- This is really random, but I just pulled up
to the parking spot at Michaels
and I just checked Facebook really quickly
and saw that a really close friend of mine
had to just put her...
Had to put her dog down
and it's like, it's really easy to forget
and go on with your life when you lose a
some, something, a dog that is really close to you.
And I sort of have been feeling guilty lately
for not being more sad about Slyce,
but I think it's just my way of coping,
because it's easy to just move on
and not even have to deal with how I feel about it.
But reading that post today and knowing...
Sorry.
Knowing how difficult this was for Jody,
because I talked to her about it,
it just, um...
It just makes me think about Slyce
and realize that it really sucks.
It really sucks, living with a dog that long
and loving them that much
and then having to say goodbye,
even though it's the right thing to do.
It's like, just the absolute most horrible part
about owning a dog.
Anyways.
I feel really bad for Jody,
but I know that her dog was really sick
and it was definitely the right decision,
so I'm thinking about you, Jody, and I know how you feel.
One of the best things to do when you're upset:
go shopping.
(guitar strums)
(dog barks)
Well, I had a great sleep last night.
I got in a little bit late last night after training,
about quarter to two in the morning because
Jamie and I stayed and had endless chats (laughs)
after our training session,
but we came up with some really good game plans
for ourselves and for our dogs over the next few months.
So I am going to the agility arena right now to meet her
and we're going to start executing our plan.
So I'm just gonna load the dogs up
so I can go to the arena
and meet Jamie for our training session,
but I have to say one of the best things
when you are dog trainer and have lots of dogs
is have a car with a remote starter,
whether it's winter or summer,
if you can get your van cold or your car cold or hot
before you put your dogs in it or while they're in it,
it's so, so helpful.
One of the things that we were talking about last night
is the fact that we both are teaching so much
and our lives are so busy that it's really taking a toll
on the training of our own dogs.
And we have some big competitions coming up
that neither one of us feel very prepared for,
which is like a terrible, terrible feeling.
So, our goal is to start training together
throughout the week more regularly,
at times where we haven't been teaching
for four hours a night or focused on other things,
so that we can actually start to make
some really good improvements.
We both have really young dogs
that have very promising futures,
and we just haven't had the time to focus on them,
so we're gonna start today.
We're gonna train these young dogs.
We're gonna have some fun
and hopefully it becomes a more regular thing
and we'll start to see some really great improvements
and start to feel more prepared for our futures.
Ready, Jame?
- [Jamie] Ready. Here we go.
(exciting music)
- So, one thing that we do before and after
we do all of our training sessions
is we walk the dogs out.
They got quite hot today in the arena,
so we let them cool off.
And luckily for us, we have
some streams and some little kiddie pools
for them to jump into after they work.
And I think I would say that it's probably a good idea
for us to walk out as well, since the dogs just ran,
but we had to run our butts off too.
So, we just finished round two with Wink and Funkee.
Wink and Funkee are All-Canadian dogs.
They're actually sisters, which is pretty cool,
that Jamie and I have sister dogs.
What's your final thoughts about
our training session today, Jame?
- So productive.
- Super productive.
What was your favorite thing about what Gren did today?
- That she ended up getting the Dog Walk after the tunnel
because that was a challenge.
- Yes, that was a challenge.
And Wink?
- I just felt connected and good running her.
It felt good.
- Yeah, and that independent backside send
was pretty sick too.
- Yeah, it was good.
- I was really...
Yeah, thank you for asking.
Watch out for the poop!
That was close.
I think I was most happy with Rad and I
on the same page today,
because I trained him last night
and it didn't go nearly as well.
There's more going on in the arena
and he tends to get more stimulated
when there's more things to watch and herd,
but he was very good today.
And Funkee, I don't know.
Funk's just like the good old faithful, I tell ya.
She's 10 and...
- Pretty perfect.
- Yeah, she's doing really good.
I like to end my training sessions with her
so that I can leave on a positive note.
How's that for a self...
Building yourself up. (laughs)
Anyways, this is gonna be a regular thing for us
so we're gonna have to start picking a time
to come and do this, so that we can enjoy ourselves,
take our time, blast the music,
and not have to worry about anybody else.
It's going to be great.
- Tomorrow?
- Tomorrow. Yeah, tomorrow.
How about tomorrow?
So I just got the best text message ever.
One of the girls that I know,
she works at Ren's Pet Depot and
she happened to be watching the vlog
that we posted the other day where I was at Ren's
and I was looking through the toys
and was looking for this special toy
that Funkee Monkee really loves.
It's a baby cuz with feet, in red, of course.
And she told me that she saw this
and wanted to let me know that
Ren's had actually discontinued it,
but that she could order some in for me especially.
So, this is like the best news ever.
So I ordered five of them and
I'm going to head down to the Ren's Pet Depot sale,
tent sale, tomorrow down in Waterdown and pick them up.
Funkee's gonna be so excited.
Five brand-new babies for her to play with
at the next competition.
This is awesome.
Now, before I head home, I'm going to make a very quick stop
at one of my favorite stores, Michaels.
Love my crafts.
My friends Jamie and Ange are heading out to Vancouver
on Tuesday or Wednesday
and they are going out to compete
at the Canadian National Championships,
so I wanted to make them like
a little going-away present type of thing,
since I can't go with them.
Usually we're like the three amigos,
so I'm sad I'm not going,
but they're gonna have so much fun
and they're going to do awesome.
So I thought it would be nice to
give them a little something before they head out.
(exciting music)
It just started pouring rain,
so I just had to make a run for it
to get back to the car as I came out of Michaels.
I got Jamie and Ange something that I can't show you.
I'm gonna have to wait.
They're really cute.
But I did get this.
Have fun is this?
It's a K that I can paint.
It just so happens to be that
Ken and I both have a name that starts with K,
so that's gonna be fun.
So I've gotta get a few groceries
and then head back home for the night.
So I just got back from running my errands.
The sun's about to set.
I thought I would come out onto the deck
and snuggle with the puppy a little bit.
The weather still so warm and beautiful.
Now I am really happy that I found something fun
to give Jamie and Ange before
they head out to Vancouver next week.
They're heading to the Canadian National Championships,
which is also a tryout for one of the world teams
for Canada next year for the 2018 team.
Now, I normally go on these adventures with my girls,
but I decided to take a little bit of a step back this year
and not travel so much.
The last couple years,
I've been competing and teaching a lot
and basically living out of my suitcase,
so I kind of decided that this year
I was going to take it a little easier.
And I'm glad that I did.
I was able to be home and spend a bit more time with Slyce.
And also, too, I have a new puppy,
a little bit more training with her.
Oh, you are ridiculous.
A little bit more time with my family,
so, although it's sad to sort of miss out
on some of the fun, it's certainly hard to see the pictures
and feel their excitement and not get to go and share it,
it definitely was the best decision.
So next year I can maybe think about going on more trips
if I decide I want to do that again, but for now,
I'm happy just hanging out on the deck with my puppy.
Eh, girl? Yeah.
Well, I think we're going to... (laughs)
I think we're gonna relax for the night,
maybe make some dinner,
do maybe some painting.
What do you think, Bee?
I think Bee just wants to give kisses.
You're so sweet.
Well, I think I'm gonna say goodnight.
Ken's at Fire today, if you're wondering where he is.
Okay, Bee, time to say goodnight.
All right, good night.
See you tomorrow, everyone.
(electronic music)