SHREVEPORT SUCCESS

KK and I went to Shreveport last weekend for an USDAA trial. It was our first trial that we went to without Marley. I was sad thinking that this may be our new reality. Marley may never get to trial again. KK started going to trials with us when she was about 8 months old so she could get used to the trial environment. I was a little worried about how she would do without Marley there, but KK is a little trooper and she did great.


Shreveport was very successful for us and I brought home homework. I felt that our handling was pretty good, lots of easy rear crosses. Kate only dropped one bar all weekend, but she decided that the down on the table was optional and her refusal to down cost us 2 Q's. This was the venue that she started refusing contacts so I was pleased she did her contacts....the table can be worked on.

KK earned 2 Starter Jumper Q's both with first places and her Starters Jumpers Title. She also earned her Starters Gamblers Title with a first. She earned her Gamblers Title 3 out of 3 runs. We also added another Starters Pairs Q with a first. My favorite game, Snooker, snookered us twice. I thought this judge had very challenging courses for Starters dogs. She had bad angles with most of her courses.

I enjoyed working the Master Standard and Snooker classes, especially the C22 classes. In my opinion, those are the fastest and most talented dogs. I took a lot away from that trial simply by working the ring and watching how handlers handled their fast dogs. I hope one day that Kate will be there with those C22 dogs.

We are taking a break from trialing and training until after we get back from the beach and after Marley is seen by Orthopedics. But I can't wait to get back to some USDAA agility!!

ON HOLD

KK has a USDAA agility trial this weekend. It will be our last trial for awhile. Marley is staying home with Granddad and Molly and Missy. This will be the first time Marley hasn't been to an agility trial since KK started trialing. So it will be KK's first time traveling with me by herself. I'm interested in seeing how she does solo.


No pressure. Just going to go play with KK. We haven't done much training this summer due to the heat. We did venture out to agility class last night. It gave us a chance to run a full course...something we have only do at trials. I don't think we've been to class since May. KK and I have a lot to learn together. But I hope she has a long and healthy career.


I had a few trials planned for the fall but now with Marley's hip issues, I'm pulling entries. I'm sad that Marley's career is likely over. I can't help but think we got cheated. Cheated out of a long career. Cheated out of being healthy. Cheated. But I'm even more sad that I can't fix her without causing her even more pain. It's hard to see her lie in the same spot, nite after nite. She rarely plays with KK anymore. Just stays put and sleeps. She also stands in place for long periods of time. I feel like everything is on hold until after her ortho appointment. I'm just hoping for answers and treatment. I don't know if I can put her through a THR. I just don't know.


After this weekend, I'm finally going to take that break I've been talking about. I even went out and cleared all the equipment off the agility yard. The only thing left on the field is the dog walk and it has to stay where it is.

It's our time to get healthy....physically, mentally and emotionally.

THE APPOINTMENT IS SET

Marley has been having more pain the last few weeks. She's just not herself. Wants to be left alone. Wants to sleep in rooms by herself. She's back on pain meds daily. I finally decided enough is enough. I need to get an expert on HD to see Marley. I need a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan. I'm hoping surgery isn't warranted at this time or any time but I'm mentally preparing myself for it.

So we head to Missouri in early October. For an evaluation and possible surgery. I don't know much more at this time. I do know if surgery is needed, Mar will be hospitalized for at least 2 days and we will have lots of crate rest when she comes home. I realized I can't drive the K9 TAXI to MO. If she does have surgery, there's no way I can get her in and out of the van safely. So she may ride to MO in style...in the Highlander.

ODD BEHAVIOR

Marley has been having some 'odd behavior' lately. I've been watching her closely as she is on hip rest. So maybe I am reading something into it, but she is not acting herself.

From the day she got house freedom, she has always slept on the right side of my bed with her butt touching my ribs all night. Once I tried to sleep on the right side of the bed only to wake up the next morning back on the left side and Marley was back in her usual spot. In the past few weeks, she has quit sleeping with me. She doesn't even come into the bedroom anymore. Odd.

Even more odd, I'm finding her sleep in different places. Sometimes it's in the kitchen by the stove or in the living room floor. Off course the first thing that goes through my head is pain. Maybe the jumping up on the bed is painful for her.

Another weird thing is she often just stands in one place. Doesn't do anything but stand there. Odd.

We go to the beach in a few weeks. Hoping she doesn't come home lame as she usually does. I'm really dreading having her Xrayed again. I'm not ready to deal with her HD starring back at me in black and white.