Monday morning meeting

As we sat down this morning for the beginning of our weekly meeting...  Libby called the meeting to order with Ezra quickly seconding the  motion.  Alli reminded me right off the bat at the top of our meeting agenda was to remind people about hot weather and dogs.  Please, please tell people, Alli implored, that this heat is so very hard on dogs. She went on to add...remember to fill water bowls with cool drinking water.  I agreed and interjected that in this type of heat you can change the water in the bowls several times a day, especially for the dogs outside.  Ezra piped in, don't forget about shade especially for those dogs outdoors. They must have somewhere to get out of the sun!  Libby looked at Ezra out of the corner of her eye and said in a very strong tone...wait, in this heat it would be best to bring your best friend indoors to enjoy the air conditioning or at the very least a fan!  Agreed guys!  Libby went on to say, please remind people not to leave their dogs in hot cars...and remember the little kids too.  It gets hot very quickly and kids and dogs can die in a hot car.  Alli added...Mom tell the people that kiddie pools make great pools for dogs.  We love to cool off in the pool too!  And tell them about giving out ice cubes...I LOVE ice cubes!  Ezra added, tell the people that pavement can get very hot on our paws, so walking in the early morning or evening is best.  All great suggestions guys, I will get the word out!  Happy tail wags all around the table...I could hear a collective sigh of relief!  I then made a motion for us to finish our meeting indoors - Libby, Ezra and Alli second the motion simultaneously!

Remember your best friend during this hot weather!  This has been a public service announcement from the staff of  Pawsitive Journey!  :)

Ezra's Determination

                                                   Pictured is Ezra after treeing a squirrel. 

 I heard the little squeak just about the time Ezra did and the next thing I saw was the squirrel high tailing it, literally, up this tree.  Ezra is a dog of determination.  He does everything with gusto.  Treeing a squirrel, tearing out after a ground hog or doing agility...he does it all with such determination and dare I say passion!

It was a hot day today.  One of those days you want to hide in the house, but at our little farm/training center there were things to be done.  Matt and I decided to take the dogs on a walk in our favorite woods early in the morning before we cleaned stalls and mowed the fields. Mowing the training field means that all the agility equipment; jumps along with the contact obstacles need to be moved.  After mowing all the jumps and equipment need to be set up all over again. It's a job and a half, so it didn't take much for my hubby to twist my arm to take our walk.

 It felt maybe about 10 degrees cooler deep in the woods on a path that winds it's way around a small creek.  It was lovely and just what I needed.  As I was thinking about my busy week with my training business, replaying the interactions with dogs in my mind and how I could do this or that differently or more effectively, I heard the squeak.  It brought me crashing back to the present moment in time to see Ezra tree his squirrel.  I took the picture above...smiling as I thought about Ezra's determination. It struck me how it takes a great deal of determination to keep focused...to meet the training challenges that are presented to me weekly with gusto and passion!  It might sound silly but Ezra's example brought much encouragement to me.  IF Ezra doesn't give up on the thought that one day he will catch that squirrel...how can I.  Each day as I work with dogs and their humans, I will continue to strive to make that connection and truly make a difference in their lives.  It doesn't always happen...but when it does and you see it all click...it truly is a satisfying feeling!

I won't give up...one dog and one human at a time...my goal is to make it a kinder, more gentler world for dogs and their people...it's a worthy endeavor!  Knowing the heart of my dog Ezra, I can say for certain that he is not going to give up on that squirrel...  I'm following your lead E.Z.