Taking Care of Everyone's Needs

As a teacher I have always known what is good for one student is not always good for another. To be the best educator I can be I need look at the needs of individual students as well as my class. So it is, as well as, with having dogs. Trekker has grown up as part of a canine-people pac, there has never been a time that he was a lone dog. I have known that since Trekker was young that he would need to be part of a dog and people family. He loves me, but Shiloh was his best friend and buddy. When the vet gave the announcement that Shiloh had probably no more than three months left, I knew that I had to do something to help both my babies. For Shiloh I had to make his last days the best I could and for Trekker it meant finding a new sibling.

The first of September I saw Darci's breeder ad. She was looking for a family home for a fifteen month little girl, Zoey. Zoey had been intended for the show ring, but she her nose was to long and she was too "lighter of bone" to be a good show dog. Hence her need for a forever home. Darci had had several people inquire and had turned down three perspective owners. We both felt that Zoey would make a perfect sister for Trekker. I explained my situation about Shiloh and told Darci that as long as Shiloh was living I would not bring home a new dog, no matter how perfect. Because the two corgis seemed to a perfect match and Darci agreed to keep Zoey until we were ready to bring her home.

When I knew that I didn't have to worry about Trekker's needs, my attention went to making Shiloh's last days the best they could be. He could no longer take walks, but Shiloh loved riding on the golf cart. Every night after dinner I took him out for his ride so that he could savor the neighborhood smells. He got treats that Trekker didn't (to fattening for Trekker.) And when Shiloh's appetite was leaving him, I treated his food with broth. On the days Shiloh could crawled up into Rich's beloved recliner, Rich gave it to him and sat on the sofa. He'd say that he didn't want to disturb Shiloh. We hope Shiloh knew how much he was loved.

Now the focus must return to Trekker. He walks the house and the yard looking for Shiloh. He wants to sleep more than play. I went and bought him new toys and they lay unused on the floor. It is evident that Trekker is mourning as much as we are. Next week I will deliver Trekker to Grandma's house before work and pick him up after, this will keep him from being home alone. Then next Friday I will pick up Zoey. Zoey will never replace Shiloh, but she will find her own nitch in each of our hearts.

Thank You

My best friend and loyal companion was called to the Rainbow Bridge this morning. It is amazing that one dog could touch so many hearts, but Shiloh did. He was loved by many. Thank you Shiloh for giving me fourteen years of love and devotion. I love you and will miss you terribly.

Trekker is a cave man. He likes to lay under furniture or in the corners of rooms where his back is protected. His favorite cave is under the desk. As we do paperwork, Trek loves to burrow down.

Visitors Must Use Manners

The weather in the mornings are now cool and enjoyable. The dogs and I take every opportunity to be outside taking in the cool breezes and passing wildlife. An occassional coyote will amble by, the hummingbirds have returned and flutter quite close, but my favorite is the quail. I love everything about them: their strut; their calls; and most of all how they act as a family unit. The quail seem to have a regular route around the neighborhood. They visit our yard about 6:30 every morning. I throw seed into the rocks to encourage these regular visits. On a normal day we have about 1o quail visitors. This morning the quail announcement seemed to go out that there was ample food and the quail swarmed in. Within minutes we had over 30 pecking through the yard. All the while, Trekker lay on his pillow watching the amazing sight. Soon the quail began to quarrel over who got what section of the yard. This seemed to annoy Trek. He would leap off the pillow and run through the middle of the eating, quarrelling quail and send them running out of our yard. Then he'd make a couple laps through the perimeter of our yard to make sure all the quail were gone. When satisfied his job was done he'd return to his pillow. The food was too much to resist and the quail would gingerly return. Trekker would watch patiently from his pillow until another argument would pursue and then he'd leap off the pillow to clear our yard again of quarrelling quail. This happened over a half a dozen times. It was quite a sight to watch. I believe the moral of this story is, visitors are welcome, but we'll send you packing if you aren't pleasant!

Corgis Don't Forget

Most of the house projects are done, I'm feeling healthier than I have in months, and the mornings are cooler. All this adds up to-- I need to start working Trekker again. For the past week Trekker an I have been out, working through our paces. We run through all the basics, including meets and greets and staying while a rabbit goes by. Trekker is a master. After a year and a half of living here and not doing much obedience work I expected a rusty corgi and what I got was a corgi who remembered everything he had been taught. He learned by the third day that running shoes mean we're heading out, otherwise mom lives in sandals.

Both of us miss the camaraderie of working along side other dogs and owners. I thought when we were ready for another class there would be lots of classes around us to choose from. Wrong! We live on the wrong side of the city. But travel if must, Trekker and I will be in the class starting in the end of September. It's part obedience and beginning agility. I know Trekker is ready, but I'm hoping I'll be able to keep up too.

Life is Good

Summer in Arizona is hard and for the hearty, and I have not been feeling so hearty. When the heat soars to 115 in the day and only cools to the mid 90s in the day everything is affected. The fruit trees leaves are yellow and sad, I’m told it is sunburn and won’t hurt the tree. The palm has fronds that have browned beyond repair; I’m told that happens to protect the rest of the fronds from heat reflected off the rock landscape. The rabbits have been eating the lower leaves of the grapefruit tree just to get some water. Everything I have potted and diligently watered through the summer has died. The dogs and I have been lethargic and even a little depressed. For them going outside to relieve themselves has been a chore. Nothing has escaped the Arizona heat. If it were like this year around only a fool would live here. But at the moment of feeling the most despondent cool air has begun to arrive!

The nights are beginning to cool, which means the dogs and I can be out on the patio in the morning. It is wonderful! I do my best reading and relaxing there. Trekker is in heaven. He had forgotten there is a world of rabbits, quail and even the occasional lizard to chase and harass. Shiloh hobbles to the large pillow placed out there for yet another nap in his old state. As he lies down even a sigh can be heard from him, the cool weather is coming back and life is beginning to be good again. Trekker and I took our first evening walk in ages. We both felt good and alive again. In this new awakening I have gotten the urge to blog again so my theme for today is good and needs to be rejoiced.

Coyote Fear

We've made it to Arizona and have been here for a week. The house closed prior to getting arriving and we had a fence put in so the dogs could run their new home. Very proactive of us until we found out about coyotes. Oh the horror stories told about how you have to watch your dogs every second or otherwise a coyote will attack them. We're told not to walk them after dark or a dusk. I don't know what is true and what is urban legend, but I'm on alert! The fenced backyard is only used only during daylight hours and I'm ever on watch duty. We have a regular coyote who walks by at about 8:30 in the morning so we never go out at that time. Dark and dusk, we use the front courtyard that has 9 foot walls. Those coyotes are not going to get my dogs! Anybody know the truth?

On a lighter note, Shiloh just is unsure of this desert landscape. We have no grass so the business has to be done on the rocks. Each time he looks at me like, "Are you really sure you want me to go? This just doesn't seem right." Trekker, on the other hand, feels that when the feeling comes who cares where.

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