#Stanley – Pet Momma

Agility Diaries: Trial #2 – No Qs, But a Whole Lot of Progress

Trial #2 is in the books! We didn’t earn any Qs this time, but I honestly feel like we had a better day than at our first trial. Here’s how it went.

Standard

Standard was our first run of the morning, and Stanley did OK. He took a few detours and we ran over time, but he eventually completed every obstacle. We had one off-course when he took a jump from the wrong direction, but overall, not bad for an early start!

Colors

Next up was Colors, and there were about four hours between our two runs. That’s a long wait! We went for walks, ran around the fenced area, played some attention games, and I made a coffee run, but it still felt like starting the day all over again. Stanley was so excited to get back in the ring.

In Colors, you get to choose between courses (each one is a different color, hence the name). The course I picked had a pretty tight turn, and we actually nailed it! Our big issue was that Stan decided to stop and visit the ring crew, which ate up way too much time.

Jumpers

Jumpers was our last run of the day. Stan headed off to say hi to the ring crew again after just the first two obstacles, and we lost a lot of time. We did finish, though, and came home with a first place ribbon! No Q, and I’m pretty sure he was the only dog in his height class, but whatever 😉 We finished the course and got a ribbon, so that’s something.

Stan’s New Ride

This was our first trial using the new stroller, and it was great. It’s so nice to have one place to pile up all my stuff. Stan isn’t totally thrilled about being left alone and “crated” in the stroller, but he’s definitely happier in it than in his portable crate.

The best part was at the end of the day. I loaded Stan and all my gear into the stroller and just wheeled everything out. I could stop and say goodbye to my friends without worrying about Stan pestering the other dogs. Once we got outside, I let him walk while I wheeled our stuff back to the car. So easy!

What We’re Working On

Mostly, we need to keep working on Stan’s focus. He knows his job in the ring. Obstacles, dog walk, A-frame, tunnels: no problem. The trick is finding a way to curb his excitement without killing his enthusiasm. Once we get better at staying focused, he’s going to crush it!

I also need to remember to keep my eyes on him while we’re out there. I tend to get caught up worrying about the course and where we’re headed next, but if I can stay connected with Stan, I think it’ll help him focus too.

We’ll keep practicing, and we’re looking forward to our next trial next month!

Mini Review: New Leash

We don’t have a fenced yard, so Stan gets walked every time he needs to go out. For a long time, I kept a collar on him around the house for quick trips to the yard, then switched to a harness for longer walks around the neighborhood.

His agility leash is a martingale collar attached to a leash. I love the idea of it, but it’s a thick, fleecy thing I don’t want to use every day. So I went looking for something similar and found the BTINESFUL Long Slip Lead Dog Training Leash on Amazon. I LOVE IT.

Soft Rope – Thick Enough to Not Get Tangled

Collar has a stop so it can’t pull too tight

It’s well made and sturdy, and it’s a little reflective, which is nice at night. Because it works like a martingale, it can’t overtighten the way a choke collar can. I got the 10-foot one, which is long enough to give him some freedom in the yard. It’s a nice bright blue, and it slips on and off in seconds.

The best part? Stan can be naked in the house now, and I can still get him outside quickly and easily.

It was super reasonably priced (I think I paid about $10), and I may buy a spare!

One trial in the Books!

Thanks for the support and photo Tammy Morse!

We Did It: Stanley’s First Agility Trial!

Sorry for the delay on this! I just realized I never published it! Next trial in less than two weeks! I think I’m addicted!

Last weekend, Stanley and I completed five runs over two days at our very first agility trial—and we survived! More than that, we had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and even came home with a first-place ribbon, and more importantly, points on our record!

Most of the weekend went about as I expected for a first trial. There were nerves, lots of new things to take in, a few moments that did not go exactly as planned, and plenty of lessons for both of us. But we also managed to earn one qualifying run, or “Q,” which means Stanley earned points toward a future agility title. To make it even more exciting, we took first place in that run!

I am so proud of my little teammate.

A Warm Welcome

One of the biggest things that stood out to me was how fantastic everyone was. What an amazing community!

I walked in on the first morning loaded down with a folding dog crate, treats, blankets, snacks, a chair, and everything else I thought we might possibly need. I am sure I looked like a deer in the headlights as I wandered around searching for a familiar face.

Several people I had never met stopped to say hello and asked how they could help. Everyone was supportive, patient, and kind. That made such a difference, especially when I was feeling a little overwhelmed and trying to figure out how everything worked.

The trial itself was very laid-back and friendly, which made it a wonderful learning environment for a first-timer. I could tell that people genuinely wanted to see one another succeed. it was amazing hearing people I knew and didn’t know cheering for Stanley!

Stanley’s Big Weekend

I was also a little worried about having Stanley measured before the trial. The judge could not have been kinder. He did not even mind when I asked him to remove his baseball hat, since hats can sometimes set Stanley off. That small bit of understanding helped Stanley—and me—feel much more comfortable.

Stanley was excited all day and clearly had a great time. He loves agility, and that enthusiasm definitely came through in the ring. Sometimes, though, his excitement got the best of him. He did not always stay with me, and I had to work hard to call him back and keep him on course.

That is all part of the learning process. We now know we have plenty to work on, especially coming back to me at the end of a run. I definitely do not want to hold up the next team because I cannot get Stanley out of the ring!

Still, I would much rather have a happy, enthusiastic dog who needs to learn a little more focus than a dog who does not enjoy the experience. We will keep building that teamwork one practice at a time.

Lessons and Motivation

I am so glad we went, and I am relieved that the first-trial jitters are behind us. It was a great reminder that trials are not only about ribbons, Qs, or perfect runs. They are also about learning how to handle a new environment, figuring out what skills need more practice, meeting wonderful people, and most important of all – having fun with your dog.

The weekend gave me so much motivation to work harder and level up our skills. We are back in classes, working every day at home, and focusing on the things that will help us become a stronger team.

And we already have more adventures planned: I have signed us up for another trial in October and one more in November.

Team Stanley—we can do this, as long as we keep having fun!

Agility Diaries: One Week to Go!

One week from today, Stanley and I will most likely have finished at least one run of our very first agility trial. I cannot believe it is only a week away. Yikes!

I also cannot believe I signed up for a fourth run. At first, I entered three games and no Standard agility, but then I realized that a Level 1 Standard course should be a very reasonable challenge for us. In class, we are usually working on much harder courses—often Level 5—so adding the excitement, stress, and energy of competition to a Level 1 course feels like something we can attempt.

Of course, we will see if Stan agrees!

Four runs may end up being a little much, but I can always scratch one if he seems tired or overwhelmed. I could also use one of the runs as practice time: get into the ring, work together, and make it a positive experience without putting too much pressure on either of us. We will see how the schedule goes and how we are both feeling.

We had class again last night, but the weather did not cooperate, so we were indoors. It was not Stanley’s best night. He has not been indoors in a while, and I think all the new smells, close quarters, and dogs hanging around near the course were very distracting for him.

His first run was pretty awful, honestly. But after that, he started to figure it out and listened much better. That is what matters. The new start-line routine—simply putting him down and going—is still working fairly well. I would still love to eventually have a reliable start-line stay, but with competition only a week away, I think it is more important to use what is working now. We can keep refining the stay after the trial.

Today there is no class, and it is absolutely beautiful outside. I am hoping to make time this afternoon to set up a small course in the yard and do a little practice. I keep the jumps very low so we can work on focus and discipline without putting unnecessary strain on his little body.

Tomorrow should be a fun adventure. A little roadtrip, and we are going to watch some of our friends compete, which will be great experience for me—and good exposure for Stanley—without asking him to do much physical work. On Sunday, I am hoping to find time for some simple obedience practice.

Then next week, we only have class on Wednesday. Maybe I can get out to the outdoor course for a little practice Thursday evening. Some walks and obedience practice on the off days.

And then Friday… yikes!

Stanley and I are definitely not going into this trial expecting perfection. My goal is to have fun, keep him feeling confident, and hopefully finish at least one run together. Everything else will be a bonus. This first trial is about learning what competition feels like and celebrating how far my little guy has already come.

Stanley’s Rabies Shot, Kennel Stay, and Agility News

Travel always makes me a little nervous when it comes to pet care, but I’m happy to report that everything went really smoothly this time around.

Stan had his rabies shot before my trip, and he did absolutely fine with it. No reaction at all, and he bounced right back to his usual goofy self.

He also had a long kennel stay – eight days while I was away. I’m so thankful we made it back in time to pick him up before the kennel closed that last night, so he didn’t have to spend an extra night there. He came home happy and relaxed, which is always such a relief. I don’t love leaving him for that long, but I really do like this kennel. The dogs are in playgroups with other dogs all day long, which I’m sure Stanley loves.

Loved seeing this little one hanging in the yard yesterday!

Now that we’re back, I’m excited to start a new round of agility classes with him on Thursday night. We also just got approved to join the New England Agility Club! I’m looking forward to getting to know this new group and expanding my agility knowledge – who knows, maybe Stan and I will even compete someday.

The rest of the crew did great while I was gone, too. I found a wonderful new pet sitter to check on the house and the pets, and she and her team were fantastic. Everything looked great, and all the pets were happy when we got home. She sent daily updates and remembered all the little details I asked about – replacing the dragon’s bulb when it burned out, refilling the dry cat food, emptying the bottoms of the automatic litter boxes, and more. Very professional and detail-oriented, and I’m so glad to have her in our pet-care toolbox now.

Traveling always reminds me how important it is to have a pet-care setup you really trust, whether that’s a kennel, a sitter, or a mix of both.

How about you?

What do you do with your pets when you travel – kennel, in-home sitter, trusted friend or family, something else?

How do you decide when a kennel stay is “too long” for your pet?

Do you have any tips for making travel less stressful for nervous pet parents (like me)?

I’d love to hear what works for you and your furry (or scaly!) family members.

Rabies Day, a Settled Diet, and Travel Jitters: A Stanley Update

Rabies vaccines, picky tummies, and travel jitters — Stanley managed to hit all three this week.

Today was rabies day for my sensitive little guy. Because he’s had vaccine reactions in the past, I asked the vet to do only rabies at this visit, nothing combined and nothing extra. We did his Bordetella/kennel cough last week as a stand-alone, and that one went totally smoothly, which makes me feel a tiny bit braver about the whole vaccine thing. I’m hoping that once we make it through a full year of vaccines with him, I’ll have a better sense of what his body can handle and I’ll feel a little safer each time we walk into the clinic.

Next month, we’ll go back for his distemper combo, again as its own visit. Then June is the big mental hurdle: leptospirosis and Lyme, which is when he had a reaction before. I’m already thinking about how to handle that. A lot of vets consider lepto and Lyme “lifestyle” vaccines and will space them way out or even skip one if the dog’s reaction risk seems higher than their disease risk, especially in small dogs or dogs with a history of vaccine sensitivity. Some clinics will pre-medicate with an antihistamine, keep the dog for a longer observation period, and never give more than one higher-risk shot in a day — all things I’ll be talking through with my vet before we get anywhere near June. For now, I’m keeping my expectations simple: one vaccine at a time, lots of notes about how he does, and no heroics.

Other than the boring vaccine update, the check-up itself went really well. Stanley’s weight looks good, and his current diet got a thumbs-up. That feels like a minor miracle after how much I’ve tinkered with his food over the past few months. I’ve tried so many different foods with him that I finally hit my limit: I’m done with the experiments. His main food is going to stay Hill’s Science Diet dry for small dogs with sensitive stomachs, with a tablespoon of Happy Howl mixed in for flavor. That’s it. No more “maybe this new thing will be perfect” impulse buys, at least not for a good long while.

Because he’s a small dog with a touchy tummy, I really have to watch quantities so he doesn’t end up gassy or with loose poop again. I’m also trying to be more honest with myself about treats. He still gets no table food — other than the very rare bits of American cheese when I absolutely have to get a pill into him — and the rest of his “extras” are pretty boring on purpose. Treats right now are either his regular kibble, some dry chicken bites that I buy, or occasional chicken jerky. It doesn’t sound exciting, but for him, consistent and predictable works better than a constant parade of novelty.

On top of the health stuff, I’m in trip-prep mode and starting to feel that familiar little knot in my stomach about leaving all the pets. I’m very happy with my new house pet sitter and really like her energy; I think (and hope) she’s going to be great with the whole crew. Still, leaving Stanley is the part that makes me pause. I love his kennel and the people there, but eight days is a lot for a little dog who’s so attached to his routine and his people.

To make it easier on him (and me), I’ll be sending him with all the comforts of home: his own food, his blankets, his bed, and a favorite toy. It’s my way of saying, “This is different, but you’re still safe, and you’re still you.” Between the careful vaccine schedule, the now-boring but steady diet, and a sitter and kennel I trust, I feel like I’m slowly building a safety net around this sensitive, silly little dog — one vet visit and one small decision at a time.

Quick Vaccine Tips for Sensitive Dogs

Ask for one vaccine per visit. Spacing vaccines out makes it easier to spot which one caused a problem and is often easier on sensitive dogs.
Talk to your vet about pre-medication. For dogs with a history of reactions, some vets use an antihistamine (and sometimes a short-acting steroid) before the shot and monitor the dog longer afterward.
Schedule vaccines when you can watch them. Book appointments for times when you can keep an eye on your dog for the rest of the day, and know where your nearest emergency vet is just in case.
Keep clear records. Write down which vaccine was given, the brand, and any reaction you see (even mild ones like extra sleepiness), so you and your vet can make better decisions over time.
Remember that some vaccines are lifestyle-based. Core vaccines (like rabies and distemper) are generally recommended for all dogs, but others (like leptospirosis and Lyme) depend on your dog’s lifestyle and local risk, and may be spaced out or skipped in some sensitive dogs.

Have you ever had to deal with vaccine or other sensitivities with your Pup? Let me know, leave me a comment.

Stanley Update + BarkBox Review: Tiny Dog, Big Opinions

🐾 Housebreaking Progress (and Setbacks)

Stanley is doing pretty well overall — some days I’m convinced he’s completely housebroken, and then, out of nowhere, he’ll have an accident. It’s a journey.

He’s still not a fan of the outdoors. If it’s over 65° and sunny, he loves it and doesn’t want to come back in. But anything cooler, rainy, or even slightly cloudy? No thank you. Even with little jackets, he’ll turn around and bolt right back up the stairs to the door.

For now, we’re still using puppy pads in the house. Thankfully, he mostly uses them consistently.

🎓 Starting Dog Training Class

We start “Teenage Manners” class tomorrow! Fingers crossed he’s not the only tiny dog — it’d be nice for him to have a little buddy. He also starts Small Dog Playgroup next week, so we’ll see how that goes.

Some of the things I’m hoping to work on in class:

Better potty training habits
Reducing nipping
Food aggression
Chasing the cats
And I still can’t figure out how to teach him “lie down” — he’s so small it’s tough to lure him with a treat!

🐶 Evening Play & Snuggles

Stanley is a total love. He still gets crated during our dinner to prevent chaos with the cats, but once we’re done eating, we let him out and he gets super playful.

We sit on the floor and play fetch, and the cats even seem to enjoy the action. After that, Stanley crashes — we all move to the couch, and he curls up in someone’s lap and snoozes. It’s honestly my favorite time of day.

📦 BarkBox Review: 10/10, No Notes

I mentioned in a previous post that I ordered some BarkBox toys, and this week, Stanley got two boxes!

I saw an ad with some adorable toys that were only available to subscribers, so I signed up for a 6-month subscription. Let’s be real — 6 months’ worth of toys will probably last Stanley a lifetime. I opened the extra box of toys I picked out myself, and I have to say: these toys are awesome.

They’re: adorable, well made, and full of variety — squeakers, crinkles, textures, etc.

Stanley prefers plush toys, so that’s what I went with, and he genuinely loves every single one. His current favorite is a fried chicken bucket toy — it makes crinkly sounds, and he loves to chew it and carry it around. I need to get a better picture of him with his whole head in the bucket (which happens a lot).

The Chicken Bucket!

This sloth is almost as big as Stanley, but he loves it!

He also thinks the box that everything came in is pretty great!

The second box is our official BarkBox, which includes themed toys and treats. I got a bonus offer when signing up, so our first box has double toys and treats — can’t wait to open it this weekend, or as soon as I clean out the dog toy box and make room!

📣 Got Class Tips?
We’ll see how Stanley does in manners class this weekend — here’s hoping he doesn’t try to boss around the big dogs. 😅

If you’ve got any dog training class stories or tips for tiny dogs, I’d love to hear them! Let’s swap some puppy tales in the comments.