The final countdown ...

6 weeks ago I wasn't sure I would be running in Regionals. I had to send in my entry not knowing - the entry closed only 4 weeks after my surgery - I also didn't know if I would be running Gyp. I am the type of person that if you tell me I can't do something, I will work 10x as hard to do it. It's just the way I roll ... ya living that way has it's flaws, but I just don't like to fail.

So here we are one week until Regionals ... I am running, I can easily get around a course - last weekend was awesome, it felt great to be running at the Agility trial. My knee is still healing but I can deal with it. It actually feels it's best when I am moving. Sitting around causes it to get stiff. Bar-knee will be accompanying me, and he is awesome.

The field that Regionals is being held on is the place where I first blew my knee playing rugby in College. I am not sure how I feel about that. Again - I feel like it is for a reason - I need to overcome my fear of something bad happening there, because it did before. I will be fine as long as Amanda doesn't wear a yellow striped Rugby shirt chasing me down the field trying to tackle me :)

Gyp is doing well, this whole month has been about getting back into Agility while maintaining her regular conditioning schedule, and making sure there are no flare-ups, and so far so good - I haven't been blogging about it, because well, shocking - but I don't blog about EVERYTHING. Somethings I like and NEED to keep to myself. We've been training, and she hasn't really missed a beat. I am lucky she is the kind of dog that does well with a break - and always keep a level head ... and she doesn't forget a thing - which in this case is good - but in the case of fishing rods, fly swatters, guitars and kites ... not so good, she also remembers those things as WIERD and scary as hell.

K is running great, and I am SOOOO looking forward to running him - it was one year ago, to almost the day that he Torsioned and we nearly lost him. So last regionals that was fresh in my mind - and everyone was asking about him - which was hard. I was also running with my new knee brace 5 months after I tore my ACL and Meniscus ... so I just have to keep thinking I was able to overcome that last year.

Now I just need to get my mental game in the right place this year, I work best under pressure, but I have a lot of work to do, to get in the right headspace ... right now the discouraging thoughts are still lingering "We haven't trialed since September" "Is she really ready?" "Will I remember how to run her?" "I don't want to hurt her" "Can my knee handle it?" "Will someone in a rubgy shirt chase me down the field to tackle me?"

I have a week to get my mind games under control, Kaleb is doing some light training ... and Gyp has one more check-up before the big event ...

And, well I bought some new shoes ... so that always makes me feel better .. and run faster :)

Green Light!

My girl, originally uploaded by sarah ....

Seriously, how adorable is she??

It's been 6 months since Gyp's Illospoas injury diagnosis. On Friday she had another treatment and was given a new 4 week conditioning plan - this time it includes Agility equipment!!! YIPPEE!! It's been through acupuncture, laser, chiro, massage, chinese herbs and mega conditioning that she is getting back!!

It's been a very cool learning experience into learning how much we ask our dogs to do - and making sure they are conditioned enough to do the job. Kaleb is 9 and has never been lame a day a in is life. He is massaged regularily and gets adjustments as needed too - but that's it. He has done a ton of agility, hunting, running etc. He is IRON DOG, and I think that is in part to his conditioning as well as his build for working.

But I have now have a new view on how important conditioning actually is, even thought I THOUGHT I was doing a good job as I know the benefit of it with myself also. I am not talking about 30 minute walks a couple times of day - that is the bare minimum and not considered any part of our conditioning plan - it is just a given. I also ALWAYS give my guys a day off a week of anything - just a casual walk in the 'hood. Now they get 2 days off a week. I am talking about challenging the dogs muscles and co-ordination with a variety of strength and endurance skills. I always did the peanut ball, jogging, hills, active ROM exercises etc ... but not to the extent I have been to get Gyp back, better than ever - we've added a few more things than what I've listed also. My Body worker course has been amazing also, I have learned so much and am getting a really good feel for my dogs and others too. I think that has been a HUGE benefit also.

Gyp has more muscle than she ever has had, it's amazing really. And it has payed off for Kaleb to. I THOUGHT my dogs were in good shape before ... but the difference now is pretty cool.

My dogs are my pets, but they are also athletes - and I think people need to have this mind set more, given what we ask them to do for us. I happily drive a 4 hour round trip for a 30 minute treatment ... but it is worth it and it has payed off. Dr. Devall has been amazing over this journey, I am so lucky to have her knowledge, honesty and encouragement ... she is now Auntie Veronica given the fact she is a big support for our family ...

Gyp and her "trainer" are focused and ready to go!

6" grids today ... conquer the world tomorrow ...

aahhh what a great session (thanks Acey for helping me train her)

Kaleb didn't miss a beat given that he had 7 weeks of off equipment (because of my surgery). I did some proofing ... me sitting on the ground, taking a photo while I sent him through the poles, atta boy! I don't want to brag ... but I did some pretty good handling myself ... yep, front crossed, rear crossed and I ran pretty hard too. Oh ya! I'm back!!!

Green grass, blues skies ... happy dogs ... happy me.

Having a Ball!

When the Peanut ball comes out - it's a fun exciting time.

I bring it out 3 days a week and we do a variety of exercises.

... the first dog to jump on is always Jane ...

K likes it too, he happily jumps up... mmmm coookiiiieees

And of course Gyp the noodle gets a good little work out too!

Gyp has one more Treatment this week .. and I am crossing my fingers that we can up our conditioning again ...

I did some 2 jump drills today with K - it FELT great to do a front cross!!!

Gyp: Unleashed.

After 5 months on leash ... the beast has been unleashed!

We did about 10 recalls yesterday from 50 - 100', she LOVED it. I didn't let her run the in the main field, just on the path where the footing is flat and even. Her conditioning is going great, and she is looking stronger than ever.

As you can see she is a little happy about the whole thing ..

The buddies are reunited again!

Now if we could only figure out where the hell Kaleb is running too ...

she looks like an angel, but talks like a sailer.

Don't let the sweet little Gyppie face fool you ... there's a little bit 'o devil in there.

Aren't I the cutest thing ever? Look at my perky ears, and my pointy nose. Come on.

I'm Gyppie "do no wrong" and I get away with everything, and I never get in trouble, and old people love me.

her sweetness., originally uploaded by sarah ....

Oh, bitch, please!

Unclip this muther f*cking leash, from my muther f*cking collar.

Bitch! NOW!!!!

I MEAN IT! I WANT TO RUN!!! Iliospoas strain my ass!!! I'm fine woman!

GRRRRRR! This is my "i mean it face"

Fine then. I'm going to ignore you.

I hate you.

Life as Gyp knows it ...

Amanda blogged about Davie and his daily life, here is a little of what fills Gyp days ...

things are looking up...

wayyyyy up....

we're finding balance ...

taking a turn for the better ...

life is full of obstacles, but we can learn to work with them...

some obstacles are bigger than others ...

living life is all about being flexible ...

OK Gyp we get, you are flexible ...

no really Gyp, you are freaky, we get it you are really bendy.

Put me in Coach, I'm ready to play!

We've been working on Gyp's homework and I have now raised the bars to "can" height :) Jane thinks she should be able to play too!

It's all I can do to keep the dogs away - especially Jane, the little dictator (as Amanda calls her) - tries to race Gyp across if she doesn't have rules to stay put, so she is usually satisifed to stay put on her Throne long as the treats still come to her.

Sarah's Redneck Cavelleti's:

10 Beer Cans, Packing Tape and 5 jump bars. If you want more than 5 in a row, you will have to drink more beer. BURP.

:)

Today CIndy and I travelled to Calgary for a re-check for our dogs. Cindy made appointments for Sunar and Pike and me for Gyppie ... 4.5 hours round trip - good company makes it go much quicker!!

AND ...Gyppie is getting better already! YAY!

Happy! Some new exercises for her. Lots of range of motion, and only a bit of tenderness at just the one insertion point. She got some acupuncture, a re-check of her back and some laser. Dr.Devall was really impressed with how fast it seems to be healing - but not to be fooled. So still another good 2 months until agility, but we have lots to keep us occupied in the meantime. She suggested 2 shorter jogs a day so I don't see fatigue - even though the fatigue happens way later and way less than it was. She thinks 2 shorter sessions would be more beneficial - easier for me too. She can do the peanut ball this week, but only standing on it with not much movement at all. More cavaletti work, and walking backwards downhill to lengthen the muscles, causing her to step longer. And to continue with the same exercises we've been doing.

Nothing like a 4.5 hour round trip for a 1 hour rehab visit :) But dogs don't lie when it comes to results and feeling good. And I am seeing results, and she is feeling good ....so it is all worth it.

Check-up day ...

zoom zoom Gyppie, originally uploaded by sarah ....

Gyp is going for her 2 week re-check today with Dr. Devall - she will have any adjustment she needs, acupuncture and some cold laser ... and we will see if there has been any improvement. We've been doing our exercises and her range of motion in the back left is getting better already, which I am thrilled about. Hopefully the Chinese Herbs and massage have been helping too. She gets massage twice a day and does her exercises twice a day also. I ice 2x10 minutes after her runs to help with any possible inflammation - I also ice my knee :)

We've been jogging everyday - making sure she is in an extended trot for a good 20 minutes. I run for about 5 -10 minutes then walk - the dogs stay in a more collected trot at that point, as we walk really fast to keep them in atleast a slow trot - so as not to pace or walk. Then we jog again. And repeat. Ya a treadmill has it's merits - but we would need two - one for me and one for her - I would feel guilty watching her do all the work. So we use nature's treadmill. Pete has been jogging her too if I am out teaching. But mostly we all go together - Pete, Kaleb me and Gyp. It's fun to do together and a good way to stay motivated. Jane stays at home and protects the property :)

I've only seen her funny movement a couple times, and near the end of our runs, when she is getting fatigued, extended trotting takes alot of energy as the dog has to use its body evenly on both sides. So I am hopeful she will make a good recovery. I have funny movement by the end of our runs too for that matter .... my knee swears at me, but bar-knee is awesome and I don't leave home without him .... Wow we sure are a team aren't we??

Sheep Dreams, Gyppie ...

Sheep dreams., originally uploaded by sarah ....

We had a fun day at Alta-Pete yesterday ... meeting some cool dogs, and massaging a couple of sweet Border Collies, watching Laddie work and Pixel eat sheep poop, hanging out, and of course playing with Skid and the lovely Togo :)

Gyp doesn't give a sh*t that she has an injury ... her Ilio-what-ever-the-hell-it-is ... she wanted those sheepies! But instead I tortured her by only allowing her to watch ... and letting her see them for about 30 seconds in the pen afterwards - walk-up, lie down, walk-up lie down - the end. I am a mean cruel mama. It was a fine line between torture and pleasure for her ....

Gyp she enjoyed her self none the less ... especially when she would knaw on the metal fence and then wedged her body through a 4x4 inch square in the fencing to get to the sheep ...

Gyp and Pixel wait patiently as Laddie brings in the Sheep.

Togo is the best. This face is called

"I know you have liver treats in your pockets - may I have one?"

The lovely Lad ...

I need some bubble wrap? Anyone?

Last month Gyp refused a jump. Actually she went under the jump. Ya.

I Looked her over when I got home and she was super tight in her Sartorius /Rectus Femorus and Quad muscles ... yes my massage course has trained me to use fancy names. But I was really proud of my self for being able to feel the tightness and recognize right away which muscles would be affected based on the symptoms I was seeing - not wanting to extend the hip flexors back. This got me thinking Iliospoas. And well I know where this series of muscles is - I am not experienced enough and do not have enough feel to pin point it as it lies so deep on to the pelvis and femur.

Fast forward .... Gyp has had a couple weeks off already and I consulted with my Rehab Vet, and since I arranged for a clinic for her to come down to our City to work on dogs this past weekend ... the timing was perfectly unfortunately perfect :)

I told her what I had suspected and found - and based on what I had been talking to her already about, she went deep to the pelvis, and yep. Iliospoas. Gyp's head yanked so fast back to her rear end - a pain reaction only on the left side. She was so tight and very sore sore at the insertion point of the muscle. Some specific acupuncture to release the area seemed to help - but it took a few minutes for the muscles to release at all.

So what does this mean for Gyp? 8 - 12 weeks off Agility. Trips to Calgary to see Dr. Devall. No jumping or abrupt side movement, no fetching, no free range running and a giant amount of chinese herbs I can't pronounce. And supplement with massage to keep blow flow in the area and to try to keep things loosened up.

So what does this mean for me? Lots of extended jogging for Gyp and me. Pete has taken her jogging the last 2 nights, and I will take over this week. We don't have a treadmill - so we will use nature's treadmill ... the old fashioned way ... it's a win, win. I wonder if I can take her to the Gym with me??

I have a series of strengthening exercises to do, lots of active stretching - no passive stretching. My Peanut ball will be well employed. This is one of the most common Agility Injuries in dogs.

Read more about it here if you like

I am upset about it - but when I have another dog with a way more serious condition, I have a hard time feeling really sad about it. But I am. I just want the madness to end.

I will miss running her, I miss running her already. What really sucks is I have my knee surgery in February - Gyp will be MAYBE just getting back to low 10" jumps then ... then I will be off for a minimum of 8 weeks with Physio. That takes us to end of April or May. That is 6 months off for Gyp and me in the ring. Nevermind that we haven't trialed since September - make that 9 months. I try not to think about it.

Oh but wait! I still have a dog to run! Kaleb! yep Kaleb! The friggin' dog is Iron Man. Dr. Devall gave him a check-up and he is fit as a fiddle. He had a couple adjustments and a bit of acupuncture, nothing major. Yep. Almost 9 years old and still sound as ever. I was sort of hoping she would find some weird condition and I would have to retire him, so I could just call it day and find a new hobby ... not that I'm feeling sorry for myself or anything.

In my "everything happens for a reason" philosophy - I guess this fits perfectly. It will be a good chance for me to really evaluate Gyp's condition, get some hands on experience for my Body Worker externship, and work with a well respected rehab and holistic Vet. Now that is what I call a great learning experience.

Always look on the brightside right?

p.s. Anyone have a dog they want to let me run??