I'm Kind of a Big Deal!

A friend of mine, Stefanie Noe, said to me once that she saw a T-shirt in Florida that says "I'm Kind of a Big Deal" and that it always made her think of Katie when she would see it. I think it is so funny, but I would have to agree :-). It is finally sinking in that we finished the utility title. I was smiling all day long about it. I just love that dog! Today, we started working on Open exercises again and she did not seem rusty at all. We are going to give these B classes a try.

Utility Dog Title!!!!

I'm very pleased and proud to announce that Katie quietly earned her Utility Dog title today at the Oakridge Kennel Club Show in Harriman, TN. This was an outdoor trial, on dirt, under cover. No friends or family were there to witness, but a few fellow competitors would happily vouch for us. She showed very well both days. We were the first pair to compete at 8 AM both days. Yesterday, during scent articles the National Anthem began and we had to stand their waiting between scent discrimination exercises for it to finish. Luckily, she waited patiently and did not get creative and start offering new behaviors. I was a little bit concerned about our scent articles because normally I send her directly to the pile, but lately she has been occasionally stopping after we pivot. So I changed to sending her after sitting her which we have never done and its usually a bad idea to change what you do right before a show. However, it worked and her articles were excellent both days. The only error for the entire weekend was a missed down signal on Saturday. BUT today, we started after the National Anthem, she nailed the signals, and everything else. She earned a 187.5 out of 200 with a first place, beating the other qualifier (a border collie :-). This was also our 25th attempt at qualifying in Utility A and I have learned that succeeding in 25 attempts is quite good for any dog, so I'm especially happy that my little greyhound did it so quickly. She is the 14th Utility Dog Greyhound!

Happy Birthday, Katie!

Well, Katie turned 9 yesterday. The time sure has flown much too fast for me. Just such a great dog and I really hope that I will find another similar to her. Although Travis is the "slightly" better agility dog (he is faster, more physically suited, and sounder than Katie) I really love doing obedience with Katie. She's so methodical and is very good about working the details with me. Most of all, she seems to love it. Utility, especially, is so hard..... much harder than agility. I would really like for my next greyhound to be good for agility and obedience like Katie has been.

Except for the charcoal face fading to white and a tiny, ugly, pink skin tag on her belly :-P, she really does not look or seem to feel like a 9 year old. I definitely think the raw food and lots of exercise keeps them young. All of my guys (even Jes and Teresa), have aged really well. None of them has gone through a period of being "old". I will feel much better when Katie and I get our last UD leg. After that, everything will just be extra. Wish us luck. We have 4 days of showing in utility outdoors (Katie's preference) in the next 2 weeks.

Scare Me To Death

Travis is such a doofus sometimes. He came flying out of his crate and slipped on the hardwood floors. He ended up doing the splits with his hind legs or something else very awkard and painful. So he starts screaming likes he has broken a leg (he does overeact). I was right there and had to pick him up and put him on his feet. He looks fine, but the last thing I need is for him to tear a tendon or something. It would be terrible to have to retire him because he slipped. I think he is fine, thank goodness.

Amazing

As Katie and Travis close in on their 9th birthdays (Travis in a month and Katie in 2 weeks), I'm totally amazed by their youthfulness. They are so healthy and in great physical shape. Travis, especially, doesn't look the slightest bit over 2 years of age. His face isn't even grey. He literally has not changed a bit. He is as active as ever.

Katie had more charcoal coloring on her face that has turned more white, but other than that, she too does not look more than a few years old. Even as it gets hotter, Katie works so hard at the utility exercises. Most people can't believe the bounce she still has in her step while doing something that most sighthounds and people think is boring (obedience in general), but its even more incredable when she's working on a hot day.

Its truly a pleasure to share my life with these two hounds. While they both are very different, they both have the qualities I seek: confidence, motivation, and drive. They are perfect. Although they look a little meek and mousy in this picture. They are wondering why I am posing them with a backpack.