A Better Day

Thought I better get some snow pictures up before it's all gone! (dream on lady... :-)

Guinness after a romp in a warm day's snow.


Guinness & Bungee, so why are we stopping for this?


My Progress
Happy to report I've made good progress today. Was able to sit up & walk as soon as I woke up, still a bit slow but big progress. Actually got dressed in real clothes, (not lounge clothes), and walk around the house without any extreme pain or problems. Got brave enough to try some training from the floor. Guinness & Bungee being so thankful for that! I was able to get down to the floor voluntarily and up with a bit of help from nearby chairs & tables. Fed the dogs on my own, they don't take their bowls when they're full but for this very reason, they bring them when they're empty! Next I actually got so brave I took them outside, donning my snow boots with "Wintertrax" attached (springy things that fit the bottom of your shoe and that grip in ice), as I could see some ice in the lowest spots where water pooled up, and slowly but surely, did a decent poop clean up, necessary after a BIG melt like this past weekend - still +8 today :-) Forecast the same for the most of the week ~ WoW!

Poor Bored Doggies & A Good Chew
Right now Bungee is discovering a "Himalayan Dog Chew", for the 1st time. Click on the link to check them out (pictures & story). So far she seems to handle the occasional dairy products very well. These chews are sold as being from an ancient recipe used in Nepal to provide locals with a long-lasting snack they can gnaw on and keep pieces in their mouths while they labor. The information reports a Peace Corp worker in Nepal adopted an abandoned, teething puppy. With no "pet supplies" available locally, the adopter had to improvise for this puppy, and tried one of these traditional chews. It worked out so well he went on to found this company that makes them.

So it's like a 5 - 6 inch long hard stick, that I thought smelled more like beef than cheese but really it's quite a different smell than either and not at all objectionable. Apparently the dog will have to gnaw on it a long time to soften it enough to chew small bits off the edge. Eager to find snacks like this that could provide Bungee with some good calories & a bit of preoccupation at long day's trials, I decided to try one of these at home and see how she does.

I'd love to hear comments about what some of you give your dogs at trials (if anything) in this regard.

In the 1st 15 minutes Bungee has tried to push it under her bedding on 3 different sides of her crate, but either curiosity or aroma has convinced her to hold it in her mouth while she lays down in every different position she can think of. I'm hearing some chewing noises... I'll let you know how she does with it.

Guinness, on the other hand, is in his crate with the tried & true "Tartar Busters" we get at most any local pet supply. Both of the dogs love these, but I only had one and Guinness cannot handle dairy products at all. They produce congestion and diarrhea quickly with him.

What the dogs have most often is simple marrow bones that we get free or very low price at some of our local butchers shops or any grocery. We also have a huge supply of guaranteed all-natural, organic, (guaranteed chemical & poison-free), rawhide. One big order is plain, rolled, and the other is every manner of shape & size meats made in rawhide or dried, from the states. We brought the natural rawhide back with us from Florida last year. We've been hoarding it for the the dogs and handing it out in small doses on those rare occasions when we're out of bones.

Training
A disappointing subject the last few days with me laid up! I did a little shaping with each dog today, putting a new spin on an old trick. Bungee also discovered she can put her rings on her ring toss game 2 at a time - pretty cute. She's going for distance on that game now. She's very cute the way she pounces around excitedly while she does it. Going to give contacts from the slanted travel plank a try at supper-time, but just off the living room floor.

Classes & Entries are on hold for the moment. Dangit anyway.

Goals for the week
Now I'm trying to let all the meds wear off to evaluate just where I stand. That's not to say I won't take them again this week if it's still really bad, but I need to know we're at and hopefully convince my Dr. I'm ready for a prolo treatment sooner than later. I so want to get it going and get back to my regular life!

Right now the Dr. is considering letting me have a treatment as soon as Saturday, which is also the only day my husband can take me and since I will definitely need a driver, have to live with that. The Dr. 1st started out talking about a date week's away. ACK! I want to be fixed now! On the other hand... How romantic...a prolotherapy treatment for Valentine's Day :-)) Show me the love :-)

Well I'll leave you with that (not so) love-ly thought :-))

Happy Training...It's About Love!

What a difference a day makes

My week started out on a high note with the great fun Bungee & I had just had on our first little test at an agility trial.

Of course Tuesday brought the sad events of saying goodbye to such a great dog as Miss Gabby, and knowing the pain a very dear friend and her family were suffering with such a huge loss.

Little did I expect to have things go from bad to worse, but alas & woe, they did just that when I managed to sprain my back (sacroiliac) Thursday morning. Torn ligaments are not fun.

While I was occupied with excruciating pain & trying to do basic things like getting off the floor or get to the bathroom, I was also missing 4 highly anticipated agility classes in the first 48 hours of being "down". Thursday I missed my private daytime class with Sarah, Friday night we missed our Box Class workshop, Saturday I missed my private with Susan to work on Bungee's contacts, and Saturday afternoon I missed the group handling workshop Susan had put together for us.

It should be no surprise that as I was laying on the floor in sheer agony Thursday morning, the word that came to my mind started with "F". As I've known a lot of back trouble, I could tell by how it felt, this was a big one.

Guess I got into trouble trying to help with the snow blowing and operating the snow blower with my husband putting in such long hours at work. I've felt some little "tinges" of weakness over the last few weeks and ignored them, sort of not believing this could happen to me again after all the great ligament repairs I've had in the last couple of years and how well it all seemed to have worked. I knew I needed to get in for another Prolotherapy treatment too, but I have put it off. It's not exactly the most fun thing to do, but it does work amazingly well.

Well, now I'm looking forward to a day very soon when I'm improved enough to get to a treatment which is in downtown Toronto - about an hour & a half away.

Just goes to say - nothing ever stays the same for long. It's Sunday afternoon and this is the 1st I've really been able to sit up with my computer on my lap for any length of time and write. Probably mainly due to eating Tylenol III every 4 hours & this new analgesic pain creme called "Voltaren" that you rub on makes pain go away. The pharmacist even told my husband it's new on the Canadian market and originates in Finland. Something else to be thankful to the Finnish about!

If missing all our training & watching 2 very bored and worried doggies isn't enough, the weather turned up to be an astonishing 10 degrees yesterday! We lost 2 feet of snow, and there was a giant ice festival in Barrie on Lake Simcoe that a bunch of my friends were at doing cool things with the dogs. Today it's still above zero and has been sunny & gorgeous.
It's nice to look out on : -) Maybe we'll have an early spring.

Our thoughts & prayers continue to be with Sarah & Brent and the Mairs family over the loss of their beautiful Gabby. It's a terrible time to endure and our heart goes out to them. We miss her so much too. I don't think you ever stop missing loved ones, you just get used to living with it I suppose. Back aches are way better anyday, though I'm happy to be able to walk to the bathroom again instead of having to crawl! I'll be even happier to be running my dog again - at least a few weeks on that one however.

Happy Training, It's About Love!

Tamsu's Special Angel "Gabby"

"Gabby" proudly enjoying the "after-glow" with her 2008 National's Championship 1st Place Victory Cup on P.E.I.

Hi,

Just a note to let you all know that Sarah's beautiful Gabby passed on this morning. Our agility world has said goodbye to a truly great one this time. We were all so much the richer for time she spent with us and the way she loved us all. So many tears today - not just in losing a friend, but also in tribute to the remarkable dog Gabby was and will always be. She inspired me in this sport from the first moment I saw her run. She was truly a little Golden ray of sunshine I will remember with great affection, admiration and love, always. I'm sure Sarah will be in touch in due time. Please feel free to pass the news along to Sarah's friends that I have missed, particularly in the flyball community as I have very few addresses there. Clara, Cathy, Sue, Lucie, Susan, Lynda - could you please pass along the news about Gabby to the team alumni past/present, and judges group, etc.

Our most heartfelt condolences to Sarah, Brent, Jeanette, John, & Cynthia.
May God Bless and Keep Gabby in His perfect care.

Remembering Gabby:



As ever...Happy Training! Enjoy & celebrate your dogs every day of the process and every run as fun. It all goes by much too fast. We should not wait to the end to realize that it really Is About Love!

Yours very truly,
Gail

What is Qualifying?

Among all the congratulations & great messages Bungee & I have received since I posted the video & results from her 1st trial, was the question: "What is qualifying?"

This question is in regards to Bungee's trial results Sunday where she earned "2nd place with a qualifying score" in her 1st Starter Jumpers round.

Note: Qualifying in No. America is often referred to as a "Q"

What qualifying means is that a competitor must earn a set number of qualifying scores (Q's) in any particular class in order to earn a title in that class and move up to the next level, and eventually earn their agility championship.

But, one need NOT win in order to earn a Q, a title, or move up in class. To earn a Q one only needs to "run clean" with no faults, within the standard course time.

Here in Canada and also in the U.S., our agility systems are described as "Q-based systems" vs. U.K./EU's "win systems". The Q-based system is also sometime referred to as a "title system" or "titling system".

Bungee earned 2nd place because she was the 2nd fastest dog in her height division in the Starter Jumpers class. In Bungee's case she was the 2nd fastest dog out of all the dogs in all the height divisions (the whole class :-))).

However so long as she did not "E" or "DQ" (eliminated or disqualified) she could have had 7,000 faults and still earned 2nd place as placements are made according to time!

So, when one looks at the rest of the world, and compares Canada and the U.S., where you can earn a 1st place and not have the best run or win, it's clearly a crazy thing!

Here, one can place and not qualify, or qualify and not place, or in Bungee's case - do both, place and qualify! But only the Q's count toward titles - not the wins and not the placements!

OK...the bit about 7,000 faults, is a big exaggeration, but a dog could have a lot of faults and as long as they didn't E or DQ they'd still be marked in placement order according to their time.

Many competitors train to be very competitive and always play to win with both fastest time and clean rounds. This is the way I like to play agility.

Others just want to be clean and run within the allowed time, (often quite generous time at that) basically playing it safe, so they can get their dogs the titles they are after and the ribbons that go with it. It's actually a big divide within the organization in some discussions that come up, but the titles & ribbons crowd probably outnumbers the "play to win" crowd by a lot. I have friends across the board and am just happy to see so many people out enjoying their dogs in the sport. My own opinion is there is plenty of room for all of us.

One of the biggest differences between a Q based system versus a win system is the way many of the handlers choose to play the game. Handlers can choose to hold back & play it safe and never really run a fast dog and still earn agility championships, or they can play to win and really push themselves to keep bettering their best. In my mind there is a 3rd area of teams who run "non-typical" agility breeds such as Bulldogs, Basset Hounds, or dogs not typically built or bred for agility or speed or who cover ground much differently. Our organization allows room for them to play too. It is no easy to task training some of these dogs to be skilled and competitive enough to earn titles. I really see these folks in a bit of a class by themselves with lots to be proud about. I'm glad our organization makes room for them too as some of them are our best friends. All in all, you see plenty of handlers who manage to earn championships in spite of their skills or speed, while others earn every Q they get because of their skills and speed. As the sport evolves here in Canada so does the competition.

National champions & Regional champions are quite a different situation, they are winning with the best runs all the way to the podium at each event and those are very prestigious wins, as they should be.

But regular titles are earned by Q's. In a Q-based or titling system, all you get out of having the fastest time is your own personal satisfaction, the fun of competing at the top of the game in your own backyard, and of course, leaving the door open to be competitive in agility at the national level or in other places too. While running "clean" (not making mistakes) is what gets you your Q's & titles. Quite a big difference to a win system.

Our regular, local, A.A.C. trials average cost to enter is about $17.00-$17.50 a run. C.K.C. is more expensive at $25.00 a run. Regionals & Nationals are a lump sum figure about $125.00+ per dog. Regular trials are almost always 2 days and some time 3 days. With all the standard, games & steeplechase & challenge courses in any given day (maybe 8 - 12 classes a day or more if there are 2 rings going), it's easy to rack up hugely expensive entries for just one dog, much less if you run 2 or 3.

That may have something to do with people wanting to play it safe and get those Q's!
Add to that, we don't have clubs in this area anymore, so training is never free either. You pay per training session or set of classes and the prices are pretty dear. Not as bad as Japan but still, it all adds up way too fast!

Hope this helps explain what qualifying is and a little bit about how we play here in Canada.


Special thoughts & prayers go out to our own dear little National Champion friend, Gabby!
God Bless Sarah & Gabby tonight.


Happy Training....It's About Love!

Bungee's 1st Trial

There were a few ways to handle the start, I was the only one in the entire class to chose a Lead-out Pivot, (LOP), partially because it's starters, but even the few who might consider trying LOP's on some courses opted against due to the perceived "risk" with the chute at the start. I had no such feelings.

On the contrary - we've waited a long time for this day, so why start our career compromising on all the good training we do? That said however, good thing we video, I did not realize how much I was leaning, and even stepped out to the side - yikes! Note taken... I didn't need to talk to Bungee as much as I did as she stayed on her line nicely. Her focus was GREAT right from the start. When we first arrived I wasn't so sure what would happen, as she was focused - but on only one thing - what was happening on course! However when it was her turn to run, she was ready to go and just as focused on me.

The DH thinks she's slow off the start and takes her speed after the 1st obstacle. He may have something there. We have done an awful lot of control work to have a good start line. So, there's definitely some work to do there to get blasting off, as we can't have that! The judge thought I was "holding back" a bit...I do tend to manage her FC's a bit. Of course we lost time at the crooked line out of the chute, and the head checking with my poorly timed rear cross to the finish line. But, I told you we needed more work on Rear Crosses. But didn't she recover on that LOP beautifully? I was thrilled with Bungee and I had so much fun too!

I was really happy that the course was as tight as it was, taking up only half the field. Most of the Starter Jumpers courses I've been on or seen were 15 - 18 obstacles spread out to the whole field. Those big wide gaps make them very hard to get a fast dog around if it's not really strong on driving a line, unfortunately when they are they are often weak on turning. Bungee turns very well and is improving on driving a line all the time. All will come in it's own time. But this was about the nicest paced starter jumpers course I've seen. We're both very proud of young Princesse Bungee.

We also want to thank our friends who stuck around to the last run of the weekend to see her 1st run, and our friends who made a special trip over just to cheer us on! We are so blessed with good friends in the dogs and a marvelous agility community to play in. Thank you all so much! It meant a lot to us to have you there! I couldn't imagine a nicer way to come back to the game myself! Many thanks.

Happy Training...It's About Love!

Bungee Gets to Play!

At last, Bungee gets to have some fun in agility trials. She was qualified to enter at 18 months, which was Jan. 13th, but her 1st run is TODAY!!!!!!!!! HOOORAH!!!!!

We both can't wait, especially me! I went to the trial (Rat Pack) yesterday and had the honor of running our friend, Cutter, in Advanced Jumpers. I have to tell you I can not remember when I've had so much fun! It was just a gas! Cutter ran beautifully for me, and I was quickly informed I ran beautiful for him. Cutter's time was 6.3 yps so I may have slowed him down a bit when I was a little bit in his way on a FC after a 270, and it cost the poor guy a bar, but the rest of the run went brilliantly. I had so much fun, I can't even describe it. I had forgotten what's it like to be out there. I drove home (through the same blizzard I drove down to the trial in - ugh!), went to bed and woke up with a huge grin.

We're eager to get going today! Bungee's entered in a single Starter Jumpers run, which is the last run of the day today. We're not ready for standard courses yet (contacts). I'd love to put her in a steeplechase but it always has a frame, and we're not quite there yet. No matter the outcome I know we're going to have a blast, but I'll let you know how it goes.

Other than that everything is going along about the same. Winter is raging on, trips to clean up after the dogs & empty the pooper scooper are now wading through snow to my thighs. Snowshoes are a regular way to get around the property & neighborhood now. But thanks to Sarah we have been training 4 and 5 days a week and been able to really work on handling. Susan is also back from Florida, sort of - guess she's in the states somewhere for the weekend. But, she has some awesome work planned for next weekend that Bungee and I are going to join in on, and maybe Sarah too if Gabby's condition allows and there is still room. Much as I'd like to be enjoying the Florida tropics, I'm really happy we're staying home to get all this great work in for Bungee.

Susan Garrett has been blogging away with posts I've really been enjoying. Click on the link at her name to check it out. But I find myself reading more than writing. I've added Facebook to our internet stops. I found Tomi but he looked so business-like I felt it was one of those "must-do" work things which he probably despises having to have (just like my DH) and best to leave him alone until he shows up in a track suit with a dog on leash! Meanwhile we'd love to have Mia & Helena & Mona join us over there!!!! (hint hint!!!) I think what was once largely a dating forum is now dog city!!! You've got to join us there!!! WE'VE GOT HIGH SPEED AGAIN AS OF THIS WEEK!!!!!!!! HOOORAHH!!! (wow 2 hoorah's in 1 week). I upgraded to the new iLife suite (iPhoto, iMovie & Garage Band) over a week ago, I'm still doing the tutorials but mainly to understand the new features. The transition will otherwise be seamless (and gotta' love a Mac - painless too!) Ok I'm getting antzy & excited about getting to the trial, can't sit here any longer! Best get ready & go. :-))) Wish us luck! I'll keep you posted.

Sending out special wishes & prayers to the very, very special, Gabby, please join me in keeping her in your thoughts & prayers too.

Happy Training, hugs to Aino & Elvis and all their babies!!!!
and always remember.... It's About Love!