ideal to begin our SchH III phase of training…  I laid a four-leg track, with an article on each leg and food sporatic and fairly often (every 20 or so paces)

Charlie found the corners (rounded), but he was  a step off the track at times (I guess the wind fooled him)… and when he made the turn into the wind (2nd leg) he false indicated an article….  I guess he smelled it and went down…. I didn’t correct him, I just didn’t reward him and he went to the article and downed and I made a point of giving him a big food reward…  He completed the track–not a stellar performance, but he found the articles, he found the turns and he completed the track…. we will begin working more often, which always helped him in the past…. two weeks off didn’t sharpen his desire, but it didn’t leave him wondering “duh, what am I doing here” either…  I needed the break, so I’m glad we went two weeks without training.  No formal training until Jan or so, but I will begin a tad here and there around the house and the fields nearby and track when weather permits (that is, when the snow is not a foot deep on the ground)…

I expect I will post in or around the new year, if not, everyone have a Happy New Year.

Lyn, Zelda and Charlie Brown

Charlie with his momma, Zellie, in her pretty new “house” coat that Santa brought her for Christmas.

Christmas Eve 2009 “It’s On”…

December 24, 2009 on 10:47 am | In Uncategorized | No Comments

December 24, 2009

 

“It’s On….”

A White Christmas!

 

Charlie checking out the lower field by my house… and the three of us…

When the snow began, we rejoiced… it was and is beautiful….  However after the fourth or so time of shoveling my walk way to the street, the sidewalk in front of my house, my car, the street in front of my house (no plows come down my little deadend street) and then helping both neighbors on each side of my house who have bad backs, then doing my porch and front so the dogs could reach a tree…  let me just say the Ibuprofen stock went up on the Stock Exchange, driven by fools like me overdoing…

Sidewalk from front door to street… still a few more inches to go.

Back deck….

 After a full day of shoveling, walking Zellie (who acted like a six month old puppy) and Charlie Brown (who acted like a fool—no age limited required), we retired to the house and the warmth of a hot chocolate.

 Outside, as night fell,

 We all enjoy our fireplace…

 It was lovely and after an evening of watching the snow, off to bed we went…

But remember the back deck…

 Oh, somewhere around 11:30pm, me in my long undies and already in bed, Charlie decided he needed to go outside…. And the doggie door was blocked by snow and the deck and backyard were not shoveled… and of course he could not forge a path to the nearest tree so he could piddle, oh no, he needed to whine and be a baby boy. 

 When it became evident to me that he would not relent, I got up and trudged downstairs to put on my boots… and force my backdoor open and commence  to shovel all the way from the back door, around the deck to the doggie door and from the doggie door to the steps, down the steps, around the backyard and tree, so my whiny-butt boy could go out and piddle….  Thank god it was dark, because I’m out there in long underwear and snow boots, but no coat and I’m shoveling….  Mind you, I live in Baltimore City, not the boonies… the good news was most sane people were inside having the last drink of the night or already in bed and not outside shoveling in their long underwear so they could not see me or commiserate with me…

 

The next morning Charlie checks out my handywork…

As is the Kargaard tradition, I will celebrate tonight with a special dinner for me and the guys, then we will sing (no Kargaard has ever been accused of having a good singing voice, so I’m sure the dogs will take cover) and we will open our presents and rejoice in our good fortune.

It is Christmas Eve (morning) and I am sitting inside, writing this missive and thinking about all the joy in my life and wishing everyone as much joy as possible in the new year.  May peace be a reality.

Looks like a white Christmas in Baltimore

December 22, 2009 on 11:14 am | In Uncategorized | No Comments

Last weekend we had 21 plus inches of snow…. I don’t think it will melt anytime soon although Christmas Eve into Christmas Day the weather is looking like sleet and rain which could make a dent in the snow and might create a new mess.  The dogs and I will snuggle in for the duration, with forays to the local fields for walks (we have beaten down the snow to allow us to circle the fields, while leaving the middle untouched for the most part)…  still pretty deep, even with all the compacting over the last 3 days, so walking is much easier if you stay to the beaten path.

Zellie got her Christmas present early (or at least one of them)… I got her a wonderful “house coat” from Clean Run made by Foggy Mountain.  It is GREAT and Zelda wears it in my house (temps are cold for an old gal).  She is much happier and warmer.  Charlie doesn’t need one in the house yet, although I might get him one just in case.  I highly recommend these coats.    Just copy and paste the link below if you want to see the coat.

http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=2104&ParentCat=155

Charlie Brown has added a new title to his name: VPG II

December 16, 2009 on 3:25 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments

Sunday, December 13th, 2009  
5am… ugh… and rain… a scenario that just screamed for me to put my pillow over my head, pull the covers up tight around my neck, throw the alarm out the window and go back to sleep, surrounded by my two bed-buddies, Zellie and Charlie Brown…but I didn’t…

Sigh… I got up and quickly got my gear, my dogs and my butt out the door, into my car and on the road to the trial tracking grounds… no coffee because I was sure it would make me have to stop on the way and I didn’t want to be late!

It is very dark at 5:00 am! It was just barely light at 7am… Tracks were laid and we were done by 8:15am… Charlie passed… more later

Obedience and a light rain… Dobermans do not like to sit in the rain on the wet, cold ground… heck alot of dogs don’t like to sit on the cold, wet ground.  It is totally amazing to me how tightly Charlie can pull his gonads up when the need arises… his butt did touch the ground in obedience… Charlie passed…  more later

Jurgen did the helper work for Charlie Brown and after all was said and done, I thought to myself…. a helper’s job is to be safe, to provide the dog the opportunity to do the best job possible and to help showcase the dog’s strengths when possible. Jurgen did that and more for Charlie. We passed… more later 

This is what I posted to a  doggie list serve…

 I believe most of the people who know me, know that Charlie Brown is an AKC Champion and that showing in the AKC breed ring is important to me… part of what Charlie is doing in Schutzhund is special because he is from AKC conformation lines, not working lines, and I want people to realize the Doberman can and should be able to be built to the standard, to have bone and substance, to move correctly and to know that there is a reason conformation is important… because we want our dogs to work and to be built to “last”… We also want our dogs to have the proper working temperament, while being able to be a part of our day to day household. Charlie Brown and Zelda are my family and must interact with friends and neighbors in social settings.

Charlie Brown has officially added the VPG II title to his list of accomplishments! That is the second level in Schutzhund and we will begin working towards the third and highest level in the Spring… We hope to someday be the sixth Doberman with an AKC Championship and Schutzhund III title and one of the first to be owner, BREEDER, handled and trained to both his AKC breed majors and two of his singles, owner, BREEDER, handled and trained to his AKC obedience titles (he is one leg short of his CDX) and owner, BREEDER, handled and trained to his Schutzhund titles.

Schutzhund has to be one of the hardest sports I have ever completed in with a dog! It is three different venues and the training is intense, all year round and outdoors in rain, snow, sleet, heat and cold! The sense of accomplishment is wonderful!

Charlie’s scores reflect the hard work he has put into getting this far!

Tracking 91 out of 100
Obedience 92 out of 100 and Highest Scoring Obedience in Trial
Protection 96A out of 100 and Highest Scoring Protection in Trial

Charlie got High VPG II in Trial, High in Trial (over all dogs that competed)…. And the awards mentioned above (High Obedience and High Protection).

We went home with four trophies and a huge smile…. Charlie ate very well Sunday night! I am still on Cloud nine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Holidays to one and all….

December 4, 2009 on 4:10 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments

December 2009

Dear Friends and Family,

When I was young, especially about this time of year, I would bemoan the slow march of time, the dawdling step by dawdling step, rather than the head-long plunge from Thanksgiving to the year-end holidays.  Now, as a not so young “kid”, time seems to barrel past me and the new year comes and goes and I scratch my head in disbelieve that 2009 is almost gone and the final year, of the first decade, of the 21^st century, of the 3rd millennium is upon us.

January - Silly Charlie Brown

 

February – Happy Valentine’s Day

March – Happy 4th Birthday Charlie Brown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April – Happy Easter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May – Happy 9th Birthday Zelda…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 June – Fun at my bro’s place in SC

 

 

 

 

July – Patriotic Dogs

 

August – Charlie playing with Jurgen in the Potomac

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September – my guys enjoying the last of Summer….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October – The Dobermeister Mummy 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November – Happy Thanksgiving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December – Happy Holidays

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has been a wonderful year.  Zelda, Charlie and I are healthy.  Charlie is working diligently towards his Schutzhund II title.  Zelda, arthritis and all, continues to romp and play and maintains her status as the top dog in the house.  As for me, I enjoy my work, my dogs, my house, my family and my friends.  I’m addicted to the show “Bones” on Thursday evenings, I’m making leashes as an outlet for my desire to make something with my hands.  I am only one year shy of Six-O, my hair has turned silver (for the most part) and I am happy. 

I wish each of you health and happiness and many more years with your good friends and family.

With love and affection,                                 Lyn, Zelda and Charlie Brown