Monday, October 31, 2011

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

CANINE CLUB ACADEMY

A while ago (can I say really behind on my posts?), I was contacted by Tony over at the Canine Club Academy asking me to check out their website. They have a unique plan to make the world a better place for dogs and their humans. Which I would say is a good thing. They are offering a scholarship for people interested in working in dog-related careers; training, grooming, daycare, walking etc, to go through their course. Here’s a bit of information from Tony:

“Because the course is new, we are looking to pilot it with a group of friendly, enthusiastic dog lovers. Along that line, we are offering a number of full-ride and partial scholarships to individuals who want to work in the dog industry. Prior experience working with or training/handling dogs is a plus, but we are also reserving a few scholarships for people with little to no experience, who just love dogs. The chosen candidates will take the course (12 to 24 weeks long based on the student), and then give us feedback on the course, their personal tutor, and the business toolkit. Scholarship recipients will also be given professionally designed marketing materials, including a business website (which we will host), and taught how to use them to promote their new businesses. By the end of the course, with the help of their tutors, they will have already started running their own dog business (dog training, dog walking, dog daycare, etc.). To be considered for the scholarship, please fill out a short online application at http://canineclubacademy.com/financialaid.php.”

I checked out their website and it sounded interesting so I though I would pass it along.

Friday, October 28, 2011

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

The Sphinx watching over the land.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

Testing on the new models indicate a marked inprovement in cornering ability.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Sunday, October 23, 2011

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

Kamikaze attack duck. The latest in squeaks warfare and a shocking surprise to greyhounds everywhere.

SEARCH AND RESCUE TIPS FROM BERT'S VICKIE

We were recently asked by Bert and his Vickie over at the Four Legged Views blog for some greyhound photos for a project they were working on. We, of course, were honored and (almost) promptly sent some her way. It turns out Bert’s Vickie put together a search and rescue series of what to do if you are lost. The posts are fantastic – and no, not just because there are photos of greyhounds included. I spend as much time as possible hiking and consider myself quite knowledgeable about being outdoors, yet I learned a lot. I highly recommend heading over to her blog for some great information.

Just in case you are interested, the greys are in the posts from days five and seven.

Off to get a blue bandanna and light stick.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

SLEEPING BEAUTY PHOTO CONTEST

We have a no-kill shelter in Tucson called the Hope Animal Shelter. They do incredible work and are dedicated to saving as many animals as possible.

Last month Hope hosted a sleeping beauty photo contest. The best photos of your pet sleeping. We were all over that, because, well - hello, greyhounds, that is all they do for 21 hours a day.

The entry fees were used as donations. Something much needed because Hope just rescued 60 cats the County Shelter was preparing to euthanize. That's quite a few animals, wouldn't you say? One would think there was an outbreak of some mutant strain of a cat virus or something equally as horrible. Ummm, no. They were healthy cats.

The "What?" you just asked yourself echos the question asked by countless Tucsonans when the news broke.

And the whole event did made news in Tucson; one, for the great work by Hope in taking all 60 cats and two, for the questionable (being polite here) decision by the shelter vet to kill all the cats in the holding pens.

But anyway, I digress. Stepping off my soap box, annnddd, breathe.

OK. Right. Photo contest...

Come to find out, we won the contest with the below photo. Who roaches better than a greyhound? Well now, that's a rhetorical question isn't it?

Well done Breeze. Snif. She and her unlady-like self just makes me proud.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

Someone has started making herself comfortable on my bed in the evenings. So much so that I had to pick her boneless self up (well the front half) and physically move her so I could get in bed. Hmmmmm. What do they say about being slaves to our dogs?

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

What was not shown in yesterday's photo for the day were the adamant protests preceding the posted captured moment in time that the squeaks not be placed on her head but in her mouth. Where it belongs. Don't you know that mom? Duh. Dumb humans.

Willow: "Nooooooo. Don't put it up there!"
Me: "Just for a second."
Willow: "That's not where it belongs!"
Me: "Hold still."
Willow: "Get it down."
Me: "Damnit."
Willow: "Off, off, off."
Me: "Come on. One more."
Willow: "I'm done with this."
Me: "Ha! This one's in focus. Do as you wish."
Willow: "I win."


Monday, October 17, 2011

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

This has been on my must do list since a friend gave me (read - "the girls") this new squeaks. I thought it would be wicked funny. I love being right.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

RETIRED FROM RACING, NOT FROM LIFE ART BOOK PROJECT



Woot! The Retired From Racing, Not From Life book is here!!! Well it was actually here a little while ago, but I’ve just now gotten 'round to posting that – Woot! The Retired From Racing, Not From Life book is here!!! (I blame the posting delay on the recent travel) It is loaded with 79 color pages of greyhound-y goodness. Phenomenal photos and artwork revolving around greyhounds. It doesn’t get much better than this.

Oh, snap. Yes it does!

May I mention - 100% of the profits raised from the sale of each book are donated to the GHWP – the Greyhound Health & Wellness Program at Ohio State University. Oh yes, better, much better.

And though all the images in the book are wonderful, the two dog-eared pages in my copy of the book are, of course, the ones featuring my photos. My Mom is so proud.

If you haven’t yet ordered yourself a copy, head on over to the Retired From Racing, Not From Life blog and do so. It is a great book for your greyhound library.


PHOTO FOR THE DAY

When you look up "crazy" in the dictionary, this is the photo along side the description.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Thursday, October 13, 2011

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

Who can resist a face like that?



Not me, that's for sure. Open mouth, insert snackie.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

Casual stroll interrupted in 3, 2, 1...

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

TERRA PAWS REVIEW

I was asked quite some time ago to do a review on a new snackie treat for the greys (well, all dogs) called Terra Paws. I don’t often take requests to do reviews, but this company intrigued me as they are a small business and producing treats for dogs that are all natural freeze dried with USA sourced ingredients. I like to support local and small businesses, so I said “sure, send me some.” I received 2 different types of treats, the beef liver and sweet potato and the chicken and sweet potato. We taste-tested them out this past weekend at playdate. I think it was a good thing I had the camera because the woman who was handing out the treats was swarmed by quivering noses. There was one dog that turned out not to be a fan of the sweet potato chunks, otherwise the snackies were devoured in about 2 seconds. I would have to say the taste test was a huge success. To check out the Terra Paws website just follow the link.







PHOTO FOR THE DAY

Double trouble.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

COUCH POTATOES

Most of my posted photos are of the hounds running and being active. That is because I love to see them run. Even more, I love to try to capture them in a way that does justice to their grace and beauty. They have an incredible ability to go from relaxed and uninterested to focused and exhibiting pure power in an instant. To see that morph, never ceases to amaze and thrill me. I can feel their joy in running, it is a palpable thing.

I realized, after a comment the other day, my photos give the impression the greys are continually moving about. That is so far from the truth. I feel like I am perpetrating a myth. :)

They are couch potatoes. My girls sleep or are laying about 20 - 22 hours a day, with breaks for our daily outing, potty trips to the back yard, forays into the kitchen to eat, excited greeting time when I return home from being out and standing up to stretch and move to another bed.

Due to one thing after another: broken toes, cut feet, a broken car, and lots of travel, the girls haven't had much time to run with the other greys at playdate for the past 6 months. A very apparent side effect is that they are incredibly out of shape.

I had taken them for a short run in the dog park then for an even shorter walk to try to get them back to running condition before a full playdate. Willow was so tired she simply laid down on the field 300 yards from the car.

In the middle of the walk.

I couldn't figure out what was so interesting she had stopped walking until I turned around to check why one dog's lead was taunt and it felt like I was dragging a log. She decided she wasn't going another step and just looked at me like I was smoking something if I thought she was going to get up. I wisely chose to give her a few moments before getting her moving again towards the car because I was going to loose that conversation.

Me: "Really? You're going to stop here? You can make it. It's only 300 yards."

Willow: "Ohhhh! The misery. I can't go another step."

Me: "300 yards..."

Willow: "My aching feet."

Me: "When we get home you can put your feet up."

Willow: "That requires me getting up. Uggghhh. Then I have to jump up into the car."

Me: "I promise I will lift you in."

Willow: "It's soooo far."

Me: "Now you are just being ridiculous. Come on, get up."

Willow: "I scream bloody murder if you tug that lead one more time."

Me: "We'll wait right here until you are ready."


Yesterday and today I decided to see how they would do and we went to the normal playdates. The result? They are even more exhausted than normal. There hasn't been a peep out of the girls since we got home. In fact, not one has moved from the beds they collapsed upon when we walked in the door. A quiet day indeed. Ooooo, AND, I bet I get to sleep in past the usual 5 AM wake up it's time to play call. Woot!



Breeze. Looks a little uncomfortable, doesn't it?




Dru. Sporting a little ETS.

Willow. Tucked in.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

She's been hitting the gym lately.