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