Helen's Home World: April 2015

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Cookie Monsters

Keltic reminded me that we were supposed to show everyone what he got for his birthday presents. He got a dragon with a rattle and squeaker, a bone that you can put treats in along with treats for it and both he and Beckett got a big cookie.

Keltic got the crown shaped cookie and Beckett got the party hat. I tried to take pictures of Keltic eating his cookie but he runs away. I think he thinks that I'll take it from him. Keltic really is a cookie monster; he eats so fast that he's done long before Beckett so the video is only of Beckett.

Beckett had to eat the icing off of his cookie before he ate the cookie.What a guy!

Cookie Monster Video

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Title Match

Well, last weekend we had just a pawsome agility weekend. The weather was nice so it wasn't too cold in the arena; in fact when the heaters were on I found it a bit too warm.

Saturday I was just there with Keltic, I had entered him in four events; two advanced games, a Jumpers and a Snooker and two Starter Standard runs. He needed one Starter Standard for his Starter title - Agility Dog of Canada. Beckett stayed home so he wouldn't have to spend the day in a crate. The first run was an Advanced Snooker, I handled one of the red jumps badly and Keltic back jumped it, so tweet went the judge's whistle before we had enough points to Q. Our next run was beautiful, just a lovely run on the Advanced Jumpers course. I felt very connected with Keltic.

Advanced Jumpers

Keltic ran the course in 26.4 seconds running 4.85 yards per second. The course time was set at 40 seconds so we were well under that. I'll have to watch who is judging the next time we run Jumpers as he has two qualifying scores with this judge and you need to have qualifying scores under two judges to move up to Masters. We then had a bit of break before the Starters events began and I worked the first Starter event. The Standards were the next two events so the wait wasn't too long. Keltic was pretty good about his start lines and in his first Starter Std he did try to get his weaves but he had no two on, two off on his contacts; he barely slowed down, luckily he hit the all contact zones.

Starter Standard 1

Video of Keltic's Starter Standard ADC title run

Keltic got his third qualifying score on Starter Standard 1 and with that his title of Agility Dog of Canada. Since you can't do same day move-ups and in any case the Advanced events had already run, we still had another Starter Standard to run. We could have just gone home but decided to stay and just have some fun.

Starter Standard 2

Keltic surprised me and got another qualifying score in this Standard as well. All of his Q's were also the best runs of the mini Regular dogs so he also got a stuffed toy for each of those runs. So now my little man is all in Advanced and, as a result, will run with a handicap in this year's K9 Kup.

Keltic with ribbons and toys.

When we got home, I told Beckett that he couldn't let his little brother show him up and he had to go three for four as well. I told him I wanted a Steeplechase Q and two Standards, Beckett didn't get it quite right, he got a Steeplechase Q, a Master Jumpers Q and one Master Standard Q. The Steeplechase run was our first of the day on Sunday. They are nice flowing courses so they are a great way to begin the day.

Steeplechase

Beckett had one little bobble in this run but luckily for us there are no refusals called in Steeplechase which is another reason we love it. I love Beckett's weave entries in this run and he sure made me run to get the blind cross in after the last tunnel. The little bobble probably cost him first place as we were 1/10th of a second behind the first place dog.

Video of Beckett's Steeplechase run

The Jumpers run was a beautiful run, again I felt very connected with Beckett. I just love when that happens; sometimes you seem to be just reacting but when it comes together you really understand that there is a deep human-animal bond.

Master Jumpers

Beckett ran the course in 26.82 running 5.56 yards per second. The course time was 41 seconds. I think Beckett really likes to run as a 10" Special. This was also a first place run.

Beckett then had a five fault Master Std, he spun and got a refusal when I tried to get him to turn out to the tunnel off of the A-frame(obstacle 10 to 11).

Master Standard 1

The next Standard run had a turn away to a tunnel off the dog walk and I worried he would do the same thing but he didn't and we were clean for the Q and another first place. Beckett ran the course in 42.91, running 4.29 yards per second on a course that had a course time of 63 seconds.

So Beckett went 3 for four too but he only won one best run toy. Beckett has some stiff competition with a miniature poodle named Keaton. In the four events they did together, Keaton won twice and Beckett won twice. So why did Beckett only get one Best Run toy well that's because if there are not enough dogs entered they combine all Specials. So in one events where Beckett was the first place mini Special (6" and 10" jump heights), an Open Special dog (16" and 22" jump heights) was faster than Beckett, a mini dog. It's hard for the little guys to beat the bigger dogs but sometimes they can.

Beckett with ribbons and toy.

We had a great weekend, hope that it was the first of many more this season.

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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