My OperaSponge A. Mastiff Back at the Jersey Shore
Thursday, April 19, 2012 4:21:49 PM
Sponge A. Mastiff's point of view written by Mrs. Smith on behalf of her dog
Jumping Sponge
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 6:34:19 AM
Jumping Sponge is not code for anything, I'm really jumping. One way to get Mrs. Smith to laugh uncontrollably, is when I get curious about what's under things... I dig a little, sniff a bit and if something moves while I'm sniffing it, no doubt I'll jump a bit (like I'm scared).
I just got some water a while ago, and like clock work, I went to Mrs. Smith, to say hello, my nose pushed into her back a little bit and she jumped near out of her skin. She laughed at herself, then told me she loves me. She really didn't get what I wanted... I was hoping she was going to give me one of her yummy crackers she snuck into the room (like she can really hide anything from my nose)... lol.
will try to get Mrs. Smith to upload more photos of me... One of her favorite things to say is, "my dog's head, makes your head, look pe-eww-nee" (funny, but true)... he-he.
I just got some water a while ago, and like clock work, I went to Mrs. Smith, to say hello, my nose pushed into her back a little bit and she jumped near out of her skin. She laughed at herself, then told me she loves me. She really didn't get what I wanted... I was hoping she was going to give me one of her yummy crackers she snuck into the room (like she can really hide anything from my nose)... lol.
will try to get Mrs. Smith to upload more photos of me... One of her favorite things to say is, "my dog's head, makes your head, look pe-eww-nee" (funny, but true)... he-he.
Doing better
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 2:11:26 AM
My handler Mrs. Smith, has been taking care of me, I have problems still, and we'll be going out to the family vacation home for a few weeks. My ears get cleaned out most days and the ointment the doctor gave us (we're buying it from online now), is still being used. I still shake my head, which makes my human buddy Mrs. Smith concerned (because of what happened to me in November 2011)
On the fun side of things, she'll be updating here as much as possible, but when we're at the family vacation home, we don't have any internet.
....Hope she updates the photos, I know you're missing so much of me *ha-ha.
On the fun side of things, she'll be updating here as much as possible, but when we're at the family vacation home, we don't have any internet.
....Hope she updates the photos, I know you're missing so much of me *ha-ha.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 9:07:42 PM
Hey, my human handler (mrs. smith, the non-gun toting one), picked up more ear meds. I'm doing so much better after my last feeding. I was feeling pretty out of it before, I couldn't seem to get the hang of drinking water earlier. Maybe it was the poo that set my insides right?
I'm not able to get up and down quickly, but I'm doing better each moment. I went from being a puppy to an old man with head problems in a few days. (mom says I shook my head too hard)... what a kidder
I'm not able to get up and down quickly, but I'm doing better each moment. I went from being a puppy to an old man with head problems in a few days. (mom says I shook my head too hard)... what a kidder
what's new with me November 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 5:33:52 PM
Hey folks, I'm not doing very well, my handler Mrs. Smith, seems a bit sad with my new medical condition. The good news, is she brought me to a great Vet in WV, and I'm being treated for an inner ear infection.
No kidding, I'm really still messed up, I really didn't want to tell anyone about it, but then I thought, if me posting could help someone else out, that's worth everything.
Lets step back a few days... Saturday I'm not feeling well at the Jersey shore home. I come out of checking on the bedroom that my human sis from GA, is staying in and I'm a bit wobbly, my human handler notices and tells "dad". Next day I start peeing like the most I've ever done and on Monday, after falling down after pooing in the back yard, my human handler (mom) Mrs. Smith, puts me in the car and headed off to WV to a good vet (she's not kidding, she'll do what it takes to make sure I'm ok).
I get more wobbly, my eyes flicker all over the place and could not walk very well, when I got to the second vet's an over night hospital stay. Mom and the vet struggled to get me into my overnight accommodations (floor level)! Mom didn't like leaving me, she cried, I pretended I didn't hear anything, I didn't whine when she left me.
Next day mom comes to pick me up for another vet appointment. I'm doing better (but far from feeling better), I was getting treated for inner ear infection
my diagnosis for now (until Friday where we get the Neurologist's opinion), is Vestibular Disease caused by inner ear infection (vet is not for sure if it's curable, but he said it's manageable).
So if you do believe in praying, I'll take one for me and one for my human family (they're dealing with this pretty good, if I do say so myself)
I also would love to do a shout out to a really great team... While I was on the road in WV being carted around from one vet to another, ma pulled over to tinkle and when she gets back in the car she starts looking threw her car papers, she discovered that her auto insurance papers were not current... State Farm in Romney WV, got us all set up so we could keep traveling with one less worry in my human mom's mind
No kidding, I'm really still messed up, I really didn't want to tell anyone about it, but then I thought, if me posting could help someone else out, that's worth everything.
Lets step back a few days... Saturday I'm not feeling well at the Jersey shore home. I come out of checking on the bedroom that my human sis from GA, is staying in and I'm a bit wobbly, my human handler notices and tells "dad". Next day I start peeing like the most I've ever done and on Monday, after falling down after pooing in the back yard, my human handler (mom) Mrs. Smith, puts me in the car and headed off to WV to a good vet (she's not kidding, she'll do what it takes to make sure I'm ok).
I get more wobbly, my eyes flicker all over the place and could not walk very well, when I got to the second vet's an over night hospital stay. Mom and the vet struggled to get me into my overnight accommodations (floor level)! Mom didn't like leaving me, she cried, I pretended I didn't hear anything, I didn't whine when she left me.
Next day mom comes to pick me up for another vet appointment. I'm doing better (but far from feeling better), I was getting treated for inner ear infection
my diagnosis for now (until Friday where we get the Neurologist's opinion), is Vestibular Disease caused by inner ear infection (vet is not for sure if it's curable, but he said it's manageable).
So if you do believe in praying, I'll take one for me and one for my human family (they're dealing with this pretty good, if I do say so myself)
I also would love to do a shout out to a really great team... While I was on the road in WV being carted around from one vet to another, ma pulled over to tinkle and when she gets back in the car she starts looking threw her car papers, she discovered that her auto insurance papers were not current... State Farm in Romney WV, got us all set up so we could keep traveling with one less worry in my human mom's mind
Shampoo time
Sunday, August 21, 2011 12:12:09 AM
My primary handler (MRS. SMITH), bathes me in iodine horse shampoo she gets at Rick's saddle shop in Englishtown NJ. It was the shampoo of choice after me going threw adolescent skin problems. The old shampoo formula was clear, the new formula (seems to work just fine), is colored (you know same color as the iodine you use for minor cuts n scrapes on you/or your human children).
My handlers have a nice shower for me to walk into at the main house in NJ (it was customized with me in mind in 2005, I wasn't born till 2008, these people plan! It has a bench for my handler to sit on while she shampoos me up good and rinses me off, I admit freely that shower is AMAZING! At the family compound, I had to use the hose because I really wasn't on my best behavior taking a shower in their tub (really don't know what got in me), man was that water chilly that came from the hose. Something about the tub I didn't like, gave my handle a bad time. Man did I make a mess of the house when she walked me out to the back yard to finish up. She was cool about the whole thing. My handler thinks maybe because most my family stayed at the shore, I had to act up ...and it came out there.
About taking baths at the family compound, no worries, after that instant fix, my handler figured out, she could take hook up the hose to an inside basement faucet, to run a mix of hot water with the cold, well water from top of a mountain is so cold, the boys almost hid (you know what I mean)!
They really need to video me when I take a bath, I'm a pretty good boy taking one, I'm guessing all mastiffs are good with taking baths. Atlas, Thorn, Bronlynn, Sierra all were easy to bathe, well, that's what my handler says, and she's sticking to that storyline.
My handlers have a nice shower for me to walk into at the main house in NJ (it was customized with me in mind in 2005, I wasn't born till 2008, these people plan! It has a bench for my handler to sit on while she shampoos me up good and rinses me off, I admit freely that shower is AMAZING! At the family compound, I had to use the hose because I really wasn't on my best behavior taking a shower in their tub (really don't know what got in me), man was that water chilly that came from the hose. Something about the tub I didn't like, gave my handle a bad time. Man did I make a mess of the house when she walked me out to the back yard to finish up. She was cool about the whole thing. My handler thinks maybe because most my family stayed at the shore, I had to act up ...and it came out there.
About taking baths at the family compound, no worries, after that instant fix, my handler figured out, she could take hook up the hose to an inside basement faucet, to run a mix of hot water with the cold, well water from top of a mountain is so cold, the boys almost hid (you know what I mean)!
They really need to video me when I take a bath, I'm a pretty good boy taking one, I'm guessing all mastiffs are good with taking baths. Atlas, Thorn, Bronlynn, Sierra all were easy to bathe, well, that's what my handler says, and she's sticking to that storyline.
Vacation time
Saturday, August 20, 2011 11:49:45 PM
My woman handler (Mrs. Smith), and I went to the family compound for a couple weeks. The family compound is a new purchase for the family. My male handler (Mr. Smith), and his oldest brother, bought the compound together. Right now, there's two homes that could house 4 families, a HUGE 3 car garage and a very large out building (houses a canoe right now). It's located almost top of a mountain, about 3 hours from Washington DC. It's about 6 hours from my Jersey home. Most the pictures taken of me at the compound, was on a phone cam, not really web worthy, hopefully my handler Mrs. Smith will find something worthy to post.
I did a good job of fertilizing the 13 acres, the deer helped out pretty good too.
My Nephew Atlas (mastiff belonging to my handler's oldest daughter), found some deer poo, and also Sophia (Atlas's boston terrier companion), they both did the full body deep roll into it. Oh they learned their handler, Mrs. Acosta, she don't like that smell, they both had a bath right away. Me being younger, I just watched, then sniffed them as they past me on the walk of shame to the bathroom to be bathed. (Iodine horse shampoo worked perfect, even I couldn't tell they rolled in deer poo). I'm saving my big mistakes for when a skunk comes along (my handlers already have cans of tomatoes ready for the "big day". I don't know what the big deal of skunks are all about, after all, black n white things are what I live with (boston terriers).
Here's my favorite tree at the family compound (it's an easy mark)
I did a good job of fertilizing the 13 acres, the deer helped out pretty good too.
My Nephew Atlas (mastiff belonging to my handler's oldest daughter), found some deer poo, and also Sophia (Atlas's boston terrier companion), they both did the full body deep roll into it. Oh they learned their handler, Mrs. Acosta, she don't like that smell, they both had a bath right away. Me being younger, I just watched, then sniffed them as they past me on the walk of shame to the bathroom to be bathed. (Iodine horse shampoo worked perfect, even I couldn't tell they rolled in deer poo). I'm saving my big mistakes for when a skunk comes along (my handlers already have cans of tomatoes ready for the "big day". I don't know what the big deal of skunks are all about, after all, black n white things are what I live with (boston terriers).
Here's my favorite tree at the family compound (it's an easy mark)
ACHY BONES
Saturday, March 12, 2011 4:11:47 AM
I HAVE BEEN SORE OVER THE WINTER, I'M FINE NOW, EVEN FEISTY. MY HANDLERS TELL ME THEY'LL BE HOOKING ME UP TO THE SULKY SOON. THE SULKY HAS BEEN IN THE HOUSE FOR SOME TIME, I LOOK AT IT NOW AND AGAIN, BUT MOSTLY I IGNORE IT (IT'S TUCKED AWAY IN A CORNER. I'M STRONG AND READY... THE LAST FEW HIKES LEFT ME WANTING MORE, NOT WISHING I STAYED HOME. I'M PRETTY SURE I DID OVER 2 MILES OF TRAILS THREW A MOUNTAIN LAST WEEKEND. I'M BEGGING FOR WALKS WHEN THE MR. COMES HOME FROM WORK, MORE ATTEMPTS IN GOOD WEATHER IS HAPPENING.
I HAVE FREE RUN OF THE BACK YARD AT HOME, I GET PLENTY OF EXERCISE, AND THEY KEEP ME AT A FIT WEIGHT, I'M NOT OVER WEIGHT. FOR YOU OTHER MASTIFF GUYS THAT ARE OVER WEIGHT, TELL YOUR OWNERS, IT'S TOUGH ON YOUR PAWS AND JOINTS, YOU'RE BIG ENOUGH TO START WITH.
I HEAR MY OWNERS TALK ABOUT SHOWING ME AGAIN, SO CLASSES COULD START AS EARLY AS MAY. I HAVE SOME ISSUES TO WORK OUT, WITH THAT SAID, I HOPE TO SHOW WELL FOR THEM. THEY MIGHT END UP HIRING A HANDLER, I'M FINE WITH THAT.
I MIGHT BE GETTING NEW STOMPING GROUNDS OR MAYBE JUST A SECOND PLACE TO RUN ABOUT. THE HUMANS ARE IN THE MIDSTS OF BUYING LAND IN ANOTHER STATE, A SMALL FARM, 13 ACRES. I MIGHT HAVE A REAL JOB SOMEDAY (GUARDING THE LIVESTOCK). I'LL KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DEAL THE END OF THE MONTH.
I HAVE FREE RUN OF THE BACK YARD AT HOME, I GET PLENTY OF EXERCISE, AND THEY KEEP ME AT A FIT WEIGHT, I'M NOT OVER WEIGHT. FOR YOU OTHER MASTIFF GUYS THAT ARE OVER WEIGHT, TELL YOUR OWNERS, IT'S TOUGH ON YOUR PAWS AND JOINTS, YOU'RE BIG ENOUGH TO START WITH.
I HEAR MY OWNERS TALK ABOUT SHOWING ME AGAIN, SO CLASSES COULD START AS EARLY AS MAY. I HAVE SOME ISSUES TO WORK OUT, WITH THAT SAID, I HOPE TO SHOW WELL FOR THEM. THEY MIGHT END UP HIRING A HANDLER, I'M FINE WITH THAT.
I MIGHT BE GETTING NEW STOMPING GROUNDS OR MAYBE JUST A SECOND PLACE TO RUN ABOUT. THE HUMANS ARE IN THE MIDSTS OF BUYING LAND IN ANOTHER STATE, A SMALL FARM, 13 ACRES. I MIGHT HAVE A REAL JOB SOMEDAY (GUARDING THE LIVESTOCK). I'LL KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DEAL THE END OF THE MONTH.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 4:58:57 PM
ATLAS & SOPHIA MY COUSINS FROM GEORGIA, ARE VISITING THREW THE NEW YEARS. (Atlas is a Mastiff like Me, and Sophia is a Boston Terrier, like my in house personal trainer). MAN AM I "DOG TIRED", every pun intended. (Sponge is so tired, when my daughter was here doing laundry, Sponge didn't acknowledge her in the slightest, walking past him twice).
Beginging to my carting experience
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 8:33:16 PM
JWalsh - custom made my citimini sulky. The sulky was finished being made yesterday, we have the confirmation photo and is being shipped threw fedex au. We're very excited to get started.
Pre-work - by owner
Before Sponge was born, we came across JWalsh's mini-sulky website. From reading everything on his website, we followed his advise that link to TZLITES, which custom makes the harness for the citi-mini.
Carting, therapy, confirmation handling, and picking out the breeder was not an instant process for us, it's very involved on our end of researching before making contact with them which literally took us years before Sponge was born. After we chose our breeder, it was almost 2 years before the breeder picked out the puppy he wanted us to have. To have a breeder put in that much time and effort into his line and that much dedication to placing the right puppy into the right home, we truly feel honored to have one of their pups, much like we feel very honored to have such artists, in dedication to making products for carting.
There are several different styles of carting to decide from, we chose introduction to carting for Sponge with the citimini sulky by Jwalsh, as it should be more practical and beneficial in our day to day world with him.
First moments in the harness
Just in placing the custom tzlites harness on Sponge the first time, I was impressed with the instant change of mind frame he went into. The first walk, he appeared to be more proud, standing taller and more alert. He seemed to understand the slightest tug with the reigns attached to his custom made driving collar, a right pull he veered right, a left tug, he veered left. Having a good bond with our dog proves to enhance all the challenges we have him go through in the multi disciplines of each "sport". Our first experiences with him have been encouraging. It is a risk as in any dog sport, that the individual dog will not like it. It's more fun for both the handler and dog if the lessons are kept short and fun while in training
It widely advised not to train with weights in carting less than 18 months. Sponge is just days shy of being 23 months.
Pre-work - by owner
Before Sponge was born, we came across JWalsh's mini-sulky website. From reading everything on his website, we followed his advise that link to TZLITES, which custom makes the harness for the citi-mini.
Carting, therapy, confirmation handling, and picking out the breeder was not an instant process for us, it's very involved on our end of researching before making contact with them which literally took us years before Sponge was born. After we chose our breeder, it was almost 2 years before the breeder picked out the puppy he wanted us to have. To have a breeder put in that much time and effort into his line and that much dedication to placing the right puppy into the right home, we truly feel honored to have one of their pups, much like we feel very honored to have such artists, in dedication to making products for carting.
There are several different styles of carting to decide from, we chose introduction to carting for Sponge with the citimini sulky by Jwalsh, as it should be more practical and beneficial in our day to day world with him.
First moments in the harness
Just in placing the custom tzlites harness on Sponge the first time, I was impressed with the instant change of mind frame he went into. The first walk, he appeared to be more proud, standing taller and more alert. He seemed to understand the slightest tug with the reigns attached to his custom made driving collar, a right pull he veered right, a left tug, he veered left. Having a good bond with our dog proves to enhance all the challenges we have him go through in the multi disciplines of each "sport". Our first experiences with him have been encouraging. It is a risk as in any dog sport, that the individual dog will not like it. It's more fun for both the handler and dog if the lessons are kept short and fun while in training
It widely advised not to train with weights in carting less than 18 months. Sponge is just days shy of being 23 months.
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