Brianna and Kirra at agility

We finally took both girls to the 'Igloo' (the nickname for the training center - exactly what it looks like) for some pictures. Brianna and Kirra are basically inseparable. Although Kirra is not fully trained on what to do, she just had to follow her sister and do the same thing. Kirra had never done the A-Frame, but her sister went up and Kirra was not about to be left behind. This was Kirra's first time on the real equipment - she's only been on training equipment (low to the ground).

Brianna is the veteran - even earned her first novice jumpers title at NADAC :) Kirra is the rookie, but she is fearless so it may not be too hard to train her - if Michael can get her attention. It was easy to get Kirra through the tunnel - just put Brianna in first. However, Kirra is not a fan of the teeter-totter and hasn't figured out what to do with the tire.
Although Brianna enjoyed teaching her little sister, she was not very happy when mom tried to work with Kirra. Obviously I am only to work with Brianna - according to her.

We will keep you posted as the girls continue in their agility adventures.

Farewell to Slinkie

Slinkie December 16, 1994 to May 14, 2009

I was living in Raleigh, North Carolina, and one day I entered a pet shop – just to look. And there was Slinkie – when I told the employee to put him back, he clung to my sweater….you guessed, the next day I returned to buy him. How did he get his name - I brought him home, my neighbors were outside, I put him in the grass and he rolled down the hill. My neighbor said: “just like a slinkie toy.” That was it.

Slinkie has lived in North Carolina and Connecticut, but mainly in Texas and now Missouri. He’s even flown on business trips with his mom; his favorite was to New Orleans…Slinkie shared a beignet in Café Dumonde!!!

Slinkie really loved his younger sister, Daisy, and then Hugs (mainly because she is a mini-Dachshund). I think deep-down Slinkie liked his two big sisters, Brianna and Kirra. However, in the last year as he became more blind, the bullet trains (Brianna and Kirra) running through the house frightened him.

Dr. Leach, a vet at the University of Missouri Vet School, has been taking care of Slinkie for the past couple of years. Michael and I consulted with him a number of times to help us decide Slinkie’s welfare. We realized it was ‘time’ when Slinkie would cry/moan for no reason (at least none that we could decipher).

This was our first experience with euthanasia. When we arrived at the hospital, the receptionist escorted us into a ‘special room.’ Dr. Leach came in for a final discussion on what we should do…we decided it was time. Michael was holding Slinkie, I was on the floor petting him and then Dr. Leach injected Slinkie. Slinkie very sweetly went to sleep. In a couple of weeks we will have his ashes and a clay cast of his pawprint.

Although we all miss Slinkie, we know that he is frolicking in doggie heaven having steak for breakfast, lunch and dinner and…of course, flirting with all the girl dachies. We love you, Slinkie.

training

Well, Michael and Kirra finished their first obedience training class and it went well. She liked most of the dogs in the class - except for one German Shepherd, they did not like each other from day one so the owners needed to stay on opposite side of the arena. Of course, both of us need to be better parents and do more at-home training. Tonight Michael and Kirra return for pet manners II, and I started intermediate agility training on Monday night. It was so sad!!!!! Michael said that when Brianna and I left, Kirra just carried on for about 10-15 minutes - bouncing off the back door, crying, running to dad to see what happened - Kirra was not happy that mom and Brianna left without her (:

Also the weekend of Valentine's Michael, Kirra, Brianna and I went to the AKC trial in Lawrence, KS. Kirra was - again - not happy that her sister got to leave the crate and she couldn't go with her. We won't talk about how well (not) that Brianna and I did. Unfortunately no pictures (: Michael forgot to bring the camera!!!!

One thing we have noticed about Kirra - she does not give kisses. All our other dogs just love to smooch on us...so...not to be deterred, we've put peanut butter on our lips and she'll "kiss" to get the peanut butter. She's getting better because now she will let me kiss her forehead and the side of her face - originally she would bolt if I came that close.

All in all, we are all doing well and looking forward to spring and grass.

Christmas greetings

A holiday update just before Christmas....

Kirra had her first visit to the Vet and did really well...although she did pee each time the Vet put the stethoscope on her chest. She was tagging along with Daisy who is showing signs of a Cushings' disease relapse...Kirra is peachy but Daisy needs to be watched for any more symptoms.



We tried to get Christmas pictures of all of us, but that was a hopeless cause without shackles...so we finally got pictures of the 'kids' (of course, mom is in there somewhere trying to keep them in one spot).

Being Italian, I decided that Brianna and I should try to be Lady and the Tramp...it sort of worked!!



Kirra and Brianna had their first walk in the park together and did very well. They both like playing in the snow, and Kirra likes to chew on it. Kirra found out that there are two pugs next door so every time she goes outside she heads for the fence, barking all the way. We hope to start manners training for both; agility for Brianna. Kirra loves to push Brianna's buttons until finally Brianna charges after her.

We all want to wish our friends a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Love, Ellen, Mike, Dad, Brianna, Kirra, Slinkie, Daisy and Hugs

Kirra plays soccer

Hi to all!

We just wanted to let you know that Kirra has decided that she wants to try out for the U.S. Soccer team!!! It's so funny watching her and Brianna playing with tennis balls; we're now using two tennis balls. When Kirra has the ball in her mouth and she gets to the second ball - and since she can't get it in her mouth - she plays with the ball in a soccer fashion trying to figure out what to do with it. It's so cute

We took both Brianna and Kirra to the CCSC (training center here in Columbia) to see 1) if Brianna was still terrified of the building (originally she wouldn't even go in!!!) and 2) what Kirra thought of the building. Brianna is not terrified...YEA! And Kirra - again - was so cute; at first she thought the chute was fun to run through, then she decided jumping over the tunnels was fun as she tried to find Brianna (who was in the tunnel). So our goal is next month to get both of them back in training. Kirra - basic obedience; Brianna - I haven't decided yet.

That's our news!! Hope you all had a great weekend.
Ellen and Mike

it's the Brianna & Kirra morning show

Every morning our two babies (BCs) have their own little ritual (to Michael's displeasure it's 6:45 am). Check out the two clips of their fun in the sun.
Ciao, Ellen

The Growing Wolf Pack

You'll never believe it....Michael and I had a new "baby." Our three little ones (Slinkie who will be 14 next month, Daisy and Hugs) form one "pack" which left Brianna alone. As we all know, Brianna is a very active Border Collie and she was quickly training Michael and I to be her playmates...so...we decided that she needed her own playmate. Fortunately I found this website (http://www.mokanbcrescue.org/) and searched for Brianna's sister. Of course, Michael and I had to be particular as we wanted her sister to be black and white + have the perky ears like Brianna. We found her!!!!!!

Little did we know....there is an extensive process to adopt a Border Collie (I am very impressed with the process they have established in order to insure that each and every dog is placed in a loving home that fits the dog's personality). Brianna's sister is Kirra, a 2-yr old purebred Border Collie and, of course, black and white with perky ears. Brianna's nickname is 'baby girl' and Kirra's is 'little minx.' They are so adorable together, and they play so well together....best of all, they get each other tired!!!!!

We decided Kirra's birthday is 11/7 since that was the day we gave 'birth' (i.e., picked her up from her foster mom, Laura). Brianna has definitely taken the role of big sister (aka alpha dog), and is in the process of showing her the ropes of manipulating mom and dad. Kirra has been with us almost two weeks and is pretty well "settled in." So...probably next week we will start with some training (she already does a perfect sit/wait at the back door before going out). Once Kirra learns the basics, she will start learning agility. Michael thinks that he and Kirra can beat Brianna and I in agility competitions (of course, we all know better than that!!!).

As you can see from the pictures, Brianna and Kirra love playing with the ball - any kind, the red ball as shown or any tennis ball. The Border Collie alone with the ball is Kirra.

The more that Brianna and Kirra's mom learns how to do this web/blog posting stuff (I'm so technical) there is no telling what type of info you will be seeing. So until next time...ciao!