Target Fixation and other fun things

Mark Thorson photo

Anyone that flies and airplanes or rides motorcycles knows about target fixation. I feel that anyone who drives a car should know as well, as we have all had to deal with it. Now I can say that it also is a factor in mowing the lawn and having the dogs.

Basically it is a fact that you will drive where you look. If you see a deer, you MUST force yourself  to look away, or you will ride/drive into the deer. We have all had the sudden realization of a monster pot hole in the road and driven right into it. My dear daughter destroyed her now husband's rim doing just that. Target fixation. In cars it is more likely to happen as one of those spur of the moment things; it seems like on the motorcycle we notice it from a farther distance yet really fixate. It takes an actual head turn, at times, to get out of the almost hypnotic effect of Target Fixation.

Today I could not stand the long grass anymore. Allergies or not. Show weekend or not. The grass had to be mowed. There seems to always be that one land mine that the scooper misses. Yes, that would be moi. I decided to do the lesser fine mowing using the riding lawnmower. It just doesn't do a great job, but it does get me a bit farther from the grass, and I was hoping farther from the allergens. As I rounded the last track it was there. That last land mine. Sadly I fixated on it. I carried that thing on my front tire all the way across the yard. Twice.

So now I sit here at the computer. I am wheezing and itching. Nugget needs a bath tomorrow. The lawn is mown and I will not lose the corgwyn in the dog pen any longer. Now of course, the weed whacking that is lacking is much more apparent, but I think that will need to wait until after the trip to deliver the Nugg-boy. Oh, and I SHOULD be able to spot the doggy mines easier. Except that one that always seems to be missed.

So tomorrow I clean inside the house. Might as well add the dust allergy to the mix. The wonderful thing is that my house no longer stinks of Kate's housebreaking issues. I got a candle from a friend that is touted to eliminate pet odors. By golly, it really works!!

So, on Sunday morning, really, really, really, early, I will load up Nugget and head south. I realized I need to leave at 2:30 to get there by 6:30. I may be sleeping most of the way to the drop off point in eastern Oregon. I doubt I will sleep at all tomorrow night.

Nugget doesn't know that he will be meeting another "wife" down in California. A little reward for a job well done? We can hope that is the case. My nerves are starting to kick in now. One week from now he will have the first under his belt. My fingers are crossed and my breath will be held.

I have been told that I am to whisper "red" to a part of him that I don't normally talk to. I do, however, have "red" spread across my front lawn. How's that for a way to tie this post together and end it?

Oh yeah. More Nugglets in making.

The kid grows up

And hits the road for the sun and surf. Have fun, my Nugg-butter. I am proud of you no matter how you do, and I will miss you. See you soon.

Is she, or isn't she???

We are in the waiting period. Next week there is a very small window of time that I may be able to feel pups, but with my lack of knowledge, and decreased sensitivity in my hands, it is doubtful I will feel anything. (However, I will be trying!) Kate is just two weeks post breeding, so no apparent changes as of yet. It is very nice to have peace restored in the house. Nugget was such an easy keeper during this. He never stopped eating, and he always minded me, and that wonderful phrase "leave it." Henry, on the other hand...arghh!!

Henry had to spend a week locked away from the other two dogs as he has made himself the head of the "fun police department." And he takes his job very seriously. I feared for the safety of Nugget should he be successful in his attempts with Kate. It was best to just keep them separated during that week. Thank goodness I had his voice "softened" as it was going non stop. For three weeks. THREE WEEKS! Add to that his want, or love, for Kate despite a surgical procedure done at twelve weeks, and it was crazy. I have not ever had hormones that thick in this house.

But it is now quiet. All three dogs have been out to the horse and are now sleeping quietly. This is bliss. All three dogs are back to snuggling at bedtime. Kate is back to meticulously cleaning the boys as they doze.

drawing by Emily Rose (DreamEyce)

Next week, sometime, Nugget will be off to show in California for a week. My plans are to paint while he is gone. He is the "puppiest" of the three, so would be the hardest to keep out of my way. I know that the paint will dry with plenty of Corgi hair adding texture, and dropping just one from the equation makes a huge difference. I hate painting, so once started will want to just do it until I am done. Then again, is it ever really done?

With that said, I am off to clean the carpet, yet again. One day, in the not too terribly distant future, I will relish tearing it out of here and replacing it with laminate.

Corgi bowling anyone?



photo taken in Elma by Brittany Juarez.


I think I will take a minute here to thanks all the "friends of the Nugg." It is so nice to know that he pleases others as much as he does me. It is such fun to have people come up to me that already know Nugget through Facebook or blogs. The drawing and photo above that are used here, were wonderful gifts to me. Thanks to all for sharing with me. You make me smile. That is always a great thing.

VERY excited

Nugget is going on the road the end of the month. He will be hitting four shows in California and will be going with a handler that I truly adore. I could not be more happy. Thanks to Jason Hertz for planting the seed, with both myself and with Angie. Thanks to Kim for agreeing to help with the expenses.

I realized over the weekend that Nugget needed to travel more and get to shows where he could get his majors. With gas prices what they are, and with other animals here that needed care and/or boarding, I was trying to figure out how I could do it logistically. Jason mentioned possibly sending his girl out with Angie, who I had met in SoCal and adored not only who she is, but how she cared for her dogs. I told Jason I would send Nugget with her in a second, and she called this morning with an opening, and need, for a dog. I have absolutely no doubt he will be treated as well with Angie as he is here with me. She knows how much I adore him, and very much respects that. (She also was witness to my meltdown, and is still willing to take on my dog.)

It will be nice to be able to turn my dog over to someone I love and trust; and be able to keep his pictures around the house while he is gone.

Heaven, I'm in heaven.

Enter the wait, and the weekend crazies

                           "Mom says I need to stay this way for at least thirty minutes...sigh"



Poor Nugget. His job is done for now, and he hasn't a clue how it was really supposed to happen. He tried, and he tried, and he tried. For four days, he tried. But it just wasn't to be this time around, so it was taken care of by bag, tube and syringe. So now I wait and see. If Kate has any eggs at all they are fertilized. Good folks walked me through the process and it was so clear that I had no problems with it...on either dog. Nugget now gets very excited if he sees the bag and runs to the table. Sadly, he also would run to me after several attempts with Kate. Oh what a twisted life it is, and I must continuely chant to myself "Animal Science 101, or it can creep me out a little bit.

The craziness has not been without casualties. After I bathed and groomed the Nugg-butt we settled in for the night. The next morning he was lame. But I could not find the problem. And I had a show to get to, which was two hours away in my sister's town. I called and headed down early. Her horsey expertise could help me diagnose which leg was bothering him, at the very least. Several thoughts ran through my head. Had I stepped on him and injured his foot? Had he stepped on something? Had he tweaked a shoulder gettin on, or off, the bed? Or...had he somehow strained something with his constant attempts to breed Kate. I headed south, and west; hoping that my boy was not badly hurt.

Once we arrived I gave him an NSAID and walked him back and forth for review. She couldn't find it either, and these dogs are so darn stoic that it was impossible to pinpoint where he hurt. Off to the venue we went, me in jeans and t-shirt. I simply was going to cheer on my friends. When we walked in the excitement, or something, caused Nugget to stop limping. Enough that I was told to take him in the ring. I rushed out and grabbed my clothes and his show gear and we went in the ring. None of the grooming that I needed to do was done. None of the mental prep that I need to do for myself, and my dog, was done. I realized after the fact that I wore my muck boots into the ring. More like muck clogs, but definitely NOT show shoes. He did good, I made it through, and sister Shea-butter kicked butt-er. All was good. Nugget was much more subdued that is normal for him; could have been the meds. Could have been his wild week. I headed home cautiously optomistic about the next day.

Usually with this show I stay down at my sister's place. Because of Kate, and not wanting to stress her if she is early pregnant I drove back and forth. Two hours each way. And Sunday's ring time was 8am. (Hey, did anyone else notice that the National Anthem was not played? What was with that??) Anyway, the alarm went off at 4:15am. I needed to leave the house by 5:30, and I needed to groom Nugget and myself and get the morning routine going so the dogs that stayed home had time to do their doodies before they were crated for 8 hours. Nugget seemed sound when I got up, but then again, I was pretty groggy.  I dressed, with shoe change, before the drive, and Nugget looked quite spiffy as well when we hit the road. I had planned on grabbing a bite to eat on the road, but ended up behind not one, but TWO cars going 5mph under the speed limit for more than half the drive. One car can be passed, but two cannot. State law requires cars pull out if the are holding up five cars. I was one lonely truck. With frayed nerves I got to the Fairgrounds in time to get nerves in check before entering the ring. The judge was an odd one. I think he may go on the questionable list. He liked Nugget, I am not sure I liked him. I have never had a judge have his hands in my dog's mouth before I even get him on the table. He was a bit gruff, an a bit rude, but he DID like Nugget, and Nugget did not shy away from him. Then there was the "down and back" that wasn't. Yep. For the first time in my short show career we did a triangle. I was glad I had taken classes so was fine with it. It just was odd that he seemed so rushed with the table, but wanted a triangle. All was great as he picked Nuggie in his class, and then the next. So we came home with Purple, Winner's Dog, and two more points. After a few more classes to watch and some food I headed home.

The next couple of days will be rest and relax time for me and for the dogs. All the breeding stuff gets packed away and we wait for signs of change in Kate. Fingers crossed.

Oh, and Nugget? I think he strained something trying to figure out his duties with Kate. It is tough to be studly, I guess.

Sushi??

With fingers crossed, I eagerly await, no, DREAM of, sushi the first week of July. This sushi will be a little different than the sushi I have shared with my friends, but will depend on their support and help as I dive once again into the unknown. I only wish that it could be as easy as plucking a brightly colored plate from a conveyor belt, although there may be the familiar question, "what is it?" (or some form of this) as each little "dish" is delivered.

The past few days have been full of laughs, and learning for me.

The laughs? If this house is a rockin', don't just walk in!! Yes. Indeed. The first day arrived for AI on Kate. My supplies were carefully unpacked and set on the clean towel. The microscope was on the table for the count and check. I grabbed the collection bag and put Nugget on the table and turned to find I had company. Lesson learned. LOCK DOORS if one doesn't want the "crazy dog lady" to take on a very twisted definition! Will I get up in the near future and find PETA at my door? Then again, let them ask Nugget. I don't think he is feeling terribly abused. The person who decided to pay me a surprise visit, however,  may be a bit traumatized.

The learning? Dwarf dogs are hard to breed. Anatomically they are so different than the Scotties. I am so incredibly grateful for my mentors in this crazy ride. The fact that they are still willing to deal with me and help me through this makes it even more important to dedicate this first litter to them. (I will be calling one special pup "Grout" in honor of he who shall not be named; who is just as important, yet won't do sushi.)

So, bear with me as I go through these next few weeks of anticipation. Send your good thoughts, vibes, prayers, whatever you can spare; send them over to the crazy dog lady in Kingston. That lady who REALLY loves her dogs...and her sushi...and her friends.