Rottweilers Ate My Laptop

Rottweilers. Computers. Cameras. World Domination. Not necessarily in that order.

Rottweilers.
Computers. Cameras.
World Domination.
Not necessarily in that order.

A new learning opportunity for the dogs… and me

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I’ve had very mixed results in my attempts at independent distance learning over the years. Most of those attempts were independent study projects, some for school and some not, and those were the ones that didn’t go very well. I’m not disciplined enough nor organized enough to keep things moving on a realistic schedule. I have a tendency to push things off until there is major deadline pressure, and then the results aren’t of the highest quality. I need to find something to motivate me that doesn’t involve being under the gun, but I’ve had this problem for so long I think a physical reaction to the adrenaline rush might be involved. Sort of like my caffeine headaches. Yeah, I know I should cut back on caffeine, too.

I’m giving distance learning another shot, though. I’ve enrolled in Susan Garrett’s online course “The Five Minute Formula to a Brilliant Recall.” During the years that I was a listowner and forum moderator for dog-related discussion venues, I probably made hundreds of posts saying something like “you cannot train a dog over the internet.” While I still believe that there are many training situations and behavior problems where you need to see the dog and owner in person to be of real help, I now believe that there are other training situations where the internet can help a great deal. I am about to find out if this is one of them.

Many of us use books and videos as part of our dog training education, and I can already see one benefit of an online course over books and videos: interaction with the course giver. Although this course doesn’t officially start until August 1, there have been a few “bonus” lessons to start us off. Participants can post questions in response to each lesson, and Ms. Garrett and other trainers on her staff will answer, and other course participants can share their thoughts as well. So far, questions from other participants and the trainers’ and other participants’ answers have been very helpful to me. In fact, I have not posted my own questions yet, as someone had already asked them by the time I got there!

I’m looking forward to completing this course. I will consider it successful even if I don’t get perfect recalls from both dogs, as long as they both show progress and improvement from where they are now.

(NaBloPoMo | July ’10: 29 of 31)

the petties 2010: DogTime’s Pet Blog Awards

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I’m not sure whether Rottweilers Ate My Laptop is even eligible, since content here often wanders away from dog, cat, and other pet topics. I would still love and appreciate a petties blog award nomination.

Seriously, though? So many great pet blogs out there to nominate. And you wouldn’t have to question their eligibility. Scroll down a bit, or hit a recent Saturday on the calendar to the right, and you will find a whole bunch of links to pet blogs that definitely deserve nominations.

If you think so, too, head over to DogTime’s site and nominate your favorite pet blog:

the petties 2010 | DogTime – DogTime’s Pet Blog Awards

Nominations close on Friday, July 30 and voting for the finalists will begin on August 2.

(NaBloPoMo | July ’10: 28 of 31)

Colors that no one knows the name of

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I missed Mad Men last night, so I’ve been avoiding spoilers all day. It was easier than I thought; all I had to do was stick to the Comic Con posts in my feedreader (for those who were wondering if there is any audience overlap between Glee and Sons of Anarchy, that would be… me).

Now, following the Monday night replay, I’m caught up. Instead of writing about what I thought of it (short version: I liked it but sometimes this show sure takes a while to get going), or getting back out there on the ‘net to see what everyone else thought of it, I’m staying stuck in the ’60s and watching Easy Rider. To give you an idea of what I might actually remember about the ’60s, in Mad Men time and place, I’d be a little bit younger than Don’s son, and I was eleven years old when Easy Rider came out.

This song will definitely have a place somewhere in the soundtrack of my life:

And then she’ll know the things I learned that really have no value
In the end she will surely know I wasn’t born to follow

The Byrds, Wasn’t Born to Follow (Carole King/Gerry Goffin)

(NaBloPoMo | July ’10: 26 of 31)

WellBites conspiracy over?

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They’re back! I can once again buy Wellness WellBites in the Chicken and Venison variety at the Pet Supplies Plus closest to the house!

As you may recall, I was convinced there was a conspiracy to keep that flavor, the favorite one to both Freya and Axel, out of my hands. Or at least force me to drive a few miles farther to buy it. Why, I don’t know. I didn’t think we were that important in the big picture of conspiracies.

I never did find out why they were not being stocked in my neighborhood store for the last several months. Freya and Axel do like the other flavor varieties, but the Chicken & Venison is a clear favorite. So I’m glad to see them back, whatever the reason!

(NaBloPoMo | July ’10: 25 of 31)