12 months ...

Here is a slideshow I put together of Jane and Gyp's 12 Months for Dogs project on FLICKR, each month of the year is represented by a photo ... enjoy :) I love my girlies!!!

Stay tuned for Kaleb's 52 Weeks Slideshow .. coming soon ...

never give up

never give up :: 12/12 Jane, originally uploaded by sarah ....

Via Flickr:
Well we made it!! When I made the decision to do 12 Months for Dogs Photo project with Jane, a large part of me didn't think she make it to the end of the project due to her failing health. I am sooo happy have these 12 months to show that she made it!



I thought this was a great photo to end the year - Jane STILL mooching for food, still with the sparkle in her eye, though her little body is much more frail that 12 months ago - she is still the same dog. Taken on Christmas day (yes, we have no snow - it was +12C that day!!!), our whole family went out to the Coulees for a walk - even Jane who was carried most of the way in her bag, she loved every second of it - and so did the family!



Thanks everyone for all the kind words and comments over the year, we are looking forward to 2012 ... whatever it may bring!

merry gypmas

merry gypmas :: 1212 :: Gyp, originally uploaded by sarah ....

We had a great Christmas. One of the best in years. I think it is just because I took time to really think about what it means. For me that is Family, friends and being with the ones you love (oh and the sick amount of food ... that my guts are now paying for). It really has nothing do to with religion or a belief beyond loving the one's you are with and taking time to appreciate them more than normal.

We had an awesome Christmas day walk with the dogs and family. +12 Celcius and no snow made it possible for Jane to come along for the long walk in the Coulees (she was carried like a Queen in her bag for most of it) As sad as it is, none of us really expected to be spending Christmas with Jane, so it was even more special that she is still with us ... fighting the fight. She was soooo spoiled and so loved this Christmas.

I took a bunch of photos and I'll post them soon. It was a very special day.

naughty

naughty :: 51/52, originally uploaded by sarah ....

First he steals the Santa hat from me.
Then he pulls the pom pom off.
Then he runs off with it again, and pisses on it.

Merry Christmas jerk dog. ;)

have yourself a merry little christmas

Here we are as in olden days,

Happy golden days of yore.

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.

And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

everyone needs some down time ...

Well that time of year is upon us ... the time of year when I give my guys downtime. I try to give them 2 - 3 big breaks a year. This big break will be 6 weeks off Agility training. I know when this time is coming ...

I might need a break if:

- If I start to train for the sake of training, and if I don't feel I am training anything specific. It is hard when we have Arena time, to just want to go and play around "do little things" - but really is it a benefit? Is it making them better, or me a better handler for them?

- If I end a training session and haven't gained or learned anything - I need to have a break.

- I feel my dogs have been working more than having off days

- If I have big events coming up and me and the dogs need some time to refocus and refresh

- If I feel I am losing desire ... I don't want that to rub off on the dogs in any venue we take part in, I need to give them my 150% all the time - and can anyone really do that 365 days a year?

Off time of Agility doesn't mean we become couch potatoes and do nothing. It is really a time to forget about "that other world" and spend time doing other things - maybe learn a new trick or two, refresh some other skills. Also, making sure their bodies have some recovery time from the various impacts of the sport and keeping fit. Keeping up on all of our conditioning (that includes me!) - Long walks, coulee runs, Jogging (me & the dogs) Treadmill (mostly the dogs and a little bit for me - I work while they exercise :)), strength-training (peanut ball, pods, body resistance - active stretching). They get their weekly massages - now a little deeper if they need it, and so I can find any potential areas that might need more attention (clearly from the above photo - they hate it) This is just what I do for me and my dogs - and it seems to really work for us.

Gyp is also on a 6 week break from Therapy work - again I think she needs a break from it - it's not something that is physically hard, but I do think it is mentally draining on her - she sleeps like a baby after her visits.

I am looking forward to 2012! 2011 started out a little rough, but it turned out to be a pretty great year.

super score!

super score!, originally uploaded by sarah ....

TIMBITS!!!
(well much to her dismay she only got one)

Grammy knows how to make a girl happy ... give her a box of timbits (well there was only one inside, but jane didn't care).

It's so nice to see her being feisty and having fun :) now if only I could teach her to share.

I love this f'ing little dog.

kiss attack ...

grammy!!! :: 49/52, originally uploaded by sarah ....

I finally got some photos that captures Kaleb's love for his favourite person in the world ...

his G R A M M Y!

i wuv u GRAMMY!

she's down! attack!

beware ... you could be next ...

She's Golden!

It was our last Agility Trial of the year, well actually day trial ... we ran 3 events. Gyp needed 2 more Standard Qs to earn her Gold Award of Merit in AAC and she did it in style - clocking the Fastest time in the event and he 2nd fastest time in the other Standard, she also brought home the most Gamble points. The Gold Award of Merit in AAC is when a dog earns 50 Masters Standard Qs and 100 Masters Games (out of Jumpers, Gamblers, Snooker, Steeplechase etc). I really loved the idea of earning this Award this year, but Gyp only ran in 4 Trials as she was out 7 months prior, so I was happy to have it happen whenever it came.

I Am very proud of her, and looking back on her trial year - though short, we had a great time. She won her 3rd Regional Championship in a row, her Challenge Title, and her Gold Award of Merit. I am looking forward to 2012 .. here's hoping for more good health and soundness!!

Kaleb ran too - he did awesome in his Gamble - only 7 Masters dogs got it, and he and Gyp were 2 of them. The boy can Gamble that is for sure! His standards were "enthusiastic" but not clean - I am very proud of him this year also. He tries his hardest out there for me, but I do see his age catching up with him - especially in the weave poles - he has slowed down in them and does not bend like he used too, we will take it as it comes, and keep up on his fitness and conditioning - he's been sound his whole life, so here's hoping for many more memorable runs in 2012.

And maybe, just maybe ... there will be a new fuzzy addition in 2012 ...

Here are her 2 standard runs from the weekend - I didn't record the gamble, though I wish I would have, it was a tricky one!