Walking Stories

I came home from the walk ready to moan about how awkward Nico had been, I could only imagine there had been a very interesting female about. Bloody dog, does he not realise how old he is? Zeus had been a tit and got his head collar off, and I was ready to tell Steve that I was quite pleased with how Jezi had done. Steve stopped me in my track and said I needed to phone home, my father was struggling and an ambulance was on its way. Suddenly, the dogs misdemeanours paled to insignificance. Luckily, my brother and his wife are at home and they had managed to get my dad back to his bed. With the ambulance due in 20 mins I had no chance to get there ...

Steve suggested he should come with me on the next walk, he was concerned about my emotional state but making sure Ross doesn't run into me let alone Steve is hard going. Part of me would have loved the company, but as I sobbed my heart out for most of the walk, maybe I was best on my own.  

The gold star goes to Siska who didn't chase the running sheep. Orin and Kaiah were in the dip and didn't see them, but Siska and I did. There's a lot of good in the little spitfire, when she comes out of this horrible teenage phase she'll no doubt be as obedient as her mother. Orin and I continue to get closer and closer, though I must confess the girls do better recalls! 

Jezi Video 3

Looking back at the other videos shows the previcox are serving her proudly. All week she's continued with an awkward/untidy looking front action but it's nothing like the serve limp that she had at the end of last week. I'm taking her to the same bit of track for the videos so that the change of terrain does not influence my thought one way or another. 

Loki

Though I'm not overly worried I want to make a note for myself for future reference, Loki wasn't quite as good yesterday. He kept knuckling his front feet,, and on one occasion got his back legs in a knot and then fell into a sitting position. I didn't need to help him, he was soon sorted and off.  He still did the walk and seemed Ok at home, but just in case I need to look back, or change medication then I need to know when this happened. Maybe it's a one off?

Cwm Dulyn

Daddy O

 I'm over the moon to announce that Arya had her babies overnight. 6 dogs and 4 bitches were born living and sadly one bitch was born sleeping. Arya and her human assistants now have a lot of work on their hands whilst Orin has no responsibilities. haha  Huge Congratulations to Delwyn and Myfanwy. 

Hips

 Like I had for Orin I opted to send Siska's plates to the ANKC. She was X-rayed yesterday lunchtime and the results came in to my laptop overnight. With a wait of 6 weeks for their results the BVA are really getting it very wrong. The cost is not a factor either, with the ANKC being £30 cheaper than the BVA. 

I took a photograph of the hip plates and even I could see a difference in both hips. I observed that the right hip looked as good as Orin's and Rhys at the vets put Orin's plates up for me to compare. Yes to a lay person with moderate experience Siska's right hip was as good as O's. The left hip on the other hand doesn't look as perfect, the ball is not tight in the socket, even I know that the subluxation affects the norberg angle, so I expected points on those two categories. Steve pointed out that he didn't think the edge of the socket was as perfect on the left hip either - Ok, I see that so yeah the possibility of point there too. Well we were both right with the scores being on the Norberge angle, subluxation, cranial acetabular edge (the edge of the socket) and one point on the rim of the socket (Cranial effect acetabular rim). 

Yesterday evening I compared Siska's plates to the others, concentrating on the left hip only. I still felt her right hip was equal to Orin's so gave it little thought. I compare the left hip to Sammi's score of 7 and Jezi's of 12 - without doubt Siska's hip was better than Jezi's, and that gave me great comfort.(Even though Jezi's score is still acceptable for breeding) Actually, I said to Sharon that I hoped for a score at the lowest of 2/5 and up to maybe 4/7 ish and I think I did quite well when the score is 2/8. I really am thrilled, and I now hope to continue my line through Siska next year. 

Interesting article which I'd like to save for my own future reference

https://clumberhealth.helpdocs.io/article/au4fsx7fv9-hip-scoring 

What am I talking about? These may help. 

Siska's Health Tests

Hips 2+8 = 10  - Elbows 0 - DM clear

Happy Days. Though the hip score seems uneven, she has one close to perfect hip and one which is about average for the breed. No complaints from me, I'd have been over the moon with a 8+8 score. Funny how this left hip continues to score higher in my bitch line. I wonder if it is genetic, or is it something I'm doing wrong with puppies to cause an unbalance?

Kaiah 4 +7

Sammi 4+7

Ziva 4+5 

Jezi 6+12 (Not bred from)

Asha 6+11

Tali 6+11

Anyway her hips are below the average score in the breed so I'm delighted. Onward and Forward. Zalu X Siska next year then. 

Walking

Look at Ross - in all the photos he's looking at Sammi.

That is why he runs into me, he just doesn't look where he's going!

Kasey At Welks

Ian's lovely Kasey did brilliantly at the show yesterday too, getting a very respectable 3rd in limit and qualifying for Crufts 2023.

Kasey is a Nico daughter.

Siblings At Welks

 

Proving that she does get out of her chair and do something. One of Siska's best performances in the ring. I was super proud of her for that alone, and it was lovely to see her take the class beating 2022's best GSD puppy into second place. Maybe there is hope for you Siska! 

Callan had no difficulties winning JD, had he not done I think I'd have gone home. He looked super in the ring with Sarah and then to make us all doubly proud he got £25 by winning the stakes class. I hope he's put it in his piggy bank!

Orin At Welks

My beautiful O looking fantastic in the ring. He was second in PGD - beaten for the first time by Derrick - well it had to happen, he's a cracking lad. Of course, I'm disappointed, especially as Derrick got the RCC - but I don't have a problem with O being 2nd to a quality dog when the lesser quality dogs are behind him. 

Big hugs, well done my man. He's just a stunning hunk of a dog, I can only hope that his day for top honours will come.

Obligatory Chair Photos

Someone said to me yesterday, "Why bother with crates, just get them chairs?"

Knowing the person who said it, it was probably a bit of sarcasm, but it was so funny.

Truth is, after she's jumped all over everyone, she just sits in that chair and I can go about my business. I went in the ring and took photos, chatted to friends and relaxed. She just bloody sits there. Of course she's never left alone, it was always a case of one of us standing with her, but she's so confident and relaxed that I don't have to be glued to her. If she sees me, she's happy. People regularly comment about how well-behaved she is, well she is, actually she's almost the model dog.(in this show situation I hasten to add!!!) People stroke her, dogs sniff her .. and she just sits there, she only stirs when the food bag is opened, it's worth taking the chair just for her these days! 

All those empty rings behind Ian, numerous judges chose to go indoors with their breeds.

Much better to be out when we can - but it was bloody freezing. 

Jezi Update

After a good couple of days, Jezi's had a bad couple of days. I knew not to get my hopes up, but we do don't we! She's eating normally, rolling in the field and chasing Nico, but when walking or gaiting she is very lame. I guess when she's running the balance shifts a little and it's less uncomfortable. 

I'm really not sure how much time we have left, obviously if there are more good days then we make the most of them. She is on strong painkillers and is still quite lame - I wonder if steroids can help? I know that previcox is a non-steroid anti-inflammatory, maybe as things progress adding steroids will help. Keeping her comfortable is the priority and using common sense to decided when the pain is too much is paramount. Currently, we plod on and if she enjoys her days then so will we.

Remember The Dog Who Couldn't Walk?

Well now he goes up and down the banks with no help. The woods in Tremadog were just wonderful today, carpets of bluebells, they must be early? I honestly didn't expect it to be so beautiful there today. Mum was over the moon to get out for 20 mins and of course Loki was super. He is a great dog to walk with mum as he's calm and very obedient. He totally ignores other walkers and their dogs and doesn't crash around like Ross! As I was getting poo bags from the van Loki and mum had toddled off together towards the woods, he kept an eye on me but was happy to wonder off without pulling her off her feet. 

A Chuckit Afternoon

You may recall that some time back an 8-month-old puppy that a friend bred suffocated and died after swallowing a tennis size dog ball. It put the fear of god in me and all the chuckit balls went in the bin. I then went on a spending spree and bought three new Chuckit balls, 1 xlarge and 2 xxlarge. Sadly when they came I was the only one that showed any excitement, and they have been ignored in the toy box ever since ... well until today! Steve was sat on the bench in the sunshine this afternoon when Kaiah came came into the house, came back out again and presented him with a chuckit ball. Immediately Ross decided it was just the toy that he wanted and Siska went about spoiling it for everyone! I came into the house and got the other two chuckit's and within no time they were back playing the games they use to play with the smaller size balls. Siska had to be told a couple of times, but that's fine, she was quick to learn and responded positively. Orin sat looking at them like they were idiots, but something else we saw today whilst out playing with them, Orin is now dominant over Ross. There hasn't been a fight ... but I think Orin is naturally a more dominant male and Ross is quite happy being the class clown! 

Please if you are buying a chuckit, or a similar type of ball for your dog, please, please make sure it's too large to be swallowed. 

Bath Time

 I knew the walk in shower would come in handy!

Poor Orin - Oh don't feel sorry for him it's only water and if it was brown and dirty he'd be overjoyed!

Birthday Boy

My stunning Luther is three today, he was born in rescue so we know his date of birth. After loosing our three oldies within a year of each other I decided there was room at the inn. Though Perry had managed to squeeze in, after Oliver went there was room in our home and our heart for another rescue kitten. Having worked there for 12 years I knew the difficulties of rehoming black kittens, no one wants black cats ... so our next kitten had to be black, and male of course, there's only room for one "Princess" here! 

Luther is an amazing looking cat, he's not a lap cat, he's a busy chap who never turns up on time. Usually after all the other cats have eaten he'll wonder in and makes his presence known, "Luther is hungry, feed Luther."  He is affectionate, but he's no Jamie or Archie, it's all on his terms. He's a huge, heavy cat and his coat is like velvet, photos never really do him justice.

Happy 3rd Birthday to our lovely Luther. 

Jezi Video 2

Jezi's not dramatically lame but an awkward front gait again. We are going to keep her on the pain killers and just plod on day to day. We both agree that there is no need to put her through the stress of going in for Xrays when the treatment plan would be the same whatever the outcome ... I think I'll try and do a weekly video to help me compare. 

Cooler But So Peaceful Today

St Helen's Critique

Stanley’s Blanik Liszka, 13-month bitch with a balanced head, good muzzle with well-placed ears and eyes. Good depth of chest and good front angulation. Good length of back with good croup, but was slightly over-angulated at the rear.

Though a nice critique, after the judge gave BOB to an average quality puppy with one testicle her opinion matters not a jot (My phrase of the day) Siska was far too young to be considered for BOB but there were was a choice of 2 nice adults that should have taken top honours. A judge who misses such a huge fault is going into my "never again" book. 

Walking Words

A piss poor photo but the best I got. Getting these three to look in the same direction together is borderline impossible. Nico is ready for the off, and Zeus? Well no comment! At least Jezi is looking the right way! She wasn't as noticeably lame today, she just had an awkward gait. Just as I started to feel positive, the line "The lameness goes from intermittent to constant over 1 to 3 months, " came as a reminder in my ear. 

The gang behaving well and Loki loving life. 

Orin still looks so out of coat here but he is improving. I guess we miss that huge "rough." I've been working hard on the untidy hair on his croup that coast us so dearly last week. I thought it was better, but Ian deflated me by saying that is was actually no better. 😒 Still, I'd sooner hear the truth. It was quite disappointing really when a dog of lesser quality beats you because yours has some hair sticking up. Surely it's construction over coat? Ah well, one opinion that matters not a jot when playing the long game! 

Jezi Weigh In

I forgot to say, when Jezi was at the vets they asked for her to be weighed. With so much concern about obese animals, it seems part of any examination now that all animals are weighed. Anyway Jezi was dead on 30kg, only a gram or two different from her previous weigh in years ago. Beth said her weight was spot on. I guess you know by now that knowing their weights and keeping them the right weight is very very important to me so I was pleased that we have it right. 

Happy Birthday

 Our super old chap is 11 today and he demands cake! Bless him he is one of the kindest souls I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. A truly magnificent example of his breed both inside and out, without him the path that Blanik has followed would surely have been very different. To know him is to love him.
 Happy Birthday Nico, 
 father, grandfather and great-grandfather - I guess I better go and get you some cake then!

A Tennage Siska

Steve and I are finding Siska extremely hard work. Steve says she's the hardest, most defiant we've ever had. I think maybe we forget what pratts teenagers can be and to be honest I remember similar conversations about Kaiah, and Ross, OMG he almost drove me insane! Despite what Linda may tell you, Sammi was always an angel, 😇 and O has been pretty easy really. 

Siska is terrorising Kaiah, but the wheel turns, Kaiah did it to Sammi ... Siska has no respect for the other bitches and given the opportunity she's really bullying Sammi, Ziva is of little interest to her and Ross, well he's her buddy. Orin, hmm, well that's another story, he puts her in her place, and when he looses it she's actually scared of him.

Siska's eating habits are beyond ridiculous. If I try and get things off her she chews faster and swallows them. She already had a huge ulcer on the roof of her mouth and abscess in her throat which are likely to be caused by swallowing large or sharp items. I have to admit that when she was a young puppy I did think she would grow out of it, it seems I was wrong. Yesterday she was ripping large amounts of turf up in the bottom field and eating it, roots, soil, stones and all. There was no way she would come to me and as I approached she swallowed it in large lumps. I just thought to myself if this carries on this bitch it going to die, I have to do something. I decided to get Zeus' flexi lead and put her on that. I let her run around the top field as she never eats anything there and as we got to the gate to go into the bottom field I popped her on the lead. It worked wonderfully, I was able to work on "leave it, " followed immediately by "good girl." I came in feeling like I'd achieved something. 

Today I decided to do the same, Siska ran loose around the top field. I called her over numerous times and rewarded her with a treat. On one of those occasions I saw her clock the flexi lead in my hand, but thought little of it. I came out of the top field and the others stood by the gate into the bottom field, I called Siska, she came to about 6ft away from the gate and stopped, "I'm not coming," and then she ran back up into the top field. She has never done that before, but the little bright spark had seen the lead and put 2 + 2 together, someone is far too clever for her own good. I'm not the most patient of people and when she wouldn't come I went without her ... putting me back in the same position as soon as she joined us she started to eat. I came back into the house and she followed with everyone, I then put her on the flexi lead and went out again. This time I circled the bottom field first then let her off the lead in the top field. I called her, gave her treats and praised her. The last thing I want to do is mess up her recall, I really hope that on the mountain it will be unaffected. Anyway this is where things get strange. Siska ran into Kaiah and made her squeal, my "Ahh" was a little out of time and Orin came belting down the field. He and Siska stared at each other a while and I thought a game was about to start, I was so wrong, he floored her. Siska screamed and hit the deck, he stood over her making a lot of noise, it sounded so aggressive, but he made little contact. My instinct was to throw the lead that was in my hand at him, he moved away, but I did not tell him off. Someone has to be in control, someone needs to tell her, her mother can't and maybe Orin saw me failing miserably today and decided he should take charge. For the rest of the walk Siska was subdued and quiet - I think Orin is on his way to the top of the Blanik pack. 

After coming in I told Steve what had happened and said that I could only compare it to an incident I'd seen years ago with Linda's Lia and Jake. Jake had a sore ear and was fighting Linda when she tried to put the drops in. I went over to help, but Jake was having none of it, to be honest he was like a fecking crocodile and we were fighting a loosing battle. Lia had been lying there quietly when all of a sudden she jumped in and gave him a right shaking, guess what? Linda never had trouble putting drops in Jakes ears again. It was remarkable to watch, she must have though we were bloody idiots! I can't imagine Siska will bow down so easily, but hell I'm pleased that Orin has my back ... though of course he's 10kg heavier, well muscled and strong, I must make sure that he doesn't hurt her, but without doubt today there was a lot of noise, little contact and young lady thoroughly put in her place! 

What Do You Think

I couldn't have hinted any stronger, actually to be honest, I announced "Steve that's what I want for my birthday." Maybe odd to some people but I love my new Blanik gate sign.

Loud and Annoying

 Last night I decided to take Ross to club, I thought he'd enjoy the change. Well, he loved his night out, but I'm not too sure about everyone else. Sharon had his best mate Ania with her and from the moment she arrived there wasn't a thing I could do to shut him up! We let them say hi, but it didn't help so much as they just got more excited. To be fair during his "turn" to work he was brilliant but sitting around quietly for the other dogs to work really isn't something Ross excels at. Still, we had a lovely evening and he showed the world that the brown clown is a darling, even if a Mali snaps in his face with a full set of canines he just smiles.

When I got home last night Steve told me that it had been unbelievable quite here. As if we didn't know, but it did prove who always start the noise doesn't it. We continue to call Ross "loud and annoying" just for the banter really. When the green-eyed monster was still managing to speak to me it was a dig she made at Ross at Anglesey show, it was followed by a scream of  "Shut up Ross." I replied "Ross doesn't do shut up." (and with Ania there, well there was no way he'd stop chatting - he doesn't bark, he witters and winges) I remember her screaming, "Well he would if he lived with me."  Good thing he doesn't she'd have battered him. Listen, Ross is loud, we can't deny that, but he's a huge lovable character and we adore his larger than life personality - to be honest he's probably the brightest most determine male here, he's a star in his own right. Having recently watched memory videos from NWGSD sometimes maybe people should look closer to home before pointing the finger. I've digressed, ah well sometimes these things need saying!!!!

Jezi Today

So this is how she is, currently eating, drinking and happy in her world.

This is the end of the walk, but this is how she was for the whole walk, I think whist she wants to go out we let her do it ... 

Sadly, as you can see there is no drastic improvement  in Jezi on the strong painkillers which goes further towards proving the diagnosis of osteosarcoma. 

"It develops deep within the bone and becomes progressively more painful as it grows outward and the bone is destroyed from the inside out. The lameness goes from intermittent to constant over 1 to 3 months. Obvious swelling becomes evident as the tumor grows and normal bone is replaced by tumorous bone.Without therapy average survival time is approximately two months. This is primarily determined by the discomfort associated with the primary tumour. If amputation is performed the average survival time is increased to six and a half months with 2% of patients alive after two years."

This is extremely difficult to read, but read it, understand it and deal with it I must!

As I look back through my blog I first commented that Jezi had been lame for a couple of days on March 22nd, I blamed her rough and tumble with Nico for it. Two days later I'd written that she was much better. On the 1st of April I wrote that the limp was back again and that she was having a 5 day course of loxicom and a few days rest, to be honest it didn't really help, but now with my suspicions raised I put off going to the vet that week and made the appointment for the following Monday. Sadly everything just fits - it's day by day now, whist the pain can be controlled and Jezi is enjoying life then we carry on, if the pain gets too much then we stop ... no animal of mine is going to be allowed to suffer, letting them go with dignity is a must, we must never hang on to a suffering animal because we can't let go, that is just being selfish  ...  as I always say better a week too early than a day too late.

That Didn't Go To Plan

After convincing Bella's owners to have the bitch idexx tested I now feel they have been badly let down, again! Having already paid their greeder £300 to remove the endorsements they then went on to pay idexx for a test. Their vet don't have an idexx testing machine and the blood was sent to the lab. According to the documents the test was carried out at 8.18am but no one bothered to get in touch with them till 4pm yesterday and tell them that their bitch scored 35 on Monday morning. With a score of 35 Bella should have been mated ASAP, ovulation is 17 and mating should happen within 48hrs of ovulation. Idexx should have contacted them at 8.18am and said "Go now!" 

With the clock ticking Bella arrived here at 6pm, both dogs seem to get on and they played and flirted a little. But having given Bella an examination I really couldn't see how we could have a successful mating. Anyway with play and flirting some bitches do relax and Orin seemed happy to play the long game ... Bella was not and became more agitated about the whole situation. I told her owners that I was concerned that Bella may have already gone over, I worried that we were 24 hrs too late and by 7.30pm it was obvious this was not going to happen. We came in for a cuppa and Bella's owner asked if I did AI (artificial insemination), I said no, but then I thought I know someone who does. A friend has done the course, has the qualifications the experience and the equipment, and only lives 10 mins away. I rang her, she wasn't home but could be here within the hour. 

Well that is another experience I never thought I'd see, but if it had to happen again then yeah no problem. Orin was happy, he thinks he mated the bitch, he really didn't realise he was in the wrong hole (So to speak) and all Bella had to do was stand in front of him. I don't feel I can write the details here but done by a professional it was an extremely stress-free process for the dog and the bitch. I have to say that my choice would be for natural matings, but that seriously was not going to happen has night ...

I haven't charge Bella's owner a stud fee, but they have agreed to pay on conformation of pregnancy. I feel breed people have cheated them and idexx have let them down. Somehow I can't imagine Bella will be pregnant, she must have been going over, but then Orin was not for stopping so maybe some of the ova would still be alive. I was lucky, I had three puppies from a very late mating with Sammi ... here's hoping!