Fluffy Dog Rescue benefit!

We adopted Sprocket from a rescue called Fluffy Dog Rescue based in Hartland, WI. They were having a benefit walk, so Erland and I decided it would be fun to attend & support the awesome place that helped us get Sprocket!

We had planned to wake up early and arrive at the event as it started, but we ended up oversleeping and got a late start. After a quick breakfast and & walk around the block we headed out to Waukesha & Minooka Park. After about an hour long drive we arrived at the park and first ended up parking at the dog park section. I then realized that wasn't the correct spot so we got back in the car and drove down the road some more. That's when we spotted the sign. Sprocket was really excited to get out of the car!

We walked up to the table, payed our entry fee, and I got to pick out a bandanna for Sprocket to wear. I had Erland enter our raffle tickets into 2 of the prize selection boxes. We met a lot of other dogs and a lot of nice people. We had  lunch and Sprocket had some treats from the goody bag that we got. We didn't end up winning any prizes, but we had a really god time! As we were leaving the park we decided to go on a hike on one of the trails, so we parked again and took a look at a map of trails. We kinda lost track of what path we were on, but managed to eventually find our path and head back to the car. It was a gorgeous day and the fall colors were awesome. Minooka Park is a really, really nice and I wish there was something just like it in Madison. We had a really fun day!

More pictures of the event can be found here.

School and Recess.

Class
I signed Sprocket up for "Beginner Doggy School" a 6 week course at Teachers Pet Training Academy. Our first class started 8/14/12 and went through 9/18/12. I signed up for the older dog class, but no other students enrolled, so I was put in the puppy class (5 mo or younger). It worked out since Sprocket is still technically a puppy and has loads of energy!

The class size was small which is great! Other training places have way to many people and I feel you don't get any help from the trainers/instructors that way. I really enjoyed every class in the 6 week course. Sprocket is a very barky dog  during class, so it was tough at times to treat him for doing something correct. I didn't want to do it when he barked, thus possibly enforcing it. My timing had to be very precise at times. It was really cool to see him working things out in class.

For example, when learning "touch" he had it down with my right hand, but when I switched to my left hand he looked at me with the most confused face. It took him a bit but he finally got what I wanted him to do. He did better then the other dogs at sit and down but I think it's because he is older and they are still very young puppies, like in the weeks to 4 mo age.

Our time in the class helped me learn a lot of techniques and it helped Sprocket learn to pay attention to me. He is very food motivated and will do anything for treats! I have to be honest and say I did not spend as much time outside of class training him like I should, but I am now very motivated to get his training down before the holidays pop up so that he is a well mannered pup when guests come and visit. I will be working very hard on teaching him the lessons I learned we went over in class.

I have posted the pictures Erland took of me and Sprocket at one of our classes here. There are a lot and I just wanted to show them all.

Here is a video (watch in HD) of us training and the play time in between the lessons. This was just during one class.
School Days

Recess
Nobody can just study all the time, there has to be some fun mixed in ones life! I take Sprocket to work with me, so he gets to go to doggy day camp, where he gets to run, play, and meet new friends! I have no pictures of him there with me though. (due to having to actually work haha)

We also go to the local dog park near our apartment. We walk there so he is not super wound up by the time we get there, plus its more exercise. We have met many people and dogs and made some new friends as well! I have also taken him to a co-workers house to have play dates with her dog named Zero.

Here is a video (watch in HD) of us at the dog park in the morning and our first play date with Zero  He loves to run so the video was a little shaky. Erland fixed it for me. (When you see the wonky parts that's where it was very shaky) .

Sprocket at play

Cat and Dog

Willow (our calico rescue cat) and Sprocket (our terrier mix rescue dog) are not best friends or anything, but there seems to be a mutual respect in the apartment between the two now. When they first met, there was a lot of hissing and running away with an occasional paw swipe from Willow. Now she has settled down and does not do any of that when he walks near or past her. Sprocket will  stop & pause for a second while watching her whenever he wants to pass her. I guess it's just to make sure shes okay with it. They basically watch each other a lot haha.

They will sleep near each other sometimes and hang out on the couch with us, each on their own sides, but it's slowly becoming a happy animal family in the apartment! We have blocked off our bathroom and now feed Willow in there so that she can feel safe and have her own space where Sprocket can't get to her, her food or her litter.

The following are some pictures of Willow and Sprocket. ( I made a story, kind of.)

Willow sleeping on the dog bed

Sprocket sleeping on his dog bed.

Hey, dog guy!!

Yes, Cat?

Lets sleep!

I can get down with that! Zzzz