Last Day Of Winter

It feels like an age since I got on the mountain, between weather and St. Helens bugs I've stayed close to home, but today was a must to get out! Zeus was quite the knob, but not in a bad way, he was just excited and happy and forgetting that I was on the end of that retractable lead! Sammi was a star, as ever! 

The second walk was fun, avoiding people on the left and on the right we found ourselves heading straight for the deepest ditches. Beti was over the moon and gave Meerah lessons on how to get as wet as possible as quickly as possible. Considering what happened on the third walk, which I'll get to in a minute, I've realised that I need to stop calling "Beti Come" relying on Meerah to follow .. it needs to be "Beti, Meerah ... come." I'm still a little uneasy about Meerah's hindquarters, not her movement but she appeared a little stiff again after the walk. Let's hope it's something and nothing. 

Orin had taken a leaf out of Zeus' book today and switched his ears to mute! I'm sure there had been a female in season up there as he was like a hoover, and peeing everywhere. After saying that other than going further than I was comfortable with, unlike his mate, the boy did nothing wrong!

This morning's routine was different, Steve needed to go out so Siska and Orin were crated for some of the time I was out with the others. When I got back I had to dry the girls and I could hear Siska having a paddy in her crate. Anyway, with everything sorted I loaded Orin and Siska into the van and went out. As soon as I let them out I noticed Siska was lame .. very lame! We continued for a little and she seemed a little better. With people coming towards me, I popped them both on the lead and went under the fence towards where we've nicknamed Smurf Bridge. (if you know, you know!) I spent sometime there taking photos and thought I'd be good to go, little did I think the people and dog would have circled round to the other side of me. Taking no notice whatsoever of me, Siska ran off barking, I called and called, nothing. Over rough ground, it took me a few minutes to get there, and I grovelled and apologised. The ladies were lovely and told me it was OK, but as I said to them, no, it's not OK, it's totally unacceptable and I couldn't apologise enough to them. So simply, to keep her safe, and for my sanity, Siska now has to stay on the lead on the mountain! Don't get me wrong, Siska is lovely, but would you like a GSD running towards you and barking? So as I said, from now on, Siska will stay on the lead on the mountain! 

So where did this start to go wrong? Well, was it my fault? If it was, then I'm repeating my mistake with Beti and Meerah. I used to call Kaiah .. her recall was fab, so it was "Kaiah come" and Siska would follow. I never had any recall issues with Siska until Kaiah died. I've no idea why she thinks it's acceptable to run and bark at people on the mountain, this is not the first time, but sorry Siska it will be the last time!  Siska is such a lovely chilled girl, you've all seen photos of her chilling on her chair at shows, she doesn't care about the hustle and bustle, the people, the dogs, the traffic, so does she think this mountain is all hers? I've no idea!

Beautiful Day For It ...

Photo of the day? I think so! 

New Vet Bed Day

It was time for a change and as it's almost Spring, bees and daises it is! I love them, Steve is not as impressed, he's lucky I didn't find any grey with frogs on! 

Elbows And Teeth

Steve and I are still under the weather after the St.Helen's show bug. I'm about 4 days in front of him so feeling better than him. Neither of us have any appetite, not even covid stopped me eating!  I talked to Debbie last night, she and Tom have been exactly the same, with Tom worse than her. Steve seems worse than me, and I'm worried he's developing a chest infection. No, not man flu, both men have other medical conditions to contend with. 

I'm still an emotional mess, with one thing or another, I feel like I've cried my way through February. I'm trying to live for today and to look positively to the future, but in the quieter moments, I can't help but worry about what is ahead for Beti. Elbow problems are really a concern, dogs need strength and power in the front, more so than in the hindquarters. I really hope she manages well and lives life to the full. Mentally, Beti is not the type to cope with a restricted lifestyle. 

My plan is set for Meerah, it has been suggested that she sees Ken, I will make an appointment for next week and discuss my concerns with him. Like I said before, the best thing that could happen is for a tooth to pop out of its own accord ... and very soon! I'm trying not to get myself in a state over this, I tell myself I shouldn't stress over something I have no control over ... but sadly my brain, and heart don't work that way. 

She Could Teach Zeus A Thing Or Two

 

Some Sunshine

Rainy, Windy Sunday

I'm feeling a little guilty that I've passed on my St. Helen's show bugs to Steve. Well it was bound to

happen. I talked to Jackie last night, and she's had the cold symptoms too, but she hasn't had to run to the loo! LOL Anyway, her partner now has it too. So that's Me, Jackie and Debbie with it. That's the problem with being packed like sardines into a tight space! Roll on the outdoor shows. 

We've all had a lie in this morning, well everyone was up at 7am, out for toilets and had their breakfast, and then we went back to bed. I woke us all up at 9.15am coughing. 

I guess this is no weather for cats to go out and the dogs are not that keen either, particularly hairy ones! All gates are checked before he goes out though, and Steve put bungee cables around them last night just in case! Everyone is so good, so chilled, apart from the younger ladies who've had some understandable mad moments. Meerah getting a little OTT and Beti of course responding! Meerah has discovered that the best place to go with a hoof to get away from Beti is under the kitchen table. 

I must admit, I hadn't realised how stressed Orin had become in Loki's company. His stress levels must have increased gradually, but the reverse change in him has been almost instant. He's now far more chilled and I don't even have to half cover his crate at night as he no longer starts to bark early morning. It's very strange, another time when I would have liked to ask them why? In this case, why was Loki's behaviour/weakness bothering Orin so much? A friend did tell me a vet said to her years back that her weak old dog in the pack was affecting her health and her others dogs state of mind. Maybe that's possible? One thing is for sure, Orin is different,a better version of himself. 

Ross was a little lame yesterday, nothing dramatic, but I gave him three quarters of a paracetamol. I guess considering his issues, he's doing so well. He's been on this glucosamine and chondroitin a long time now, but I'd like to keep him off the likes of metacam for as long as possible. At 8 months old I never thought he'd be as good as he is as he approaches his 8 birthday (well in May!) It gives me hope that Beti will manage as well for as long. Beti stealing the show in yet another photo! 

Inappropriate

 I have no interest in football, rugby or any sports to be honest. Steve tells me how Everton have done, and I show interest for his benefit. Anyway, I heard on the news that some bloke high up in the football world has been convicted of "sexually assaulting" a female player. Oh Wow serious, or so I thought ... till I went on to watch this bloke, (excuse me ignorance but I don't know his name) kiss the player on a podium. Ok ... so when did the sexual assault happen? Was that it? Now this is all becoming nuts, a kiss probably in high spirits and in front of millions of people, possibly inappropriate but sexual assault? Really? I guess there are degrees of inappropriate, but to me that scenario makes a mockery and downplays the seriousness of what some people, male and female, have been through. I'm sorry, I don't get it! 

Then let's move on to Phil Schofield, Wynne Evans and Gino ... there was roughly the same age gap between Phil and his love interest as there is between Stephen Fry and his husband, yet one is crucified and loses his career the other doesn't. Wynne Evans made an inappropriate joke, he didn't kill anyone or hurt anyone .. and it's a joke I've heard hundreds of times, just obviously in different company! Gino, I love Gino. Promoted and encouraged to use his lack of language skills for innuendos and laughs but someone is "offended!" OMG, unless there is more to it than I know, then the world has gone fecking nuts! The things I've said and that have been said to me over the years, banter, fun ... it even makes me scared of cracking a joke at a dog show. Crazy world!

Delayed Eruption

 Yesterday I did some research and reading. 

"Permanent teeth in your dog should be visible by 7 months of age. If that’s not the case, the teeth may have been entrapped by bone or gum tissue. This condition is known as a delayed eruption.

Along with dental x-rays to evaluate the tooth/teeth location and orientation, the age of your pet will help determine the appropriate treatment. For pets under 9 months of age, the overlying gum tissue and/or bone can be removed to clear the eruption path for the impacted teeth. For pets over 9-10 months of age, the impacted teeth may not grow beyond the gum and extraction will be needed to prevent cyst formation."

My thoughts now are to obviously wait until she's 7 months and see if a tooth makes its way out, if there is nothing there by then, then we have to take her for X-ray's and then decided on the path forward. 

The best news would be for a tooth to manage its way through the gum in the next 2 weeks, the worst case would be that there is no tooth there at all. Looking at the photo and feeling the gum it gives the impression that there is a tooth, I have always been convinced that there was, but ... 

"If a puppy is missing a tooth, there might be a noticeable bump on the gum where the tooth should be, especially if the tooth is simply "unerupted" and still developing beneath the gumline, potentially forming a fluid-filled cyst called a "dentigerous cyst" that can appear as a soft swelling; it's important to consult your veterinarian to properly assess the situation as this could require further investigation and treatment depending on the cause. "

If the tooth is there but impacted, then she will need treatment before she's 9 months old .. if it's not there, then feck knows what happens next. I have already been asked last night if I will rehome her? Well the show person and breeder would, but it's never been what I'm about, and I don't know how I could do it, but it would be pointless showing her under breed judges. The first thing judges check in their assessment of dogs is that they have a correct bite, the second things is that they have all the teeth, giving the P1's a priority. I simply can not afford to pay £30 to take a dog to a show knowing they would not stand a chance of being anywhere but at the back of the class, I must be able to go in with some hope of success. 

I am currently really feeling deflated, as well as tears, that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. This year really has not started well ... Loki, Beti's elbow and now this ... honestly it may not be a big deal to many, but to me this is huge and could be devastating. My gut feeling is telling me that there is a tooth there. To my knowledge I've never bred a puppy with a missing tooth before, but you've never bred it till you have eh! I know I have Siska to fall back on for the future of my line and though I don't know if there is a genetic link to missing teeth, I would have to consider a different male if this combination has produced this abnormality ... it really isn't where I wanted to go, but I don't see any other options, especially as Orin's studs have also come to a full stop! 

This Tooth

I was convinced it was there, even thought I could see the tip coming through the gum at one point. Now I'm really not sure if that was wishful thinking as I can't see anything there now other than white pigment in the gum. I've never had a dog with a missing P1 before, so I'm really hoping it's just late coming through. P1's are so important in this breed, and I wonder now if it's absence at the regional put her to the back of the class. There will be no point showing her if it doesn't come through, it's too expensive to just put in an entry knowing you'll be at the back of the class. On a positive I do think I can feel it but I'm not confident in myself to be positive that it's there. I've only experienced something similar before with Nikki and that was such along time ago that I can't remember much about it. The tooth did come through, but it wasn't there in her first show. I swear I'll be gutted, as she's a lovely female .. cross everything for me, please?

Edit - Managed to get a photo for future reference so if I'm in the same position in the future I've got something to compare with.

Blanik Meerah

Love this photo of Baby Meerah - hopefully her day will come.

Will We Ever Get There?

 I believe in some situations that you can feel sorry for yourself but still pleased for another, especially if they are your friends. You really can't be a loyal friend if you can't celebrate a friends' success, even if the outcome is a negative one for you. I know the feeling of disappointment so well, more recently on two occasions when I really thought Orin's RCC was in the bag .. it went elsewhere and I felt the slump into the pit of my stomach. 

I've been playing this game for over 30 years, stuck to my guns on type and health tests, but I'm still waiting for my first champion. So bear in mind what I said earlier, I don't want to come over as a jealous bitch, but sometimes when I see people buying in their first dog and getting to the top straight away I do wonder why I bother? What am I doing wrong? I'm not saying all the Blaniks deserve a title, but Dexi, Aria, Louis and Loki without doubt deserved to get there. Dexi managed 1 CC and 3 RCC ... Aria 2 CC and 1 RCC, but they really were different times, and I don't think either were ever exhibited in classes of less than 10. 

Maybe I fecked it up for Louis, I insisted on handling him myself and ignored advice to allow a handler to take him in. Now I look back on that with regret, but I did love handling him. There is no doubt that covid deprived Loki of further top honours, and he too in most peoples eyes should have picked up that second CC when he got the RCC to quite a shocking male.

Orin and Siska are amazing. Siska has wonderful conformation, in stance she is a picture, but her laid back, bordering on lazy attitude in the ring does her no favours. Orin may not be as correct but his movement takes my breath away. I'm kidding myself if I think either will make their titles, one because of her lazy attitude, the other mainly because of his eye colour ... shit isn't it!

So then onto the next generation. I can't deny that I've cried so much over Beti's health test results .. and the self-indulgent question comes to mind again, "why me?" Beti is a little cracker, attitude, conformation, movement and colour ... but that is where it will have to stop. My conscience would not allow me to breed from a female with an elbow abnormality. All I can hope is that she lives a long and comfortable life and that we can share as many show days together as is possible, Beti loves show days. 

Meerah is still too young to pin any hopes on her little (well tall) shoulders. If this tooth doesn't come through .. and no it hasn't, then her show career is over before it starts. I wouldn't breed from a bitch who has a missing p1 either ... so another pet! Of course now the seed is planted re her hips too ... maybe she has a touch of pano, let's hope, but I have noticed the constant stretching and sitting. Bless her, unlike Beti, Orin and Siska her show career hasn't really started with a bang has it, I have to tell myself that it can only get better!!!

Photo Post

Hunger Puke

Photo of Jezi and Nico - because I can!

Have you heard of hunger puke? I've come across it a lot, but never realised it had a name, Steve and I used to joke and call it empty belly syndrome. lol. It only ever happens here first thing in the morning or when it's getting close to the evening meal. Most of these have done it at some point - Sammi today at about 4.15pm. She had breakfast at 7am and has only had a couple of shapes in between. I have found that giving them a small supper reduces the chance of them doing it in the morning, so a bonio and a carrot is supper at around 10.30pm. 

Google says ..

"Hunger pukes in dogs are when a dog vomits bile, a yellowish or greenish fluid, due to an empty stomach. This is a common issue that can occur when a dog skips meals or goes too long between meals. 

Causes 

Gastric acid buildup: When a dog's stomach is empty for too long, stomach acid builds up and irritates the stomach lining. 

Gastric contractions: Increased gastric contractions can trigger vomiting. 

Stomach sensitivity: Stomach sensitivity can trigger vomiting. 

Symptoms 

Vomiting bile or froth, but not food. Vomiting in the morning after not eating overnight. Vomiting during the day if there's a long gap between meals."

How Did You Get There Meerah?

Steve asked the other day ... "What happened to our perfect little puppy?" Well, I guess she has become a very naughty teenager, as they do. So how did she get there? Human error again, and it wasn't me! The second Mr S feck up this week. On Thursday he decided to let Beti out of her crate whilst I was out with Ross, Sammi and Meerah. No problem until he opened the outside door and she joined us in the field. A few raised hackles and grumbles with Sammi, but the delight of being with Meerah was distracting enough and the young girls bombed off together. (When I think Beti bumped into Meerah) So what possessed him? Well Beti was barking so he thought he'd just let her lose around the kitchen, but then he decided to bring the recycling out and Beti found her moment and came to join us! 

Flexi For Zeus

I ordered a new flexi lead for Zeus, having seen the one Ian has for Kiaan I thought it would be ideal for Zeus. It gives him more freedom, and it's very sturdy, the only disappointment is the bright yellow tape, no hiding that in photos. Oh and the one I thought was broken, is working again, I think it was just full of sand! 

Is There Grief?

 After losing a dog, I'm always asked if the others miss them, the answer is almost always, No. Louis was obsessed with him mother, at that time if I had control of Krizzie I had control of the pack ... well, until I had Tali!!!! When we lost Kriz I bought her home to be buried, and of course show the others that she was gone ... I really thought it would affect Louis, but it didn't, he just found himself another older woman and latched onto Kiri. I think losing Mikey did affect Loki, he was a very young male when Mikey died, and he was not ready to find himself with a harem of females. 

I knew that Loki's behaviour was affecting Orin, O had become a little stressed and wound up at times. We used to know that Loki was unsettled overnight because the Orin alarm went off. When things were "happening" Orin would either rip his bedding or circle in the crate. From the day that Loki left us things have changed, Orin is now calm, no bed shredding and no circling. I wonder why? In dog terms, was Loki's weakness a threat to him and to the pack? 

Top photo is of Kiri and Louis, the second photo, Ross, Orin, Loki and Kaiah. 

A Little Limp

With everything that's been going on the last couple of weeks, I've been a little paranoid and oversensitive. As usual, thanks to the special friends who've had my back. The messages and cards mean the world and the strength of friendship and love means we can get up to fight another day. 

Oversensitivity and paranoia are part of who I am, and a lame Meerah last night took me to another planet. (Back left for future reference) When it's my own, it's never the fact that Beti made her squeal in the field, it's never a knock, or a pulled muscle, in my overimaginative mind it's always worse case scenario, so it's hip dysplasia. If it was your dog, I'd be the voice of common sense and reason in the equation, but when it's mine it doesn't work that way, especially when I know that symptoms of H/D become apparent usually between 6 and 12 months. Don't worry, I've already had a telling off from Steve. I'm well aware that I don't have X.Ray vision, but when I'm already in a vulnerable state, sometimes the knowledge I have is a danger to me! Have I noticed other symptoms? Well yeah, maybe I have, an unexplained skip and a hop sporadically, and a lot of sitting in the field, but it's very easy to make the symptoms fit the scenario isn't it! 

Blanik Excentrik

 Louis ... when we were young. 

He was my everything.

Meerah and Beti

My beautiful naughty girls. 

Ring Craft And Marley

Another quiet night at club, but Meerah and I had a good time. 

I had a message from Sam yesterday to say that Marley now weighs 33.7kg, wow now that's a huge difference in him over the last couple of months. When I saw him in December, he and Meerah were about the same about the same size and weight. I remember Asha and Mikey doing that too, they were both very much of a muchness, then Asha slowed down and Mikey carried on growing. He ended up about 4cms and 6kg heavier than her. She was quite a big female, he was a very correct size male, well just under 65cms. Such a lovely pair, though in early years he was a little "needy" of her. 

Morning Walks

Sammi and Zeus

Meerah, Ross, Beti

I loved both these photos of Orin and Siska. I honestly couldn't pick between them.

Seren

Great to catch up with Seren and her family yesterday, it made my day. She still looks very much as she did as a 6-week-old pop. A very glamorous puppy, to be hyper critical, currently a little bit short in length of body with quite a steep croup, but she's not a show dog, so who cares?

Also available in the short coat variety! LOL