Helen's Home World: February 2015

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

A Special Day and Sheltiepalooza

Two weekends ago on 8 Feb, Beckett ran in his first trial of 2015; it was also his first trial as a Special. In the AAC, you can drop your dog from Regulars to Special at anytime for whatever reason, so now Beckett only has to jump 10 inches and will no longer have to jump the double jump that he often crashed. We had four runs,two Master Standards and two Snooker. Unfortunately, we were not very fortunate in the Q department and went home Qless. I had a friend video Beckett's first run as a Special; it was so smooth except for that spinning when I pulled him in off the tunnel. Watch the judge in the video, spin,arm down, I move forward, spin, arm down, I move forward, spin, arm goes up. If only I had stopped and sent him on to the dog walk, we would have been fine. The rest of the run felt wonderful, we were totally in sync except the handling of the dog walk.

Video of Beckett's First Run as a Special

The next run was another Master Std with the same discrimination of tunnel and dog walk; I decided to trust Beckett. I guess we have some discrimination work to do as he took the tunnel. Off course, which is an elimination in Masters. The next two runs were Snookers, we did just fine but faulted in the closing of both runs before we had enough points.

Beckett will still jump 16" in some events but no longer in AAC events. We do them the most and I want to give him a break as it's the jumping I think that causes repetitive strain injuries.

This past weekend on Sunday, we went to Sheltiepalooza. It was a fund raiser for the Southern Ontario Sheltie Rescue. We had had quite a bit of snow on Saturday, certainly more than forecast but not near what they got in parts of New England and the Maritimes. The forecast for Sunday, though was for high winds and blowing snow which can cause roads to be icy and visibility rather poor so as a result many people decided not to brave the cold and stayed home. We decided to take the chance and it turned out that the roads were pretty good. It was terribly cold out in the wind but,in the arena, which is insulated, it wasn't too bad.

Each dog got two runs on an agility course and each time you could have up to two minutes in the ring so you could go back and fix parts of the course or try different things. On our second run, I did a blind cross at the end of the dog walk, it worked with Beckett who has good running contacts but Keltic, being less experienced and a tendency to fly off contacts, came off the side of the down ramp before hitting the yellow when he saw me cross in front of him.

There also was a photo booth where you could have your dogs pictures taken for a donation to the rescue. The pictures turned out pretty good. As you can see it was cold; look at Beckett's breathe.

I call them the "hoping for spring" pictures since they had all the flowers and birdhouses in the set up.

After all the agility equipment was put away, there was a free play session, the Sheltiepalooza. It's funny, they do interact somewhat with the other Shelties but they all tend to play mostly with their own siblings. Of course, there was lots of barking, spinning and herding to be done. Beckett kept bringing his Frisbee back to me so that made videoing the fun hard to do.

Sheltiepalooza Video

For the people there was a pot luck lunch. We had quite a bit of food, soup, meatballs, sandwiches, chips, veggies, fruit, dessert squares and chocolate cookies filled with peanut butter.

Hopefully, the next time the weather will be better and more people and their dogs will come out. Sheltiepalooza is not just for Shelties either, friends of Shelties are most welcome.

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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