Tali, Weather and Internet

Yesterday morning I got up to the strangest sounds, sights and smells. It was approaching 8am but so dark, I questioned my clock, I questioned that my eyes were reading it correctly, yep it really was 7.50am. I went to let Nico out, I could hear the wind before I opened the door and as I opened it the warm air that hit me was not something I was expecting. Then there was the smell, someone must have a fire going somewhere I thought. I went out and stood on the bench to look down towards Caernarfon, I fully expected to see smoke, there was none! It was later when I noticed the broadband was not working which lead to a frustratingly long but funny conversation with George in Bulgaria!!! I’m now writing this on Word hoping to copy and paste it into blog before the end of the day. Nothing like a bit of positive thinking is there? But of course Open Reach are now on the case so it may be a while!!!!
 Tali, well she was my reason for wanting to update really. She’s doing ok so far on the pills, 3 days on and 3 days off. The only cause for concern yesterday and today is the fact that she got into Ross’ cage yesterday morning and grabbed mouthfuls of puppy food. She so defiant and I had to drag her out. This morning she tried it again but I was waiting for her. Sadly she’s drinking a lot today and that usually happens before she get diarrhea. I’ll monitor her today and if I feel she needs a couple of days of extra pills then I’ll give them to her. (Today is day 3 of having them) What tends to happen is, unlike all the others Ross does not rush into his crate for his breakfast, and goes meandering about the place. As there is no breakfast for Tali she’s now looking for alternatives. Tali has to wait 30 mins for her breakfast as vivitonin has to be given a minimum of 30 mins before food. Tali does not agree with this delay!
I guess the storm is over for us now, the wind was horrendous late afternoon into early evening but they young dogs loved it and I had great difficulty in getting them to stay indoors.
 My god .. Open Reach have just been, the hub is knackered again, so now I’ll have to wait for another. I’ll just borrow Linda’s dongle to post this then ….

All Out

Little Success

Yesterday the GSD entries were very poor in LLandudno with Loki standing alone in Open and Kaiah standing alone in graduate. Thankfully there was more competition from the other two classes, but BOB was not to be for Blanik yesterday. Unlike last weekend I have no problem at all about being beaten to BOB, to be beaten by a nice dog is never a problem. Well done to young Marco on his first BOB with puppy group 2 as well. Really chuffed for Jackie, the boy looked great.
The camera was in the bag and due to the excess crowding around the ring, it stayed there. Though I used the phone to take one photo of Ross resting his leg on Tracy's lap,  and of course we had to get a lovely photo of Marco and his proud owner to go on Facebook!

So who is Blanik Jeevana?

 Kaiah was the sweetest easiest bitch puppy ever, she has no hang ups about life and takes every day and every situation as it comes. There is no doubt Kaiah loves life, she bounces her way happily through every day, usually with a chuckit ball in her mouth. (Space hoppers are now banned) She is sweet, affectionate and cuddly but can be as determined and head strong as her great great granny Tali, (but thankfully with a greater need to be with me than Tali has.) On walks she has one of the best recalls I could ask for, and she never strays far from the pack.If Kaiah is not hiding ready to pounce on someone on a walk, her favourite game, then she's found something to climb .. the higher the better.
Kaiah loves her dog show days and can't contain her excitement in the mornings, screaming like a banshee and bouncing like a kangaroo till she gets in the van. (I blame her mother who's equally as excited about shows)  At the show she always gives of her all and has never let me down in or out of the ring. (though recently I considered maybe I have let her down) Kaiah loves her food, and from weaning it was obvious she was the greedy one of her litter, but I'll never forgive the nightmares she gave me when she swallowed a whole carrot to stop Kyle for getting a piece!
Ok I confess, at times she is probably the noisiest "Blanik" ever ... though Kai, Jay and Storm would have given her a run for her money, and we have had some terrible teenager moments recently.
I so look forward to watching my beautiful puppy blossom into the beautiful adult she will surely be ...

Happy First Birthday

Yes the old cliche .. where has the time gone?

Happy First Birthday to Sammi B's kids. Kyle, Jethro and Kaiah. Thank you for a wonderful if somewhat noisy year in and out of the ring little Kaiah .. looking forward to the future together.

The boys feeding and my soggy surprise package had just arrived.

Kaiah at the back

Jethro and Kyle

Poor Ross

Sadly the anti inflammatory's are making Ross sick so I've had to take him off them. The vet says I have to give him a few days to get them out of his system before we can consider an alternative. Ross is still lame but keeping him quite is impossible. I try and give him long periods in the crate, but then when I let him out he's mental, so I feel that defeats the object. I've bought him some rawhide chews today with the hope that some chewing time will help over the next few days. The forecast is awful for tomorrow and I find him worse when he doesn't get to go out for a walk. The vet had said walk him, but don't let him run. Anyone who has been here on a wet and windy day will know how unpleasant it can be, but I guess I could go an find a woodland walk somewhere.
Anyway I now have till Monday to try and keep him calm before he can get more medication. I can deny that I'm worried about this, as is my nature of course.

Don't You Piss On My Parade

So this morning I woke up to a negative comment on my critiques online. Not negative about my dogs but about the breed's health in general. This is a person who has made inappropriate comments on my posts previously and I've just let it pass, but this time I was less forgiving. I've answered her on the post, as has the judge, then I've sent her a private message and unfriended her. There is no doubt she has valid points that need discussing, but maybe a post on healthy happy dogs is not the time or the place for her views!
This is what I sent ...
"S***** you've known me long enough to know that the breed is my life. Dog show people who occasionally breed do everything they can to ensure this breed is healthy. Hip scores, elbow scores and now through the support of "show people" they have found the gene that carries CDRM. All dogs bred by responsible breeders are tested for at least these three things, as well as PD. I know you dislike shows and show people but take on board that the majority of us have the health and welfare of this breed in the forefront of our lives. Further more if you think dog shows are no fun for dogs then I invite you here on a show morning to see the excitement from the dogs going and to feel the disappointment of those staying home."

Dog Show days - Not just about being exhibited 

Lots of fun too!

WKC Critiques

Over the moon with Kaiah and Loki's critiques from WKC - couldn't ask for better for my baby girl who was BPIB on the day - thanks to judge Di Stirling .. so maybe I'm not wearing rose tinted glasses after all!

Stanley's Lokean Of Blanik ShCM. 22 months and another excellent exhibit. Very good head good eye, excellent angles fore and aft, good overline and croup. Sound going a little close coming. Very good side gait but another who needed the bigger ring his handler had to keep catching him up to keep him balanced.

 Stanley's Blanik Jeevana. 10 months old, lovely young lady. So feminine. Lovely head, correct dentition. Good shoulder. Excellent topline and croup. Angles correct fore and aft. Very sound coming and going with a lovey light side gait. She was for me all I was looking for and a very good prospect. BPIB

Vets And New Colorful Walk

 With Ross still limping a vet check was called for. Beth the vet gave him a thorough examination and discovered that there was pain in his right elbow. As best as she can tell without x rays the joint seems OK, so here's hoping he's knocked or pulled something. Rest and anti-inflammatory's have been prescribed, giving him the pills will be easy, convincing him not to charge around may be more difficult! She agreed that it was best to keep him walking daily, but not running. 

Who's going to tell him?
Ross was weighed to accurately determine the dose of anti -inflammatory's needed,
he was 21.40kg today.  

 On the way home we went to a new place for us to walk. Sharon had suggested it, and we loved it there. Kaiah couldn't help but play her favourite game, even though Ross was on the lead at the time! Can you see her?  The walk is called "Lon Goed" a well know walk in that area translated to "Tree's Lane," Or I guess a direct translation would be Tree's Road!

 Little Man had 5 mins off the lead as Kaiah had her turn on the lead.

If Kaiah is not hiding she's found something to climb .. and there she is on the left on top of slate mound! (Click on the photo to enlarge)

I did see two women walking collies today, both separately. I put the dogs on the lead as the first came towards me, she did the same. I moved to the side and as she past Kaiah barked. I kind of didn't want to stop her, I was in a secluded wood on my own and it made me feel a little safer really. The second woman drove in and parked as I got near my van. She let her dog out, so I called out. "Please can you give me a minute to just get these in the van?" She looked at me like I was a piece of shit and said, "Josie wouldn't want to come near 'them' anyway." I explained that Kaiah had been a little uncharacteristically gobby and I was just being careful. Again I got a stare of displeasure. I put mine in the van and she walked off. I watched as she walk up the tack and the other lady came towards her with the other collie. Neither called their dog back, neither put them on the lead, and within seconds a fight broke out between the collie, neither owner did anything other than stare at their fighting dogs. Had it been mine I'd have been in there sorting it out straight away. The fight stopped and both walked away. God what is it with people? Call your dogs back, put them on leads, give each other space, not all dogs get on. Keep your dogs safe! Though I have no evidence I'd blame the second lady, her attitude if nothing else was unsavory! 

If You Go Down To The Woods Today ..

..You'll find Kaiah climbing a log, or a rock, or a bank or anything she can find .. 

I had no camera with me, but couldn't resist taking a few shots with my phone. 

For Ross' safety I did two walks .. girls then boys.

Such a beautiful place, especially in Autumn