Not So Prefect Beti

Now as you know, like her father the sun shines out of her bottom, but believe me little miss is not perfect.

The breakfast challenge is annoying. I get up at 7am everyday, let them all out and give them all their breakfasts. The Winter routine is that I go back to bed with a cuppa and, as instructed, a hot water bottle to "cook" my knee and hamstring for 20 mins each. I usually scrawl through Facebook, and I have been know to snooze till 9 ish. When I get up, the dogs are good to go again, after all they've had that necessary rest after eating. But of course, that is not true of Beti, she doesn't choose to eat until I re-appear, and that completely throws the morning routine out of synch. 

Even more annoying is the noise in the van; the continuous high-pitched barking of excitement is absolutely doing my head in. It's grating. It's honestly getting worse, and I don't know what to do about it. By the time I got to Penygroes today, I think my blood pressure was through the roof, honestly I could have cried when I got out of the van ... and yeah it is only her! Ok when we set off Siska and Sammi can say a few words, and of course when we arrive and park up, others are vocal too, but Beti is non-stop in recent times, and I'm just not coping. I've got so desperate that I have ordered a vibrating collar - I just had to try something or I'm not going to be able to carry on as I am and I'm really enjoying the exploring.

Walking In The Rain

The Three

I spent quite a lot of time with these three in the fields. Sammi and Meerah had a fab time racing, and Zeus did the best he could on the long lead. Meerah is such a sweetheart, so loving and generally obedient, just a tad noisy at the beginning of the walk. Sammi is still moulting; it's never-ending. I get her looking good and within a couple of days she looks like an explosion again.

I do wish I could let Zeus off the lead in the field with the girls, but it's just not sensible to do so. He means no harm, but he's OTT and  Meerah is quite intimidated by him. I just wish he'd be a little calmer around her. To be fair to the lad, he really is better behaved since he spent the last year spending more time with his mum. A friend said it brilliantly recently: "Monkey see, monkey do!" 

Lovely Morning Walks

This walk on the outskirts of Carmel has become one of my favourites. It's so pretty and so quiet there. I think I've seen one person, ever. I have to be careful with the sheep; there have been times when they've come over the walls onto the path. I generally go up one way with the first lot on the lead, then let them off to come back down. If I'm doing the circuit to the right, then they have to stay on the lead, as there is often a stray sheep on that track. It's quite similar on the circuit to the left, but once you've gone through the fields, they can be off the lead again for a short while. It's not a long walk, but we mooch and have fun. 

Beti At Crufts

Filming – Something I will never do again! 

I think this is my favourite photo of Beti in the ring on Thursday. She looks super, as Joe Summhill said this summer, "perfect angulation" of the hindquarters, and her front looks correctly balanced. Her overline shows a steady, straight slope from correct withers to a croup that could be longer and slightly better angled. Her length-to-height ratios are correct, and she has the most beautiful head and expression. Hell no dog is perfect; I know her faults, but honestly I'm really happy with her, this is where I want to be in this breed.

So Crufts, for the first time in as many years as I can remember, I've not watched the groups. I feel so disheartened by the way the breed is treated year in year out at Crufts. I'm not disputing, there have been some winners that have not done the breed any favours over the years, but this year the injustice is demoralising, deflating and well, plain sickening. They couldn't have got a better, healthier, calmer female to represent the breed in the big ring, and they still found fault during the vet check. I feel very strongly that with the backing of the Breed Council this should not be left to lie. The owner, breeder and the GSD community deserve a public apology for this injustice. I really hope the video I took, that is now all over social media is presented to the RKC and that for once they see the error in a decision that has shocked the GSD community. If things remain as they are, I fear no one will want to exhibit a well-bred GSD at Crufts in the future. 

Crufts

Crufts 2026, well what do I say? I think after my TV appearance I've decided on a career in the media – RADIO only! 😮 Beti was fantastic all day, full of her usual spark, fun and loveliness. She was placed 4th in PGB. I adore her and I'm always pleased with her. Huge congratulations to Jackie with Ricco, Ian with Kiaan, and Sharon and Mark with Lucca all gaining a 1st in their classes; the highlight of the day, of course was Lucca winning his 3rd CC. Tears of joy from all his fan club. The BOB "Holly," one of my favourites, she is absolutely stunning, a sound calm character and totally free from exaggeration, but as ever for the breed at Crufts, winning is a double-edged sword and their decision an insult to the female, the breed, the breeder, the breeding and the owner – and all in front of the President of the SV. As far as the rest of the GSD world is concerned Crufts is fast becoming a farce, and I do wonder who will bother entering in future if this is the way the breed is treated. What a sad end to a lovely day. 

Anyway it was great to see you all, see you again soon xxx

Sammi In The Sun

A blue sky and a warm, dry morning sure does lift the spirits, but nothing could warm my heart any more today than watching Sammi enjoying herself in the field. Every day with her is more precious than ever. Oh, don't get me wrong, she's well, as far as I can tell, very well, but I do know that we are in the twilight of our time together. I refuse to mourn her before she's gone, I will concentrate solely on enjoying her. Ok she may not run as fast as she did, but she still plays chase with Meerah. The game may not last as long, but it's still great fun for them and me. Her hearing may not be as acute as it was, and I think there are some vision changes; I only think that because she almost takes my fingers off when taking a treat in recent weeks. When asked how old she is, I always say "she's 12, but no one has told her." To be honest, I don't think I've been told either. You just can't see that she's aged, she has very little grey, and in fitness and mobility, she could easily be just eight years young. 

One thing that we did find at the weekend was this little lump/growth near the tip of Sammi's tail. I decided to leave it a week, look again and then decide what to do. 

Siska's Drooling Update

Still concerned about Siska I left a message at Deufor and asked if a vet would ring me. Beth was the first vet to ring, and I explained everything to her. Siska is still drooling, but I do believe a little less so, and I think she has a bit more of her normal spark about her today. Still, I felt happier discussing the symptoms with someone in the know, whom I trust. I explained that Siska had no temperature; was eating, be it slowly; her teeth were spotless, and that her colour was good, but my concern was the very wet mouth, the candles of drool and the quiet disposition, this giving the impression of pain or discomfort that even with pulling, pushing and poking we couldn't find. I told Beth I knew it was not MMM as we'd been there before with Kiri, and that there was no swelling like Nico had with a blocked/infected saliva gland. With everything I'd reported and taking into account Siska's past history, Beth also felt she had probably scraped the back of her mouth or throat. She told me to carry on with the loxicom, (I'd been giving her Ross' loxicom for a few days) and to use the antibiotics if there is not a drastic improvement by tomorrow. (I have antibiotics here since the last fiasco when she had the abscess – I think I asked for a second dose should I need it) I've also managed to get a pot of Manuka honey for her - Beth agreed it may help, but whatever, as she said, "she'll like it!"

About an hour later Ken rang, I told him he'd lost the race and that Beth had beaten him to it today! 

Poorly Nico

Through A Small Screen.

 Last night I wanted to double check a photo I'd put on Facebook yesterday, so I scrolled through the album and realised how shit some of the photos looked on a small screen. I've said before I take photos of the dogs and the scenery, but the focus is usually on the dogs. Getting the surrounding area shows how lucky we are, and also highlights our adventures. They look OK on the phone when I take them, and they look good on my laptop when I add them to my Facebook albums, but now seeing them yesterday, I'll have to think again. I love my phone, but I honestly would not be happy with it being my only access to the internet; I'd miss far too much detail, which is sometimes the point of the post! 

In the same light, my blog is always written on a laptop, but when looking at the post on my phone, sometimes they look awful, especially if I've put photos within the post and not just at the top. I saw even half a word next to the photos ... but I will continue to write and design my blog on a laptop, as is my preference. 

Dydd Gwyl Dewi