{09aug2010: Dane Outreach}

Our local Dane rescue group, Dane Outreach, had their annual Great Dane Education Day and we were able to get out there this year.  Some of our Dane friends from Marymoor were at the event.  And we got to meet Lindsay, Bess and Heffner's mom, who made the drive up from Oregon with Bess to do a couple demonstrations too!
{Bess & Lindsay and our Marymoor friends, Hank Ali & Parker}
 
There were a bunch of presentations varying from training, choosing a pup, emergency kits,  agility, and Lindsay did a great presentation on ball exercises and core work outs for Danes.  It was so cool!
Right before the agility demo we headed outside with Darwin to give her some space and let her stretch her legs a bit.  While we were out there our friends Hank and Parker came over and Darwin and Hank got some play time in.
 
 
Seeing Darwin and Hank play reminded us of when Darwin was a tiny pup and was playing with Hank at Marymoor.  I remember thinking how big Hank and Parker seemed compared to 4.5month old Darwin, and now she's almost as big as them (ok, they will always be big boys compared to her, but there's no way she can sit on Hank anymore).
 

 
 
   
Lindsay took Bess through the agility course which was fun to watch.  Darwin didn't like when Bess would jump through the tire or crawl through the tunnel and kept barking whenever it happened. 
   
   
   
  
The best part of the event was when Lindsay showed off her ball exercises with Bess.  So cool!
  
  
Ok, that's not a ball, but it is an inflatable air mattress that does require some balancing.  Before the demo, I got Darwin to take a few steps on it too!
Lindsay started with a flat inflatable disk...
  
And then added a block for more balancing. 

Then she swapped out the block for another disc.

Next was a big pill shaped ball.

And then the grand finale, was a giant round ball that she got Bess to stand on!


   
   
So cool!  Before we had gotten to the event I was telling Jason what Lindsay was going to be showing, and he totally didn't believe me, saying "I'll believe it when I see it."  By the end of the demo he was very impressed.  Now I want to go out and find a flat disc to exercise Darwin with!
Lindsay has videos on their blog showing her train Bess and Heff to use the balls.  If you haven't seen them before it's totally worth it to watch.  I mean how often do you see giant dogs on giant inflatable balls?!