Happy 7th Birthday Shane

Shane turned 7 today and normally he would be hitting his stride in the agility ring, but since his vision is bad, we only do agility for fun. He has developed a slight limp in his left front leg. Can't figure it out but it goes away when he gets warmed up. Probably arthritis. He now gets a massage at every dog show. Quite the pampered pup.

Here We Go 2013

Happy New Year!
2012 was an amazing year. Sweet Kimi came into our lives. Shane's eye degradation stabliized. Maggie got her MX MXJ, her PI Standard title, her PII Snooker title, and ended the year with her PII Gamblers title. She had her ups and downs, but in the end, she accomplished quite a lot this past year for a doggie who isn't really nuts about agility.

Not Too Shabby!

2013 will be about training Kimi and staying the course with Maggie. We are going to try some other venues to see if Maggie does better elsewhere. We've stayed mainly in one building for the entire year. We will travel a bit and experiment.

Shane may be done with agility entirely as his left front leg has developed some issues. We'll have to wait and see. He's quite a handful without some exercise.

Looking forward to the new year. Lots of possibilities and challenges ahead.

Dog Days of Summer 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maggie Loves Her Daddy

Frank has been gone on two business trips this month and it affects Maggie more than the other two. That's one of the reasons I don't travel much with her. She needs to come home and be with her Dad to recharge.

The sound of the garage door puts everyone in place. I hear the car trunk slam shut and then the door opens. Shane always hangs back but Kimi gets right in there for some rubs. Maggie is the one who cries.

Shane Still Has It

When Shane started having trouble with the 8 inch jumps, I came to the realization that his time on the agility field was probably coming to an end. We put all the bars on the ground and Shane blossomed again. He loves agility so much and it breaks my heart that he may not be able to do it much longer.

I asked Jeannie to tape us at class this week so I'd have something to remember. I get to enjoy Shane now rather than working to fix him. Although I didn't enjoy the nip I got at the end of the dog walk.



Shane can still weave like a champ and he loves the teeter.

Boom Boom Too

Another thunderstorm last night. Everyone sat with me watching TV without any drama. Granted the storm wasn't as noisy as the previous one, but I still consider it a win. Now the hurdle of getting dogs to potty in wet grass. So picky.

Cape Fear

Working on Kimi's fear of traffic this weekend. I purchased some sound files of garbage trucks and freeway traffic and played them while he ate his meals. He was a little skittish at first, but by Sunday night he gobbled his dinner down as usual. This morning during our walk, when he saw a truck, he went into a sit and watched it go by. Huge improvement. I use Look At That as well, but he is still too stressed to take the treat until the truck is out of site. 

We got to stop and greet our neighbor and her poodles today. Everyone did so great. Very proud.  

Maggie guards the side yard

Kimi guards the rear

Sweet Kimi

Maggie hides under the chair in my office

Boom Boom

The night before the 4th and the golf club set off their fireworks display. Caught me off guard. Maggie handled it like a pro. I played Boom Boom Treats with Shane and he was fine. Kimi had a panick attack and ran to hide under the bed. I tried everything to get him out. Nothing worked. Finally opened the jar that contains his food and made quite a racket with it. He appeared!  We went outside and played a bit. I think he's OK. For now.

Every Two Months

It's been two months since Maggie and I competed. Time sure flies. We acquired Kimi and I almost broke my foot in the hiatus.

Friday we all headed up to Belton. The first show in the domed arena and I didn't have a clue what to expect. It turned out to be a great event. The A/C was fabulous. The surface not so much. The 4/8 inch dogs ran and then my 12 inch group pitched a fit over the surface. I didn't know what was going on, so I was waiting at the gate to run as we were pretty close to the top of the list. Waiting. Waiting. What the hell is going on. Finally, an announcement. Run or don't run. We don't care. Man was the negative energy heavy around the ring. All because of a few people. Finally got to run, and Maggie was flying!  Blew the down side of the dog walk. People said she got it, but who knows. I do know that the Judge was pretty upset over the hubbub about the surface. In jumpers, I ran like an idiot trying not to trip on the ruts, so Maggie was pretty slow. We didn't Q in either run.

Kimi became a bit of an issue. He seemed so frightened to be outside. Not sure, but I think it was the sound of traffic. He suddenly became afraid of big trucks after hearing the garbage truck let out a very loud hiss. I also noticed that one of his canines was at a right angle to his mouth, just hanging there. A fellow sheltie lover tried to pull it out, but it was still attached. One more day he told me and it fell out that night.

Shane was great. I try to take him over the practice jumps a few times, but could never find a good spot. At one point, we were climbing the stairs in the arena, and he stopped at the top for a treat like he had just navigated a course. Too cute.

The surface on Saturday was much better. Maggie Q'd in Standard, but still too slow in Jumpers. Kimi got to visit with a lot of people, but I didn't make him go outside. Luckly, my day was short so he got home in plenty of time to potty. We have to work on this fear.

Sunday, I had very high hopes. Left Shane and Kimi home so I could concentrate on Maggie. Just one more Q for Maggie's MX and sure enough I blew it. I worried too much about getting into place for a front cross and she ran past a jump. Jumpers was painfully slow, but the course time was very generous. We Q'd with no points.

Two months until the next show. Maggie needs to lose a few pounds as do I. Kimi has to get over his fear of trucks. Busy summer ahead.

No More Knee Caps for You

At Shane's yearly exam, the vet found a cracked tooth, so Shane went in for a dental. Two cracked infected pre-molars were extracted. The vet said the stench was unbelievable. Poor Shane. No wonder  he was so cranky. Two weeks of Tramadol and he's been much better. We are weaning off right now so he doesn't end up in the Betty Ford Clinic.

So ironic that I was using the knee caps to keep their teeth clean and they ended up cracking two teeth. The vet tech said it's the most common extraction because they only need to catch the tooth just right and it shatters. Shelties have bad teeth anyway.

On another note, Shane made the most amazing weave pole entry last week in class. Such a shame we can't compete.

They Don't Call Me a Bitch for Nothing

Kimi is the easiest dog I have ever had. He has learned so much this week and is fitting right in. I had to hire a behaviorist to help me get Woody through our doggie door. Kimi learned to climb stairs, get up on the sofa, and use the bench to get up on the bed. He seems to be growing bigger every day.

Today he drove out from me to get his toy, brought it back to me, and dropped it at my feet. I've never had a dog that would do that. I had to teach Maggie to drop it and I have to pull it out of Shane's mouth. I am so excited about this puppy! I hope to keep him toy motivated, but he does go nuts for his treats.

Maggie had been growling at Kimi since we brought him home. Yesterday, Maggie was sitting next to me on the floor and Kimi came up to sniff her. She growled and then lunged at him. Kimi pulled back and Maggie has been fine ever since. Maggie still runs from him but does not growl. I guess she had to test him. Since that though Kimi and Shane have seemed to band together. Two guys against one gal. I guess that's why she's a bitch.

Weekend Off

Took a weekend off to do some home chores. Maggie and I went to a Show and Go Friday night to work on weave poles and she did great. So many things were different that I can't tell what was the primary factor. I had treats with me and I hadn't fed Maggie dinner. It was a one ring show so nothing else was going on. Dogs and people were very laid back. No judge was following us around. I wasn't as nervous.  Who knows.

We have a three day show coming up in San Antonio. I'm picking up our new puppy. So this was our last weekend of rest and relaxation. Enjoy it kids!  It's going to get busy.

2011 Wrap Up

Finally cleared out the ribbon board for 2011. Surprisingly most of the ribbons are Maggies. Shane had a few and those are his last. I'm finally OK with it. Shane would have been amazing, however we now celebrate Miss Maggie May. She will never achieve what Shane would have, but she has achieved much more than his actually did.

I'm really proud of Maggie May and excited about what we will achieve in 2012.

Wrapping Up 2011

Around this time of year, I get to make scrapbook pages for my agilty instructor showcasing the past year. The first time I had to do it, I thought it was a bit silly until I started to create my page. While I do not scrapbook normally, I found the process very satisfying. Gathering up brags for the entire year really show how far we have come as a team. Maggie hasn't been doing so well this fall, but when I saw all that we had accomplished, I felt very proud.

Click the Picture to View Full Size

I also found that Shane had achieved a title this past year, so I felt obligated to create a page for him as well. Since he is now retired, I also treated it as a tribute page since it will be his last scrapbook page. I found a picture of him back when he was barely 2 years old jumping 16 inches. He won a blue ribbon that weekend. I remember that run so clearly because he was just so fast.

Click the Picture to View Full Size

The text on Shane's page is a little hard to read, so I've included larger images.

 

Retired at 5 years old. What dreams I had for this little boy. I have cried buckets of tears. Trying very hard to understand the lesson.

After cleaning up poop in the middle of the night three times, I finally got that Shane needs to be escorted outside in the dark now. We used to have a great routine. He would bark to let me know he had to go outside. I would let him out, go to the bathroom myself, let him back in and then we would all go back to bed. Now I have to go outside with him to show him the stairs and wait for him to do his business in the dark. Poor baby is probably so scared. 

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving weekend was agility mania here in Central Texas. So many trials to choose from, but we decided to stay close to home and do AKC. My tryptophan stupor on Friday did not help us at all. I made a stupid mistake and ruined Maggie's JWW run and I do not even remember the STD run. Saturday we got a 1st Place Q in EXC A Std. Our jumpers run was clean but over time.

Sunday, Frank came with us and videotaped Maggie's JWW Qualifying run. We are still pokey, but she's coming along. She did come out of her shell a little be in STD long enough to blow the run. Several people commented on how much faster she is running. I guess I haven't noticed the change so much.

All-in-all it was a great weekend. I'm in it for the long haul, so we will just keep plugging away.

Maggie May Watching for Squirrels

On a sadder note, Shane had a hard time in class this past week. He stutter-stepped the tire on our first run and crashed into it on our second. He just barks at me instead of sending out to jumps and hesitates at tunnel entrances. I really think he only has a few more months of class left. His vision is deteriorating rapidly. We do agility fine in the back yard where he is familiar with the surroundings. I think he gets too nervous now in unfamiliar situations.

I Wish Glasses Would Help

Descent into Darkness Update

I noticed that Shane now touches his nose to the ottoman in the bedroom before he jumps up. Our bedroom lighting isn't very good, so I'm sure he has trouble seeing. I have to escort him into the bedroom to get past Maggie and her bone.

FINI

Today I retire yet another sheltie. This one is only 5 years old. I remember the excitement I felt when I first got him. This was going to be the one who would allow me to use all I had learned with my other two shelties who left me too soon from cancer. Maybe this time we would make it to the Masters ring. Maybe this time we could go to Nationals. Maybe.

Now sheltie only means heartbreak to me. I love the breed, but I cannot endure another heartbreak.

Band on the Run

Had to decide between Band on the Run and Evacuate the Dancefloor for the title and Wings won.

Labor Day weekend started out nicely. We went food shopping and then out to dinner and a concert. Sunday we woke with nothing on the agenda. I had been longing to go the the outlets in San Marcos and surprisingly Frank agreed to come along.

Sunday was really hot. We shopped a few stores looking for lamps and then decided to head home. Grabbed a bite on the way. I guided Frank over to the tollway so he could see where the F1 track was being built. The air was a bit hazy and I thought it was a dust storm from all the wind. Couldn't see much at the track, so we headed on home. (It was actually smoke from the Bastrop fire, which eventually got very close to the track.)

I got a call from a friend and while we were talking, a few other calls came in. I don't know how to use the call waiting feature and hate to interrupt the person to whom I'm talking, so I let it go. After we hang up, I let the dogs out and smell smoke. I turn on the TV to see what if anything is going on. There is a fire in Bastrop, which is pretty far away. Frank joins me just as the power goes out. I run in to turn off all my computer stuff. Decide to read the paper. Out of the blue, I ask Frank if we had to evacuate, what would he take? I'd take the dogs and the computers, and the home owner's insurance papers. (The calls were actually reverse 911 calls telling us to evacuate.)

I see the neighbors behind us packing up their cars. I look out the front and other neighbors are packing up their cars. Frank goes out back and the neighbors tell us we have to leave. I look towards the smoke and it looks like it is coming from the golf course, which is right behind us. Frank says, "looks like you get to put your plan into action." (Looking back, I wish my plan had involved packing a bag with clean underwear and toiletries.)

I grab the dogs and through them into the car. Grab harnesses and extra leashes. Run back into the house and umplug my hard drives and throw them into the back of the car. Run back and get my desktop and laptop. Get the insurance papers and my purse. I'm ready to go. Where is Frank? He comes down with his laptop in a bag. Let's go. (Didn't think to grab power cords so we could actually use the stuff we were bringing.)

We head down Quinlan and get in line with the other hundreds of people who are evacuating. I see nothing until we get to the elementary school near the entrace. You could see the flames shooting up in the air and people are stopping to watch. Not us. We keep on going.

Finally out on 620 and traffic is still slow. No one is allowed to go into Steiner. See many fire trucks rush by. Very impressed with the 1st responders.

We are almost out of gas, so we stop in Rudy's. People are actually in line to get their cars washed. Really? Gassed up, we head down 620 trying to figure out what to do. Decide to go to Chipotle to have dinner. They have a patio so the dogs sit with us. Williamson county sheriffs eating dinner too. I thought there was a fire in Cedar Park?
Now where do we go. I know there is a La Quinta in Cedar Park, but I'm sure 183 is closed because of that fire. We head to the La Quinta in the Arboretum and they have a room. So here we are checking into a La Quinta with two dogs and there is no dog show to go to.

It's Sunday night and I'm sure most places are closed. We have nothing. Frank goes out for supplies and returns with toothbrushes, tooth paste, shaving cream, and razors. Shave? You are going to shave? We are refugees. Refugees don't shave! No hair product though....

Monday, we wait until the 10 am press briefing to see if we can go home. Not today. So, we go out to buy clothes and food. Spend our time reading Facebook and Twitter posts while we take turns going into Target. Lots of information about what is happening.  One Steiner resident tweets, "Another night at the Westin." The Westin? Brother. Turns out they had to evacuate Steiner because the fire was near the only way out. The fire is not near our house. The power and gas are shut off to the entire subdivison. Got our refugee clothes, grab lunch at the CPK, and go back to the hotel.

See tweets about people needed to get back into Steiner Ranch to get their pets. If we had stayed out longer on Sunday, that would have been us. Although, I would have hiked into the woods to get my dogs out.

All cleaned up. A friend invites us to dinner. It was weird to see that the rest of Austin was just going about their business as usual. Heidi took a picture of us in our refugee clothes. (Also remember to put on some shoes when you evacuate. I still had on my slippers.)

Refugees

Tuesday, they said we could return home. Stopped at the store to get some food as ours would all  have to be thrown out and I wasn't sure if we would be able to leave once we got home. There was a line a few miles long waiting to get into Steiner. We make it home without seeing any signs of the fire. House is fine. Throw out all the food in the fridge. Hook all my computer stuff back up and everthing is as we had never left.
So I'm feeling a little like Forest Gump. Every where we go, we get involved in major disasters. In CA, we had earthquakes; in FL we had hurricanes, and now fire in TX. We also lost a Labor Day weekend to a hurricane in 2005. This time we spent two nights in a La Quinta with two dogs just like we were at a dog show, only there was no dog show. Maggie and Shane woke up each morning ready to go to the show, but we spent the day in the hotel instead. They are glad to be back home.

The Little Things

The other night I watched Shane go out to the backyard. There is a chair next to the first set of stairs and a sofa next to the second set of stairs. I watched him head for the chair and then turn to go down the first set, and then head for the sofa before going down the second set. He used to just run out. He seemed more deliberate this time and used the larger objects to clue him. Even when I escort him out, he follows the same path.

Last week in class, Shane jumped at 8 inches and looked pretty good. I set up a course at home so we could play and he refused a few jumps and even the weave poles a few times. We only have one more month of classes before we quit and I hope we make it to the end. I fear this week will be his last class.

Shane follows me everywhere now. He sits at my feet while we watch TV. He sleeps at my feet at night. He doesn't play with toys anymore. I looked up depression for dogs in my "Living with Blind Dogs" book and it seems to fit his behavior. Massage was the remedy and he hates to be touched. Great.

I felt a little sorry for myself this weekend and looked through old videos to see if I had one of Shane jumping when he was still at 16 inches. He looked so good. This video was from March 2008, when he was barely 2 years old. No sign of Early Takeoff yet.

Sunday was going to be a good day. We were watching the Belgium Grand Prix and then going to see Senna. There was a contest to show a picture of your dog watching the race, so I sent this photo. Made me smile. I had to wake him up for the photo and he went back to sleep right after.

Sunday. Spa. Shane.



Winding Down

Wednesday at class I decided to drop Shane to 8" jumps. He still knocked bars. He doesn't seem to see the targets. My instructor even said it looked like he was going to run into the stantions. I made the decision to stop taking Shane to classes at the end of September, if not sooner.

The greatest agility dog that never was.

Shane can still catch a frisbee. He can weave. He can still see tunnels. I plan to buy another tunnel and set up a course in the backyard of just tunnels and weaves for him. He'll still be doing agility, just not jumping.

I can't believe that he will never have another ribbon on my bulletin board. He's only five years old.

Maggie is my bright ray of hope now. She's not fast enough for NADAC or USDAA, so we'll stick to AKC for now. A friend captured our run at class this week. I've watched it a dozen times.