Remembering Able

My very first memory of Able was before I even knew him. I had decided a few weeks before I knew anything about him that I would really love to get another BC and this time I wanted a smooth red boy! Of course that was before I realized that choosing on color or coat is not the best idea :-) Fortunately for me, it turned out perfectly on this occasion! Anyway, one day out of the blue Ables breeder, who also bred Secret called me and asked if I was interested in getting another BC, she went on to tell me that she had a litter on the ground as we spoke and that they were 4 weeks old. I proceeded to ask if there were any smooth red males, she said there were 2 and that I could have my pick! It was fate, right? Well, I told her to choose whichever one she thought would be best for me and he would be perfect! 4 weeks later I picked my new baby up from the airport in Vermont of all places as I was to teach a camp that week and it just made sense since he was coming from the Toronto Canada area to ship him to Vermont. I had never even seen a picture of him at this point! I arrived at the cargo area of the airport had a brief argument with the customs officer about trying to get my boy into the States since he was from Canada and finally got to meet Able. From the very second I opened his crate I was in love, I knew from that very moment that we were going to share a very special bond and that we were meant for each other! As he grew, (boy, did he grow!), it became increasingly obvious that he was going to be a big boy! It was at about 4.5 months that he was dubbed donkey dog because of his ginormous head and ears that did not quite match his gangly body :-). Shortly thereafter he was diagnosed with OCD, in this case I am very sure that the OCD was brought about simply due to his excessive growth rate, he had surgery on the first shoulder, endured a couple months of crate rest only to be released to be a dog when he began limping on the other leg! OCD of course :-) Off to surgery we go again... He came through it all like the fighter he always was.

Able loved to swim, he loved to hike, he loved to play, he loved us... He protected me in many rest areas on many trips to agility trials. You would never get near the car if Able was in it, if the big yellow eyes, and prick ears didn't scare you off the bark sure would. Able hated all things with wheels! Bikes, scooters, lawn mowers, you name it. Those of you that learned that the hard way over the years he was truly sorry :-) Able was the focal point of a series of Clean Run articles I did years ago called bringing up Able, I loved those articles and to this day people still talk about them and remember some of his finer moments. Besides being a part of my heart and soul Able was an incredible agility dog, what he taught me cannot be measured. To say it was at times a very difficult road would be an understatement. I can remember many occasions that I almost threw in the towel because he was such a crazy boy, who seemed to have one agenda, his! Boy how that changed! By the time Able retired he had become "the old pair of shoes" I always knew what to expect, what he was going to do, we were a team! I always said that although I won a World Championship with Secret, just making the World team with Able was at that time my greatest accomplishment, I am fairly sure I still believe that.

Able was famous primarily for his rubber chicken that he was always holding outside of the agility ring, I was reminded today that it actually started out as a rubber pig! He ripped the pig in half after his ADCH run, I was never able to find another pig like the first one so he graduated to the chicken. That chicken was blamed for a lot of stuff, but, it made Able very happy. I can remember a couple of "Busy Bee" arguments with Geoff at trials, just substitute rubber chicken for busy bee and you get it... LOL!!

Able was a very happy boy who brought a lot of joy to our family, up until the very end Able lived a very dignified life that he lived on his terms, enjoying every moment regardless of what he was doing at any given moment! He was my teammate and partner in agility for many years and his accomplishments are many, he was another true pioneer of the sport and I thank him for that, mostly though he was my friend, my protector, and, my soulmate. Sleep well my friend, I love you more than words can describe and I will miss you!

Life down under

It is November 16 and I have been in Australia since the 2nd :-) I know it does not seem like a tremendously long time, and it isn't a tremendously long time, however, when you are a world away, and dog less it feels like an eternity! ;-) It is bittersweet however, because I am having the most amazing time teaching all of the wonderful folks down under, and, at the same time find myself quite homesick :-) I have now had the opportunity to teach in 2 different parts of the country and will go on to teach at a third before I head home. What an incredible opportunity!!! The folks here are virtual sponges and are such tremendous students! The scenery here is absolutely to die for and the weather has been glorious! It is quite amazing to see the incredible wide range of birds flying overhead all of the time, cockatoos, kookaburras, and, lorikeets just to name a few. The dogs here are wonderful and it has been fascinating to get to learn the differences in the agility program in Australia. There are a lot of differences and at the same time a lot of similarities. The courses are not easier or harder, just different. I had the opportunity to go to a trial while I was in the Sydney area and even had a chance to run a couple of dogs, what fun! I have been to Sydney Harbor, through the Blue Mountains, toured wine country, and, done some serious shopping, what a lucky person I am! I have at the same time seriously missed my dogs, my family, and, my friends :-) I know that my dogs will be better for the trip as they have had a much needed break, the family will be pleased to see me again, and, hopefully the friends too! For now I am going to sign off, as it is getting on to "tea time", just wanted to catch everyone up on what has been going on down under :-) P.S. I am not sure that I will know how to drive when I get home, and, i may talk a bit funny, but, it will be a trip to remember for sure!!

The Fantastic Journey, The Incredible Journey, and, a new Journey...

Lots of things going on these days, lots to think about, lots to look forward to, and, lots of adjustments to make! The Fantastic Journey is proving to be all that and more...

Journey is one of those dogs that just makes you smile :-)I am so madly in love with this little, OK, not so little, dog! She is everything I could have ever asked for in a pup and more! What makes her so special, well, her temperment is awesome, she is built like a dream, incredibly athletic, toy drive oozing out of every pore, super intelligent, and, has a fabulous work ethic, speed, and, impulse control! Those are things that make her a special agility dog in my mind, what makes her one of those heart dogs I cannot explain... This is a discussion that I have had with many people over the years, what makes a dog so "special" emotionally?? There does not seem to be an answer, it just happens! With that said my heart is very full these days as I have several dogs that are irreplaceable and wedged so deeply into my heart and so part of my emotional being that it is palpable. Interestingly enough all of these dogs are very different, equally important, but, evoke different emotions and feelings on that deeper level when I think of each of them individually. I know that is pretty cosmic stuff for me, but, very real none the less :-) I am having so much fun training Journey she is progressing so quickly that although I am going to miss her terribly when I head out on my Incredible journey to Australia tomorrow, I know that this is a perfect time as she needs to grow up a bit and spend more time just being a puppy before we go much further. Journey is a big girl, I would say at this point she is about 20" tall and she is just 7 months old :-) We went through a short period of growing pains as she srew enough in a 2 month span to put on 16 lbs.!!! I am amazed at how smart she is :-) We are still playing with a running dog walk and she is nailing it! She is running across the full dog walk at about 3' high and just having a blast exploring how to really run and use her body, it is an incredible process to watch evolve! She is learning to go through jump uprights, playing on the end of the teeter, continuing to explore body awareness, impulse control, and mostly, PLAYING and being a puppy! She is a Fantastic Journey indeed and I am so enjoying the ride! As mentioned earlier there is an Incredible Journey on the horizon, I have the extreme pleasure and honor of going to Australia to teach for 3.5 weeks! I will be heading to Sydney tomorrow to start the fun! I will be there for almost 2 weeks and even get to play in a trial while I am there!! I will be borrowing a dog as I am unable to take a dog with me because of quarantines. Then it will be off to Adelaide for 4 days, then finally Perth for the duration of my trip! I am so excited and very lucky indeed!!! Yes, I will miss my dogs and family tons, but, when I get home we will all be ready to get going after a nice break. Then there is the new Journey...

My beautiful Danger Mouse who has been suffering from chronic on and off lameness was diagnosed with spondylosis yesterday... I know not the worst thing that could happen, but, for a not even 3 year old over the top border collie with an incredibly bright agility future ahead of him, it was definitely a blow. I was pretty upset when the news was delivered, but, with some awesome advice, information, support from friends and family I calmed down and am ready to simply move forward doing whatever needs to be done to keep my very special boy, yes, another of those heart dogs, comfortable, fit, and, playing as much as he can for as long as he can! Danger loves life with a passion that few share, he is a bit crazy, OK A LOT crazy!, but when the day is done he is the first one to be curled up on my lap to watch TV. Our new journey will have us exploring even more PT option, accupuncture, laser treatments, strengthening exercises and the brave new frontier of P16" USDAA agility! Danger is a super fast young man who will soon be kicking his mothers butt around a course with speed bumps, I mean jumps set to 16" so that he can continue to play longer and stay sound and comfortable for many years to come :-) I feel that the elimination of spread hurdles, lower jumps, and a lower A-frame are going to be key in keeping him at his best long term. I am sure that I could still jump him at championship height and I KNOW he would readily do it, but, I also know that there would be ramifications that I am not willing to subject him to just so that I can say he is a Championship dog! I am a bit sad simply because I do not want to see my baby boy in pain or uncomfortable at all and I know that spondylosis can be painful at times, but, we are already exploring the options that are going to make sure that he is a normal, happy healthy, active boy! I am sure that there are other journeys on the horizon that I do not even know about yet, and, I truly look forward to them! Remember everyone, on your way to whatever destination you are headed, enjoy the Journey along the way!

Life is Great!

Per the norm, it has been quite some time since I have had a chance to blog :-) I do have a tendency to stay busy, OK, really busy, but, I like it that way :-) This past weekend I was at a local AKC trial and it just hit me that I am in a very good place right now, physically and mentally! I am HAPPY! This is not to say that before this epiphany I was unhappy, not at all! I just feel really extra special good right now. It is very hard to explain, but, I would imagine many others have experienced these dramatic life feeling moments. I am blessed with the most amazing family, the absolutely most fabulous, fantastic dogs, super special friends, a great career that doubles as my hobby, a wonderful home, I get to live in one of the most beautiful states in the union, what more could a person ask for? On a more specific note, I really feel like the dogs and I are really clicking right now. I still do not get to train as much as I would like to, however, everyone is on track to have a great Nationals, and, regardless of what happens there we have had a great year! I have found the time to do a few more non dog activities this summer and that has been pretty awesome too! I have been struggling off and on the past couple of years with horrible plantar faciitis and it seems at the moment to be as under control as it has ever been, this is a really good thing! I have been trying to modify my diet a bit and learn to make better choices regarding food and the difference in my energy level was the first thing that I noticed. I actually have some energy and although I am seriously done with the heat that we have been experiencing all summer in Colorado, I find myself wanting to do things! SoBe has been off and on lame for quite sometime and she seems to be truly on the mend, for this I am truly thankful! It is hard to have aches and pains, but, even harder to watch your dogs have aches and pains! I am in my forties and am finally figuring out that taking care of oneself is paramount in being able to take care of others. To be the best person that you can be, you have to be good to yourself! With this said, it is my goal to continue to minimize the stress in my life that I am certainly the cause of, I let too many small things become big things, well, not anymore (hopefully:-)! I think at this point I know quite clearly who, and, what are important to me and will continue to try to maintain a safe distance from drama, stress, and, negative energy that does nothing to improve the quality of my life or those around me. I love teaching, I love training, I love showing, and, I love just knowing that I am absolutely one of the luckiest people on the planet because of the fantastic life that I get to lead surrounded by amazing people and animals, with new surprises and adventures around every corner! I hope everyone of you is just as happy and thankful as I am! Pretty sappy I guess, but, I thought it was important to share happy thoughts, it is just good mental management, another huge piece of the puzzle that we call daily life! So, all of you take a moment to think about something really good that is happening in your life right now and enjoy it!

Where does the time go?

I know that is a question that we ask ourselves often, and, true to our parents warning as we get older the time only goes faster! I find it to be especially true since I live by the calendar, my life is mapped out over a year in advance and I find myself living from event to event ticking them off like minutes off of a clock. All of a sudden you stop and look around and realize that so much time has gone by... did I relish every moment? Did I sweat the small stuff? Did I take the time to really appreciate my life, my family, my friends? I am thinking it is a no, yes, no and that really bums me out! Looking back at my life I have already had an extremely full one! I have a wonderful family, that includes a great mother, awesome husband, 2 wonderful sons, a soon to be daughter-in-law, a brother, and, an extended family I married into. My family has sacrificed a lot in order for me to live my dream as it were. The sport of dog agility has taken me all over the world, allowed me to meet some fantastic people, see some incredible places, and, make some lifelong friends. I have been fortunate enough to be very successful in agility, not just the competition part of agility but also as a teacher and mentor. In all honesty when I really take the time to think about the path I have traveled I am pretty much in awe of all that has been afforded me while I play a wonderful game. It is a tiny bit bittersweet though... In all of those years, I have seen relationships come and go, the ability to make some friends that will be with me for the rest of my life and some that although very special have sort of gone away for various reasons, this makes me sad. I have had to say good bye to dogs that in my mind should have lived forever. That is the main reason for my rather reflective mood this evening, Able my very special chicken boy is getting older by the minute and is but a mere shadow of the vivacious, crazy, sometimes scary, soulmate that took me on so many agility journeys over the years. We had to go to the vet today because he has an infection that I was all but positive was cancer... it is not thank goodness, however, he is still so very weak in his rear end and although his eyes, albeit a little cloudy, still have that mischievious sparkle he just can't do all of the things that made "his" life complete. He is still here and I will cherish every day I still have with him, I also miss him already. Able and I are a very special team, he did things and helped me do things I never thought possible and for that I will be forever grateful and will always have a large part of my heart tattooed with his name. The thought of losing these very special members of our family is almost enough to make me not want to have dogs, almost :-) The awesomeness that they bring to our lives cannot be replaced or duplicated and even though that horrible day comes where we have to say good bye, I would not trade the time with them for anything in the World. I have been a bit melancholy lately and sort of lacking in motivation, I think it is natural in all humans although I am not one to allow myself such times. In any case The aging of my beautiful pups has really been bothering me of late, I think just writing it down, realizing what they have brought to my life and what adventures lay ahead will be a big help in getting my mojo back and moving forward to my next goal... Tomorrow, I will appreciate what I have, look to the future, embrace the here and now, and, spend some special me and Able time.

Taking a break... sort of :-)

SO, I am on a bit of a vacation :-) I am home for a total of 10 days getting a bit of R&R before camp starts. I have been incredibly lazy, it is really hard for me to truly relax as my lifestyle is all go, go ,go! I can always tell when I really need a break as I find myself just sort of wandering around aimlessly and melting into the couch :-) My big issue with taking a break, or, trying to relax is that I actually find myself feeling guilty about not doing "something". I swear, I just do not know how to truly decompress, I am determined to keep trying though! During my break I have done a fabulous job of giving the dogs some time off, Maze is on a break until August, not because there is anything wrong, but, just because. OK, that is not 100% true, he will go to camp with me and possibly get a little bit of training, however, nothing serious until August, I think every dog needs a break now and then and he has had a really busy year. I am a bit bummed that I decided to pass on going to the European Open this year, it seemed like a good idea when I made the decision, but, now am sort of wishing I was jetting off to Sweden next week.. This is just the restless me talking of course, I have been home for several days so I start to get antsy :-) I actually have a pretty significant break from trialing, my last trial was 1 day of USDAA the end of June and will not set foot in a competition ring until the MO Regional the second weekend of August. I am really OK with that break as well, I am giving my competition dogs a much deserved break and taking the time off to train the babies. Except Danger of course who is once again on the injured reserve list! Good news, he is getting better everyday and will not only get to play at the Regional but may even get a little training in before the event. :-) I am having tons of fun with Journey and Mooch in the midst of this downtime. Journey is learning all sorts of puppy things and foundation behaviors that will hopefully serve us in our agility career later, Mooch is embarking on the latest whim of his owner, drumroll please.... running dog walk, AGAIN! It was purely accidental that we are starting this process yet again. I was not particularly happy with his striding over the dog walk into a 2on/2off position so I thought I would just spend a bit of time on a lowered dog walk just letting him run, ignoring the end behavior entirely, incredibly hard for me BTW! I was prepared for Mooch to do what appears to be his natural tendency which is to launch, lo and behold he did not launch, he ran right through!!! I was bitten again by the running dog walk bug. So, here we go again, except this time I will stick with it, yes you heard it here first :-) I am writing it down so that I am accountable. It is tough when you have such a comfortable fall back like a great 2on/2off :-) I am going to keep Mooch out of competition that involves any contacts until we have this nailed! Good thing I am not in a hurry :-) Danger will keep his 2on/2off it suits him, Moochie running and if all goes as planned Journey will be running as well. I picked a really crazy time to start this endeavor as I am once again battling a wicked case of Plantar Fasciitis, I think this is my lot in life as I get older, it really sucks!!! I have been back to the foot Dr. for another cortisone shot that I am not so patiently waiting on to take away the pain :-)Good thing I am training a puppy and am in the very beginning stages of training a running dog walk, I get to stay mostly stationary! I am super excited about camp!! I love camp, even though I am working it is seriously like summer camp for me too. Camp is good! For now, back to the couch with a nice bag of frozen beans under my heel, while I plan the next tr

aining session :-)

I am in Seattle right now teaching a spectacular group of people, today was Novice day :-) Novice is such an ambiguous title, what exactly is novice? I guess my interpretation of Novice is from 0 to a Novice title. There is certainly a lot in between! We had a great time today exploring all of the various handling maneuvers that we will be perfecting between the Novice time period and when we are on the road to becoming the World Champions. We did not go into the obstacle side of Novice, we stuck to the handling parts of Novice. These are 2 very different things and treated as separate entities. We explored what the various cues are that we are attempting to teach our dogs, and, what the dog theoretically brings to the table from a hard wired standpoint. The things that we get to shape and mold to work in an agility setting. We discovered that although it appears to be a daunting task to make the progression from Novice to World Champion, there really are not that many cues after all! We also discovered just how much of what we need to create the ultimate agility dog comes with the dog, how lucky are we!! So much of what we ask of our dogs on course begin and end with a fairly short list of different hand signals, body positions, verbals, etc.. the devil is in the details :-) Knowing which cue when and where and being uber consistent in not only how we teach and shape these cues, but, how we present them as well. Consistency is that dirty little word that reeks havoc with our training and ultimately with our trial results. The dog comes hard wired with so many of the agility staples that if we could just remember to use them in the same way each time we would go a very long way in creating the perfection that we all so desire! But, alas, we are human and this in and of itself is a contradiction in terms as far as consistency is concerned! Take a moment to list all of the cues that you feel are necessary to create the perfect agility dog and then think about how many are taught at the novice level. Pretty much all of them I assure you. We discovered in class today that we could cover pretty much every handling maneuver found on any course on any given day in just one day! Please do not mistake this for a false statement of how difficult it is or isn't to get a dog competition ready, it is more to iterate that the basic cues are all there, next comes refinement, and, the ability to combine them in an appropriate manner to take us through the ranks. There is a significant amount of art involved in this process as well. My theory on dog agility is that the training is a science and the handling an art. As will all artistic endeavors the ability to improvise, and, utilize a lot of creative license is a necessity, while at the same time maintaining a very strict adherence to the criteria maintenance of all behaviors taught. Now we are looking at a very difficult scenario indeed! Singularly, simple... In motion against the clock, with stress, adrenaline, and, the eyes of the judge VERY difficult! The key to success of course lies in your ability to be patient, to be fair, and, to take the time to truly teach yourself and the dog what each behavior is and needs to be all by itself. Never judge your dog against another, or, yourself against another! Each dog and handler is unique, learns at their own pace and is ready at a different time. You will know when this is better than anyone. trust your gut :-) I am always in awe of just how lucky I am that although my job is to teach others, I walk away everyday having learned something very valuable for myself!! Until next time :-)