Holy cow!  Time flies so fast--the Collie National specialty show is just around the corner.  We leave on Monday the 17th for LaCrosse WI.  It's going to get alot busier around Maiwae.  I was hired for a second parttime job today, only 10 hours a week and very flexible.  I can go in before or after my regular job, work any weekend hours I want to, etc.  The perfect second job for me.  It's more of the same work I do now, medical billing, which I could do practically in my sleep after 25 years.  The extra money is going directly into the dog fund for classes, shows and those pesky extra vet bills. 

My next class started Monday.  I squeaked by the 2nd of 2 alegbra classes--and I'm putting off the whole Finite Math and Statistics courses that I need.  I need a break from the whole math thing.  So this time I'm taking a philosophy class.  First assignment are readings from Plato and a 500 word essay on What is Wisdom?   In the midst of all of this training goes on and on and on.  Jam's coming along with his focus work, we are fading the treats and the clicker and I have to say he looks pretty good.  We'll do a dry run at the Petco this weekend and see just how focused he is doing heeling around the doggy treat buffet table.

I've got Sally back for the National and she's proving to be a challenge in obedience.  Everything looks spot on except for the down.  But hey, I have 12 more days until we leave and a few at the show before we have rally.  I figure, I've been lucky with dogs and earning RN's.  Jam earned his with 5 weeks of training, Sally got 4 weeks, so who knows?  We might just pull off another training miracle.  You know, it's only because I have such awesome dogs that I've been able to train with a dog for 5 weeks and have them pull out a title. 

The puppies are learning all sorts of good stuff--sit, down, fetch and tug, oh yea, tug is a favorite.  I'm loading the clicker with them both.  After years of the whole, "nope, not gonna ever use a clicker", I was blessed to meet Sahra who introduced me to the clicker and focus work and now I'm hooked!  Classes start in April, the pups each in a class, Jam in an advanced class and Dora in agility.  Dora absolutely hates obedience, the ears airplane out the sides, think the Flying Nun habit look, and she just pouts.  So she's learned sit and down and stay and come and we are ready to tackle agility class.  I had her working on the few pieces of equipment that I have and she took to it like a duck to water.  Now I have to get back into running shape again.  It's been a long, lazy winter...

Well, I guess I'd better head back to the books and the dogs are looking a little irritated that mom has sat at the computer too long, again!  Hopefully my next update will include more on Cardigan shopping...