Some Different Walks This Week

Today With Zeus 

Siska And Orin In Tremadog

Beti, Sammi, Loki and Ross at Cwm Dulyn

Zeus

I do try and make sure everyone gets out, and I also try and make sure different dogs get to go on different routes. It's good for their mind and body, as well as mine. A walk along the river from Talysarn to Penygroes for Zeus today. Muddy, yes, but very enjoyable. 

On The Mountain

Beti was lame again on her front after her walk. Steve dried her, pulled, pushed and twisted her front legs, but as is always the case found no reason for the limp. Now she seems fine and has still not had a sleep!

Siska and Orin.

I did get a posing pic, but I kind of like this more!

Fleas And Worms

These boys are always cuddling. I think Perry needs Jamie, he doesn't have this relationship with anyone else. Jamie of course is anyones for a cuddle. 

All the cats have been wormed yesterday, I'll do the dogs today, but I do wonder if they needed doing? I'd seen tapeworm segments on Luther and Choo's bottoms, but I know that "unlike many other parasites that dogs can get from exposure to an infected dog's faeces, dogs/cats only become infected with tapeworms by ingesting a flea or rodent carrying a tapeworm."  So the hunters have tapeworm ... but I always feel it's too much of a risk not to do everyone. Having done everyone now, maybe I'll just do those affected next time. The house has been sprayed ready for any passengers that may come home on a dog or cat now. Theoretically it breaks the life cycle if you do the house. I never put preventative flea treatments on my animals, but I have stuff here ready should I need it, and I do my house at least twice a year whether I see fleas or not, well it seems to work anyway. 

Dog Food And Coat

Fifty bags of food ordered and paid for, 30 Gold and 20 Titanium. I have two left in the shed and the barrels are full. It's a huge outlay in one go ... but £2 off a bag for buying bulk is worth it in the long run. I always feel good once it's paid for, it's like, well whatever happens now there is food for the dogs! 

Siska is now blowing her coat, oh well, it had to happen. Let's just hope she doesn't completely fall apart over the next 10 days! After blowing her coat I'll be waiting or a season, but as we know, Siska likes to keep us waiting so it's more likely to be 4 months not the usual 2 months. 

When Judging ...

... this is a template of a dog in stance, I just thought I'd put it here as sometimes I waffle on about a stop, a turn of stifle, an upperarm or a second thigh. (listed as lower thigh here) I know not everyone is as obsessively interested as I am in how the bits should all fit together to make the perfect dog ... but maybe it'll help as reference for when I post critiques or for when I go off on a tangent ... lol  

Siska And Beti

 Whilst I was at the vets yesterday I weighed Beti, just under 26kg, so she's not put any weight on at all in the last month, to be honest I doubt she's grown either. Not a complaint just an observation! I looked back to see what Siska was at 8 month, (Beti will be 8 months on Sunday) anyway I came across this photo of Siska at 7 months. 

The frame was already very much there wasn't it ... and of course she looks great for a 7-month-old puppy, but my word she really has grown into a beautiful bitch. Her turn of stifle was not very let down at 7 months, but as is often the case it has improved with age. (Mikey and Loki particularly come to mind as being the same) 

Siska at 7 months looks very different to Beti at 7 months. Siska looks a much longer cast female, as she still is, but as an adult it's less obvious and she is very balanced. I honestly can't think we'll ever get a better photo than this, I just can't see what could be better. 

This is my favourite photo of Beti at 7 months. Compare it to Siska at the same age and you can see she looks very different. The chairman of the Breed Council watched the judging at the last breed show, he is a close friend of Katrina, who is also one of my close friends. To be honest we tell each other everything, well almost. Katrina has Polly, Beti's sister and when she asked him what he thought of Polly's sister he replied "I'll check my notes!" Anyway being friends Katrina has shared his thoughts with me, this is the whole message, unedited ... "Rhians Pup , very nice type, normal size and substance for age, not much to say because as a show puppy she ticks all the boxes, front, withers overline very good, sound both ways and good temperament, the only thing I would say of which could be better, her turn of the stifle when posed could be better and slightly more let down so not so balanced to her front angles, as a baby this could improve, the winner was very nice and well put together, quite star showing herself off really well, Rhians did not have the natural gait as the first female which flowing whereas the 2nd had to work harder and not so fluent .how does yours compare ?"

Now to be fair I can't argue with that, the 1st bitch was bloody lovely and will no doubt be difficult to beat. I also agree that Beti doesn't gait naturally, she run everywhere. Orin, and Siska really gait on their walks, Beti honestly doesn't. I was thinking maybe I should walk her for 20 mins or so in an afternoon so she learns to walk/gait and not just run like a looney? It may help develop different muscles to free running and as well as teaching her to be a bit more co-ordinated it may help straighten the cow-hocks. Don't get me wrong, she has improved, but she does have a tendency to twist the right one. If normal exercise can improve it, then we do it! 

The Others Out This Afternoon

Vets And Cwm Dulyn

Today's Facebook memories were extremely hard, the beautiful photos of Kaiah with Siska and Callan are heartbreaking this year. I just can't share them, not this year .. maybe next! 

Loki's bessie Vet, Beth is back from maternity leave and he actually pulled me into the consulting room, well she usually has treats! She was pleased to see him looking so well and happy, and remarked that at one point none of us thought he'd walk like this again. She agreed that he's thin, but said that he gave her no cause for concern. After he made a date to see her again next month we went to Cwm Dulyn to make more memories!

Sunday Near Home

Zeus outside one of the old slate mining buildings.

Siska and Orin

Beti, Ross, Loki, Sammi

AWOL ... AHhhhhh

 Well it all went wrong, and I'm still at home. Mum insists it wasn't her fault, but having not fasted, the procedure could not go ahead today. We were so organised, her friend took her to the hospital for 2pm and I was picking her up at 5pm, taking her home and staying the night. I'd made a roast chicken lunch, so Steve would have a good meal and could have something light this evening, sorted out the dog's breakfasts and medication for tomorrow for him, and packed my bag for a night away. Having had the call from the hospital at 2.30pm I went to get her, stopping for the biggest bar of chocolate I could find to calm me down before I got there! lol. 

To top it all, I may have been doing 63/64 miles an hour on Felinheli by-pass, I may have slowed down enough ... I may not! 

Anyway, O and Siska took me for a short walk somewhere different for them and that helped bring me back down to a normal state of mind. A new date is now set for Mum ... so we'll be doing it all again soon!!!!

A Friends Post

 Nothing to do with Blanik, but just to make you think ....

and a photo, because I can!

"Keisha comes from a line, who have had severe reactions to vaccination. She only ever had one injection of Parvo only and nothing since. Touch wood, she has never had a days illness. However, not every adverse reaction is instant. They can cause chronic autoimmune disease usually affecting the skin or gut, or can trigger cancer as they reach middle age. When I did boosters, the average age my dogs made was 9.6 years. I only had one just about make 11 years and I've had them since 1983. Twenty years ago in 2004, I stopped all vaccines except one Parvo at 12 weeks. The average age is now 12.4 years. Two of Keisha's brothers died from cancer at 8 and 9, both received regular boosters. My good friends, Bridget and Richard, lost Keishas aunt a couple of days ago, at almost 15. No jabs since one at 12 weeks and she died from old age. In that litter, three others made 14 and one 13. All have used the same protocol as myself. These systemic flea treatments are also causing neurological problems and vets have been told by the RVC to only use when absolutely necessary, as they are harming the environment. Sadly, for over 90% of vets, it's about £££. Obviously, every owner has to make their own choice and my input is only based on my experience and that of many other owners. Some dogs won't have adverse reactions, but there certainly appears to be a trend. My own belief is that the immune system in the GSD is not the strongest and some dogs lack an IgA, predisposing them to autoimmune problems. These conditions are often triggered. I have nothing to gain whatever my owners choose to do, except it makes me extremely happy if my owners have a healthy dog who lives well into old age."

This Morning

Going AWOL

 I'm spending the night in Tremadog tonight as Mum has her hospital appointment this afternoon and shouldn't be left alone for 24 hrs following the sedation. I really hope everything will be ok here,  I never go away and leave all the dogs to Steve ... the young ones are usually with me. Breakfast time tomorrow maybe a bit chaotic ... 

Happy Hat Day

Last night I went through my photos to see if there were any further clues as to where I'd been the day I lost my hat ... Hmm I found this, I hadn't been back here since that day. Well on my return visit today, look what I found.

Thank you so much to whoever put it here, It's on top of that small wall behind Orin in the top photo. The question of why I took it off still remains a bit of a mystery, but maybe I took it off to put my hood on? My hood has a little bit of a peak on it, and I do recall I was struggling with wearing glasses in the drizzle. Anyway I'm so pleased, but of course .. now I have two! 

Happy Walking

Four in front of Mynydd Mawr. Yesterday I had to have words with Beti about her lack of respect with Granny Sammi, today she was far better behaved. In a pack actions do have consequences ... and I'm sorry no amount of clicker, treats or positive re-enforcements would work in some cases, yesterday I simply backed up Sammi in enforcing good order, today they were a happy family! 

I did notice the camera was on portrait - damn!

I know I've said it so many times before ... but why would someone bring a boat up to Fron? Why would then drag it here, it's not even easy to get there, and why would they then drop it down a quarry hole? Answers on a postcard please

Zeus Out

Zeus and I went back round one of our new circuits - it's only about 30 mins, but it's great for him and me to explore what's on our doorstep.

Posing And Playing

Repeating myself I know, but aren't we lucky, fantastic places to walk with a wonderful backdrop for photos. These guys don't know how lucky they are.

I Made A Poster ...

 ...just because I can. 

Sharon persuaded me to post it online ... because I should. 

Yes, promote the baby and her father, be proud, be seen ...

Twit With A Capital A!

Someone was really pushing my buttons today - how can two brothers be so different eh? How can one flatten me with unconditional love (literally!) and the other not give two hoots about me? The nature of the beast sure is odd, but nature or nurture in this case? Well I'd say a bit of both. 

With an eye clinic appointment looming and rain on the way I decided to take everyone to the fields. Recently I've been taking Zeus without the ball. If he has it, all he does is stand about swinging it and chewing it. As you can see from the pic, he's halfway through yet another one! I need him to run about, exercise, go to the loo ... he does none of that if he has that pesky ball, so like I say I've been leaving the ball in the house and going to get out for 5 mins before brining him in. 

This morning I set off with him without the ball, he ran to the top gate, not in a month of Sundays does he go out through that gate without a lead on ... Anyway I went into the field, no sign of him, I called him, no sign of him. I rang Steve "Is Zeus back in the yard?" "Yes, he's standing here." I walked back towards the yard, before I got there he darted down the field .. "No, you are not going to catch me!"  But if I went "ball less" into the field he came back, if I came back, he went out. Pushed to the limits, I got the ball for him, but then put him indoors with it. With 6 others screaming and Siska bed shredding, he had to lump it and wait till the end. Now you are probably giggling, but believe me I was so annoyed and frustrated with him, I try my best to give everyone a fair go, no one should or will miss out ... but sometimes this twat just pushes it too far. 

Beti's Critique

 

Valentine's Regional Show

Another super day in the ring for baby B. She really held her own at the Regional event under the German judge Steffen Straub (SV) from the renowned "Bad-Boll" kennel. (Even Steve remember this kennel from the days that I used to dragged him round the shows - but probably for the humorous translation into half English, half Welsh other than anything else!) 

Beti was entered in a class of 6 in the 6 -9 month age group. Four of the entry turned up for judging, one of which had beaten her at the last show. Beti was moved up to 2nd place and stayed there for the whole of the judging. She handled it well, with only me and my over attracting letting her down at times. Showing each dog is different and I'm learning what she needs on the job ... so to speak! The judge gave her a lovely verbal critique which I'll add in a video, and graded her VP2. (Very promising is the highest grade a puppy can get - 2 is simply she was second in the class) Before starting his critiques on the class he said that the first two stood out and were at a correct stage in their development for their age. Beti was handled by the very experienced handler, Lynne of the famous British Muscava kennel, she did a great job with her and was extremely encouraging about her future. She said the only negative she could give me was that Beti was carrying a pound or two too much. I appreciate the feedback, but to be honest, I'm happy with her weigh as it is, I wouldn't want any more on her, but I wouldn't want any less on her either. 

I wish I could share videos of the class on here, but Mr T recorded it all in one go, sadly they are too big for blogger to upload ... anyway they are on Facebook and I've watched them over and over! Crufts next then! 

The Guys Out

We Got There

Finally Zeus and I got to explore the tracks further, going through the gate and carrying on out till we joined the road from Carmel to the top of Rhosgadfan. I saw where the track separated further, so that's another route to try on another day. I loved this section of the walk more than the one that I took previously. I will be going back. 

Lichfield Critiques

Nice critique for Beti from her first show - though for the life of me I can't remember Siska putting a paw out of place!!!