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Post by grizabella on Jul 27, 2012 7:27:58 GMT -5
We might wait til September to show, as August is pretty busy. We might be able to give lure coursing a try though- trying to organize it!
Bella sulked last night because Elvis went home, and is sulking now because I gave her a bath. Ah, the cruelty she is subjected to! Poor soul!
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Post by Gazinghound on Jul 27, 2012 15:40:56 GMT -5
Sounds good! You know, I think I was right, and there really AREN'T many lure coursing trials/places around here...'cause judging from the New Jersey schedule on the AKC's event calendar, there won't be another one 'til I think October. And although my friends told me back in May that there were always plenty going on and they'd try to get me involved in one soon, I haven't heard from them since then. =[ Oh, Bella, you poor, abused creature!! What sort of horrible treatment are you receiving down there?! Must we come and rescue you?  |
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Post by grizabella on Jul 27, 2012 19:00:18 GMT -5
Lure coursing isn't recognised by the ANKC over here  so if anyone other than Greyhound-folk want a go they have to book it with a Greyhound track to use their place/equipment for a morning. I wish it was recognised here, then maybe it would be possible to do it competitively, gain titles etc. I'm thinking of maybe doing the Endurance Test with Bella to get her title for that (she can go for ever as her doggy playmates can attest!), but I think I will need to be fitter- and Bella would have to learn to run alongside a bicycle! Much as I'm sure Bella would love to be rescued, especially by someone providing permanent doggy friends, I don't think she'd be too keen on the idea of flying that far- she's still not keen on being crated! (She'll have to get over this one day if we are to move to the UK once I finish uni, but we've got plenty of time for that!) I think Bella would miss me as well, especially once she discovered that you practice the terrible and dark art of bathing dogs! |
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Post by Gazinghound on Jul 27, 2012 22:37:04 GMT -5
Aww, geez, what a shame--that stinks! At least we've got it better than that...  I hope you can work out getting a shot at trying it, but it would be nice if actual competition were an option, too. I bet Bella would be great at it. On the other hand, we have no titles available for doggie bike riding! It's something I've tried out with Ulla, though--thought it might be a good way for her to come along with me places, move more quickly, get even better exercise...but unfortunately, she didn't take to being led by the bike attachment, even when I tried lengthening the cord for her a little. She'd take small, slow steps, but that was it. I figured it was a good start, but never could get her to do better than that. x-p Sounds as though it might be a lot of fun if I could get her to cooperate, though. Same with Agility and other things she just doesn't seem to want to do. Honestly, though, I've never seen a doggie bike attachment in real life--only in the online advertisement for it, actually. ;D I did try moving her alongside my roller blades and scooter as other additional exercise methods, and those worked just slightly better. ^^ All of them definitely require a bit of practice and a good amount of caution. I don't think Ullie's too much a fan of being attached to or led around by a crazy mom on wheels, lol. Oho, I see--well, she shall have to grow accustomed to it in her own good time, then.... ;D Didn't know you were thinking of moving to the UK eventually!  Alas, Bella, I too am forced to be an occasional practitioner of dark arts (I'm sure Ullie thinks of them as such, too.) With regard to bathing, I do at least have a waterless shampoo, though.... ;D  |
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Post by grizabella on Jul 28, 2012 2:57:01 GMT -5
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Post by grizabella on Jul 28, 2012 3:02:30 GMT -5
I think the Endurance Test can be done on foot instead of on a bike, but I think a bike would be fun, that is, if Bella can be convinced that it's fun. I'm hoping to move back to England pretty soon after I finish uni, depending on how long it takes to get enough money together. Luckily Bella won't have to go through quarantine if we do go, as long as we do all the necessary tests and injections. Coming back into Australia would be a different story- six months quarantine, ouch! So if we do go, we probably won't be coming back! |
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Post by Gazinghound on Jul 29, 2012 2:21:42 GMT -5
Oh NO, you mean all that wet torment was for naught?!  Woe is she! Wow, neeeeat...we still don't have any sort of sport like that as far as I know...it does sound like fun on a bike. Unfortunately, running alongside one may not be something a lot of dogs take to readily. One of the most unusual dog sports I know of is skijoring, where the dog pulls you on skis. Of course, I still have to try skiing myself before I could give Ullie the right to pull me through snow...xD Yikes, six months!! That's pretty crazy! Yeah, I guess she'll have to bid Australia good-bye when you're ready to go...at least it'll be easy to return to the UK. |
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Post by grizabella on Aug 5, 2012 5:34:42 GMT -5
At the moment they're looking at reducing the quarantine time- hopefully will mean more people can take their dogs to Australia with them! My sister had to leave her Labrador when she came over. (I'm pretty sure she's still in touch though and receiving photos) Skijoring does sound fun, I've skied once before and had a blast, must be even cooler with dogs involved! Bella's been a bit of a ratbag today, lots of toy-stealing and when I took her out for a run she had serious recall issues and pulled on the lead like a possessed draught horse. Golly, it's a good thing I love her! |
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Post by grizabella on Aug 5, 2012 20:54:23 GMT -5
There's nothing quite like that heart attack moment when you Saluki slips out of her collar and runs full pelt towards a road!  Considering her recall was non-existant yesterday (and that was when I had a big bag of treats to wave around!), I was panicking rather a lot, and screaming her name hysterically. Thankfully after running several rings around me (including running onto the road a couple of times!!! ) she did come to me and let me catch her. Blimey, she certainly knows how to give me a fright! |
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Post by Gazinghound on Aug 6, 2012 19:42:22 GMT -5
How terrifying!!!! Sometimes it feels as if they're doing it on purpose. So glad she finally came back to you. Man, if the treats don't do it, then what will...! I too have gone into panic mode at moments like that, against what would have been my better judgment if I'd had time to think and react more calmly. You've been a naughty-naughty lately, Miss Bella! *shakes finger*--as if she'll give a care about THAT!  In contrast, Ulla's been quite good...aside from such minor things as trying to work in the kitchen as a dish-washer without her snood, or pawing Jack 'til he gets down from a piece of furniture (pretending she wants to play again) so that she can steal his spot. Clever, fiendish beast! But she's actually taken to running upstairs into my room when the doorbell rings--that is, unless she can actually smell the pizza guy's wares or something like that... *sniff* I couldn't bear to leave my girl--not even for 4-6 months, which is why I'll probably be looking at rooming with a dog-friendly Orlando resident when I get to do the Disney College Program internship thing. I sure hope Australia cuts that quarantine time down significantly. Skiing and skijoring both look super fun! I just have to remember not to pizza when I should French fry, or I'll have a bad time! XD -South Park joke- |
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Post by grizabella on Aug 6, 2012 21:01:43 GMT -5
Hehe, what a clever and cheeky madam Ulla is! When are you going to be doing the Disney College Program? It will be a nice extended holiday in sunny Florida for Ullie! Bella's the complete opposite, when the doorbell rings she runs down from my room and jumps around like a nutter waiting to greet whoever it may be! |
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Post by Gazinghound on Aug 7, 2012 22:30:20 GMT -5
Oh, that she surely is. ;P I'm not sure when I'll get to do the DCP, but I'm hoping within a year. To be eligible, you've got to be enrolled in a class at the time you apply, so I'm going to need one more class at the university as a non-matriculated student...but I won't know when to register for one until they announce their recruiting dates. I had wanted to do it this year, but twice I tried to apply, based upon the dates that had been given to me previously. Once I got someone on the phone who was mistaken about the deadline, and then later I found out that they'd finished recruiting many, many months ahead of time, and that I was already too late when I'd figured I was rather early. It's apparently a difficult thing to get into, only because the timing is so inconsistent and confusing. But ah, whenever that happens, I hope it is a good time for both of us... ^__^
Ahaha, that's too funny! Ulla did it again today--my dad answered the door, and she ran upstairs onto my bed. It's almost as if she's associated being detained up there with people bringing good stuff to the house, or something....maybe she just thinks that we want her to do that for some reason, and that somebody would shoo them out of the way of the door anyhow and she's just preempting it...I really have no idea. She stays alert to hear what's going on, and then rushes back down shortly after the door closes. On the other hand, Molly the old Maltese was the worst with doorbells. She'd go nuts barking, and wanting to attack whomever was out there. She was the meanest little critter I've ever known. *-* No wonder the lady from whom we adopted her said that she couldn't keep her because Molly didn't get along with her cats. We didn't take the hint and just figured, "That's okay, we don't have cats." xD;
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Post by grizabella on Aug 18, 2012 6:03:56 GMT -5
Golly, the admission process for the DCP sounds quite a pain! I'm sure it will be well worth it when you do get in though, I do hope it will happen soon! Bella's had a very nice couple of days, spending time with her very good friend, Elvis. She's been enjoying having lots of cuddles from human visitors as well.  |
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Post by grizabella on Aug 19, 2012 21:02:27 GMT -5
" All the coolest Salukis are wearing one, don't ya know?" Bella's harness arrived VERY promptly!    image upload |
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Post by Gazinghound on Aug 22, 2012 21:05:19 GMT -5
Gadzooks, that was fast! Saaaay, haven't I seen that gorgeous piece of walking gear somewhere before? +D +D That's so awesome, I still can't believe you found it!! She looks amazing in it. It contrasts with her coat just enough to really stand out, yet simultaneously harmonizes with her dark color.
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so if anyone other than Greyhound-folk want a go they have to book it with a Greyhound track to use their place/equipment for a morning. I wish it was recognised here, then maybe it would be possible to do it competitively, gain titles etc.
I hope you can work out getting a shot at trying it, but it would be nice if actual competition were an option, too. I bet Bella would be great at it.
Woe is she!
