Lance | Change Is Hard

April 24, 2025
by dawnkinster 26 Comments

Lots to report

Shhhhhhhh! It’s me, Penny! I’m trying to give you an update on things I’ve been doing without letting the mom know. Cause as you can see, she’s not giving me nearly enough online exposure. So I’m doing what they call an ‘end run’ around her and getting on here myself.

*Mom has been taking me on lots of walks in my parks.*

She’s sharing lots of stuff about her silly birds, and hardly anything about me and my adventures. All you’ve seen of me is the Easter picture. And to be honest I did that under duress. I mean pink is not my color!

*“Hey mom! I didn’t bark at those bikes!”*

Anyway.

Since I last wrote to you all I’ve been very very busy. I had a play date with Levi at his dog park which is about an hour away from my house.

*Me and Levi. I was watching my mom come back from the car.*

We had lots of fun and I made Levi chase me a few times.

Mostly we did our own thing, you know? He was into running and chasing his frisbee…

…and I was just into running.

Levi is a very handsome dude and of course the moms wanted a picture of the two of us together. And of course, as is stipulated in the sheltie bylaws, we made it very hard for the moms to get said picture.

*“OK here’s the deal. We never both look at mom at the same time.”*

Sit next to each other? No way. But maybe on our next play date we’ll be nicer to the moms. I guess it depends on the quality of treat being offered.

*“Listen, mom, we’re not going to SIT. So get the shot and let us go play!”*

And I also did a Rally Trial where mom signed me up to do two runs. A run is where you and your mom or dad walk around in a ring doing a bunch of stuff at little signs. You’re supposed to take your cue from your mom or dad who is supposed to be able to read the signs correctly.

Frankly it’s a bit boring because they don’t let you have treats while you’re in the ring. And without treats, what’s the point anyway?

*Mom said I did great and she’s proud of me.*

I did real good on the first run, I got 96 out of 100 points and second place in my group. But then mom rushed me right over to the other run without any breaks (and no treats!!) and we were all of the sudden in there walking around and I was sort of more interested in getting out of the ring, and also I forgot what the word “sit!” means.

*Mom says she’s always glad when we make it to the “finish” sign!*

I guess I just had a mental block. I don’t know what the big deal is, mom has those all the time! I still got a qualifying score, 80-something, but I didn’t place. Mom says that’s just fine. She says we have two legs of the three we need for a title in Novice Rally.

I’ve been taking her to doggie school every week to practice reading the signs. Between you and me, this past Tuesday afternoon she couldn’t read much of anything right and I got really frustrated with her. So I decided I didn’t know how to sit straight anymore. Or heel. Or wait. Waiting is my hardest thing anyway.

Mom says we’ll be in the basement working on that stuff this week.

*Come on down, mom! And bring the cheese!*

In fact, talking about the basement, my friend Lance and his folks came over and Mom and I did some work in our new basement, teaching me the tricks of Beginner Novice Obedience! Mom say she has great plans for me. I say I’m all in as long as there’s cheese involved.

*Lance and me being patient with the moms.*

Oh – and on Friday evenings I’ve been going on group walks with another trainer and a bunch of other dogs and their people. We’re walking around small towns and getting used to traffic and other people and other dogs. Mom says it’s working. I don’t go as crazy now when we’re out and about as long as mom has treats on her. She’s pretty happy with me and we have a lot of fun on the walks!

*A perfect evening to walk around an historic little town.*

I just know there’s more news to tell you, but mom’s almost done cleaning the kitchen so I better go inspect. Have I told you that the kitchen is my favorite room in my house? I call it the Food Room. You never know what will appear from hidden places there.

*Mom’s been taking me shopping too. I don’t know what the point is, she never buys anything.*

Talk later, your gal Pen.

Wordless Wednesday (aka Me and one of my Boyfriends)

April 2, 2025 by dawnkinster 28 Comments

May 24, 2024
by dawnkinster 20 Comments

Hey! What about me?

Penny here. Geeze people, here I am having all sorts of adventures and mom and my aunt take off camping for a couple days and get to post about it for years. Ok. For days.

*This is my studious look. I think it works.*

But my point is, do I get to post? No I do not. I have not been given access. Until now, when mom finally gave into my pressure. I told her I won’t sleep in her stinking tent until she posts about all the fun stuff I’ve already done this month!

*We went to Katie’s park for our annual photo shoot.*

I know my friends have been wondering what I’ve been up to and let me tell you I’ve been really busy! And most of what I’ve been into isn’t going to get me into trouble either! Win-win!

*Mom likes a good head tilt, and I try to oblige.*

First off, as most of you know, my sister Angel Katie always had a spring yellow flower photo shoot with mom. Well, she told me all about it and I demanded equal yellow flower opportunity. I’m pretty sure it’s in my contract with my folks. So mom took me over to Katie’s park one day early this month.

Mom says I did really good. I thought it took way too long.

Then when my Aunt Beth was here we stopped near some other yellow flowers and mom grabbed a few pictures. By then I was an expert at being a model, so it didn’t take long at all.

*I think the sun was in my eyes that day.*

My Aunt Beth and mom and I also went on quite a few walks in different parks. We all had the best time with beautiful blue skies and hardly any bugs!

I got to show Aunt Beth several of my own personal parks and especially how well I can sit for the camera. As long as there were treats available, of course.

She was very impressed.

And THEN, the most exciting thing! I got to go on a walk with my Aunt Beth and my Mama S and my mom and even my doggy mom Vivian and her roommate Oliva!

*Mom asked them to walk up this trail to set us up for a photo.*

It was amazing! Three shelties all going for a walk together. I tell you what, we caused lots of heads to turn when we all walked by!

*It wasn’t easy to get the three of us lined up.*

OK, so sometimes I was a little rambunctious, and Mama S had to tell me to straighten up. After all, I’m still a baby…right? Oh…what….no? Not so much?

*Sometimes a girl’s just got to leap for joy.*

Well, I guess I’ll start acting more adult tomorrow, but that day I had so much fun! I got to share one of my favorite parks with my three moms and my aunt!

*Yep we had a great time walking together.*

I’m so grateful that Mama S brought her girls along on this walk! I promised her we’d do it again soon!

*That’s my mom, Vivian next to me (I’m in the center) and her bestie Olivia on the right.*

And then, still in the month of May, I got to go on a play day with my friend Lance! I can’t even begin to figure out how mom and dad managed to get this much fun stuffed into one month!

*My friend Lance on the left, me on the right.*

I think I better rest up for June!

Talk later,

Your playful pup, Penny.

Wordless Wednesday

May 22, 2024 by dawnkinster 14 Comments

August 4, 2023
by dawnkinster 28 Comments

So much fun!

Hey, hey hey! It’s me, Penny, your adventure girl!

Well, I haven’t had many adventures lately but I’ve sure been having fun! Mom took me to the park last week and I wasn’t as afraid as the other time.

*I didn’t even notice this snake when we walked by it. Mom kinda screamed though. Mom is a wimp.*

Mom is noticing I am happiest when I’m out in the open where I can see the sky and not so happy when we’re in the woods where it’s dark and there are strange sounds.

But this is the second time we’ve been to this park and I liked it a whole lot better this time. I ran up and down the hills and explored lots more and mom says she was very happy with my ‘progress,’ whatever that means.

*I even stopped to take a peaceful little breather on a big hill.*

Then over the weekend my friend Lance and his sister Payton came to visit me! They brought their folks too and we all sat out on my deck.

*Lance and I discussing our photo/treat ratio requirements.*

I guess if I was honest there wasn’t a whole lot of sitting for me and Lance. We mostly chased each other around the deck. We had sooooo much fun! I’m as big as he is now and I can play just as hard!

I tried to play with Payton (she’s my angel sister Katie’s half sister) but she told me off, so I went back to jump on Lance. The folks had to make us stop and rest cause we were all about the game.

I had so much fun with them that I had to sleep for an entire day after they went home. I think Lance and Payton probably slept too. Mom calls that recharging. I wonder what she’s talking about?

Anyway, I know you like to hear what’s going on in my world, so I thought I’d stop by and give you an update. My Aunt is here right now, and I’m pretty busy entertaining her.

*What’s your favorite toy today Aunt B?*

Play, play, play, a sheltie-girl’s got to keep the fun coming all the time. It’s such a big responsibility, but I’m up for the task!

Talk later, people, I have to go get a toy for my Aunt so she doesn’t get bored!

Oh, and thanks to Lance’s parents for driving so Lance and Payton could come and play! We had so much fun.

Life is good!

Your girl, Penny.

May 25, 2023
by dawnkinster 21 Comments

I met a boy and I liked it!

Hey there, Peeps!

Penny here. Mom says she has more star pictures and camping pictures and barn pictures to show you, but I told her you’d rather see me! Cause I have to tell you about my date with Lance!

Yep, my mom and Lance’s mom arranged a play date on Tuesday. Lance turns 1 year old tomorrow, so he’s about 6 months older than me. Isn’t he handsome?

I was smitten as soon as I met him. We hit it off right away because we both love to run! All four of our folks sat in chairs in the shade and talked and watched us play.

Of course they made us take breaks pretty often, but we still played a lot!

And Lance told me lots of secrets about how to get what you want from your parents. After all he has six more months of experience than me. I appreciated the intel.

But mostly we were just two crazy dogs having a wonderful time.

And in between runs we got treats! What a wonderful day!

*An excellent break from all that running!*

Neither of us could believe our luck, to have a nice sunny day and a big yard to play in and four people to pay attention to us and provide drinks and treats!

*Lance has the biggest water dish ever!*

I’ll tell you a secret. I think Lance sort of likes me.

And I sort of like him too.

Then of course the moms decide they should get a picture of the two of us sitting together.

*Hey Lance! Let’s make them work for it!*

Why do moms always do this? Does it seem like a good idea? I haven’t even graduated from puppy school yet, why would I want to sit and stay?

*What is this stay thing you keep asking for?*

Yep, it went about as well as you could expect.

*OK, get the shot quick, cause I’m not sitting here one more second!*

And just to add another little wrinkle to this photo shoot idea, they brought out Payton, Katie’s half sister, and decided they wanted a picture with all three of us!

Well. Payton is an old pro and sat stoically while all sorts of shenanigans went on beside her. It helps, I guess, that she’s deaf.

I’m sure she was tired of sitting there, but finally mom got one shot of the three of us.

We weren’t exactly all sitting. Ahem. But I did the best I could.

Mom ended up just taking pictures of the other two….

*Handsome brother Lance and beautiful sister Payton.*

…and then just of Payton, because mom says she looks so much like Katie, she couldn’t help but take a bunch of pictures of her. Mom was really glad she got to see Payton again.

And I got jealous and decided maybe I did too want my picture taken with my sister’s half sister.

*Hey! Maybe I’ll pose for a picture after all!*

And then Lance and I went back to playing!

We played and played, and I started a lot of it!

I couldn’t resist jumping on him to see if he’d run with me.

And then the folks said we should go for a walk! A walk? Are you crazy? Lance and I just ran about a gazillion miles!

*This was the perfect way to end our first date!*

But their property was so pretty and shady that we all had a wonderful time exploring. Next time I expect I’ll be able to be off my leash and explore even more, just like Tally, Lance and Payton’s really big sister, and Payton.

Isn’t she beautiful?

And then, after our walk when I thought we were going home, Lance’s mom and my dad got my loose ear glued down again.

And then it was time to say goodbye for now.

*Three little shelties all in a row. Then mom said one had to go.*

Boy I had a wonderful time.

Today I sat by one of my windows and watched the clouds go by and dreamed of running in a big field with my friend Lance.

Sigh…

Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: Lance