Flyball

What is Flyball?

Flyball got its start in the late 1960's and early 1970's, when a group of dog trainers in Southern California created scent discrimination hurdle racing, then put a guy at the end to throw tennis balls to the dogs when they finished the jump line. It didn't take long for the group to decide to build some sort of tennis ball-launching apparatus, and the first flyball box was born. Herbert Wagner is credited with developing the first flyball box, and apparently he did a flyball demo on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson that got a lot of peoples attention. Subsequently, the new dog sport for dog enthusiasts was introduced in the Toronto-Detroit area by several dog training clubs. After a few small tournaments were held in conjunction with dog shows, the first ever flyball tournament was held in 1983.

Flyball races match two teams of four dogs each, racing side-by-side over a 51 foot long course. Each dog must run in relay fashion down the jumps, trigger a flyball box, releasing the ball, retrieve the ball, and return over the jumps. The next dog is released to run the course but can't cross the start/finish line until the previous dog has returned over all 4 jumps and reached the start/finish line. The first team to have all 4 dogs finish the course without error wins the heat.

Jump height is determined by the smallest dog on the team – this dog, called the "height dog", is measured at the withers, then that number is rounded down to the nearest inch and another 5" is subtracted to get the jump height (with the minimum jump height being 7"). So a 13 1/4" dog would round down to 13", minus 5", would jump 8". Maximum jump height is 14".

More information found here.



Rebecca, Jen and I are taking the dogs through the class at Aggie Pet Zone to learn how to do the competition. Last night Lee was able to go to help with Gus Gus.
Here are some videos we took. All are located on my youtube account.
(www.youtube.com/user/roofuskrys)

Ally

I still can't believe it...

Lee called me this morning and gave me the news. Our dear friend, Allison, had gotten into an accident last night and died. She was the only one in the vehicle when it went off the road.

I just spoke to her the other day. We were supposed to have a girly night this week... It's all happened so quickly and I cannot imagine what her family and her boyfriend are going through. It's hard to answer the big question, "WHY."

I am so sad. I have never lost a friend. Someone so close to my age. A best friend. But I am making it through the day on old memories, some that I sit back and giggle at and some that I wonder why we bickered about that. Normal friend stuff. I miss her dearly, already.




My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and boyfriend.

Birthdays & Ren Fest

Friday the 13th was my hunny bears birthday! After work we went out to eat with some friends to Cheddars. Jenn, Rob (Rebecca was sick), Lionel and Kristie came out. It was a lot of fun.
Jenn came over and we had some ice cream cake and hung out a bit.

I got Lee a SHSU phone cover, a Touch N Brush for the bathroom and his choice of a turtle/tortiose. Jenn and Rob & Rebecca got Lee gift cards to PetSmart.

Saturday morning, we started the day off taking the dogs to the dog park and let them run around with Rob & Rebecca's pups (Boomer and Spyder). Snickers swam in the pool and they all ran around and wore themselves out! After the dog park we took the dogs over to PetSmart to pick out Lee's real birthday present -- his turtle or tortoise! After over an hour and a half (and a bit more spent then we thought...lol) we got little Louise!



We introduced the other pets to Louise. They all were pretty interested in her. Louise likes her head rubbed and loves her lettuce. She is happy in her new habitat and we are happy to have her. I wasn't sure about getting a turtle, let alone, a Russian Tortoise, but I really like her and I love how happy she makes Lee! The toroise is set to live about 75 years, so a will should be made soon. Crazy that tortoises can live that long! :) Stay tuned for more pictures of Louise.



Today (Sunday), we went to the Texas Renaissance Festival ("Ren Fest") with a good group of friends. We decided that instead of a big party we could all go out and do something, like Ren Fest! Lee (and Lionel) had never been. It was so much fun. We ate lots of great food, saw all kinds of people dressed up and crazy, and played lot of games.

All in all, it was a great weekend that I spent with the greatest hubby! Love you baby!

Halloween!

(click to make it bigger)

We took the pups to the Halloween celebration for pictures and goodies. It was a lot of fun, but I know both of them were miserable. They were super cute though. Snickers was a banana and Gus was a [land] shark. It was adorable.
I took Gus to the Aggie Pet Zone Halloween party as well. We won a cake in the cake walk and he got scariest costume. I can't wait for Heather to post those pictures! They are going to be adorable.

Lee and I hosted a Halloween party. Made cookies, punch, Lee hung lights and I decorated the interior. It was really quite nice. I was a little disappointed with the small number of attendees, but it turned out to be a really fun night. We all hung out, drank, ate some cookies and played rock band! I love my friends and am so thankful to all of those that came (whether in person or in spirit).

Wiener Fest 2009

(Click the picture to enlarge)

Saturday, October 17 was the 3rd Annual Wiener Fest in Bryan/College Station. It is an event put on by the animal shelter and it was my very first wiener fest event! Lee and I entered Gus into the "Wanna-Be-A-Wiener" Race. Snickers was above the weight limit -- she had to be able to fit into the dachshund box, and she didn't. :(
But Snickers got to meet a lot of different types of dogs and we plan on entering them into the costume contest next year! (When we have time to make them from scratch, rather than buying them.)

• The video of Gus racing (Click The Link)
  Our little bundle of joy
• The video of Spyder Racing (Click The Link)
  Rebecca and Rob's Italian Greyhound (adopted from the shelter!)
• The video of Cash Racing (Click The Link)
  Bobby and Ann's Min-Pin (adopted from the shelter!)
  

It was a lot of fun. We are red in the face -- literally, we are sunburned! But all in all, it was a great day. Thank you to all the Gus supporters! :)

And... now we have two tired dogs. (Salem was excited...)

Smile & Move

I have fallen in love with a new movement. It's called Smile & Move

Smile & Move is a call to positive action... to be happy and do something... a reminder of how we should approach our work (whether that work is done in the office, on the field, in the classroom or at home).

It's about mattering to the world, all with a smile.

We hope the message serves you and those around you well.

You can either order the book online or print/read it online for no fee. I printed the book for my co-workers. :) I think it's an awesome reminder, life is never that bad. It reminds you that you should seek out the good in everything.

If you have time, browse around the website www.smileandmove.com, it could change your life.

Post 186

My blog is now, WWW.SASSYBEARKAT.COM ! I got a domain!! And I revamped all of my blogs with new layouts. Wedding Blog & Klutter Free With Krystle. Click the names to see them too.


This has been a very good weekend :)
Friday night Sammie and Andrew were supposed to stop through after Andrew got his new car. They made a trip to Houston to pick up his new Mercedes, which is very nice by the way. But on their way home -- they got lost. Poor things :( Like, really, really lost. So needless to say, they did not visit on Friday, they drove home to Austin. Friday night Lee and Rob went to play some poker and Rebecca and I swapped music and sat around the apartment. After my long week, that was exactly what I needed. :)
Snickers and Gus (Salem too) are getting along sooo well! Snickers and Gus have not only shared toys, but bones too. It was so cute...Snickers had the little bone and Gus had the huge bone. I took a picture, but I will post it later, I'm too lazy to update it. I'm so happy, everyone is getting along! Salem is coming around surely. He just doesn't care about him anymore, it's quite funny. Gus will chase him and he just keeps walking.
Saturday I attended a seminar about foster care and basic dog training. It was hosted by Impact Animal Rescue (they are so nice), and the key speaker was Lee Manix. I was really back and forth about his tactics. It works for some, but not everyone I think. After the training Amber and Heather were already in town. Lee made us yummy fried chicken and potatoes and we just hung out. It's really nice seeing them. Lee and I love when they come to visit. :) Sammie and Andrew showed up some time later and Rebecca too. We didn't do much, just hung around, played with the animals and chatted. It was a nice and calm weekend.
Sunday we got up headed out and about. We all took Gus and Snickers to PetSmart. We bought Gus a name tag for his collar that Auntie Sammie bought him and got Salem a new toy. Auntie Sammie bought Gus a new kennel, Snickers a new toy and the dogs some new treats -- she spoils her fur niece and nephews. Gus threw up on me in PetSmart though, it was horrible :( I think all of the people and excitement, along with the cold, was too much for him. Sammie washed him out in the sink. Lee helped me take off my nasty sweater and Heather and Amber took the dogs. Quick save.
After dropping off the pups, we poked around Target then headed home for relaxation. Sunday evening Rebecca and I went to the park and walked Boomer. It was nice. I think Zumba 2 times a week and a walk or a quick cardio is a well rounded work out week. :)

Now it's time for bed and the start of a new week.
47 days until Lee and I get hitched!! YAY!

Pets and Fun

This last week and weekend was pretty busy. I went to LEMIT to help train the new front desk students. That was fun. :) I always love going back to SHSU and LEMIT. And I was able to really help them out.


Had to take a picture of my Salem. The spare tub, has been dedicated to Salem's addiction to catnip and toy mice. We (Lee and I) liked to give Salem his own little space and boy does he love it. He will romp around that tub all day and night. Don't worry, if you come and stay, the tub will be cleaned prior to your use...lol


Lee and I took Jen and Xavier up to Huntsville on Saturday for the SHSU and UTSA basketball game. SHSU won :) YAY. And we had a blast. It was a lot of fun to take our new friends to the one place that we both love so much.


From right to left: Lee, Jen, Me, Rebecca & Rob
We had a game night with Jen, Rebecca and Rob tonight. Played some Clue and then some Rummy. Game nights are always fun and lately have been spontaneous fun!

Tomorrow is Monday, back to work again!