Staying Busy

Its been 1 week since I left Uniblab, and I cant believe how busy I have been! I spent a few days this week helping Shannan paint the new training studio which, by the way...I am terrible at. I think I got more paint on my clothes and on the floor than I did on the wall. Thanks Shannan for being so patient with my lack of skills!

I started my new job at the at the shelter and I am so excited to be a part of such a great organization! I have a lot of work to do and cant wait to jump in this weekend and get started.

My good friend Jill recruited me to take her friends golden puppy, Rumford, through a breed handling class. Since I know squat about the confirmation ring, I am excited to learn everything I can. Jill gave me numerous books on confirmation showing and handling from her extensive library, which I have been slowly pouring through. Its somewhat overwhelming and although I have no visions of my future in the show ring, I am quickly learning that running around the ring properly is a lot harder than it looks. And I draw the line at putting dog bait in my mouth to get the dog to look at me...thats just gross.

Toss in a spending my days hanging out with my own dogs and being able to eat dinner with my husband every night, I have to say its been a stellar week!

things...they are a'changin

Last week I gave my notice at my uniblab corporate job and, as of January 26th, will be employed with the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland as the volunteer coordinator. If that's not enough, I am also in the process of jumping back into teaching dog classes.

My reasons for leaving Uniblab were pretty simple. I wanted a job that was not only was in a field I could feel good about, but was also conducive to my dog training life. And I think I have found it. My only worry with working at the shelter is that I will end up with 8 cats and 6 dogs so I will need to practice self control. I am sure my husband will help keep me in check :)

My dog training business is called (of course) Canine Kinship and I will be teaching at Finish Forward Dogs in Saco, a brand new facility opening in February. I love new dog training center smell! New floors, and clickers and chairs...oh my! I hope anyone (is there anyone?) who reads my silly little dog blog will check out the websites and maybe even sign up for a class.

So I say 'Au revoir' Uniblab and all its gray cubiness. I trade thee for dog hair, and dog slobber and finding dried bits of cheese in my jean pockets. I happily trade my uniblab ID badge for scrubs, cats climbing on my desk and all the crazy chaos of shelter life.

I think its a pretty darn good trade. Woof!

Levitating Corgi

I think my dog is related to Criss Angel or maybe Doug Henning. Somehow he can move from room to room in my house without ever making a sound, which is pretty incredible since his feet are the size of small dinner plates and he only stands 10 inches at the withers. If you have never met Gimli, he is a funny little guy. He is small for a cardigan corgi, only about 28 lbs. But an excellent ambassador to his breed. He is friendly, but doesn't over do it....unless you have a treat. Or anything that resembles a treat. Or have your hands in your pocket like you are going to give him a treat.

When he is tired, or pouting (hows that for being anthropomorphic?), he shuffles his front feet and sounds like an old man in slippers. Sometimes we call him grandpa., like in the Waltons...'goodnight Grandpa'..which I think he takes slight offense to.

But somehow, this short dog, with the giant feet is able to move like a butterfly and flutter from place to place without us ever hearing him. Like when I am sitting at my computer in the bedroom with my back toward the door. I glance over my shoulder to confirm there isn't a tail or dog ear lying next to the wheels of my office chair, and I see nothing. I glance back 10-15 seconds later and (insert dramatic music) there is a little red corgi face staring back at me. He is able to this in the kitchen too...one second no corgi...I turn around another second and there he is, lying in the middle of the floor like he has been there for hours. My only explanation for this phenomenon is that corgis can levitate. My theory is that during the evolution of the breed, the need of levitation grew out of the lack of having legs. Its part of the corgi secret weapon package. Cute face, funny body, big eyes, good disposition...oh and levitation.

At least Gimli hasn't gone so far as to use his super secret power for evil. He has yet to counter surf, or open the kitchen cabinets. Lets just hope he doesn't have secret thumbs...or else I am in big trouble!