MOLLY OLIVIA, MY FIRST BABY!

Molly is my first dog as an adult. I remember vividly going to the HSPC and spotting her in the top crate in the puppy room. I took her out and we went to the play room and she ran after a ball. That sealed the deal for me! I don't think she's run after a ball simce. LOL


She was a very active puppy but a sick one too. She spent the first 2 years of her life in and out of vet clinics with chronic tummy issues. At one point she was so skinny I had people ask me if I fed her! She thankfully outgrew her tummy issues. She tore her CCL when she was about 4. I had it repaired and then she broke her patella and we opted not to have the knee reopened. The vet thought it would cause her more issues as she aged. She gets around just fine as an 11 year old! :)


She got introduced to agility at CARE's Paws on the Pavement charity walk. I was looking for an outlet for her energy and agility was it. We trained off and on for about 5 1/2 years at 2 different training sites. I trialed with Molly for a little over a year when she was 7 years old. She amassed 8 agility titles in 2 different venues before anxiety got the best of her. She could no longer deal with the commotion and noise of a trial venue. Her very last run of her career, she left the ring as soon as I took her leash off. She decided her competitive career was over and it took me awhile and alot of tears before I came to terms with Molly's decision. I decided to just play agility with Molly because she liked it but didn't like to compete. She started having some teeter troubles about the same time that Marley was having difficulty in her agility classes and that's when we left our trainer and moved on to someone that 'got us' and understood my dogs. I slowly stopped taking Molly to agility classes and she's now content in her agility retirement.


She is an independent dog who can ditch her sisters in a second when they all take off for the woods. She's extremely close to me and my dad. She was very close to my mom and I remember her running to look for my mom the weekend my mom was in the hospital. She checked all the places my mom usually was and it absolutely broke my heart because she didn't understand where Grandma was. After my mom died and we took them to the funeral home to see her body, she came home and got in my mom's chair and tried to bite 2 people who got near the chair. To this day, she still sleeps in Grandma's chair.

She's become a homebody as she's gotten older. She loves to go riding but doesn't care when we stay in motels too long. She hates being in a crate at agility trials but loves the ride there and back. She loves Tractor Suppy, the bank, and PetCo because she gets cookies. She likes Lowes but doesn't understand why the cashier doesn't give her a cookie. :)

I love my first baby, Molly Olivia!!

MISSY LOU, PRINCESS DIVA

Little Miss Missy Lou is my Princess Diva! She firmly believes she should be served and waited on. I have always said she should have been adopted by a rich woman in NYC. She could have been pampered: dressed up, pushed around in a doggie stroller, and fed gourmet food in restaurants. I think she would have been great as a nursing home dog. I can see her prissing down the halls looking into rooms looking for someone napping and then hopping into their bed to nap. Then wandering down to the cafeteria to be hand fed.


But Missy was destined to me mine! She picked my home as hers while I was fostering her for CARE. She got along well with Molly and is a very easy dog. She's very tolerant and just wants to be included. She has been known to play on a rare occasion with Marley or KK but she prefers to be up on a chair or on the sofa....away from the boisterous play. I think she's part cat. She loves to be in a windowsill lying down watching the world and is known to crawl up on top of crates to sleep.


Missy is my only dog that I've never seriously trained. I took her through basic obedience and it wasn't for her. Then I tried her twice in agility and she really didn't like it either. She loved going to class with Molly and watching but just never had a desire to participate. I've taken her to agility trials with Molly and she literally slept all day in the crate while the trial was going on.


Little Missy loves exploring the outdoors on her own. She likes swimming in the lake on a hot day. At the beach she stays as far from the water as possible...she will however get a good nap in! She's an excellent chipmunk hunter. She once brought one to my front door. I told her no, she couldn't bring it in. She spat it out and it scampered away.


She is a real sweetheart!! I'm so glad she chose me to be her mommy!

MARLEY ANN, LIVING UP TO HER NAME!

Marley is my blonde, blue eyed baby. The dog I apparently look like...a stranger at a trial once asked me if I dyed my hair to match Marley's!!


Sweet Marley that lives her life to the fullest! Even though she has chronic health problems, she always bounces back. Marley was diagnosed as a 22 month old with bialteral hip dysplasia. Unfortunately she has had several bad hip flare ups and has to be medicated and rested. Later the same year, she was diagnosed with a chronic GI condition that also flares up and has to be medically treated. Even through all the pain and tummy troubles, she just keeps going. She wants to be close to me and I love that. She sleeps beside me all night long...her butt has to be touching my ribs all night.


Marley is a sweet soul. She has few people and dogs that she trusts and loves. She loves her mommy and her sisters. KK and Marley spend alot of time with each other playing. They are great for each other. Being able to play with another dog is a great outlet for all of Marley's energy.


Marley was to be my new star in agility. The independent dog who would do distance work for me.  Unfortunately we didn't get the training we needed early in her career and are paying for it now. After switching up her training, we have pushed on and I am so happy of how far she's come. Marley is running at the Masters level in AKC and was at the Advanced/Masters level in USDAA before I retired her from USDAA.

I will continue to trial Marley in AKC as long as she's able and willing. I don't trial near as much as I used to... I have to baby Marley's hips. I've accepted that Marley probably never get a PACH or PDCH, and I'm fine with that. I just don't think her hips will hold out and I just don't want to push her that hard.


Every run I get to share with my Marley is like earning that PACH!! I love my blue eyes!!

KALEA-KATE, THE WILD CHILD

Little Miss Kalea-Kate is a Wild Child! She is the friendliest little pup I have ever met. She gets up every morning happy with her whole little butt and tail just wagging. She delivers sweet puppy kisses to everyone she meets.


She came into my life during a very dark time for me. She has been a bright spot in my everyday life. She gave me a reason to keep going, to get out and go to training, to be around people. She makes me laugh and is a joy to train. You can just see the little wheels turning in her head as she learns something new. Even though she is an independent little girl, if she can't figure out what I'm asking her or if she gets it wrong, she will shut down and quit trying. I've had to learn how to make agility FUN for her all the time. She's like Marley in the aspect of I can't do drills with her. She will work for me but can't be drilled.


She is a fast and happy girl on the agility field. She will do distance work for me, which makes me so happy. She is a tugger and that is new for me. Marley prefers a cookie after her agility runs! So even though I don't have to run as much, the tugging at the end just about kills me. I think I should start lifitng weights. LOL!

Marley and KK are the best of friends. I had wanted to get a friend for Marley for awhile and am so glad I found KK on MO-KAN BC Rescue's website. Having Marley and KK roughousing in the house is loud and wild sometimes, but it does give Molly and Missy a chance to be the senior girls they are. They just get up on the couch or in a recliner and Thank God that they aren't having to do all that playing!   :)

I have lots of hopes and dreams for this baby. I had entered her in an agility trial in January 2013 but pulled her entry. I think that I'm putting pressure on myself to trial her and for her to be perfect in training and trialing. I've come to realize that I'm putting too much pressure on such a young pup and that's not fair to her. She doesn't get to decide her future and her longevity in agility, I DO. So I've decided to hold off trialing her until it feels right. Those close to me know all about things needing to 'feel right' for me in regards to agility. I don't know when she will trial, but when we do, it will be a blast!

ANOTHER AGILITY YEAR IN THE BOOKS

Marley and I finished out our agility year in Haughton, La at the PawPrints AKC Agility Trial. It's a nice trial, with friendly people in a rustic setting.

Marley ran well. She finished her Open FAST Title and as I promised her, I will not enter her in any more FAST runs. I need to limit her trialing due to her hips. The sweet girl was coming off stiff hips and a sprained toe but you would have never known if you had seen her run!!

I cost her 2 Q's by pulling her off a jump. All my fault. I own it. It was very obvious in the video that I rotated my shoulders and she followed me. Good girl for watching Mommy, bad Mommy for queing her wrong. 2other runs she went blonde and took off courses and pretended that she didn't know what weaves were!!

She was so happy at this trial. She was a different dog. I think Marley is maturing and it is showing in our agility. I so enjoyed our time together.

So for our year in review: This year we did the fewest trials we've ever done. I was injured, then she was injured and so on. I retired her from USDAA agility and that was a difficult decision for me to make as it is my favorite venue. I decided if she was to continue to trial, we needed to switch over to an easier venue for Marley's body.  So over to AKC we jumped. She finished 3 AKC titles and is now competing at the top level of AKC agility.

One day everything is going to come together for Marley and me in our agility, and it's going to be phenomenal!!!

TO COMPETE OR NOT COMPETE.....

I have recently been mulling over whether to continue to compete agility or not. I have 2 remaining goals for Marley. I really want to finish her Open FAST and Excellent Jumpers Titles. We only need 1 leg each. We are heading to LA in a week and a half, so maybe we can finish those titles. After that, I haven't set any more goals for Marley. I don't know if I want to invest the time, effort, and money into trying to track down a PACH. I just don't know if I really want a PACH. I know Marley can do it, but I don't know if I WANT it. As we know in agility, you have to be mentally in it to win it and right now I'm not in it.

Marley does not go to a formal class. I train her myself with some privates as needed. I can count on one hand how many formal classes she has attended in the past year. She is just too sensitive to be around all of the class chaos. Oddly enough in a trial, she usually does well. I am very cognizant about keeping her away from barking and yapping dogs. I will cover up those dogs and I have been known to pack my stuff and move Marley somewhere else. Marley is a sensitive girl and I will protect her!!

Little Miss Kalea-Kate moved up to Intermediate Agility class and I think we did 2 classes before I needed to make a change. I have decided to teach her on my own. Her safety is very important to me and I can't have her around a certain vicious dog that is also in the same class. I'm not a novice handler and I feel competent that I can do it on my own. We will still do privates, probably every month or so. We are working on "Go ons", weaves (she learned 6 poles in 5 days!!), solidifying her contacts, and beginning to sequence multiple obstacles. A little every day. I don't know when I will debut her in agility, but I do know I want her to be mature! I love her to pieces but she is very much a puppy and I want to let her be a puppy as long as possible!!!

LITTLE ROCK DOG TRAINING CLUB AKC AGILITY TRIAL

Marley was entered in our local club's AKC agility trial. She had a great weekend overall. We've made tremendous strides in her training. Marley is my special girl! I never know when we go to the start line if Marley is going to be a tortoise or a hare. I never know until the first obstacle if Marley is going to take off running like a maniac or if she's gonna take her time. She is not a cookie cutter dog. Sh'e never going to be that reliable dog that lives to do agility. She's Marley. She lives with bilateral hip dysplasia and chronic GI issues. You would never know though. She's very stoic and I have to be on alert to any subtle changes with her. She finishes her agility runs with a bounce and a smile and I love that about her!

Today, she refused weaves in both of her runs. She's stiff in her hips and has a slight hitch in her step. If you didn't know Marley, you wouldn't even notice the subtle hip changes. So Marley will be on hip rest and Rimadyl for a few days.

Marley was a great girl this weekend! She was so friendly and happy. She recognized some people from our previous training group (3 yrs ago)  and was so cute when she realized she knew them. She just had to go and see them. I'm so pleased that Marley is becoming more comfortable in new surroundings.

Marley is MY GIRL!!!

JEKYLL ISLAND, GEORGIA

We spent several days at the beach on Jekyll Island, Georgia. The off season is the best time to take the dogs and let them just run. Jekyll Island is pet friendly year round. Marley and Kalea-Kate had a blast! It was the first time KK saw and played in the ocean. KK had to wear her lifejacket all the time we were on the beach because she was fearless about the water. She would take off chasing birds and would run out into the ocean after them. Marley enjoyed the beach almost as much as KK, running and chasing. Molly did her own thing, exploring and just being herself. Missy enjoyed napping on the beach.

It was a good break from reality. I needed this vacation.

GSKC AGILITY TRIAL REFLECTIONS

Marley and I competed in Memphis at the GSKC Agility trial this past weekend. It was our first 3 day trial in a year. Marley did well. She is paying attention to me and acts like she really enjoys agility. She came away with some beautiful runs and as a bonus a Q in Excellent A JWW!

As I think back on Marley's career, I'm realizing that there some things that have been said about Marley that has really driven me to continue working and competing with her. It's strange how words can push you to different heights and goals.

I've said this before and some may question why I don't let it drop, but I can't. The words "Marley is way too much dog for you" has pushed me to prove people wrong about Marley. That is why I've trained, cried, trained, cried, trained, competed, cried....with Marley. That sentence is the reason Marley has her Companion Dog and Rally Advanced titles. I let those words really get to me. That sentence hurt me so much. I was determined to prove her wrong. Marley is a great dog. She was simply misunderstood and didn't get the training she needed for her. We've moved on to a trainer that understands Marley and me. And we have flourished!

At Marley's second AKC trial, she was very energetic and bouncy. She liked to jump on me when I didn't give her directions fast enough. The judge was super nice and came up to me and told me "when she grows up she's going to be a great agility dog". This past weekend, I had several people compliment me on Marley and her agility. One of the nicest things that was said was "Didn't Marley used to jump up on you? She's looking good, getting some distance." More words to drive me!!

I don't know how long I will compete with Marley. I have set a few short term goals with her but no long term goals. I will run with Marley as long as she wants to run with me!

 I'm so blessed to have Marley as my dog. She changed my life the day I walked down her aisle at Little Rock Animal Services. She is my dog and she isn't too much dog for me! She's just perfect!!!

BEGINNER OBEDIENCE GRADUATE

Kalea-Kate finished her Beginner Obedience class yesterday. This was our second class with a different instructor and it was what we needed. I had to drop the first class because I fractured my hip and was on crutches.

She did so well! Walking nicely on a leash, coming when called. The best thing is that she can do a sit, down, or stand stay and I can be across the room! So proud of my baby girl!!

Thinking about doing the CGC with her. I'm pretty sure she could pass.

PROVED POINT

As I think back on this past year, I realized that the last title my mom got to see Marley achieve was her Companion Dog (CD). That CD was a major accomplishment for us, especially for a dog I was told "was way too much dog for me".

Sweet little Kalea-Kate is progressing well in her Beginners Obedience class. I have no desire to pursue competitive obedience with her. We will finish her classes in 2 weeks and then will concentrate on her agility. I hope to debut her sometime next year.

Molly and Missy are well. Molly is still taking her 6+ hours patrols nightly and Missy spends alot of time on the couch snoozing.

USDAA RETIREMENT

I decided on Sunday, September 16, 2012 to retire Marley from USDAA agility. She was having to jump Performance 22 /Championship 26, which is over her shoulder height. She was doing it and rarely knocking bars but with her bilateral hip dysplasia, I knew it was in her best interest to stop doing USDAA.

She had a great trial at Pawprints Agility Club in Haughton, LA. She had beautiful runs all weekend and even better, she WANTED to work with me! She was super happy and ignored other dogs when they got in her face. :)

Molly, Missy, and Kalea-Kate stayed home with Grandad. They enjoyed their Grandad time! I believe KK got away with alot of mischief!! Marley and KK were so excited to see each other on Sunday afternoon. They really love each other!

IT'S THE JOURNEY LORI, IT'S THE JOURNEY!!

Marley is entered in an USDAA agility trial this weekend in Louisiana. It will be her first USDAA trial in over 6 months. She has to jump over her shoulder height (even in Performance) which I think is so unfair. This will probably be one of her last USDAA trials. I knew this day would be coming but I just didn't think it would be when she was 4 years old. We will continue to do AKC trials because they are way easier and have longer course times.

I thought I would be real sad when I retired Marley from USDAA but it actually feels like a relief. Marley has moments when she's brilliant and moments when she could care less. But I will remember each run I have with her. She has done so much when others have written her off. She's my Marley and I am the luckiest Mommy in the world!!

KALEA-KATE; A SHINING STAR

Kalea-Kate is a shining star. She is so sweet and loving. Every morning when she gets up, she greets everyone with a kiss and lots of wagging! She always wakes up so happy! She loves to jump up on people and give them kisses, especially in the face.

I think she has a little bit of each of her sisters' in her. She loves her little beds and window watching just like Missy. She loves to follow Molly around and she loves to lick lotion off my legs, just like Molly! She is the only dog that Molly will allow in 'her room'. As for Marley, she loves her to pieces and follows her everywhere. They are the best playmates. Kalea-Kate has been so good for Marley. I wanted a good playmate for Marley and I found a great one. I think Kalea-Kate was sent to me from my mom in heaven. She is just a wonderful little pup!

Kalea-Kate is picking up agility so well. Making her 2o2o contacts and is always so excited to work for me. She really enjoyed class starting back because not only did she get to play agility, she got to swim in the pond. She made a new friend that was into running and swimming too. I am going to love running this baby!!

THAT'S JUST MARLEY!

That's just Marley! I have heard those words uttered many times about Marley. I've said them myself.  To know Marley is to love her! When she looks into my eyes with her gorgeous eyes, I just melt. She is such a gentle soul. For a dog that has been through so much, she still remains sweet and loving.

Marley has her people that she loves and her people that she's leary of. Same thing with dogs. She has few doggy friends other than her sisters. Kalea-Kate has been so good for Marley. They get along way better than I could have hoped. I just smile watching them play! And oh boy, can they play!

I have started working some agility with Marley in the evenings. Just about 5 minutes total! Short, sweet, and happy. She doesn't do well being drilled and run and rerun. I entered her in an USDAA trial in Sept. It will be our first USDAA trial in over 6 months. I have decided to finish her Advanced Performance Dog Title in USDAA and then we will just do some USDAA when Kalea-Kate is ready to compete. Marley has to jump over her shoulder height even running in Performance. I want Marley healthy and happy as long as possible. I finally spoke her USDAA goal out loud the other day and it felt right. I have been flip flopping about USDAA and Marley and finally I am content with my decision.

Kalea-Kate will start an obedience class at the end of the month. We are continuing to work on her agility foundation while on summer break. She also is going to require a soft hand and voice when training. She has the drive but if I get upset with her, she shuts down. So when things aren't clicking with her training, I've learned to take a deep breathe and play tug or throw her ball until we can work together again.

MY LIFE IS LIKE A GRAVEL ROAD

I have decided my life will never be easy. I was thinking about it tonight after medicating both Marley and Molly for pain. Marley for hip pain and Molly for older girl aches.

Marley is having a minor hip flare up. Which is totally expected with her level of HD. Molly has been overdoing herself lately and her 11 years are catching up with her. :(

I haven't felt overly well the past week or so. Wanting to just sleep, taking a nap almost everyday which is so not like me. Hope it is just the stress of getting another junior semester started. I get lab work drawn next week to see how my calcium and vitamin D levels are doing. My hip feels fine and I've even entered an USDAA trial for mid September. Hoping Marley and I will be ready by then.

My life will always be bumpy but it's how I react to the bumps that matters. Life is what you make of it!

MY GIRLS

Each of my 4 girls are so special to me. They are so different in their personalities.

Molly is my heart dog. She was my first dog as an adult. I adopted her in November 2001 from the Humane Society of Pulaski County. As a puppy she was so active! Her energy led us into agility. We trained off and on for about 7 years with 3 different trainers/training sites. She blew her ACL when she was 3 1/2 and had to have surgery to repair it. She also suffered from recurrent UTI's and was seen and treated by a specialist at UT-Knoxville and the specialist has communicated with me that Molly's history and diagnosis is discussed during the urology portion of her vet lectures. I trialed with Molly for a little over a year in USDAA and TDAA earning 8 titles before she decided the crowds and noise were too much for her and she retired herself! She now enjoys spending time patrolling my property and can't wait until I get home everyday so she can start her patrols. She has her favorite people and loves them dearly. She 's not one to be super friendly to everyone. Molly loves her weekly Mommy and me trips to Petco where she checks out the birds and fish and will actually let other people pet her there. When we go my my dad's house, she still likes to sleep in my mom's chair. Molly is the dog that won my mom over and let a dog in her house. It wasn't long before Molly was sleeping with my parents!!

Missy came into my life in 2003 as a foster for CARE for Animals. She was a 2 year old completely potty trained dog that CARE pulled from LRAS. Missy decided my home was for her and every time we took her for 'showings', the volunteers would tell me she didn't 'show' well. She even spent an afternoon with a potential family who called me and said as soon as I left her she became a totally different dog. That they didn't know my plan, but they thought Missy had found her home. So I signed the adoption papers in Dec. 2003 and she was mine! Missy is the sweetest, most loveable dog. She loves people and enjoys being close to me. She loves all of her little beds that are all over the house. She is the first dog to try out any new blanket or bed that she finds in the house. She used to go patrolling with Molly but now enjoys staying in the house with me. She is quite dependent on Molly or one of the other dogs. She prefers to be close to me but will seek out others for some petting.

Marley was adopted in April 2008 from LRAS. She was everything I had said I didn't want. Long hair, blue eyes and a herding breed. She too was an overly active puppy. I couldn't wait to start training her in agility at 6 months, the age the trainer accepted. Marley has lived up to her name. Very active, finds trouble easily, but enjoys life to the fullest. She is now 4 and has trained in agility off and on for 3 1/2 years, earning 13 agility titles, 2 rally titles, and her CD. She is currently on an agility hiatus and will do privates only when it cools off. She went through a phase where she was a 'bad Marley' but a change in training corrected that problem. She loves her Mommy and is very dependent on me. Marley unfortunately has bilateral HD and we will do agility as long as she wants to. I have goals for her but I want to remember each and every run we have together. I never know with Marley what dog I am taking to the start line. Sometimes she's a superstar, paying attention and minding. The next run she may be wild and out of control and then the next run she may walk slower than a turtle. But she's My Marley and I love her and her little quirks. She loves her little sister KK. They spend tons of time playing together. KK has been so good for Marley.

Kalea-Kate was adopted in Jan. 2012 from MO-KAN BC Rescue. She has been a great companion for Marley! They love each other so much. KK started her agility training almost immediately. She loves it and performs it so different than Marley. She's going to be fast and furious! I have my work cut out for me!! We tried an obedience class earlier this spring but it wasn't the right fit for us so we dropped out. We will retry a different class in late August. I learned a good lesson with Marley, I've learned to stand up for my dog! KK needs a gentle hand training or she will shut down. She thrives with positive reinforcement. I cannot wait to start our agility career together. She is totally fearless and willing to try anything. She wants to be like her big sister, Marley.

I love all 4 of my girls. They are all so different but so dear to my heart!!

HOW TO HANDLE

Since it's too hot to do any real agility, I have been working with Marley and KK on their sit/stays and down/stays. Their Mommy finally broke out the Manners Minder and we have been using that to break up the monotony.

I have now drug a jump into my living room. So now I have a tunnel, a jump, and a hokey in my house. Trying to work a little with KK on more that one obstacle at a time. Sometimes Missy gets tired of the noise and chaos and will go get in the tunnel and lay there so we can't practice anymore.

I have also spent alot of time watching 'successful' handlers on YouTube to see how they handle certain obstacles. Especially the teeter. Marley was taught a 2o2o on the teeter but that was changed as soon as we changed trainers and went to running contacts. KK will have a pause/running teeter and 2o2o on everything else. In my opinion, the 2o2o on the teeter is dangerous. I have yet to find any one handler that I would like to emulate. Some are more fluid but I have noticed at lot of jerky, stop n go movements. I have done the jerky, stop and go, and it really hacks Marley off!! I have learned something from each but not enough to change up what I'm doing now.

In a year I will be running 2 totally different dogs so I will have a huge learning curve. Can't wait for the weather to cool off some so we can get back outside to train!!

BABY STEPS

I've been working through my past recently and just felt like sharing some inspirational quotes that I've been posting on my Facebook page. They kinda explain my life at this time.  I am feeling like myself more and more everyday. Don't get me wrong, I still have my days but the good days so outweigh the bad days!

SUMMER BREAK

Marley and Kalea-Kate are on a summer break from agility. Probably won't start back until September. It's just too hot and the potential for heat illness is too great.

My dad got our dogwalk up so KK and I are working on her 2o2o's. KK is also working hard on her teeter. She tends to want to jump off as soon as it bangs instead of waiting for me to give her the OK. Marley even did a fabulous 2o2o and she doesn't even do them anymore in a trial. I think she just wanted the cookie!! :) We will work some on agility this summer but probably not alot. There are so many things I can do with KK in the A/C. Marley and KK love to race doing sits and downs. Always try to make it fun for them. They do agility to please me so they should at least be happy doing it.

I was rethinking Marley's previous agility trials and realized she hasn't even done 20 trials yet in almost 2 years of trialing. I think we did so many trials last year that I thought we had done way more. We've only done a few this year so far and will only do a few more in the remaining months of this year. I didn't anticipate breaking my hip and that really set us back.

I used to be upset when others were trialing and we weren't. Even jealous when others were sharing their victories on FB and we were sitting at home. But my perspective has changed this year. It isn't about the winning, it's about the game and the experience getting there. I have been doing a mental management program and it has helped so much. It has given me a totally different way of thinking about agility and how to be successful and meet my goals.

It's no secret that I left one trainer for another and my new trainer was God sent for me and Marley and now KK. I've still harbored bad feelings about the previous trainer and my previous classmates. I can't help to have bad feelings when every time I watch video of Marley's first agility trial, I hear them talking about us in the background. I have to mute the video to watch it. I left the trainer not my classmates but that doesn't seem to matter. It also doesn't help when they ignore me at trials even when I go up to them and speak. So from now on, I will be polite to them in passing but I'm tired of being the bigger person and trying to get them to be friendly to me. I left for a reason...don't hold that against me. It had nothing to do with my classmates.

SUCCESS IN MONROE

We had a successful weekend in Monroe. Marley finished her Excellent A Standard in 3 out of 3 trips into the ring!! All with 1sts!! She paid attention to me and was such a great girl. I couldn't ask for a better agility partner. :)

Kalea-Kate did great! She was quiet in the motel and at the show site. I walked her around the venue and allowed different people to treat her. She loved it! My friend and I took her out into the lobby and practiced recalls with distractions. She did great. She loves everyone and every dog. She was snarked at by one dog at the motel and by another at the show site but both of those dogs are known to be snarky and always ready for a fight. We always steer clear of them. I won't have my dogs in danger b/c others have no control of their dog!

I opted to pull Marley from the USDAA trial this weekend. My hip feels great but we just aren't ready for that level of agility without practicing. I have also decided to pull her from group classes again. She has a complete meltdown when she's anywhere near a certain dog and I won't allow for her to be threatened. I have worked too  hard on Marley to get her where she's at and I won't have her fall back b/c of another dog.She's a gentle soul who's Momma is gonna stand up for her. Which is something I failed to do 3 years ago and I regret that decision everyday.

MARLEY AND KALEA-KATE: BFF'S

Marley and Kalea-Kate are the best of friends. They play so well together. I'm so pleased with them. They spend tons of time everyday playing and running together. It just makes my heart smile.

It will be interesting this weekend because I am bringing KK along to the agility trial. I plan on walking her around the venue during our down time and letting her see what a trial is all about. Maybe let her get 'measured'. So curious about her height! I will be carrying treats to reward her good behavior. I also plan on letting others reward her so she learns how to be around other people and dogs and to remain the happy, friendly puppy that KK is.


It will be her first time in a motel so that should be fun. She's only ever traveled to my dad's, so this will be a new adventure for her.


My goal for Marley this weekend is to just stay with me and mind. Which is something she has been doing really well lately.If I make it thru Monroe, we are going to try an USDAA agility trial the next weekend. Just a few runs.

My dad is going to stay at my house with my senior girls, Molly and Missy. They are more comfortable in their own home. Going to trials really takes it out of them and it's not fair to them to drag them all over the country.

MARLEY'S BACK!!!

Marley had another great class last nite. Worked on handling skills, something we definitely need! Marley is thriving in the lower stress class. She's just a soft, sweet girl and deserves to be comfortable in her class and at trials. I crate her by herself under the bleachers during KK's class. She's all tucked away with her little fan going and she's happy. We are entered in a few runs in Monroe at the end of the month. It will be our first trial since April (where I ran with an undiagnosed hip fracture!) and this is the venue where I broke my hip. So, our goals are to just be happy and work together. :)

KK is thriving in her beginner's class. 3 obstacle sequences. Hitting all her contacts with me soooo far behind her! She will go with Marley and I to Monroe to see what the trial environment is about. If you are in Monroe, please stop by and see her, she's super friendly and loves everyone and every dog. If your dog is snarky, please stay away from my crating area as Marley doesn't deserve to be threatened in her own space.

Missy and Molly are healthy and happy. They enjoy patrolling every nite. Molly will be gone for 4-6 hours a nite. Missy usually only stays out about a half hour before she's ready for A/C.

PERMISSION

I took Marley back to agility class last night. It was Intermediate Class so it is a little under what we should be in, but Marley can't handle the chaos of the behavior of some of the dogs in the Advanced Class. Marley is a sensitive dog and I will do whatever I have to to keep her safe and happy. So I made the decision to take her to class.

KK was a good little agility dog. She's up to 3 obstacle sequences. She's paying much more attention to me. She's started sniffing the sheep poo so we will be working on keeping her nose up and paying attention to me. She's doing great with her contacts. She's going to be a fast little dog for me but I look forward to the challenge.

Marley sat in her crate with her fan going all during KK's class. When her class started, Marley came out all happy and frisky. She did everything I asked of her and did it perfectly. It didn't hurt that the class cheered for her!

As a reward for their good behaviot on the agility field, both Marley and KK got to swim in the pond. They had a big time!

This class was a deciding factor in Marley's agility career. If she did well, we were going to continue with group classes, if not then we would do privates only. She hasn't been in a class setting since February. I haven't gotten to practice with her since the April AKC trial where I ran her with my fractured hip. I'm just so pleased with her!   :)

Marley's agility trial schedule will be very short this year. I'm just happy for every run I have with her. You never know when your or your dog's career will be over. Everytime I step to the line with her will be winning for me! No matter the outcome, Marley is my girl and I will treasure every moment with her.

I am feeling better emotionally. I think the fractured hip was God's way of making me be still and think and deal with everything. I have finally come to the conclusion that I needed to give myself permission to keep living. I have been just existing for months and I finally feel like I am living again. I will always miss my mom and will always think about how things could have been different, but I can't change what happened. It's time for me to start living again.

BYE BYE CRUTCHES!!

I was released from my crutches today. Heading back to work tomorrow. Ortho says I can start back to agility but I won't be able to run as fast as before. Like I could run fast before! LOL!! That seals my decision about the USDAA trial. I just can't risk re-injuring my hip.

Ironically enough, the first trial I have planned for Marley is the trial where I broke my hip. Hoping this time things go better for me.

Marley and KK have been spoiled by not doing their daily crate time since I've been off work. They will get re-introduced to their crates tomorrow morning. I think Molly and Missy will be happy to have peace and quiet in the house tomorrow!!

HOPING FOR GOOD NEWS!!

I go back to the Ortho MD tomorrow for a recheck of my hip fracture. I'm pain free and able to walk some without a limp. Hoping I get released to work at least.Then on Thursday I go to the Endocrine MD to see if I have an underlying bone disease. We have a week break from agility so I will have more time to recover before KK's class starts back.

I hope to be able to trial with Marley at the end of June in an AKC trial. I really wanted to do an USDAA trial around then but have decided to do AKC because they have more course time and plus I
think AKC is way easier than USDAA. It will be our first trial after a couple months of time off so I feel AKC is the right choice for us at this time. I'm planning on taking KK so she can get introduced to the trial environment.

I will leave you with this thought, if you are lucky enough to be healthy and have a healthy dog, you are blessed. That is something I have never known for any amount of time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MOTHER'S DAY IN HEAVEN

Today was a little rough for me. Not only was it Mother's Day but it was also my mom's birthday. She would have been 72 today. It was my first year not buying a card or gift or cake. My dad and I talked about where she would have wanted to eat or what she would have wanted to do.

Days are getting better for me. I feel more like myself than I have in a long time. Getting away last week was helpful. I still have another week and half off from work due to my fractured hip.

For the first time in 8 weeks, my hip has finally stopped hurting. I first noticed I could turn over in bed without being in severe pain last week. The pain has progressively decreased. I can walk short distances now...almost without a limp. The crutches are a pain and swallowing all those supplements is also a pain. But if it gets my hip better, then I will keep crutching and taking the supplements.

My good friend is coming early to agility classes on Mondays and training KK for me until I am released back to train. KK is so friendly that she will work for other people. Marley on the other hand is getting a break from agility. I am taking this time off from work to decide what my goals are for Marley in her agility career. Lots of soul searching going on....

FRACTURED

I have been diagnosed with a stress fracture of my femoral neck...aka cracked hip. No weight bearing and crutches for at least 4 weeks. I was sent to my endocrinologist for a work up to see if I'm osteopenic from the loss of my thyroid and parathyroids from my cancer in 2007. They are concerned that I've had 2 strange fractures in a year.

Marley has been pulled from the Berryville AKC agility trial and will probably be pulled from the Tulsa trial also. KK's agility starts back on Monday night and I will have to sit back and watch someone else work her. Lucky for her, her Manners Minder came in and I will start working her on that.

Marley is trying to be alpha in the house. She's been snarky to Molly twice lately and I fear we will have more scuffles as Molly and Missy age. I have to be on my toes with Marley.

It's hard just sitting around, not doing anything. You don't realize how much walking you do until you can't do it anymore. I don't know how my mom stood being wheelchair bound for years. I'm just on crutches and I'm already nuts.

OK GOD, MY PLATE IS FULL!

I have been dealing with what was originally diagnosed as a right hip flexor muscle strain for over 6 weeks. I have been doing the prescribed NSAIDS, heat, and stretches as ordered. Unfortunately the pain has worsened and I am still limping.


I made the decision to run Marley at the GSKC Agility Trial in Memphis over the weekend. I had orginally entered Marley in 8 events. I pulled her from 5 and ran her in 3. She did a great Send in Open FAST but just missed the bottom A frame contact. But she was happy and running well for me.


She earned her first 2 legs in Excellent A Standard in her first 2 times in the Excellent ring. So proud of my blue eyes. She hasn't been to a class since before Monroe in March and I have been unable to practice with her due to my hip.


I am now scheduled for a contrast MRI of my right hip on Monday. I have been given a tenative diagnosis and so hope that diagnosis isn't the cause of the pain. If it is, our agility season is probably over for the year. I've already pulled Marley from a trial in early May. Will probably pull her from the others I had planned for her also.


I am so worried about Kalea-Kate's training. This is the time where she is a fearless little sponge and I don't want her to fall behind. Thankfully a good friend has agreed to be "my legs" in agility class until I am pain free.

I am waiting for the day when things fall into place for me. I have been through so much this past year and I deserve a break. Until then, I will just keep holding on and relying on my friends during the bad times. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. By George, I should be Super Woman soon!!

GOD GIVES YOU WHAT YOU CAN TAKE

This year just isn't turning out the way I hoped. Both Molly and Marley have been snake bitten within the past week. Marley doesn't want to go to agility class but rocks in privates. Go figure??


My leg continues to really hurt. I've been to the Ortho MD twice and they just keep prescribing NSAIDS and hip exercises. I do have a right hip flexor strain that I was told would be better by the Memphis agility trial. Well, it isn't (Iam still limping after a month) and I am now hoping a friend can run her for me. I'm now seeing a chiropractor and it has seemed to help.


Little Kalea-Kate is a little rock star in her beginner agility class. She loves it and can't wait to run. It's been so fun training her.I feel like she's getting the right start that I wish Marley had gotten. Poor Marley had so many strikes against her...health, etc. I would love to start Marley over training where I'm training now. Maybe she wouldn't have had so many issues early on. I've said it before, I would still pick Marley from the shelter knowing what we would have to go thru. She's just a precious girl.

I made it thru the 6 month anniversary of my Mom's death. It was a very hard day but my good friends encircled me and helped me through it.

I really think I've been tested these past 6 months. There are days that I really can't take 1 more thing going wrong but then I get an encouraging word or two from someone. I just hope things settle down soon and the tide turns for me.

ANOTHER HURDLE

As my recent life has been, both Marley and I have yet another hurdle to overcome. Marley had a stiff left hip last week after the agility trial. A couple of days of rest and Rimadyl and she's good. Back to her nightly treadmill sessions. Back to some short agility sequences in the yard.

I started having severe pain in my right hip after the agility trial. I trudged along until I couldn't do it anymore. Finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with a hip flexor muscle strain. Steroids, NSAIDS, heat and rest and I should be fine.

Marley and I were entered in an agility trial in 2 weeks but I pulled her from it. I need to be on my game to run her in USDAA.

Molly is back to her nightly patrols. Some nights she's gone for 4-6 hours. I would love to put a GPS on her and track where she goes.

Missy is ready for me to take her in for a summer cut. She's already miserable in March.

Kalea-Kate is a little rock star in her beginner agility class. She loves it! She's already doing several obstacles totally off leash. Her momma needs to work with her on her stays and comes! She starts beginner obedience classes tomorrow night. She's a hoot to work!

RUNNING FOR GRANDMA

I'm sure most of my friends know how hard my mom's death has been on me. It has affected every aspect of my life. I still have days that I don't want to get up but my girls keep me going. I have had some great friends that have stood by me.


It was important to me after my mom died that all 3 of my girls got to go to the funeral home and see and smell her one last time. I thought that would help them with losing her.


Marley and I just haven't clicked on the agility course in months. I was talking to a friend at an agility trial in Holly Springs last month. I asked her to watch us run and tell me what she thought. Marley has been real sluggish and distracted on the course. She watched us and then told me she thinks Marley is missing my mom and I should talk to Marley about my mom. My mom used to feed Marley snacks at nite and let her in and out of the house all nite long when we were at their house.They had a special bond.


So I did right before our last run. Just told Marley how much her Grandma loved her. On the way home from that trial, Marley rode in the floor board of the passenger side of the van just like she always did..she loved to ride under my mom's feet. She hadn't done that since my mom died.


So this weekend at the agility trial, I spoke to Marley before each of her runs about how proud her Grandma was of her and how much she loved her. About how she loved seeing Marley run agility. Then she got a kiss and a hug from Grandma. Marley was wonderful this weekend. She was so happy on the agility course. She qualified half of her runs and earned her Open Standard Agility Title.

Hoping for more great trials with Marley and hope my mom is proud of us!

EATING MY WORDS!

I have always said I would never travel far for an AKC agility trial. Well I am eating my words. Marley and I are venturing to Monroe, LA this weekend for 2 days of AKC agility. Just want to play and see what she does.

I have decided that Marley will no longer do agility in a class setting. It's detrimental to her psychologically. She's a very sensitive dog and she deserves a mom that will stand up for her! So I am. We will do privates and will work with KK at the same time. Marley was so happy on the field today. A totally different dog than last Tuesday!

KK is trying to bark when Marley is running agility at private lessons. You can bet that will be short lived. I will not tolerate barking. She can be alert and watching but she better be quiet.

RETIREMENT

I have been contemplating retiring Marley from agility for the past several months. She's a gamer. Doesn't do well in practice but usually does pretty good in trials. We may have our bobbles but Marley always has fun.

I hate that I am even considering retiring her at age 4. She's running in Masters in USDAA and Excellent in AKC. She has her CD and RA and RN in AKC. Plus her CGC.

The reason I'm even at this point is that we have encountered the most aggressive, out of control dogs I have ever seen in the past few months. At one trial, a dog was lunging and snapping at every dog it passed. The handler drug the dog still snapping onto the course and preceeded to run the dog.. IN PAIRS, no less. I could not believe the judge didn't excuse it. The handler acted like nothing was out of the ordinary.

Marley is a super sensitive dog. She completely shuts down when she's around barking and lunging dogs. I deliberately crate her off in a corner at trials where it's quieter. I take her out frequently and let her explore without other dogs around. If someone crates their barking dog near me and doesn't cover the crate, I will do it for them. How in the world people can sit and let their dog bark constantly is beyond me! I may let my dogs have lots of freedom in the house but I DO NOT ALLOW BARKING. My dog should bark to alert me if something is amiss, not just bark for the hell of it.

My dog shouldn't have to suffer because other people have out of control dogs. People have made some very derogatory remarks about Marley over the past years. I have decided I will return the favor. So if you have an out of control dog, I will point it out to you.

All that being said, I haven't decided to retire Marley officially, but I am seriously considering it.

REMEMBER EVERY RUN!

As everyone knows, agility is a great hobby of mine. No, I don't have aspirations of earning a ADCH, MACH or being on a world team. Don't get me wrong, an ADCH has crossed my mind, but that's not why we do agility. We do agility because we enjoy it and it is an excellent outlet for Marley's energy.

My greatest joy is knowing that the dog I run came from a kill shelter and I saved her life the day I went down her kennel row. Yes, she has had some problems but those issues are a distant memory. I no longer worry that she might get 'snarky' with another dog. I don't have to grab her at the finish line and drag her by another dogs because she has issues. I don't have to completely cover her crate to block her view of other dogs because she is reactive. I see that all the time at trials and I actually feel sorry for the dog being put into a situation where it feels it has to react. I wish more owners would recognize the fact that their dog has issues and work on those issues.

Yes, I run a dog that has bilateral HD and painful feet at times. But rest assure, Marley is under the best veterinary care possible. I monitor her daily and minimize her training and trialing. Based upon her diagnoses, her career will likely be short. But I will remember every run I have with her! Good or bad. Just the fact that I get to run with such a fantastic dog is amazing! I may get upset with her performance at times, but I am enjoying every run. She may not Q or place, but Marley doens't know that. She just knows I am happy with her at the end of our run and that's why she does it. FOR ME!

Recently I decided to get another performance dog. Going to a breeder crossed my mind, but rescue is where my heart is. Once again, the dog I adopted came from a kill shelter. I love that my dogs are so different looking from every other breed running agility. The gate steward always knows Marley's name after the second run. Who can forget a blue eyed, blonde??

We have already started Kalea-Kate's training at 16 weeks old. She ran a full size dog walk with a hit contact her first night. She will be a fast learner and I am excited to have a puppy to train. I will continue to train Marley as long as she wants to continue to run.

Ribbons and placements are fun but running with your dog is the real reward! I will REMEMBER EVERY RUN I have with Marley!

MARLEY IS 4 TODAY!!

Happy Birthday to my baby Marley Ann! Sweet, blue eyes is 4 today! Her present was a new baby sister, Kalea-Kate. She loves her baby sister so much. The 2 of them play constantly. Tug and chase are their favorites. Marley is so good with Kalea-Kate. She knows KK is smaller and will patiently be the tug post and then every so often she has to have a turn tugging and will drag KK across the room!! I'm so proud that Marley is doing so well with KK and her previous dog issues are now just a distant memory. Marley has turned into a wonderful, happy, well behaved dog and I love her so much. My mom loved her MarMar too and would have loved to see her play with KK.