The Grunt Work....

Nuts

It crazy and it hard, when your dog grows old and with Nuts it has been a huge learning curve because he is the first dog, that I have been bless to have a bit longer time with. It is a blessing but it is also a lot of grunt work and sometimes. I worry am I being kind or am I being unfair? But as with most things in life you have to rely on 'your gut' feeling or intuition. I can watch for any physical tell tale signs, to see how he is feeling. I know him that well, from the tiniest crinkle in his ear to a tightening of the lips, to just how 'he seems'. Is his quality of life good enough? I like to think so and certainly hope so.

One of the best inventions I have some across and in many ways its simplicity itself (as brilliant ideas so often are) to help Nuts and me in our quest to maintain his strength in his muscles so that he can enjoy his 'bimbles' around, join in the fun and remain included.  It is the Active Balance Ultimate Wobble Board designed by Maria Johnston of Active Balance-Vetphysio.co.uk

The video shows a little session at the weekend, everyday we to a different exercise programme, the sessions are very short and sweet.

 

In the video you can see his him give his paw it has taken 6 months of physio to get him to be able to do this. I can confess my eyes were 'moist' when that happened. When we first started the cavalletti Nuts could not do it and now he is now stepping though and able to complete the exercise.  Another benefit is being able to take Nuts for short walk, when for many months this could not happen.

Nuts

It is all vital part of rebuilding and hopefully maintaining some co-ordination and awareness of his body. It has improved the messages going from his cerebrum to his muscles as the neurotransmitters learnt a new pathway or make reconnections. Having tuition with Maria really gave me the confidence to carry out the programme.

 

All these little improvements mean so much. In reality sure there is somethings Nuts cannot do, like the stairs. But we have learnt to lift his body so that it is safe for us and him. So I guess that it is why it is the grunt work, but really I guess it is more a labour of love....

Christmas is a coming.....



Play in the Snow - Zev and Bear

How I love Christmas and the lights and celebrations that the shortest day has been and gone. It's been a remarkable year and so many highs from Zev winning his second championship certificate, winning the medium pro-plan finals and several qualifying classes plus being a reserve for Team GB and England. Marc with Dixie winning her first championship certificate and qualifying for the semis. Marc with Mister Bigs having 2 wins and 2 seconds at the WAOs in Spain and coming second at a Olympia.  A fantastic achievement and with are so fortunate to have our journey with them.

Marc & Bigs fly the England flag - WAO 2013

Raz and Wings enjoy their retirement. Wings is happy with the telly and other pleasures whilst the grace of Raz as he continues to cope with his lack of sight is humbling.  

And with Nuts I feel very much like the fable of  'King Canute' who tried to hold back the tide.   I fight a constant battle against the ravages of time for Nuts with physio and food and anything else that means he has the best quality of time and life. With his ups and downs over the past two years I really do believe you know when it's time for them even if that time would never be right for me as it would always be far too soon.

Christine & with Rivi, Nuts and Zev 2013

Beautiful Bear is now over a year old, he is as cheeky as he irrepressible, terrific with all the guys and leads me a dance so merry that he constantly makes me smile. Then Beautyoli after such a brilliant start at Easter developed only what I can liken to as stage fright.  I had to pull her out of agility for 2013, which was incredibly disappointing.  As Marc said 'the genius of Rivi is destined to be unknown'.

So Christmas, we can celebrate and look forward to 2014 with excitement already as Big, Dixie and Zev have all been selected for the Team GB squad. (We did not try out for the WAOs for 2014.) Plus Zev and Dixie at in the Agility championship Classes at Crufts 2014. And as Bear watches fascinated by the ritual of us putting up the Christmas decorations and we think of the joy as he spends his first Christmas with us and Nuts magically spends his 13th.......

Happy holidays :):)

Distractions with Bear :)

Well BB or Beautiful Bear, is now 11 months of age. How his puppyhood is a source of entertainment and fun. He has the cutest cheeky personality, yesterday we enjoyed the beautiful autumnal weather and played around in the garden and bear was having fun with distraction training.  I was really pleased with watching this video back, as Bear has found the Rivioli a big distraction at times. But I have managed to turn it around by using a runaround with Rivi as a reward and worked at strenghtening our playing whether it with food or toys or both.

I am also amazed at Bear doing all the jump wings....the seeds of agility are sown. Lets hope ;) In Janary I plan to start his weaves and contact training, depending on the weather,  I know until the shortest day happens in December, the lack of daylight during the week will be an issue. But there is no rush and it means I can remain focussed on his fitness, co-ordination, general life skills and as all ways having a good time.

Then no escaping on video is there, I cued the recall and go past with the wrong leg!! Doh...

It is also just nice to have Nuts on video still enjoying himself and joining in :)

Pro Plan Masters Final....:) Medium Winners 2013

Wow. After a break of three weeks with no shows we had the ProPlan Masters Final to do. Marc had to pull Bigs from the Finals as he had a glute muscle sprain. Nothing serious but we would not to run one of our guys unless they are 100%. So this meant it was down to me and Zev. How did I get in the right mind set, the week leading up to the finals was less than ideal but heck that is par for course. Then I remembered a Daisy Peel tip to put together a play list of favourite agility runs. This sure did help in terms of getting to the show where the finals were being held. And starting to rekindle the 'game on' feeling.

We arrived and I breathed a sign of relief as they had in the finals and at the actual Bromsgrove Show the excellent aluminium rubber contacts. It makes such a difference I was really pleased as I knew that it would enable Zev to run at his optimum.  We ran a normal agility class and won that, would we be able to repeat the same in the finals.?.

We sure did :) what a fab feeling on what has already been an exceptional agility year. I keep watching the video and just enjoy seeing Zev and me having a great time...doing agility.

Diminutive Dixie wins her 1st CC - Aug 2013

The diminutive Dixie, who would have thought that Marc’s tiny powerhouse of a border collie who we reckon is one of the smallest ‘large’ dogs on the agility circuit in the UK would win a challenge certificate in championship during her first season at Grade 7.

But this is what happened at Wilton Champ show at Bank Holiday August 2013, it was one of those days where the flashes of so much promise all season, was delivered :)...

So looking forward to seeing Marc and Dixie run at Crufts 2014 :)