Bob and I just bought our first video camera - the Flip Video Camcorder. This after agonizing for over a year about what camera to buy. I just did not want to spend $500 and didn’t have to.

So now we’re on a roll. Bob will practice his cameraman skills. I will edit and put up on the web. I know we’re years behind the rest of the world but I am so excited about videotaping my agility dog training and especially my work with the shelter dogs. My specialty, I think, is teaching the dogs how to walk nicely on leash. I want so much to pass on my knowledge to other volunteers and I can’t think of a better way to do it than a step-by-step video series. Bob and I both will have to become more skilled with the camera and editing first.

Here are the videos of our very first attempts:

Dog Agility Run

Learning the Dog Agility Dog Walk

Java Runs Again

Bringing a second dog into our household was not something my husband was thrilled about. Bringing ANY animal into our home was not something Bob was thrilled about. Before writing him off as an animal hating monster you need to know that my husband has asthma and a strong connection between pets - especially cats - and asthma attacks. Before writing me off as an uncaring wife; well, I just have to have furry friends in my life and I was willing to do what it takes to have both my asthmatic, wonderful husband and an animal companion (or two).

My experience with Hanna, nearly weekly dog training classes, thousands of dollars in dog training and behavior seminars and years of volunteer work at shelters, gave me a pretty good knowledge base of dogs and dog behavior. I knew the folly of falling for a dog because of his or her looks. My second dog was going to be chosen after I made a list of traits I was looking for. This was my list with comments:

• No reactivity!! Can handle seeing, meeting novel people, animals, things without fear, barking or lunging
• Small dog Harder to find; for plane travel inside cabin with me
• High energy dog No shortage of these at shelters!
• Terrier I developed a “thing” for terriers. I like feisty. I like independence.
• Food motivated Most dogs, but not all. Ask Hanna.
• Toy driven Terrier anyone?
• Short hair I couldn’t have everything!
• Good health Need good structure for agility
• Young dog I was willing to go up to 3 years old but wanted younger dog for agility

I had the good fortune to be able to foster Java to see how she handled new people and situations and to have her health checked. Who wouldn’t fall in love with her? Java was here to stay.