Piper and growing older...

Piper by Cindy Noland

It both amazes and scares me that Piper will be 9 in April. Yes, he has slowed down a bit and yes, like me, he has his aches and pains. But "His Nibs", as we fondly call him, still thoroughly enjoys the game of agility.  I love the options we have available to us as he ages. After finishing his USDAA ADCH and the USDAA Nationals in 2010, I dropped him to Performance and 22". At the same time, I dropped him to his normal jump height in AKC which is 20" after running him his whole career at 24". He loves the lower jump heights and can still rock a course with speed. He no longer has to worry about jumping 24" or 26". He has adjusted very well to the lower heights and I know it is so much better for his body. And as he continues to age, we have even lower options in different venues, so as long as he is healthy and wants to play the game, we can.
     He gets chiropractic, massage and now acupuncture as a regimen for his health and well-being. I should take as good care of myself. He feels good, he is fit and conditioned and he has me watching over him, making sure he stays that way. This past weekend, he slipped and crashed a jump in JWW. The bar got caught between his front legs and must have given him quite a stinger. He took the last jump, celebrated, then lifted his right front leg and whimpered. Piper is very stoic... so for him to limp and cry, it had to hurt. I picked him up, sans leash, and carried him back to our crating area. Everyone was so concerned for his welfare... I love my agility friends! His shoulder and leg were immediately iced and his Back On Track jacket put on him. After Seeker's run, I took Piper out and walked him around a bit. He wasn't limping, but his shoulder was warm. I let him jump 12" and he stutter-stepped before jumping. He was sore, that was for sure.
     I love that I have many tools at my disposal to help out my canine athletes. The Back On Track jacket was the best investment. Piper received more ice, massage and a Chinese herb blend called Body Sore. He slept in his BOT jacket as well. In the morning, he dashed down the stairs as if his crash the day before was a distant memory. I was relieved to say the least. Once at the trial, I warmed him up, jumping him at his regular 20" and he was fine. Before his Standard run, I asked my friends to watch him carefully for signs of lameness. I knew that when he hit the 3rd obstacle ( the A-frame ), that would be the place he might show a problem. He hits the A-frame with force, too much for my liking, but I have never been able to re-train him to do the obstacle any other way. He got the first half of his 14th QQ with a 3rd place and no signs of soreness. Later that day, he got the second half of his QQ with a Q in JWW... He also ran Time 2 Beat for the first time, and although he dropped a bar with an ill-timed rear cross on my part, he ran with enthusiasm, fun and without any problems.
     I am his guardian. I know him better than anyone. And it is up to me to make sure he stays as happy and healthy as I can possibly keep him for as long as I can. I want him to be able to play his favorite game for many more years to come. I fully expect to be running him in agility when he is 12 or 13, or for as long as he wants to and physically can. It is truly a joy to be his partner and we are growing old together... I kinda like it that way.