Dog is my Co-Pilot

I might have mentioned this in a previous post a long time ago, but Abbey had started becoming exceedingly stressed while riding in the car. So, since I didn't want that behaviour to stick, I started working on her overall association to riding in the car from what was making her feel uncomfortable to things I knew she was frightened of. She started getting better but today we decided to up the anti and ask her to keep calm in the car while it was raining. To any other dog, whatever, but to Abbey? SCARY. Rain pelting a metal roof, water sloshing in the tires, grinding gears, and those funky looking windshield wipers...She is not a fan. I also didn't bring food in the car today. The reward wasn't given until we got home. Well, what a champ! She rode in that car on the seat, not trying to dig her way to China fruitlessly. No fervent shaking and teeth clenching for her, just some mild panting here and there. I was very impressed on the drive back when she didn't have a crazy "the world is ending right now mommy I need to run" reaction as a car came by and splashed water onto the side of mine, which normally would have sent her into a tizzy. I was also pleased by her initiative to relieve her own stress..."here, let me yawn, that usually helps." GOOD GIRL! Since she did so brilliantly and was pretty much unaffected by the car ride, even traversing the highway, I decided to test her "waiting skills." Park the car, take off my seat belt, turn off the ignition, open the door, step out aaaand OKAY! Mind you I did have to continually say "sit, wait, wait wait, wait there, sit" but that's okie dokie for now. It's a great feeling to know that Abbey can once again be my trusty co-pilot, let's go on a car ride.

PHOTO OP: (iPhone 3Gs Quality...can't wait for 4s) 

Our lovely Miami Summer Rain

Lying down calmly in the passenger's seat

the YAWN up and coming

Whazzat?! When the water splashed. Alert, but not Mankey Eyed. DOG IS MY CO-PILOT!

Dog Park Fun

Dog Park Day, Time for a Swim!

They love swimming, especially Abbey

once again, there she goes!

And what's a day at the dog park without familiar friends.

Sorry for the poor photo quality, these were taken with the iPhone because I forgot my camera.

Ball Breakthrough and Stretches

As promised, Abbey has been going on the exercise ball even on my busiest days. I come home from school, grab my treats, grab the ball and we have at it. What's absolutely great is that Abbey is always SO amped and excited to do her ball work, and I think I have become so obsessed with this style of therapy that I might just get a disc too. Now, we did our usual routine yesterday and today, but YESTERDAY we had a major breakthrough...Abbey knows how to orient her position so that she does not fall off the ball. That's a major step for great balance and better coordination. The ball got loose at one point while Abbey was standing on it and it started rolling and instead of jumping off (the reaction that I expected) she kept moving and moving repositioning herself so that she was always on top of the ball and she was STANDING at the same time. Well, well girlie...VERY impressive. I quickly grabbed the ball so that she didn't start looking like a circus monkey, she jumped off and I gave her plenty of praise and cookies. She is also able to perform her "sit pretty" without assistance...although from time to time she still demands some if she isn't in the right spot on the ball.

I usually massage Abbey gently after ball work and do a couple of stretches, this time we did a couple organized stretches and skipped the massage part. Hind leg stretches, back stretches, we also stretch her neck. She is actually quite flexie with those back stretches and she enjoyed doing those as well. Perhaps it's because she gets cookies. I wanted to thank Pam from Pam's Dog Academy for posting the video on constructive stretches to do with the dog to prevent a sport injury.

That's all for now! Thanks for keeping up with us, there's much more to come!

What A Workout!

This morning, after I came from the Doctor (follow-up post surgery), Abbey and I did some exercise on the ball. We previously had only 2 sessions and that was more to get Abbey used to jumping on the ball and orienting herself into different positions. Today we officially did a work-out. I had her jump onto the ball and do a series on sits, downs, stands, and sit prettys. Currently her sit pretty is a bit off-balance and she grasps at my arm for support, but that's alright in my opinion. As she becomes more and more comfortable and finds her "footing" she'll be able to perform that position independently. Funny enough, as we were working Abbey came up with a rather clever position...performing her handstand on the ball. I thought this was great for working on her hind end awareness and also strength and balance.

After all that work, which went for about 5 minutes maybe 8, we decided to take some pictures so that everyone could see. What better way to express the taxing effect of the workout than the dog, the ball, and a relaxed pose. Yes, my friends, the photo is a pose/trick of Abbey's called "on your side". I love this shot of her next to the ball, because in the beginning she was a bit wary of it and now not only is she overjoyed to work on it, but also comfortable enough to lie against it. We'll be doing sessions like this every day from now until the beginning of May, and then move to only 3-4 times a week. As she lays at my feet while I'm typing this blog all I can think is man WHAT A WORKOUT!

We'll be headed to the Dog Park this afternoon. Keep following us, there is more progress and pictures to come!

I failed.

Okay, so if it wasn't obvious enough, I completely failed on the 52 weeks challenge. I will try to make an attempt again next year or restart this summer. Summer to summer seems like a good record of 52 weeks to keep, right?!

Alright, I also haven't been writing much lately either. There's been plenty of unwanted DRAMA that occured at the beginning of this year, and it took up the majority of my time and thoughts. The good ol' boyfriend dumped me for reasons that should be chucked in a fire and burned to ashes, and then those ashes should be thrown into Mount Doom to further become incinerated and never seen again. Long story short...the depression got to me tenfold and Abbey was spending most of her time licking away my tears or acting like a class clown to put that non-existant smile back on my face.

After many moons of cursing the man to hell and back just so that I could curse him back to hell again, I realized he just wasn't worth any of my bloody time or thoughts. So, naturally, BACK to my amazing doggie. I am unsure as to whether I mentioned this previously, but Abbey has gone into rehab for the rest of the trial season and won't be back on the circuit again until the season upkicks in the fall. Why? Well, no she hasn't suffered any injuries, but she did get beat up a little bit at our last trial...WHICH WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL A steeplechase win and 2 more Masters Jumpers legs. I tell you this girlie is near flawless. But she fell off the Aframe once and also flew off the teeter. Since the beginning of her career, this dog has never had an adjustment (a chiropractic adjustment)...and well, I have to say NAUGHTY MOMMY. Abbey, in both training and trial, has fallen off dog-walks, aframes, teeters, banged herself into some weavepoles and what-not. The poor baby MUST need SEVERAL adjustments with all of the abuse her joints have been through. Please forgive me, I learn bit by bit and I never really had the money to just go and have my dog massaged or adjusted. I'm not a COMPLETE failure though! I did give her "minor" massages myself when I felt she needed them.

So, since I have just started babbling all over the place about how Abbey is amazing and I need to be better...LIKE ALWAYS...let me actually give you all a heads up as to what is going to be happening. I was gifted with an exercise ball, so that's part of this deal as well.

1. Work on the exercise ball

2.Go to the rehab center in Davie at least once a month

3.South Florida summers are getting near the lake, beach, and pools are going to be frequented both for cooling off and for getting exercise and conditioning for those joints.

4.Joint supplement...yeah talk about me slacking on the job

5.Contacts and weaves training!!

Now...The best news of all...I AM EMPLOYED! Thank goodness because it was getting RUFF. Wish Abbey and I luck and we will also try to implement some photos and videos for your viewing pleasure. Who just wants to read a lot of words all the time, right?

All American Team, Over and out!

2/52 for 52 Weeks of Abbey

Lazy Sundays and a Sleepy Abbey

1/52 52 Weeks of Abbey

Abbey's first shot in 52 weeks of Abbey. 52 Weeks Challenge!