Helen's Home World: October 2013

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Throwback Thursday

Tucker - 31 Oct 2000 to 23 Aug 2012

Hope you have a ghoulishly good party at the Bridge, Tucker Boo!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Wordless Wednesday - Almost

K9 Kup results - the X indicates the scores that counted for the team placement.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Pippa, get your peoples to comment on our blog with their mailing address and our Mums will send you the hat and collar. It will be too late for Halloween, but if you have a fancy dress party or a pantomime to go to maybe you could wear them then. Our Mums said to tell your peeps that she won't post the comment with your address.

We thinks the hat looks like the sorting hat in Harry Potter.

Lots of licks Beckett and Keltic

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Throw Back Thursday

To save money, my Mum often made our clothes when we were younger. This one year she made all of us the same outfit, even made one for herself. That's me in the back with three of my younger sisters.

Monday, October 14, 2013

K9 Kup

This year, Keltic played agility in a house league for mainly Starter and pre-Starter dogs called K9 Kup. He was on a team called the Sibe Tribe. The team was made up of 6 Siberian Huskies, two Australian Shepherds, a Keeshund and Keltic, a Sheltie. The K9 Kup has four events over the season which runs from June to Oct. At each event, there are three courses, a Standard and two of the games, Steeplechase, Gamblers, Jumpers and Snooker. Every dog runs all three courses and then the best four runs from the team count for the placements but if your team places all the dogs receive a ribbon.

The Sibe Tribe

When we started the season, Keltic wasn't doing any weaves so each time there were weaves on course, we would just have to skip them and take the 20 faults. That meant that our scores usually didn't count for the team. Our two Steeplechase runs did count though as since it is time plus faults and we didn't waste any time trying to get the weaves done, our times were quite respectable.

We worked on our weaves and at this last K9 Kup for the 2013 season, I was going to try to have Keltic get his weaves. The courses this time were a Standard, a Jumpers and a Snooker. First up for us was Jumpers. It ran very fast, Keltic didn't miss a jump and went straight on like a flash to the tunnels. We will have to work on "go" as when he came out of the last tunnel, he turned back towards me rather than going on to the tire. I got him turned around and he did the tire and I'm pretty sure it wasn't faulted.

Jumpers

Next up for us was Snooker, we did red jump, A-frame, red jump, A-frame, red jump, tire and started our close (obstacles 2 to 7 in numerical order). We got to the weaves with lots of time left. How do I know, because I had time to send Keltic 4 times into the weaves. The first time he very nearly got it as he only popped out at about the 10th pole. It was alright that we didn't get the weaves though as we had our 37 points at the A-frame.

Snooker

Our last event of the day was the Standard and I was glad to see only 6 weaves. I was pretty sure after Steeplechase that he would do six. Our Standard run was great, although he self released from the A-frame and teeter, wouldn't go down on the table and he wouldn't weave! I had to call and send him through the six poles, but we had a clean run even with all of that. So nice that the dogs don't have to down on the table any more or we might have been over time.

Standard

I was very happy with our runs. I'm sure some of them counted for the team score but I didn't get to see the final results. The Sibe Tribe took first place in our Division in all of the events this year and first place over all in the 2013 K9 Kup.

The champs!

It was fun to have Keltic be an honorary Siberian Husky. He was even included on the team's T-shirt.

Do you see? That's Keltic on the sled.

Keltic might be a good little agility dog after all. He seems to like to run, hasn't had any issues with zoomies, has gotten more focused over the summer and hasn't showed any signs of spinning. Did you hear that Beckett. Keltic only jumped 10" at K9 Kup. I registered him at 16" for his first AAC trial, we'll see how things go at that height and will make the decision later on if he stays as a Regular dog or moves to Specials.

Go Keltic Go!

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving (Canadian that is)!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Wordless Wednesday

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Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother