naughty or nice?

Marley made out this Christmas. She received a Nina Ottosson dog puzzle, duck stuffy and a bully stick. Santa brought her weave poles.

Marley indulged me with a game of fetch.

She also gave me a heart wrenching panic attack.




There is nothing Marley loves as much as food. On Christmas morning she refused breakfast.

We went to the park to meet some friends and Marley refused to leave my side. I pointed out some squirrels and she curled up in my lap. She refused to participate in a game of chase. She looked so sad and depressed. I started to mentally review everything Marley had eaten during the week. OMG did she have the flu, heartworm, what if her vaccines were not effective and she picked up something like distemper. I started to have visions of having to spend Christmas at the emergency vets. Finally a friend said, "Why don't you take off her sweater, she may be warm."




Once her sweater was off Marley jumped off my lap, shook and took off running around the park. Turns out she does not approve of lavender sweaters. She spent the entire day sulking and scared me to death in the process.

Agility

Marley loves agility. Her eyes light up and she prances when we get to class. She loves running into the tunnel and riding the teeter down. She gets a kick out of the A-frame and she is starting to master the weave poles.

Marley loves Agility!

I don't like it at all, I feel like a bad ballerina. You know the dancer that is turning left when everybody else is turning right. I feel dorky and clumsy in class. So far I've managed to trip over my own feet every class session. I can't seem to master when to front cross as opposed to a rear cross.

We have not been able to master the serpentine because I can't seem to master where my hands are supposed be going. We need to master the serpentine and consecutive jumps before our instructor will move us to an intermediate class.

Even though I don't like it we will continue taking classes because I love the way Marley just lights up when we are in class. Her excitement and joy are contagious.

Santa Paws 2009

We are getting into the holiday spirit. Doesn't Marley look ecstatic?

This is a yearly fundraiser for the Mercer Veterinary Clinic, which is run by UC Davis Vet students and provides vet care to pets belonging to the homeless.