The odd couple

Jet has doggie 'friends' and then there is 'Shaq'. I have come to describe it as nothing short of an obsession. It wasn't love at first sight (no fairy tale romance here). First time Jet met Shaq was in the flyball training hall. Now my girl doesn't do 'polite' introductions typically. She prefers the full speed charge, slam into with all 27 lbs of coiled muscle and say "hi nice to meet you!" type of hello. Most dogs don't really understand this kind of greeting (can you blame them) and take great offense. So it was with Shaq and Jet. I ran to gather her up, apologizing profusely for my girl's rudeness (I do this often if you haven't figured out). This is not going to bode well for flyball I was thinking to myself. After all, Shaq is a border collie...do you know how many border collies there are in the sport of flyball????
After a few apologetic emails to my entire flyball team later, my sympathetic flyball trainer suggested that I take Jet on a walk with Shaq so they could get to know one another under different circumstances. I mean after all they were going to be on the same team and teammates should get along.
So with great trepidation I agreed. What happened next is the stuff romance novels are made of.
As we got the dogs out of the cars to start our almost 6 km hike, I was thinking to myself, that this could take almost the entire 6 k before Jet would settle in, heck we might even have to do a second lap. Jet however had other plans. She came out of the car a woman on a mission. To find her Shaq! Now keep in mind there were 3 border collies (all black and white) on our hike that morning. But Jet only had eyes for one. She honed on in him like flys to honey and the rest is history. For the entire hike she was glued to his every move, if he dodged one way she followed; if he charged after his toy she was hot on his heels (amazing how fast her little legs can carry her). If he stopped to wait for the toy to be thrown she stood at his side gazing lovingly into his face.
Now please don't think that Shaq returns her affections. In fact I think he thinks she is more like an annoying fly buzzing around his head. Occassionally he grumps at her (with toy in his mouth still -after all he is a border collie), but she just smiles as only she can and wags her tail..as if to say "you don't really mean it - I know you really love me and are just playing hard to get."
The one morning when we arrived and Shaq wasn't there, she ran from dog to dog, border collie to border collie with a look on her face that revealed her heartbreak..Where was her boy toy? What was up with that? Oh well, guess the dobe named Beezie will have to do, but it just won't be the same. :)

Comic Relief

When coming up with the title for this blog, I realized that I could have named the entire blog "Comic Relief", however it did seem fitting to the topic of this particular post.
Jet usually gets looks and comments no matter where I take her. Most people have never seen a miniature bull terrier and either think she is a puppy (she is 2 and a half) or that she is various breeds (including pit bull --eeek). Her black smear of 'lipstick' on the one side of her face, never fails to be noticed. The usual comment is - "she always looks like she is smiling" (which to be honest I think she is), or "she looks like the Joker" (wait wasn't he a bad guy?).
That kind of attention I don't mind. It is when she decides to liven things up in true Jet fashion that I sometimes find myself wanting to hide behind things.
Take for example her now infamous trick with the agility tunnels. If you don't know what those are, the are long 'tunnels' made of heavy vinyl with ribs along its length to help it coil and uncoil to various lengths (usually 12 feet or so). The goal is for the dog to go 'through' the tunnel on a cue from the handler.
The first time I showed Jet the tunnel she charged through it at its full length. I was ecstatic - what a clever girl. So why not try it a second time- perfect right through. Then I made the fatal mistake of saying "just one more" (all dog trainers know what I mean). As I lined her up, I should have noticed the twinkle in her little bully eye...she headed right towards the mouth of the tunnel..and...leaped on top of it and proceeded to run/trot the full length with it rocking and rolling underneath. If that wasn't enough she showed her agility and balance by turning around while still on top and running back the other way. Now you have to appreciate that there were many people watching this escapade. Friends, all dog trainers, all now laughing hysterically at my dog's inventive nature. Me on the other hand - did not find it so amusing.
Through some training, I thought I had almost convinced her that running THROUGH tunnels was the real object of the game. Trust me, everything needs to be Jet's idea - there is no forcing your will on a bully. So flash forward to my dog club's Memorial Trial. A day of competition and games with our canine friends. The tunnel race game...now here is one Jet and I can play I thought. She loves tunnels and can go like stink when she wants (this was a timed event). As we waited our turn, Jet was getting more and more excited watching all the other dogs charge through the various tunnels. Woo hoo - this was going to be good. Yeah - not so much. As I left her at the start line I think I saw her give me a wink...I should have known. Off we went - well she went really - through the first tunnel - ok good to go, wait a minute...where did she go? One end of the ring at full tilt, then charging back to me (well I don't think she was coming to me but she ended up in my vicinity at least), then over top of a tunnel at full speed, through another one (not the one she was supposed to take), up on top of another and back at break neck speed to the far end of the ring. By the time we finally corralled her (it took a few people) I realized that everyone (about 40 people) were laughing so hard , I think I saw tears in some people's eyes.
As I carried my little girlie out of the ring...I could see her smiling - didn't I do good mom - that was fun. See everyone loves me.
A kind soul walked up to me. I thought she was going to give me a pep talk and tell me not to worry about it - Jet was just young, excitable, it would come with training. But no, instead she said (as she wiped tears from her eyes)..."That was great - can Jet do an encore!"

What Else is Computer Time for?

Humans are so predictable. Every morning, after mom has left the house (still not sure where she goes 5 days out of 7 and why she refuses to take me with her even when I am obviously wanting to go), grandma goes into a room, sits down and stares at a screen. It isn't even interesting like the other big screen in the room, where I often see other dogs, cats, people running, making funny noises - now that gets my attention. In fact, I can't quite figure out where those dogs go when they leave the screen. It is like magic - I mean one moment they are there, the next moment they are gone. I have searched behind it, out the window (perhaps they left the house entirely), but they just vanish - amazing. But I digress.

Now I know from experience that Grandma likes to hand out cookies. The trick is figuring out a way to get her to do it, and do it more often. I figure she can't really see me from the floor, I mean I know I am smaller than the other dogs in the house. Wait a minute, that dog crate will put me right at eye level. Perfect - on the chair up on to the top of the crate - Bingo - first cookie delivered. She didn't even have to get out of the chair - just wheel back a bit and hand me the cookie. I have been doing this every day now for a while. Most mornings I beat Grandma to the room with the funny screen. Sometimes I get tired of waiting and have to go remind her of our routine. I have noticed however, that the treats are starting to dry up a bit. Grandma is getting stingy. Guess I will have to up my game. I tried giving her a good head flick as a bit of nudge. I can't really tell her as I have found out that barking gets me nothing. I was about to give up on the flicking my head about (begining to feel a bit silly really), when she finally got what I was after and handed me a treat. In fact she seemed very excited about it - saying that all powerful 'yes' word. So why not try it again - yep just as I figured - worked like a charm. Now I have her number...just flick the head and treats appear. Woo Hoo...silly humans.

Flash forward a few months and suddenly the head flicks aren't working much any more. Time to change things up. Perhaps Grandma's arm was getting tired having to reach back to the crate to hand me those treats. I mean they must be tired as I see her fingers moving constantly while she sits there. So to make it easier for her (I am nothing if not considerate of my humans), I decided I would just get on the chair with her. This proved to be a bit of a challenge, but hey I am a bully and when we set our mind to something there is no stopping us. On to the footstool...now keep in mind this was no easy trick as it moves back and forth when you stand on it...but I managed. Now the chair....hmmmm. doesn't seem to be room on her lap...what to do. I know, there appears to be space between her back and the back of the chair. Perfect - now reach out gingerly from the footstool - careful girl - this will take some concentration as that darn footstool won't stay still. Almost there....got it. On the chair behind grandma's back and the back of the chair. Make sure to flash that adoring smile at her. Yippee treats again. See Grandma, you don't even need to move anymore.

Boy she stares at that screen a long time...guess I'll just close my eyes. Kind of comfortable here...nap time.

Bully in a China Shop

So I knew Jet was a 'terrier' - I mean it is right in the breed name for goodness sake .".Bull. T.E.R.R.I.E.R". What I didn't bank on is that when you add the word "Bull" to terrier it takes on a whole new meaning. Think 27 lbs of pure muscle, coiled springs for legs and a head that could break your nose without even trying (trust me I have seen stars a few times). Put all of that into one package and...Danger Will Robinson.
Want the couch out of your way - no problem - wedge yourself behind it and use your body to push it out of the way.
Want on the 3 foot high glass patio table - easy... just coil up from a stand still and launch yourself onto the top..
Want the ball from under the couch - piece of cake - wiggle under and then come slithering out on your side (a bit of grunting and groaning required at this stage) so that only your head is peaking out - prized ball in mouth.
Want what is on the 3rd shelf of the bookcase..got it covered - stand on edge of couch, then balance on top of the stack of wooden TV trays (this part takes finese as they are on edge and wiggle a bit) and then gingerly reach out with one front foot..almost there - got it!
See a lap that is empty - throwing yourself from 6ft away to land on said lap - why not - who cares that you might give the human a heart attack (especially when they are dead asleep - want proof just ask my dad)...they really are happy to see you.

Let Sleeping Bullies Lie

I have often said there is nothing more peaceful than a sleeping dog. The total calm, quiet almost serene place they find themselves when they are in a deep sleep. Then I got Jet! God bless my little girlie but there is absolutely nothing feminine about her. In fact I purposefully bought her pink collars, pink tracking harness, pink leash, pink...you get the picture, so that people would know she was a girl.
Although Jet can sleep with the best of them (including sleeping until 11:00 a.m. after I had gone to work, in my bed, under the covers until mom literally had to wake her up to go outside), she is anything but the picture of serenity....Yes my little girl SNORES! I don't mean the occassional little sound sneaking out, I mean full out, your grandpa's-head-back-open-mouth, snoring. As she has decided (ok I let her) that sleeping in my bed, under the covers is her place of choice, I often find myself trying desperately to get to sleep before her or I am doomed. This is becoming increasingly difficult as she puts herself to bed way before me! By 9:00 p.m. she is heading down the hall to my bedroom door, her bully butt waddling away, looking over her shoulder at me as if to say - come on I am ready for bed. By the time I actually decide to turn in she is in full groan and rumble (and usually in the wrong spot on the bed). Anyone who has had to share sleeping quarters with a snorer can sympathize I am sure.
As if snoring wasn't bad enough she also expels the most odiferous gas from the other end. I mean it can clear a room. Sometimes you get a warning sound first, but more often then not it just creeps up on you unaware. It seems any movement or effort expelled on her part comes with the added bonus of 'jet fuel' as I have come to affectionately call it.
The best moment of all however, was when she was sitting on my mom's lap in the lazyboy, let one rip and then proceeded to look back over her shoulder at her butt - with a look that said...what was that???
P.S. As I post this she is still sound asleep under the covers while I am at work - something wrong with that picture!!!

When Pigs Fly...or when Bullies become biddable

Firstly you have to know that I had been looking for a miniature bull terrier for almost two years before Jet arrived. She wasn't the puppy I was hoping for...but rather a 16-month old finished champion looking for a good home. The words "trial basis" came out of my mouth (yeah right - like you ever send them back) before I knew what I was saying and the rest is history. Leading up to her arrival I had been building a 'bully survival kit" mostly thanks to my mother. We had 'indestructable toys" (two words that don't go together when referring to bull terriers), leashes, balls, and most of all my guide to dealing with a bully...a book entitled "When Pigs Fly" (if you haven't read it - get it!).

Now I knew my bully would be 'different' than my smooth collie, I was in the know - hmmmm sure. I just wasn't completely sure just exactly how much different she would be.

Let me give you some examples... collies look at you adoringly ALL the time...Jet looks at you SOMETIMES, when she feels like it and then quickly decides there are better things to occupy her time. Collies play nicely with toys..in fact my 14 year old (may he rest in peace) smooth collie still had toys he had as a puppy when he passed away...Bullies can destroy any toy in 3.5 seconds.

We started by placing all soft plush toys on top of the 7ft armoire which held the TV...lets just say that only lasted so long as one determined bully KNEW where the toys were put and promptly started to put gouges in the front of the beautiful pine armoire (no mom was not impressed) in an effort to launch herself to the top. Moving said toys into a plastic container with a lid was the next effort - caught that one on video (will post to youtube when I figure out how)...yes she managed through sheer will and determination, including flipping it upside down, driving it down the hallway and back at full tilt. to remove said lid from box and get at her beloved toys. Only way to 'hide' toys from Jet is to make sure she is out of the house, bundle them up and move them to a hidden location and then hope like heck she can't smell them through the cupboard door...almost worked...you are getting the picture.

Next post...let sleeping bullies lie.

You got a what?

After about the fourth time someone responded to my announcement of getting a miniature bull terrier by opening their eyes as wide as they could go, dropping their lower jaw to reveal a full gapping open hole and exclaiming..."you got a WHAT?" I began to think that perhaps not everyone was as overjoyed as I was about the new addition to my family. Ok, so I know they are not for everyone, but are they really that bad? I decided that I needed to share with the world (ok the one person who might read this) the real story about sharing your life with mini bullies.
Ch Rozzi's Little Jet (a.k.a Jet) arrived in Kitchener, via Sudbury on a cold day in March. After having her delivery delayed almost a week due to a snow storm, she was finally here. She bounded into the house (no not my house, just a lay by on the way home) after a 6 hour drive with a complete stranger and immediately took charge. So far, so good...no apparent fear issues or anxiety to deal with...check. Approached the standard poodles in the house...ok with other dogs...check (more on this later as I think she was just fooling me), hopped in my car, into crate and settled in for the hour or so ride back home...travels well...check. All the boxes were getting ticked and we hadn't even been together a day. Happy mom.

Skip forward one year and the true nature of Miss Jet (a.k.a. Peanut Butter, Jetty, Spike (that's my dad's), Midget) has been revealed. For the next few weeks I hope to catch everyone up on her adventures to current day...stay tuned