Some Dogs

Sometimes a dog comes into your life and changes things, either for the better or worse. Whatever it may be, we have to learn to cope, adapt, and manage. Rehoming in some cases is simply irresponsible and that is why Zeus is still here, rehoming him would have made our life so much easier but as he is my responsibility keeping him safe is paramount.

I guess I've been lucky over the years, there have been very few that have pushed the buttons too far. We all laugh now about Tali and her "Feck off" attitude, but in all honesty, she was never that difficult. I just wasn't used to a dog who did things in her time and not mine. She was a trustworthy girl with a lovely character, she was very confident in her own skin and just not needy. 

I think the most difficult female I've ever had was Jezi. There were times when I would have paid someone to take her away. She didn't particularly like people beyond her family, though to be fair she showed aloofness and not aggression, She was a nasty piece of work when it came to other dogs, particularly bitches. You may recall her absolute hatred of her sister Danni, who was Steve's pride and joy. Both sisters were never meant to stay, but Danni, who was a darling, had to be rehomed as Jezi could well have been a liability in the wrong hands. I tried to show her, her colour was not her fortune, but she was nicely constructed with nice movement, but her unpredicable character outside the ring made it impossible to relax in her company.  Of course, I didn't breed from her either! Managing Jezi wasn't easy, she couldn't be doubled up with any of the other bitches, but then a lovely, lovely dog called Nico joined the Blanik clan and his influence made her a better person. Nico was beautiful dog, a kind soul with an ideal character. 

Well I guess since we are talking about the difficult ones you know where I'm going next. "The Beautiful One" is easily the most difficult, unpredictable male I've ever owned. We manage him, we cope with him, and yeah we love him, but there is no doubt he can be a fecking knob. I think a huge part of the problem is that he's so bright, ridiculously clever, but as I've said numerous times, he has no interest in pleasing anyone but himself. Our ups and downs with him have been well documented and there is no doubt that spending more time with his mother has really improved managing him day to day, but I worry, she's not getting old, she may not know it but Sammi is old. What the hell will I do when the inevitable happens, or she becomes too old to be his buddy as well as his mother? I have tried him with Meerah, on a walk, it's great, but not in the house. He's too OTT with her and, as yet she's not been brave enough to tell him to bog off! 

A lot of the dog simply become part of the family, all special in their own right, they are generally easy ones, loveable and wonderful, but they don't necessarily stand out from the crowd like some of the others.(for the wrong or right reasons) I guess Siska and Meerah currently fit that category. They don't tend to give me any hassle, I adore them and they are family ... and then there are the ones who shine so brightly, not necessarily the big show winners, or the big personalities, just the ones who stand out more for one reason or another. Going back to the beginning, of course Blade, then Seffe, Louis, Mikey, Nico, Sammi, Kaiah, Orin and Beti. Coincidently, Nico was Sammi dad, and then you have her, both her kids and her granddaughter. 

Beti came here when I was in a very vulnerable place. The losses of 2022 had been absolutely devastating, but to go on then and lose Kaiah in 2023 almost took me over the edge. Beti helped heal the wounds, she distracted me from the sadness that was engulfing me, maybe that's why I've bonded so much with her. There is no doubt she's a star, bursting with energy and fun, but full of love and affection for me and her human friends. Like her father and grandmother, for me Beti always shines brightly, maybe my vulnerable state in 2023 made our bond deeper, or maybe it's just who she is that fills my heart. On saying that though, not everyone in this house is as impressed with her bubbly nature and exuberance as I am!! 

Nothing Happens In Fron

This morning, Sammi and Zeus waited in the van that I had parked by the top of Pen Yr Orsedd quarry. I walked Beti and Meerah cross-country to the Cwm and then headed off towards Castell, with the plan to circle right back through the fields to swap dogs. To get through the main gate before heading down for Castell I put both girls on the retractable leads. Closing the gate I got a sharp tug from Beti's lead .. I called her back, but she didn't come. She'd got the lead caught in the wall, and the more she pulled to get to me the tighter it got! I struggled and struggled to release it, but it was not budging, I consider I may have to cut my losses and leave it there, or call Steve. Then I heard a noise and I looked down the track (In the photo) to see two police cars and a police van coming towards me. Shit, I tied Meerah to the fence and pulled Beti into the edge. As one of the officers came out of her car to open the gate I called out "Can you help me?"  Bless her she came over and between us, we managed to get the lead free. I thanked her, and she left, but there were 6 of them in three vehicles ... what the hell had been going on at Castell??? (I did hear a couple of years ago that the owner had a "trespassers will be stabbed, " on the gate and that there was trouble with people walking the path. Needles to say I never go that far.) 

The second walk was pretty uneventfully really - but despite the wind we did have a lovely time!

With Steve needing to pick up his prescription I walked Orin and Siska down from the village, past the donkey field and he picked me up at the top of Carmel by the bus stop. The only disappointment was that there was not a single donkey in sight!

I hate having 7 dogs, poor Ross was today's billy no mates!

Traitors And Torsion

 I just want to thank Ian, Katrina and Jane for convincing me to watch "Celebrity Traitors"  recently. Having found it gripping I decided to give this recent series a go, surely it couldn't be as good? Well I can honestly say it's one of the best think I've watched. I don't do Strictly, Big Brother or it's like ... but I love I'm a Celebrity ... but Traitors, well it's in a class of its own, grippingly brilliant! 

On a more serious note, a friend's dog recently had a Torsion/GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus) luckily he survived and is doing well. I was lucky, Blade survived, twice, many are not lucky. Anyway I've got a bee in my bonnet about it, people are still calling it "Bloat,"  Torsion and bloat are different and knowing that could be a lifesaver for your dog. Bloat (gastric dilatation) is the swelling of a dog's stomach with gas or food, while torsion/GDV (gastric dilatation-volvulus) is a life-threatening, emergency condition where the bloated stomach twists, cutting off blood supply and trapping gas. Bloat is serious, but GDV is a rapidly fatal, surgical emergency that requires immediate intervention. Bloat can and often does lead to torsion, but being aware of the difference is paramount! 

Symptoms of torsion can not be missed, it's obviously to the owner that something is wrong and Veterinary intervention is required, as GDV can be fatal within a couple of hours. "Symptoms including a visibly swollen/hard abdomen, non-productive retching, excessive drooling, extreme restlessness, and collapse. Other signs include rapid, shallow breathing, pale gums, and a fast heart rate."

Loki had many episodes of bloat, but luckily for us it never progressed to torsion, so his stomach filled with gas, but it did not twist. If he "bloated" we never left him alone and on one occasion I stayed up for hours with him to make sure he was safe overnight. Whilst he was unsettled and distressed, he was not drooling on trying to vomit. He would take a biscuit and we allowed him small drinks. Eventually things settled. All I will say is, I may have been unlucky to observe torsion in Blade and Storm (Who died of complications after surgery) but I was lucky to understand the difference when it came to Loki. If you ever have any doubts then get help, instantly! 

Lovely Walks In Dinas

Beti and Ross

Orin and Siska

Poor Sammi

Well, we are halfway through our three weeks of medical appointments, and we had a free day so Steve and I decided to go for lunch, lovely it was too. When we got back Sammi had had a complete meltdown in her crate. The front of the crate was warped and bent and the cable ties we used when she last did it in the Summer were over the other side of the room. Wow the state of it, it had taken some effort. She's not had a meltdown since I was staying in Windsor in the Summer, and that was during a Summer storm ... I can only think that the wind and hearing changes had spooked her again. There's never an issue with her in the bedroom, but obviously for some reason the strong wind upsets her when she's in her crate. 

Fecking Wind

With the wind howling through the mountain, I felt I had no choice but to go downhill to walk. I parked just below Dinas railway station to discover I was heavily over-dressed and there wasn't a breath of wind down there. I do remember thinking, if anything bullies me off this mountain, it'll be this bastard wind! 

I love walking these two together now, Meerah has learned so much from Beti's confidence and happy-go-lucky outlook to life. She didn't bark at anyone or anything. As we set off, a person pushing a pram and walking the dog quickly retreated back the other way as soon as we joined the path. An older couple, by that I mean just a tad older than me, walked towards us and I moved the girls to the side. "Bore Da" (Good Morning) and in Welsh the man said, "What a beautiful couple of dogs, so majestic." I thanked them and Beti I'm sure said "We know!"  A couple of bikers and walkers, with everyone polite and grateful that I moved the girls to the side for them to pass. One jogger said, "Thanks, good boys!" I shouted girls after him and when we again passed him on the way back he made me smile as he said "Thanks ladies!" Then I jumped out of my skin as a man on a bike was suddenly right behind me. I told him, Wow, you made me jumped out of my skin, he stopped and said "Oh I'm sorry," before putting his arm out to Beti saying "You are beautiful." She wiggled from her waist down before jumping up and kissing him. Oh, Beti you are such a tart, he then put his hand out to Meerah, she wagged her tail but gave him a more subtle "Hi!" 

I couldn't walk far, after yesterday's physio my knee was killing me, though more so on the slight decline, it was better on the way back. To be honest if it wasn't for my knee I wouldn't even notice that the path wasn't straight. On a positive note, the physio praised me for the work I'd done as my knee is now a lot stronger than it was. The new exercise will be harder, but needs must!  

Manchester Chat

 It was an early start to Manchester, but not as dog shows go, it's just there have been very few early starts recently, and I've got quite lazy! I picked Owen up in Bodelwyddan, then joined up with Debbie in St.Asaph before all change at Junction 10 of the M56 where Linda jumped in with me and Owen joined Debbie. 

It was just great to see the special people in my life again. Despite a post floating around Facebook that stronger people have fewer friends, I'm happy if I'm considered weaker as I love the people I'm blessed to have in my life. It's not that I need them to pander to me or "Validate my worth," I just love having my like-minded friends around! 

Beti was in the biggest class of the day, and looked fab. She gave a great performance for Arron and really gave me the boost I needed. I have to say I do regret not taking Orin, I'm sure he'd have managed a very respectful 3rd in Open, but of course, I'll never know!

Siska really didn't want to play, I guess her hormones were in charge on the day, but she was still happy to sit in her chair and eat crisps! 

A few people that I expect to see were absent, but having found out that one of them had had major surgery 2 weeks before, I was concerned. Anyway I rang him yesterday, and we talked for an hour which ended up with him thanking me for the call saying it had really cheered him up. 

Back to the show, Katie bless her walked round the GSD ring giving out Cadbury cream eggs, not my favourite, but I put one in my pocket for later. Sarah kindly bought me a Wham! T.shirt, and I've been told I have to wear it for Crufts ... so even with Last Christmas on it, I will wear it. As we packed up Linda was hanging onto Beti, an elder gentleman was desperately trying to get her attention (Beti's not Linda's 😁) but she only had eyes for me. (Beti not Linda!!) Anyway I lead her over to meet him and she was her usual cuddly self but as I turned to continue collapsing her cage she watched my every move. I guess, happy that I was not going anywhere she went back to her new friend, and as I said "Just watch her she can get OTT," she climbed onto his lap and gave him a big wet sloppy kiss, well several actually. He was beaming, Beti made his day! 

As I was packing up I came across a prize card that wasn't ours in our trolley, hopefully forgotten and not simply discarded. As I've said before, for me it's not about the "Prize" these days, it's about the accolade. Class trophies and rosettes are wonderful to receive, but sadly many here have just ended up in landfill, at least the cards can be popped in a folder and saved. Of course, "Special" rosettes and trophies are treasured, but too much of a good thing kind of ruins the moment for me. 

After Debbie's van was dug out of the mud, we set off for home. I had discussed with Ian that I'd like to follow him home, and I was kind of hoping for a Maccies stop, but sadly they had gone, and I just didn't feel comfortable going to Maccies on my own with Owen, yeah I'm a bit odd, but I got a sandwich in Bodelwyddan services and as I competed the journey on my own I regretted not buying chocolate for myself. Then a light bulb moment. Cadbury's Cream egg .. but where was it? I have six pockets in my body warmer but for the life of me I couldn't feel where it was from the outside. There was nothing else for it, other than a search of all the pockets ... 5 pockets down and no egg .. pocket no 6 .. OMG my hand was engulfed in a sticky mess, and as I tried to pull my hand out of my pocket the pocked pulled through so it was inside out and a mass of stick egg, melted chocolate and silver paper covered my hand. Now I'm on my own in the dark, on the A55, all I could do was flick it off onto the dashboard and suck the melted goo off my hands - what a mess!!! Lesson learned, don't put a Cadburys Cream egg in your pocket and expect it to still be whole 6 hours later! 

Kaiah

 Last night I was chatting to Ian in messenger, we were chatting about Kiaan and comparing photos of him from Manchester Champ Show over the years. When Ian's reply made no sense I looked back at my post, OMG I'd typed Kaiah instead of Kiaan. I explain myself, but a little further on Ian type Kaiah and I thought his comment was irrelevant to the chat, but then he said .. I meant to say Siska! How odd eh, maybe last night Miss K wanted to make sure she was not forgotten, maybe she wanted us to know she was still the star of the show! 

Loki, Ross and Kaiah always out in front!

Siska And Seasons

 I have a lot to say about Manchester Champ Show, and I will write a post, but one thing has come to mind that I need to write about. At the show I was sat chatting to a lady who had a lovely Reno son, and I told her what had happened with Siska, so she told me her story .... She blood tested a female and the test showed she would be ready for mating within 2 days. She took her over to German for the mating, but the bitch was totally unreceptive and they didn't get a mating, they came home and tested the bitch .. her season had finished! Anyway, the following season was normal, they cut their losses and didn't go back to German, they mated her to Reno and had the litter. 

The chat has made me think of Siska and her long and very odd season, maybe she did something similar? There is no doubt she was less receptive to Reno than she was to Vesco and Lucca, and there is no doubt that within 2 days of the mating the boys here had switched off. So she wasn't ready on Thursday, and from the reading shouldn't have been on Friday ... or early Saturday, but hell we'll never know now will we, it's just the chat has given me hope that next time things may go to plan! 

Manchester Champ Show

Well, that was just the boost I needed - Beautiful Beti was 2nd out of 11 in PGB. She gave a faultless performance and even if I say so myself, looked fabulous. 

Now Siska on the other hand, well she stood well at the beginning of the class, moved well and then decided she'd had enough ... refusing point-blank to stand again, probably loosing her self a place. Naughty Siska was 3rd out of 4 in her first open class!