The mark of greatness and healing

I'm still having days that are sad and I miss Jane, random bursts of crying followed by happy thoughts and memories. All part of the process i guess. Our house is still filled with all the beautiful flowers and a table full of cards. We haven't touched any of her stuff. We decided this weekend we will tackle that together.

I've been getting back to normal things, I trailed agility this weekend with Gyp ... She was beautiful - had the 2nd and third fastest masters times all weekend and brought home 5 qs. (3 standards, challenge and steeplechase).

Kaleb that is another story I will right about when I'm ready, right now I'm not. It's been a rough week with my boy.

Onto greatness ... It's funny how a small gesture can mean so much.

Gyp has been taking herding lessons regularly and we are entered in our first arena trial with ckc this June. Something I NEVER thought would happen. It's a journey.

I am lucky to train with the best trainers around. Jenny, Scott and Louanne are very, very patient with me and my soft little dog that likes to floss her teeth ... and her handler who looks like she is drunk half the time.

I went out this week and I was given my very own stock stick by Jenny handmade by Scott :) he marked it with greatness x2 ... He put the mark of Jane on the side. I got tears, what a nice gesture! I'm such a dork I keep it displayed in my living room. I'm such a city girl. So even when gyp and I are out with the sheep, Jane is there making sure gyp stays in line :)

I have big plans to add my own special touches to the stick ... Stay tuned :)

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!

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.

sitting, waiting, watching

sitting, waiting, watching :: 11/12 Jane, originally uploaded by sarah ....

Via Flickr:
the queen on her thrown ... the back of the couch to be exact. She was waiting for Pete to get home from work.

As you can see her belly looks big ... that is the fluid that builds up from the right side of her heart not pumping properly due to her Congestive Heart Failure. Each week she gets a procedure called Abdomencentisis performed ... she is a champ, such a trooper, never makes a peep and feels like a million bucks afterwards.

her day

her day :: 10/12/Jane, originally uploaded by sarah ....

Via Flickr:
i love taking Jane out for her won excursions without the other dogs. She moves alot slower than they do, and this way it is just us, like the old days :)

Ii's nice to just hang out with her and let her do her "Janer thing" ... which involves sniffing, peeing on things and watching the world go by.

Where's the cookies woman? I'm not gettin' any younger here!

another little thing ...

OK a couple of little things ...

Jane, originally uploaded by sarah ....

Jane, feeling spunky ... and enjoying the little things like trotting through the crunchy leaves.

There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle.

- Albert Einstein

Somehow Jane keeps beating the odds ... keep on truckin' little Janer. keep on truckin' ...

the fighter

the fighter :: 9/12/Jane, originally uploaded by sarah ....

“It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.” Mark Twain

it's been one year this week, that Jane was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. It seemed to happen so fast - though from what the internal specialst said a few months before - we knew it was coming given her high grade heart murmer. We just hoped it would be later in her life ... like when she was 24 and the oldest Terrier to ever live. She is getting weaker these days, but still enjoys the simple things in life.

For the past 5 months, she has been getting Abdomencentisis every 10 days (a belly tap, where her build up of fluid is drained from her abdomen - as her right side of the heart is not functioning properly and causes the fluid build-up). She is such a trooper, and stands here for the 20 minutes it takes to drain her. Never complains, never puts up a fuss. Happily leaves the table, and takes a treat from the Vet. And every 4 weeks we fill her plethora of meds ... we have a little party.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I love this f'ing little dog.

living life to it's fullest.

sleeping cutie :: 7/12 Jane, originally uploaded by sarah ....

Via Flickr:
even when she sleeps, she's cute :) jane is doing pretty good these days (a miracle really), she even got to go fishing last week and spent the day running YES running and trotting around, followed by some ice cream the next day. It was amazing to see her having so much fun. She still visits the vet weekly for her abdomencentisis (draining the fluid that builds in her belly because of her Congestive Heart Failure), it's still costs a car payment a month to keep her going - but she is more than worth it, as she still loves all the things she always has enjoyed, we're still cherishing every moment ... even the sleepy ones.

Here are a few photos from Jane on her mountain adventure ...

The photo that made the day all worth it .... Jane got to "catch" 3 fish :)

the 3 and me.

the 3 and me., originally uploaded by sarah ....

Jo from One Collie posted a photo of her and Kort today ... I thought, well isn't that a great pic!! It reminded me to post this one from our trip to Waterton last week, Jane is doing her best to balance on the log ... and notice the other 2 are soaking wet ...

I think we should start a blog trend this week - posting pics of the our dogs with us :) sometimes it's nice to see the face behind the dogs :)

Her Master Plan.

1. Kill us all.

2. Except for her 2 Grammy's - they give the best treats.

3. Take over the world.

This is how you do it ...

Pretend like you aren't at all interested in the fact that Pete is paying attention to the "other dogs"

When no one is suspecting you, you sneak up - make sure you are being cute and extra sweet.

Then you sneak in and make your move ...

The end.

this is jane's signature move. she loves to "smother us with love" ... in other words, for the past 12 years, she has been trying to kill us so she can take over the world. she has been doing this since she was a pup, it is so damn cute.

unconditional love.

So last night we had to take Jane to emergency - her belly had been getting bigger and by the end of day ballooned up - we were worried about her breathing - long story short, she was not doing well - she wouldn't drink, was woozy, and wouldn't take her meds. The fluid presses on her diaphram and causes her discomfort ... and having to wait until the next day to see our Vet was not an option, she was very restless ... so after hours Vet visit it was. They drained a large amount of fluid again from her - it is now a once a week occurrence - but it makes a huge difference - and she is amazing, she just stands there - not sedation, not a flinch, just takes it - it's like she knows it makes her feel better.

It's funny .. Pete made a good point as we left the clinic with a little dog who felt much better afterwards - and was taking treats, drank water, and exploring the vet clinic like she owned the place.

"It took us 3 weeks to decide on the lawn mower we wanted, and were trying to justify the cost and save a few bucks - should we even buy it, can we afford it? Then without thought or discussion, we drop more than what the lawnmower cost, without the blink of an eye and don't even feel bad about it."

That, my friends is unconditional love :)

Royalty should be treated as such.

Queen Jane surveys her domain, and her loyal servants are all in check.

Screw the Tea and Crumpets woman, I want a damn cookie.

Make that 2 cookies.

shoplifting and ice cream

the recipe for a perfect birthday according to jane ...

shoplifting at your favourite pet store

(yes that is a cat toy) knows exactly where they are in the store and she immediately bee lines for the cat section, and sits and waits for me to get her one out of the bin.

topped off with diving headfirst into ice cream

OMG BEST F'ING BIRTHDAY EVER!

Jane had a great day and got extra spoiled! Grammy bought her an awesome stuffy, and a friend bought her a brand new fluffy soft bed - photos to come

... in my excitement I forgot to take my camera along - but I am amazed with how my iPhone pics turned out!!

Jane says thanks for all the birthday wishes ... I wish I was as popular as she is. Maybe in another life.

Today, she's 12!

Today, she's 12! Happy birthday to my best teacher. Honestly I didn't think we would get to see this birthday. Every month we pick up her meds at the vet there is a small celebration (it helps ease the pain of the cost - but she is worth it 100 times over).

Today we plan on hitting the DQ drive-thru as we do every year, go to the park, sit on a bench and share the ice cream :) and we'll finish her fun outing by stopping off at her favourite pet stores so she can do some shoplifting.

- - -

Excerpt from blog post "the dog that started it all"

Because of Jane, I have an obsession with all things dog - I do not like to fail, and it was NOT an option to give up on her. She is the reason I love to teach other people and dogs - if I can do what I've done with Jane - ANYTHING is possible, you just have to want it bad enough. She is the reason I have this blog, she is the reason I have an SUV, she is the reason I have Kaleb and Gyp, she is also the reason I have white sheets on my bed and an obsession with getting rid of those damn little white doghairs.

Her Majesty, Queen Jane.

It's been a journey trying to figure out the perfect meal for her Majesty. We've tried EVERYTHING. Jane never used to be picky - the dog would eat dirt literally. Her disease and the meds cause her to not be hungry, but we've worked around that! We tried everything from crappy canned food - HATED IT, good canned food - NOPE, different kibble - YUCK, I would feed her raw - as she loves it, but it is too hard for her to digest (takes too much energy) ... so one night Pete made Stew and that perked her interest .... so VOILA! We make her own Stew now - simple, pure, natural ingredients and full of ingredients that will help her maintain weight - Jane is a CARB FREAK ... what could be better? Lean beef, Carrots, Potatoes, Whole Wheat Pasta and some cauliflower. She has been eating this for 2 weeks now, and she eats faster than Gyp and Kaleb most meals now, she licks her bowl so clean it could go back in the cupboard.

Jane checks it out for her approval - YEP APPROVED!

Every Royal also needs an official portrait ... here is Jane's. Isn't it gorgeous? It takes me a lot to cry instantly, and I did when I saw this. It is perfect ... the details and the look in her eye are amazing. It was painted by Lisa (Zack's mom) a fellow blogger...Check out her blog and work.

April Fool's ...

Mother nature has a sick sense of humour.







This past weekend we got a huge dump of snow. it wasn't that cold, just SNOWY! The dogs had a great time playing and rolling in it.

Half of it melted yesterday, so hopefully by Wednesday, it will be a distant memory. Here's hoping.

Earning her keep.

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb :: 10/52, originally uploaded by sarah ....

A company that makes high-end, low-run greeting cards contacting me about selling the rights to this photo for their 2011 Christmas Card series. It will be in Museum and Art Gallery Gift Shops across North America.

I was honoured to have her leave her mark. This is one of my all-time favourite photos of Jane.

look ma, no Stitches!

My friend Lynne was nice enough to take out my stitches this week - I was worried about getting them out, but being at friends house and having 2 lovely Vizslas to distract me, made things all better :)

I also started physio this week - well I have been doing real basic things for the last 2 weeks, but I am now doing more. Stretching 3x day and one time a day of Strengthening. And icing 20 min. after every time. I'll be strating back on my upper body and core workouts right away too. It's a pretty big commitment but I am determined to be strong.

Gyp is doing great too - so between the 2 of us, it's around 1.5 hours a day of strength training and stretching, but I am seeing results already with me - and she is also doing fantastic. We have also signed up for Susan Garrett's Brilliant Recall course - a great program for us to start back training together, and a great educational tool I will always have - I thought the timing was great (especially for when i get my invisible puppy)!! I'm excited to start, we've spend the last 3 days playing the Critical Core games :)

For something less gross looking than my knobby knees ... it's Jane - she has been feeling spunky and doing really well these days ... let's hope that continues, we still cherish every day with her, especially the good ones.