Tag: Philip

  • Chase—Part 3: The Radio Flyer Was Essential

    Rottweilers don’t know they are not lap dogs. Chase would back up to the couch and when his butt touched the cushions, he would keep backing up until his whole butt was sitting on the couch, front legs just standing there. He’d do the same on your lap..

    Chase didn’t eat the baby. Toddler Philip would crawl up to Chase and take rawhide bones from his mouth; Chase just looked forlorn and spoke with his eyes saying, “he took my bone.”

    One birthday I bought Rick a red toy remote control race car. Off leash, Chase would chase the car up the street, down the sidewalk, and turn circles in the driveway.

    There was the essential purchase of the Radio Flyer Town & Country wagon for Philip.

    At the BKC show, a vendor had the tongue to fit that wagon. I bought a RED carting harness. Chase trained easily—unleashed, go/stop-wait at crossings, called back for wide U-turns. We dressed the outfit like a chuck wagon with Philip in cowboy gear, or 4th of July flags..

    After the CDX, Chase learned every UD routine. but he hated the competition. Every time, every show, something different would get messed up. We stopped going. I knew he could do every part, but we found agility instead. He loved racing the obstacle course with me. And he thrived at carting, earning his certificate.

    Before and after Philip was born, Chase was my answer to social anxiety. People could talk to me about my dog and I was able to relax. Chase pulling Philip in the wagon was an awesome conversation starter.

  • Chase—Part 2: Philip’s first word was “Dog.”

    Philip and Chase sitting together in the living room.

    The litter was born in July. Every week on Sunday I would hang out with the breeder and the puppies. I played with them and began to chronicle the life of Chase through photographs. On the Lee Valley Road farm he had room to grow. We started doing a weekly visit to the Badger Kennel Club, doggie school. Just sit on the sidelines for puppy socialization.

    Steven and I bought a new Ford Ranger with a topper. We added slider windows in the cab and topper and placed a boot to seal the passage. Once Chase reached the right height, he immediately learned to jump and scramble through. Chase went everywhere with me. When he was the proper age, we registered for obedience classes with Jo-El Kennel Club to receive the best instruction from Drew and Betsy.

    Within a year we traveled to Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan to compete in obedience trials to earn his Companion Dog (CD) certificate. Once accomplished, onward to Companion Dog eXcellent (CDX) which included jumps.

    Life changes happened: our address moved, my relationships changed. But Chase was the constant.

    When I was pregnant with Philip, family and friends said to get rid of my dog because he’d eat the baby. Chase was mine to keep. Anyone who spent time with us would be convinced that his training was complete. Philip’s first word was “Dog.”

    Philip, Chase, and I went everywhere. We’d travel to dog shows. Sometime camping. Chase started working on his Utility Dog (UD) certificate. Then we added the activity he really loved.