Huge congrats

Quest July 2011

So proud that Quest with Sian won a jumping and an agility at Tuffley show, Chi with Margaret had an unlucky failed timing on a good jumping run at a different show, in the re-run sadly took poles. But later in the day they won a 1-7 agility taking them both into grade 5 a week apart. They really are both maturing into good partnerships. Hugs to both xx

How long since I blogged whoooops. :-)

An evening walk after the Packington show with friends.

Where would you rather be?

Above = Newbury or below Norfolk picture taken on the same day, Newbury was sent to me by friends on FB after I sent them this picture, what a difference a few miles make lol.

Axstane after the thunder storm.

Cruz

Meme

Thank you to Roy & Jill Mathews for the videos. Thank you Charlee Macneil for the pictures

I have been to a show every weekend, Meme is holding her own in grade 5 even has a 3rd place trophy in jumping. Cruz has been much better with his approach to the DW but now has decided to stride the down contact!!!!!BUT i'm happy with his confidence and i'm sure with rubber surface being hired by many shows it has helped him alot. I hope it becomes a thing of the past running over gloss paint. I have now changed my blog name, I have somebody to show you all next week. :-) can't wait.

Eastbourne DTC

It was very strange going to Eastbourne with all my dogs, but only competing with Cruz. Meme had won into Grade 5 and missed this 1-4 show by two days. Cruz worked brilliantly, only a pole in his jumping and a see saw 5 in his agility. He went clear in this truly fun helter-skelter and ended up 4th out of 298 dogs. My husband pointed out I'm only running around in a circle! but this course was clever and did get many handlers E's. The first circle was inside the second was outside, the third was a half circle, great fun to run. I also ran a friends collie in this class who was doing stunning run until my shorts decided they would look better down at my knees, not pleasant for people lol! in between queuing the dog and holding my dignity I lost her on the last pull off over an off course jump, totally my shorts fault, hehe but dignity kept.

Well done Ian

Another place wahooo :-)

Easter @ WBSDs

Caroline and I set off on Thursday, We arrived after lunch and set up our camping area with a nice size garden for the dogs. Helped set up the rings and then put out Caroline's course for the Friday.

FRIDAY: It was really strange to not start till the afternoon, we got up in the morning fed the dogs, had showers, breakfast and then walked the dogs, put the numbers on her course went to a lovely sit down buffet lunch for the judge, ring manger (me) and scrime sue. Walked the dogs again just before the show was up and running, downside of starting late was to get through

285 dogs over 3 course changes and 7 height changes, with walking allowed between. :-(

A few dogs holding up the ring choosing to use it as their toilet ahhhhh!!! also as it was so hot instead of starting to get ready for the line while the dog in front is on the course, they waited, walked into the ring, take off their sun glasses, dogs cooler coat, lead, all while the poor judge is standing waiting? bring in a whistle with a time ltd hehe...We were all very tired that night.

My little dogs did me proud Meme 4th in agility and 3rd in jumping, Cruz 4th in jumping.

Saturday: I was seeing in Car's for the day parking. Well done to most who stuck to 5mph. Come on you offenders 5 mph is for safety reasons, can't believe a caravan was faster than poor Michelle on her bike who was having a job to keep up with him, (he clearly did not see her) she told him to slow down and that she had a job to catch him, get this... his answer to her was your on a bike??????? 5MPH is WALKING SPEED!!!!!!! moan over....

Another really hot day, now up to 6 rings. Had a few courses to walk. Meme came 4th in agility and clear round in jumping, Cruz 1st in the ABC 1-4 com jumping wahoo he set off like a rocket it was a very fast flowing course just what he needed, Meme was faster over the same course but had a pole down as you can see in the picture. Thank you Alan Score for the brilliant pictures

Onto Sunday:

Another tiring early start, first up to run was a very tricky 4-5 jumping course, I really enjoyed the challenge of it, was really pleased as Meme came 1st she worked stunning. Cruz our bungee broke and I lost him out of the tunnel over an off course jump but really pleased with his gear shift up.

I also had our ABC Q, sadly I did not go clear but was really chuffed how all three worked, Kane I lost over a jump after getting all his contacts! Meme and Cruz have showed me more training is needed on a weave entry. The last class of the day was G 4 agility I walked the course then went and worked on score boarding on another ring, Cruz was up to run he did it really well as you know I struggle with him sometimes with a dog walk, think its really helping as again at this show was rubber contacts, he zoomed over with no hesitation into 5th place, they are now calling to the end of the class, Caroline kindly queued while I went to collect Meme, by now most of the rings were packed away which I could make use of the ground around to warm her up put still watch the course.

I knew I wanted to push Meme round and boy did she work her little legs of, we WON taking over 2 seconds of the 2nd place. My little girl is now grade 5, as strange as it sounds it still feels better winning the two to move up.

Result summary:

Meme 2 x 1st, 3rd, 2x 4th and 5x BEST BSD in the class.

Cruz 1st, 4th and 6th 2x BEST BSD in the class

Felt a bit like a headless chicken at this show with working, running the dogs, looking after a very pregnant Wish and trying to keep Inca fit but quiet. All in all had a fab time and well done to all my friends who did well at the show. Back home at 10pm knackered.

Spring news.

Firstly Happy 15th Birthday to Sunniday agility club, the two fabulous cakes were made by Phillipa and Lin. Lin and her team put on a club show, followed by club presentations for the 2010 season. I helped in the morning and got to run Kane, Meme and Cruz in the steeple chase in the afternoon. Kane came 1st and Meme 3rd not far off her dads time :-)

The sun was out, the day was just brilliant.

Human cake

Doggie cake.

I was reduced to tears when Lin called Inca's name for best grade 5-6 dog, his last rosette.... More tears with Wish winning the best small dog.

The following weekend it was my first camping KC show Spring @ Shuttleworth, hosted by the BSDA of GB, as a member of the BSDA Caroline and I arrived on Thursday to help with behind the scenes, not sure people realize how much work goes into these shows for their blast around a course with their pooches.

I was very tired Friday night, the show had 11 rings to be built, I was ring manger all day on Saturday, what really gets to me is the number of people who put their name down to help to get better camping and they never show their face at the ring. So pleased for friends who was not down to help, but put in the work just to keep the ring running, u know who u are THANKS.

My results for the weekend.

Kane won the combined 1-7 BSD agility class, 4th in the ABC 1-7 agility

Meme handled by Tanya King 2nd in the BSD 1-7 jumping

Cruz 2nd grade 4 jumping, 9th G4 agility, 10th ABC 1-7 Helter skelter and 11th ABC 1-7 agility.

Kane was also presented with best BSD runner up for 2010 show.

This picture is my little princess Wish on her new elephant bed, I hope to share some exciting news with you all soon :-)

Once again my heart is broken

17/02/01 - 02/03/11

My sweet princess Dollar is now at rainbow bridge.

She started being sick on and off from about Sept last year, we were at the vets many times. She was given stomach lining fluids which seemed to help her cope with what ever was going on. I changed her diet back to raw meat to remove all wheat from her system in case it was this.

This last month she began to change in herself, not wanting to go for our usual walks, lack of appetite, her coat looked different and her breath was very bad. Back to the vets again we went, she had lost a little weight but not to much to be concerned about. We had full bloods done which mostly came back normal apart from protein which was a little low.

I thought she may have some foreign body in her stomach as she did vomit up an old latex toy/glove in August.

The vet and I decided the next stage would be to have Xrays and scans to see if anything would show up. She was supposed to come home the same night but had a very bad turn for the worse had to stay in over night, she looked so weak, what was taking the life out my little girl? this was all I could think that night.

On the Xrays and scans showed a thickening in her stomach and intestine, it was decided as she was stronger after her night on the drip my vet opened her up to see what was going on and take biopsies from four areas. She came round well from the operation, the vet called us to collect her at 7pm that night, but after we arrived and she greeted us she collapsed on my lap, again she went rapidly down hill. I thought she was gone at one point, its was awful to see her in this way, but we had to give her a chance, again she stayed in on a drip overnight.

The next morning my vet rang to say after his initial fright that she looked like she had gone, she stood up and looked for breakfast.

I collected her later that day, medicines and special high cal food. That night was very bad she kept crying out, I questioned myself, what I have put her through but then thought what if its nothing much and is found to be treatable. The vet had already said he was unable to remove this affected part as it was so low down in the stomach.

We had a five day wait for the results, bless her she had to have her back feet bandaged as she was ripping at her wound, I had to syringe food into her month as she just did not want to eat. She would go into the garden and just stare. My heart was aching so much, what do I do, do I wait, do I already really know the out come is not good, but I was hoping that I was wrong. I did struggle to watch my little princess fade before my eyes. She seemed not to have any fight for what was going on with her.

The results came on Wednesday, Gastric Carcinoma in three out of the four areas. Vet confirmed it would be days.

I needed to digest this before I could make the only decision that knew had to be made, I said I would ring that afternoon.

I removed her pink badges from her back feet, put all the dogs in the van with her and went for our last outing together. She was so weak, we only manged a little plod, but the sky was blue, the sun was shinning, the birds were singing, I knew it was time to let her find peace and be out of pain.

Having seen my sister die so slowly over several weeks, giving an animal rest always seems to give me comfort knowing that that animal is no longer suffering, it is the last kind thing I can do.

I will still questioned myself was it right what she went through, but know she is at peace now.

Love and miss you so much my gentle little princess. Run free at rainbow bridge with your friends. xx