Mellow Moose
It’s nice to catch him in a mellow mood.
Moose finds a quiet spot to chill out, and lures me in for this mellow shot of him.
We Did It
Moose earns Canine Good Citizen certification.
Yesterday, Moose and I faced our most challenging training goal to date, and tested for Canine Good Citizen certification, a set of ten standards of dog obedience required to be considered a well-behaved dog, as defined by the American Kennel Club.
The test required us to demonstrate our ability to perform ten skills with a strict pass/fail grading criteria and without the assistance of treats. He crushed the test and earned the esteemed award.
This was a surprisingly nerve racking experience for me. It wasn’t just about the past five weeks of practice with a small cohort of human and canine classmates, it was the culmination of forty-five weeks of training that Moose and I have completed as a team since he was just sixteen weeks old.
So much work led up to this moment. There were several setbacks along the way. And we were finally here to prove something I didn’t think was possible when we first began.
In addition to my own performance anxiety, I was on pins and needles as each dog in the class performed each of the ten exercises, as I had become invested in their success as well. The collective nervous energy of the group was high and I worried we were transferring our anxiety to the dogs. Happily, all three of the dogs passed the test despite the pressure and other distractions that arose during the test, including screaming children and barking dogs nearby.
This experience reminded me of the persistence and patience required to reach ambitious goals, as well as the importance of setting ambitious goals for myself. What seemed impossible at the beginning was just successfully completed after sticking with it and putting in the required time, energy and reps. Because of our success with a challenging goal, I have more confidence in facing the next challenge we decide to pursue.
I’m so proud of Moose. He didn’t sign up for those training classes - I did. But he stepped up to the challenge and worked hard for me. Moose has grown so much since we began, successfully progressing though each training class, moving from puppy to adulthood, and from an 11-pound squirt to a 66-pounder towering over his pack mates.
I can’t wait to see what’s next for Moose as we continue on his training journey. There are many different paths we can pursue and I’m confident Moose will be successful no matter which direction we take. ⭐️
Quiet as a Moose
Moose rests in the coziest spot in the house.
I couldn’t resist taking these shots of Moose resting quietly in the kitchen, in the warmest spot in the house. There is a heat vent at the base of the cabinets next to him, not visible in the photo, and the dogs frequent this spot for that reason. I felt bad interrupting his nap but he went right back to sleep.
Coffee Break
Ringo and Moose join me for my carbs and coffee break.
Ringo and Moose move in on my carbs and coffee break. I didn’t share my English muffin with them, but I did reward them with a treat for their role in creating today’s fun photos.
Merry Moose
A celebration photo!
I wanted a celebratory photo to mark Moose’s graduation from advanced dog training yesterday, and I figured a shot in the jingle bell collar was better than the awkward graduation hats that are typically used for the occasion. He crushed his final exam, and today is all about relaxing and having fun after successfully completing over 40 weeks of training at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Congratulations Moose!
Rainy Day Dogs
It rained all day today.
A day of rain changed our plans and allowed me to capture some quiet indoor shots of the dogs.
Afternoon Hike with Moose
Moose is a great trail dog.
Moose and I took a long walk at Willow Metropark today and explored some new trails together. We had a great time and he sat nicely for several great photos along the way. It was a perfect day for some extra steps and outdoor time for both of us.
Happy Moose
He’s always ready with a smile. 😀
Moose is still learning the ropes as a model but he is always ready with a smile. 😀
Sleepless in September
Moose’s insomnia is keeping all of us awake at night.
The Mighty Moose has developed a mysterious case of insomnia and his nocturnal restlessness is keeping all of us awake at night. We’re working through the issue with our beloved veterinarian “Dr. J” but sleep deprivation has taken its toll this month. Heavy rain kept us inside today, presenting the perfect opportunity to catch up on some much-needed rest and to capture these beautiful indoor shots of the dogs.
Action Oriented
Ringo and Moose could play all day.
Ringo and Moose have been enthusiastic playmates since the moment they met. I love capturing them in action.
Happy Anniversary Moose
Once again, a dog changes my life.
A year ago today, I turned my life upside down by adopting Moose. He was eight weeks old at the time, an adorable blank slate with a horrible case of diarrhea.
An 8-week old Moose at the emergency vet seeking treatment for diarrhea.
My resident dogs, Rocky and Ringo, had conflicting opinions about his arrival, and a weeks-long hullabaloo began as they sorted out the pecking order for this newly formed pack. Three days into it, I broke my foot, as the Universe continued to test my patience and resolve.
As the stress mounted, I worried that I had bitten off more than I could chew. I was in a walking boot for several months, and this made it physically difficult to take photographs, especially of fast moving targets like my dogs. But I was determined to capture Moose’s puppyhood with my camera, and ultimately it was the amazing photos that got me through the rough days.
So much has changed because of Moose. I embraced dog training, completing over twenty-five weeks of obedience training with Moose and transferring those skills to Rocky and Ringo. I started spending more one-on-one time with each dog and now have a stronger relationship with each one. And I’ve established a habit of taking my dogs on weekly outings that have become a central part of our active lifestyle.
Big disruptions bring about changes we didn’t know we needed. I had no idea how much I needed Moose and the changes his presence created in my life. Happy anniversary mighty Moose! You changed my life in amazing ways. I owe you the same and so much more in return. ❤️
Happy Birthday Moose
My first puppy is all grown up.
Moose turned one year old today but he is still a puppy at heart. ❤️
Summer Time Flies
The days are longer but they go by faster.
Even with the longer days, summer seems to fly by, and will be a blur in the rear view mirror come September. Today’s photo captures one of summer’s fleeting moments.
Mondays with Moose
Every dog has his day.
Every dog has his day. Ringo’s day is Wednesday, Rocky’s day is Thursday, and Moose’s day is Monday. On their respective day, they go for a car ride to a public place for some training and socialization time. And, of course, photos! Today, Moose and I went to Crosswinds Marsh and we had a blast.
Gotcha
Moose is the photo hero today.
I’ve been chasing this shot all week, and finally got it today. Moose frequently gets the zoomies and lately, he has been zooming through the bushes. I wasn’t ready with my camera the first couple of times I saw him doing this, but I was ready today.
I’m glad to see Moose getting on board with being a model for my photography. My dogs often provide that great shot just when I need it. Today Moose was the photo hero. ❤️
Eight Weeks to Eight Months
An update on Moose’s growth.
When I brought Moose home in August, he was eight weeks old and eleven pounds (top photo). Now, he is eight months old and fifty-six pounds (bottom photo), and has caught up with Ringo in size. Moose is still quite lanky so he has some filling out to do, and if he continues growing at the same pace, he’ll be surpassing both Rocky and Ringo in size soon.
Moose has grown in other ways too, graduating from puppy school in November and beginning an intermediate dog training class in January. The intermediate class is much more challenging than the puppy class, and I’m anxious about the final exam, which takes place at the end of the month.
Of course Moose is not worried about it at all. His Sunday training class is just a fun day with a car ride, lots of treats and time with new friends. I need to take a cue from him and just enjoy the ride without concern for the destination.
Single Digit Days
A cold snap brings snow and fun photo opportunities.
A recent cold snap brought snow and single digit temperatures. It also presented an opportunity to photograph familiar subjects in a new landscape.
The main challenge was taking my gloves off to work my camera settings. Even brief periods of exposure were difficult to tolerate and collectively led to dry and bleeding hands. But the photos were worth it.
Like most labs, my neighbor’s dog Bella (pictured above) loves cold and snowy days, and took numerous snow baths while I was visiting with her. Back at home, Ringo and Moose (below) braved the cold temperatures for a chance to play in the winter wonderland.
This was Moose’s first experience with heavy snow and thankfully he really enjoyed it (although he is a little unsure about the snow shovel).
Of course, we spent a lot of time inside, and these cozy shots were easier to capture.
Cozy Moose
Moose warms up in a sunny window.
Baby, it’s cold outside. But Moose stays warm in a cozy spot by a sunny window.
Casual Moose
A laid-back Moose enjoys some down time today.
Moose takes a load off and enjoys some down time by a sunny window.
Beyond the Backyard with Moose
Moose is showing great promise as a dog model.
In my last two posts, I shared that I’ve been training my dogs to be off-leash, and how having well trained off-leash dogs will allow me to take photos of them in a variety of places and backgrounds.
I’ve had Moose since he was eight weeks old and he has been continuously enrolled in a training program since his arrival. He still has a lot to learn, but because of this training so early in his development, he is a very obedient dog. He’s also still small enough for me to pick up which makes controlling him much easier than it is with my full grown dogs.
As a curious puppy, the challenge of photographing him lies in having him be still long enough to capture a good shot. I managed to do that today after several tries. This is the first shot of him away from the house, and I love seeing him in a natural background.