Tell me Thursday #4

How is it already Thursday?! Regardless, I am happy it's here, because this work week has been long, stressful and tiring.

Crooks and Crazies has posted another set of questions! Here's my go at round two!

1. In sheepdog training (or lets call it *any* type of training), how do you keep from taking yourself, your dog, your lack of progress too seriously? posed by Ann

Well, I don't do sheep herding, although it would be thoroughly entertaining to see what Riley and Grace do! When it comes to new sports/ tasks, I tend to be a very self critical person. I want to do well at any task quickly and I want to please my instructors. I sometime hold unrealistic expectations for myself and when I "fail" to meet those, I become stressed and anxious. But, Riley and Grace keep me in check.

I have to remind my self that these activities I do with my dogs, are for FUN! They aren't doing it to earn titles, ribbons or fast times. They are doing it because it's fun! I ask them to do something for me and they say "Sure mom! Sounds fun!" For now all I have to do, to stop my little pity parties, is look at their wagging tail and tongues hanging out, to know I've done good.

I believe we don't get the dogs we WANT, we get the dogs we NEED.

2. How many crates do you have? For reals.

 We have 4 crates. Two in the house, where they sleep at night, and two soft crates for travel.

3. How do you keep your dogs in shape?

 As of this moment...... walking and agility for Riley. In this 100+ heat we can't do much outside right now, but the second it cools off to 80 or less, we will hit the trails. Weather permitting, we usually do agility, run, rollerblade, bike or swim. In between our usual activities Riley and Grace like to entertain/exercise themselves by wrestling!

4. Who is your favorite movie/tv star eye candy at the moment?

Hummm.... Hubby and I are watching this new TV series, called Falling Skies and the actor, Drew Roy is pretty good looking :)

5. What is your livestock situation? Have your own? Borrow? Herd the cats? (You can subsitute other equipment for livestock if you don't work stock with your dogs).

I do agility with Riley, and I have a few homemade pieces of equipment, jumps and a teeter. In an apartment I don't have much space for practicing or storing anything big, but beware, when we finally get a house I wanna go all out! Muh hahaha! 

Also, for Grace's Rally I have some cones and homemade rally flash cards I put on the ground for practice. :)