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.