hi

heart and soul :: 23/52, originally uploaded by sarah ....

we're still here ... just not much to blog about, or is it that I don't really feel like blogging - ya, i thinks that's it.

Gyp is doing well, and improving everyday ...
K is crazy as ever.

I'll blog more this week hopefully.

Regionals Results ... Isn't it Ironic, dontcha think?

I really don't feel like writing this post, but at the same time I do. But then again I don't. But I will. Before you read on here are two videos of Gyp and K in Jumpers ... man, they ran great for this run.




The weekend started off like any other: good friends, lots of excitement, some wine and lots of laughs ... the weekend ended the same way actually, it was just the stuff in between that sucked,  and that was amazing and fantastic all at the same time. That's pretty much my weekend - what an odd feeling to be so sad, but so happy at the same time. It is bloody exhausting let me tell you.

Gyp and K were ready to rock this weekend. I decided to run Kaleb even though he had his issues in march with his neck and balance. It's been 2 months since any weirdness and he's been back to normal exercise with nothing but a sound co-ordinated dog. Everyone was on watch - and if they saw anything I didn't he would be pulled immediately. He didn't knock a bar or have a slip all weekend. Gyp was feeling good, sound, happy and cute.

Our first run of the day was AWESOME with both dogs ... that is the above video. I came out of the ring each time more exhilarated than going in, and so happy with our efforts and what was to come.

Our next run was Gamblers and on the third jump Gyp landed funny, went in the tunnel and came out trotting - she does not trot on course. The rest of the run was just OFF but she was trying, but just not with the oooomph and grit she normally has. She did it but I could tell something was up. We got the gamble, came of the line and then I saw the limp. Yep. Just like that. Took her back to the Chiro that looked at her earlier that day and it is what we think is a sprain - like if you jammed yourself (she has since been to our regular Vet and off to our Rehab Vet tomorrow). And that was it for her for the weekend, oh right I have to run Kaleb in 10 minutes. Wipe the tears, suck it up and do the best for my boy. Sometimes I underestimate him - I really shouldn't - this dog amazes me. 10 years old and he's survived Torsion and what ever the hell it was 2 months ago that took away his ability to walk for a day.

So I pulled my shit together and promised my self to do the best I could for him. In return the boy ran his heart out for me. He earned a 1st Place in Standard, a 3rd in Jumpers and Gamblers, and 4th in Jumpers and Gamblers in his division. And at the end of the weekend when it was all said and done, K finished 2nd again in his division this year!!!

I was so proud of him. The compliments I got on him and how good he looked really made me feel good. An email that said "Well I suppose it's nice that Kaleb got to be in the spotlight for once" (thanks SG for that reminder and positive spin on a negative) and he wasn't overshadowed by Gyp and her past 3 years of winning her division. It was all about him and me, and I kind of like that, he was 2 wags away from retiring - he clearly told me he was NOT ready.

Gyp is doing a bit better today - better than Sunday when honestly, she could barely walk, and better than yesterday too - so optimistic me is hopeful she will be well soon.

Anyway ... not the Regionals outcome I expected ... I figured K would be the one being pulled and Gyp would be on the podium ... but this little twist reminds me how precious every moment with them is and to enjoy the ride!!



Thanks to our ENTIRE GDG group for all your support and hugs, helping me out carrying Gyp around, holding dogs, videotaping, especially Amanda who also had a pull Pixel and was there to help ... and miss Jolayne, who was with me through the entire weekend,  sharing tears, laughter and her strength with all of us - i love you guys!!! And congrats to all of our students who ran this weekend - you guys truly ROCK.

I get by with ALOT of help from my friends ...

ready to RUN!

22/52 :: ready to RUN!, originally uploaded by sarah ....

Via Flickr:
Gyp, K-man and I are off to the Agility Regional Championships this weekend ... Looks like Gyp is telling me she's ready!

Here's to a great weekend!!

We are off to the races!

Well, those races being regionals :) I'm really looking forward to seeing the newbies in the regional ring for the first time!! So proud of our group - and we have a great time together. Seriously the best group ever. I've got a Box of wine ready (for real)!!

I've been pretty zen about the whole weekend. I'm happy to be running K .... I'll leave it at that - grateful, happy and humbled by his spirit. And my Gyp, well she is my little Gyppie-Girl ... ... I'll be kissing that sweet little face of hers every time we step to the line with her.

Jolayne and I are also donating a gift basket in memory of Tag and Jane ... Beer and wine that have meaning for us ... I am pretty sure there will be some tears.

I think this wine says it all.

Yellow was the name of Tag's favourite toy - and also the colour he always wore.

Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.

- Theodore Roosevelt

she thinks my tractor's sexy

she thinks my tractor's sexy :: 21/52, originally uploaded by sarah ....

Via Flickr:
Gyp's friend Flash prides himself in being a lady's man. Gyp thinks he's a dweeb.

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This is our friends Sheltie, Flash, and their Kids Tractor they have for their new Grandbaby ... come on, it makes a great pic :)

The more I learn, the less I know.

RE-ENACTMENT: The city slicker-stick wielding-Vegetarian is losing her mind. Look out, she's gonna snap!

Herding hurts my head. It is an addictive and way-to-fun sport ... "just one more time and I think I can get it right." I'm never left satisfied, which keeps me coming back for more. Like everything I do - I'm on the constant quest to do better. Damn you Gyp, why did you have to like this sport so much! Damn me - why I am such a curious person who never is satisfied and wants to keep learning new things. 

Gyp waits patiently for her turn.


"Sorry for not being a better stock handler Gyp, I'm trying, but I'm a city girl!"

Herding is THE MOST DIFFICULT thing you will ever try with a dog - atleast in my experience. Jane did JRT trials - which where all pretty much based on the instinct of the dog with very little training - either they wanted to kill the prey, or they didn't. Jane wanted to kill it. I've done bird and field work with Kaleb at a beginner level and hunting for real (I don't shoot, Pete does - I just do the training) ... the animals that are prey, that K hunts are alive, BOOM BOOM, then they are dead ... one less thing in the equation. Now I can focus on the dog and me. And when we train, the birds are either A) dead or B) in the form of a Dokken or Bumper. Very difficult in its own right, just like the Open Field trials of Retriever Trials, Herding also takes an a whole other level of pushing dogs limits and having them work against instinct at times. We are no where near either of those levels in bird or herding training. Not sure we ever will be - but boy do I love the journey!!



I like to think Agility is my forte - it's where most of my energy and time is put. I am pretty sure I don't suck as bad at Agility as I do at herding. But if I put it in to perspective - my first year of training Agility with Jane 10 years ago was laughable ... oh man I must have looked like a fool. My poor dog. So I get the learning process, and that fact that I only know what I know, and I don't know what I don't know - how's that for a philosophy. Now I look like a fool again, my poor dog!! Crap, I'm seeing a pattern. Thank goodness for wine.

For those familiar with Agility and wonder what herding is like ... or those that do both, tell me I'm wrong ... I'm at an Agility Trial ... I'm running a planned course, I'm up next, I've walked it in my head, I feel confident with my dog, we walk onto the course ... then all of the sudden out of no where untrained, out of control beasts are out there the course and now I have to run my dog, stay on the path all while watching the pack and trying to navigate them around at the same time. It's awful, dreadful and really FUN!!!!


OMG COULD YOU FRIGGIN IMAGINE!!!

Pretty sure the saying don't quit your day job applies here ...
but Gyp and I are enjoying this part time job :)

Gyp clips

it's been a while since I've posted much about Agility :) Here are a few clips of Gyp from the weekend, we ran one day at the trial - I was SUPER pleased! Regionals is next weekend and we are really looking forward to it. It's always a great time.  That's all. Don't feel like writing more than that ... watch the Vid instead :) let me  know what you think!

Anyone home?

Its been a while since I posted and I have some big ideas that haven't made it here yet, so I'll leave you with this ...

We walked the dogs over to our new place and I think they approve!! Gyp REALLY wanted in there, she would run to each door and stand there waiting to go in, but we don't have a key yet :) we walked the neighborhood and its a 1 minute walk to the coulees where the dogs can run, a 5 minute walk to more open spaces and a 10 minute walk takes us to a nice park with a lake an there are lots if great walking paths. I think it would be about a 20-30 walk to the river but we haven't tried that yet. The house is still under construction and we move in July.

Happy Monday

19/52 :: open wide, originally uploaded by sarah ....

let's attack the week, like Gyp attacks the hose!

Today she would be 13

I'm in tears as I write this, today would have been jane's 13th birthday and I can't quit thinking of her and crying. I can go through a few days without crying but I make up for it on a day like today. Sometimes I miss her so much it literally hurts deep. I know nothing will bring her back, it's been 2 months without her and I still miss her like crazy - life is different now. Isn't this supposed to get easier?

In honour of her birthday we are going for DQ ice cream, something we did every year for her birthday ... Do have one for her today if you can!!

Here are some photos I rounded up if her favourite pass time ... Fishing ...

For the dogs ...

We bought the dogs a house. I hope they like it ... across the street from the Coulees, parks and pathways just around the corner, no main floor carpeting ... a dog run off the garage for doing their business.
(Though we bought this house for them, Pete assures me we are never getting another dog.)

It's our first big kid house ... We are a tad excited!

2 worlds collide

This weekend my comfortable agility world and the newer scary herding world collide. I have a seminar in each. Saturday I'm training with Terry Simons in his international handling seminar ... Its our last instruction before Regionals which is less than a month away. Then Sunday Gyp and I put away the fleece tug toy for real some Sheep ... Louanne is hosting a herding clinic in preparation for our trial in June. I'm looking forward to both, it should be a fun weekend for both Gyp and I!! Here's hoping both of our brains can handle it ... Well I have more faith in my dog than myself ... :)