Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from The Blue Dog! I hope that everyone is out of the snow and curled up with their families. The Blue Dog loves Christmas. We get to hang out at grandma’s house and she gives us peanut butter. Then we all go to bed and sometime during the night Santa leaves us lots of yummy treats and fun toys in our stockings. The Red Dog tried to tell me that Santa doesn’t exist but I don’t believe him. You all know that he lies a lot (except about that whole breakfast-before-a-trial-thing). I think he just wants me to feel stupid. I know I’m right about this, though. I just wish that Santa would see how naughty he is and not bring him anything good. That would really serve him right.

So far, it’s been a good Christmas Eve. I got to play with The Cowboy all afternoon while the others were in their boxes. That was GREAT! The Cowboy and I had so much fun. He crawled all over grandma’s house and I followed him. When I got tired with that I sat on the big chair and observed the action. I love it when I get to pretend that I’m an only dog. I caught old you-know-who giving me a death stare but I’m not scared of him. Especially when he’s locked in his crate.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas or Hanukkah. If you see Santa before he gets to our house please make sure to tell him that The Blue Dog was a good boy this year. I’m off to sleep with visions of bones and squeaky toys dancing in my head…

A REAL Agility Trial: The Blue Dog Loses His Mind

Sorry it’s been such a long time. I’m still trying to figure out what exactly happened to me the other week. I was right – I did get to run in an actual agility trial. It was very exciting. Unfortunately, it was a little too exciting. You might not know this about me but when I get excited I start to bark. Once I start barking, my brain just kind of shuts down. That’s not a good thing.

Mom took me to a trial in the same building where I went for the run-thrus. It was really different, though. There were a lot more people and dogs and I was really nervous. There was really a lot going on. I got to do three runs both days. I decided the first day that it didn’t really make sense to sit at the start line waiting to go so I just took off even though mom hadn’t told me to go. Plus, all of those other dogs were right on top of me and I just wanted to get away. I know I shouldn’t have done that but I didn’t get in trouble. Mom just adapted and let me run. I really, really, really like to run. Then, I decided that I didn’t need to stop on the contacts. I know better than that but it was all so exciting and I couldn’t help myself. I have to say, I was quite impressed at the amount of air I caught leaping off the frame. Maybe I should play Dockdogs with Fergus.

I really lost my mind at the weaves. I don’t know why but I couldn’t stop barking. It’s on tape. And it’s not flattering. According to mom, I barked more than 20 seconds at the weaves in one of the runs on Sunday. I guess that’s a really long time. It’s not that I didn’t want to do them. I just couldn’t. My brain was all confused by the excitement and I didn’t want to have to think. I just wanted to run around and let the judge see how much I love the game.

It’s hard to say if being at an actual trial met my expectations or not because it’s all kind of a blur. I got lots of cheese and meatballs, so that was good. I was able to hang out with mom without anyone else trying to steal my time so that was good, too. I didn’t know that I would be so stressed about it all. I guess I was just really overwhelmed by all of the dogs, people and noise. I know that mom thought I did pretty well even though I didn’t get any ribbons. I sure wish I would have gotten a ribbon. Everyone else has them. I did get a toy, though. I really like squeaky toys. At least until the BFF grabs them from me and rips them apart. So far she hasn’t destroyed my toy.

I’m not sure when I’ll get to run at a trial again. I know that dad was sad that I wasn’t at home with him and I really did miss hanging out with dad and The Cowboy. I also know that I need to work on not being stressed before I can run again. And I need to keep working on impulse control. I have a feeling it might be a while before I get to run.

As a final note, did you know that you only get half of your breakfast when you go to a trial? I didn’t know that. The Red Dog told me that once but I thought he was just saying it because he didn’t want me going to trials. It’s actually true. For once in his silly red life he was telling the truth. Leave it to him to wait until it’s about something really important. Like breakfast.

ME!!! RUNNING!!! AGILITY!!!!

Well…it wasn’t exactly a trial but I finally got to run agility somewhere other than in the yard. I really thought it was a trial because there were lots of other people and dogs. There was a course with numbers and everything.

According to The BFF, it was something called a fun match. I thought she would make fun of me because I didn’t know the difference but she was actually very nice about it. She got to run, too. It was so much fun to go somewhere with her and mom and be able to get out of the car and RUN. I know it didn’t really count but I felt special when everyone was watching me. It was held by the Central Wisconsin Vizsla Club (you know – the GOOD kind of red dog). It was so nice that they let the blue dog run. It was even better that The Red Dog wasn’t there. I bet he was at home feeling sorry for himself because The Blue Dog got to run agility and he didn’t.

There's even proof. I'M ON YOUTUBE! You can check me out at the youtube link on the right. There I am. Just a little ol' blue dog. On youtube!

I really did try my best to be a good boy. I might have gotten a little crazy a couple of times but I wasn’t stressed or anything. (Mom thought I might be worried about all of the strange people and sights but none of that bothered me at all.) I got to run twice. TWICE!!! It was so exciting to run twice.

My first run was so much fun. I held my a-frame just like we practice at home. I had some problems with the teeter. I’m not sure what was wrong but it just didn’t feel right. At the end of the run I got to take the dogwalk. There was a big tunnel just staring at me when I came down the ramp. Mom and I have worked on that A LOT at home. I don’t know what happened. For some reason I forgot everything that I knew and ran right off the dogwalk and into the tunnel. I just stopped thinking when I saw that tunnel. Can you blame me? Mom wasn’t mad. She said that I was a really good boy and my friends seemed to be pleased with how I did, too.

On my second run I tried to be a little better. I slid off the side of the dogwalk (it was really slick) but at least I didn' try to run off it. I got back on the end and held it just like in practice. I held my a-frame once and mom was so impressed that she tried it again. I don’t think she should have done that because I got so distracted by the man setting the bar that I completely forgot to stop. How could I do that? I know better. I hope I can remember all of the rules in case I ever get to try to run again. I took some extra obstacles but it was so much fun. I wanted to keep running and running.

According to what I heard mom say, she thought I was a really good boy. I’m so glad that she noticed how hard I was trying. I didn’t do my weaves on the first try but I got them on the second try for both runs. I got a little sassy and started barking but I just couldn’t help myself. Running agility is so exciting!

I sure hope this means that I’ll get to play agility some time when it counts. I want to have ribbons and letters just like everyone else. Please keep your fingers and paws crossed that I'll get to run again someday soon!

I Know - It's Been a Long Time

Hi everyone. Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve updated you on life. Things get busy, you know. Plus, The Boss has been hogging the computer lately. She says she’s conducting official aussie business but I think she’s been messing around with dad’s Poker Stars account (but you didn’t hear that from me).

It’s official – the BFF really gets to run at agility trials. We all went to Michigan last month and I actually saw her get to run. It was her first time running outdoors and she really needed to sniff things. She told me that she could smell bunnies but I don’t think she should be doing that when she’s supposed to be running. I wouldn’t stop to sniff if I got to run. I guess she did pretty well because she got some letters behind her name – NAJ.

Then, the week after that she went to another trial. That weekend I stayed home with dad and The Cowboy. She said that there were other good things to sniff but somehow she managed to get more letters behind her name. Now she’s Stargate’s Crosstown Classic NA NAJ. She thinks that makes her really special. Whatever. I say if she can’t be bothered to do her weaves at a trial then she shouldn’t try to sound so important. The rumor is that she’ll be stuck in Open forever. She ran again the other week. Mom said she did okay but I know she didn’t come home with any ribbons.

The Red Dog ran at those trials, too. I guess that suck-up is still doing a good job. He got more QQs. More Dairy Queen. Does he share with the poor Blue Dog? No. Of course not. It’s always all about The Red Dog.

Or is it? I’m trying to not get too excited but I’ve heard some talk around the house lately that might mean I get to run at an agility trial.

ME!!!!!!! RUNNING!!!!!! AGILITY!!!!!!! TRIAL!!!!!!!

Okay. I need to calm down. I tend to get in trouble when I am too excited. My brain just kind of shuts down and I start jumping up and down on anyone and everyone I see. I won’t believe it until it actually happens but I sure hope it does. Please keep your fingers and paws crossed for me that it’s really true.

Finally, I have some very sad news. The dog world lost a really wonderful dog named Buckley. He was a red dog, but he was the good kind of red dog. He had lots of fancy letters before and after his name. I didn’t know him very well but when we were at the park last year he gave me some really good advice on things to sniff and eat off the ground. Here’s a picture from last fall – he’s on the left, I’m on the right and our bratty sisters are in between. That was a good day.

Buckley will be missed by all of his friends and admirers, but by none more than Jason, Polly and Rainey.

I was naughty

I guess it’s possible that sometimes even the Blue Dog can be a jerk. Fergus came over to play on Sunday and he brought his little brother, Ryder, with him. I wasn’t very nice to Ryder. I finally found a dog more submissive than I am and I was mean to him. Mom informed me that I need to be nicer. I’m sorry, Ryder. I don’t know what came over me. I sure hope Fergus doesn’t want to stop playing with me. That would be very sad. I guess sometimes I just don’t think before I act.

I had fun playing with Fergus and The BFF. We ran around and barked. The BFF was flirting shamelessly with Fergus. I told her to be careful or he’s going to break her heart. She may be pretty and all but that blond boy is definitely a player. Fergus’ Food Lady took lots of pictures while we were playing.

Fergus and I watched over the baby dogs from the table…

The BFF flirted with Fergus by trying to steal his yellow cuz…
See? She just kept following him everywhere. It was embarrassing…
It was really hot but I got to play on the agility equipment a little bit. Here I am on the a-frame… …and on the teeter

The BFF showed off in the weaves…

…and on the a-frame

Meanwhile, The Cowboy watched all of us play. It was fun to show Fergus my Cowboy.
Fergus told me that he thinks he gets to do dockdogs next weekend. He said that all of his fans scream for him when he gets up on the dock. That must be so cool. I wish I had fans. Mom says she would take me to dockdogs sometime but she doesn’t think I would jump off the dock. I hope I get to try it sometime. I think I could jump off the dock. Then maybe I could have fans, too.

Independence Day

Happy (belated) Independence Day from The Blue Dog. It was a nice, long weekend in our house. That was good because I got to spend more time with The Cowboy. On July 3, mom and dad took The Cowboy and me to see the fireworks. That was really fun. I didn’t really care that much about watching them. It was more fun to just hang out, eat the food and watch all of the people. The Boss told me that fireworks are scary because there’s so much noise but I wasn’t scared at all. The Cowboy had so much fun watching them.

Mom said that Independence Day is a big deal. It’s a very important holiday. I’m not sure. I certainly don’t want to be independent. I’ll take her word for it, though. At least the colors everywhere were red, white and blue. Blue is the last color named because it’s the most important. So much more important than red.

I’ve heard some rumors that The Boss and I might be home alone again this weekend. I sure hope she doesn’t try to get us in trouble. I can’t believe how naughty she can be. The BFF seems to think she gets to go to another trial. I hope she does well and the butterflies aren’t flapping too much in her head. I sure wish I could go to a big agility show some time. For now I’ll just be as good as I can when we train and maybe someday mom will see that I’m a big boy.

Home Alone

It was a very strange weekend around here. I stayed at home with The Boss all weekend and everyone else went away. I’ve stayed with The BFF before and sometimes all of the dogs have stayed, but this is the first time I stayed just with The Boss. Some nice people kept letting us out and feeding us, so that was okay. I got to stay loose in the bedroom and that was a nice change. Mom and dad took The Cowboy with them and I missed him. Life doesn’t feel right when I can’t see my cowboy.

The Boss tried to tell me that mom and dad had left and weren’t coming back but I didn’t believe her. Why would she say something that mean? They wouldn’t leave me forever. I just know it. The Boss said that since we were on our own we should see what was in the closets. She moved the closet doors and started pulling out clothes onto the floor. She really made a huge mess. That didn’t seem right to me so I stayed out of the way. I was so worried that mom and dad would be mad at me when they saw the mess. They were annoyed with The Boss but mom held me in her lap and told me she knew I wasn’t responsible for it.

The BFF said that she and The Red Dog went to a trial again. I thought she was lying before but now I think she’s telling the truth. She even had a ribbon. Great. Now everyone has ribbons except for me. She said it was a lot of fun and she got to visit lots of people while she was running (like the judge and a guy setting bars). I don’t think you’re supposed to do that but she said she wanted to make sure that they all saw her and knew she was pretty. If I was able to run I wouldn’t pay attention to anyone but mom. I would concentrate so hard on being a good blue dog. I guess The Red Dog had a pretty good weekend, too. He had lots of ribbons and The BFF said that he got Dairy Queen twice. Why can’t he just screw up? It makes it very difficult for the rest of us to compete with him. Maybe he’ll really lose his mind someday. He’s a red dog, after all. I keep hearing how red dogs are so crazy. Paws crossed for that day!

The BFF told me that The Cowboy met a bulldog this weekend. The bulldog even gave him kisses. I sure hope The Cowboy still loves me. She also told me that she got to see her brother, Chopper. I guess he’s an agility dog, too, and gets to play at trials. She said he was very handsome and that his mom and dad were very nice. The BFF is so lucky that she gets to see her relatives sometimes.

That’s all that’s new from the world of the Blue Dog. Maybe something exciting will happen soon…

I think The Red Dog is losing his mind

Just a quick note from a happy Blue Dog. Last night was the Top Chef finale. I'm SO happy that show is finally over. Everytime mom and dad talk about it, that silly Red Dog thinks they're talking about him. Top Chef. Not Top Sheff. Duh. Even I know the difference. Now maybe he'll shut up and go back to his other annoying habits.

The Cowboy

This is The Cowboy. He’s the newest addition to our family. We all adore him. He was so little when he first came home but he’s getting big very fast. Sometimes he sits in the high chair and gets fruit and cereal. We have all staked out a place on the floor around the big chair. Nothing has fallen our way yet but I think it’s just a matter of time. The Boss seems confident that the chair holds the key to our dreams. Who am I to argue with her?

I love The Cowboy. I try to be very gentle with him. I’m convinced that I’ll be his favorite. It just makes sense. Every little blue cowdog needs a cowboy. That will be fun. Plus, we have the same birthday. I’m exactly two years older than The Cowboy. Maybe he’ll let me sleep in his room. I’ll be sure to watch over him and keep him safe. I bet his first words will be “blue dog”. The others will be very jealous of me but everyone will know that The Cowboy and The Blue Dog are best buddies.

The BFF

This is The BFF. Actually, she’s “my” BFF. Her name is Rival, but she is also called “Rivey-dog”, “The Rival”, “Ry”, “Urkel” and “Stop It”. She is officially known as Stargate’s Crosstown Classic. The others all have baseball-themed names. I’m special because my name isn’t part of the theme. Rival is 4 days younger than I am so I try to be a good big brother and set a good example for her. Sometimes those youngsters just don’t pay attention, though. She is the only dog in the house with a tail. She thinks that makes her special but I’m not sure about that. People always tease her about being a border collie. The horror. I wouldn’t want a tail if it made people think I wasn’t an aussie.

The BFF also gets to train agility. She probably even trains more than I do. According to what everyone says I guess she’s doing really well. She told me that she got to run at a trial the other week but I’m not sure about that. She might be lying to me. She gets distracted easily. Mom jokes that she has butterflies in her head. That might be true. If she really gets to run in trials then maybe I’ll get to someday, too. I’ve seen her practice and I have to admit that she looks pretty good. For a baby. With butterflies in her head.

I love my BFF. We run and play and wrestle all the time. I’m a lot bigger than she is but she has this side-swipe move where she can take me out. I try to act stunned when it happens but I always see it coming. She can’t fool me.

The Red Dog

This is The Red Dog. I used to be scared of him because he acts tough. Now I know he’s just a wimp but I still let him think he’s tough. It seems to make him like me more. He is called “Sheff”, “Sheffield”, “Sheffie”, “Sheffie-dog”, “The Red Streak” or “Stop Jumping on Me”. Officially, he is MACh NATCh ATCh Sheffield Bleacher Bum MAD. Whew. That’s a lot of letters. I sure hope I get to have letters some day. Many weekends mom takes The Red Dog to agility trials. When he’s a really good boy he gets to have Dairy Queen on the way home (“DQ for a QQ”, whatever that means). I wish I could have all that Dairy Queen. I’m sure I could be a good blue dog if there was DQ involved.

The Red Dog came from aussie rescue when he was a little puppy. I feel sorry for him because he doesn’t have a fancy pedigree like the rest of us. He’s the reason that mom does agility since he has loved it from his first class. I’ve heard rumors that he used to have impulse-control problems, too, but he has learned to be a good boy. I just know there’s hope for me if even a silly red dog can figure it out. The Red Dog also likes to go swimming and to chase tennis balls and Frisbees. He’s very athletic. He actually retrieves the toys so he gets to play longer than the rest of us. Suck up.

Mom and dad think that The Red Dog and I are competing for the title “Neediest Dog”. I think he’s way needier than I am. He won’t even go lure coursing because it means running away from mom. He’s such a momma’s boy.

The Boss

This is The Boss. It was obvious from the first time I met her that she is in charge of the house. That’s okay with me. I like letting someone else make the decisions and she’s usually very nice about it. She also takes charge of protecting everyone from danger. At least I THINK that’s why she barks a lot. She has pointed out lots of enemies I never knew existed (like motorcycles). She’s very smart. Officially, she is Fairoaks Addison Brix n Ivy MX MXJ, but she is also known as “Addie”, “Addison”, “Addie-girl”, or “Drop it”. Mom and dad usually call her “the princess”. She is semi-retired from agility so she doesn’t play on the obstacles very much. However, she gets to play with the Frisbee when the weather is nice. She is really good at catching it and I’m trying to be just like her. She likes to go lure coursing, too. Sometimes she likes it too much, though, and doesn’t want her turn to end.

The Boss is the oldest dog in the house. She likes to have everyone chase her in the yard. We all start running after her and then she turns really fast and runs back past us. She makes the rest of us look like idiots when she does that. Still, it’s just fun to play chase. Sometimes she is really naughty. She likes to counter-surf and do other things that dogs shouldn’t do. I try to not pay attention to those things because I want to be a good blue dog.

Um. Hello.

Hi! I’m The Blue Dog, but sometimes I’m called Nayland. Officially, I’m Zuzax Inspector Nayland Smith, named for the dogged pursuer of the evil Dr. Fu Manchu in the novels by Sax Rohmer. I don’t really know what all of that means but it’s what mom and dad say when people ask about my name. Mostly they just call me “Nayland”, “Nails”, “Nailey-Dog”, “Blue” or “Off”.

I’m a two-year old Australian Shepherd and I live in the Chicago suburbs with my humans and three other aussies. It’s a good life for a blue dog even if I don’t have my own sheep. (I LOVE to play with sheep.) I have a big yard for running and playing and it’s full of fun agility equipment. Mom likes to train and compete in agility so all of us dogs get to practice and she gives us lots of treats. I try really hard to be a good agility boy but it’s tough sometimes. Apparently I lack impulse control. I don’t know what that means. When there’s a jump in front of me I want to take it. What’s wrong with that? It’s boring to stay when there’s fun to be had.

I like lots of different things. Last year we went lure coursing a couple of times and that was really fun. I know it’s just a silly plastic bag but as long as I get to RUN it doesn’t really matter what I’m chasing. I tried swimming once last year. It was by accident since I just followed my friends into the water but I didn’t hate it. Maybe I’ll get to try it again this year. I also like to catch the Frisbee but I don’t like to bring it back so our games are usually pretty short. Mostly I just like to hang out with my people, especially if I can sit in someone’s lap and be petted.

My friend, Fergus, gave me the idea to tell the outside world about my life. Fergus is a very wise dog. He’s a golden retriever but sometimes he lets me pretend that he’s a sheep. That’s what friends are for. Make sure you visit his blog and see what he’s been doing.