Long Time No See!

Hi everyone!!!

I know it's been FOREVER since I've posted! I'm afraid summers are always super busy and I got a little caught up with my first year at college and whatnot! So far I'm loving college, especially because it's close enough by that I can continue to live at home and therefore live with Mandy :) We certainly have stayed busy over the summer though! Mandy and her brother have gone to countless rodeos for my sister! They're definitely her biggest fans! This morning Mandy and I went to visit a nearby daycare to teach the kids there about trick-or-treating safety! She did a great job in her ballet costume and the kids absolutely adored her! It was certainly a big day for her! We'll also be going in costume to a local Elementary School to have the students read to her! Mandy always has a great time visiting and sleeps for about ten hours straight upon arriving home. :) She's super excited for Friday and we should have pictures to come! In the meantime I have a question for all of you dog owners out there: How do you and your pet feel about animal clothing? Will you dress your pup up? A better question...Do they enjoy being dressed up? As for Mandy she really does enjoy it. She's the first animal I've ever seen that truly loves to wear clothes! She gets so excited and jumps around every time we got out an outfit. She of course has to wear her vest in public so I know she associates that with visiting, however she gets excited over other clothes too!



xoxo,
Mandy & Rebecca!

Dog Poisons! (again)

Ok, so I know I've already done a post on dog poisons, however Shine from Yahoo just came out with another article listing foods that are poisonous to both dogs AND cats. Some of the things I already knew, however there were a few new things on the list (new to me anyway) It also gives more information on why the animal can be allergic to it! If you want to read the original article, you can go here.

Posions:

Avocado (any part of the plant/fruit)
Onions, onion powder, chives, and garlic
Grapes and rasins
Yeast dough (or uncooked dough)
Left-over bones
Foods with a high fat/salt content
Coffee, Chocolate, Alcohol
Sugarless candy (aka food containing xylitol)
Macadamia nuts

Personally, I was quite curious about a few of these. I mean, is grape juice also poisonous to pets? I would assume so. The avocado also surprised me. I've also heard that whole peanuts are poisonous to dogs but not peanut butter? Oh well, I guess a little more research for another post. As for our dogs, we rarely give them people food and they usually aren't too pushy about it. The one we actually have trouble with is our horse, Tux. He has eaten everything from hotdogs and potato chips, to root beer (he can drink straight from a can or straw!) and birthday cake! We have to be very careful with him at rodeos! One time my sister set a can of Mountain Dew down on the fender of the trailer, she then turned around to pick up something from the ground and he wrapped his lips around the can, tipped his head back, and sucked out all the Mountain Dew! Before she noticed he set the can back where it was and she didn't figure out what happened until she picked it up to drink out of it! Lol. He's also good at stealing hot dogs from you without you noticing! (that's right, just the hotdog, he leaves the bun and wrapper)

Mandy's Monday

Hello Everyone!

I don't have much to say today, other than to ask you to head over to Scout N' Freyja's site. Have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day and I will see you back here next Monday!

Licks and Kisses!

~Mandy

Busy! Busy!

So I'm sorry it's been so long between posts lately! I will be graduating this Friday and I'm super excited but also super busy trying to fit everything in! I took Mandy to the local flea market this morning because I felt a little bad that I haven't has as much time for her as I usually do! As usually she absolutely LOVED visiting with all the people. The kids are by far her favorite! (I think it may be because of their obvious enthusiasm) It's amazing how a dog can really bring everyone together and start conversations. I don't know how many people told us stories about their own pets, or other Corgis they knew! It's a great way to establish bonds and friendships (as well as get better deals, lol) Mandy was even excited to find that they sell dog toys at the flea market! ...Until of course it squeaked and she decided that the cantaloupes looked WAY more interesting! lol. Unfortunately I forgot to bring my camera which is a shame since she sat so pretty for everyone! Oh well! I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day and stay safe!

Mandy's Monday!

Hello Everyone!

Becca is keeping her promise which means it's time for another Mandy Monday! Becca and I had a great weekend! Since the weather has been VERY warm, hot, ABSOLUTELY SWELTERING these past few weeks, I have been enjoying the pool immensely! I know I am only allowed to swim whenever one of my people are there with me, but they like to swim just as much as I do, so I'm not complaining! Even though I am an excellent swimmer (if I do say so myself) Becca is still paranoid that I will wear myself out and drown. She decided to buy me a doggie lifejacket, so that I won't get as tired when I'm playing in the pool! Well the first jacket she got was WAY too small for me! I normally enjoy wearing clothes but let me tell you, this baby pinched in all the wrong places! She finally exchanged it for a size larger and I wore it around the house for a bit to get used to moving in it...

 Unfortunately I moved in it a little too much and gave Becca very hard time trying to take my picture!

At this point I would happily show you some pictures of me swimming in the life jacket, however the moment I tried to jump in, the whole thing shifted, I got my feet hung, rolled onto my side, and made very pitiful noises while Becca tried to untangle this crazy thing from me! She thinks part of the problem is that when I got wet, all my normally poofy hair deflated, causing the jacket to become looser. This, coupled with my exuberant swimming/struggling only made the situation worse! Anyway, she let me spend the rest of the pool time in the buff so as not to traumatize me anymore. Overall I had a great time in the pool! One of my favorite things to do is to jump in and swim after Becca!

Sometimes we make so many waves, we accidentally knock the raft out of the pool. That's fine with me though, that thing just gets in the way and makes funny noises when Becca tries to lay on it!

After finally catching her she really likes it when I lick her in the face! Sloppy pool kisses are the best!

Another fun thing to do is to jump in at the same time as Becca! I didn't like this at first because I thought for sure that Becca was drowning and it was up to me to save her by nipping at her heels! She showed me though that jumping in can be a lot of fun as we do it together a lot! There is, however a technique to jumping in! First we both have to get out of the pool and stand about 10 feet away, then Becca makes me sit until she gives the release word. (Yes, everything turns into a lesson with her around). After sitting for what feels like forever, Becca will say, "Ready, Set, GO!" The release word here is "GO!" This is when we run to the pool and jump in at the same time!

Becca really likes this picture because it looks like I'm running in mid air!

 Here's another good 'mid air' one. Too bad Becca's big behind is blocking the shot! Lol

Sometimes though I get a little nervous and rather than jumping in the pool before Becca, I just stop in front of her. It's actually quite entertaining because then you get pictures like these where Becca has to pull a hop, skip, jump, and tumble maneuver in order to keep from falling/jumping on me. By the time she makes it in the pool, I have worked up my nerve enough to jump in after her...right on her head of course :)

Becca loves to let me swim with her because it is a good way for me to get some exercise. She used to have a Beagle Mix that would run and ride her bike with her when she exercised, but my thick hair makes me get so hot so fast! This is a good compromise for us both because I get the exercise I need to keep me healthy, and she isn't always worried I'll have a heat stroke in the process. It also helps me to not be as scared of the camera because it associates a fun activity (swimming) with a not-so-fun one (modeling). My little brother, Cole likes to 'swim' as well, if you can even call it that anyway...

He discovered that if he simply jumped in and stopped moving his legs, one of the humans would hold him up in the pool. Cole, being the lazy bum that he is loved this, the humans however, did not! In order to allow Cole to be a part of the action, they bought him a boat to float it! (And yes, the boat is pink, when will these people learn??)

He likes the boat because he can still be 'in' the pool without actually doing any work, and the humans don't mind as the boat eliminates substantial blow drying time!

Here he is flashing one of his one-of-a-kind "Cole Grins." What a lady's man!

 

Yeah, Becca thought this was hilarious, so I threw it in just for her!

Well I hope my Monday brought a smile to your face! If not I at least know Cole enjoyed it! Lol. Well this week is the last week before Hurricane Season starts here in Florida (I know, super scary!) So I will be living it up as much as possible before the afternoon thunderstorms start up again. So far we've been pretty lucky and only had one or two a week! Wish us luck though that we we'll be spared from any hurricanes this year! I wish everyone a very happy week and I can't wait to visit back next Monday! 

Laterdays!

 P.S. On a more solemn note please don't forget to visit MAXMOM. She had to wish goodbye to beloved MAXDOG today, and I'm sure she could use a few words.

Mandy's Monday!

Greetings All!

Hello everyone, Mandy here! As I'm sure you are aware, today is Monday, and after much debate with Becca, she agreed to let me have Monday's posting all to myself! You see everyday Becca leaves me home all by myself to go do whatever it is she does without me! I thought I would take the opportunity to check out everyone else's blogs! Well you can imagine my surprise when I found out that Maggie is completely in charge of her own blog! (yeah, SOOO not fair!) After quite a bit of 'heated debate' she said I could do my own posts on Mondays. As I'm sure you've already noticed, the design of OUR blog has changed quite a bit as well! I was shocked that my poor, delusional owner had chosen such a boring background, and I had to help her spice things up a little! :) You can thank me later, Becca.

Right now it is raining pretty hard, so I thought I would take some time to write this and take my mind off things. You see, I am NOT a big fan of thunderstorms! They kind of scare me a little, and as it is my job to make sure everyone stays safe, I have a lot of work to do during the thunderstorms! I am a Corgi, so I was bred to herd sheep. I've got short little legs, so the easiest (and smartest) way to do this is to nip the noses of the animals (rather than run around them like a nut constantly). Although I by no means insult my dignity by  actually doing this type of work, I do take it upon myself to herd my family. (Indoors of course) It usually starts with my brother, Cole. During the rain it is absolutely necessary that I herd him to a safe place. He's a little thick and often has a hard time figuring out exactly where this 'safe place' is. Sometimes he gets tired of my biting his nose and will proceed to shove it under the couch, therefore making it inaccessible to further herding. After I am satisfied with Cole I usually move on to Becca. Occasionally she will be asleep during this process in which case it is necessary for me to give her multiple 'nose nips' before she will wake up. Sometimes she thinks that by pretending that she is sleeping I will just give up, but she is sadly mistaken and desperately needs to work on  her acting skills. After she wakes up she'll try to calm me down. Most of the time she lets me cuddle under the blanket with her. I don't quite know how but it makes the lightning disappear everytime! Once the lightning goes away I usually feel better, but I still have to poke my head out and check on her every few minutes. For some reason the rest of my two-legged family finds this whole process quite entertaining. One day I will help them to fully understand the gravity of the situation but until then I suppose I will continue to single handedly protect my family. After all, without them I would never get to eat!

Best Regards,

Help Clean the Oil Spill!

As many of you know, I live in Florida, so the oil spill just off the coast has been BIG news around here! It is truly sad just how many animals are being hurt, along with the environment, but there may be a way every dog owner can help! There is a company that is currently collecting human hair, pet hair, and feathers in an effort to soak up and 'corral' some of the oil. Evidently hair is super absorbent and great when put into mats and booms. This article give some more information on how it works. I thought this was great because with four horses, six sheep, ten chickens, one rabbit, three dogs, and a cat things can get a little 'hairy' around here. (haha) They accept all kinds of hair and Mandy and Cole both shed so much every day this is a great thing to do with the hair we would just be throwing away. In order to find out how to donate, you will need to sign up in order to find out where to ship your hair. For a complete set of instructions please visit this website! Although there is a slight ick factor here I definitely think it is for a great cause as it may help save many animals! Please check it out!

A Doggie Masseuse?

So when Mandy and I went to the 4-H district events the other night, we happened to meet a really interesting man. He was telling me that the Shitzu they used to have had terrible back problems. In an effort to relieve some of the dog's pain, the man met with a dog masseuse that taught him some dog massage techniques. At first I thought he was a little off his rocker, but when he reached down to pet Mandy, I quickly changed my mind! She immediately began to relax and I could tell she loved it! He said that nearly all dogs respond the same way! The masseuse who taught him to massage a dog's back showed him how it could be done using very little pressure. This way, you can't accidentally injure your pup by using too much pressure. I have done a little additional research on my own and it sounds like a very interesting topic. There appear to be multiple techniques. Some massages are meant to remedy certain things (such as an injured back, hip, or paw) other massages are used to prepare sport dogs for events such as agility. The type of massage that appeals most to me is the kind that is designed to help the dog relax. It sounds like a wonderful way for you and the dog to spend some quality bonding time! I've done a little research so far and here is some of the information I have found:

This article discusses some of the benefits of a therapeutic dog massage.
This one offers classes and workshops (at home as well) on how to massage your dog.
This article extensively discusses trigger point on humans, dogs, and cats.
And last but not least, this one gives advice and instructions on how to massage a dog.

I think it ultimately sounds like a good idea as long as you are careful not to injure your dog. Only light massages should be done by an amateur to ensure the safety of your pet!

Does Breed Matter?

This is one of the questions Mandy and I are asked everywhere we go. Because Mandy is a Corgi, she's a little "height challenged" lol. This surprises many people because they usually expect a large breed dog such as a German Shepard. We especially get funny looks when Mandy and I go visit places with some friends of ours since her therapy dog is a Pit Bull. Contrary to popular belief ANY breed of dog can be registered through Therapy Dogs Incorporated. The only "dogs" that are not allowed are dogs that have been bred with coyotes or wolves, or are full coyotes or wolves.

Many people also think that dogs such as Pit Bulls are naturally prone to violence and aggression. This is simply NOT true. The dog's temperament has NOTHING to do with breeding and everything to do with training.  Saying that one breed of dog is bad and should not be allowed to live in an area (yes this was a real political issue in Florida) is like Hitler saying that all Jews are bad and should not be allowed to live. This is stereotyping. Cash, the Pit Bull Mandy and I visit with, is an intact male who is not only extremely well behaved, but one of the friendliest dogs I have ever met. The reason Pit Bulls are used for fighting is because of the way they are PHYSICALLY built, NOT because they are naturally prone to violence. In fact, the criminals that train these dogs to fight must go through a lot of work to get them to act as they do.

 Mandy and Cash at Mandy's therapy dog graduation!

Cash loves to give kisses to EVERYONE! One time I stepped on Mandy's paw accidentally. She yelped and Cash acted like Scooby-Doo trying to get away! Such a clown!

It may be true that some breeds have a tendency to do certain things. (i.e. many Golden Retrievers learn new things very easily, or some Dalmations have a tendency to bond with one person more quickly than others) any dog is capable of anything! Training is very important and the breed of dog is really up to the handler. There are a few things to keep in mind though.

1) With smaller breed dogs it is important to remember that you will probably have to pick them up quite a bit to visit with people who can't bend over. (such as people in wheelchairs, beds, walkers, etc.) If you have back problems or struggle to lift your dog, you may choose to opt for either a large breed dog, or a very light small breed dog such as a Chihuahua or a teacup breed.

2) If you, a family member, or anyone you plan to visit with is allergic to dogs, you may want to use a hypo-allergenic dog, such as a poodle.

3) Size does matter! If you have a small car and a large dog, things could get very interesting! Also keep in mind that larger dogs will probably eat more, and possibly require more room to exercise than a large breed.

As for Mandy and I, Mandy is first and foremost a pet and secondly a therapy dog. I don't recommend purchasing a dog just so it can be trained as a Therapy Dog. If you already planned on getting a dog and think Therapy Dog training may be in your future, you may want to consider these things. I also don't recommend purchasing a dog at all! Like I said, TDInc. allows ANY breed to be registered including mutts or mixed breeds! Check out your local animal shelters for a dog that needs a good home. Rescue dogs are often some of the sweetest pups and should not be overlooked! I got Mandy and her brother from a family in Jacksonville, FL. Their owner had developed dog allergies, but she still cared for the dogs very much! She wanted them to go the same home, and of course wanted them to be happy. We are still in touch with their old family and are thankful Mandy and Cole didn't have to be separated in a shelter somewhere. Mandy and Cole really do love each other and I think they're glad to be with us.

Speak...sort of.

Okay so no, I haven't yet taught Mandy to "speak" in the usual sense of the word, however she's managed to teach me to! As a member of 4-H there are many competitions I am able to participate in. Today I went to a speech competition where I gave a speech about Therapy Dogs. Mandy of course had to come with me! I think she had a great time! She loved being able to visit with all the people, and since it was a 4-H event she got to play with kids (our favorite!) Everyone had tons of questions and I think we did a great job spreading the good "therapy dog news" lol. Her favorite part of the day was probably eating lunch at Beef O' Bradys! (We had to get her some chicken strips) She seemed to also enjoy and awesome step team from the Macdill Air Force Base. She worked very hard today and was exhausted once we got home. After a quick nap to recover she had a great time swimming with her little brother in the pool! I really love to do this type of educational work and I hope we inspired and informed many people!

 The school we went to had excellent facilities as well as stiff competition!

Okay, so we had to steal some ideas from Maggie and take a picture next to the bright red fire hydrant!

Mandy did a great job during the awards ceremony but I'm afraid she was a little confused as to why everyone kept clapping! lol (and yes Maggie, this picture was taken using a flash! of course it's the only decent one of six pictures, but I was still pretty proud!)

Yay! I won a blue ribbon and will be advancing to the State Competition! I can't wait to go tell more people about how wonderful Therapy Dogs are!

Time to Socialize!

Mandy had a big day yesterday! My sister, M, and I took her around town yesterday to help us pick out a Mother's Day Present! ~Happy Mother's Day Momma!~ Anyway, I had to take her to the brand new Pet Supermarket first! We definitely found a few things we need to purchase :) Can't wait for the next pay check! lol.Mandy did a great job! She loved watching the hamsters and ferrets play and wanted to catch the birds until the cheeped and scared her! She especially loved the treat aisle :) After that we stopped at Lowe's, Wal-mart, and Sonic. She had a great time at all the places. She was a huge hit with all the kids, and we got to spread the word about the work of a therapy dog! She still gets sad that she can't sit in my lap while I'm driving but she had a great time! It's really good practice to have your dog experience many different places--not just the nursing homes or hospitals we normally visit. When we got home Mandy was exhausted but I know she had a great time and helped us find great presents! (I'd share but we've got to keep the secret until Sunday!)

Suggested Reading!

While shopping at Tractor Supply the other day I found a great new book on dog training! The book, 
101 Dog Tricks, is written by Kyra Sundance and includes dog tricks for different types of dogs, skill levels, and more. The book is easy-to-understand, has great tips, and is really interesting! (I know, I'm starting to sound like an infomercial!) Mandy and I will definitely need to test out some of these tricks! Please check it out! I got mine for around twenty dollars at the local Tractor Supply.

http://www.healthypetboutique.com/servlet/the-788/101-DOG-TRICKS-by/Detail

Dog Poisons!

Unfortunately, dogs have a habit of eating things they aren't supposed to. Whether it be kitty litter or crickets it is important to look out for your puppy to make sure they don't ingest certain things!

1) Certain plants. There are a surprising number of plants that are actually poisonous to dogs! Most reputable stores (Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart) can tell you if the flower you are purchasing can hurt animals, however it's usually wise to research plants native to your area as well. Some of the plants we have trouble with here in Florida includes Lantana (common garden flower) and Soda Apple (pesky weed).

2) Chocolate! Most people know that chocolate should under NO CIRCUMSTANCES be given to a dog. Just a little bit can do a lot of damage and too much can actually prove to be lethal!

3) Household Cleaners. Make sure you keep all cleaners out of reach of your pets. You may also choose to use "green" or "natural" cleaners when cleaning areas where your dog has easy access. When mopping keep your dog away from the area until it is dry and use a natural cleaner in case she decides to lick the floor!

4) Medicine. As with cleaners make sure you keep any and all medication where they are unable to reach it!

5) Insect/Rodent Poison: Rat poison, cockroach spray, etc. is very dangerous for your dog. Keep these things out of reach or use a humane trap to catch mice whenever possible. "Sticky" traps are good for catching mice, and although your dog may look a little funny when he accidently sticks his tail to it, it generally won't injure him. Keep in mind that the dog doesn't need to necessarily eat the poison in order to experience negative effects! A dog that eats a rat that has eaten poison, may inadvertantly poison himself!

6) Snakes, frogs, lizards, slamanders etc. Certain types of reptiles or insects may also make your dogs sick. Frogs are a particularly bad one here in Florida. Research the poisonous wildlife in your area and see what can be done about prevention or treatment.

7) Coins, small toys, magnets, etc. Make sure you keep any small object off the ground if you are worried your puppy my eat it. Magnents can be especially dangerous so call the vet IMMEDIATELY if you suspect she ate a magnet.

8) Antifreeze! Antifreeze is very dangerous to dogs and should never be in reach of any pet! Call the vet if your dog has swallowed antifreeze. If it was swallowed less than two hours ago he will probably ask you to attempt to induce vomiting. (See below)

Prevention:

Keep poisinous items out of reach of you pets, or put child locks on cabinets containing these things.

Symptoms:

Unsual behavior such as excessive running and jumping. A lethargic or aggresive attitude. Unexplained change in stool quality. Excessive vomiting. Eating grass. Excessive drooling or slober.

Treatment:

ALWAYS call your vet if you are worried your dog may have eaten something that has made him sick. Ask him if he would like you to administer hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. NEVER induce vomiting unless the vet has instructed you to do so, vomiting can in some cases cause more problems. If is generally not useful if the poisonous item was swallowed more than two hours ago, or if your dog swallowed any sort of household cleaner.  If the vet does suggest that she vomit, 3% Hydrogen Peroxide may be used (Not hair-dying strength peroxide!). A syringe is the easiest way to administer the peroxide. Your dog should receive 1 teaspoon per 10lbs. body weight. After administering, wait for 10 minutes and if nothing happens ask your vet if you should give more peroxide. *Syrup of Ipecac is generally not recommended of use in dogs.

My Story:

I used to own a Beagle mix named April. She was a rescue dog that had been starving when she was found. It is common for dogs that were once emaciated or starving to eat everything possible because they will carry with them the fear that they may not get another meal. April would eat everything in sight if you weren't careful, usually without chewing it. One day I walked into the bathroom to discover that she had gotten a tampon from the trash and eaten the entire thing! (I know a little gross, but I promise it's a truly valuable lesson) Anyway I immediately called the vet. He told me NOT to induce vomiting because the tampon may become lodged in her throat on the way back up. Instead he told me to feed her as much vegetable oil as possible to help "lubricate" things. As I mentioned she'd eat anything so she had no problem drinking the oil. As the oil began to work it's magic she definitely looked like she didn't feel good however, everything began to pass through rather quickly. We had to watch her all night to make sure nothing became "clogged" and she remained "lubricated" for a few days but she was ultimately okay! We always made sure our trash cans had dog-proof lids after that!

Basic Training Tips

There are a couple of points you should remember when training your dog in order to have a successful training session. A few of these come simply from experience, and others are the tried and true methods you can find in any dog training book.

1) Make training fun! Use your "happy voice" when training with your dog. (Yes, it really does make a difference) Also make sure to end your training session on a positive note, and with your dog wanting to do more! Even if the dog didn't pick up the trick quite as well as you want, or if you only spent 5 to 10 minutes training it all makes a difference!

2) Don't use "NO!" I'm not saying you shouldn't correct your dog, however try not to use the word "NO!" every single time the dog doesn't perform a trick correctly. Reserve the word for times when they are truly misbehaving or are in danger so they realize they need to stop what they are doing NOW! A light-hearted "Whoops!" goes a long way in keeping both you and your dog from getting frustrated and the dog will still understand the basic concept.

3) Have your treat/reward ready! A huge part of training is making sure you reward at exactly the right time! It is important that you don't spend too much time fumbling in a pocket for a treat, toy, etc. You may consider wearing a fanny pack or pouch on your belt to hold treats. Also, only reward while your dog is performing the skill correctly. (i.e. if you are teaching "sit" reward the dog while he is sitting, not after he stands up)

4) Be consistent! Use the same style/color leash and lead while training or working, and a different one during playtime. The dog will begin to recognize that one of them indicates that it's 'time to work.' It really does make a difference!

5) Bond with your pup. Play, hold, groom, or pet you dog as often as possible! Like with training, only do this while it is fun, don't force your dog to bond! Take your dog out with you whenever possible. Mandy loves to go for walks and she's a huge hit at the flea market and rodoes! This will get your dog accostomed to being in many differnet loud or noisy situations.

Motivating Your Pup!

So motivation is definitely key when it comes to teaching your dog new tricks and skills! Unfortunately, what a dog is most motivated by varies depending on the dog! The Pasco Paws therapy class didn't allow 'cookies' to be given to the dog while in the facility, however we did use treats during the initial training at home. Green beans, cheese cubes, bits of bread, and hotdogs are all great treats! (The green beans are useful if you are watching your dogs weight because they are very low-cal!) Unfortunately, Mandy's interest in these treats would wain after only a few minutes. I soon found that although treats were a good starting point, she seemed to enjoy my praise and attention just as much! Alternating between treats and praise proved to be the most effective form of motivation! I've also heard of people using a favorite toy or game to reward their dog. Mandy loves to fetch the ball, however she loves fetching the ball so much that she would focus more on the toy than on the task I was asking her to complete! I still use the ball as a reward, but only after we have completely finished our training session!

How Mandy and I Got Started...

Mandy and I became interested in Therapy Dog training when a lady I know gave me some information about it! She also graduated form the Pasco Paws program with her Pit Bull, "Cash." I didn't think too much of it until I was in the hospital a few months later. Although I was only in the hospital for about 12 hours I realized how boring it can be! This was what made me realize how kids who suffer terminal illnesses must feel when they must spend weeks or even months in the hospital! I decided that I would train Mandy to be a therapy dog so that we could bring a little joy to some of the children I met while in the hospital! We are registered through Therapy Dogs Incorporated. If you are looking for therapy dog classes in your area you may have to do a little research to find them! You can visit the Therapy Dogs Inc. website and search for a Tester/Observer in your area, or you may have to ask around at different dog shows or nursing homes to see what is offered where you live!

The Family

Just thought I would give everyone a little background on my family (both the four-legged and otherwise). I am 18 and currently living with my parents while I attend a college nearby. We live in a very rural community so we have plenty of land for all of our animal brothers and sisters. My younger sister, "M," is 14 and is the one who takes care of Mandy's brother, Cole.



Cole has such a personality! He is such a goofball and always keeps us smiling! He loves to flirt with everyone by "grinning" at them and he will "talk" to you if he's not getting the amount of scratching he thinks appropriate.



We also have a short-haired, short-legged Jack Russell Terrier named Trish. She is pushing 14 or 15 and is currently living a life of ease consisting of sleeping, eating, followed by more eating. :)
We also own six sheep, Lucy, Ethel, Lula, Snickers, Pansy, and Jeanie. The sheep are used for breeding purposes so I'm sure you will see some future posts of the baby lambs! (Despite the fact that Mandy and Cole are bred to be herding dogs, they are absolutely terrified of the sheep! Mandy will stand behind me to bark at them.)

Mandy and Cole meet the Sheep!


Lula, the first lamb born on the property!

Snickers! The first multi-colored lamb!

We also have three paint horses. Leo's Tuxedo or "Tux" is a Quarter Horse that my sister rides in different rodeos in our area. They participate in barrels, pole bending, goat tying, and breakaway roping.



Colby Saturn or "Colby" is a Tennesse Walker that we mostly use for trail riding. His patience makes him and AWESOME trail horse but his need to snack on EVERY SINGLE WEED can get old! lol.



The horse I mainly use is another Quarter Horse named Whiskey. He is still very young and we are in the process of training him. It takes a village to train a horse! My sister and I are also active members of 4-H so we raise pigs for the county fair. Mom also has nine hens since she LOVES fresh eggs. We also adopted a rooster, Zero, after my aunt had to "rescue" him from her cats!!



Francine is the cat that adopted us when she was just a few weeks old and has been with us ever since!


My sister also has a rabbit Daisy who is 9 or 10 now! I know it sounds like we have tons of animals but each one of them get as much attention as possible are a major part of the family!

Welcome!

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog! My name is Becca and my dog is named Mandy. Mandy is a 4-year old Pembroke Corgi. We got her and her half brother from a family in Jacksonville about a year ago. A few months ago I decided to enter her in a Therapy Dog class in my neighborhood. As a member of Pasco Paws you attend classes once a week for a few months and visit different nursing homes and libraries three to four times throughout the course. Mandy is certified through Therapy Dogs Incorporated and is also a Canine Good Citizen. I know how difficult it can be to find good training advice for your therapy dog so I hope my blog helps those of you that have an interest in having your dog certified, or would just like to teach your pup some basic obedience. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions. We would love to hear what you have to say!