First 4th

Twenty-five children with kazoos and flags.

25 Children.

With kazoos.

And flags.

Most of them under the age of 6, fingers still sticky with breakfast, little toes teeming with summer’s best barefoot bouquets.

Add an unfamiliar venue, a few strollers, a bunch of new friends, and you have Reading with Rowdy meets Marie’s Pre-School Storytime for a 4th of July celebration with the Maple Lake Library.

It was All Calming Strategies On Deck as the event started, and preliminary activities presented Rowdy and me an opportunity for some helpful Down-Stay, Heel-Sit-Watch Me-Good Dog! practice, along with a little work in appropriate greeting behavior, assisted by our now-veteran junior trainers, introducing their toddler siblings to the Very Happy Hooligan.

A group photo for the local paper provided a bit of a challenge, but if 25 youngsters could sit still long enough to be organized into 3 rows and have their names recorded for identification, it seemed reasonable to expect 1 golden retriever to do the same.

Which he did very nicely until we had to scooch in for a last-minute adjustment, bringing any kids within sniffing, snuffling or smooching distance directly into Rowdy’s zone of Too Much Temptation.

Fingers crossed that the shutter snapped during an acceptable Therapy Dog moment.

Our grand finale, the always-anticipated parade around the block, brought out a few cheering merchants, 25 kazoo-humming, flag-waving children, and one prancing pup, who handled the whole experience pretty well if you don’t count the part where he kangaroo-hopped across the intersection.

Next week we return to our regular programming. A smaller crowd, a single book, a few games.

And no kazoos.

Dog and flag

Enjoy a happy healthy Independence Day!

Peanut Butter Peace

Dog with kids in library

Another rainy Monday morning started with the potential for setback in our ascent to Therapy Animal superstardom, or even Therapy Animal suitability, but my slightly-damp dog eventually dried up and quieted down to hang out with the 11 young readers, who came out to Reading with Rowdy at the Maple Lake Library.

We began with something less that our best behavior today, navigating a few rough patches of vigorous back-scratching and insistent paw offerings, but once rambunctious Rowdy found his Good Dog gear, he settled in and chilled out.

It’s possible we benefitted from the plot of our children’s chapter book, which revolved around some missing peanut butter treats. Hearing the name of one of his many favorite snacks may have lulled the happy hooligan into a dreamy state of Skippy slumber.

Following our story and mystery message activity, the readers had an opportunity to practice proper greeting behavior with Rowdy, who was very happy to cooperate and (mostly) calmly accept several scratches under the ear.

Every week gets a little bit better, and next week we’ll face a whole new challenge when take a short break from our “Figure It Out” theme to join with the pre-schoolers story-time group for some Independence Day activities, including the annual 4^th of July Parade around the block. No fireworks or marching bands, but lots of red, white and blue, many children waving flags, several local merchants waving hands, and one golden retriever, excited to lead the festivities.

With a peanut butter chaser.

Dog dreaming

Putting the Pieces Together

The weather calmed, and so did Rowdy, for our second week of the summer program at the Maple Lake Library.

Dog listening to reader

My convivial canine greeted 11 young readers this morning. Well, greeted as in sat calmly, watching children enter the library, without whining or wheedling to worm his way closer.

As a bonus to our story and game time, we talked a bit about how to safely approach a dog, even a too-friendly type like Rowdy. Those who wanted, took some time after the story to practice their dog interaction skills, waiting until he was sitting quietly, and then petting the pooch on his favorite just-under-the-ear spot. It may have been Rowdy’s favorite part of the morning, and possibly a light-bulb moment his library career.

Dog watching children

It is definitely progress and he seems to be catching on to his role in this work. He only rolled over to scratch his back with great gusto twice this week, and only tried to park his posterior in my lap once.

That’s progress my friends.

So we will continue to practice a lot and pray a little and trust the process.

And figure it out.

And so We Begin

Dog in library

This morning brought rain and readers to the Maple Lake Library, for the inaugural gathering of Reading with Rowdy.

Seven young book enthusiasts dodged the drops to meet the Happy Hooligan, take turns reading aloud from a short chapter book, then solve some word and picture puzzles.

Reading with Rowdy replaces the popular Books with Boone summer program, as an effort to encourage students to enjoy some summer reading time. The retirement last fall of Boone, the big brindle greyhound, leaves some pretty big paw prints for roommate Rowdy to fill, but he’s up to the task.

Maybe a little too up, but let’s think positive.

There is hope. Apparently, rowdy Rowdy paid some attention to my session-starting conversation with the kids, as by the end of our hour, he seemed to have figured out his part in this program.

Dog with children at library

Birthday Boys

May is a big birthday month here at Four Sticks Farm.

Boone begins the festivities on May Day, celebrated this year by a visit with Dr. Wilcox for his annual checkup. Other than the obviously rickety rear end, and some pretty gamey greyhound gingivitis, our Teen Idle is a healthy 13 year old hound.

Greyhound on bed

Two days later, Chicago turned an astonishing 21. Astonishing in that it’s been 15 years that this big red beast has taken up residence in my home and my heart, and we’re both still around to tell our tale.

Now that he’s reached the age of maturity, Chicago is finally starting to look more like the Paint horses on his pedigree, growing even more handsome, with all the spots showing up on his sorrel self.

His tail lightened a few years ago, but other than that, most of his color (besides the 3 white stockings that inspired his name) hid beneath his mane or under his belly. Now his white hair is out for all to see.

Finally, a horse who resembles his owner…

Paint horse

Rare is the blog entry missing mention of rowdy Rowdy, and this one is no exception. The gregarious golden turned 2 on May 17, inching his way out of puppyhood, with it’s built-in excuse for bad behavior. He continues to live with energy and enthusiasm, eager to engage in whatever life extends, always under the assumption that everyone else shares his excitement.

Someday, an owner who resembles her dog…

Golden retriever on blanket with books

Rowdy is only weeks away from his first official Therapy Dog gig, with the “Reading with Rowdy” program scheduled to start in mid-June. Our theme this summer is “Figure It Out”, initially intended as a reference to the series of mystery stories we’ll read, and puzzle games we’ll play, though I suspect it will apply equally to Rowdy’s effort to perfect his library manners.

And he will figure it out. Now that he is 2, the day grows ever closer that my happy hooligan masters impulse control.

And that will be a day of serious celebration.

Slow but (Mostly) Sure

Just when I thought it was safe to go back into Barn Brain, I find myself once again steeped in the world of canine cognition. It’s all about Rowdy. Still.

Though we passed our Therapy Dog evaluation in January, I worried about Rowdy’s over-exuberant greeting behavior, so with visions of my eager young dog bowling over eager young readers in the children’s section of our local library, I enlisted the help of a private trainer.

Lynn Smoliak of Dogs Way Dog Training came out nearly a month ago and spent some time showing Rowdy and me the benefits of working from a softer, calmer frame of mind. Time to channel my inner Dog Whisperer. No more “Hey, Hey!, HEY!!” command for us.

With only a couple attention-getting little pokes, Lynn snapped her fingers and “Tsched” rowdy Rowdy into an acceptable social state in a matter of minutes.

I, of course, did not. My finger poke needed more “Settle Down Sir” and less “Liven Up Man!”, my finger snap needed more snap, and my “Tsch” needed more “I WANT YOUR ATTENTION” and less “I’ve got a secret”.

After a couple hours though, Rowdy and I showed enough potential for progress that Lynn left us with recommendations of diligent practice, and encouragement that I’d be delighted with the light-bulb moment sure to follow our daily commitment.

In a minimum of 3 weeks.

I hopped right on that road, so perfectly paved with good intention, only to be almost immediately set off course by a series of unfortunate life events, several unseasonable snowstorms, and a pinch of self-indulgent sloth.

Dog Sitting at Attention We haven’t practiced every day, and when we do it isn’t always pretty, but we’ve made some progress. Some. Slight.

Once in a while he’ll still run through his entire repertoire – sit, down, shake right, shake left, speak, rollover – with the occasional bonus behaviors of drooling, sneezing and smooching thrown in – while I wait for him to settle his little golden puppy brain. Which he does. Eventually.

Just often enough to maintain our motivation to keep slogging onward. Almost every day.

But Rowdy does finally seem to be developing a “quieter” brain. Possibly because his trainer is doing the same. I know we’re in this for the long haul, with much learning and training and imperfection and fun in our future, so I’m mindful of the small successes, appreciative of any accomplishments.

Loose-leash healing continues to improve, though I’ve not yet braved the challenge of the local Running’s or (even more daunting) PetsMart stores. We have, however, passed a couple dogs in the park without growling, howling, whining or other inappropriate, unacceptable and/or unattractive antics, which gives me hope.

His Stay-And-Wait-Until-Released ability has been relatively solid for a few months, and now he moves into the Release-part with more trot, less gallop.

Except for that recent goose-chasing incident, which occurred at breakneck speed, but given his genetic predisposition for getting game birds, and the fact that they were creating a raucous ruckus right there in our pasture, and that he responded to my (ok, 3rd) call to come, with the same swiftness, I cut him a tiny bit of slack. This one time.

Meanwhile, on the other side of that pasture fence, my big red beast and his potbellied palomino friend continue to enjoy what has become the winter of their great content. No pressure to perform, being asked only to mind their manners when entering and exiting their stalls for the daily snack-and-snooze period. Chicago and Biskit may be the biggest beneficiaries of the current canine boot camp – happy to be livin’ the life of Rowdy.

Dog and Horse in the Snow

But soon enough, the snow-filled arena will return to sand and I will exchange the leash for the lead rope.

Just a few more snaps of the finger.

Careful What I Wish For

The light is changing here at Four Sticks Farm, bringing hope of the spring soon to come. If only I can ignore the glare from the snow-covered ground that makes my eyes water and my nose run; the sting of the still-icy air that numbs my chin and reddens my ears; the grimly naked trees that expose the red squirrel who rejoices in tormenting the Happy Golden Hooligan, the feel, or lack thereof, of my fingers frozen one more time by scooping hay stems out of the automatic waterer and snapping the metal fasteners on Biskit’s blanket.

If I can ignore all that and look only at the brilliant blue sky, with a few wispy clouds and a big bright sun, I can believe.

It Will be spring. We will still see some snow and cold and ice and cool and slush and chilly. But spring will come. It always does, though it’s easy to forget that as we trudge through these bleak, record-cold days that are the weeks of February.

Horses at the fence Soon though, I will shed a layer of outdoor clothing from my barn chore apparel and strip a layer of horse hair and mud from my polar ponies.

Soon, I will start a spring conditioning program for my Big Red Beast.

But don’t tell Chicago that.

Soon, I will close off the pasture to allow it to grow without competition from equines eager for the pleasure of grazing green grass.

Don’t tell Chicago that either.

Soon, I will sweep down the winter-crusted cobwebs from the barn ceiling, slog through the alley mud to muck out the manure, drag out the paddock posts and divider fencing, wrestle 2 bulky blankets into plastic bags for transport to the tack store cleaners, curry off several more layers of horse hair and mud – first from the horses, then from their groom, clean and condition the tack that’s been hanging idle since September, scrub off the season-ending stall-window scum, wipe down and hang up the stall fans, towel off 8 muddy dog paws multiple times a day, lug deck furniture down from the garage-attic and up from the barn-shop.

Soon, it will be spring. Hmmm…

Let it snow!

Dog in the snow

Still Here

Much has happened since my last post, which I offer not as an excuse, but as an explanation.

A rare week away from Four Sticks Farm involved a whole lotta get-away getting-ready and a little bit of coming-home catching-up.

The start of a new job took up part-time hours and full-time headspace.

Then came two vet visits, three days of dog-sitting, four favorite fundraisers, five high school hockey games, six college wrestling meets, seven volunteer events, eight canine classes, nine sister socials, ten PetsMart training trips, eleven friend or family dinners, and twelve days of Christmas. Or something like that.

No partridge, pear tree, or turtle doves (unless you count Mace, the barn cat, who gets very lonely in the winter, and therefore, uncharacteristically cuddly.)

No French hens or calling birds, except Biskit and Chicago if they see me outside anytime after 3:00 pm, as they are convinced that they will, indeed, waste away unless Someone puts out still more hay to stoke their internal stoves.

Pot bellies in many ways.

But enough with the Christmas carols. The holidays are over, winter solidly entrenched, with its cold temps and early nights offering the perfect excuse to stay inside and write. So, I will return to more regular posts, and may even fill in the gap with some of the unfinished updates of yesteryear. If I ever finish them.

In the meantime, know that all is well here at Four Sticks Farm.

Boone the Greyhound Boone enjoys his senior life, sleeping on any dog bed that Mocha with allow. He’s a little wobbly in the rear, but loves his walks and functions best when we keep him on the daily program. During an earlier ~~cold~~ frigid snap, we all stayed in for a few days, which left him a little unsteady and not too inclined to eat, but one trip to the wooded, canine snuffling smorgasbord called Bertram Park put him back on both his feet and his feed.

Boone has conceded to wearing his fleece jacket when we walk in temperatures under 25, but continues to refuse any offer of help hopping in the truck. His face has greyed, his eyes have clouded and his back end has weakened, but his determination has not.

Rowdy with a Snowy Face Rowdy is still rowdy in all the right ways. We enrolled in another Therapy Dog class, and managed to pass our TDI (Therapy Dogs International) test. We still have plenty of work to do, but with the stress of the test behind us, we can focus on the fun of working together. And a solid Sit/Stay.

Though the test anxiety has faded in the rear-view mirror, straight up the road looms the next summer library program. Since some of our young readers are already on record as solidly in the “Books with Boone” camp, “Reading with Rowdy” is going to have to bring it, and the pressure is definitely on.

So, with the new year comes anticipation for new adventures, appreciation for old dogs, and gratitude for people to share them with. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read my blog. Check back now and then to see what’s goin’ on at Four Sticks Farm with rowdy Rowdy; Boone the brindle greyhound; Chicago, the Big Red Beast; his portly palomino pasture mate Biskit; Crabby Barn Cat Mace and Mocha, the Kwik Trip Kitten.

Here’s hoping that 2018 brings peace, health and happiness for all.

And for a certain happy golden hooligan, a solid sit/stay.

That was Then, This is Now

Rowdy’s recent return to hosta-diving made me remember his enthusiasm for the sport last summer – when he was much smaller, and neither chasing a chipmunk nor pouncing on a squeaker ball. Then it was adorable.

Puppy in hosta

Now, maybe not so much.

Dog in hosta

In celebration of the first year of Livin’ the Life of Rowdy, the puppy I wasn’t sure I wanted, but am so grateful that I got, a little look at Then and Now: