poodle

At Home Poodle Grooming Tools Webinar


Grooming Webinar Registration Link
I'm stoked this morning.  Today is the first of many Webinars that I will be doing on dogs.  

 At Home Grooming Tools Webinar - I will be covering what you need as far as equipment to groom your poodle at home.  From the very basic equipment to doing full grooming yourself.  I've been grooming at home for 35 years.  Much of my grooming was done with the very bare minimum of equipment.  I will show you what you need to do in between grooms or just the touch up stuff.  When and if you are ready to do full grooms is up to you; but I will show you what you'll need.  

 Like anything, at home grooming typically starts with just one toe dipping into the waters.  Once you get into it the sky is the limit as far as all the bells as whistles you get.  I'll show you the necessity equipment.  

 There will be a Q&A session at the end of the webinar.  And Miss Elsa will be making one or more live appearances.  :) 

 Please join Elsa and I at 5:00 pm PST today May 5th, May 12, May 19 or May 26 for this free At Home Poodle Grooming Equipment Webinar. 

 Register for the webinar by clicking here.   

 Hope to see you all there.  

Friends


                                   A moment of quiet.  Lucy had been here for a while here.  Love how
                                   Elsa's turned back ears show that she is listening to me. 


                                                  Snack time, any takers?  I think so. 

 
Having friends over for a visit is always a good thing.

 
I could watch them play all day.


 
Lucy was much more interested in playing this time. 
 
 
Dog friends are the best kind.

The Golden Girls


 Lucy came over to play last week.  First a little background on Elsa and Lucy's relationship.  They first met when Elsa was very small, then we moved away.  Since we've been back they have only been together off a couple of times; and only once in  my backyard.  The rest of the time together has been spent walking on leash in parks.  We met out front of my house so that Elsa could get a heads up before they played.  Elsa knew she was there before I opened the door.  But I leashed her up and out we went.  Elsa did her hinged in the middle routine jumping all over Lucy's Mom while Lucy jumped all over me crying.  It's really nice when a dog that is not your own loves to see you.  :) 


                                        Of course there were retrieving games.


                                                 Elsa joined Lucy for a good sniff of the area. 

                   
                                                                Having fun just running around.
 

Then the big boy came out and Lucy was a bit nervous, very normal for a submissive dog.


                                    Lucy is a gorgeous Golden Retriever, inside and out. 


               Elsa was so excited to have Lucy over that she immediately dove into her full on play mode.  This actually threw Lucy a bit; they hadn't done the brawl play before and Lucy being very submissive was not quite sure that it was all play. 


                 Elsa tried shoving a toy in Lucy's face to get the game of chase going.  You can clearly see Lucy's tight lips here, she's a bit apprehensive. 


          Elsa growled, jumped and charged at Lucy.  Lucy was still a bit nervous to join in but started to relax. 


                                       Lucy's turn to check out Luke.  Luke loves Lucy. 


               A testing moment as Lucy comes to see if she can play with Elsa's toy.  Elsa gives her a  mock freeze and then dives into the game. 


                                                Elsa tempting Lucy to try to take the toy. 


     Elsa could tell that Lucy was apprehensive so tried to make it very clear that she wanted to play.  You can see Lucy's squinted eyes and pulled back lips here in submission.  So Elsa works harder.


                                                          Elsa's gets her goof on. 


                Elsa saying to Lucy "look how much fun I'm having, come join."

                  
     Another clear shot of Lucy squinting in submission.  They had fun being together but when Elsa brought out her brawling tactics, Lucy was a bit reserved.  By the end of the play Lucy was relaxing and starting to get into it.  We will get them together a lot more in my backyard so that they can get their game on together. 

A retriever to the core.


                        
                          A moment of rest but she is always ready with her prized possession. 

So how was your weekend?  We had a nice weekend, busy but nice.  Before the weekend on Friday morning Elsa had a play date with one of her best friends, Lucy.  I'll have pics tomorrow of that; Lucy is a beautiful Golden Retriever; Elsa loves her and was so excited to have her over.  Saturday Elsa and I headed over to a fenced field for some much needed chuck-it fun; then Luke and I did the "stop and smell the roses" walk. 

Chuck-it is probably one of Elsa's absolute favorite activities.  But as a high speed activity it is short lived; we don't chuck-it till she drops.  Instead we follow the "short and sweet" rule that I follow for my own work outs.  High intensity workout for a short amount of time.  It does not take Elsa long to get an amazing workout while doing her chuck it.  If you can throw that thing really well; it is truly amazing how far it goes.   Without it, I throw like a girl, pathetic really.  But armed with a chuck it and some muscle; that thing flies.  I love it and so does Elsa. 

But the retrieving doesn't stop there.  Miss Elsa is a retriever to the core.  Diehard retriever is what I'd have to describe her as.  No retriever we've met can keep up with her; nor do any have the drive that she does.  Of course Tilley would have given her a run for her money; more than likely out retrieving her with her ability to turn on a dime.  Tilley had a more compact body than Elsa does and was faster than her.  Most dogs who join us for fun soon learn to just stand and watch as Elsa does her stuff.

So the retrieving continues at home; albeit on a smaller scale.  Air tosses for catching and wall bouncing are a few other "ball" games that Elsa loves.  By far, the tennis ball is the absolute favorite object to retrieve and her new large sized Kong balls are prize possessions.   With Elsa's drive so high we limit access to the ball.  Plus if she is left with her balls for too long; she tends to strip them of their furry coat, if no one is tossing them for her.  Home retrieval is an allotted activity; the ball sits in a resting place until called upon.  I can often see Elsa sitting, staring at the lonely ball up on the shelf but it doesn't come off until I say that it comes off. 

The decision to play ball is always mine.  I know that once the ball comes down the retrieving will begin and not end until it is once again put up and away.  No matter where I am, Elsa will follow and she will continue to retrieve the ball.  It will be placed on my lap, in my weed bucket, Luke's head, someone else's lap or wherever it needs to be placed to be thrown.  She is amazing in her dedication.  She loves the chase but even more so, the catch.  It is all about the catch; preferably done on the first bounce. The power behind her back legs as she takes off is unbelievable and depending on the surface where she is taking off from, often sent flying. 

It mystifies me that the Standard Poodle is in the Non-sporting group.  Anyone who has ever lived with one knows that nothing could be further from the truth.  No doubt the only thing that landed them in this group is the "show hair" that they have to sport.  The Standard Poodle is a sporting dog in ever sense of the term, they are pretty much up for any activity.  Of course they are all different, even within the group, so some are more sporty than others.  I happen to have a very sporty girl who fits me to a tee.  Game on.