Long Time No Bark!

Sorry we haven't post in a while my furry four legged friends and two legged ones (some of you are furry too). We have been really busy playing, well Casey and I. My daddy has been busy working on starting his dog training business and mommy just got into graduate school.

Dad has been going to the PSPCA every Saturday to train dogs there. He says they are very good dogs that just need a home, love and some obedience. He has been working with the same dog for like forever. Specs is a male pit bull terrier/dalmation mix. He can sit, stay, come, leave it, down all in a few weeks. Daddy would like to bring someone home but we don't have the room. So if you know someone looking for a dog that needs minimal training, the PSPCA or your local chapter will have the dog for you.

The picture above is from a seminar dad took at Y2K9s sports and obedience club in Wyndmoor PA. Pat Miller author of, "Positive Perspectives" gave a seminar on shaping. We won't bore you with too much, but dad said it was awesome. He has been shaping us ever since. Shaping means breaking a behavior down into tiny increments, and reinforcing each one until you have reached the desired behavior. One small example, going to crate. So you want your pooch to go into their crate but they are scared. You can lure them in with treats sure this works, but they are not really doing on their own. So to shape him into the crate you will have the crate, the dog, the clicker and the treats. Remember small increments! Your pooch looks in the direction of the crate, click treat!. Walks in the direction of the crate, click treat! Touches the crate, click treat! Remember SMALL steps, so this takes time. Finally the dog walks in, click treat! At this stage I might even jackpot with lots of treats. Shaping lets your dog think about what he is doing and what you want.

Got to go someone is barking.

4 Weeks with New Brother!

Sorry to all my furry friends about not blogging. I have been busy playing with my new brother, along with more play comes more sleep.

Casey has been doing very well. Although, mommy and daddy had to work on some things, I just got to play.

We have been two peas in a pod. Although 2 weeks in my parents went away without us. At least Melissa stayed at our house with us.



I don't think Casey new what toys were. My daddy would say he was flooded with toys. He isn't as easy on them like I am, but if one gets destroyed the toy fairy brings a new one. He is particularly fond of the the little pink pig. He chews on its tail.
















Here is an action shot my daddy took. We play and play.










Casey is very mellow for a Wire Fox Terrier. He sleeps a lot. Most mornings daddy has to coax him out of bed to go outside.

We are very thankful to the A.F.T.R. While there are some within this group that believe that two Wire's can't live together we have proven this wrong. My mommy and daddy gave up on them since we were told by one member that we couldn't rescue one since we had one. Luckily another member that we met at the All Terrier Show contacted us about him.









We really don't know Casey's background. When we brought him home his tail was never up and he was very skiddish of fast movement. It took about two weeks for that tail to go up. Now it is up most of the time and he is less skiddish. He is not too fond of his crate, but tolerates it. He started peeing in his crate so that needed to be addressed. Once we took out his blanket he did not pee anymore. We hired our back up dog walker, thanks Peg, to come twice a day to just let them out. This has been a big help and now are scaling back. Melissa still comes once for a nice big walk or romp in the yard.

The Wire Fox Terrier has been brought out in Casey. It took some time, but really not that much. It goes to show why there are so many dogs available for adoption. It takes a little bit of time and care.

Casey's Forever Home!

What a day. We drove to Maryland to meet Casey. I must say what sweet boy he is. We got along great. We just got home, well a little while ago. Can't you tell how comfortable he is? On his side and back already. Thank you Mackie, Melissa, Steve, Ollie and Finnegan! The sweet boy slept almost the whole way home.

He is playing with all my toys and smelling everything. I really like licking his ears. Oh, we saw little Maggie as well and her potential forever family.




















I like him.

New buddy? Paws are crossed!

My mommy and daddy got an email from the AFTR. They said they have this little boy available for adoption. He looks very sweet and actually came from Ohio. He is now with the rescue in DC or Maryland where we hope to go visit him.

Ty Update and My Birthday

What no pictures you ask. Yes no pics. We heard back from Ty's daddy and he is having a hard time giving him up so he plans on keeping him. I think it will be good for the both of them. We said if they ever need anything to give us a call. Anyone know of any Welsh Terriers that are available. Its what my mommy and daddy wanted, so they think its best to focus on them. They sure are cute. We'd like a sweet boy, 1-5 years old to come join our happy family.

Lastly, yesterday was my 2nd birthday. Daddy bought me some new toys, bones and even got a special dinner. Kibble with Turdunken. Yummmy! I even have left overs.

Take Care

All dog lovers PLEASE help!!!!!

I am copying this post from my friend, Axel, my paws are shaking too much to type anymore (I hope you don't mind buddy).

See that photo at left? Believe it or not, that is a wire fox terrier like me! An abused, horribly neglected wire who was one of 97 fox terriers found at a Monreal puppy mill belonging to Marc-Andre Laporte. Laporte was found guilty of two counts of animal cruelty at the St. Jerome courthouse in Montreal this week. Click here to see more photos

Almost 40 foxies had to be euthanized. The surviving dogs were cared for by the SPCA and later, with the help of devoted fox terrier lovers, found wonderful foster homes where they have been living for the past 2 years, unable to be adopted until the case is finalized. Laporte is only facing six months of jail time and up to $4,000 in fines. I find that disgusting - he should be locked in a cage forever or put to sleep - he murdered 40 dogs and abused 57 others!!

But it gets worse friends.
On Feb. 22, 2008 he will be sentenced.
And at the same hearing, the judge is to decide if Laporte is to get any of his fox terriers back!

Yeah, you read that right...get his dogs BACK! Are they insane in Canada? Are they blind? What is wrong with these people!? To even consider removing ONE wire from the safety and care of their loving foster families back to Laporte is OUTRAGEOUS!

WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.

So friend, today we are launching a two-fold campaign to prevent Laporte from getting his dog/s back. We know we can count on you to take action and spread the word:

1: Please go to the online petition. Once all the signatures are entered, we will print it out and hand it over to our friend in Montreal who has been instrumental is saving and caring for the Blainville wires, for distribution to the media (unfortunately it is illegal in Canada to hand petitions to the court).

2: Please take a few minutes to write a letter to Judge Jean Sirois imploring him to prevent Laporte from ever taking possession of his former fox terriers or of owning any dog again. If you can, include a photo of yourself and your foxie/dog. All the letters received will be put in a file and also handed to the media.

Letters should be mailed to:
Elizabeth Pierce
119 16th Street
Roxboro, Québec
Canada

Please disseminate this information on your blogs, to your fellow dog owners and friends.
Thank you for your support in this important matter.

A sad AGC and his very angry Mom

Ty, My Uncle Comes To Visit!

Hi everyone! This is Ty, my real uncle. He lives in South Jersey and is now being cared for his mom's son. We got a call from Christine, our breeder, about a boy who needs a home. See his mommy was old and passed away. Her son can't keep him, so my mommy and daddy are thinking about it. He came over last night for a visit. He is a big boy, not fat, but bigger than I am. We got along pretty well, but will need some time to sort things out. He growelled a little at me, but all I want to do is play. I think we can work things out, so he will come over for a sleep over for a whole weekend! I'll keep all my two and four legged buddies posted on the outcome.