I finally did it!!

It has been a while since I last wrote.  In fact I've gone to 3 agility classes with Whispy since Rainy died.  I think we were all numb during the class on the 12th.  The next class on the 19th Marty cried and cried while we waited our turns to run.

Today all of us were happy.  It had rained all night and the weather felt cold.  Marty brought in one of our little heaty pads to lie on so Whispy and I would not shiver with cold.

Whispy was really fast today and our teacher gave Marty and Whispy lots of praise.  In the 1st course we ran there were the weave poles.  The first time I ran, I found the weave entrance perfectly but I missed a few of the poles though I ended up right at the end.  Marty was happy with my attempt.

Our teacher had Marty and me do the course again and this time I was really fast.  Marty had trouble keeping up with me.  I did the 2 jumps to the dog walk, two jumps to the tunnel, out of the tunnel over the jump and then right into the weaves.  I went in exactly right and with Marty going along side saying "Get it!" "Get it!" for every pole I made it through all 12 poles perfectly!!!  I nearly fell over as Marty gave me lots of praise as I ran for the tunnel, then over 3 jumps to the end.  I got lots of treats and lots more praise.

This was the very first time I have done all 12 weave poles perfectly in class. Marty is so very proud of me.  My teacher cheered and gave us lots of praise.

I knew that I could do the weaves in class and today I proved it in front of my whole class.

Then our class moved to the next training area.  Today the training room was divided right down the middle so our course was 120' x 45'.  Lots of running.  The 2nd training area had no weaves but it had the A-frame and the teeter.  I love to do both of those pieces of equipment.  Some of my class were amazed that I can do the A-frame at full height - the height the biggest dogs run.  Don't lower the A-frame for me because I am strong and fast and can do it at full height even at the end of a long course.

We had such a good day at agility.

Oh I forgot to mention, River the golden retriever that used to be in class with Whispy and Pin, turned 16 today.  Image.....16 years old!!  Marty made a present for River's mom in a community ed class on Monday.  It was a zentangle shrink art necklace with River and Rae, the baby golden, names on little tags and zentangle designs.  It was really neat.

What a good day we all had despite the cold rainy weather.

Rainy died today

This week has been very hard on Marty.  She took Whispy and me to agility on Wednesday but we had to hurry home so she could take care of Rainy.  A week and a half before Marty found two enlarged lymph nodes near Rainy's jaw, she said they were the size of a grape.  She was very sad.

Rainy's chiropractor came that evening and she noticed the two enlarged lymph nodes though they hadn't changed in size since Marty found them

I ran really well at my private lesson on Thursday.  I even did the weave poles out in the big training area.  First I did just the weaves and then Marty had me do a course and the weaves were in that course...I did them :D  Marty was so proud.  I ran a couple more courses and the our time was over.

Friday Marty took Rainy to her vet.  The lymph nodes had not changed in size.  Because predisone hadn't worked to shrink the lymph nodes back in February, Rainy's vet said he would not put her on it.  Marty was told that Rainy was now in palliative care and they came home.

Marty was doing the dishes and I heard her crying.  She had just bake salmon for Rainy and was getting Rainy's dinner ready.  Rainy was lying in bed and Marty fed her there also bringing her her water dish.  Rainy has a lot of trouble walking now.  She can't walk by herself any more.

We had a great weekend.  Marty stayed close, worked on laundry, cooked us good food while us Chihuahuas ran and played.  Whispy washed Rainy's face and Twig washed behind each of Rainy's ears.  Marty went to McDonald's and got a big breakfast with hot cakes.  Rainy got to eat most of it.  Lucky dog.  Rainy looked so happy.

Sunday night just as Marty was turning out the light Rainy decided it was time to chew on her bone.  She chewed and chewed.  She must have chewed for at least one half hour before falling back exhausted.  Marty turned off the light, patted each of us telling us good night and that she loved us.  A while later Rainy started panting very hard.  Marty turned on the tower fan but that didn't help so she got 2 tramadol and gave them to Rainy.  Rainy went to sleep shortly afterwards.

In the morning Marty talked to Rainy's vet telling him that Rainy needed tramadol for pain.  He talked to her about dosage and frequency. Rainy started panting and crying quietly.  Marty gave Rainy more tramadol and after two hours when there was no change change she put in a call to her vet.  Her vet talked with Marty and had her give Rainy 60mg quellin and told her if that didn't help in two hours to take Rainy to the emergency vet.  Rainy started to vocalize as is bark/howling.  Marty called the emergency clinic and they left immediately.

When they got home Rainy was having a lot of trouble staying on her feet despite Marty holding her up by the handle on her harness.  Marty got Rainy into bed and soon followed.  They both slept about 5 hours when Rainy woke panting and vocalizing again.

At 730a this morning Marty took Rainy.  She had told Rainy they were going to see Dr. Baker and Rainy got really happy.  Marty had tried to feed Rainy but she wanted no food at all so Marty had to put the medications down the back of her throat. They  got to the vet office an hour early, before Dr. Baker arrived, and Rainy lay on the lawn watching the morning, enjoying sniffing the air, hearing the wind whisper through the tree leaves, feeling the coolness of the morning.

Dr. Baker arrived and Marty told him it was time. 

Marty came home this morning without Rainy and she cried and cried.  Marty went back to bed and cried some more.

I don't know what to do to help Marty.  I don't know where Rainy is or went all I know is that Marty took Rainy's bedding off her bed, tossed on a clean quilt and crawled under it.  Poor Marty

Hope we go to agility tomorrow.

I am amazing!

On Wednesday September 28th Whispy and I went to class.  I know I frustrated the hell out of Marty.  She would set me up at the start, lead out and tell me "Free!" which is my word to start the course, usually jumping the jump directly in front of me.  Well for the second week in a row I decided that when Marty said "Free!"  I would hold my sit.  I would watch her try to get me to move, to start the course.  Marty would wave her arms and ask me if I could see her.  DUH!!  Marty would turn her back on me and run off.  So what!  Marty would return to look at me.  I could see the total frustration on her face.  She would reach in her pocket and pull out my baggie of treats and of course I would do the jump and we would do the entire course.

Marty's teacher on this most recent Wednesday told her not to do that any more.  That she was "baiting" me and Marty said that she knew that but couldn't figure out how to get me moving.  Jacque suggested that Marty should just run off and far away from me.  It didn't work.  I just sat and watched Marty run off.

Finally I decided to do the course.  All went fine until I got to the top of the A-Frame.  I decided to just stand there.  Again, Marty waved her arms, turned and ran away and I just stood there, on the top of the A-Frame, looking over "my kingdom".  Marty put a treat at the bottom of the A-Frame and I ran down to eat that and finish the course. 

Jacque suggested that she come up behind me, well along side the A-Frame while I was standing on it and see if that got me moving.  If not, then she would touch me and Marty and Jacque started laughing, knowing that I would certainly run down the A-Frame like I was on fire. 

I went up the A-Frame, saw Jacque out of the corner of my eye approaching from behind and to the side and decided to run down the A-Frame and finish the course.


Thursday September 29th I had a private lesson.  I started out doing 2 sets of 6 weaves with space in between the sets. I was great going 1 direction and missing poles going the other direction.  Finally I got them all and the spacing was removed.  I had the same trouble the first couple times but finally I was able to do all 12 going either direction AND finding the start correctly from different angles.

While I was working on my weaves, Janet and her doggie Shimmer were working a course in the training area right next to me.  I focused on what I had to do and didn't pay any heed to Shimmer or Janet.  I am AMAZING!!!

Marty was so proud of me!

We then moved to the training area where Janet and Shimmer had been.  Shimmer was once again crated so I was the only dog in the entire training facility.  Marty told Janet about my starts and standing on top of the A-Frame.  Janet suggested, after watching Marty try to get me to start the course...I just sat there looking at her, that Marty just continue running the course with an "invisible" dog.  Well when I saw Marty out there doing the course without me I ran to catch up.  She can't to that!  I am her dog.  I run agility with Marty! 

The next time I was waiting to start and Marty led out, turned and told me "Free!" I ran right away to begin and run my agility course with Marty.