Training Lead

I have read all about the benefits of using a leather leash for your everyday/obedience lead. I started looking for a nice one about 6-months ago, but was shocked to see high prices for terribly constructed leather in most pet supply shops.

As you all know, I recently ordered some supplies for my handling classes, and while on the Cherrybrook website, I also purchased this lead. It is the Latigo Leather Training Lead, I opted for the 6-foot lead, which is perfect for training, in 3/4" leather. At a cost of $14.99 this was about $10 cheaper than other leads (and superior in quality).



When the lead arrived, I was THRILLED! This leash is beautifully constructed, and the leather is soft and subtle, yet clearly very high quality! This lead is made with the obedience trainer in mind - from double stitching for added strength, to hardware that enables easy use with or without gloves, it is top quality. I only wish I had ordered one sooner!

Hush's last everyday lead was nylon, and it tore through my hands when she would get excited. We're great with our loose leash walking, but every now and then she'll still pull when over-stimulated, and the old lead caused quite a bit of rope burn if I wasn't wearing gloves! I feel like this leash is going to last me her entire life, if not longer!

In the photo you can't really tell, but it is a 6-foot leather lead, with a handle loop on the end.

Conformation Update

Conformation classes were supposed to start on Tuesday, but due to the ice storm, they were canceled. A real bummer, as I was really looking forward to them.

I recently ordered what I hope is the correct stuff for my conformation classes – a thin show chain (in gold) and a show lead (with loop, not snap). The show collar arrived and fits nicely (we’ll probably need to go up a size by the end of the 6-week classes, though), but the lead is on back order. I wanted to get a beige lead, but the company is out of those, so in the essence of time, I’m getting a brown lead. I ordered both from Cherrybrook, which a Corgi friend told me about, and can I just say, this company has the most incredible customer service ever!

Eventually, I will also be ordering a Kangaroo leather lead from Lacy’s Leads. I am already communicating with Lacy about what I want – we’re going to go brown leather (possibly with one strand of gold woven in), and beads… if I can ever make up my mind as to what kind of beads I want. Oh decisions!

Milly Update

So, a lot of people have been asking what happened to Milly, and some have even *gasp* asked if she went to the Rainbow Bridge.

Do NOT worry! Milly is doing great! She is still in fantastic shape, and acts like a young dog, not a senior citizen. The reason I have not blogged about Milly in quite sometime, is I haven’t seen her in weeks.

As you know, at the end of the summer I went through a break-up, and at the time I agreed to let my ex-boyfriend see Milly from time to time. Well, when Christmas came, I knew I was heading to Vermont, and my brother and his wife had told me I could bring one dog, but not both (there simply would not be room in their house for two). I decided to bring Hush, because I felt I needed to focus on her training more, and Milly is much easier to find someone to watch (since she’s perfect). In comes the ex-boyfriend, he has never much liked holidays, and really wanted to see Milly… win win for all. Ex took Milly right before I left for Vermont, and has been fawning attention on her. I’ve been getting some updates, and I am assured she is doing just fine. He even took her to the do-it-yourself dog wash yesterday.

I’ve agreed to let him keep Milly for 9 more days. This will put his total time with her at around 1 month. This is by far the longest I have ever been away from my sweet Milly, and I miss her so much, but I am using the solo-Hush time to work on her training and really focus on that while I don’t have my hands full of so many leashes.

So, do not fear, Milly is doing just fine, and she’ll be back on the blog in no time at all!

Christmas in Vermont

For Christmas, Hush and I traveled to Arlington, Vermont, where we spent a few wonderful days with friends and family. She was introduced to snow in Virginia just days before we went to Vermont, but that snow was nothing compared to what awaited us in Vermont. She absolutely adores the snow. She thinks it is just the most fun ever!

On Christmas Eve we went on a snowy hike together. This is the path we walked on.

Hush loves to sniff the snow, and then she gets the zoomies and races about!


Between being a retriever and a teething puppy, Hush loves to carry sticks!

She might look like she is sitting quietly, but this is right before she took off at warp speed leaping in the air like a gazelle!


Snow is fun to play in, but it's also fun to eat!