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!