Today was my last day of Intermediate Novice Class. My teacher is really good. She has Marty practicing different moves to get me in position and moving faster toward obstacles. Next week we don't have agility because of an all day seminar but we will start back the following week.
Marty thought she had signed me up for my Intermediate Novice Class but when the class list was checked our names weren't there. Oh what to do! Then Marty asked if there were any openings in Whispy's class and was told yes but that she needed permission from our current instructor to move up to that class. Without hesitation my instructor said yes, that I was far advanced compared to most of the other dogs in class. She reminded Marty that before we started this block of lessons she thought we should move up. Well it is now done!
Starting 8/31/16 I will be running with the "big dogs" the ones in a Masters Agility Class and I couldn't be prouder.
Today the weather was cool compared to last week and I felt squirrely. I ran each course correctly the first time. When Marty wanted me to do it again from the top or to try some other part of the course I started out alright and then I ran off to do my own thing like running through the tunnel even though I wasn't told to do so. I would run past Marty laughing. I ran around and really enjoyed myself. Marty just laughed, raising her arms in the air and shaking her head in disbelief. She told me it was alright, that I am a puppy and I can do that every now and then. I guess today was that day.
The last thing my instructor had us do was have Marty send me about 12-15' to the tunnel. While I was doing that Marty was to turn and run past the next two jumps headed for the teeter. Marty sent me to the tunnel and I ran fast. When I came out of the tunnel Marty was running away indicating the jumps she passed. I ran as fast as I have ever run in my life trying to and finally catching up to her as she neared the teeter. I raced up the teeter to the end, riding it to the ground. I got lots and lots of treats.
My instructor was clapping when I finished. She said she had never seen me run that fast, that I was only a little blur.
Today was a most wonderful day, my last day in the Intermediate Novice Class.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Agility was really fun today!
The morning started off hot and sticky. We left for agility at 0835am and Marty stopped to get a cold unsweetened ice tea, then we were on our way.
Marty had lined our crate in the van, just before we jumped in, with a cold wet cooling cloth. When we got to agility she put another cooling pad in the crate that she sets on the tall table where I wait while Whispy runs her class and then Whispy waits while I am running in mine.
Whispy was really funny today. In the first course she had to do some jumps then tunnel tunnel. The second tunnel was set up along side the dog walk. When Marty sent Whispy through the first tunnel she got in front of the dog walk and with a lowered left hand indicated the second tunnel. Whispy came flying through the first tunnel as Marty was saying, "Tunnel!" "Tunnel!" but Whispy was determined to do the dog walk and actually ran into Marty's hand. Everyone in the class started laughing. Whispy had never been so intent on doing anything like that before and running into Marty.
Then it was my turn. My teacher set up extra jumps and things for me to do that the other dogs were not going to be doing. Marty says it's because I listen so well and do what she asks of me. I so love to run and jump! I got to do lots of jumps today, A-Frames, tunnels and even the teeter. I will not be doing weave poles in class until I am doing them with confidence again out in the big training area during my private classes. That's okay because the other dogs in my class aren't doing the weave poles either at this point. Class was so much fun today with all the extra stuff I got to do.
Marty carried Whispy and me out to the van so we didn't burn our feet on the hot asphalt. If I thought it was hot in the unairconditioned training center then I was greatly mistaken. The air was thick and it sucked the air out of us...well not literally, but it made breathing harder.
We drank our water as Marty drove. She got us a small strawberry banana smoothie. Whispy and I shared and it tasted to cold and good. We weren't pigs though, we left a little at the bottom, that neither of us could reach, for Marty.
When we got home Rainy was lying on the floor of the bedroom. Seems she tried to get off the bed safely and didn't make it. Marty had to wash the urine from her dog fur. After Rainy went outside, Marty helped her back onto the bed.
Today Rainy has again improved. When she went out this morning she actually noticed and alerted to a squirrel on the potting shed roof. She hasn't done that since 7/22. She played with me and Whispy too. Then I went and got Rainy's new plushie which I'd taken to my crate and brought it up on the bed for Rainy to play with, she did. Rainy let Whispy wash her face. But the best thing Rainy did today was that she safely got off the bed by herself, walked to the kitchen and got a drink, then returned to the bed and got up all by herself with no help from Marty who was on the computer at the time. She hasn't done that since 7/22 either.
All in all today was a really good day!
Marty had lined our crate in the van, just before we jumped in, with a cold wet cooling cloth. When we got to agility she put another cooling pad in the crate that she sets on the tall table where I wait while Whispy runs her class and then Whispy waits while I am running in mine.
Whispy was really funny today. In the first course she had to do some jumps then tunnel tunnel. The second tunnel was set up along side the dog walk. When Marty sent Whispy through the first tunnel she got in front of the dog walk and with a lowered left hand indicated the second tunnel. Whispy came flying through the first tunnel as Marty was saying, "Tunnel!" "Tunnel!" but Whispy was determined to do the dog walk and actually ran into Marty's hand. Everyone in the class started laughing. Whispy had never been so intent on doing anything like that before and running into Marty.
Then it was my turn. My teacher set up extra jumps and things for me to do that the other dogs were not going to be doing. Marty says it's because I listen so well and do what she asks of me. I so love to run and jump! I got to do lots of jumps today, A-Frames, tunnels and even the teeter. I will not be doing weave poles in class until I am doing them with confidence again out in the big training area during my private classes. That's okay because the other dogs in my class aren't doing the weave poles either at this point. Class was so much fun today with all the extra stuff I got to do.
Marty carried Whispy and me out to the van so we didn't burn our feet on the hot asphalt. If I thought it was hot in the unairconditioned training center then I was greatly mistaken. The air was thick and it sucked the air out of us...well not literally, but it made breathing harder.
We drank our water as Marty drove. She got us a small strawberry banana smoothie. Whispy and I shared and it tasted to cold and good. We weren't pigs though, we left a little at the bottom, that neither of us could reach, for Marty.
When we got home Rainy was lying on the floor of the bedroom. Seems she tried to get off the bed safely and didn't make it. Marty had to wash the urine from her dog fur. After Rainy went outside, Marty helped her back onto the bed.
Today Rainy has again improved. When she went out this morning she actually noticed and alerted to a squirrel on the potting shed roof. She hasn't done that since 7/22. She played with me and Whispy too. Then I went and got Rainy's new plushie which I'd taken to my crate and brought it up on the bed for Rainy to play with, she did. Rainy let Whispy wash her face. But the best thing Rainy did today was that she safely got off the bed by herself, walked to the kitchen and got a drink, then returned to the bed and got up all by herself with no help from Marty who was on the computer at the time. She hasn't done that since 7/22 either.
All in all today was a really good day!
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Today was a good day for Rainy
Before I start about the good day Rainy had, I need to update my weave pole practice.
On 7/26 I had a private lesson and we started out in the small training area and I aced my weaves! I practiced for about 15 minutes before we moved to the big training area. I was tired by this time and though I did everything Marty asked of me, I did knock down a record TWO bars!
I will not be doing weaves in my regular agility class until I can do them out in the big area several times during private lessons. I will have my next private lesson on 8/4.
Now to Rainy.
On Friday 7/22 Rainy had to be rushed to our vet at 0830AM even before they opened because she struggled during the night to breathe. This came on very suddenly during the night.
Our vet diagnosed Rainy with an infection in her left lung because of what he heard when he listened to her chest. He did not hear any problems with her heart. Marty brought Rainy home after she got a shot of an antibiotic and some of the same in pills.
Oh and because Rainy's nose was all clogged she got a giant can of nasal saline spray.
Rainy rested all that day but after she came in from outside her saliva was pink so Marty had to rush Rainy back to our vet. Rainy by this time couldn't walk and was struggling to breathe. Rainy got some IV fluids and Marty had to pick her back up at 545p because there is no overnight help. Marty took Rainy up to the emergency vet.
At the emergency vet chest x-rays were done and it showed not only fluid in Rainy's left lung but fluid all around her lungs and heart. Her heart was enlarged. Rainy had to stay in an oxygen thingy. IV's were started on her too.
Marty went to visit Rainy on Saturday but didn't visit long because seeing Marty made Rainy breathe hard because she was so happy but weak.
Rainy had more x-rays of her heart and an ultrasound which was read by their cardiologist. The cardiologist said that Rainy had dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) which is prevalent in Dobies, it seems.
Rainy came home on Monday and she was not only weak and couldn't walk without Marty holding her up but because the hospital didn't feed her the Rx food Marty sent along but rather a whole can of some dog food, Rainy had severe diarrhea.
Marty has done lots and lots of laundry because Rainy had many accidents on the bed.
Slowly Rainy is improving. Today was her best day since the DCM diagnosis. Rainy can now get off the bed without falling, can walk to the kitchen to drink, then walk unsupported outside. She is still collapsing after she takes care of her business and Marty had to go outside and lift her back onto her feet.
Yesterday Marty gave Rainy a new plushie and she played for a few minutes. I went and got the tiny elephant plushie and brought it up on the bed so I could play next to Rainy. She took it away from me! She played a few more times yesterday with the plushies.
Today Rainy did all of things she did yesterday but she is now sleeping like she used to, running and making noise while she is asleep. She even did "trash dog" for Marty one time. Her lungs sound clear and she looks bright eyed again. I even played with Rainy for a little while this morning. That felt good.
I hope Rainy sleeps though the night tonight. Each night she wakes less and less. As she is able to get off the bed by herself she is able to go get a drink of water when she needs to and only wakes Marty on her return so Marty to help her get back up on the bed.
Marty said that the DCM will shorten Rainy's life even more than the cancer. This makes me sad but I am happy she is doing well now.
On 7/26 I had a private lesson and we started out in the small training area and I aced my weaves! I practiced for about 15 minutes before we moved to the big training area. I was tired by this time and though I did everything Marty asked of me, I did knock down a record TWO bars!
I will not be doing weaves in my regular agility class until I can do them out in the big area several times during private lessons. I will have my next private lesson on 8/4.
Now to Rainy.
On Friday 7/22 Rainy had to be rushed to our vet at 0830AM even before they opened because she struggled during the night to breathe. This came on very suddenly during the night.
Our vet diagnosed Rainy with an infection in her left lung because of what he heard when he listened to her chest. He did not hear any problems with her heart. Marty brought Rainy home after she got a shot of an antibiotic and some of the same in pills.
Oh and because Rainy's nose was all clogged she got a giant can of nasal saline spray.
Rainy rested all that day but after she came in from outside her saliva was pink so Marty had to rush Rainy back to our vet. Rainy by this time couldn't walk and was struggling to breathe. Rainy got some IV fluids and Marty had to pick her back up at 545p because there is no overnight help. Marty took Rainy up to the emergency vet.
At the emergency vet chest x-rays were done and it showed not only fluid in Rainy's left lung but fluid all around her lungs and heart. Her heart was enlarged. Rainy had to stay in an oxygen thingy. IV's were started on her too.
Marty went to visit Rainy on Saturday but didn't visit long because seeing Marty made Rainy breathe hard because she was so happy but weak.
Rainy had more x-rays of her heart and an ultrasound which was read by their cardiologist. The cardiologist said that Rainy had dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) which is prevalent in Dobies, it seems.
Rainy came home on Monday and she was not only weak and couldn't walk without Marty holding her up but because the hospital didn't feed her the Rx food Marty sent along but rather a whole can of some dog food, Rainy had severe diarrhea.
Marty has done lots and lots of laundry because Rainy had many accidents on the bed.
Slowly Rainy is improving. Today was her best day since the DCM diagnosis. Rainy can now get off the bed without falling, can walk to the kitchen to drink, then walk unsupported outside. She is still collapsing after she takes care of her business and Marty had to go outside and lift her back onto her feet.
Yesterday Marty gave Rainy a new plushie and she played for a few minutes. I went and got the tiny elephant plushie and brought it up on the bed so I could play next to Rainy. She took it away from me! She played a few more times yesterday with the plushies.
Today Rainy did all of things she did yesterday but she is now sleeping like she used to, running and making noise while she is asleep. She even did "trash dog" for Marty one time. Her lungs sound clear and she looks bright eyed again. I even played with Rainy for a little while this morning. That felt good.
I hope Rainy sleeps though the night tonight. Each night she wakes less and less. As she is able to get off the bed by herself she is able to go get a drink of water when she needs to and only wakes Marty on her return so Marty to help her get back up on the bed.
Marty said that the DCM will shorten Rainy's life even more than the cancer. This makes me sad but I am happy she is doing well now.
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