The BEST Adventure YET!

What an AMAZING adventure we had last weekend! Eric and I and the 'ruppies traveled to Hawesville Ky for a full day of military style agility! Because L and L had a background in stress agility, they faced each of the insanely difficult obstacles with confidence. Of course, they had Eric and I there with them the whole time.

This course was a bit different than the one L and L know and love in Milton. Most of the Hawesville obstacles are so difficult that the handler always has to join the dog. The obstacles simulate real-life survival situations you might face with your dog--you work as a team, not master and handler.

I'm so proud of my dogs. I love them with every inch of my being. I am so happy that I fell into this dog training group. Not only have Eric and I met many like-minded friends, we've given our dogs a life the could never have dreamed of. *tear*

Here is a video of Lou and I on the most difficult obstacle there...the dreaded TRIPLE X! You can see how stressed Louie is (and how stressed mommy is!), but he doesn't for one second refuse the obstacle. He knows he has to do it (we never, EVER let them give up, we never give up on them!) and knows I'm there for him. AHHHH...my bayboy is all growed up!

Thanks Brent and Jesse for taking these great pictures!

Spring has sprung!

Oh yes. It has. Laika has rediscovered her love of chasing butterflies and Louie's eyes are running like allergy-ridden faucets. Adventures await!

Happy Birthday to US!

Thats right, folks. L and L turned 3 years old today. In people years, my dogs are 4 years younger than me! Geesh. Anyway, adventures abound for the Huskies in 2007. We are sticking around another year, which mean tons more fun out at The Land. And another year surrounded by the comforts of home.


For their special day, Eric and I bought them genuine doggy jerky. They loooooved it! Louie took his straight into the other room, because he knew that if he took his eyes off his tasty treat for one second, Laika would snatch it right up. Thats how she rolls. Finders Keepers.

Hope everyone is doing well! Talk to you soon,

Love,

Brooke, Eric, Lou and Lakes.

Snow Day!

Unlike the kids, Louie and Laika LOVE to go to school on snow days! It was a blistery day for mom and dad, but the huskers loved every minute of it. Well...okay...not every minute of it. They hated when I would make them stop their fun and pose for a picture or two. But they tolerated me pretty well.

Lou and Lake tracked, found, and saved Ginger and Summit from the dangerous seedy underbelly of the Milton Co. woods, had a blast slippin' and slidin' all over the obstacles on the agility field, and weren't fazed at all by the snow and the cold during obedience. It was a adventurous day, that's for sure. As you can tell from the first picture...which I like to call..."frisbee huskies."

Hopefully, this isn't the last we'll see of the snow this season. If so, at least we enjoyed this day to its fullest. Happy spring everyone (in case I don't get back to post soon). Stay tuned, you never know when Louie and Laika are due for their next big adventure! Til then, you are in our thoughts...

Brooke, Eric, Louie and Laika

GRADUATION!!!

FANTASTIC news everyone! After 1 year and four months, the L and L tag team finally certified in obedience! For one hour out at "the land," neither dog disobeyed us SANS leash and collar. After a rigorous (well, not really...we train harder than we test) set of sits, downs, heels, comes, and stays our trainer bestowed upon us the most magnificant honor...certification.

The test was more of an ordeal for Eric and I than it was for Louie and Laika, who were already exhausted by a full day of tracking and agility. 45 minutes worth of down stays? We can handle THAT, they said :) Many folks out there say that it is impossible to certify huskies in obedience. Not true!!! We'd like to thank everyone for supporting us and advising us up to this momentous occasation. YEAH!

Because I'm sure this is the last blog I'll post for a while...I'll double up and say Merry Christmas and a happy new year :) We love everyone!

Brooke, Eric, Louie and Laika

8 Below!!!

Hello all!

So "Eight Below" came out on Tuesday...do you have it yet? Huh, huh, do ya, do ya? Everyone must own this wonder-full timeless tale of the Siberian Husky's triumph over great adversity. Its a heart warmer, a heart breaker, and a heart stealer. What a combo.

Eric and I brought it home last night and watched it for the third time (but this time we could fast-forward through all the people parts and get straight to the action). But the "adventure" is this...

Louie and Laika were in the room with us as we watched and they were absolutely ENTHRALLED with this movie! Usually, when the t.v. is on they are either sleeping on the floor or playing with each other. But neither one of them could keep their eyes OFF of the screen! It was so cool...fortunately the camera was nearby and I could take some shots...in case no one believed me! These dogs watched an entire movie!

GOD I LOVE MY DOGS!

Something tells me they are going to approach the agility course tomorrow with a new-found, inspired sense of determination and confidence...

Two Little Mountaineers

Hey everyone!

We just returned from our trip to the Smoky Mountains! How much fun we had! Did we go see the sights, shop til we dropped, or climb the tallest peak? NO WAY, JOSE! We chilled out all week long in our little secluded cabin. We took the dogs out for brief walks and got out once to see Ripley's Believe it or Not Aquarium, but other than that we played family for 60 hours straight. Hence...not much to write about. Here are some pics of our lazy days...Check out Laika's passenger in the third picture...that moth made a home.

Long Time No See

Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay in posting. We've just been having so many wonder-full adventures that I haven't the time :)

Let's see...Louie and Laika are doing very well. They shed those winter coats and are ready to enjoy everything summer has to offer. Laika loves her pool...she'll lay down right in the middle and chill, like a little husky island. Louie on the other hand, always slightly more hyper, likes to jump in and out while sprinting across the driveway. I MUST take a pic of this one day.

As many of you know, Eric and I are gettin' hitched in just under 2 weeks. A while ago we invited our preacher to our home for our pre-marital counseling session. We couldn't believe that Laika, always shy and reclusive while we have guests, came right up to our pastor and sat on the couch near him for an entire hour! She definitely got a good vibe from him. Eric and I were encouraged by her breakthrough and are more convinced that she will come out of her shell soon so everyone can see the delight she is. This accomplishment is most likely due to her improvement in agility. Shes jumping all ten haybales in a row now and running like a wild woman...hence her "land" nickname, Wild Woman Laika.

Hm...what about my Lou-cifer. He is now off leash AND COLLAR at the land (not ready to let go of the collar on the river yet. Too many cars). I am certain that he will certify by the end of the summer (a year since he began training). He is 99% on all of his "sits and downs" regardless of the distance. He heels beautifully and executes commands even as we walk away. Our bond is demonstrated in his ever-increasing need to sleep closer and closer to Eric and I. Louie circled and plopped in the middle of my back the other night as I slept on my stomach. It was a tad uncomfortable, but so cute. I quickly fell back asleep with a smile on my face. Our friend Martin dubbed him "Lou-ee, the French Husk-ee." I was childishly offended by the reference to Louie's, um...disinclination toward all things rugged and unrefined. Martin quickly changed Louie's nickname to "Big Lou...the mobster." I was placated.

L and L have all kinds of new friends at training. Our friend Scott's pit bull Bitsy loves to play with the huskers. Laika has taken to the new pup Dega. The family grows...

Well...thats all the updates for now. We'll have some more adventures after we return from our honeymoon. L and L will be in tow and we'll have all kinds of fun playing "8 Below" in the Great Smoky Mountains.

TTFN
b.

So long, farewell

Look how sad my Louie Lou was as we drove away from training the other day...

I'll have to add more later...just wanted to post this pic. Louie definitely wears his emotions on his sleeve.

Scrub a dub dub

Its my Lou in a tub...

Hey all. Its been too too long. So much has happened over the past few weeks! Lou and Lake turned 2 years old! Yep, two St. Patty's Days ago my two wonder-full adventuresome huskizles came into the world. They are growing up so fast.

Laika and Eric went to training 2 weekends ago when it was storming pretty badly. I hear that my baby girl did not pick up enough speed to make it all the way up the A-frame because there was a big puddle of water at the base that slowed her down. Did baby girl stop, turn around, and try again? No sirree bob. She muscled and climbed her way to the top, fighting tooth and nail. In true sled dog style. "Way to go, 8 below!" as our friend Martin would say.

We had a guest recently too. My best friend and Maid of Honor Devan came in for a visit. Last time she and Laika met, Laika was a ball of fear. This time baby girl ventured in for kisses and even hopped into bed with Devan. What confidence! Louie Lou was his usual play-rope-with-me-or-I'll-woo-at-you self.

I'll try to post more frequently now that the semester is slowing down.

Peace to all.

Agile Huskies

Hey! As promised! Here are some "action shots" we took a while back. Sorry its taken so long...

Louie and Laika LOVE stress agility. Let me emphasize STRESS agility, not sport agility. These obstacles are twice the size (and in some cases three times the size) as those "jokes" you see on t.v. :) The obstacles are not supposed to be fun and easy...they are designed to build confidence in the dogs and to increase our bond. No matter how scared they are they know Eric and I are right there with them and won't let anything bad happen to them. And when they complete the obstacle!!!!!! Oh my! They are so PROUD of themselves! You can see it in their husky smiles. I guarantee you that Laika would never have come out of her shell if it weren't for agility. Okay...enough babbling, here are my puppies making me proud! Brings tears to a girl's eyes!

Bye everyone! I'll post some obedience pics later.

Laika's Baby Girls

Hello there everyone,

These are my Laika's daughters...how gorgeous! And how BIG they are? Laika misses them terribly, but enjoys watching them grow on Cynthia's website :) Their names are Laika II and Tayen. They are 7 months old and already bigger than their mommy.

We are Family

I spend so much time describing my love for my dogs...I have rarely, if at all, mentioned how much my dogs love each other. And boy do they love each other.

I think they remember that they are brother and sister, even though they were separated for one year. I can just tell. Laika had plenty of friends where she grew up. And Louie, of course, had Eric and I and his dog friends Sketch and Gizmo. But seeing them together now, I know there must have been a hole in both of their hearts during that year. Laika completed our family and I am so happy for my beloved Louie Lou. They continually remind Eric and I what love is.

Peace.

Heroic Huskies

Two new obstacles were added to the agility course this week. One is a balance beam made out of an 12 foot long 4x4 about 3 feet off the ground. Martin calls it "walk the plank." The other is about a 6 foot tall wooden wall that the dogs have to jump over....yeah a SIX foot tall wall!

How did Louie and Laika do? Well, let me tell you.

Louie navigated "walk the plank" first. He is definitely a "thinking" dog. He took his time, maintained his footing, and walked very slowly. I could tell he was stressed and would rather be doing something else, but he wasn't scared. He knew I was there to catch him and help him if he needed. What a good boy. He made it across only having to start over once. He took the most time out of all the other dogs, but he got it!

Laika is a little less of a "thinker" than a "doer." Her first inclination was to sprint across the plank and get it over with. But she quickly learned that that is not the way to go about it! Especially since she is so much bigger than Louie. She eventually understood that she wasn't being timed and made it across the beam with lots of verbal encouragement from me and Martin (Eric was out sick this week). I was so proud of them and all of the other dogs for trying and succeeding at something new!

Okay, next up was the "wall." All of us, even those with advanced dogs, looked at that wall and were like, "NO WAY!" Its too tall! But every dog there, including Louie and Laika cleared it on at least their second try. On L and L's first tries, they got their frong legs over and I had to help push there butts over. But by the second time they calculated and figured out exactly how much speed and push they needed to make it over on their own. Words cannot describe it, guys. I'm telling you. My timid, playful little huskizzles are fearless stuntdoggies out on that agility field. Why do they attempt obstacles with the appropriate amount of stress and not fear? Because they know there mommy is there for them and will not let anything bad happen. So they are free to fly to the moon if they wanted to try!

Oh...and Laika didn't hold on to her title of "only husky that went over the 14 ft A-frame" for very long. Louie made it all the way over on his own (no long line) yesterday too. WHAT A DAY for my Heroic Huskies!!!

Congrats to all the doggies and their handlers for doing so well in agility yesterday...Martin and Zadok, Ginger and Summit (and Caana! What an athelete!), Carla and James, Warren and Rocky, and Angela, Travis, and Lucy. Yeah!!!

And thanks again to everyone who helped me navigate with with two dogs while Eric was out. Y'all rock.

Its been too cold lately to take pics out on the land. But I promise I'll take some action shots very soon. In the meantime, please enjoy these pics of Laika Cynthia sent me the other day :)

Adventures Abound!
brooke

Keepin' It Real

It was a COLD training day last Saturday. The dogs slipped and slid on the obstacles...a welcomed extra challenge. We tracked through the woods in the snow--it was so beautiful. Louie and Laika felt right at home pulling us up snow covered hills with their harnesses. Obedience was fun. Since the snow added extra stress we mostly practiced distance recalls, Louie and Laika's favorite! And we got a bark out of Laika during protection. Here is a pic taken by Ginger (I kinda stole it...so I have to give proper credit!). Louie and I are on the far right and Laika and Eric are the second from the left. Isn't the land purdy?

Want me to introduce our friends? From left to right: Ginger and her best pal Summit, (E and L), Carla and her beloved "dork dog" James, Warren and his killer pup Rocky, Martin and his once and a lifetime dog Zadok, and then me and Lou. I have to give a shout out to Warren's wife who cooked us a warm meal for lunch. It was yummy.

Lou and Lake were bummed when we came home from Milton and there was no snow on the ground in Louisville. But winter is not over yet!

Get excited everyone...8 below comes out in about a week! A family movie about love, loyalty, and the Huskies' triumph over great adversity. A MUST SEE!!!! Something tells me that it is going to be really sad at parts, but the overall message should be inspiring.

Have a happy day!

Laika Center Stage!

*Sigh*

I love my dogs.

What about these puppy pics of my Laika? Awwwwwww.
Cynthia (Laika's first mommy), sent this pics to me today. Its been a stressful day and that email brought a big smile to my face.

One day I'll have to post some pics of Laika's daughters. They are cutie patooties :)

Don't be jealous Louie, you got center stage a couple of post ago.

Tomorrow is training day..YEAH!!!

If you are in the market for a puppy Husky, check out the "available pups" link at antiochsiberians.com.

Have a nice weekend, everyone.
B, E, L an L

Bad Mommy and Daddy

I told everyone that I would post a message chastizing Eric and I for our misdeeds. We were soooooo bad today! At the end of obedience class tonight we put the dogs in a down stay and walked about 100 feet away. When our friends Michelle and Robert walked up to recall their dogs, Eric and I said simultaneously, "Our dogs our going to get up."

I won't make excuses like "Michelle and Robert sound like us" or "Layla and Laika sound alike." We simply just did not trust our dogs. Bad, bad mommy and daddy.

What did Louie and Laika do when Michelle and Robert called their dogs? STAYED RIGHT THERE!!! I've never been so ashamed and so proud in my whole friggin' life. Martin got on us and we deserved every bit of it. We work hard with our dogs and they work hard with us and we shouldn't be surprised at their progress. We love you Rudy Roo and Shaka Baka!

We'll never doubt again. Never. Promise.

Peace.

Summit K-9

Louie would like everyone to check out his friend Summit's new website.

www.summitk-9.com

On this awesome webiste you can find out all about Summit and learn all kinds of cool things about the German Shepherd's Dog. There are also some cool pics of Summit, his mom and handler Ginger, and his "partners in crime" Caana and Jasper. You can also talk to Summit on his message board! F-U-N FUN!!!

Have a great day, everyone!

Mountain Climbing

In tracking on Saturday Eric, Louie, and Laika and I went on a great, but scary adventure. All of the handlers and their dogs went deep into the woods for this tracking exercise. It was kind of a "handler lost" scenario with a twist.

Louie and I went first. With a rope tied to a tree I repelled down a steep, almost vertical, ravine. Then I called Louie. He didn't give the assistant trainers too much trouble at the top...he started to sniff me out and traverse the ravine immediately. He took his time and seemed to be scared. But he kept on coming, making wise footing choices. He could smell me and knew that he would be okay because I wouldn't let any harm come to him. He spotted me and came right to me. Boy, was he glad that was over with! But I could tell he was proud of himself and that he gained 23,302 pounds of confidence. Most dogs would just turn away, fight, or do whatever it took to not go down that steep, muddy cliff. But not my Louie (or Laika either, as you will see). Stress agility has really taught him to swallow his fear and take care of himself. All he needed was his Mommy at the bottom telling him he was doing a great job! I was so proud!

Laika and Eric went right after us. Eric repelled down the ravine then called Laika to come find him. Laika was more hesitant at first. She still gets nervous when neither Eric and I are around. She put up a tad of a fight with the assistant trainers, but when she picked up Eric's scent she was OFF! She took her time but came right to Eric. She was so proud of herself...her face said it all. "I found you Daddy!" she said. "I braved the odds and succeeded!" I love her so much.

Other accomplishments in training this weekend: Laika completed the 14 foot A frame for the first time and Louie is now transitioning off the need for a collar! Seems like just yesterday he pulled and pulled on his collar to go chase squirrels. Now he'll listen to me and Eric with nothing around his neck at all. Amazing!

Well, have a nice day everyone!

Puppy Power!

I'm bored. So I'll post some puppy pics of my Lou. That green bed finally perished in a surprise attack launched by Louie and Laika's while we were out for the day a couple of weeks ago. Last time he slept in it he filled up the entire bed all curled up in a ball. I can't believe he was actually ever this little! My sister has some film pics of Louie the weekend we got him. I'll see if I can't find a way to scan them in. Makes me want a puppy REALLY bad :) What about you?

Helping Paws

Eric, my mom, and I have decided to train for the Derby mini-marathon in April. The training schedule is pretty tough. Its chilly and wet this winter...makes you just want to stay inside and cuddle with a book. Louie and Laika have been a great support! They love to go on runs with me, and because I know they love it I am more motivated than ever to get up and go. It is also a great training opportunity for them. The other day, Louie ran 3 miles with me, heeling, dragging his leash the entire way. I was so proud.
And jogging at the park with Laika is desensitizing her to “strangers.” Win win!

The pic of Laika was taken when she was a skinny new mommy. As many of you know, she is such a cow now! And I love every bit of her :) And the other is Rudy Roo as a curious little puppy. His sissy was just a fond memory when this shot was taken. How his life has changed (for the better) since then!

Everyone needs a dog...preferably two ...but one will do :)

What Santa Brought

Louie and Laika were spoiled rotten this Christmas! Sara baked them homemade peanut butter treats, Patti gave them a tin full of buscuits and Santa left them a stocking full of rawhide. Jan and Bob remembered their favorite treats of all...GREENIES!!! And, as you can see, they enjoy their treats in their new beds that my mom and dad got them. How cute :) Jan and Bob also decked Eric and I out in Husky gear (new t-shirts!). It was an adventuresome Christmas, alright. How thankful we are for our babies this holiday season. Laika's New Years Resolution is to stop being afraid of people and Louie's is to master the art of the "sit and down." Can't wait to see what the new year brings!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!
Love,
Louie, Laika, Brooke and Eric

Family Fun

Louie, Laika, and I had visitors last night. My family came over for pizza and Mexican train dominos (really to keep us company because we miss our Eric so). It was definitely an adventure for both dogs, in different ways. Louie was SO excited to have a house full of guests...he gave love to each and every person and then went back for more. Laika, on the other hand, ever reserved, is still quite nervous around people. My parents took a special interest in helping her warm up to them and took her on a leash where ever they went. She eventually let them love on her...a BIG accomplishment. She stayed in the living room while we ate our pizza and didn't slink off to the bedroom to hide. Looks like she's coming out of her shell. I want everyone to see the Laika we see, who is really just as excitable and loving as Louie. One day soon...
They were tuckered out after the visit...this is a shot of the aftermath. Now...where am I supposed to sleep, huh?

Lazy Days

Eric is in California on a business trip and Louie, Laika, and I are beside ourselves! We just don't know what to do without the fourth member of our team. We've been lazin' around the house missing him terribly. These are a couple of shots I snapped of the babies as I sat at my computer and worked. Yep...that bored. We miss you Eric! We hope you are having lots of fun in California. Tell everyone we said hello!
B, L, and L.

First Snow

They predicted 4-6 inches...but we got 1/2 inch and some slushy ice. It didn't matter much to Louie and Laika though! They absolutely LOVE cold slush...it brings out a passion in them that is amazing to watch. Kentucky summers are hard on them, but it all pays off on winter days like this. They played hard this morning kicking up on their back legs and boxing. They are so tuckered now that they are nestled all snug in their beds under the Christmas tree. I'm sure visions of dog biscuits and wrestling matches dance in their heads :)

I am definitely over-representing the snow we received last night by posting this picture of Louie. But this is quite possibly my favorite pic of Lou ever and can't help but post it now. This is from our snow storm last year...I call it King Louie Louie of the Snow Covered Driveway. Enjoy.

Keep warm.

"Thanks" for our friend Randy

Louie and Laika's "cousin" Randy is staying the Thanksgiving holiday with us. Louie is being a little bit of a bully, but Laika is watching out for her...as you can see in this picture. Watching the three of them is better than watching television. So much more drama...Happy Thanksgiving from L and L!!!

Puppy Love

Cynthia was going through her files the other day and came across this picture of Louie and Laika as puppies. Its not the clearest picture, but no fuzzy lens can obscure how adorable these puppies are. Enjoy.

Laika

Laika, Louie's littermate, came in to our lives unexpectedly about 2 months ago. The wonderful Cynthia Baker at Antioch Siberians chose Eric and I to give her baby to after Laika had some birth complications. We just couldn't pass up Louie's beautiful sister and happily welcomed her in to our home and our lives. Louie, Eric, and I couldn't have asked for a sweeter baby girl.

Get to know Laika:
Full Name: Laika Silver Mist of Antioch
Nicknames: Laika Baka, Shaka Laika, Sweetheart, Baby Girl
Fur Color: Silver and White
Eye Color: Blue
Age: 1 year, 8 months
Favorite Toy: Louie...no first or second runner up...just Louie.
Favorite Thing to Do: Cuddle, chase Louie
Cutest thing she does: Bows to Louie when she wants to play. She is so rarely giddy that seeing this side of her is always a pleasant surprise.
People she loves (other than Eric and I): Laika is still warming up to the people in our lives, but she sure does love everyone at training (Martin, Ginger, Carla, and Ang to name a few!)
Dogs she loves (other than Louie, of course!): Sketch and all her friends in training.
Favorite Place to Sleep: Either on the couch next to me, or in her bed on Eric's side of the bed.
Favorite outdoor activity: Chasing Louie, playing in the pool, and although I have yet to witness it, I'm sure she loves the snow too. I just have a hunch :)
Favorite training activity: Agility...and taking up for Louie in protection training

Louie

Louie was our first husky. We fell in love after seeing an adorable puppy pic of him online. We had to bring him home. We had a wonderful experience with his breeder, Cynthia Baker (www.antiochsiberians.com) and knew we would have a great dog. Boy, were we ever right!

Get to know Louie:
Full Name: King Louie Louie
Nicknames: Lou, Louie Lou, Rudy Roo, Lucifer
Fur Color: Red and White
Eye Color: Blue
Age: 1 year, 8 months
Favorite Toy: Laika...then his Kong.
Favorite Thing to Do: Wrestle with Laika
Cutest thing he does: When Louie walks quickly and with purpose, he looks just like a little pony :)
People he loves (other than Eric and I): Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Kayte and Uncle Zack, Aunt Leslie and Uncle Darrel, Aunt Devan, Sarah and Mike, all his people friends in training (Martin, Ginger, Carla, Angela, Travis), Al and Monica.
Dogs he loves (other than Laika, of course!): Sketch, Gizmo, and all his friends in training.
Favorite Place to Sleep: In bed w/Eric and I.
Favorite outdoor activity: Chasing Laika, playing in the pool, playing in the snow.
Favorite training activity: Obedience

Allow us to introduce ourselves...

Hello everyone,
Meet Louie and Laika, our 1 year old Siberian Huskies. These precious pups have filled our lives with an indescribable peace and happiness that must be shared.
So kick back, deny that you are procrastinating on the boss' dime, and have fun reading the Wonderful Adventures of Louie and Laika!!!