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Musings from the Road by the First Stryk Dobermann Gang
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Yesterday was a pretty exciting day at our house. I was taking my mid-day nap when Mum woke me up to tell me that we had to go to work. Well, you all know what that means...
So, off Mum and I went! There was a building collapse not very far from our house and my friends at the Fire Department had called Mum to ask her if some search dogs could come help to make sure that no one was trapped in the building and that no one else had been killed when the building collapsed.
Ya know, it was great! A bunch of my SAR friends came and helped - some are Labs, another Doberman and my first Border Collie friend. We ran around through the ruble and checked it all out. We didn't find anyone. I guess that was good. Mum says it's good that we didn't find anyone but it also means that I didn't get to play with my favorite toy either. When we got home, Mum let find some "Fred" so I could play with my toy though. That made it ok I guess.
Anyway, it was still way fun! It's always a great time when I get to see my firefighter friends. They are always so nice and give me lots of hugs.
I'm off!
- Styx
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Ok, so here's the deal....It's spring again which means that I get to spend more time in the yard, Daddy and I can play with the flirt pole and then, of course, there are the evening walks. BUT, what no one tells you
really happens in the spring is all the poking and prodding! Yup, time to visit the vet.
At first, I didn't think the visit was gonna go too badly. I mean, one of the ladies at the vet's office took me around the whole place! I got to meet all kinds of people. They gave me treats and kisses and told me how handsome I was. And then it happened....
It was just the worst! Mum said that my Mom, Styx, and I really went so some "specialist" could look at our eyes. I didn't think it sounded too bad until they started putting some kinda watery goop in my eyes. Next thing I know, the room is really bright, everything is fuzzy and THEN they wanna go and shine some bright light in my face! I mean, can you believe it?!?! Are they trying to blind me here? Then the lady proceeds to tell Mum that my eyes look "fabulous." I have one word for her - Duh! My eyes were just fine before she tried to go and blind me! But, finally, it was all over so off to the car (in the bight sunlight) we went.
Then Mum took us to visit Dad at work so that made it a little better. I got to get out of the car (luckily it wasn't very bright by where we met Dad) and meet some of Dad's friends and snuggle with him a little bit. But, I did have to tell Mum it was time to go after a while....I had a horrible headache! I'm glad that only happens once a year!
Catcha later!
- Orinoco
Sunday, August 30, 2009
So, I gotta tell you what happened around here a week or so ago....Mum & Dad took Orinoco to some conformation shows (You should have heard him whine when he got home!) for several days. Well, one of the days, Mum & Dad kept talking about these people who were going to come over to play in OUR yard! I mean, seriously, they wanted
play in our yard!
Now, don't misunderstand, I'm ok with sharing & all...But, they peed and poo'ed all over my yard! Then Orinoco had to go and mark everything (again and again and again...) which means now the yard smells like
boy. It's all very frustrating! But, I think the yard is ok after Mum & Dad fixed it all up.
Whew! Now that I've gotten that off my chest, I feel much better!
I'm off!
- Styx
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Ya know, it'd been a few weeks since Mum and Dad made me go to a show. So....I thought I was off the hook. Maybe they got bored (like I am!) with the whole thing and were going to go back to doing other more exciting and active stuff. Well......I was wrong! They were just saving up to torture me!
Yup, you heard right. They wanted to torture me. They made me go to 9 shows in only 11 days! Crazy, I know!!! Some of the shows even required an hour and half ride in the car - one way - each day! Now, don't get me wrong. Normally, I am all about the car ride. But this? A car ride just so I can run in a circle and some stranger can grab my boy bits? Let me just say this.....I have TWO! Yes, they are both back there and I see
no reason for the grabbing and yanking.
Now, with that said. I am glad that it's over. First order of business when I got home was to find the mud hole in the yard and to make sure Mum and Dad understood my displeasure with them by tracking it through the house. Lucky for me, it rained most the week so there was plenty of mud to oblige me in my little endeavor.
At least I have a couple more weeks "off" until I have to show off the goods all over again. But, the next show will be a little more fun because Mum and I are going to get to stay in a hotel! I love getting to jump on someone else's bed! We're going with some friends so at least I'll have new people to play with!
Catcha later!
- Orinoco
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Well, you would NEVER believe what my Mum made me do recently! Now, you know that I'm actually from Moscow, Russia and that Mum brought me the United States when I was just 8 months old. So, there are some things that I'm just not used to.... like riding in a boat! Go figure! So of course, Mum had to push me to try something that I'm really just not that in to.
It was all part of the Boat Training that our Search & Rescue Coalition was participating in through the Kansas City Fire Department a couple weeks ago. They hid some Fred in the lake and then we had to get in these boats to go find it. Frankly, the boat thing was a little scary and I got pretty nervous. But, I got over it. I didn't even notice that I was in the boat any more once I got a whiff of Fred. In fact, I was so excited that I almost fell over the edge! Maybe I can get Mum to post some pictures so you can see 'em later.
I'm off!
- Styx
Monday, June 8, 2009
Well, this past weekend I was up and driving to a show before dawn had even THOUGHT about cracking! On Saturday and Sunday, the family and I headed two and a half hours from here so that I could prance around the ring and strut my stuff. Mum and Dad were excited. I got a few ribbons each day and then we headed home. My thoughts - that's a long drive for a few minutes of fuss but it's apparently important to Mum so I humor her. The nice thing is, when it's all over then I'm allowed to wreck havoc in the backyard again!
Catcha later!
- Orinoco
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Wow! It's been a FUN week! This past week was a big week for the family - it was the United Doberman Club Nationals. Just like last year, they had them nearby in Warrensburg, Missouri so we were able to go to a bunch activities. Quite a few of my kids were able to come as well...Let's see, we had Lexie, Luca, Gabriel, Gibson, Fiddle and Orinoco all there for several events.
Just this week, between the kids and I, the family earned: 3 Working Apptitude Certificates, 3 BHs, 3 Canine Good Citizen certificates, 2 CCs towards a UDC Championship and 2 Adult Temperament Test passing scores. All of that brings the family totals up to 4 CGCs and 5 WACs! Not bad if I do say so myself!
And that doesn't even count all the fun we got to have working several "Fred" problems with other Dobermans from all over the country (including three of my own kids!). All in all, it was a good time. Mum took the week off work so she and I got to spend a lot of time together. But, I will admit, all that stuff cram-packed into one week - I am exhausted!
I'm off!
- Styx
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
It's been crazy busy the past few days! Mum is out of town again. For a few days, I got to go with her to Wichita but then we had a bunch of driving to get home. As soon as we got home though Mum had to leave on another trip for work. Dad says she'll be home earlier than we expected though. So that will be good.
Mum and I went to Wichita for another dog show. I was in an area with a bunch of other Dobermans and lots of people loved all over me so that was fun. I like that part of the show. There are SO many new people to meet and I love the attention! I just wish I could play more at these things. Mum fusses so much that I'll get dirty that I don't get to do some of the things that I really like doing - you know, like wrestling in the mud! Mum says that as soon as I finish getting some degree (I think she called it a champion's degree) then I can wrestle in the mud more! I'm not sure what all I have to do to get this degree but if it means I get more mud time then I'm all for it!
Catcha Later!
- Orinoco
Monday, March 16, 2009
Wow - it's been a busy few weeks! Mum was out of town alot. A couple weeks ago she went to Louisiana to teach some workshop on disaster planning (I think I should have gotten to go! I'm good with disasters!). While she was there, she got to see one of my sons, Bodie. She brought back a lot of pictures of him but I wish I had been able to see and sniff him myself. Pictures just aren't the same. He looks like he's gotten SO big! I can't believe my babies are 2 years old! Mum told me that Bodie was a very handsome, well-behaved boy with nice drive and excellent temperament. She said I should be very proud of him! I told Mum that he takes after me! She just laughed.
Last week was a lot of fun though! The fire department called and needed some search dogs to look for some Fred (that's what we call the "human remains"). Mum and I, along with three other search dogs (one of them was my Doberfriend, Jager!), all went out to help. Man, you wouldn't believe it! My nose was working really well that day and I just dragged Mum straight to the spot where Fred was! Even my friend Jager told my Mum, and his, that I was in the right spot - And Jager has a LOT of practice with this kinda stuff! Mum still seemed a little nervous though. I think she was nervous because it was my first *official* call-out and she wanted all of us to do well. But I told Mum she didn't need to worry - We all understand! Mum's are funny that way.
I don't have any big exciting plans for this week though. Mum lets me have some good table treats for special occassions and it must be some guy named "Patrick's" birthday because Mum has been cooking up a TON of corned (or was it 'pickled??') meat that smells so yummy! I'm looking forward to liberating the counter of some of it. Maybe she won't notice and I'll get to double-dip a little!
I'm off!
- Styx
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Mum says it's Valentine's Day and so I'm not supposed to write anything that's sad. Well, I don't think this is sad at all! In fact, I was SO excited that I just couldn't stop wriggling all over! Mum, Dad, Orinoco and I have been doing so much obedience and schutzhund stuff lately that when Mum took me out for some search training and to mingle with some other dogs....Well, let's just say, I could barely contain myself!
To make it even more exciting, I was just out sniffing around this new place with Mum while some of the other dogs worked and - would you believe it - I found Fred!!! Mum won't let me call our scent material "Human Remains." She says it's too scary and depressing. I don't understand why it's depressing - every time I find it we get to play tug. That's happy! Anyway, there it was hidden in the tall grass! And then, Mum and I went into some woods and there was more Fred!!! I mean, can you believe it?! Fred was all over this place! Mum was just SO happy with me!
Mum and I haven't looked for Fred in several months and I think she was worried that I had forgotten what Fred smelled like. Mum worries so much sometimes! I do wish that we could spend more time looking for Fred together. Mum and I always have a bucket of fun when we do Fred work! And then I get to run around more. When we do obedience, I have sit straight, turn tight, blah, blah, blah, blah.....BOOOOOORING! Finding Fred is just so much more fun!
I'm off!
- Styx
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
We got back on Sunday from my first conformation show of the season. And, let me just say this...after spending the past several months practicing my grip, obedience and even getting to cut loose a little bit for some nice runs around the yard with my little lab friend, Murphy; I have forgotten how hectic conformation shows can be! I mean talk about
chaos! Powder flying, hair dryers blowing, a fine mist of show sheen in the air and people runnning around all serious - I do not understand
how I can possibly be expected to relax!
I did finally agree to stand still for my handler though - on Day Two. But, don't confuse my agreement to stand still with complacency! I only stood still because I knew Mum would
not be happy if I didn't! I suppose it paid off though 'cause I got a Reserve Winners Dog placement on that second day. Personally, it's still not as exciting as practicing my Schutzhund skills but Mum says it's important to do well in conformation too. It has something to do with making me "more well-rounded." I don't understand that - if I were "well-rounded" then I wouldn't be a Doberman, I'd be a basketball. Silly Mum! I don't know how standing still and letting some stranger pet me can make Mum and Dad happy but apparently it does!
It's nice to be home and get to roll in the dirt and run around the yard again without having Mum pull out the baby wipes to clean me up. I mean,
you know how it is...Boys are just supposed to get dirty and smelly! All this flowery-smelling, shiny stuff...
Real boys do NOT smell like flowers! Besides, it's nothing compared to a good game of flirt pole or a little rough-and-tumble in the yard! Speaking of which, it's about time for me to go out and sun bathe.
Catcha later!
- Orinoco
