Out Of And By

Mrs S is off on a rant again. I just feel if you're going to do it, you do it right. For example, Blanik Kyriacos is by Fransisco Di Casa Gregori out of Blanik Ivana .. right?  So when advertising a litter or promoting a dog the sire is listed first. Well yeah always, or that's how it should be. Also if you ask me who is Kyriacos' by? Then he's by Fransisco, if you ask me who he's out of? Then the answer is Ivana - he can't be out of Fransisco, his sire or by Ivana his dam, can he? Maybe I'm being pedantic? Maybe I'm spending too much time on social media? Hell if people are not sure then maybe they should just ask "what's the breeding?" LOL 

The Race

To avoid the "Easter Race" we turned back and took the van down to the bottom of Mynydd Cilgwyn. For a sunny Easter weekend it was pleasantly quiet. The guys loved it so much, even Loki legged it to the lake.

Seeing all those people running took my thoughts back to Asha, sweet confident, obedient Asha and her moment of madness as she followed the runners away from us. It was when I had Sammi and Loki as youngsters .. they listened, she didn't. Maybe she thought there were butties and cakes at the end of the race!

Avoiding Moel Tryfan I took Orin and Siska past the donkey field and did some road work, not my favourite kind of walk, but it was a change. There are two places on the walk where they can safely be off the lead .. or so I thought. Both here doing a super recall .. did they see the lamb who somehow pushed onto the track? Maybe O did, but she didn't ... and breath! Never ever become complacent, it's the nature of the beast. 

Because he's on the lead Zeus went onto Moel Tryfan as the runners were heading back. He did really well, though was uncomfortable with people running up behind him. He did nothing wrong, but stopped and waited for them to pass, until he saw Ian .. then he ate chicken! 

Today's Outings

Gold Stars

After my rant yesterday about people having control of their dogs I was so pleased to be able to award some of the Blanik gang gold stars today. As I returned towards the van on my first walk Beti took herself off away from the pack, I could see there was nothing ahead and let her run ... but as she went further than usual I felt uneasy and called her back, "Beti come." Little Miss B came legging it back and I wanted to praise her with the enthusiasm she deserved, so I quickly shoved Sammi into the van. Sammi has read a different training manual to me and when Beti has had a similar "run-around" in the past, Sammi has floored her when she got back. Hmm, maybe we've been doing it wrong all these years, lol. Anyway, Beti thundered it straight back and leaped into the van without stopping, I said "Good girl Beti, great job," and Sammi said "You go that far again you little shit and I'll bite you!" Funny how the angel forgets she was once referred to as "The naughty Angel!"

Though the sun was shining, it was breezy and bitterly cold, and I hadn't seen a soul. Again I was returning towards the van when Orin stopped and looked my way. Wow, he's so handsome, get a picture, oh god he's still standing there he takes my breath away ... get closer to get another picture. Then the penny dropped .. he's not looking at me, what is he looking at? I looked behind me,  Ahhh two people with two dogs heading my way. "Orin come," lead on, good boy, "Siska come," lead on, good girl. The people waved an acknowledgment, I waved back, and then I stood a while trying to figure out what one of the dogs was. I got to the van, put my two in and called out .. "Excuse me, is it a Dutch?"  "No she replied a BSD Malinois." I though, Na, so I questioned "Working line?" She replied no, crossed with a GSD .. "Ah, makes sense, beautiful dog,"  and he was, though to be honest by then he was off his cake, and I was glad mine had stayed away! 

Zeus and I got a soaking on the last walk. I kind of hoped Steve would have taken Orin and Siska and the washing in, but he hadn't noticed! On the walk I left the headcollar in my pocket and walked Zeus on a pulling collar today, actually it went well, but we didn't see anyone or any sheep. I may try it again tomorrow and hope I don't regret it. 

From Sunshine To Gales

Loki, Ross, Beti and Sammi

Orin and Siska - sometimes an unposed snap is the best.

Zeus

A Loki Rant

When you are sitting at the vets with an old dog by your side, wouldn't you think that people would be a little more considerate than to allow their Cockers to jump in his face? Of course Loki did nothing wrong except sit up to get away from them, and I got daggers as I pushed one away from his face. Think people think.

I was already a stress head when I got there. I got up to snow and couldn't get out for Loki's morning appointment. Beth was not available this afternoon, but Ken was there, so I said yes to that time. 

With a free morning, I enjoyed taking everyone out in the snow, it was the most accumulation that we've had in years but with Spring sunshine it was melting in front of my eyes. On the group of four walk I realised something was wrong with Loki and I came back home to get Loki into the warm. He was swollen like a barrel and shaking ... as soon as I got in, I gave him his "bloat" tablets. He ate some biscuits which was a relief and I rubbed his belly, honest to god it was rock hard. Steve and I recall that this has happened more than once before to him in snow.  I think he eats so much of it that it upsets his system. Eating small amounts of snow can cause gastrointestinal upset in some dogs, whilst in some dogs they can suffer from something more serious called snow gastritis. Logically, eating the snow lowered his core body temperature, making it more difficult for him to stay warm and causing him to shiver/shake.  Keeping a close eye on him, we were able to relax within an hour or so.

By the time we were going to the vets it was pouring down with rain, all the snow had gone and it was just horrible out there. Between getting the dogs into the van and opening and closing the top gate I was soaked .. and no, I didn't have the right clothes. The journey took forever with all the bank holiday traffic heading the same way, and the weather was just as vile there. 

Loki had a pee on the way into the vets and we both sat soggily waiting to be seen. I just can't get over the rudeness of people and their inability to control their dogs in these situations. Ok they may have only been bringing their dogs in for their unnecessary boosters but some animals sitting in that room are old or infirm and deserve respect. My dog deserves respect, he does not deserve to have three stupid Cockers leaping into his face ... and as ever the owners are to blame. Loki did nothing wrong, but he had to sit up twice from the down to get away from them, that is not comfortable for him. Yes I'm really annoyed, I was seething, My old dog deserves respect as does everyone's dog, whether they be old, ill, or just plain grumpy ... give them space and keep your fecking Cockers in their own space. 

Ken thought Loki looked well, but I guess the last time he saw him he was really poorly with that chest infection. He assured me that the snow had caused the bloating this morning and that he was over it now, though his bladder was very full. His weight is back up to 40kg, though his responses in his hind quarters are pretty shit, to be fair I think Ken said sluggish. Loki had his librela injection, I've decided to carry on with them. I understand that they may not be recommended for Loki's issues, but it's working. Along with the paracetamol and steroid it's giving him the quality of life he deserves and his day by day well-being is far more important than worrying about the  "what ifs?" of the future. 

Oh I just remembered ... The lump on Loki's leg is nothing but bone ... Ken said he had one himself, I declined the offer of a look! 

I Wasn't Expecting That

8am snow - wow so much of it, but it was already melting fast. 

By mid-morning it was all disappearing but we all got to go out in a bit of covering. 

Training Club

Last night it was celebration night at Dog Club. We had lessons and a lovely evening with cake and alcohol-free bubbles. For a small club we made our mark at Crufts and on last years overall results. So put aside the wonderful class placings and wins, the BOB Manchester Terrier is owned by a club member, the BOB Malinois was bred by a club member and the BOS Malinois was bed and owned by a club member. Beti was BPBIB on the day, the top winning Groenendael puppy of 2023 is owned by a member, and the top brood of all the pastoral breeds is owned by a member - therefore yes, plenty to celebrate.

Taken from one of the group pics, this made me smile. 

Little Beti loves me!

Wither Height

 

From being a titch Siska has dropped on her wither. The wither is above the shoulder blades and should be the highest point of the back in stance and movement. In stance Siskas wither height is acceptable, but as she moves she drops on her forehand - and as we see she always has done. As I've said before as an adult in stance Siska is pretty close to picture perfect, but on the move this does detract. As with everything, some judges will penalise it more than others, some will consider that it's not worth a worry, others will really dislike it. What doesn't help is that Siska hasn't always got that look at me show presence, that often helps them up a place or two. I will not be retiring her, she's far too good to stay at home, but I will now be considering which judges are right for her. The plan at the moment is that Siska will not be going to Bolton or Sheffield, but I have entered her at the other shows in Spring and early Summer. Hopefully she'll come in season early to mid-Summer and the hopefully we can have out "M" babies. 

Size Matters

Poor Loki has lost muscle and bulk and really does seem to have shrunk! In comparison, Ross now looks like a tank! Though he's not fat, he probably is carrying a little too much weight and he's well muscled. Anyway the chat lead me to measure him, something I hadn't done in years .. 69cms, No! Try again 69 cms again. I changed rooms, maybe the floor is not level -70 cms OMG it's getting worse. I measured Loki 66.5cms, yes less than he was due to loss of muscle. I moved the stick as it was onto Ross' wither, it looked like it was about an inch off the floor. OMG Ross! Well who cares?, he's no longer a show dog, just a big loveable brown clown. I stood both boys next to each other and the difference in bulk and size was easy to see, Loki still has the better reach of neck, but you can see due to his condition that he's also sinking on his backend.

Whilst I had the stick out I measured Beti too, 60cms. As I've said with the uneven floor and a homemade measuring stick I could be a CM out, but no more really. (I thought I'll try outside in daylight) So maybe Ross is 68cms,but no less. If I am going to do the odd regional as well as KC shows with Beti then she needs to stop now really. I'm sure she will, there is never much skeletal growth after 9 months, and bones start to fuse at 11 months, it's muscle and maturity that often give the impression of further growth. 

Beti has better wither height than Siska, Siska has a tendency to drop her wither on the move, she always has done and with her lack of effort at times it can ruin what is otherwise a pleasing picture. In stance Siska is pretty picture-perfect but Orin out classes her on the move. It's hard to tell how Beti will be, but at the moment she has more about her than Siska, I mean more ring presence, which always helps. 

Orin was measured at a regional and by Joe, he was 66 cms. He is not classed as oversize, just top size. Zeus is easily the smallest male here, I mean in height, he has plenty of bulk and the coat gives a greater impression of size. He's just under 64 cms and usually about 4kg less than Orin, though Orin's is more trim now, he had put on too much weight. 

Anyway things to do ... but I think I will look back at the other girls photos at 9 months later today .. and no doubt I'll be sharing them.