Repacking for Pet Expo

After marathon sewing sessions, it is finally time to shut off the Bernina and hit the road for Pet Expo! 

Libby is packed and ready to go........well, she will be after a bath.  And after watching the weather, I see she needs to repack.  She was already to show off her new red hoodie with black stitching.  But since it will be in the high 80's, it may be a little too warm.   It may even be too warm for her Raggy vest!   I guess now she won't need her own suitcase, if all she is taking is her red bandana harness........

Traveling with a dog on a RAW food diet is always interesting.  I made sure the room has a refrigerator, so she can stay on her regular diet.  If Libby can't have her regular frozen Primal nuggets (1 whole ounce per meal!) it is easier to just wing it when we are on the road.......... scrambled eggs from McDonald's, or part of a grilled chicken breast from Carl's Jr.  One of the great things about feeding your dog a variety of foods is that she can eat almost any healthy food without suffering any "side effects".  

The only thing that she NEVER leaves home without is her peanut butter flavored Viagra....... but we'll leave that for another blog!!  

For now, we need to repack...........       

Not Enough Hands

Last night I realized that I don't have enough hands.  Four would be good, although I could probably get by on three.  

Fiona and I went to our first Rally class.  First off, I was thrilled she was not a quivering mass, looking for the nearest exit.  There were 2 Pitbulls, a Pitbull mix, a German Shepherd, and a very excited Golden mix.  The only dog any where near her size is Spooky, a young Frenchie.  A year ago, this would have been a recipe for disaster.  But to my immense relief, Fiona took it all in stride.  So I can't blame any of my problems on Fiona.....

Anyone who has trained a small dog knows the difficulties.  I jealously watched as Ripley, the Golden, walked with his nose at his mom's waist, his body pushing against her hip.  Fiona's "heel" is about 2 feet away from me......and her nose is 6 inches from the ground!!  Emily, our trainer, had a brilliant idea of using a wooden spoon with cheese smashed on it.  I held that in front of Fiona's nose and, for the first time, she "heeled" in the perfect position - with me standing upright!  Brilliant.......

The trouble came with juggling everything else......her leash, her treats and the clicker.  I spent most of the class trying to figure out what to hold in which hand.  Again, Fiona took it all in stride!!

So what did I learn??  

1. Attach her leash to my belt or work off lead.

2. Get a treat bag that is easier to get into.

3. Have several treats in my hand PRIOR to starting the exercise.

4. Next time, get a taller dog.   

Libby in Paris?

Libby wants to go to Paris.  She knows that her friend, Fritz, went to Paris.  She has seen the pictures of him sleeping in one of her bags at an outdoor cafe.  She knows he did a boat trip on the Seine.  She even promised to stay quiet to tour Notre Dame like he did.  If Fritz can go, why can't she???

I think this all came about because of the new bags I just finished.  I have been working with quite a few new prints, just in time for Pet Expo.  The infamous purple denim bags (yes, the zippers finally arrived) and black & white patchwork bags.  I'm even hoping to get to the microfiber bags.  

But these are a bright blue and yellow French Country print.  Since Libby spends most of her time sleeping on my sewing table, she spends a lot of quality time with each fabric.  And I have to agree with her......they would be perfect for a springtime trip to Paris!!

I hope she doesn't spot the Asian bags, she would definitely NOT enjoy quarantine.........

For more info on Pet Expo, check out the "Events" section on our website.  

  

Chicken Little Meets Clicker Training

Well, Chicken Little (otherwise known as Libby) is more convinced now than ever that the sky is truly falling.

Today we began Clicker Training.  Fiona is starting a Rally Class on April 4th.  The trainer, Emily, teaches it using a clicker.  I started reading up on it and decided to start working on it at home.  I ordered some books and bought a clicker.  I got some yummy treats, sat down on the floor & "clicked".  Libby hit the deck & then ran from the room!  Fiona ran & hid under a chair! Joey flinched, but happily took a treat.  I tried it a few more times.  Joey stopped flinching and got pushier about the treats.  Fiona would slink out from under the chair, grab the treat, & run back behind the chair.  Libby, well....... was Libby.  This was not the beginning I had hoped for!

I emailed Emily, put a pot of chicken tenders on the stove, and waited for help.  "SOFTEN THE CLICKER" was the subject line.  Emily is very gentle & soft spoken, so I knew this was important!!  After taking her advice and covering the clicker in layers of tape (thanks, Em!) I started again.  I took them each INDIVIDUALLY into a quiet room with a muffled clicker and a bowl of chicken.  After one chicken tender each (their dinner), we had success -  they now look to my eyes when they hear the clicker.    Wahoo!!  

So, what did we accomplish on Day 1 of Clicker Training?  Joey doesn't stare at the bowl of chicken, Fiona isn't hiding under the chair, and Libby doesn't run out of the room - even with the door open!!  I click and 3 little heads turn to look at me! 

Now, if I can just get Chicken Little to stop flinching........ 

 

Purple zippers

Purple.......purple lovers are obsessed with purple.  I was first introduced to this obsession in Jr High.  My cousin, Deb loved anything purple.  I never got it......

I try my best to help purple lovers by keeping a good variety of purple in my booth.  But since I am only a purple liker, I don't always notice when I get low.  A purple lover will usually point it out to me.  "Do you have anything else in purple?"

Friday was all about purple.  I was making purple denim "Raggy Bags", but it came to a grinding halt when I realized I was out of purple zippers.  I spent half the morning driving around, but no purple zippers.  I could NOT substitute, not when I was using purple denim, purple thread, purple mesh, and purple polar fleece!!  I gave up & ordered them online.

But now what??  I'm left with UFPO's - UnFinished Purple Objects........I am just not ready to move on.  Besides, I have purple thread in the serger.  Maybe some purple Sassee Pants, or purple Belly Bands.......does Libby need a new purple Raggy Vest??  I think I've gone over to the dark side...the dark purple side, that is!!

Happy Birthday!

This seems the perfect day to start blogging - it's Libby's 4th birthday!!  We celebrated at the dog park on Sunday with the Yorkie Meetup Group (yes, I know she is a Pom, we joined for Fiona).   Libby usually causes quite a stir at the park.   She prances in - after squeezing between the bars in the gate - and then takes over the park.  Libby loves that everyone keeps throwing these weekly parties for her......

At "Barks 'n Tales" today (Libby is a Therapy Dog), the kids sang Happy Birthday to her, it was too cute!!

Happy Birthday, Libbers!

xoxo,

Libby's Mom