From bunny ears to a cone :( March 31, 2008

Well – Rowan came in the house from her am trip outside on Sunday am squinting……… I took her to the vet today. The vet took one look at her eye – stained it anyway – and told me what I feared – that she had something stuck in her eye ball. It looks like dirt the size of a pin head but it’s in there and not moving. The vet looked at me and more or less said… “I know you and I know you and your relationship with your dogs. I also know what you want to do with this dog – so I am sending you to the specialist. ” I don’t think she wanted to carry the guilt if something went wrong. (and I can’t blame her for that) I guess today is just an insane day in the world… A co-workers wife had to be taken to the hospital, Rowan’s eye, and my grandfather was taken to the hospital. ugh!

 

Tomorrow is the appointment with Dr. Cooley – she is very good but it costs a lot. But Lynn (Anna’s host mother) works there and she was able to get us an earlier appointment tomorrow – saving the emergency fees. I hope we can go to class on Wednesday – we will just have to see how it goes!

Happy Easter! March 23, 2008

This weekend – CPE L2/3 March 17, 2008

I had a fun but exhausting weekend at the Top Dog CPE trial. It is my home club and I was asked to be chief course builder. I really need to train some other folks to do that so I can work 1/2 days. I came home last night and went to bed until morning – 12 hours. But Elinda and Heather Leu were there and Dave and Jen came to visit so that was wonderful! I was glad that Elinda got to meet Dave and Jen – it brings parts of my life and very important people together for me. I had fun running Ariel. She was looking for mom all weekend but she did get through all the courses. One run should have been a Q but due to time set by the judge – it was not…. bummer cuz we worked hard for that.

Here are some videos from my runs this weekend. Rowan was quite fast… probably because I was confident in her abilities and these courses… I was not nervous. I went into the weekend wanting to work on speed.

This way one of my favorite runs – despite the teeter fly off… Elinda said that she hung on… but just not long enough. That is not a typical problem for us – I am not concerned.

The next run is jumpers – day end on Sunday. I was quite pleased with that run… she didn’t flatten out to get more speed and I am running faster now too! I never thought I could make it to the tunnel for the cross – but I did! I was commenting to the judge through the run. She had challenged me to layer the tunnel but I chickened out (which I told her while running) and then still made that cross (and I told her – “but I will do this!”) . I don’t have my time yet but I will edit this when I do. I am interested to see what her yps were.

The last video is of my friend Heather’s dog Sligo – her puppy in training. He wanted to be sure we knew he was there…. see how gently he taps that bowl? This is documentation for Diane.

I have two weeks off of trialing now but start my clicker class next week. That should be fun! I have to say that I am looking forward to a Saturday at home as much as I love to trial!

Round one – our Q March 11, 2008

Thank you to Suki for the video and wonderful editing – so high tech!

and the snooker that was not to be… don’t blink! I’m not sure how I thought I could out run her to turn off the jump after the triple that she could not take…. maybe someday that will work for me.

Long Time Coming… updates March 9, 2008

Well, There are many things to report and not much time to do that in… It is about 10pm on Sunday the 9th and I am feeling the loss of the hour sleep last night – especially when the clock went forward two hours and the alarm went off at 5:30 (3:30!)

Couple Things First:

1) Edi… now Dizzy D has a new home with my brother and she is just perfect. She has the best temperament of any Staffy that I have known. Great Dog… and it’s nice to have her close by.

2) Fitness challenge
6 weeks in now and I am feeling great! Down two sizes and almost 20 pounds from when I started the diet. I know I ran faster this weekend with Rowan as well! But – geesch – it takes up so much of my time… It’s where I want to spend my time right now but some things -like blogs- gotta give – sorry folks (Camille – you especially)

Now to the interesting stuff!

USDAA Trial number 2 update – in brief. I went to the WAG trial in Corvallis this past weekend. My Grandparents and Mom came to watch. It was wonderful to have them there… they had never seen me run or even met Rowan. I could hear my Grandmother cheering me through the weave poles – or the wiggle-waggles as she called them. What a hoot! There were three Staffords showing this weekend. I got to spend some time talking with Sarah with her girl Tess. And Suki and Richard were there with Stevie Ray. Go Staffords! I am not certain where I sit with the completion of my Starters Title – I believe am 1 Snooker leg away at this point. I also wanted try to qualify in Steeplechase and did!!! Suki has a video of the first round run and here is round two – the final.

Rowan represented the other three Staffords there this weekend in that run and did not disappoint with a second place finish! We won $23! I was very proud of her and happy with my handling. There are always places to improve… but what fun would it be if we all started out perfect??

Good night – More to come soon… like the shortest snooker run (for me) ever!