RIP Kibeth - 1 Year Anniversary

Kibeth ~ 10/26/2002-9/8/12

September is a big month.  JoJo's birthday, my parents' anniversary, my Mom's birthday, my Mother-In-Law's birthday...

It's also the month that we helped end Kibeth's pain from lumbosacral stenosis.  Actually, on the same day as my parents' anniversary, one year ago today.

I still have her ashes.  I don't have a yard, but I have a beautiful place picked out where I'd like to "bury" her nearby at a local park.

I remember the good times.  How she would always bring me a toy when I walked in the door.  How she was one of the few greyhounds I've ever met who loved to tug.  How she detested snuggling, and would only tolerate it, because I asked her to.  How she hated car rides, and the only time she ever bit me (besides anytime I had to bandage a wound) was when it was time to had back to Ypsilanti for a school week from my parents' house.  I always loved winter time, because it would get chilly at night in the house, and Kibeth would come snuggle with me -- strictly for practical reasons, of course.  I miss her graceful zoomies in the backyard and at the dog park in Ann Arbor.  Her sweet, tender kisses.  The windmill tail she got when she was excited to play or was asking for dinner.  She loved everyone, but she definitely had an inner circle where her personality true shone through.

It took a couple years for her to come out of her shell from the Florida tracks, where she raced.  The first couple days after I adopted her, she literally slept ALL DAY.  I was bored to tears, eager to bond with her.  She taught me an important lesson in patience, and getting my ego out of the equation.  I had her from December of 2005 until she passed 9/8/12.  Nearly seven glorious years together with my first dog, my first greyhound.  Kibeth was never anyone other than herself.  She never did something just to please you, she always had an agenda.  I taught her how to sit in two weeks, by physically manipulating her back legs to help her body learn how a formal sit works.  After that, if I asked her to sit, but did not reward her with something material (tug, pink ball, or treat), she would follow me around to help me remember.

She had the most adorable expressions, the most wonderfully perked ears, the sweetest face.  She was my rock through a lot of change in my life, and I will never forget her unwavering support.  Had she been a human, I am quite sure she would have been a philosopher, explaining to all the humans why their lives are silly.

To Kibeth:  my friend, my confidante, my rock.

Kibeth and me on our last day together in this world.

Introductions ~JoJo

Howdy, everybody! :)

I know I'm late to join the party.  My apologies for my tardiness, but what a wonderful day!  It's so sunny, warm, and relaxing here.

The youngsters have already mentioned me here and there.  That's fine.  I just wanted to let you know a bit about me, and they can carry on.

I was born to a track in a state called Alabama as Phoney Jonie.  I was a terrible racer, had absolutely no interest in competing whatsoever.  World peace is my greatest wish.  I finished 7th out of 8 dogs in my first race, then 7th again in my second race, and the 8th dog had even less interest than I did -- he didn't bother to run at all.

From the track, I was rescued, transported to a state called Michigan, and put in a foster home for a rescue group called REGAP, where I got the nickname, JoJo.  I really enjoyed snuggling with my foster Mom and my foster pals.  We all got along great!  I was adopted about 6 months later by a nice young couple.  I had decent food, a home, family... it was great!  When my human parents stopped getting along, though, my Mom had to give me back to the foster mom.  I didn't mind too much, just tried to make sure everyone was okay.

A few months after that, I was five-years-old by this time, my real Mom came and met me.  I loved how she smelled, and I leaned into her to let her know how much I appreciated the hip scritches!  Her nails are nice and short, so it doesn't hurt my sensitive skin to get really deep ones. ;)

My Mom has taken me to lots of places.  We lived at a house and an apartment in Michigan for a while, and when we were at the apartment, I got to roam in this beautiful dog park.  I loved meeting everybody human and canine alike, but what I really loved was exploring nature!  If a fight broke out, I made sure to interrupt it so everyone could just get along.  Dudes, seriously, life is too short.  Make love not war.

A couple years ago, Mom moved to a state called California to live with my new Dad.  I miss my Mom 2 and first Dad, as well as the fenced in yard they made for me and my sister, Kibeth (RIP), but I do NOT miss the winter.  No flowers to smell, no warm grass to lie in.  Definitely not as good as it is here!  I've walked in the ocean, run in the sand, and even broken up a few fights at the dog parks here; though we don't tend to visit those as often here anymore.  So much anger and hate from the people and the dogs, it's just not a good place to be and fill yourself with peace and happiness.

My favorite things include:  lying in the sun, eating breakfast and dinner, getting treats, playing with my little sister, Zenzi, and going for walks in the local parks.

I'm nine-years-old now, and I can tell that life is a slower pace at this age.  I really like to just nap in my soft, warm bed all day long.  Sure, I emerge for walks and meals, maybe to say hi to the family here and there, spread the love... you know?

Wishing you all love, peace, and happiness!
~JoJo

P.S.  Some of you were worried about me and my dental procedure on Monday.  I'm fine, but thanks for the good vibes!  I could feel the love all the way. ;)

RIP Kibeth

We put Kibeth down this afternoon.  She passed away around 12:30p.m.  The sedative shot was slightly painful, she yelped.  That was the only drama.  She got very drowsy, and then the final shot just let her slip away peacefully.

I told her I loved her, she's a perfect dog, she can meet all the horses and dogs at the Rainbow Bridge, I'd miss her, I'd be okay, we'd be okay, don't worry...

She stuck her tongue out as she fell asleep.  It was funny, so we chuckled.  Such a good girl, always making me smile.

Before we went to the vet, we went to an open field to lay in the sunshine on the warm grass.  She loved to roll in the grass on our walks, so I think she really enjoyed it.

She actually got up when it was about time to start heading over for our appointment at 11:40.  She went straight to the car.  She knew it was time.  Rick went in to get things started and the room prepared with her leopard bed and toys.  We stayed outside in more grass while we waited.

It was such a beautiful day.  I couldn't have asked for better.  It was warm enough to be hot, but not too hot.  The sky was gorgeous.  There were these beautiful wispy clouds amidst the blue and sunshine.

It took us about 20 minutes to get a hold of ourselves enough to pay for her cremation and euthanasia, and say goodbye the final time.  When we finally got home, JoJo and Dolce greeted us happily at the door.  They seem not to even notice.  I'm glad of this.  I'd rather they be oblivious than grieving.  Though it does pain me a little.  We took them for a walk, Rick and I, to form our new family pack.  There was a butterfly, a bug that tried to land on me, and I could feel Kibby on the wind -- she always tried to eat bugs.  She was happy, at peace, and painless again.

I envision her running free with my horse, Matthew.  We told her to say hi to our friend's dog, Howie, who died this year in a tragic car accident.  I know she will.  She did everything I ever asked her to.  She was the perfect first dog, a true ambassador for the wonderful greyhound breed.  I love her, I miss her, but I'm so glad the pain is gone at last and she can be happy and playful again.

Kibeth Update :(

I'm very sorry to say that while the incontinence has dissipated, Kibeth is not doing well.

She reacted very strongly to the steroids, so we have weaned her off of them.  They didn't help in the slightest, so it was pointless to continue giving them to her.  They made her pee in the house for the first time since we adopted her, and it was like she had a UTI all over again.  She needed to go out every 2-3 hours, drinking like a maniac.

She can't stand as long, can't walk too far, can't play as much, and is laying down more frequently.  She still eats, drinks, and does her thing outside.

However, she has started to look depressed on occasion.  It's not always, and a little play session will bring her out of it instantly.  Although, this week, there were a couple times I threw her favorite blue fluff ball, and she didn't pursue it, despite some interest.

And now, I've discovered a sore spot on her hock where she has licked it raw -- to the point it is bleeding.  I assume (and my vet did not correct me) that this is from the tingling due to nerve damage, and they try to make it feel better by licking it.  Some will be so determined to make it stop, it develops into self-mutilation.

With the episodes of incontince last month, even surgery is not going to give her a good prognosis.  Surgery is risky anyway -- it's spinal surgery.  She could come out of it paralyzed, dead...

Kibeth is a horrible patient, always has been.  Doesn't matter who you are, she WILL bite your face off if you touch her booboos.  I can't imagine treating her little sore, let alone recovering from spinal surgery.  What am I going to do, put a cone on her for the rest of her life?  Will that even stop her tongue from reaching her hock?  I can't put a dressing on a hock, she'll eat it off.  I can't just put Neosporin on it, she'll lick it off.  And there's nothing to say she won't just keep licking somewhere else...

Despite the brave and mostly happy face she puts on every day, she's clearly in distress.

I had made an appointment on Wednesday for our vet to evaluate her pain tomorrow at 11:40.  I emailed him again last night...

I've decided if he agrees she is in considerable pain, I am going to put her to sleep tomorrow.

My heart is breaking.  She tries so hard to be happy, she still likes to do things, her body just won't let her.  I can't wait until the LS robs her of all her joy before deciding enough is enough.  I just hope this is the right thing.  I hope it's peaceful, and painless, and easy, and gives her relief -- none of the pain medications have.  She's ON tramadol and gabapentin + Joint Max, still no improvement -- how much pain must that be?

What a cruel disease.

ETA:  Tonight, LS took away play.  Dolce invited Kibeth to a game of tug like he always does, and she always enjoys it.  Just now, though, when he tried to tug with her, she dropped it and yelled at him. She was screaming, "Don't do that!  It hurts!" and he left her alone.

Kibeth & Dolce Updates

Kibeth

Has been on steroids since last Monday night.  It hasn't been pretty.  The first 2 days she seemed fine.  The 3rd day, though, she peed in the bathroom (I don't think in the nearly 7 years I've had her, she's EVER peed in the house), had to pee every 2 hours, had to wake us up in the night, AND pooped in the house. :( Poor girl.  Now that we've been able to down her dose to just once per day, she's been OK.  She still drinks more than usual, still needs 5 walks instead of 3-4, and is HUNGRY.  She started trembling/shaking slightly tonight... I don't know if that's related or not.  I don't think she was cold justifiably, it was 74º in the house.  She wasn't doing her excited chitter, her whole body was jiggling slightly.
Despite all this, she shows NO improvement.  In fact, I think she's actually gotten a little bit worse -- she won't play as hardily or as long.  A friend told me that when they get down to just two things they love to do, it's time to start thinking about making tough choices.  Kibeth's favorite things list (in order, I think) now looks like this:

1. Walks, hikes, romps in the park
2. Playing tug (her version is never letting go), playing with stuffies (diminishing)
3. Zoomies
4. Eating/getting treats
5. Rolling in the sunny grass

I am just at a loss.  She really has started, it seems like this past week, to look like an old dog.  She's lost a lot of muscle mass in her rear end.  It's hard, because I know it only gets worse from here.  We're hoping the steroids can give us a little more time, make her last while here more comfortable... But I don't know if they can. :(

Dolce

He's made incredible strides since our trip to La Jolla.  I still haven't made a suitable post about that.  Too busy, I suppose.  Rick and I took Dolce to the Sheraton in La Jolla for a weekend getaway (a surprise gift for an early birthday present).  We had a great time, and Dolce was a SUPERstar.  So today was his first Pack walk experience at IDOGS in a while.  How many outbursts?  0.  How many lunges at the other member of the pack walk? 0.  He's made incredible progress this last week or two.  I'm so proud, impressed, and encouraged.

The +R Version of a Correction/Punishment

After watching this video by KikoPup on YouTube, I have decided to eliminate the butt blaster from our training regimen.  I am going to incorporate a whistle instead (read on).  I think they essentially serve the same purpose (at least they do for Dolce), but I always have my whistle on me, and it'll draw fewer horrified looks from onlookers.  [If Dolce had reacted to the butt blaster in a negative way, I never would have used it again.  It simply and strictly redirected his attention onto me in an immediate way that required no training.]

What I do:  when I make a specific, short whistle sound on our walks, he is to turn to me immediately, expecting a fun game of chase in reverse and a yummy treat; when I make the same whistle in the house, like when he barks excessively, he is to come find me and expect lots of pets and praise, play, or even a treat if I have one.

Today is my first official day training this and putting it into practice.  I took Dolce out with one of the greys (separately) on our afternoon walk.  I whistled, and when Dolce turned to look at me, I jogged backward and got out a treat, praising him for how smart he is.  I love that a whistle is a sound that dogs inherently orient to -- even the greyhounds!  So he and Kibeth or JoJo each got a yummy (it seems to work best for me to break the chicken jerky discs into 1/2, then Dolce's into 1/4 -- I feed Dolce one, then the girls get theirs, then he gets another afterward) every time I make this sound.

By the way, these treats seem to be Dolce's favorites for walks.

I've been getting Wellness, Wilderness, and Canidae mushy square treats,

but he always responds best to these lately.

Every dog I work with goes bonkers for them, too.

I just wish they weren't made in China. =/

It seems to have stuck into Dolce's brain after one training session; no surprise there.  The pleasant surprise was that it worked for Kibeth, too!  I'm excited for this, because Kibeth has started reacting to dogs who are acting rudely on our walks.  This will be an excellent management tool for the both of them!

We have our first social hike together tonight.  I'm hoping he'll be a good boy, and our new interruptor will help.  He's been a little on edge ever since we met Twix and Bailey on Tuesday.  I got some Natural Balance food roll (grain-free duck flavor) for the walk to help him cope.  I'll probably bring along some hot dog, too.  We generally don't use the Natural Balance because I hate how it crumbles.  We'll see if Pam's suggestion of refrigerating it prior to use helps!  It's certainly CONSIDERABLY cheaper, and I remember when I did use it, Dolce thought it was puppy crack!

But we already have a dog store in our house...

...My husband feels this way, and I'm hoping others can relate.

I have a confession to make. I am addicted to buying stuff and shopping for my dogs.

I have tried so much stuff, and mentioning in my last post that I just bought the Sens-ation harness is bringing on this post.

Dolce is an unusual shape, just like my greyhounds.  None of the usual harnesses fit them.  I could walk into PetCo, Pet Supply, and PetSmart, and NOTHING would fit them, as far as harnesses are concerned.  The only one that sort of fit was Halti's harness for Dolce.  Like I mentioned, I lost it.  However, nothing has fit my greyhounds, and JoJo HATES wearing a harness.

I got Kibeth Hurtta's Y-harness.  It helps her get up and down the stairs in her golden years, and is the only harness that seems to fit her relatively well.

But seriously, I have tried it all.  Every time something new comes up, I have to buy one, I have to try it. I'm the same way with violin strings.  My clients all appreciate this habit obsession of mine.  My checkbook... Not so much.

I got Dolce the super fancy Walkeez harness, which has fleece EVERYWHERE that the harness comes in contact with the dog's body, including the belly straps!  I was so excited to get him the cream of the crop of dog harnesses.  Unfortunately, his unusual shape causes the fleece around his belly to rotate behind the strap, and defeats the whole big benefit of this harness.  We still use it on hikes, but I'm really bummed.  I could sew it, but I'm no seamstress.

"Phodography"

I love taking photos of my beautiful pooches.  I'm using the entry level DSLR Nikon D3100 camera I got my fiancé for our first Christmas together.  I'm having  a blast, and he hardly ever touches it.  Works out great!

The Angelic Queen Kibeth

What we lovingly refer to as, "Kibby Cuteface!"

This photo can be seen on the Facebook page for

a New Zealand greyhound advocacy group!

Kibby and Dolce cuteface. :)

Clearly, princess JoJo detests having her picture taken.

This is the best family photo I managed to get.

I'll give you one cute picture, Mom...

... And then I'm through with this photo shoot.

Puppy: Breeder vs. Rescue

Kibeth is scaring me.  She's more playful again with the Previcox, her helicopter tail is back in action; but honestly, she's just slowing down more and more on our walks.  The bloodwork to ensure she's tolerating the Previcox OK came back just fine, so that's a relief.  JoJo also can't seem to keep weight on -- I'm worried it's her kidneys.  Time to think about something happy...

All 3 of my dogs are rescues.  The only animal in my whole life that hasn't been a rescue is our first dog my parents got me when I was 4-years-old.  Sami was a wire-haired fox terrier who was a puppy at a pet store.  I believe very firmly in rescuing, and adamantly oppose backyard breeders, puppy mills, and mass-production of puppies in general.

However, there are tasks for which the risks of using a rescue puppy are a serious consideration.  You don't know what the puppy's first weeks have been like, and they're so impressionable it makes a big difference.  Knowing the puppy has grown up in a wonderful environment its first 8-10 weeks makes for a much more likely candidate for a super performance and/or service dog.  This is what I need my next dog to be.

Dolce could be GREAT.  If he didn't have reactivity and could be confident in new situations, I absolutely believe that with an experienced handler, he could go REALLY far very quickly in any dog sport.  Except maybe frisbee... he has absolutely no desire to even learn to like them.  Completely pointless.  Anyway, since he had a rotten upbringing, we're being held back by his behavioral challenges.  I don't want to go through this again with my next dog, and I desperately want the experience of raising a well-adjusted puppy.  I have many thoughts/theories/ideas how to do it, and I can't wait to try them out.  Not to mention, who doesn't love puppies?

Enter Contact Point Border Collies, a southern California border collie breeder extraordinaire.  I've decided to get my next dog from one of their litters.  Hopefully, out of Bluff or one of her descendants -- I have my heart set on a blue or tri-colored merle.  I'm willing to wait for that special puppy.  If I'm really capable of that, I don't know, I may just be overcome with puppy cuteness when the time is right whether there's a merle or not.

I can't have more than 3 dogs, so it'll be a while, but I like to cope with something scary (Kibeth and JoJo in their senior years) by thinking about the future (border collie puppy -- who doesn't like to think/plan for a puppy!?).  Their pups are about $1,500 and I've already worked out it'll cost about $2,000 to go through all the basic classes.  Twice with the puppy while it's growing up (that way, the timing should be perfect as it grows to progress to the next class).  That means I need to have about $5,000 saved for this puppy (adoption fee, veterinary needs, training) before I get it.  I'm already starting a little stash. :P

What prompted the switch from greyhounds to border collies?  Answer:  Dolce.  He's so much more "me" than the greyhounds.  Don't get me wrong, my girls are PERFECT dogs.  Everyone compliments me all the time, and I love them for so many reasons I can't possibly list them all, nor does English have a suitable vocabulary for such things.  However, I love his zest to train, interact, snuggle, and just "do."  He's so much more oriented toward me, and his unfailing energy is so much fun!  Of course, in typical me fashion, I've been reading like crazy.  I enjoy this dog stuff so much!  It's like I'm a little kid again, except instead of memorizing every book about horses, I'm learning dogs. :)

Meet Bluff, exactly what I want

my border collie to look like...

Kibeth & JoJo Health Update

Well, I haven't updated here in a while.  There's not going to be much more to report on the training of the girls.  Their various health issues makes training near impossible.  We still review the basics everyday with the NILIF way of life, and have switched over to kibble/cans.  Kibeth started having trouble working at raw chicken for long enough, and JoJo needs to have as little phosphorus as possible = cans.

Kibeth was recently diagnosed with Lumbosacral Stenosis (LS).

This means there is a problem in her spine, 

where arthritis-like changes are causing a disk to push upward and press on her nerves.

This is very painful, and only manageable on anti-inflammatories and pain killers.

Asking her to work too much is a bad idea.

JoJo was diagnosed with mild kidney disease last year.

We manage this with diet.

That means no excess proteins and limited phosphorus.

That rules out any extra yummy treats, which kills her motivation to work.

In short... Getting old sucks.  Kibeth turns 10-years-old on October 26th; JoJo turns 9-years-old on September 19th.  All heads turn to...

The path before us is unclear.

Dolce is super smart, having already earned his Novice & Intermediate Trick Dog titles.

However, his past makes being around other dogs a total killjoy.

We enrolled in Sue Myles' Rescue Rehab class, and have seen tremendous progress.

It's only been 3/5 weeks, and we've come leaps and bounds!

However, we're still no where near competition ready, nor CGC passable.

We are allowed to enroll in Sue's advanced class, Companion Dog Basics.

Hopefully, this will be the final piece of the puzzle.

We want to train for agility, rally, obedience, flyball, and freestyle.

Here's hoping!  You can follow our training here: Pawsitive Training Tails

This blog will now keep a pictorial story of the girls' retirement, and Dolce's training.

Scary Thought

I renewed Kibeth and JoJo's licenses for 3 years yesterday. I have this funny feeling that it's going to be the last time. :(

With these thoughts, my coping method is to plan for the future. I've already decided I want border collies next. I'm doing my research, getting the finances in order to have a house with a yard by then. Dolce, of course, is the inspiration for this change.

Despite joint supplements, Kibeth is finding it harder to get up the 20 steps to our 2nd floor apartment. JoJo is losing weight. Both have significantly diminished energy, despite cooler weather, which perked them up at the end of summer.

Were it not for Dolce, I would be going stir crazy. Much of my work is done from home, and taking an energizing break to train, play, jog, bike, or some combo is a Godsend! I love his energy, zest for life, and immediate willingness to do whatever I want to do. I love how quickly he learns, too. The reactivity is coming along, and we start Rescue Rehab class in January with Sue Myles. Hopefully, this class will provide the final piece(s) to the puzzle.

Dolce does agility!

I made a separate training website that also has a blog.  Visit my posts here.

Today, Dolce and I did our first little mini course!  I made it up in my living room/kitchen area, and we did a loop around my kitchen island.  He had 2 jumps, and a pause table.  We did lead-outs, front-crosses, and "follow the finger" instead of "follow me."  I must say, he's a natural!  I made a fake tunnel as best I could with a dog bed over open drawers between my kitchen cabinets and island.  He showed no hesitation going through that, so I'm optimistic he won't mind a tunnel when the time comes.  I already know he'll jump up on anything I point to, so I'm not too worried about the A-frame or dogwalk.  That just leaves a teeter.  No idea how to replicate that with at-home materials yet.  We shall see!

True to the NILIF system, kibble was the reward for today's activities/training.  A good old fashioned chase-the-stuffy game afterward didn't hurt. :)  The greys also did some jumping.  JoJo is very enthusiastic!  Kibeth is aloof, but willing once she starts to feel left out.

I need to be better about their teeth-brushing.  I'm only getting to it a few times a week.  I swear.  Every. Day. From. Now.  On!

Dolce and I also had a wonderful bike ride this morning.  Tremendous fun, and I think the little guy might actually be tired after all this work!

Kibeth & JoJo Excited to Train!

Tonight, as usual, I trained Dolce some drills on his basics: sit, front, down, paw, rollover, touch, shake, stand, sit up... All while the grey girls were eating their dinner on the patio, as usual.

When the girls finished and came in, guess who wanted to train with Dolce? Kibeth! Shortly thereafter, JoJo was pretty eager to show off her tricks, too! So all three dogs had fun training tonight. It was really great. Makes me so happy when the girls want to go to work.

Tooth Brushing

Ever since watching Never Say Never Greyhounds' video about successfully brushing her needle nose hounds' teeth and avoiding denials, I've been breathing a sigh of relief. Although I believe a raw diet is far more nutritious than a commercial diet, I am squeamish. I do not enjoy handling raw meat. I do not enjoy packaging every week. I do not enjoy worrying about poisoning, disinfecting. I'm lazy, I suppose. I have done it for a few years for the good of my dogs, because I love them. Primarily, though, it has been dental hygiene inspired. With the glorious news that is not the only way, I'm just fine with finding a high quality can and kibble diet for my dogs. Dolce lives on training treats anyway, LOL.

JoJo still has to have a hybrid diet as her kidneys do not tolerate the higher levels of phosphorus. As JoJo must have raw, Kibeth can, too. However, both of them are having kibble and can in the morning now. It's so much more convenient. I put Dolce's kibble in a Kong Wobbler and he has a blast working the kibble out for breakfast and dinner.

The girls have always been nice and tolerant of having their teeth brushed. I got Petrodex toothpaste, per the aforementioned video, and they are even more agreeable. Dolce was the wildcard. He's a wiggle worm for nail trims, and the beginning stages of toothbrushing proved to be no different. Since watching me do the girls, however, he's learning how to sit nicely, or even lay down for his brushing session. He's eager now, gets very excited, because he loves the taste! If I let him just gnaw on the toothbrush, he'd do so.

I have the girls on Canidae grain-free Pure Elements formula can + kibble, and Dolce on Taste of the Wild, the purple bag... Lamb and something, also grain-free. All is going well so far.

Retirement Years

I'm slightly sad to say that Kibeth is really slowing down lately.  I know she turns 9 in October, but wow.  She prefers more leisurely walks, and doesn't want to jog anymore.  She hardly ever has zoomies, except for a few brief strides at the dog park last weekend -- those were the first in quite a while.

I am growing more and more aware of the risks of old age with her.  It's weighing heavily on my mind.  She's my first dog.  This December 10th will be 6 beautiful years together.  I remember when she first came home, she slept all the time.  She slept like she'd never slept a good night's sleep in her entire life.  She was 3 when I brought her home.  After that, we worked on her insecurities.  My touching her ears did not mean death, nor did touching her paws.  Though she now trusts me with "Shake" I have never clipped her toenails.  However, she is more permissive with the vet techs or groomers.  She never used to seek attention, but she always reveled in a good neck scritch.  We do "Car Wash" where she will walk between my legs, slowly, while I scratch/rub/massage all along her sides and back until I get to her hips... where evidently, the car wash breaks down because I always have to push her the rest of the way through when I can't give her anymore because my hands hurt and my arms are sore!  Haha.  She's a tough love kind of Mama, but she's wise.  Her face gets grayer and grayer, and all I can think is how little time it seems we've been together.

I remember it took her 2 weeks to learn how to sit, and to sit on command.  She is one of the finnickiest eaters ever.  We must have tried every kibble on the market before going raw 2 years ago and loving it!  She loathed a crate, but she's always had her giant leopard bed.  That bed will be hers for the rest of her life, and I swear it will go with her to the grave.  She chose me by laying in that bed, and it seems only fitting that it be hers forever and in heaven.

Gosh, I'm so scared of that day.  I'm so worried it's drawing ever nearer.  I'm not good at making tough decisions, so I pray that she will let me know when it is time, and there are no alternatives -- it'll be the best thing or just her time.  She's my rock... always there, always a firm presence, and definitely capable of hurting you if you handle her wrong.  I love her so much, I just hope she's enjoying life as my grey.

Kibeth, I love you.  You've earned your leisurely retirement, and you will continue to be spoiled with love, pets, the best food, and your favorite treats (bread crusts ftw!).  You've been with me 2x as long as you were at the track now.  I hope those evil days in a crate so small your butt went bald and your tail got a calous are long forgotten.  We've been on quite an adventure together, and I look forward to our new lifestyle together.

This is actually from a while ago.

This almost never happens. <3

Dunch at People Park

So on Sunday, my fiancé and I went with his Mom to the local park.  We had brats, burgers, chips, and a great time grilling dunch out there!  We brought the dogs along:

JoJo was the least content about being tied up to a picnic table while we ate.

She would talk and talk and talk until she finally gave up and basked in the sun. 

 Dolce would keep an eye out for intruders with his 'border collie stare.'

Rick & I with the pack, exploring. 

 Here's some pretty leaf shots from the trees above us.

 couple pic :)

Me waiting for food with the pac at my feet = happy girl. :) 

YUMMY! 

It was really fun.  I felt like I belonged to the Salsido family. 

 I decided to feel like a magician and make billowing smoke appear...

from pouring water on the grill thingy.

That's where we were.  Pretty, right?!

First Obedience Lesson

So Jen of Never Say Never Greyhounds came to my neck of the woods, here in California, and we met today.  I had my first ever lesson, and am happy to report we're not completely screwed up!

We met at a local park, and my hounds usually don't work outside.  I was apprehensive about their attention span, but determined.

When we met, it was immediately to business.  We started with heeling, and the girls quickly lost interest (if not immediately) in the treats we usually use at home.  We decided to take a trip to the local Albertson's grocer, and up the ante.  We got pre-grilled chicken, peanut butter packets, and tuna cans.

I had never gotten other treats like this because they worked so well for the other cheaper stuff.  However, they wouldn't work outside, ever.  Nothing would get their attention.  That was not the case today!

So we went back to work at a less distracting park (there are so many to choose from) and started with the heeling exercise again.  Success!  My dogs work for chicken!  Yay!  I got to see how to manipulate them to realign their bodies (something I just was not getting whatsoever on my own) to a proper heel position.  It was so good to see Kibeth, who is uncertain about working with strangers and accepting foreign food, perfectly happy to offer all the behaviors she knew for Jen.  Very proud Mama moment.  Also, she was extremely sensitive about her collar being touched when she first came off the track, and Jen was able to do so with no fuss whatsoever.  Awesome.

Next we started working "touch the cup" with the box of peanut butter containers.  I had never had ANY success getting them started on that exercise, but I saw immediately the benefits of doing it once I had an example with my dogs in front of me.  Kibeth already knows quite solidly what happens when she hears that click from the clicker.  Toy!  Treat!  Fun!  Praise!  All of the above!  JoJo, on the other hand, hasn't caught on just yet, despite my frequent attempts.  Today, though, she started to get it, and really enjoyed working.  JoJo has a very short attention span (until real grilled chicken got involved, that is!) so for her to keep working, offer behaviors, and stay enthusiastic was a joy to see.

Finally we addressed stay and come.  I have never had a recall I could rely on with any dog, and I've never been able to successfully train one.  I've seen the YouTube videos, I've read up... Nothing has quite clicked.  Now with our homework and having Rick to work with in tandem, I think I know how!  I was pretty proud of their stays with distractions, but any amount of anything on the leash would cause them to immediately break a stay.

I asked if Kibeth's down, which involves a sit then a down, was acceptable.  Jen didn't think there was anything really wrong with it, but I could retrain it if I wanted to.  She showed me how, by getting Kibeth to bow under her knee.  I had seen that method used before, but had never been able to replicate it with Kibeth (she would sit, down, and then crawl forward) and Jen got it instantly!  Oye.  I know, "higher value treat = CHICKEN, MOM!" - my hounds

Kibeth has a very pretty sit.  I think is Kibeth is very talented, but she's afraid of car rides.  I think we might have even made Jen a wee bit jealous of her sit!  JoJo, on the other hand, has a terrible sit.  It is SO uncomfortable for her, but she has made great strides to improve it.  Jen said that there's not much I can do to fix it, she'll figure out what's the most comfortable for her, and that's what I'll have to live with.

In short, I had a great time.  Jen was very professional, friendly, and a joy to work with.  I completely respected her before I get to see her in action, but now I just love her. <3

Sadly, no pictures from the day, but there's going to be a followup video soon after we practice our homework. ;-)

Definitely my kind of hobby.  THANK YOU, JEN!

A Celebrity is Coming to Town...

I got an email from Jennifer with Never Say Never Greyhounds this morning...

She will be in my area soon, and would I like a lesson?

OMG YES! = a much calmer response than the one I gave.  She's in town for work, and then visiting a friend.  While she's here, we will hopefully be able to schedule a lesson for me, Kibeth, and JoJo.

I've been stalking her youtube, blog, and website for years.  She's like my hero.  I love everything she does with her hounds, and can't wait to do it myself.  However, with limited funds and no sense of direction, this is just the push I need to get started.

I am so thankful. You have no idea.

Corneal Ulcer Saga...

Kibeth's eye is not all better (I didn't think it would be, given how she's been looking and acting).  It is improved over 2 weeks ago, noticeably smaller and even more superficial.  I got some more drops (I can tell I'm running low) and we're going to try a less aggressive medical treatment.  $75 today.

The drops/ointment only exist to prevent infection.  The minimum number of times required to do that is 1 drop 2x a day.  That's what we're going to do.  Every time I treat her eye, she holds it shut, telling me that it bothers her.  I can't imagine having drops and ointment, in some combination, put into my eye for nearly 3 months.  Hopefully, less frequent daily treatments and 1 drop not 2 will be more comfortable for her.  I originally thought she held it shut to block out the light, which causes pain in corneal ulcer patients.  However, if treatment stops (like it did this morning so her eye would be open for the vet) she keeps her eye much more open.  It's not the light.  It's the treatment.

There is healing going on.  There's still blood vessels and inflammation.  It should just be DONE already.  We could meet with an ophthalmologist to ascertain there's not something more going on, but Dr. Driscoll really didn't think that was absolutely necessary.  With the budget very tight from the move, and her eye on the mend, albeit slowly, we have decided to stay the course.  With that decision, I cannot in good conscience allow her to be this mopey from the discomfort, so I got some non-steroidal pain pills in a very low dose for her to take the edge off in the meantime.

Please, God, allow the healing to continue and complete in a more timely fashion.
Love,
Tasha

P.S.  While I was there, I had him feel the lumps on JoJo's leg (it's her right front).  He said they're likely something similar to warts, and totally harmless.  To be thorough, we could examine them and have them removed; but as they're not bothering her and likely nothing to worry about, I saw no value in that.  They're not even all that visible to the eye, you can just feel them if you pet her.  YAY no cancer.

Dog Walking

I can now proudly say that my hounds are the best at walking with whom I have ever had the pleasure to do so.

I have found my 2nd calling.  Granted Wishes Pets is underway -- I LOVE being a dog walker.  I have two clients, Rosco and Sugar.  Both boxers, owned by completely separate people.  Rosco is a total gentleman, when he doesn't meet his arch nemesis dog(s).  Sugar is a lovebug, who also doesn't really approve of other dogs.  I see Roscoe for 30 minutes Mondays-Fridays; and Sugar for an hour Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  It's getting me fit, and I completely love living in California and being able to enjoy the outdoors in February when everyone back home is complaining of imminent snow storms.

I am trying, and failing, to energize my hounds.  Energize them for training, for activity... I think I may have waited too long in their lifespan to hope for them to be anything like Never Say Never Greyhounds Riley, Seven, or Reagan.  However, I love them dearly, and they are excellent emotional assistance dogs.  JoJo and Kibeth are also learning to tag team to help me with my anxiety.  Yesterday was the first day that they snuggled in my bed without a fireside to entice them.

Kibeth's vet checkup is tomorrow for her corneal ulcer.  Once again, I do not believe her eye to be healed, and it should be.  It's still red, enflamed, and teary.  However, those are all signs that healing is going on, so here's hoping it's just taking its sweet time.  She is ever the terrific patient, but fading fast.  I can see her quality of life diminishing.

I have cancer on my mind, for some reason.  I am paranoid JoJo has it.  She has small, hard lumps in her skin (not attached to anything internally, but under her fur) about the size of a pea.  There are two of them, in one of her front legs.  I'll be taking her to the vet tomorrow with Kibeth, to have him just take a look and see if they're anything worth investigating.  Likely not, as they're not attached to the leg, they're just in the skin.  However, they're nothing like the fatty tumors I've encountered with my other dogs (Kibeth included).