Where are the updates?

Yes, just where are the blog updates here?

We have been very busy in the Brew Crew house! And we have been documenting it! But we just haven't found time to post that documentation  :)

I am teaching agility classes 2 nights a week right now - actually since April. But this last session on Tuesdays has been by myself so it takes much more time for me to get everything planned out & set up.

Then on Thursdays we have our herding lessons. I generally share a lesson with someone so I'm there for about an hour & half, vs. the usual hour. Then I walk the dogs either at Sandra's, Keeneland, or the Woodford County Park afterwards. While Porter is usually tired from the lesson, Stout still needs to be tired out  :)

Once I add in the random doggie chiropractor appointments, our weekly walk/hike at Veteran's Park (not my video, but found it when searching for a link), and Stout's training time (we are working on our Graduation Video now!), I'm just cramped for time!

We've been gone to herding & agility trials on the weekends too. We even had my nephews in town this past weekend. I figured I'd just treat them like the dogs: "A tired dog is a good dog." Nope, apparently doesn't work with the kids. I tried to wear them out, but a tired kid is a cranky kid  :)  Actually they were very good & we had a blast. Stout LOVED them.

As my fellow bloggers know, it's not the blogging itself that takes the time, it's the photo/video uploading & editing. Maybe I will delegate this task to John since he is home during the day now!

But rest assured, I will be updating the blog this week! I've got a lot to post about!  :)

Triple Crown Winner?

In anticipation of the Belmont Stakes & a possible Triple Crown winner, I took the Brew Crew to our local racetrack, Keeneland, for a photo op.

Unfortunately, I'll Have Another was just pulled from the Belmont. Oh well, why let some good photos go to waste?

Keeneland is a beautiful track. Unfortunately I was low on battery & didn't get near the photos I wanted...

Looking out over the track

Up in the stands looking toward the finish line

Imagining the chasing the fast horses...

A quick bite to eat in the paddock

So civilized

Yes, I'm talking to you Mr. Fancy Pants!



Stout the Sheepdog

Stout got a chance to do a little herding today after Porter's lesson. Luckily John was there to capture the moment  :)

Attitude: Yours is only as good as the people around you

It's time for the Dog Agility Blog Action Day! Today's topic? Attitude.
I thought about this all day & had so many ideas... And I read some awesome blogs about it (personal favorites are listed at the end). But when it comes to attitude, nothing bothers me more than being around people with bad ones!

Now I'm not a saint. I've fallen victim to a bad attitude many times (sorry about dinner at the last trial Melanie!). But the bulk of the time mine is pretty darn good. I don't complain, I don't have temper tantrums, and I know that nothing comes without hard work.

And I surround myself with people who have similar attitudes. Especially at agility trials.

(agility friends with good attitude)

We all know someone with the bad agility attitude: "this course is impossible for big dogs," "I can't handle this, it's outside the Awesome Paws Handling System protocols," "my dog is an idiot!" I could go on & on & on.

(check out the "bad attitude" on my friends in the back!)

You can hang out with these people, but all your good attitude is going to do is either annoy the living crap out of them, or they will wear you down until you’re at their level. No matter how good your attitude is, you can’t force other people to share it – they’ll just use it as more fodder for their lack of a good attitude.

I always say people don’t change. Or more specifically, you can’t make people change. It takes some sort of crisis, or intense soul-searching & inner-reflection, or good therapy for someone to change. It comes from within. It’s the same with attitude.

So I'm not going to change these people. But I can choose to stay far, far away from them.

(more "good attitude" agility friends)

So here are a few blogs that I read regularly that have much better posts on attitude:

Full Tilt Border Collies - Don't Be An Ass :)

Agility Engineer - Does Your Attitude SAG?

Team Small Dog - The Thing About Attitudes

Secret's Journey - Work Hard, Play Harder



But there are a ton more! Click here for the full list of blogs participating.

Wordless Wednesday: The Stick

Is That A Prairie Dog?

Nope, it's just Stout!

Update on the New Cardi-Mobile

It fits the 2 crates!

We had to order the new crate for Stout, no more baby crate...



There's even enough room for the ex-pen!

It's no "Stout Perch," but he can still see out the front...

We tested it out on our drive to Cincinnati for our herding lesson. It was so much more comfortable to have both safely in the crates. Dana gave me an idea to keep from scratching the back bumper as I load & unload too. May have to send John to JoAnn Fabrics tomorrow...