Finger Clicker

Not satisfied with the clicker hanging around my neck, getting tangled up in my clothes or in Lucky's toy, or as a wrist band, still always flailing around to get to it, I had John take one apart so I could see where to put the holes and insert an elastic band so I can wear it on my finger. The prototype looks like this, and it works great! I can still use my hand to do other things like reach in my pocket for treats, and still CLICK whenever you want to! Before I make up a bunch of them, though, or cut off the necklace loop, I'm going to use this one for awhile, make sure the elastic band doesn't cut off my circulation, etc.

Clicker, taken apart, poked,
and elastic sewn into a point for threading.

These are the clickers you get at PetSmart for $1.50 at the check out counter, which make a loud, crisp click. At this price I can make up half a dozen and lend them to my students.  I poked the holes thru the plastic with an old ice pick heated up at the tip, and sewed the flat elastic into a round point at the end so I could thread it through the round holes.

Units don't have to be disassembled to poke the holes, I just took one apart to see how much clearance is needed not to interfere with the metal plate.  They are simple little gadgets, ingenious!  I always wonder who designs these things and gets them manufactured in the first place.  In my next life I want to learn all about the manufacturing process.  They don't teach this in school.

Of course, no sooner than I invent something, I find out it's already been invented.  My friend Cheryl W. sent me this link to a similar product, but the reviews indicate they aren't that good (muffled click, too bulky, etc), so I think I'll stick with my makeshift version.  http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=K9X263

Okay, enough playing around.  I've got to get ready for dinner at my son Nathan's house tonight.  He's making us a roast in his new pressure cooker.  John is already over there working on an electrical problem.  All my agility friends are in Kiln, MS at a trial this weekend, which I'm missing because next Thursday John and I are leaving for Florida for a week and I don't want to be too exhausted to pack for our trip.  After that trip, it's going to be agility, agility, agility all year. That's the plan anyway.

Upwards and onward!

Agility Committee

Being an instructor apparently puts you on the Agility Committee, which I didn't automatically know!  Being on the Agility Committee automatically makes me feel more responsible for our field and equipment, not to mention our students, which has got me to thinking about the safety of our fence, and the ease of care of our field.

Yesterday I brought my neighbor Thom, the Fences Built guy, out to see our fence, which was damaged in Hurricane Gustav and has yet to be repaired.  We checked every square inch along the bottom for possible holes, found a huge one where the ditch drains the field and the soil keeps eroding, a 50' length of fence that is only 3 feet high, and several places where the fence is not attached to the poles any more or being pushed over by new growth trees.  Thom will give us an estimate on fixing all that, including using used materials he may have salvaged from other jobs.

While Thom and I examined the fence, John was on a laddar loping off the bushes and small trees that grow along the back side of the fence, creating some openings so we could throw our twigs and branches over the fence without them getting all tangled up.  With all the trees on the property, there is always tidying up to do and since we have no "yard maintenance", we have to do it ourselves.  I am hoping everyone in the club helps with this, but you know, it usually falls to a few devoted souls.

It was 37 degrees at Noon, so I took the opportunity to test my 4 layered "freezing weather teaching outfit", and it kept me warm.  In fact, after running Maxie and Lucky a few times, I had to peel off the windbreaker.  Nice!  Maxie was spot on, fast and focused.  Lucky was energetic so long as I was carrying/throwing her toy, but just trying to run the course with her, she became lethargic after the first run.  She followed my signals well, though, including some sophisticated moves, rear steering, and I'm not discouraged despite instructors telling me "Lucky isn't Maxie".  I remember when Maxie used to run half a course, then just sit down and refuse to move.  He had had enough.  I would have to go pick him up.  He still does that occasionally.
Upwards and onward!