Veronica loves Opera and Classical music. That’s what the radio’s blasting out during the long drives to Corinne and Agility. (My opinion is irrelevant!)

Until she discovered “Vår Bästa Vän” (Our best friend). A Swedish podcast on dogs with Eva Bodfäldt, Gurgîn Bakirciouglu and Maria Hedquist.

Gone were the strains of “Aida”, “Rosenkavalier”, “Schubert”, “Mendelsohn.. etc..  It morphed into everything about dogs: dog problems, dog sports, dog exhibitions, dog behaviour and so on.

Veronica not only became obsessed, but she had to share the content with everyone! (Whether they wanted it or not…) “Eva said this…”, “Gurgîn told that story ..”, “Maria met this breeder ….” etc

Good news is that she learns loads of fun stuff. Like Dog Parkour. Or “How to make a boring walk fun and interesting”. I love it!!

Basically anything, anywhere! She immediately felt this was a perfect entertainment for us.

Especially these days when there are no canine acitivities for a month.

I was getting a tad restless. Veronica gave me boxes with gooddies hidden inside. A fun game, for a while, but even that got old.

I did my best to keep myself busy. Both Veronica and Dennis felt it was time to take action: Felicia: Dog Parkour! Let’s go!

The walks became a series of obstacles as we went along the road; every day new challenges. We’re just beginners, keeping it simple at the moment. I heard some dogs do crazy stuff!!

Walking or running on tree-trunks. Some are very narrow, and not as easy as it looks. Well that’s for beginners, me a near Agility champion…ok, ok, no champion but as a regular Agility dog. It’s easy!

Tree-Trunk jumping. Fun! Veronica doesn’t want me to jump too high, or from a great height. She tells me it can be bad for my back.

She always fusses over me. Just because her first Boxer Ficelle had a ligament operation doesn’t mean I will have one…whatever… just a little infuriating!

FYI: I can jump VERY high!! Wish I could show off every now and then!! (Especially in front of Indya!! Perhaps even Inook!)

Climbing on Tree-Trunk benches. The different levels makes it interesting.

Lying down on a Bench. I felt very brave since there was a little ice. Us Boxers don’t like to lie down on cold ground.

Yes, we’re a little delicate in that way! (Can’t compare us to St Bernhard dogs with their thick fur!!)

An improvised tunnel under the Bicycle stand. “Run Felicia, run”. I was a little hesitant in the beginning. Anyone would be!

No, I’m no wimp. I’m just more used to REAL tunnels!

We also train slaloms here.

 

Sitting very still on a Stone. That was hard. Do you see those ducks? Yes, I know, I’m such a good girl not to run away! I wanted to chase them.

Veronica should acknowledge this examplary behaviour; admire my concentraiton and self control!

(She had very convincing goodies.)

Putting my paws on a wall to admire the view. Easy! I’ve done that a long time.

I’m not allowed to jump up on the wall, but I bet you I could!!  I tried once… “It’s too dangerous Felicia, you can fall into the water”

She’s such a spoilsport!! Can’t a little Boxer girl take a walk on the wild side??

Bench climbing and waiting. The thing is, I want to run and jump down, like in Agility. Veronica feels otherwise… “You need to train to focus”.

What’s she talking about?  I can focus, easy! I just don’t always feel like it!!

I am a free Boxer, I can choose when to focus or otherwise!

WTF are these??? And WHY is that one staring at me?? What’s his problem?? I was so intrigued I couldn’t walk at all. They look weird with that long neck!!  And STOP STARING AT ME!!!

(BTW, please admire my focusing skills!!)

Veronica told me to calm down “They’re Lamas, beautiful animals and they’re very nice, look, he’s just as curious as you.”… Yeah, sure, that’s her story. Ha! Bet you he’s planning on a trick, probably to annoy me…

I SAID STOP STARING AT ME!!!

Climbing trees is easy. I usually jump up. Then I have to wait. Wait, wait and wait!

I CAN FOCUS! I JUST CHOOSE NOT TO!!!

This Tree-trunk Bench is a bit tricky. The thing is, I’m not supposed to continue climbing but to balance on the small space. It’s cool.

This morning we walked by the lake. Crazy windy. Usually I love to walk on the wall along the shore. Today…not so! Too cold! (I even admit that ridiculous coat might have been nice).

Dennis came to the rescue. “Let’s go home, this is freezing”

He’s from California…

Veronica, who’s Swedish blood has no fear of cold, took me down to the lakeside by our house.

Jumping on tables, playing hide and seek. All in all it was a great walk.

Dog Parkour is quite demanding. Yes I assure you! All this climbing, jumping, balancing, running, focusing… Even the strongest, most muscular (like me) Boxer would be tired!

I love the Podcast. (Way better then Wagner!) And my life has greatly improved, so you guys keep up your good work and keep Veronica well informed!

A word: tell Veronica all sofas should be Dog allowed, and all beds, and I should get more and better treats come to think of it.

 

Special thanks to the whole “Vår Bästa Vän” team, Eva Bodfäldt, Gurgîn Bakirciouglu, and Maria Hedquist. Thank you for your amazing Podcast that has taught me and Felicia so much.

http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt?programid=4834

International Dog Parkour association

http://www.dogparkour.org

Swedish Dog Parkour association

http://dogparkour.se

What’s fun in January? NOTHING!

Corinne has a month off so NO AGILITY! I even wish I had “Thursday big dog class”…and that’s saying something if I actually miss that group…!!

Even the ground is boring, it’s frozen and hardly no interesting smells. Mind you this pleases Veronica since I’m a little more focused.

I can let her think the “smelling/digging” phase is over. As she keeps on telling everyone. I’m planning to get back on track ASAP.

The month did not start off that well;

You see, every year Veronica sends off Christmas cards. You heard about the tense “family photo shoot”.

Then we have the “what picture should we use” discussion. That’s just as complicated. Every family member needs to give their opinion.

“NO!! Not that one I look horrible”… “Not that one either” etc.. finally, after hours of negotiation, text messages and phone calls : The Family Chrtistmas Photo is ready.

That’s when Veronica found her address book….

I had totally “forgotten” about that. Last year, I got a little fed up with the whole card business. I figured no address book; no cards!

This must have slipped Veronica’s mind as she found it in the drawer. She got very annoyed, to say the least. “Dennis, do you know what Felicia has done??!!”

Is she telling on me?

I don’t think he cared. He’s not much of a card sender kind of guy. (He might even secretly agree with me)

Anyway I don’t see her problem, the addresses could easily be read…well nearly all.

Shortly after, I was quietly having fun with a cardboard box. Don’t ask me how, but suddenly there was a card there. Perhaps Veronica even gave it to me.

Apparently no.

“Felicia is that our Christmas card?”  Duh…yes!  As it happens only friends and family get one! Not the dogs!

Very unfair!

After the “Intense card writing”session it was time for “Obsessive cleaning” time. Veronica loves to clean, organise, declutter… Yes you heard me!! She does! (I know, isn’t that crazy?)

The family all thinks she’s a little neurotic in that way. She organizes the shoes in the entrance, the clothes in her walk-in closet…by colour and genre, the Kitchen (she does not even cook)  etc etc

I felt my help would be superfluous! I got the impression keeping a safe distance was the wiser choice.

The huge Christmas tree was thrown out in the garden. I tried to drag it around for a while, unfortunately it was a bit too heavy. Even for my big muscles! Very disappointing.

As if this whole January misery wasn’t enough, she made me wear a COAT!! Yes!!! “Felicia it’s very cold. You can wear this coat”

Coat? She’s got to be kidding!

“It’s a famous designer, Barbour, you’ll look very smart”

Barbour who??? Don’t care!! This Barbour guy can stick to making coats for people and leave us dogs out of it!!

MC gave it to me. What was she thinking? Never seen Indya wear her’s.

Ok, I know some dogs, Lilya for one, needs a coat in the winter. And perhaps in Sweden. But me??? NO!! Veronica only wants me to wear it because it’s a famous designer!! Pathetic!

I was feeling rather gloomy and felt entitled to a little treat…I went sleeping on the bedroom chair.

Now here comes the BIG surprise! Veronica didn’t react!!! Did she feel sorry for me?  Dennis even said “Put up a blanket for her”!!!

What??? What’s going on here???  Is this some kind of joke??? I’m even a little worried…

You’ll all be happy to know: I’m officially allowed up on the chair, as long as my blanket is there! Wow, I never thouhgt this day would come.

Boxer Felicia’s allowed to sleep on the chair!!

Bending a “Veronica rule”…THIS MUST SURELY BE A FIRST!!!

From there on things got better and…

… better.

I was invited up on the bed!!! Yes!! (As long as my blanket was there).

All three of us watched “Downton Abbey”. I love that show, it’s romantic and that little Labrador, Isis, is really cute.

Veronica went on and on about how she would love to live in just such a Castle. What? A Castle? Isn’t that a little presumptuous.

“We could have friends and family come to stay with us and Felicia would run everywhere and have so much fun”

Let’s just take a minute here to reconsider. Me a Castle dog.

Looking at it from that perspective. Hmmm…I need to think just a little…Yes! I could do that. Live in a castle. “Felicia, the castle dog is touring her land”. How cool would that be!!!

“Lady Veronica with her Boxer, Felicia von der Andreashöhe” I can totally see myself.

A few days later even a better surprise: MC and Indya came on a walk with us. I was so happy. We ran off in high speed!

And back in even faster speed. Indya leading the way…of course.

I simply can’t get over it: how come Indya has so much energy? I really don’t understand. I think it’s all VH’s doing. He runs with her all the time.

I tried to distract her, as usual she ignored me.

Off she ran, again. I had no choice but to follow. I don’t want to see her smug “I’m so fast” look.

Would it kill her to show a little consideration for her short legged BFF?  Run a bit less? Anyway, what do I care: I have big muscles! Even Dr L says so!

I admit I was quite relieved when the walk ended. Don’t get me wrong, we had so much fun, but all this running… is it really necessary?

I’m not complaining but…I think…oh, is that Turkey in her hand?

Back home I went into “recuperating” mode.

Should I start running more, perhaps I need to get into better shape. Long distance, endurance that is. I’ll think about it tomorrow…I’m too busy sleeping!