Showing 62 posts tagged with "inca"
I've not been doing specific posts for my 52 weeks for dogs photos mainly as I've been posting them on here anyway. However, I felt this one deserved its own little post as it came out just how I wanted it =D (makes a change!)
This weeks theme was "eyes". I knew what I wanted; a shot using daylight that didnt include my reflection.
I then decided it would rather awsome to try and capture Diesels reflection so I tried lots of different angles with him outside and her looking out the dining room doors. Getting the focus just-so was a nightmare, especially when trying to time it with Inca looking at D (not me) and D looking at Inca (or vaguely in her direction) rather than running off round the garden.
I tried getting more outside eye detail but generally that meant loosing some of the clarity of the reflection itself. I love the reflection of her eyelashes. I just wish we had patio doors rather than french ones!
Still mission accomplished...eventually ;-)
The two '52 Weeks' sets can be seen on Flickr:
RuffDogs 52 Week Challenge
52 Weeks For Dogs
This weeks theme was "eyes". I knew what I wanted; a shot using daylight that didnt include my reflection.
I then decided it would rather awsome to try and capture Diesels reflection so I tried lots of different angles with him outside and her looking out the dining room doors. Getting the focus just-so was a nightmare, especially when trying to time it with Inca looking at D (not me) and D looking at Inca (or vaguely in her direction) rather than running off round the garden.
I tried getting more outside eye detail but generally that meant loosing some of the clarity of the reflection itself. I love the reflection of her eyelashes. I just wish we had patio doors rather than french ones!
Still mission accomplished...eventually ;-)
The two '52 Weeks' sets can be seen on Flickr:
RuffDogs 52 Week Challenge
52 Weeks For Dogs
EAWS
Saturday was an early start and off with Wendy to the last instalment of the East Anglian UKA winter series.Its was a very frosty misty morning when we left but it turned into a really beautiful sunny day (until it got all misty again anyway).
Diesel was first in for Beginners Agility. initially I was going to run NFC and train his contacts but the course was such a blast I decided to run it. He did a stonking run, doing his little wingy frustrated noise that he does when his legs aren't going as fast as he wants them to despite him doing 110mph. Admittedly he pushed his contacts BUT they had the speed that he has in training. When hes up a gear and goes that fast my heart always skips a beat over the dog walk as I'm convinced hes going too fast, lol. Anyway, he ended up winning it and finally getting those 2 agility points we needed to progress to novice.
In P&S he was *completely* wound up after playing with 'his girlfirend' Fig in the queue (According to D queues are for making lady friends...although to be fair for some bizarre reason on Sat he was equally willing to go either way and especially likes Bridgets JJ). He was leaping about like a crazed beast so needless to say we didnt reach the speed section.
In his jumping we missed walking the course as I'd been helping Wendy with the measuring over lunch (for our entire lunch break!). Thankfully Amelia let us walking between heights and it was a pretty straight forward course. Unfortunately for some unknown reason D couldn't get the weave entry and I think it was 3rd time lucky by the time he did get it right.
Finally Novice SC which was right at the end of the day. The course was quite tricky to remember, although ran quite straight-forward. there was just one bit near the end which I wasn't sure how to handle; I could have pulled him towards me round the wing, or pushed him away from me provided I could get there. I decided to try pushing him as that's what I would have opted for trying first in training. Unfortunately it didn't work. I didn't cue it early enough and I couldn't get there fast enough due to my positioning after the final tunnel.
Pippa was her usual all or nothing self. I trained both her Agility and P&S runs and in both she was completely wild. Champ jumping was a typical fiddly Pippa course (again provided we could get it right). It started off basically flick flack push through which felt a bit messy but we managed to get round and ended up winning it. Champ SC was at the end of the day. Both Wendy and I missed walking the course as we'd been walking the Novice. By the time we got there, although judging hadn't started yet they'd said we'd had more than enough time. I get the feeling they wanted to go home! Thankfully the course wasn't too tricky, just with one trappy section where there was quite a run past a number of jump faces to the end sequence. Thankfully I somehow managed to remember the course, but the beagle terrierist went off sniffing right near the end. Amusingly we actually ended up winning it as no one else managed to go clear. Not that she deserved it (although perhaps I do for remembering where I was going!)
I also ran one of Wendys dogs Tishi. Shes being a host dog at the IFCS in May so Wendy thought it would be a good opportunity to get her some experience with running for other people. I ran her in Champ Jumping, Dave did Champ P&S and Alison did Champ Agility. She actually ran very similar to Pip, with the exception for the speed through the tunnels which I wasn't prepared for initially (so she had a quick visit to mum whilst I caught up).
Huge congrats to Brissie for his first win!
After it was back home to wash D and then headed off to Britby for the MBCC the following day. Thankfully as Inca wasnt doing agility I was able to wash her on Friday. There was no chance of being able to keep D clean at an agility show!
MBCC
Again we managed to stay just a couple mins away from the venue so we got to enjoy a cooked breakfast before judging starting at 9am.
Diesel managed to get Res(4th) in his yearling class (3rd and above qualifies for Crufts 2011!). Hes out of coat at the moment, though thankfully not quite as bald as he was at this time last year.
I had to send Si off to start getting Inca ready as in the bitch ring they were already on Post Grad. Thankfully I *just* had enough time to get Incas coat ready although I would have preferred if it wasn't quite such a rush. I wasn't sure how she'd do as I'd entered her in Limit (before all this trouble with her wrist). If I'd had my way I'd probably have dropped her back down into Post Grad. Shes not exactly done a lot since Dec! As it was she went really well and genuinely seemed happy and bouncy to be doing something (especially involving attention on her). She went really well and moved beautifully, and at that nice pace I was pushing for last year. We'd been ordered numerically and I was surprised when the judged pulled me out for the shortlist. Unfortunately she kept pulling people out and ended up with 8 or 9 in total, and we didn't make the final cut. Still, it was a strong class of 18 so I was still pleased with that result.
I had a short wait before the working classes and it was really neck and neck as to who I would get back in the ring with first. They were really getting through the classes and didn't stop for lunch. It actually ended up being the same time so I had to get the dog ring to wait for me whilst I went in with Inca. Again, she moved and showed herself off. It was only a small class but I thougth the bitch from the open class might win it. However, to my sup rise Inca managed to win. So a quick exchange of dogs and into the dog ring with D. Again only a small class but D managed to come 2nd.
It wasn't very late so we decided to stick around and watch the dog and bitch challenges. Sometimes when we've got further to go back home and its getting late I admit we'll leave almost as soon as I'm done, or just watch one. They did the Bitch CC first, then the dog. By this point I was feeling the cold so decided to load up the car and let the dogs out to the loo before heading back.
We were just about to leave (as ignition on, waiting for sat nav, lol) when a kind soul (thank you!!) knocked on my window to ask if I was no 10 as they were about to do Best Working Dog in Show. I didn't realise they did it and because Inca was beaten in Limit knew she wasn't needed for the challenge. I ended up grabbing Inca and running all the way back to the ring in my trainers. As soon as we got in the dog judge came over to go over Inca. She was very bouncy and excited from the run from the car so was a right fidget. Thankfully she settled and went on to beat the dog to be awarded Best Working Dog in Show. The trophy was a memorial cane (Si joked that they obviously heard about her recent injury, lol). I'm just dreading the photos with me in my white trainers...ahaha!
Happy smiley Inca looking cheeky (She was busy offering bows and all sorts while the judge was going over the others)
Inca hard at work between classes
Saturday was an early start and off with Wendy to the last instalment of the East Anglian UKA winter series.Its was a very frosty misty morning when we left but it turned into a really beautiful sunny day (until it got all misty again anyway).
Diesel was first in for Beginners Agility. initially I was going to run NFC and train his contacts but the course was such a blast I decided to run it. He did a stonking run, doing his little wingy frustrated noise that he does when his legs aren't going as fast as he wants them to despite him doing 110mph. Admittedly he pushed his contacts BUT they had the speed that he has in training. When hes up a gear and goes that fast my heart always skips a beat over the dog walk as I'm convinced hes going too fast, lol. Anyway, he ended up winning it and finally getting those 2 agility points we needed to progress to novice.
In P&S he was *completely* wound up after playing with 'his girlfirend' Fig in the queue (According to D queues are for making lady friends...although to be fair for some bizarre reason on Sat he was equally willing to go either way and especially likes Bridgets JJ). He was leaping about like a crazed beast so needless to say we didnt reach the speed section.
In his jumping we missed walking the course as I'd been helping Wendy with the measuring over lunch (for our entire lunch break!). Thankfully Amelia let us walking between heights and it was a pretty straight forward course. Unfortunately for some unknown reason D couldn't get the weave entry and I think it was 3rd time lucky by the time he did get it right.
Finally Novice SC which was right at the end of the day. The course was quite tricky to remember, although ran quite straight-forward. there was just one bit near the end which I wasn't sure how to handle; I could have pulled him towards me round the wing, or pushed him away from me provided I could get there. I decided to try pushing him as that's what I would have opted for trying first in training. Unfortunately it didn't work. I didn't cue it early enough and I couldn't get there fast enough due to my positioning after the final tunnel.
Pippa was her usual all or nothing self. I trained both her Agility and P&S runs and in both she was completely wild. Champ jumping was a typical fiddly Pippa course (again provided we could get it right). It started off basically flick flack push through which felt a bit messy but we managed to get round and ended up winning it. Champ SC was at the end of the day. Both Wendy and I missed walking the course as we'd been walking the Novice. By the time we got there, although judging hadn't started yet they'd said we'd had more than enough time. I get the feeling they wanted to go home! Thankfully the course wasn't too tricky, just with one trappy section where there was quite a run past a number of jump faces to the end sequence. Thankfully I somehow managed to remember the course, but the beagle terrierist went off sniffing right near the end. Amusingly we actually ended up winning it as no one else managed to go clear. Not that she deserved it (although perhaps I do for remembering where I was going!)
I also ran one of Wendys dogs Tishi. Shes being a host dog at the IFCS in May so Wendy thought it would be a good opportunity to get her some experience with running for other people. I ran her in Champ Jumping, Dave did Champ P&S and Alison did Champ Agility. She actually ran very similar to Pip, with the exception for the speed through the tunnels which I wasn't prepared for initially (so she had a quick visit to mum whilst I caught up).
Huge congrats to Brissie for his first win!
After it was back home to wash D and then headed off to Britby for the MBCC the following day. Thankfully as Inca wasnt doing agility I was able to wash her on Friday. There was no chance of being able to keep D clean at an agility show!
MBCC
Again we managed to stay just a couple mins away from the venue so we got to enjoy a cooked breakfast before judging starting at 9am.
Diesel managed to get Res(4th) in his yearling class (3rd and above qualifies for Crufts 2011!). Hes out of coat at the moment, though thankfully not quite as bald as he was at this time last year.
I had to send Si off to start getting Inca ready as in the bitch ring they were already on Post Grad. Thankfully I *just* had enough time to get Incas coat ready although I would have preferred if it wasn't quite such a rush. I wasn't sure how she'd do as I'd entered her in Limit (before all this trouble with her wrist). If I'd had my way I'd probably have dropped her back down into Post Grad. Shes not exactly done a lot since Dec! As it was she went really well and genuinely seemed happy and bouncy to be doing something (especially involving attention on her). She went really well and moved beautifully, and at that nice pace I was pushing for last year. We'd been ordered numerically and I was surprised when the judged pulled me out for the shortlist. Unfortunately she kept pulling people out and ended up with 8 or 9 in total, and we didn't make the final cut. Still, it was a strong class of 18 so I was still pleased with that result.
I had a short wait before the working classes and it was really neck and neck as to who I would get back in the ring with first. They were really getting through the classes and didn't stop for lunch. It actually ended up being the same time so I had to get the dog ring to wait for me whilst I went in with Inca. Again, she moved and showed herself off. It was only a small class but I thougth the bitch from the open class might win it. However, to my sup rise Inca managed to win. So a quick exchange of dogs and into the dog ring with D. Again only a small class but D managed to come 2nd.
It wasn't very late so we decided to stick around and watch the dog and bitch challenges. Sometimes when we've got further to go back home and its getting late I admit we'll leave almost as soon as I'm done, or just watch one. They did the Bitch CC first, then the dog. By this point I was feeling the cold so decided to load up the car and let the dogs out to the loo before heading back.
We were just about to leave (as ignition on, waiting for sat nav, lol) when a kind soul (thank you!!) knocked on my window to ask if I was no 10 as they were about to do Best Working Dog in Show. I didn't realise they did it and because Inca was beaten in Limit knew she wasn't needed for the challenge. I ended up grabbing Inca and running all the way back to the ring in my trainers. As soon as we got in the dog judge came over to go over Inca. She was very bouncy and excited from the run from the car so was a right fidget. Thankfully she settled and went on to beat the dog to be awarded Best Working Dog in Show. The trophy was a memorial cane (Si joked that they obviously heard about her recent injury, lol). I'm just dreading the photos with me in my white trainers...ahaha!
Happy smiley Inca looking cheeky (She was busy offering bows and all sorts while the judge was going over the others)
Inca hard at work between classes
Training Day
Yesterday Wendy picked me up and we headed towards Jaynes for another of Bobs training days. This time I was meant to be doing one session with Pip and the other with D, whilst Wendy did one with Scout and the other with Brissie. However, we had a call on the way to say it was cancelled due to the weather (again!). There had been a slight scattering of snow overnight with us but apparently there had been more their way and the ground was pretty solid from the hard frost so the decision had been made to cancel. So we decided that we'd take the dogs for a run and then head home.
As it was we'd somehow managed to pull over right next to a track when we got the call so it wasnt like we had to go far. Wendy had all of her dogs whilst I had Pip and D. Pip thought Mocca (podengo) and Brissie (laekenois) were great fun, although she was a bit confused with which collie to stalk, lol. Pip loves having a game of chase and loves to be chased too.
We got back to the van and there was another message saying that they would go ahead with one session starting at 1pm, so we stopped for a bite and made our way there.
I decided to just work D in the session as I think we both could do with the experience. I was really pleased with how well he was working, although I cant say my performance was anywhere near as good. I've managed to get away with using one arm/shoulder signals for flick flacks with Pip, and with D so far, but Bob suggested it might be easier for D long term if I use 2 to give a clearer signal. I'm always open for suggestios but this of course meant I was too busy concentrating on what my arms were doing and not when/where I was giving my commands so I failed miserably at the pull-trus we then started working on. Oops! Anyway, I really enjoyed it even if I was a little dissapointed at not being able to work Pip too.
Hydro
I started swimming Inca in the hope it will help get her fit again without putting too much stress on her carpal joint. Rex has been going too as he loves the water. Mish suffers with stiffness more after being cold/damp so I am waiting for the weather to improve slightly before she returns to the pool.
Ideally I'd like to swim her twice a week but our local pool has unfortunately put up their prices. Last week I took them to the pool run by the club I work for. Sadly its about 30 miles away so again a bit too far to do twice a week but its not too far from the beach walk I usually do with the others so fine for once a week if I can tie it in.
I picked up a leaflet recently about a new pool thats opened not too far from us. There were advertising £5 introductory swims on Sundays in Jan so we booked them in for a swim today to check out the facilities. Its a greyhound kennel and pool was purposefully built to help improve the fitness of their own dogs. They basically said if we can come between 10am-1pm then we can swim for just £5 as thats when they swim their own dogs and they'll already be someone in a wet suit. On fridays they swim their 'oldies' so they increase the pool temperature slightly.
So, thats good news for us and should mean that I can take Inca a couple times a week for swims. The new one is certainly easier for us but if I can tie in the club one with a beach walk then I will.
Todays walk
I had hoped to go somewhere to take the dogs for a longer run today but I'm full of cold and really not feeling well so we took them up the field and then walked back along the old canal path.
Both Pip and D occasionally kick up dirt with their back legs after peeing.
Playing chase
Ted looking for birds to chase
D looking cheeky, and nicely covered in mud
More HERE
Yesterday Wendy picked me up and we headed towards Jaynes for another of Bobs training days. This time I was meant to be doing one session with Pip and the other with D, whilst Wendy did one with Scout and the other with Brissie. However, we had a call on the way to say it was cancelled due to the weather (again!). There had been a slight scattering of snow overnight with us but apparently there had been more their way and the ground was pretty solid from the hard frost so the decision had been made to cancel. So we decided that we'd take the dogs for a run and then head home.
As it was we'd somehow managed to pull over right next to a track when we got the call so it wasnt like we had to go far. Wendy had all of her dogs whilst I had Pip and D. Pip thought Mocca (podengo) and Brissie (laekenois) were great fun, although she was a bit confused with which collie to stalk, lol. Pip loves having a game of chase and loves to be chased too.
We got back to the van and there was another message saying that they would go ahead with one session starting at 1pm, so we stopped for a bite and made our way there.
I decided to just work D in the session as I think we both could do with the experience. I was really pleased with how well he was working, although I cant say my performance was anywhere near as good. I've managed to get away with using one arm/shoulder signals for flick flacks with Pip, and with D so far, but Bob suggested it might be easier for D long term if I use 2 to give a clearer signal. I'm always open for suggestios but this of course meant I was too busy concentrating on what my arms were doing and not when/where I was giving my commands so I failed miserably at the pull-trus we then started working on. Oops! Anyway, I really enjoyed it even if I was a little dissapointed at not being able to work Pip too.
Hydro
I started swimming Inca in the hope it will help get her fit again without putting too much stress on her carpal joint. Rex has been going too as he loves the water. Mish suffers with stiffness more after being cold/damp so I am waiting for the weather to improve slightly before she returns to the pool.
Ideally I'd like to swim her twice a week but our local pool has unfortunately put up their prices. Last week I took them to the pool run by the club I work for. Sadly its about 30 miles away so again a bit too far to do twice a week but its not too far from the beach walk I usually do with the others so fine for once a week if I can tie it in.
I picked up a leaflet recently about a new pool thats opened not too far from us. There were advertising £5 introductory swims on Sundays in Jan so we booked them in for a swim today to check out the facilities. Its a greyhound kennel and pool was purposefully built to help improve the fitness of their own dogs. They basically said if we can come between 10am-1pm then we can swim for just £5 as thats when they swim their own dogs and they'll already be someone in a wet suit. On fridays they swim their 'oldies' so they increase the pool temperature slightly.
So, thats good news for us and should mean that I can take Inca a couple times a week for swims. The new one is certainly easier for us but if I can tie in the club one with a beach walk then I will.
Todays walk
I had hoped to go somewhere to take the dogs for a longer run today but I'm full of cold and really not feeling well so we took them up the field and then walked back along the old canal path.
Both Pip and D occasionally kick up dirt with their back legs after peeing.
Playing chase
Ted looking for birds to chase
D looking cheeky, and nicely covered in mud
More HERE
Ted
I cant believe we've had Ted 2 week today. In some ways it seems like yesterday, in others it feels like hes always been here.
We took him to my dads house on Wednesday evening as I thought it would be interesting to see how he reacted somewhere on his own. He slept under the table while we ate dinner, he got fed fresh roast beef by my dad in the kitchen afterwards, he slept upside down on the sofa while my dad snored his head off next to him. This being my dad who doesn't usually like dogs, and Ted the little man that no one seems to want. TBH I think they seem the perfect match ;-) I daresay Ted was probably better behaved than any of my hooligans would have been (although I don't really like to admit it lol).
Ted chewing on a rawhide in the lounge
At the beach
More HERE
Inca
As I mentioned Inca had her xrays sent off to The Grove at the end of last week. The report came back midweek and they have concluded that the lump is a bone spur that's formed due to a RSI injury in her carpal joint. Its likely, especially given that Inca isn't exactly an OTT collie, that something in her wrist isnt quite working as it should which is why the lump has formed. Either way they recommended 4-6 weeks strict rest and then start building up her exercise. They then said it will be a case of seeing what shes happy doing.
Technically theres no reason she cant continue doing some agility once shes built up her fitness provided theres no lameness when shes done it (or seen whilst building her fitness up), but it will mean what and how much she does is toned down and she will be monitored closely. I'm not concerned what she does as long as shes happy and comfortable: shes a pet first and foremost and that means her health and well being come first! I want to give her a complete break from agility for 6 months or so and just concentrate on gradually building back her fitness and seeing how she copes with that. So, time will tell but thankfully shes a dog equally happy to relax on the sofa all day.
I cant believe we've had Ted 2 week today. In some ways it seems like yesterday, in others it feels like hes always been here.
We took him to my dads house on Wednesday evening as I thought it would be interesting to see how he reacted somewhere on his own. He slept under the table while we ate dinner, he got fed fresh roast beef by my dad in the kitchen afterwards, he slept upside down on the sofa while my dad snored his head off next to him. This being my dad who doesn't usually like dogs, and Ted the little man that no one seems to want. TBH I think they seem the perfect match ;-) I daresay Ted was probably better behaved than any of my hooligans would have been (although I don't really like to admit it lol).
Ted chewing on a rawhide in the lounge
At the beach
More HERE
Inca
As I mentioned Inca had her xrays sent off to The Grove at the end of last week. The report came back midweek and they have concluded that the lump is a bone spur that's formed due to a RSI injury in her carpal joint. Its likely, especially given that Inca isn't exactly an OTT collie, that something in her wrist isnt quite working as it should which is why the lump has formed. Either way they recommended 4-6 weeks strict rest and then start building up her exercise. They then said it will be a case of seeing what shes happy doing.
Technically theres no reason she cant continue doing some agility once shes built up her fitness provided theres no lameness when shes done it (or seen whilst building her fitness up), but it will mean what and how much she does is toned down and she will be monitored closely. I'm not concerned what she does as long as shes happy and comfortable: shes a pet first and foremost and that means her health and well being come first! I want to give her a complete break from agility for 6 months or so and just concentrate on gradually building back her fitness and seeing how she copes with that. So, time will tell but thankfully shes a dog equally happy to relax on the sofa all day.
Inca
Inca went into the vets on Thursday to have xrays taken of her wrist. They also did her other wrist as a comparison and both her shoulders just-in-case. Thankfully theres nothing wrong with either of her shoulders but she does have an abnormal bone development in her right wrist (the offensing lump). Unfortunately we're still none the wiser to what has actually caused it or why its developed. They've forwarded the Xrays to The Grove (Ortho specialists). They should recieve them by the start of next week and once they've taken a look should get back to use as to what the best step forward will be; either rest and re-evaluate or a refferal. We will just have to wait and see what they say.
Mishka
Mish-mosh turned 7 years old today and I can't quite believe we've now had her 5 years. We picked her up on her 2nd birthday. Out of all our dogs I think she is the one I'm most aware of aging. I certainly dont class 7 as being that old, but weirdly enough I do with her. I suppose some of that is down to the fact she has arthritis and occasionally gets a bit stiff, especially in colder weather, and sadly she can no longer manage the longer walks that the others can. However, I think I'm also very aware that rotties don't live as long other breeds. I remember one lady I know telling me that shes had 5 and she'd yet to have one live past the age of 8. Eeek!
That said, we've all had furry friends leave us far too soon, so I think we should cherish every moment we have with them. Its all too easy to take them for granted at times. So Mishkas birthday wish is that you all give your dogs an extra cuddle today =D
Inca went into the vets on Thursday to have xrays taken of her wrist. They also did her other wrist as a comparison and both her shoulders just-in-case. Thankfully theres nothing wrong with either of her shoulders but she does have an abnormal bone development in her right wrist (the offensing lump). Unfortunately we're still none the wiser to what has actually caused it or why its developed. They've forwarded the Xrays to The Grove (Ortho specialists). They should recieve them by the start of next week and once they've taken a look should get back to use as to what the best step forward will be; either rest and re-evaluate or a refferal. We will just have to wait and see what they say.
Mishka
Mish-mosh turned 7 years old today and I can't quite believe we've now had her 5 years. We picked her up on her 2nd birthday. Out of all our dogs I think she is the one I'm most aware of aging. I certainly dont class 7 as being that old, but weirdly enough I do with her. I suppose some of that is down to the fact she has arthritis and occasionally gets a bit stiff, especially in colder weather, and sadly she can no longer manage the longer walks that the others can. However, I think I'm also very aware that rotties don't live as long other breeds. I remember one lady I know telling me that shes had 5 and she'd yet to have one live past the age of 8. Eeek!
That said, we've all had furry friends leave us far too soon, so I think we should cherish every moment we have with them. Its all too easy to take them for granted at times. So Mishkas birthday wish is that you all give your dogs an extra cuddle today =D
