Hey Mr. Trampoline Man

Boy have I had a lot of ups and downs this week - more even than the Dow Jones Industrial Average I think. One minute I was well behaved. The next I was naughty. Then I was the picture of perfection. Then, well, you get the idea. Up and down and up and down. I swear it was like I was jumping on a trampoline all week!

Last weekend I went with my foster mom to another outdoor agility trial - in St. Peter this time. The temperature was pretty toasty the first day, and I think the heat made me a little less reactive. I managed to sit ring side on my foster mom's lap and then stroll leisurely through "tent city" with as much self control as any guy would have while he's being fed tasty, lip-smacking, homemade tuna/pumpkin/garlic treats. I could tell my foster mom was pleased with my behavior and, of course, that made me as proud as a peacock. I even got to meet a Pyr Shep named Bono and another little, tiny Sheltie named Keeley. I was nothing short of angelic and, in fact, once we completed all our mutual sniffing, we were all kind of bored with each other. Bono's owner really liked me, too. She said she even would snap me up and keep me if I had a pedigree! (What's a pedigree?)

While trying to get Bono and Keeley to play, I spied a Border Collie a few tents away who was tugging on a toy, and that got me a little worked up. Fortunately, I settled quickly so no harm done. It was a good day!

I heard somewhere that all good things must come to an end and that definitely happened the next day that we went back to the agility trial. Oh boy. Was I a pistol! All those dogs jumping and running and having fun. It was just too much for me. I wanted to meet them all and join the reindeer games, but instead I went into maniac mode and sounded like I was going to attack them all. When one of them came right up and stared me in the face, I exploded with over zealous barking that must have made people think I was a killer Pit Bull (no offense intended to any Pit Bull friends that I might be so fortunate as to acquire in the future). 

I had to spend a good deal of time in my kennel while my foster mom ran courses with a couple of the other dogs (Darla, the superstar English Toy Spaniel and Busa, the baby BC), and that was hard on me. They did pretty well, I hear, but no doubt I could have done better because, in case I forgot to mention it to you, I am pretty small and darn fast. I can go over the A-frame lickety-split; I can race across a full size dog walk; and I can even do six weave poles. Count 'em - SIX! I sure do love doing agility. But in St. Peter my job was to learn to be quiet in my kennel while other dogs got to play. Such a boring lesson. I didn't do such a good job. 

So, back home we went with my foster mom wondering what in the world to do with me. 

I know my foster mom loves me lots and isn't ready to give up on me yet, but some days I can tell that I wear her out. Maybe some extra Sheltie kisses will help. I have lots of those to give her! And I will do my best to have better behavior this week. 

Meanwhile, I think I'll spend some time jumping on the trampoline where the ups and downs are part of the fun.

I love jumping on the mini trampoline with my foster mom. 

Hey! An athletic guy like me has to stay in shape some how!