The Doogles - 20/09: Batman and a red Rosette

[kian]

Love Donkey Dog! Your pictures are amazing as always. Thanks for naming all the dogs, that helps. I love the green where you live, so pretty. Ice would be in heaven with all those dogs and the ponds!

I too have have to back up my pictures, when I bought this computer I had them add extra memory just for the pics!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

GLORIOUS!!!!!

I'm sorry I missed your post on Sunday. Oh my goodness, they all look so beautiful. I know sweet Tippi, and she is a funny one indeed! Kay has such a beautiful, intelligent face, as you said. I'm glad you "splashed" out on a water toy as it is clearly a favourite.

One would think that I could remember several dogs names at a time after growing up with so many at once, but as I become older, it does become harder. If it were just you and I, and not the entire DP, I would probably do better.

I loved, loved, loved the photos. It's so easy to see just how much fun everyone is having.

[Emma & Kay]

Thank you Kian and Deb.

I've been extremely busy lately- or, at least, I haven't had as much spare time.

I finally managed to order a customised fluorescent "Dog In Training, Please DO NOT Approach" jacket for Kay, which I should be getting any day now. Maybe it'll stop people letting their kids run up squealing at her.

And here are some recent-ish photos.

I took the camera and the little lens on a bike ride with Star. Here's a picture as we enetered the lane to come home after our round-the-block cycle. One happy dog.

This is what I saw when I turned around earlier today.


And the usuals.

I took the exposure right down with this one to see how it'd turn out. Pretty interesting. Little Tippi was my subject.

Kay's ridged schnoz.


Mmm, slobber-string.

Doi.

Li'l Starla.



I finally managed to get a picture of my three. Tippi is hesitant to get too close to the drooler, but I think this is the best 'three-bee' shot I'm ever going to get.

[nezza]

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE that last pic of your three beautiful dogs!!!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Kay, Tippi and Star all look wonderful in that last portrait of them together. That is frame worthy! ♥

[Emma & Kay]

I come, bearing nothing new. I've been depressed over the last few days, as we ended up being sent on a cadet-related fieldcraft weekend that we hadn't been trained for. It was a level higher than what we should be getting trained for - two lewvels higher than what we actually are, so it was pretty hard, mind-numbing and depressing.

I finally got Kayennes fluorescent jacket in the mail today. I had a friend order it for me a few weeks ago, but because it was customized, it took a while to actually be sent...It was sent two days ago and I got it this morning. Very few people actually understand when a dog isn't happy. I don't remember the last time someone actually listened to me when I said "Hey man, don't lean over her".

I've also booked an appointment with the vets to get Kay and Star microchipped. Star was meant to have been microchipped two years ago, but we had them all scanned a few months ago (barring Kay) and Stars' microchip didn't show up. We'll be going in on Monday.

We're unofficially fostering a Bichon Frise mix, previously called Lily, now called Lizzie. We thought she was pure Bichon, but learned that her sire was Bichon/Yorkie mix, which would explain Lizzies' wonky ears. Her owner is an elderly family member, who let her son bully her into getting a puppy when she wanted a house trained dog. Lizzie is very problematic...Hated the lead, can't wear a collar comfortably, wouldn't let you pick her up or groom her. She screams (proper, full out scream) if you leave the room, and she toilets everywhere in the house. Not exactly the ideal dog to encourage you to get out and about, which is what her owner was after.

She's coming along really well. No photos yet, because we need to finish shaving her, but her owner has asked if we'll take some pictures to her in a few days, so I'll introduce Lizzie properly then. Hopefully she won't be here for much longer. She'll be a lovely little dog in the right home.

Here's a photo of Kay sporting her jacket. It crumples up around her shoulders quite a bit, but it shouldn't be a problem. It only cost me £22 (about $44? Ish...) so I didn't expect perfection, and I'm generally happy with it. If nothing else, I'll be able to say "What, can't you read?!" when people complain that she barked. People, especially men, seem to think it's a great idea to walk passed a dog and grab it's tail.

[Emma & Kay]

I haven't taken any photos of the dogs recently. Star tore the flesh between the far-right toe on her front right paw, and has been moping about the house. It's healed pretty well, so she'll be able to come back up the field soon. Kay's being a bit of a...Er...Kay. And Tippi's my little diamond, as always.

We went to a companion dog show fundraising for a website that helps people find their lost dogs. We used it when Toby went missing, and have been on it ever since. A couple of months ago, we were able to catch a runaway Basset Hound from a boarding kennels. The staff at the kennel were doing nothing at all, and the owners were on Holiday...Despite being very skinny, Charlotte the Basset, who'd been hit by at least one car, was perfectly fine. We bumped into her owners at the fundraiser, which was nice.

The show itself was disorganised, boring and really disappointing, but there you go.

I finally found a collar for Kayenne. I could set up a shop with the amount of dog collars I have for her, but I don't like any of them. Apart from this one. I've been looking for a collar of this colour for months, ever since I accidentally picked up a green/gold Halti rather than a black one. I got a matching lead, as well. I just need a blue one for Star, and a purple one for Tippi, and my doogles will be stylin'.

[Emma & Kay]

I've been a bit busy lately, so the computer's just been collecting dust. We've put a fence up around the front garden/yard, stuck a gate in the middle and blocked the entire thing off. We'll be planting some higher bushes around the fence to stop our neighbours letting their dogs and kids in our garden. Summer's finally showing its face.

I managed to get out with the camera today. Instead of doing our usual training, I just played with Kay and Star out the front. The camera died before I took Tippi out. All she did was lay around, anyway.

I was going to video some of Kayennes' obedience and Stars' playing, but then I remembered I'm not good at 'videography'.

First, some pictures of Star being happy. She took Kays' ball off the bench and decided it was hers. All of these pictures were taken in auto, because I'm still figuring out the camera! I can go manual with the big dogs, but the little white ones still throw me off a bit.












And now some Kay.





The first time she went from a down, straight into a proper stand on command. Usually, she's lying down, then she'll sit, and I'll have to repeat the command for her to actually stand. I just kept hold of the shutter button, and these were the best two. Kind of messed up the exposure.







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This is her convincing face. It doesn't work.


She's an honourary jumping jack...I don't like her jumping to catch the ball, because her bounce is Stars' slip. While Star can jump high and land safely without much effort...Kay just sort of flails. So I don't let her do it often.



The first edit I've done in a few months.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Emma, I don't possibly have time to comment on all the photos, but I did notice that Star had some lovely, wonderful tongue shots!!!

You do take such lovely photographs. Kay looks fantastic.

I'll post more later if I have time angel. Even if I don't comment, it doesn't mean I haven't seen the post.

[Emma & Kay]

Deb, please don't feel you have to comment every time! I rarely have time to keep up with other threads, let alone comment, and I don't have a very busy life in comparison to people with full time jobs and their own families. I actually don't remember the last time I commented on a thread that wasn't this one.

Here I go again... This time I bring a quick video. I don't focus on tricks with Kay at all. My family taught her to Shake Hands, and I introduced her to "Bow", though she needs to clear hand signal. I'm more interested in her obedience and scent work than her tricks. However, I wanted to see if she - or, rather, we - could pull this off.

Only took me three days to get her to this point. This is the first time I put "Reverse" and "Circle" together in a routine. We've been working on this one trick for five days now. She's such a quick learner. I've been spoiled with all of my dogs.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Emma, it was lovely to hear your voice!!! The funny thing about "luck" is that the harder one works, the luckier one becomes! I think luck has very little to do with your success, especially with your dogs.

That's a great trick, and she is a very fast learner. It's no wonder as she has a marvelous teacher!

You are very sweet about me not always commenting. I really do try, but sometimes I just run out of time. If someone takes the time and energy to post something, and share something, they deserve to at least know that people are looking and taking an interest.

Keep up the good work you two, and I'd love to see more videos!!!

[Emma & Kay]

Ah, my camera's been collecting dust again! I got sucked into the London Olympics recently, and have been religiously toning up my muscles. I completely cut out all sweets and junk food without any "good bye" meals/snacks, and started a fitness regime. My snacks have included fruit, fruit, fruit...Fruit. And sometimes I'll have some fruit if I'm in the mood.

Star's been my weight as I do push-ups/press-ups, and Kay had been an occasional running partner, but Star's better at it. I have to keep telling Kay what to do, but with Star all I have to do is warn her that I'm going to start running ("Are you ready?...") - I don't even have to worry about letting her know we're stopping. She pays more attention than Kay. Definitely a better running parter, LOL. But yeah, she'll stand/lay on my back as I do my push-ups. Kayenne just gets in the way.

"Exercise" and "Tippi" should never be in the same sentence.

If the weather is good, then I'll be taking Kayenne and my sister, some scented objects and a camera to the bridleway in the week and doing some scentwork with Kay. I've been teaching her a few more tricks (Weave, Roll Over, High Five, Rear Up...And we've NEARLY perfected her Reverse-Circle-Reverse thing) so maybe I'll fit them into the video, as well. I forgot how much fun it was to trick train.

Here are some photos of Tia and Kay playing this afternoon...But first, here's one of my three lounging on the couch when they have a perfectly good dog bed right in the room.

[Tweedledee]

Wow I love your dogs, they are just gorgeous!

I have a thing for Dobes, I interned at a vet clinic last summer and I would walk the clinic dog, Anchor, who was a doberman. They are just the sweetest little boogers behind that macho exterior.

I just love how vibrant your photographs are, is that your camera or did you brighten the colors?

[Emma & Kay]

Thanks Samar...Dobaddiction. It's a hard thing to overcome; I don't think I'm ready to try.

I always prefer posting the original photos - or semi original, at least. I add a small watermark in the bottom right hand corner and resize them so they fit on the page. I don't play with the contrast or exposure once they're on the computer, but I'm working on going fully manual with the camera. Hence some of the way too bright, way too dark pictures.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Emma, I love those photos! Kay and Tia are having a marvellous time playing.

"Exercise" and "Tippi" should never be in the same sentence.

LOL!!!!!! Tippi is adorable. Big girls need love too. How wonderful that Star helps out with your new fitness regimen. I'm sure she enjoys laying on your back while you do pushups! Good for you for even doing pushups!!! My weight loss program this past week or so has been the stomach flu. It isn't much fun....and it doesn't even work that well.

I do love your new avatar. I noticed it earlier in the week. What a lovely bright blue couch you have. Of course the dogs are more comfortable on that than in their beds. Isn't that where the dogs are supposed to be?

You do take the most amazing photos, and manage to capture the action so well. Everything is always so lovely and green in England. It's thanks to all that rain you have.