The weather outside is frightful ....

freezing, icy, snowy

in short wild


The dogs are generally curling up and snoozing the winter away - every once in a while they get a little squirrelly - especially Yen and Dora - but a few laps banking off the bed or couch and a little brain work in the tv room seems to settle them quickly again.

It's only the end of January. I work outside virtually every day.


Sigh.

On a new, not my, computer so no cute pictures to share except

Happy Chinese New Year!

Staying True to You, and You, and Even You too ...

Usually sometime around now I  do  a goal setting post- and I'll get there someday rest assured.

But indulge me.

If I could wish one thing for you and your animal friends dogs for 2014 it would be this: be true to yourselves.

I've been warned - Harri will likely be a three project if I insist on doing it my way.
I do. I'll report in 2017!

Love reading? Training? Clinics? Showing? Learning? Talking about all of these things? Watching other people? ME TOO!

Thea - the best teacher for this possible 

What I have never understood is the piece meal approach - you do any one thing and try just a little of what you many not understand well. You do a half assed job because you never got it or you didn't like it but you still changed something central to you.

I have watched my friends become confused, unsure, unhappy as they try to fit themselves into a  trainer's mold.

so true to himself he's been a good model for this concept

You can do ALL THE THINGS and still stay true to your core values. If you try it and it feels weird - that's ok - it may be pushing you out of your comfort zone - and that can be a good thing. But if it has you doing things that are destructive to your own sense of self, or to your sense of partnership or that you think will impact negatively on your partner. STOP. THINK. And perhaps take a break or walk away.

All better and looking forward to pushing my limits soon!

When you find someone who works with you - allows you to be you even as they frame, guide and inspire you embrace them and know you are lucky. SO LUCKY. Celebrate.

Celebrate the mania!

So very grateful to Maxine, Renee (happy birthday lady!), Webb and Denise in dog sports and Laurie and Nicole in horse sports for letting me puzzle through how to be me and get with and stay with their programs.

the Best Christmas Gift

But first a little back story : Sally's results came back lousy ... really lousy - liver values off the charts (numbers in the THOUSANDS that should have been in the tens kind of lousy); positive for Lyme disease; and extreme pancreas numbers too ....pretty shocking she was able to stand let alone eat anything. Such a Sally thing to be so stoic ... so silly!

I promised her a long long time ago that she would never have anything painfully invasive done if there was no point and that as best as I was able she would never be left at a vets overnight. So with this broad ranging, difficult no matter how you looked at it medley of issues I kept her home and started networking for ultrasound possibilities.  I went back to square one with meals, tiny frequent home prepared food - chicken, fish and sweet potato. She had anti-nausea, pain and antibiotic medications. She would be fevered, then frozen. She was eating because I asked her to  not because of any desire. I found myself staring at her for hours wishing my magic wand worked better. She slept and slept. Ignored everything.

Then we had a three day power failure. She was still critically ill but thanks to the awesome Big T and a great wood stove we kept her warm and fed. 

We spent much of yesterday away from home helping people de-ice as best as we could. We got home and Sally was up. Barking. She brought me chunks of ice to throw. She PLAYED with Dora and Yen.  This morning she mooched at our Christmas breakfast. They were ecstatic; we are beyond happy.  

She's not one hundred percent, in fact I am worried about saying she's out of the woods even but there is hope in the house again. Joy has returned in one Sally shaped package and for that we are so very very grateful.

Have a great holiday doing what floats your boat; cherish memories and love the ones you are with! Peace!

sleep baby sleep ....

pain meds, antibiotics and home cooking the order of the day here

nurse maid Yen rarely leaves Sally's side by choice

trying to find someone who can do an ultrasound

waiting for more results

staring at Sally longing for her to be ok - wishing so badly for a magic wand

This. I. Hate.

Sally is sick.

Think good thoughts. She was terribly ill Friday - but it seemed to be a typical, if a little severe, "episode". She seemed quite recovered today - bright, wagging, counter surfing, eating but tonight whatever has flared right back up again. Episodes don't happen in this pattern - or at least never had until now. 

Do you have what it takes?

You want to go far in your chosen sport?

No weekend warrior stuff for you?

Top of the game is your goal?

You are going to need deep pockets (or generous sponsors), lots of time and talent (as well as talented partners in both horse and dog sport land). But without character, work ethic and soundness - ideally in both of you - you might as well stay home and play for fun. Not that I think there is anything wrong with that - it's what I aspire to after all!

Actually understanding your team's character, work ethic and soundness will make even occasional competing and training much more enjoyable for the human partner. (I can but hope, by default, for the animal partner as well.)

More thinking ... I know... apologies


Character

That magical combination of traits and personality that can create a winning team. Or perhaps that magical combo that doesn't quite have what it takes. Tough to realize one of you, or both doesn't have the resilience or ability to work through stress that is needed for the level you aspire to but perhaps better to give it due consideration now and adjust the plan? Find a new definition of success and accomplishment and you may feel better about yourself and have just as much fun.

Work Ethic 

Some of us < cough > Sally < cough > have work ethics that are nothing short of cuckoo admirable. Sore, distracted, unhappy, hungry, thirsty? No problem - the work itself is so intrinsically rewarding that the passion to do it runs rampant. Others of us, and yes I'm looking in a mirror here, are much less motivated. It's too cold. There is other work to do.  The trial is in a month or perhaps not even booked yet. Whatever the excuse, things get in the way of the actual work that needs to be done to get where goals were set. Without two partners who want to play work getting ahead is going to be tough. Work Ethic is nearly impossible to learn.

Soundness 

Physical of course but also mental - how much stress can your partner take? how much stress can you revel in? If you aren't as sound s absolutely possible reaching for the top is likely to be stressful and frustrating. 


A sound body is so important. If you can't keep each other sound enough for local one day competitions it seems implausible that adding major travel and extra days of showing are going to be easy. What are you doing to maintain soundness now? If you are playing in class weekly. trialing every other weekend and need monthly chiro, medication and BoT to stay sound how many more options are there to add to the toolkit to continue maintenance as the demands get more intense? 






As we enter the season of goal setting have fun setting your goals, and looking back at your accomplishments but give due consideration to character, work ethic and soundness.

Yay Camera!

Did I mention that the terror terrier puppies ate the button that takes pictures off the new camera?

They did.

(Why does anybody live with house puppies?)


Well the camera is back in business - YAY! Just played a little with it last night ...

puppy loves to chew

old dog loves to sleep 

Kitty doesn't love winter

Fire helps us all get through the cold