Testing, testing, 1...2...3...

Seeker has been tested for many health problems that can occur in Border Collies. Recently, I tested him for Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS). I really didn't expect anything other than a normal result as the working lines haven't been known to carry this. Well, I was very surprised that Seeker came back as a carrier for TNS when I had him tested by UC Davis. What does this mean? Well, it really only means that he must be bred to normal bitches. He isn't affected. He is a carrier. This knowledge is vital in making important choices for him and the breed. I have also sent his blood to OptiGen to verify the UC Davis results as their test was a cheek swab. I also tested him for Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CL) as well. The OptiGen results verified the UC Davis results for TNS. Seeker is indeed a carrier. He is, however, normal for CL. His sire's DNA was kept at OptiGen and he was tested even though he is no longer alive. He was found to be normal for both CL and TNS. His litter mate and full brother from the repeat of this cross were also found to be TNS carriers, but normal for CL. These results truly bring to light that working lines CAN carry TNS, even though there has been no widespread awareness of affected dogs.

It is vital that ALL breeders of Border Collies from ALL areas test their breeding dogs. Whether from the working, performance/sport, show or pet communities, if you are planning on breeding your Border Collie, testing for genetic diseases should be done. The testing is available for several different genetic diseases including CL and TNS. I utilize them because I believe that testing is an important part of my breeding program.

Some breeders feel that culling the carriers from their breeding program is the right thing to do. I do not believe this.  A carrier bred to a normal will NEVER produce affecteds. They will produce a mix of normal and carriers. Owners of carriers wishing to breed their dogs need to REQUIRE testing from the potential mate. It only makes excellent sense for the breed to do so. Carriers must only be bred to normals and puppies could ideally be tested before leaving the breeder so that their status can be discovered. Yes, it is expensive to run these tests, but it is more expensive to NOT do them before those puppies go to their new lives.

TNS and CL are FATAL for puppies. Here are descriptions of these diseases directly from the OptiGen website:

"Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis is a type of lysosomal storage disorder that results in accumulation of lysosomal storage bodies in the cells of many tissues of the affected animal. This leads to progressive neurodegeneration (degeneration of brain and eye cells) and results in severe neurological impairment and early death. Affected dogs appear normal at birth, but begin to exhibit symptoms early in life – around 1- 2 years of age. The age of onset and severity of the disease can vary greatly among individuals. The symptoms include progressive motor decline with seizures and loss of coordinated muscle movements, cognitive decline and abnormal behavior. Visual impairment may occur. Due to the severity of the disease, affected Border Collies rarely survive beyond 26-28 months. There is no treatment or cure at this time."

"Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS) is an inherited disease that affects a dog's immune system and is marked by an inability to effectively combat infections. Clinical symptoms of dogs affected by TNS vary, depending on the nature of the pathogen involved."

 As the caretaker of the Border Collies, breeders must be cognizant of the diseases which plague this wonderful breed. There are other genetic diseases that are still being investigated and researched including Adult Onset Deafness  , Epilepsy and Border Collie Collapse Syndrome. They are drawing closer to developing a test for AOD, but Epilepsy is still elusive and complex. As medical research progresses, so does the opportunities to develop tests to keep this breed healthy and doing what it is meant to be... the world's premiere stockdog.

Seeker by Megan Quigley

The Big Show... part 2

The Tennessee Miller Coliseum and surrounding property was a beautiful back drop for the 2013 Cynosport World Games. The 5 rings were inside, 3 in climate control, 2 without. Who would think that we would get 20 degree temps in Tennessee in October? We had 50-60 degree days and a few nights in the 20s. Made those crack of early walk thrus a bit challenging. All in all, it was a good experience. There were a few negatives, including the lack of security around the crating areas and getting in to the exhibitor areas. Sometimes they checked for wristbands. Most times they did not. The stalls were cold and the boys spent most of the time in the van, where it was warm. Even with BOT coats and Foggy Mountain coats, the mornings were too cold for even those two hairballs in the stall. The good thing was that parking was decently close so working from the van was doable.

I was fortunate that I spent most of my runs in the climate controlled rings, but I did have several runs in the ice box/rain forest. It was very cold and with that came frost, which melted and dripped onto everyone and everything in those rings as the day warmed. Red mud puddles were everywhere, including in the rings. The dirt along the edges was also softer and deeper which caused problems for some of the dogs. All in all though, the rings were well maintained, dragged each night by tractors, and SO much better than Kentucky in 2010. However, with the amount of entries, 6 rings were needed as the days were very long with walking before 7am for some and not running until after 6pm. I was lucky. My longest day was walking before 7am and running around 4pm or so. I think that it is time for USDAA to limit entries, requiring that anyone attending has to qualify in everything... Grand Prix, Steeplechase, Biathlon and Team. If they can't have another ring, at least at this site, then something needs to be done. Not many felt like staying to watch the evenings festivities when they had been up since 4am. We did enjoy the on-site dinners though. They were good, filling and fun with live bands the nights they were offered. Of course, Piper and I had a blast dancing to Orange Blossom Special before Performance Grand Prix finals.

On to the boys... Well, warm-ups started out well with both of them. Piper missed his weave poles, but still managed to run well enough to earn us a free month on USDAA's Data Services. Seeker ran clean, but not fast enough in the HUGE 22" class to earn anything. Seeker's Grand Prix and Steeplechase quarterfinals runs were a disaster. He missed a jump in GP, then blew the A-frame. In Steeplechase, he blew the A-frame again. I think the 5'9" height was bothering his leg, because missing the contact is very uncharacteristic of him. He ran Team Jumpers cleanly, but again, not fast enough to make the cut-off. He also managed 47 points in Team Snooker, just missing 7 on the closing. Gamblers didn't go as well, but he put points on the board, 30 to be exact, but again he blew his A-frame and dropped a bar in the gamble, ending his time. In Team Standard, he ran cleanly again, but well off the times of the top dogs. I enforced his A-frame and he did an awesome job with the entire run. I am proud of his Master Challenge Jumpers run, even though we didn't Q, he gave me some nice work. The mistakes were mine, except the dropped bar, but he tried and listened very well. We didn't stay for Master Challenge Standard on Sunday, as you needed to Q in both for Biathlon.

Piper... what can I say. He put up a 1st place score in 16" Veterans Gamblers earning a rosette. In Snooker, I had a momentary stupid moment and cost us 1st place there. He was the only Vet to attempt 4 reds and we HAD it, but I sent him over a wrong jump to end our turn with only 27 points. In Jumpers, we imploded. The course was ridiculously unfair, in my opinion, and there were MANY Es for the Vets and Performance dogs. Piper missed his weave entrance, then got worried. I had to seriously micromanage another part of the course which worried him more, and he just lost connection with me for an off-course and an E after that. One mistake that we couldn't afford as the scores for the 16" Vets were very tight. We did have a beautiful Standard run, earning another 1st place rosette. Unfortunately, the mistakes I made cost us getting into the Showcase. The dogs that were slower made it in and although I was happy for them, I wished we had made it there. Piper deserved it, even if I didn't.

It was a LONG week. Every time I attend one of these events, many lessons hit home with me. The folks that are the most competitive and do all the winning are mostly those that do this for a living as instructors/owners of their own schools, etc. I don't have equipment other than a few jumps and weave poles. I don't have the room for more. I have a job which sorely cuts into my training and trialing time. I have to drive somewhere to do any serious training. I am far from perfect as a handler, but I am proud of the progress I have made. I will never be on the World Team. I don't always handle pressure as well as I wish I could. However, the one thing I do know is that my dogs will always leave the ring happy and that they don't really care about ribbons or titles. They only want to spend time with me. There is only the pressure I put on myself that takes the fun out of this game. I've gotten better at letting things go and seeing this for what it is... a game. I don't make my living at it, although I wish I could. I am an average handler with GREAT dogs, in my eyes if no other. All that really matters is that we have FUN, spending time together doing something that makes us happy. As cliché as it sounds, it really IS all about the journey. Where will yours take you and your best friend?

The Big Show... part 1

Soon we are leaving to attend and compete at the 2013 Cynosport World Games which is the USDAA's Nationals. It isn't just a National, it is a sort of International with competitors from Hungary, Japan, Puerto Rico and Mexico as well as the USA. This is the 3rd time that the boys have qualified to go. This is the 2nd time we are going. Seeker is on a team and we are also trying to get past quarterfinals in Grand Prix and Steeplechase. He is also in the Biathlon, which consists of Master Challenge Jumpers and Master Challenge Standard. Realistically, Seeker probably won't make it into the semis in anything. He is consistent, but not fast. He is still nursing a collateral ligament injury to his left rear leg. No delusions of grandeur for us in team, but I am looking forward to having some fun and running with my teammates.

 Piper is competing in the Veterans All Around. He does the team classes at his Veterans height. We are competing for a shot at the Veterans Showcase, where they take the top 3 dogs from each Veterans jump height. There are 7 Veterans in Piper's 16" class. My hopes are high that we can make it into the Showcase. He is coming off a pulled right illiapsoas. In truth, it isn't up to him as much as me and whether or not I can hold it together, be where I need to be and support him. He is a very honest dog. He does what I tell him to do. It's all on me. Gulp...

If I could have, I would bubble wrap them both until we leave. I pulled them from multiple trials due to the injuries. I jokingly DID wrap them in bubble wrap for a photo op. They were not amused. I did  release them from house arrest a few days ago and did let them run agility. They were both higher than a kite, but they did well. I, on the other hand, sucked. Not having run agility for several weeks has taken a toll on my timing. I am glad that we have a warm-up run at Cynosport.

This is a HUGE trial... 800 exhibitors, 1100 dogs, with around 9000 runs over 5 days. I believe they said that is the highest attended in the history of the event. It will be a LONG week. Some of my walk thrus are at the crack of early and the run times are hours later. I will spend a great deal of time watching the ring, remembering what I walked before we get our turn. It is nerve-wracking and even though I've done it before, it still worries me. Gingko Biloba anyone??

This is the last National competition for the boys most likely. We are planning on making it memorable and having a blast. I am looking forward to seeing some of the best dogs in the world running agility. What could be better than spending time doing what you love to do with the most wonderful creatures in the world? I love my dogs to the moon and back.

My goals for this competition? For both boys, NO Es!! I want to be able to put up a score in each round. I would like to get Seeker into semifinals for both Steeplechase and Grand Prix. There is a very slim chance of that given the caliber of dogs in the 22" class. I would also like to make it through his Master Challenge rounds cleanly and under time for biathlon. So my advice to myself with both boys is JUST RUN! The other advice is to always remember that it's ALL about stepping to the line with my boys, not crossing over it victorious over others...

Seeker by Tien Tran

More later...

Meltdowns... and where to go from here...

This is the second weekend that Gem has had a major meltdown doing agility. It happened a few weeks ago at a USDAA trial and it happened again today at an ASCA trial. My goals have been simple for her... keep her happy, in the ring and do a few things she know how to do in a competition environment. Her debut in a few weeks ago in CPE was awesome. She was happy, even qualified a few runs in Level 1 and seemed to really enjoy herself. It encouraged me enough to put her in a few classes at a local USDAA trial. She had a meltdown in the gamblers ring, startled at the bar setters and judge, tucked her tail and laid back her ears. She didn't get much better the next day.

We are still in class and she seems to be fine there, working happily and enjoying herself. Today, I put her into an ASCA trial in Novice. She completely fell apart. She was stressed and worried. I wanted her to just get some mileage and have some fun as I can train in ASCA, unlike other venues. In gamblers, she was worried, disconnected and left me. I ran to the back of the ring and she chased me. She did do a few obstacles and then we left. She repeated this in the 2nd round. When it was time for her next turn, she completely freaked out. I am still at a loss as to why. She wouldn't come to me, left the ring and even tried to get out of the facility. This is devastating to me. She didn't trust me enough to come to me when she was worried and scared. She just about got out of the door and in my opinion, she would have been gone. It makes me sick thinking about it.

I packed up and brought her home. She was happy and relaxed once at home. So now what happens? Well, I'm just not sure. I have decided to remove her from class for now. I started teaching her some nosework today.  She seemed to have a good time with that. For now, it will be something fun for her to do with me. I don't want her to be unhappy. I want her to LOVE whatever she does with me. If it means not doing agility, then so be it. Only time will tell...

Gem's progress 2...

     I started seriously training Gem in agility a few months ago. I needed to wait for her to be ready. It has taken time, lots of time. She is still immature, but I see flashes of what the grown-up Gem will look like every now and then. Gem is in no hurry. I have learned to step back and wait her out. This has not been easy for me. She isn't one to be pushed. She is a thinker. She needs to know how things work and tick before she commits. She isn't impulsive and she isn't one to be drilled. Early on, I tried to push her too hard too fast and I paid the price. She shut down and disconnected. Lesson learned. When I signed her up for a 2 hour workshop and she stayed focused and happy, I knew she was ready for real training again.

     So, I began again, only slowly and methodically and allowed her to set the pace. For some things, she likes to learn them quickly, for others, not so much. When I first tried to teach her weave poles, I tried the 2x2 method. I became frustrated with the lack of progress and her unwillingness to offer behaviors. I then tried the channel method, which was an epic failure as well. I stopped teaching her weaves again. What I realized was that she wasn't ready for this particular skill yet. So I focused on other skills and behaviors instead. Eventually, I went back to the 2x2 method, using Mary Ellen Barry's twist on it, which made more sense to me. With the guidance of Gem's instructor Donna Rohaus, we dove back into this method. It has taken several months, but she is finally doing 12 weaves with speed and drive.

     Her jumping foundations are coming along too. She easily gets bored with too much repetition, so I break it up with tugging and retrieving sessions. The lessons she has taught me have been hard won. She isn't like the boys. She is thoughtful, soft and sensitive. The boys are not any of these things, at least in agility. I can see her joy in jumping now, no longer tentative, but joyful and driven. I love that.

     Gem is being taught a running A-frame. At times, I think I'm crazy. I'm about to be 50 years old and a triathlete I am not. Her zest for learning this is infectious. She IS getting it and hits it more times now than not. As I have never taught this before, her missing it really doesn't bother me. She is figuring this out and I am so enjoying the process. I just hope I can keep up with her.

     I recently entered her into a few classes in Level 1 in a CPE trial. We still have lots of things to work on, but this showed me that I was on the right track in her training. She did qualify in several classes and got some ribbons, but that really wasn't the important part. The best was that she was happy, not stressed and having a great time playing the game with me.

     For now, it is back to training. I plan on running her in November in a few more CPE trials and maybe launching her into USDAA and ASCA too. More than anything, I want to enjoy the ride with her. I want her to stay happy. Titles don't really mean anything right now. Her enjoyment and confidence are my goals. The other stuff will come in time. I know that now. Gem is on her own timetable and I'm along for the ride. I plan on enjoying the journey with her...

A smiling, happy Gem

Gem's progress...

I only seriously started training Gem for agility within the last several months. When she was younger, I pushed too hard, too soon and she shut down on me. Lesson learned. I have had to wait until Gem is ready to be trained. She is soft and a real thinker. She needs to analyze everything for the most part until she commits to doing it. This is very different from the boys.

I have had to step back and examine how Gem learns and what the best ways are to plan training sessions with her. After months of training alone and with the occasional private lesson from Donna Rohaus, we finally got into a class taught by Donna. This has done her a world of good, for the most part. Also, being able to take her to other spaces to train has helped her confidence level. I don't expect her to be perfect, because Lord knows I certainly am not. I do expect her to try. This has been a problem in the past. She had a difficult time offering behaviors, but she seems to be more willing to do just that as she matures and becomes more confident.

Gem is learning a running A-frame, which is a blast to teach her. She is only getting better and better each time I train it. She is also learning 4 on for her teeter behavior and 2 on 2 off for her dogwalk. That may change as time goes on, but for now, these are my goals. She is also doing 12 weave poles as 6 and 6, separated by about 6 feet via the 2x2 method and Mary Ellen Barry's great Clean Run article. She is still rather Velcro when it comes to jumping, but her foundation is becoming more and more solid as we work it. Gem is sequencing only 3-4 obstacles, but it is a start.

My goal is to have her ready to trial in February or March 2014. I am planning on putting her in level 1 CPE jumpers in 2 trials at the end of this year to get her used to ring conditions. My goals are simple... to make sure she has fun, is stress free and that she stays in the ring with me. We have a long way to go for sure, but now I am positive we will get there...

Baby Gem at 8 weeks, April 2011

Gearing up...

We will be attending the USDAA Cynosport World Games in October. It will be Piper's last National competition. He is entered as a veteran and I am hoping to make the Veterans Showcase with him. They take the top 3 dogs in each veteran jump height. We get to compete in the team events of snooker, gamblers, standard and jumpers. We compete for ourselves and not with a team. This takes a great deal of pressure off of us both, well mainly me.

Piper by M. Nicole Fischer

Quite honestly, unless I let the pressure get to me, Piper could care less. It is up to me to keep my cool and make sure he has the best time EVER!

 

For Seeker, my goals are a bit different. He IS on a team, a fun and even possibly, competitive team. "Bordering On Golden" is the team name and consists of a Golden Retriever (Canon & Sally Peters), another Border Collie (Kilo & Helen Kurz) and Seeker & me. He is also entered in Bialthlon, Grand Prix and Steeplechase quarterfinals. I would really like to make at least semifinals in those and I would really like to make a good showing in Biathlon with him. My goal in our team classes are to not get an E. We aren't the fastest team, but we are consistent.

Seeker by David Rice

Training is taking precedence right now for Seeker, with some for Piper. At 10 1/2, Piper's skills are what they are, for good or bad. As long as I am where I need to be, when I need to be there, we can't go wrong. I have been working on tricky weave entrances for them both and backsides, threadles and serpentine jumps combos. I love training the boys. They are like comfy jeans and a sweatshirt, always right and always comfortable.

 

This will be our first RV adventure, but hopefully not our last. We are fortunate enough to have a good friend that is allowing us to borrow hers for the trip to Tennessee. It isn't big, but I am hoping it is far better than commuting back and forth the entire time from a motel. Everything is right there, including showers and restrooms. I'm just hoping we aren't stuck WAY in the back, miles from everything. I, for one, am looking forward to the trip with the hubby and the dogs.

 

The girls will be going too and they will also get to have some fun. The National Canine Cancer Foundation will be there with their Lure-For-A-Cure, so the girls can blow off some steam chasing the bunny a couple times a day. Ceilidh loved this in 2010 when we went to Kentucky and she slept like a log every night. I think her and Gem will have a blast!

 

In preparation, I am getting the boys on dirt for a couple of CPE trials. Since they only get to run mostly on turf, this will be good for them. Especially since it is a low key venue for us, I am looking to get some good work out of them both. Seeker is also entered in a DAM tournament in September, another good warm-up for us.

 

As it is Piper's last national event, it may be Seeker's as well, depending on logistics. Next year's Cynosport will be in California, definitely not doable, so we will just have to see where they are in 2015. I did not try to qualify Seeker for AKC Nationals, even though they are relatively close. While I like AKC, I have to travel to do CPE and USDAA, so a decision had to be made. Finances won't allow doing it all. Plus, I really wanted to have money to spend at Cynosport! Eye on the prize!!!

 

I love going to these types of competition because I get to see the best of the best. It is truly an education. Back to work for me and the boys so we can do our very best too...



Wonderings...

Piper turned 10 in April. At the beginning of 2013, I decided to drop him into the 16" class for all of his venues. He has had many medical challenges over the last 2+ years, luckily none of them involving injuries. But I know his body has had to deal with a great many issues so continuing to jump him at a higher height no longer seemed to be an option.

 

I truly love this dog and want to see him play agility for as long as he and his body would like to do so. It seemed logical to make this progression with him. Was it because he hit 10 and that was a magical number for me? No... it wasn't. It was because his body has taken lots of medical hits over the last couple of years. Anal sac ruptures, anal fistula, chronic constipation, immune and gastrointestinal issues, uveitis and food allergies have all left their mark on him. While most people don't see a 10 year old dog, I do and at time, I see one older than his years.

 

I still see dogs that are his age and older still competing in the higher heights. I wonder if and when these handlers will make this transition for their dogs. I'm sure I could have pushed Piper to continue jumping 20" or 22", but to what end? Everybody has to make a decision as to what is best for their own canine partner. For me and Piper, it was dropping him to 16" and going out and having fun for the rest of his career. We still have some goals to be met, like his CPE C-ATCH and I hope a trip to the Veterans Showcase at Cynosport this October. Dropping down doesn't mean giving up competition. For me, it means letting Piper be comfortable and competitive while having all the fun that he wants. THAT is the most important goal to be met. FUN!!!

 

Hug your dogs and have some fun!!!

 

Life is all about decisions...

It's true. Life is all about decisions we have to make every day of our lives. There are easy ones and difficult ones, but it is never just that black and white. I've had to make some decisions lately that have left me questioning myself and the validity of those decisions. One of them is ending the boys' AKC agility careers when that is the most prominent venue in the area. I have to travel to do anything else. I didn't realize just how much I would miss trial weekends until I haven't gotten to do very many. In truth, it is a financial decision as much as anything else. I can no longer afford to trial every weekend and since I must travel for USDAA and CPE, something had to give.

Decisions are in every part of our life. From what to have for breakfast each day, to how much money to put away for a rainy day. Another of my decisions has been to wait to have a puppy out of Seeker. My house is in balance now and adding a puppy with having 2 senior dogs with medical issues that don't have a tolerance for puppies is just a bad idea. But it doesn't stop me from continuing my search for the right bitch to either buy or lease to breed him to for my eventual pick.

 

Seeker is an exceptional example of the breed, in my opinion. He has everything I want in a working bred Border Collie. Yes, I am rather biased, but having lived with this dog for over 6 years, and after seeing his puppies born and grow, I have every reason in the world to be enamored of him. He is exactly what I want and SOMEDAY, I will have a son from him to carry on his wonderful legacy. So I wait until the time is right. Patience is not one of my strengths. I am not the only one that needs patience as I have a waiting list of people wanting one of Seeker's puppies. We all have to be patient. It isn't easy.

 

Decisions are never easy when they are really about something you want, but it is a necessary part of our lives. Until the right time comes, it is back to my existing life and making all those day to day decisions necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Switching gears...

It has been quite awhile since I did any formal obedience with the boys. I recently decided to enter them in an obedience and rally trial weekend held locally. Seeker had LOTS of obedience training when he was younger. Then we delved into the wonderful world of agility. The last time he did any rally was at the 2009 BCSA Nationals where he finished his Rally Novice (RN) title. Piper got to do rally over 2 years ago with a friend as I had been injured the day before the trial. He managed to squeak through for RAE leg #3 with her. So, it has been a long time for them both.

I entered them both in the rally trial on Friday and only Seeker in obedience the entire 3 days. Piper earned RAE leg #4 with respectable scores of 95 in Excellent B and 94 in Advanced B. Seeker surprised the heck out of me and won the Advanced A class with a 98! Whoa!!

Putting Seeker into the obedience ring in Novice B was a trial by fire. I had no idea if he would remember the training I did with him when he was younger. Never fear, he did. His scores were okay, not placement worthy, but for a dog I hadn't really trained in several years, I was pleased. Seeker is a character. His personality shines through no matter what he does. Being in the obedience ring was no different than any other activity we do. His personality jumps at you and his enthusiasm is infectious. I truly love this dog. He reminds me of our late, great Kastle... He too was a shining star even when our performance was less than stellar.

He missed some sits, lost focus from time to time, raced me on the fast and bounced me on the recall, but it didn't matter. Seeker had fun and that was all that mattered. It is interesting how much I have grown and changed as a trainer in the 25 years I have had Border Collies. With Kastle and Duncan, I was all about perfection. Questing for that perfect score of 200 was my primary goal. This weekend, I was more concerned that the boys had fun and the scores didn't really matter. Ribbons are nice, but green is a just as pretty a color as blue, red, gold or white. It is still about the journey and not the destination...

 

MACH ADCH ATCH Applegarth's Quest For The Grail CD, RN, PT, CGC, MXB, MJB, MXF,  TDInc, and then some...  "Seeker"

MACH Seeker!!!!!

I am woefully behind in my blogging. Poor Seeker... I didn't forget our MACH! Seeker earned his MACH at Mountaineer Kennel Club's trials on April 7, 2013. We went in to the weekend needing 3 QQs. I have never earned that many QQs with one dog in a 3-day weekend. I ended Piper's AKC career in February, so only Seeker made the trip with me. This turned out to be a very good thing.

On Friday, Seeker earned QQ #18 with placements. On Saturday, we earned QQ #19, also with placements. I did NOT want to become a member of the 19 or 19 1/2 club. I was hoping to finish his title without joining that club. On Sunday, I was nervous and didn't want to even jinx myself. I did everything the same, from what I ate for breakfast to where I parked at the trial. Yes, I can be very superstitious. This would be one of those times.

Our standard run wasn't without drama as Seeker turned wrong because I got behind, but the judge didn't call a refusal when he saved my butt and fixed the mistake. Whew! What a good boy!! When JWW came, I walked the course for the entire 8 minutes, plotting and planning. This was his kind of course! He did everything I asked him to do, hit the weaves with control and speed and there was only once that I raised my voice to him. I don't need to do that, but my nerves were showing. He sailed through the course, took the last jump and I screamed like a crazy person!! WE DID IT!!! We needed 3 QQs and we got ALL 3!!! He placed in 5 of his 6 runs!

Seeker is an awesome agility partner. He is consistent, athletic, and most of all LISTENS. He can reverse course and save my butt. He seems sometimes intuitive about a course. Most of all, he is an absolute joy to run. He has a blast every time he steps to the line.

I have many people to thank for our continued success. First, I have to thank his breeder, Terri Florentino (Shebaa Border Collies) for giving me the opportunity to have this boy in my life. Second, I have to thank Linda Husson for breeding her awesome Token to Terri's wonderful Meg and producing this gifted, talented and fabulous litter. Many thanks goes to our instructors, Donna Rohaus and Kim and Eric Wong, for helping us become a successful team. This is our third agility championship, with the other two being a USDAA ADCH and an ASCA ATCH.

While our AKC journey is over, we continue playing in USDAA and CPE. We are qualified to go to USDAA Nationals (Cynosport) and are looking forward to going to Tennessee this Fall. We continue working on Seeker's USDAA Bronze ADCH and his CPE C-ATCH. As long as he is having fun, we will keep playing the game.  The videos below are of his MACH runs... The second one is just his JWW run and has my crazy, screaming celebration! I am a goofball... but he still loves me. Thank you Seeker! I love you to the moon and back!!!

Down the homestretch...

Seeker by Cindy Noland

Seeker is in the homestretch towards his MACH. Only 3 more QQs to go! I am hoping that he does the same thing Piper did and skips the whole "19" and "19 1/2" clubs. This will be his 3rd agility championship to date. We are also working on his USDAA Bronze ADCH and his CPE C-ATCH. When he's older, we'll go back and pick up his USDAA PDCH too. Although AKC is the most prevalent and accessible locally, it isn't my favorite. USDAA has that place and I look forward to competing at Cynosport with him again. I am hoping to get on a competitive team who wants to have fun! My guess it that this will be our last agility national for any venue because I have other things I want to do with him, including getting him back to herding lessons. He enjoys agility, but he doesn't eat, sleep and dream it like Piper does. He does that with herding... So onward and upward towards that MACH!

Gem turns 2!!

Gem at 9 weeks

Gem turns 2 years old today... I can't believe that she is already 2. As the old cliche' says... Where has the time gone? In the last 2 years, I've learned a great deal about Gem. She has made me a better, more patient trainer. I found out that in the beginning, I pushed her too hard and too fast to learn what I wanted her to learn. This caused Gem to stop trying when she wasn't right the first time, disconnect from me, and relieve her own stress by grabbing a toy and running away. It got so bad that I thought she might do better with someone else. I wanted her to be happy.

Gem at 2 years

So, I had to figure out how to teach Gem without
overwhelming her. I had to go back to square one
and begin anew. She is soft... very soft. She is still immature, but is slowly growing up. She likes to think about things and doesn't readily offer behaviors. I had to teach her that it was okay to guess and even if she wasn't always correct, it was okay to keep trying. She's gotten much better since I came to the realization that she needed me to teach her differently. It isn't because she is a female. It is because of who she is and how she learns. We have made leaps and bounds of progress since I changed my tactics with her. She still doesn't like to be wrong, but she now understands that it's okay to be wrong and try again. She still doesn't offer multiple behaviors, but she IS trying and she is much more relaxed with guessing incorrectly.

She loves to "perch". Now that I am teaching her a 2 on 2 off behavior for the dogwalk and teeter, she is learning that she needs to use her back feet. Her first try was amusing. She put her front feet on the board, smiled and wagged her tail. Ta da! Oops... not quite what I wanted. Instead of her shutting down, I lured her into position and clicked. I could see her wheels turning. I tossed a piece of cheese away from the board and she stepped over it, placing her back feet on it. I clicked and treated her for getting it right. She was happy, relaxed and having a blast. I don't drill her. She does a few repetitions and we move on to something new or something she already knows. This is what works for us.

I am looking forward to someday competing with her in agility. I had to give myself a reality check when I started seeing dogs younger then her competing this year. Well, I don't have equipment in my yard, I work another job, so our time will come. It may not be for another year or more and that's okay. I know we will still go through learning curves, but I hope when we do start competing, she will be mature and hopefully won't go through the baby dog stuff I see with other dogs. I know I will make mistakes. However, I know that we are building a wonderful relationship and that she is having fun while she is learning. That is the most important thing to me.

Happy Birthday to our little Gem! We love you so much and we are so happy to be your family. Thank you Vickie for choosing her for us. She is so loved!!









Losses

Piper

Recently, over the last few days and weeks, quite a few dogs have been lost, most due to illness or old age or even both. In truth, it scares me. Each birthday brings me closer to my own loss. Our dogs are on earth for such a short time. My goal is to make their lives as wonderful as possible while they are here. I have always prided myself in finding what the dogs love to do, and pursuing it with gusto. Piper's joy is agility. I would love to see him be able to do agility until the day he dies, but I know at some time, I will have to retire him from the sport he so dearly loves. After a friend lost his litterbrother at the age of 8 to cancer, every day with Piper is precious. At this time, I can't imagine my life without him in it... his smile, his snoring, his hugs, his snuggles, his woo-wooing, his zest for life. I just can't imagine him not being here.

His soul his old and wise beyond his years... His eyes are the very mirror into that soul. He has the most honest eyes I have ever encountered. Piper doesn't lie. When he is happy, the world knows it. When he is unhappy, the world knows that too. He tells it like it is. If he loves you, he does it with his whole self. He has never met anyone he hasn't loved. He's charming. Even people who don't like dogs seem to like Piper. In that, he reminds me of the late, great Kastle... Kastle could charm just about anybody. Piper is the same way.

Most people, if they are lucky, have one once-in-a-lifetime dog. I have been blessed to say that each and every one of my dogs has the distinction of being that. Each dog has their own personality and temperament. Each dog has their own way of being in my heart. Each one of them is my heart dog. Some are a bit more special than others, but no more loved. Each dog has a different purpose in life. Each dog is here for a different reason. I do believe that dogs come in to our lives for a special purpose and reason. If we open our hearts and minds to the lessons they have to teach, we are raised above being normal humans. We are the chosen that have the unconditional love that only a dog can give.

Each day is a gift. Each step to the line is a gift. I cherish every single moment. My heart is heavy for my friends that have endured recent losses of their dogs. I hope they are able to see through the pain of the loss and bring forward the sweet memories. I hope that I can remember that when it is my turn. Until then, I will so completely enjoy every minute of every day with these special sentient beings...

Age is only a number...

Piper's 1st perfect CPE weekend

Piper will be 10 in April. I've noticed that he is slowing down, but still keen for the game of agility. I have been thinking about retiring him from agility and letting him do rally or another less strenuous retirement sport. Somehow, I don't think he would put up with my decision. This past weekend, he earned his very first perfect CPE weekend, qualifying 10 of 10 runs with 6 firsts, 2 seconds and 2 thirds running in Veterans. He is jumping 16" in most venues, with a rare venture into 20" or 22". He qualified for CPE Nationals at the 20" jump height and since he is only running a few runs a day over several days, I'm okay with him competing there at that height. He still needs one more Performance Relay Pairs Q towards his LAA Bronze in USDAA where he must jump 22". Since it's only 1/2 of a course, I'm okay with this too. I see how comfortable and happy he is running at 16".

I worry about him, I won't lie. He gets regular chiropractic care, acupuncture and massage therapy too. These people are integral in keeping not only him, but all of the dogs healthy. They all know them probably as well, or close to it, as I do. I worry that his rear will weaken like I've seen so many dogs do and he won't physically be able to play agility any longer. My "team" thinks I worry too much. I probably do. These dogs are here for such a short time, that I want to make sure that I do everything possible to keep them happy and healthy while they are here on earth.

As long as Piper wants to play, we will do just that. Ribbons are nice, but his smile, wagging tail and woo-wooing is the best reward for me. There may come a day that he is no longer able to play the game, but I hope that day is far away. Until then, we'll just keep having fun.

Gem is learning!

Gem is learning every day. She is really a joy to work with and I am happy she is so willing to learn new things. When she was younger, I made the mistake of pushing her too hard, too fast. This shut her down. It made her tune me out and disconnect from me when I attempted to train her. She is not the either of the boys. She is a different personality and temperament. She is soft and easily frustrated. Although Piper is soft, he readily tries and offers behaviors and keeps on trying. Gem did not. If she was wrong, she stopped trying and disconnected. Most of it I caused. Some of it was just her personality. So I have continually worked on bettering our relationship and teaching myself to tune in to her and how she learns. This has truly been successful. While we certainly aren't ready for any type of competition, we are working on solidifying our relationship and teamwork. I hope that when we are ready, that curve will not happen because we will already be a team.

 

She is soft and quite the little perfectionist. She wants to be right. I have worked on instilling in her, that it's okay to TRY. The world won't come to an end if she isn't right. This process is slow. We are taking the proverbial baby steps. If she is incorrect and offers other behaviors, she is encouraged and we party when she hits the right one. She thinks this is just great! How do I know that what I am doing is working? The little video I have attached is proof. Her willingness, wagging tail, treat eating and happy attitude is proof that I am on the right track.

 

Every day is a new adventure. While other people with dogs much younger than her are already competing, we are not and we won't be ready any time soon. It is up to me to be patient. I am in no hurry. Good things come to those that wait and she is definitely a very good thing...



Planning for the future...

Seeker by Candace Lang Photography

Several months ago, I made the decision to have Seeker's semen collected. Shortly after that, he developed prostatitis and his future as a stud dog was in jeopardy. After a course of antibiotics, he recovered nicely, but I had no idea whether or not his illness had taken his fertility. I had to wait several months to have him evaluated and collected. Time to hopefully regenerate...

I had heard of Straws To Paws from Washington, NJ where we decided to ultimately take Seeker. Dr. Mary and Debbie were awesome. They know their business and Seeker had a great experience. He got the chance to flirt with a pretty little black tri Sheltie girl as a bonus. I was thrilled to see that he had plenty of swimmers on the slide that Dr. Mary showed me. My fears of him being sterile were quickly put to rest. The whole procedure was fast and efficient and we were soon on our way home to PA.

On the drive home, I received a phone call from Debbie about Seeker's samples. They did well in the freezing process, but his motility was 50%, which meant that we would need 4 straws for a breeding. His 12 straws gives us 3 potential breedings. His lower motility could be a lingering effect from his prostatitis or it could be because he hasn't been used for stud for awhile. Regardless, I will have him collected again in the very near future so that I have at least 5 or more potential breedings stocked away.

This is important to me and my breeding program. While he is not what some breeders want for a stud dog, he is my ideal... His structure, temperament, stamina, working ability, health clearances, trainability make him an excellent example of the breed in my opinion. He is looser-eyed, but has tons of power. I couldn't ask for more.

Right now, I'm not in a position to add another puppy. With Piper pushing 10, Ceilidh 8, Seeker 6 and Gem turning 2, I have my hands full. God forbid that something would happen to Seeker and his breeding potential be lost. I've seen it happen before and I didn't want it to happen to me. At some time in the future, I will find him a nice girl, that is his equal or better. Whether I have to lease or buy a girl is yet to be decided, but even if Seeker is gone, I still have a piece of him. That is tremendously important to me. I want a son from him someday. That became possible today, come what may.

Until that day comes, I have planned the best I can for carrying on Seeker's legacy... and now back to our regular programming and life. :)

Reflections... 2012

This has been a roller coaster year for us, filled with ups and downs. It was also a year of Championships... Piper and I finished 2 in agility... his USDAA PDCH (Performance Dog Champion) and FINALLY, his AKC MACH (Master Agility Champion). His PDCH was completed quietly, and steadily in less than a year. His MACH has taken us MUCH longer, but we finally did it with QQ #20 on September 29! Just when I thought we would never reach that number, Piper showed me that I needed to keep the faith. His last 3 QQs went by all in a row.

 

Seeker was no slouch either while he and I completed 2 as well... his ASCA ATCH (Agility Trial Champion) and his USDAA ADCH (Agility Dog Champion). Both titles needed Gambler Qs to complete. Seeker has never been a confident Gambler dog, but after some much needed help, he has just nailed his gambles in all the venues we compete in. To prove this, he finished his AKC Master FAST title too. Good boy...

His herding training was going very well last winter and spring, but agility season soon engulfed our time and money. Until I become independently wealthy and can afford to do it all, some things just have to wait their turn.
 

 

Gem has grown up to be a sweet LITTLE girl... all 17.5" and 26 lbs. of her. She is very soft and working with her has presented many challenges for me. She is helping me to grow as a trainer, exploring alternatives to help her gain confidence and begin to love learning. She is a little perfectionist. She doesn't like to be wrong. She has never been much of a foodie, but her love of food is still growing. She does  love her toys, but those aren't always appropriate for what I want to teach her. So, I am being patient, fostering our relationship, finding what makes Gem tick and what makes her happy. Time is on our side, and that, we have plenty of right now. I had hoped to eventually breed her, but her diminuitive size and possible risks to her health or even life, had me make the decision to spay her. Her growth plates were closed at 11 months of age, so she was spayed just before she turned 1. It was a difficult decision for me, but I still think it was the right one. It wasn't because I didn't want a puppy from her, because I so did, but it was because I love her too much to let anything happen to her.

 

 

Ceilidh has blossomed as a big sister. She truly loves her little sister, Gem. I didn't get to do much nosework with her formally, because of my work schedule, but she still likes to play the game at home for cookies. I am hoping that I can get her back in to formal classes and maybe even trial her at some point. She is, however, content to hang out at home, chase her tennis ball, herd Piper, play bitey face with Gem and just generally be the princess that she is. She enjoys going to agility trials with us and just hanging out with her Daddy and little sister while the boys and me do all the work.


We have endured some illnesses with the boys... a repeat of Piper's anal sac ruptures, leading us to believe that he had a more encompassing food allergy. While his vet was on a working trip to China, he ruptured again and got very ill, very quickly. Luckily, the other vet in the practice set things right with meds as I removed all grain and all things feathered from his diet. Currently, he is on a 6 fish based food, off of all grains and is also taking a Chinese herb to keep things in check. He is happy and healthy.


Seeker hasn't been immune to illness either. After bringing Pip back in to be bred unsuccessfully, I knew something was not quite right with him. Unfortunately, he had a battle with prostatitis, which was cleared up by a course of antibiotics. I decided to have him evaluated and collected in 2013 because I don't have a bitch on the horizon to breed him to so I can keep a pup. He is worthy, in my eyes, to carry on the breed. He is a talented working dog, an accomplished agility dog, with a great structure and temperament. He is exactly my ideal Border Collie. I really love what he produced in his first litter and when I breed him again, I want to keep a legacy from him. I wish people would see what I see in him. He is not too big for an agility dog. He has speed and covers the ground with his long stride. He is successful in multiple venues. It could be when his kids begin hitting the ring, someone may take notice of what he can offer a breeding program. Until then, I will collect him for the future. Because, you just never know and I don't want to lose the opportunity to have a puppy of his for my own.


Ceilidh managed to be seizure free from January 28 until December 30. We are very pleased with this as it is the longest time she has gone seizure free. Her neurology vet says that many of his epilepsy patients give him ulcers... thankfully Ceilidh does not. We've found the right mix of meds for her and we continue to monitor her progress. We were hoping that her epilepsy had gone in to remission, but sadly, that hasn't happened for her right at this point. But we always remain hopeful...


Personally, things have been rough. My job continues to be a serious source of stress. Although I now have a "permanent" schedule, that hasn't taken the pressure off of me. As a matter of fact, it seems to be worse now. I need to make a change... soon. I can't do EMS forever. My body won't allow it. My spirit won't allow it either. Seeing death on a regular basis wears me down... mind, body and spirit. But there are good moments too. Like when a patient laughs or smiles because of something I've said or done for them. That too, makes me smile.


 My training classes are a work in progress. I AM a very good instructor. I am great at problem-solving, a product of my strong obedience background. I continue to offer classes in the hopes that I can get a steady stream of students. My workshops are well attended so that gives me hope. I want to expand my offerings to include freestyle, obedience, rally and of course, agility. I want to see handlers and dogs foster wonderful relationships in whatever they choose to do. Dogs are my passion and my life. 


Looking back at the past year, I can say that it has been a good one in many ways. I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for me. Changes... they are coming. For good, or for bad, change is a necessary part of life. I am anxious to see where life will take us...


Happy New Year to all!! May you discover your passion and follow your dream!