Quail Training

* * PLEASE NOTE: All birds were set free after this training session. * *

On Sunday, I joined the Tivoliz family for a Quail Training Day in Sunshine, Maryland. I really enjoyed seeing my family and meeting my new cousins and aunts and uncles from the Legal Eagles and Three's Company litters. My grandmom Siren was there; Cooper, Echo, Kona, Jack, Henna, and Harlow came; Jersey and McCoy came down from New Jersey; and Rudy and Polo came to visit from North Carolina! Let me know if I'm missing anyone!

The land was really pretty, but it was very cold!
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Just ask my mom! She wore a long-sleeved shirt, a hooded sweatshirt, two coats, a hat, gloves, and fleece-lined snow boots! I can't laugh at her too much though; I would have cried if I wasn't able to wear my coat.
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Debbie and the trainer bought a whole bunch of live quail to work with.

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Mr. John was our trainer for the day. He worked with each dog individually and did three training rounds.

Here he is teaching our parents how the traps work. Basically, it’s like an upside-down basket that keeps the bird on the ground so that the dogs can smell them. When it is time to release the bird, the trainer just steps on the little handle to lift the basket. Then, the bird is free to fly away.

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Here is one of the traps with a bird in it (the green mesh thing with a brown blob to the left of the orange flag). Can you see it? My mom couldn't until my dad pointed it out.

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I liked the birds! They smelled super good! I didn’t know it was possible, but they smelled even better than cookies!

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The best part about Mr. John was that he let me play with real live birds!!! He's like the Santa Claus for dogs!

Mr. John, I swear I've been good all year! Give me that bird! Please?

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After Mr. John finished baiting me, he took me out to find a bird in the field. It didn't take me long to find.

It's over there! I smell it!
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Getting a little bit closer . . .

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Found it!!!!!!
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Darn! My mom scared it away!

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Even though I didn't actually catch the birds, my parents were really proud of me.

I really wanted to bring it home to show my friend Riley. He would have been so jealous that I hunted a bird! Oh well . . .

After the training, we all had a play date.

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Dave and Cooper.

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Either Rudy or Polo.

Vote for Hudson!

Laila's sister Hudson has made it to the top 32 dogs of Chicago in the Chicago's Most Beautiful Dog 2008 Contest. Please vote for Hudson!!!!

http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/red-mostbeautifuldog-2008,0,1656732.special

COOKIES

OH MY DOG, OH MY DOG, OH MY DOG!!!!!
Sugar Cookie Time!!!!!
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Just a little teensy nibble. Thanks, Mom!
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CRUMB INSPECTION TIME!
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Do you have any crumbs left on your hands, Mom? Let me help you inspect.
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If my dad asks, I never touched a cookie. It can be our little secret!!!!

Becoming a Bird Dog

A hawk ate a bird in the backyard and left a whole bunch of feathers for me to play with. I picked one up and pranced around like a reindeer in the backyard.

Fantastic fun! I was so happy!!! I know you are all very jealous!

I brought one of the feathers into the house to play with, but it took a few minutes before my mom realized that I had brought it in the house.
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Suprisingly, my mom wasn't mad at all. She said something about a "bird day" coming up and how very proud she was that I liked the feather.

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I don't know what this "bird day" means, but I'm looking forward to finding out!!!

Happy 6th Anniversary Mom & Dad

Six years--in dog years, that's like . . . ummm . . . forty-two years! My math isn't all that good since I only have eight fingers and eight toes. Those humans think they are so cool with those opposable thumbs and all. Anyway, I bet my parents are going to get all mushy tonight and go out to get sushi or something tonight. And my dad will probably bring home those green sticks with red petals on them. My mom is weird and puts them on the table. She doesn't eat them at all. What a waste of perfectly good sticks. Ah, sigh . . . I wish I had a boyfriend. No one ever brings me sticks.

F-A-M-O-U-S!!!!

My mom and I are famous! Our picture was featured in the Thanksgiving Post for Oh Mi Dog. You can see the picture by clicking: HERE.

Bunnies aren't for sharing

Riley is my favorite friend. Because it gets dark before my mom and dad and Riley's dad get home from work, sometimes Riley gets to come over for fun play-dates after a quick visit to the smaller park down the street. I love to play and wrestle with him, but sometimes he steals my stuff. Being an only child, I haven't really figured out the whole "sharing" thing.

First, he steals my chewies. I'm ok with sharing chewies because there are plenty more.

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But then . . . he steals my BUNNY!?!?!
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Riley is my best friend. But, no one--no one--steals my bunny! Give it back!!
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My mom had to put the bunny on top of the refrigerator so that we didn't rip it in half. You will, however, be surprised to hear that I got the bunny down from on top of the refrigerator with my super jumping abilities. My mom said it was pretty impressive.
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I . . . *jump*

need . . . *jump*

my . . . *jump*

bunny! . . . *jump*

Santa is coming to town!?!?!?!

My mom is excited because this guy named "Santa" is going to be at the park on Saturday for "Pet Photos with Santa." I don't really know who this "Santa" guy is, but she keeps talking about pictures and Christmas cards and holiday decorations. She's a little crazy sometimes, so I'll go along with it as long as I can sleep in and cuddle all morning. Wait a minute. What? Eleven in the morning?!?! You expect me to get up and go to the park and SMILE at eleven in the morning??? Seriously? I don't like to wake up until at least 12:30 p.m. Unless this Santa character is bringing cookies and lettuce and asparagus and carrots AND hotdogs, I'm just not getting out of bed. Eleven o'clock in the morning? You humans are crazy.

I hate to be cold

Warm and cozy is how I like it best!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi everyone! I hope all of you American puppies had a good Thanksgiving yesterday! My mom and dad took me to my human granddad's house for the day. He has a really fun house with lots of land, so I had a chance to really stretch my legs and do a little bird hunting in the trees and grass around the yard. The birdies weren't used to my superhero-smelling-and-stalking-and-running abilities, so they didn't stand a chance! I didn't catch any, but I did some great pointing. I found a bunch of birds that my mom didn't even see! She thought I was pointing at a stick! Silly mom. I also found my granddad's cats outside sunning themselves in the sun. I tried to play with them, but they weren't too friendly. So, I stalked them, too!

In the house was even better! All of the humans were so nice and wanted to pet and hug and kiss me. AND they gave me turkey! Ahh... heaven. I wasn't so sure of the little toddler Ethan at first because he wanted to chase me to give me a hug (or ride on me like a pony; we're not quite sure). But eventually I got used to him and sat next to him for a little bit. Big step for me!

I had so much fun at my human granddad's house! I hope I get to go back soon!

A toy graveyard?!?!

It took me such a long time to kill my little friends. Mom, please don't get rid of my toys! I love them.

Presents for me!

I'm sorry for not posting much lately. My mom has been monopolizing the computer working on law school stuff for the last six weeks or so.
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In October, my mom ordered me a new bed!
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I wasn't sure about it at first, but I love, love, love my NEW BED!!!!! (it's the same one that Rocket and Delilah have!)

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But . . . even better than a bed is the TREATS that my mom ordered for me from White Dog Bone!!!!

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Hmmm . . . smells good!

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Mmmmm . . . tastes good!

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Oh my gosh! I had no idea how much yummies even existed!

My mom is the B.E.S.T. mom in the whole world!!!!!!

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And having my bed, chewies, and brand new door is amazing, amazing, amazing!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday, "Knock-Outs":

* Laila
* Hudson
* Georgie
* Vinnie
* Rocky
* Seamus

One year old today!!!!!

True Maryland Girl

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Hmmm...
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What are these weird things on the kitchen table?
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My dad says that they are "steamed crabs" and that they are amazing, but I'm not so sure.
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My dad let me lick one of the crab shells.
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Yum. That was actually pretty good!
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My dad said that the secret to great crabs is Old Bay seasoning.
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My dad is the greatest!
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He knows everything!

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Dear Mom,
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Happy birthday!
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You can have the presents, but the cake is mine!
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Signed,
your loving daughter Laila

High-Fives All Around!

First, I give an award back to Dennis for his great work defeating the ninja hedgehogs and to help him defeat Lord Tater.

Rocket gets an award for his great adventures, his super agility skilz, and for letting his new sister Delilah live in his house with his humans.

Maggie gets an award for taking care of her human baby sister. I can help teach her how to use the Golden Paw to protect her baby sister if she needs help. Maybe we'll meet up at Quiet Waters :)

My step-mom Gabby and her sister Flirt both get an award to help them do well in their agility competitions.

Finally, Amanda deserves an award for surviving Hurricane Ike and sharing pictures and stories from Texas.

Me? A Martial Arts Master?

Thank you to my good friend Dennis the Vizsla Dog! He shared the secrets of the Golden Paw with me so that I can defend myself against people and dogs who might make fun of my little pants. Dennis used the ancient and powerful martial art form of the Golden Paw to defeat the ninja hedgehogs and save the DogHouse of Justice, so I hope I can learn the Golden Paw quickly. It may be hard for a little girl like me to do the techniques as well as Dennis, but I will do my best! Once I learn how to do the Golden Paw, I promise to teach it to my friends who need it.

Womanhood is not all its cracked up to be

Hi all,

This is Laila's mom, Renee. Laila isn't feeling very well, so she told me to write a quick post for her. Laila started her first "woman time" last night. Luckily, Jeff and I had planned for this and had toddler boy underwear and pads ready to go. I had wanted to buy something girly like floral print or Dora the Explorer, but since we needed somewhere to put Laila's tail, we had to settle for Disney Pixar underwear. Poor Laila. Do they make puppy Midol?

This is Laila modeling her Disney Pixars Cars "fancy pants" a few weeks ago.