The Big Promotion

What a busy day.

I had to shovel most of a foot of snowfall (the snow blower conveniently worked long enough for me to clear out the end of the driveway).

The dogs got to spend the day outside while I was shoveling and spent the rest of the time with me inside as a special treat, called a snow day.

We wanted to go out early and sled right down the street over to the park, but I waited too long and the plows cleaned up the streets. So we planned our run for the afternoon when I just drove us over to the park.

In hooking up, when I got to Nemo he was anxious to go as usually, so he was pulling on the lines and causing Blizzard and Flurry to wander about and turn around. Some kids had been watching us, so they came over. I had one hold up the line so Nemo couldn't grab it and the others entertained Blizzard and Flurry while I released us from the car and pull the snow hook (which I actually had enough snow to make use of).

We started off down the park roads which were still a little snow covered, plus I figured we would catch the bike trail, which wasn't plowed yet, when we got to the crossing. The road was too fun, so we kept going a little ways until we saw some cars coming. I yelled, "Gee" and Flurry pulled us up into the snow bank to get off the road. Then it all went down hill for my two lead dogs. We found trees to sniff, trees to pee on, we went on the other side of the pole, we didn't keep the line out, and all that fun stuff. They did do a nice turn around after we went down the steep bending trail down to the lake front (so it was all bad).

On the way back I got a bit tired of helping Nemo by walking or pushing the sled, cause the girls were slacking, so I gave him a promotion. I put the snow hook in and did some switching around (very carefully as to not leave Nemo next to one of the girls as that usually leads to a fight). The switching went smoothly and I pulled the snow hook.

We went flying down a hill and Nemo keep to the path we had taken on the way out. Nemo keep the line out, but stopped for two rest stops as jumping through the deep snow was wearing him out. I think I'll need to do some serious command training over my Christmas break because he did a nice job for not know a single command (other than "on by" which he seems to recognize).

He does have a tendency to want to go gee whenever confronted with two paths. I wanted him to go straight a couple times when we came across an intersecting trail, so I had to stop and get him pointed straight ahead cause each time he started heading gee.

Maybe I'll try teaching Blizzard the commands too, that way I can put any one of them in lead, if I needed to. Blizzard would probably be my last choice, since she is some times call "sure pees a lot".

Once we got back from sledding, I took Blizzard out to get her staples pulled from her ear. Now we are back and ready to relax on the sofa.

Santa Nemo

Tonight Nemo and I went out to give Christmas cards to the neighbors. He was a good boy for all the neighbors.

All four of us (Blizzard, Flurry, Nemo and I) had a nice walk early this morning. Nemo actually walked part of the way without pulling on the leash. This is great since it has been kind of icy out there.

However, I still have sometimes where I am frustrated with dog number 3.

Good days and bad days

One dog is a handful, two dogs have some benefits, three dogs is like a suspense story. I'm always waiting for the next explosion, mess, fight, escape, or mysterious event.

Yesterday was a good day for Nemo. No problems.

Today, he tried to start a fight with Blizzard. Later, I could tell he was thinking about starting one with Flurry who picked up a toy (which originally belonged to Flurry).

Nemo needs to be watched when toys are on the floor. Usually my two girls don't play with toys much, but they occasionally pick one up for a while. However, Nemo seems to think all the toys are his (it doesn't matter that they has all been chewed on by Blizzard or Flurry before).

He's not like my girls who will come up with an elaborate scheme to distract the other and steal the toy. He is more of a go right up and growl until they give it up or fight to the death kind of dog. I don't really like that attitude.

To top everything off the weather was warm and melted my snow, so I didn't get to go sledding or anything.