Wednesday, April 27, 2011

BREAK

I have decided to take a break from training and trialing Marley. We have been thru so much the past 5 months that the stress of it all has caught up with me. Since Christmas I have had surgery, was put in charge of another course at work, broke my hand, Marley was diagnosed with a chronic GI condition, Marley was snake bit, and Molly has gotten very sick. So as you can see, it has been a little overwhelming.

I need a break and a chance to relax and refocus on Marley and her agility.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

MARLEY, THE SNAKE CHARMER!!

Marley was bitten by either a copperhead or a moccasin snake on Sunday. I am leaning towards moccasin as she came home soaking wet. We were packed up to leave the grandparent's and I called for her. She came but was on 3 legs, carrying her right front paw and crying. I got her in the house and we examined her. Made sure it wasn't broken. We saw just a little bit of blood. She was in alot of pain. Poked a Benadryl down her. I carried her to the car and we left for the ER vet in LR. She didn't even protest me carrying her.

Half way to LR, her paw was huge and draining tea colored fluid. Got her to the ER. They cleaned it up and she had 3 strike marks: 1 on top, 1 on bottom, and 1 between her toes. Got RX's for pain meds and ABX. Got her home and she slept hard. Then her paw started bleeding. It bleed all evening and I had to keep redressing it.

She has gotten progressively better. She still has some necrotic areas from the strikes but she is walking better and looks like she feels so much better. As we often do, we are sitting out of agility to be sure she heals and that she isn't in pain running agility. Hope to be back in agility in a few weeks.

Monday, April 4, 2011

NOT READY TO GIVE UP

I have spent alot of time this past week thinking about Marley and what I want to do with her. I even skipped agility class last week with her because I was still so frustrated with her. Marley is a challenge for me. She always has been and always will be. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to run a dog without issues. Molly always needed to be coached and cheerleaded through ever obstacle. Marley is the complete opposite but presents a different challenge. She tends to forget her training on the course, gets upset when the game isn't going her way, and then jumps at me.

We have an AKC trial this weekend and I am so hesitant about it. The last AKC trial was horrible. We only completed 1 course out of 5 runs due to her behavior. The judge whistled us off the other 4 times. I will probably let my friend handle her this weekend.

I have decided to continue to train Marley in agility. I'm not ready to write her off. I will not let those that have been so negative about Marley win. Don't tell me I can't do something. I have found a fabulous group of people to train with and have made some amazing friends. They aren't ready to write Marley off either. I know Marley's career will be short due to her health. But I will make the career that she does have, amazing. And I will enjoy it without regrets. I need to rethink my goals with her and unclutter my mind. Enjoy each and every run I have with her!

I have begun thinking about getting another dog to start agility training. Sometimes I think I'm ready for a new dog right away and other times I think I need to wait. Molly and Missy are older and have each other but Marley is younger and needs a friend to play with. This time I will have help in picking a dog that will be an agility candidate.

Regardless of when I choose to get another dog, Marley will always have a place in my heart and home.