Heart Pounding Experience

A few minute dog emergency and my heart is still pounding and my hands shaking two hours later. Thankfully both dogs are safe but for a few minutes I wasn't sure what the outcome would be. Oh my babies... I was reading and Trekker and Shiloh were wrestling, all quite normal. Then the tone changed. It took me a few seconds to figure out what had happening. Trekker's rolled leather collar had caught on Shiloh's teeth and wrapped on his lower jaw. The more they panicked and struggled the tighter the collar was getting until it bagan to cut off Trekker's air. I tried to untangle them all the while yelling for my husbands help. No luck. I tried unbuckle the collar. No luck it was too tight. It quickly became clear that if I couldn't unbuckle it I couldn't cut it off either. It was only with one of us holding Shiloh down and Trekker up that we could work them free. This was no easy feat with both dogs in a scared frenzy. Trekker was left wheezing and Shiloh rubbing his jaw on the carpet. After checking them over carefully there appears to be no real damge. Trekker's collar is now setting on the table and tomorrow he will have one that is safer for dog play. I thank my lucky stars that Rich was home and still shake at what could have happened.

Help Needed

Trekker and I need help. In the past few weeks Trekker seems to have come into his own and is doing great in weekly class. It was suggested today by our dog obedience instructor that we should try a rally novice competition. I've been searching the Internet and can't find exactly what we need to know, any suggestions on where to look? Thanks.

Favorite Place at New House

On the Mend

We checked in with our own doctor today. Trek will be on antibiotics for a week and will tire faster but is definitely on the mend. He agreed with my diagnosis of Trekker eating the wrong thing and not any of the scare pieces the emergency vet was throwing out. When I told him about the anti-corgi comment he was amazed that another vet would say something like that about a whole breed.

During your shows have you run into breeders in Arizona that you respected?

How to not spend the 4th of July!

My July 4th morning started early, about 2 am with Trekker throwing up all over our bed. At first I figured that he had just eaten the wrong thing in our day of yard work, I got him outside and the bed cleaned up. The throwing up continued. When everyone else's morning rolled around I tried to get our vet on the phone, no such luck. Dah, it's the 4th of July.

Off to the emergency clinic we go and wait and wait and wait. After two hours of waiting and being told it may be another 2 hours I decide to take him home. He hadn't thrown up in that amount of time and was taking water. His temp normal. Later he begins throwing up again and is now refusing water. He is one sick puppy. Back to the emergency room. This time it's less than an hour's wait. Of course they run tests and everything comes back right around the normal range, but he has become dehydrated. They give him fluids and a shot to keep from throwing up any more and we head for home. By this time it's 8 pm and I'm much poorer.

By morning he was taking water and interested in the world around him. As the day progressed Trekker is feeling better. He's run to investigate and is now eating small quantities of rice mixed with a little tuna. Tomorrow we'll visit our vet to make sure we're really mending. My best guess is that Trek got into weeds that Rich sprayed.

The vet at the emergency room I'm not too fond of. He tells me that he's not to fond of corgis because they are bad tempered. Mine is the first that isn't and he's a keeper. My thought--if Trekker hadn't been feeling so bad maybe he wouldn't have liked him either. Dogs usually are on the mark for their likes and dislikes. The vet is just not a keeper.

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Work Begins As Move Is Made

Downsizing to half our material possessions, selling a house, finding a rental and moving has certainly taken its toll on training for our therapy dog certification. The move to the rental took place a week ago and as we wait for the job transfer to Arizona Trekker and I started back to training this morning. I am thrilled with his memory. His heal was right on the mark and he had great turns. On the other hand, his stays were short and he would prefer not to down. With the test the 21st of July I won’t be able to slack off anymore.
Back to the move…Every rental house that I saw as a possibility said no dogs. Being the brazen person that I am I called and said let me tell you why you’d like me and my dogs as a renters.
1. My house sold in 22 days with 2 dogs present…
2. The older dog has his canine good citizen and therapy dog certifications.
3. The younger dog is being trained and should have them before summer is out.
Each owner agreed that if we’d like to rent they would be happy for “all of us” to be there. We picked a house close by, but half the size of ours. It has a large fenced yard for the dogs. They were the ones we worried most about in this transition. Once the furniture arrived with their scent they were content. Where we are is home to them. Trekker quickly discovered that the chair in the front room has a perfect street view and the arm has become his perch to world. With Shiloh’s age it’s getting harder for him to climb up on furniture so he’s content to lie on the floor. When Trekker sounds the alarm he stands, looks out, and adds to the ruckus. Both seem to be well adjusted. I’m working on the fact that I don’t need to know about every person and car moving about outside. Me, I’m not sure that I’m cut out for renting and am counting my time. My hope is to move again by Christmas and not have to deal with icy roads.

Busy, Busy

Trekker here—our house is confusing. First my mom and dad cleaned like mad and kept putting away my toys. They kept picking up the toys from inside and outside the house and I kept trying to tell them NO, I like them out where I can get them. Then they started locking Shiloh in the crate next to mine in the morning when they’d leave. Shiloh hates it, but they just don’t seem to care. Me, I love having Shiloh keeping me company. While we’re locked up strange people walked through and looked all around. They didn’t pay any attention to me, only the house. Then as quickly as it started my toys have come back out and Shiloh has the run of the house again, but for some reason not me. Could it be that they care I chew a few pieces of left out paper and love the toilet paper rolls? She should just be happy that I have never taken out anything that isn’t paper! I’ve heard stories about what other dogs do.
Now these crates and boxes are coming out and being filled. The living room is a fun place because there are so many of them to race around. Before Mom would shoo me out of the room now I just hang out as she works. She doesn’t always appreciate my assistance and shoos me yet again. Shiloh is such a mama’s boy. He just lays there next to her and never gets into anything.
Strange people are coming. Since I’m out they play with me and tell me how cute I am, but when they leave they are taking furniture. Mom calls it downsizing. I heard her tell Luke last night that in a month we are moving into a rental house. They found one with a fence for me. Mom says it’s temporary until they find out about Arizona. I don’t know what that means but we are busy.

Dogs are cunning.

With the house on the market we thought a little color from Pansies were in order. While I was out front planting Rich decided that he'd take the dogs for a walk so that I could plant in peace. Shiloh, always the mama's boy, never wants to leave me especially if I'm outside. Rich was persistent that he was going too. Shiloh was being led away, all the while looking back to where I was working. My smart boy hoisted up his leg and began to limp heavily. Rich kept going. Once I was out of sight the injury was gone. He was faking a leg injury!

The Nose Knows

The weather is turning and we’re getting back outside. Shiloh has begun his rituals of checking the fence line for any furry invaders. He may not be able to see well but his nose appears to be working fine.

Life's Lessons

Patience is not my virtue! Last year at this time I was waiting for Trekker to grow enough to join our household. Time could not move fast enough. Now it seems hard to believe that we’ve only had him a year, he has weaved his way into all of our hearts and I can’t imagine not having him.

I have decide that this time of year comes only to teach me patience. IT’S NOT WORKING!!!! We are in limbo again. Will we be putting our house on the market and moving to Arizona or will we be staying? The control is out of my hands and is in the hands of the manager in the company my husband works for that I don’t know. He doesn’t seem to care that the limbo is killing me. In the meantime, we continue to prepare for both scenarios. Each day I expect the decision and each day we wait again.

On the positive note…we’re able to get outside and Shiloh is feeling pretty good. My two boys try to teach me to live in the moment. Will I ever learn?