Thank you Gyp

Thank you Gyp for being an honest dog, a sensitive caring soul and for being so damn cute.

This weekend gyp ran in scent hurdle racing - which was super fun and our team ran well and we have the team spirit, which i think should get extra points ... Think sparkly red wrist bands. Yes they rock. :) We debuted in excellent Rally also - I was frazzled and hopped up on caffeine ... Gyp was great ... I messed up 2 signs for our first ever NQ oops.

We had to be in the ring for Obedience in the afternoon and I needed to get my shit together for my dog - eat a good meal and take a chill pill. She had been getting spookier at the metal banging noises all weekend - then that worries me. So I warmed her up in a new quiet area and that seemed to do the trick. Played some barrel racing around garbage cans and just had some silly fun!! We went into the ring and she was great! She had one spooky moment in the ring when she stepped on a metal grate under the rubber mat ... Oh the joy of a sensitive quirky dog :) She worked through it like a champ and we played in between exersizes. She came out if the class with a 193 and a high in class earning her CD title!! Gyp is like an extension of myself and the two of us are so keyed into eachother it's scary. I swear we read eachothers thoughts. I would love to be able to say the same thing about Kaleb ... But really, who the hell knows what he's thinking! Anyway here are a couple iPhone photos of us with gyps High in Class and new CD! Open ring here we come!

Good mornin

Waking up to this each day is pretty awesome ...

This is my life in pictures.

I've been watnig to do an Agility Camp for the last couple of years, stars are aligning. It's coming ... mark your Calendars: Aug 17-19 ... details soon! Featuring: Terry Simons, Anneli Hilton, Sarah Novak, Amanda Labadie, With special guests: Dr. Veronica Devall (Holistic and Rehabilitative Veterinary Care) and Kyle Connelly - Olympian/Coach (sport psychology).

We've been herding lots ... we are getting better.

Must get rid of the pointy finger.

Gyp is a good girl. I love her.

Kaleb is mental and disturbed - but makes me laugh daily - I need that, like when he finds headless babydolls on walks. He has a C7 neck issue we are trying to work out and manage. Full body rays, 2 sets of blood work, neurological exam, Acupuncture, Chiro, laser, massage = high maintenance dog.

Nothing like friends to make everything all better.

It's been one month since losing my jane. I think the first 2-3 weeks I was in such a daze it now hit me in the lastweek - she's really gone, I really fucking miss her. So much it hurts. I know life goes one, but damn. My random outbursts of tears are not becoming less frequent. This will get better right? Our house is still full of all the Cards and 6 bouquets Dead flowers. I just can't bring my self to put it all away ... baby steps. I can think about her and smile but sometimes I don't know if that will end in tears.

finding peace and sparkly things.

finding peace :: 12/52, originally uploaded by sarah ....

Via Flickr:
Gyp has a magical knack for helping me feel at peace, and calm. She's been that way since we got her. I think she truly has a gift, which is why she also makes a wonderful Pet Therapy dog.

Hell, she's my OWN Therapy dog, everything is better when she is with me, I'm a lucky girl.

And sparkly things make me happy too. Like our ridiculous Stock Stick AKA the Disco Stick hmmm, or maybe it's my Magic Wand, pink, purple, tie died, glittery butterflies and kitties. Yep that's Gyp. (and remember it's marked with Jane, who is with us, making sure nobody gets out of line.)

I figure hey, at least if we suck, we'll look cute. Everything is better if it sparkles.

pink handle and "Jane are" handcrafted by Scott ;)

the rest of the bling ... by me.

Hi

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 :)

Jane. Inked.

Figured a good spot for a tattoo would be on my shoulder, since that's where she always layed her head. I came up with the design while thinking about her... So I had to get it done. Still missing her like crazy. Yesterday I almost made it through the day without crying. I just miss all the little things - the things that made me love her the most.

Happy 10th Birthday K-man!

Kaleb turns 10 today. For K-man, age is just a number.

Thank you buddy, for being there and making us laugh when all we want to do is cry. A true comedian, a crazy driven mental man, who deep down has a sensitive soul.

The dog who lives by the mantra "Don't worry, be happy."

Happy 10th Birthday K-man!, originally uploaded by sarah ....

goodbye my friend.

goodbye my friend., originally uploaded by sarah ....

Via Flickr:
Goodbye my best friend, my best teacher, my first dog, the dog that started it all. It's ALL because of you. Jane left us last night in the comfort of home laying on her favourite blanky, we cuddled her, petted her and told her how much she was loved until she fell asleep peacefully in our arms. We love you Jane, you fought a good fight for 1.5 years - you told CHF where to go, you amazed all of us with your will to live, you had True Grit. Thank you to our family, friends and our wonderful team of Vets and Techs for all of your support, she knew she was loved. ATCHC Silver "Rowdy Jane" - May 11, 1999 - March 6, 2012

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

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.

K #5, grateful

Today I am grateful I still have K at one week shy of his 10th birthday, and for having Jane beat the odds with her disease, she is nothing short of a medical miracle at nearly 13.

For many breeds turning 10 isn't a big deal ...but with owning a flat-coat, the sad reality is it is - especially to have him healthy, active and crazy ... still. The older my dogs get, the more I love them ... if that's possible.

Hug your dogs.



"Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really."
~ Agnes Sligh Turnbull

K # 6, in your face

If you haven't figured it out, Kaleb is nuts. I've been collecting funny photos on Flickr for years ... Enjoy ...

In your face on Flickr

K, #7: gun toting vegetarian.

The things we do for our dogs. After K retired from SAR (Pete went back to do his Masters degree and couldn't commit to the hours and be on call), Kaleb needed another job ... because clearly the dog didn't have enough to do .... :)

So we though it would be fun to train him for hunting, and Pete thought it would be fun too. Sure why not. Hey Kaleb, here is a bird. It's like he was bred for it or something. He was super easy to train ... he picked up his first bird at 4.5 years old, and is a wonderful hunting partner for Pete. But I trained him - don't tell that to Pete :)

I held dead birds, carried a fake gun, trampled through ponds ... all for the love of this dog.

Here we are at his WC test ....

While we were in Saskatoon for his tests, we got some extra training in at his Breeders. This is Kaleb with Hans Berin. You can see the mutual love! One of my fav photos.

Proud Flat-coat family after earning their titles ...

Then some REAL hunting .... nothing beats that. I only SHOOT photos ... Pete does the other shooting. Kaleb LOVES to hunt.

Such a good boy. I'm so glad we have been able to let him enjoy the thrill of the hunt, and I've been happy to capture those moments from behind the lens. There is nothing like watching Kaleb work tirelessly in the field.