Channeling Pyerun

So, took dogs coursing this weekend, was a HUGE event, with 23 Borzoi each day. Ran Focus for Bonnie yesterday, and she placed 2nd in a full+ stake of open Borzoi. Boy, I miss having a keen, fast young dog to run. And she's a nice dog to deal with.

Today, Bonnie went with me, and I entered Grins in Veterans, and First was entered in her JC. It was muddy and cold, and disgusting, perfect Borzoi running weather.

Grins had a BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAST!!! The LO who saw him when he was young said he looked really good, and he did, keen, on the bunny, not much cutting. He changed that in Finals, by catching the bunny after cutting across the field. LOL

Focus came away with a 5 point 1st place in another full Open, pleasing Bonnie pink, picking up 8 points in 2 days of running. So we ran for BOB with the FC stake. . and Grins showed he was channeling Pyrerun with a twist. He caught the bunny, he restarted the BOB runoff THREE times. . .damn dog, LOL. . .he doesn't just catch it, he catches it behind his molars. THREE times today he outsmarted the LO LOL. He didn't win BOB(That went to dear Focus), but the Judge said if there'd been a column for outsmarting the LO, he'd've gotten the extra points LOL

Too bad Wiz wasn't there JOHN!! LOL

heart pets

Heart dogs are not made, they are born. You can't craft them, or mold them, or create them, only the powers that we can't see can. It doesn't matter who you believe in up and above, one god or multiple gods, or the fates, or the great sun god, they craft and create and gift these wonderful creatures.

I thought I was blessed with Schatzi. This cat knew me, and owned my soul. I didn't have him anywhere near as long as I should've, only twelve and a half short years. I lost him 6 yrs ago end of next month, and still miss him terribly. Schatzi was my best buddy, was always there when I needed to talk, always there to snuggle. Where I went, Schatzi went. .and when I lost him, my heart broke. . .

And a little brindle borzoi stepped into the huge shoes he left. .Obie didn't replace Schatzi, he just helped me heal. I remember coming home from putting Schatzi down, and Obie leapt onto the bed to give him his Obie hug. Obie was my lil man, and helped me thru some absolutely horrid times. . I call this photo "i'll wait for you mom", and it made me cry earlier today, I miss him so damn much. My silly happy toy dog. .

And now the Fates have given me Gossip. . .she is my pride and joy, and definitely my baby girl. I am most definitely happiest when I'm working with her, whether it's watching her race the wind down the LGRA track, or working her with agility or obedience. She has helped me heal and get over the last few years, and keeps me going. Her exhuberance for life is only outdone by her love for her people. She doesn't quite fit the hole Obie left in my heart when i lost him, but she tries her damndest and proudly wears the mantel of his successor.

I love all my animals, and cry and mourn all their deaths as well as love all the current ones deeply but heart dogs weasle themselves deeper than love, they're part of you, part of your heart and soul, they have their claws wrapped into your heart and dig deep, so when you lose them, it's more than just grief. . if you've never owned a heart dog or cat, you just don't understand, at all, what the loss means. . I'm blessed to've been given three of them, and treasure and love them all still so much.

I just hope I have Ms Gossip for a long long time, since my record with heart animals seem to lose them to cancers way before their time.

The weekend is here

The first snow of the season has come and now it's gone. if I hadn't seen it coming down, I'd've never've known it had fallen. Damn this year has gone fast, can't believe Thanksgiving is next week.

Today's going to be a lot of fun as well as exciting. There are currently 13 borzoi entered, not sure if John or Mary is goign to show up, but could pop that up to 5 points each day. But even so, with Novel, Indigo, Gossip & Focus, will make for some exciting running. Will be interesting to see how Focus matches up against everyone, and if we can get Carrot to box, him too. . May take Tip tomorrow and work on her with the box so she can come out.

Funny, got told the rumor mongers are at it again, accusing me of AVOIDING competition because I wasn't willing to drive 22 hrs to the nationals. Yep, that's why I contacted FOUR different people offering to pay them a nice chunk of change towards gas if they would take Gossip for me, Nancy had already offered to take her off their hands, keep her for the weekend, and return her to them for the trip home. One of them didn't go due to the cost (Snoopy only does Straights, really not worth the cost for one day of racing), and Carol & Robin didn't have the extra room in their car for Gossip to fit, and Jaime wasn't sure she was going until the last minute. . but because Gossip didn't go, I'm AFRAID of them . .bah, they're full of sh*t. Tho I'm glad I didn't WASTE my money, as it was only a 12 dog meet. .sad for the Midwest for a National

If I was AVOIDING competition, I wouldn't've gone to the Nationals last year, ya know, the one that put my bitch up for 7 months with an injury?

Once again I offer them (Since I know they read this blog), put your money where your mouth is. You travel all over the South to go coursing, have no problems in fact doing that, so come on up here. I, OTOH, have physical issues that keep from doing it. I just can't do all night driving sessions and sleeping a few hours in my car is not an option with my health.

National's'll be up this way next year, come on up! If you think I should travel in your direction to run, you know, the door goes both ways, you should be able to handle driving up here. And since at least three people ya'll talk to have seen Gossip run and SAID she deserves her accolades, maybe ya should listen to them.

Come on up, I'd love for her to have some more FAST competition. If I was AVOIDING it, there's no way in hell I'd be taking First, Focus & Carrot out, and encouraging Wizard out and hoping Bartleby will come. Nor would I send out mass invitations to come on out. AVOIDING it would be going to NH or MN where there's no Borzoi running lOL And I've NEVER been one to do that crap!

Addictions

As I sit here at 0 Dark thirty, i wonder what kind of masochistic gene makes us performance people get up so damn early, to go play in the pouring rain.

It is pouring out
It is cold out.

A smart person would turn over and go back to bed.but noooooooooo LOL, true performance people aren't smart, we're addicted. Generally it's a safer addiction, you won't die of lung cancer, or kill your liver, but it's still an addiction LOL I don't drink, I don't smoke, so guess I have to have some sort of vice LOL

It's just over 4 hrs, nothing i haven't done before, used to get up this early and be on the road at 4 to make coltsneck(5 hrs). Giving myself plenty of time, as I've never done this event before, and don't want to be late because I got lost.

I hate mornings LOL

Off to get my caffeine.

Rally-o!

I am so tickled

Gossip is now returning to heel on both sides with a hand signal and a word(Flip to return on left, swing for return on right). She's nto doing her flashy FLIP flip, but she's doing it :)

One task down, now to work on her straight sits :) Maybe we can make a good show in a few weeks!

Got AAA for the Zoimobile, and getting ready for the WEEKEND!!

Be the wolf

One of the things I love most about Gossip is her wonderful personality. Here she is above, being the wolf to her younger cousins(All three pups shown here are about 2, and are out of/by Races sib/half sibs). She gets them running and playing, and rarely has a snarky word to say to them.



Last night Kari was over with her Whiplet & AM, and as usual we went down to the front field, Bonnie with Surya in tow. . .what's interesting is watching Gossip interact with dogs. With Surya she played get the wolf, let's try and throw Surya to the ground, like Borzoi play, football style, with the Whiplet, she plays I'm goign to outrace you. Even Bonnie commented on her different playing style, definitely gentler with the 25 lb whippie. . .she's such a good girl

First

For Nancy :)

First is Sammy's sib and has been living in the shadow of Sammy & Hay Luz, who've been doing really well in the field. Their mother is Ravenwolf Midsummer Flyte, LCM2, their father is DC Mielikki's Kind of Magic SC, LCM, SGRC, ORC. I nabbed her last week and took her racing, she's bullheaded to the Nth degree, but otherwise a very sane dog to run. DOesn't have her father's speed, but has his nice nature running, and both her parent's keeness on the bunny. And truly a wonderful personality since she'd never been in the Zoimobile AKA Sardine can, and didn't give me a bit of problem

She has the world's cutest little face, and is a lovely bitch. Definitely one I wouldn't mind calling my own.

She'll be out running some more with me this fall. She got 1/4 GRC point last week, not much in the scheme of things, but until her faster kennel mates get out of the way, she's going to be the bridesmaid :) But since she's a great dog to run, not yanking or pulling, she's a welcome addition to the pack

relax

And that's what I did this weekend.

Reba has been sound, but decided to come into season this weekend, two weeks early, thought of still going coursing, but this cold from PVBC's specialty dunking is still lingering, so why bother? Kinda wish I'd gone, was a huge entry, but oh well, not enough money to go around

So spent it enjoying dogs, especially Brat. . Love this bitch, a lot. Got her entry off for her next Rally show, and wishing there was yet another before the end of the year, but nope, not that we don't have plans for.

This is Kyra's great granddaughter, reminds me of her uncle Eros, a lot, sweet girl.

It's too dark to see, but it's Gossip being a twit(I wanted her to stand on the dog house) saying hi to her cousin First, who wasn't sure what Gossip was doing up on that DAWG house, you're not supposed to be ON it LOL

Touchet looked absolutley lovely in all the gold leaves this weekend. Wish all Borzoi were as spry & bouncy as she is at almost 10.

Dei showing her Mountain Goat Genes. .we can't keep her off the dog houses LOL

Got home today and worked Dei on Rally, since she's my next project, and doesn't have quite as far as El Dork* does. She's not bad, not as happy to work as Gossip, but it's conceivable we can get her RN, we'll be trying this winter. .at least the indoor shows I won't have to battle for her attention with the squirrels LOL

*AKA Grins :)

Got on line to see Payton had picked up yet another point, first time out with his new owner, so I'm tickled for him. All the boys but Dandy(who's neutered) are pointed, Reba's pointed in the field, and Kani'll be going out with Kari this winter, to see if we can build her confidence up. She's a lovely bitch, drives me nuts to see her so submissive

Strangeness of fall

WTF? I just picked yet another bunch of tomatos off my plants. .it's almost the middle of NOVEMBER, and they're still popping off tomatos. . unfortunately the big tomatos were a failure, but the cherry and grape ones were a HUGE success, so I will just plant those next year. . and not so many of them either.

It's warm out, but overcast. . .some strange ass weather.

A quiet day at home. .was going to go coursing, but with Reba having come up lame last week and feeling under the weather, decided nah. . just stay home, relax, and prepare to drive next week as well as figure out who's going.

Got a note that First picked up 1/4 point last week. Not much in the scheme of things, but considering who she's running against, they'll have to finish before she can start getting more points. So making my list of who's going next week: Gossip, Wizard, Focus probably and ? . . .not sure. .LVCC & Cobra look like they're goign to be huge entries if every shows up. . .including at least one dog from the Midwest :) Can't wait

Found a local rally show, and sending in my entry now for Ms Gossip, who's been working on 'fixing' what she's 'poor at'. .mainly her sits need to be straighter. Considering this show is only like 20 mins away, just couldn't resist. And started working with Dei again. . .she's not as much fun as Gossip, as she doesn't enjoy working, but she does know how to do everything except the return to heel, so we'll work on it.

Got information on another training place in town, this place holds agility & rally funmatches once a month, so you know what I'll be doing this winter :) Getting Gossip ready for the agility ring next year :)

Was neat to see so many Mir(KyraX Blaze) descendents do so well at the LGRA/NOTRA nationals. . wishing I could afford to fly Gossip out to Colorado to run against them. yeah, money grows on trees, NOT!!!

Maigc redux & AKC's stupidity

Whomever said dogs are good for your health, never tried to box an obstinate Borzoi.

All I can say is oh my aching back.

But boy were there some nice races

With Bonnie’s blessing, took three of her up and coming kiddos racing with me: Focus & Carrot, littermates to Wizard & Bartleby that’s been doing so well, and First, littermate to Sammy who’s been burning up the Southeast. Was going to take Bagheera, but he's such a moose, he takes up waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much room in the Zoimobile.

The girls were WONDERFUL, although First is very pigheaded when she doesn’t want to do something(like go in the car, go in the xpen, listen to me. .LOL), boxed decently(none of them saw the box before this weekend), ran really well. Were really good girls.

Carrot didn’t break well first race, but 2nd he was great, and showed some awesome promising speed, unfortunately he tied with First when it came time to redo the board and since she was in highpoint, she stayed there, as I wanted to see him run against Gossip. And this is when stubborn with a capital S came thru when he refused to box, backed out with such force he threw me to the ground, on my back. . ouch. . .took both “Old John*” & I to box the little sucker, and he ended up in there backwards. . .you don’t let them learn they can win. . .they’ll fight harder next time, learned that one with Eros. . box opened, and he lost the race because he took his time coming out, he did finish the race, which is good, but little bugger has got to learn to box better. .amazing two of his siblings have boxed fine, just not him. Losing that race cost him his points and earned him the turtle. .brat child.

Unfortunately Lil John* wasn’t able to drag his butt out of bed to go with us. . John, if you’re having this much trouble now in your 20s, you’re in trouble when you’re in your 40s LOL. Will have to steal Wizard the next time I go out to make sure he gets to run LOL. I want good competition at the races! :) If it means taking great young dogs with me, so be it!

Oatlands is a great place to hold an event, too bad the cost of renting it is inhibitive($400 a weekend). MAIGC lost money big time this weekend. I feel so bad for Terri, she tries so hard, but club members have to step in. .if they’d been able to hold in in Nj, they’d’ve had a bigger entry.

Met some lovely people this weekend, Beth with Mokie(what a hairball!), and a number of Iggy people who have now joined Gossip’s fan base LOL. . .Obie had his people, but it’s amazing how many people Gossip’s won over to the breed. Even got the email from one lady as there’s yet another OB group in town, who runs rally/Agility fun matches once a month, wahoo!! J Gossip & I have things to do this winter. . .

Haven’t heard the results for NOTRA Nationals, but did get the LGRA one, five of the top 6 Borzoi went back to Obie’s brother Mir, all six went back to Blaze. Unfortunately Sammy hurt himself and so was his Mom and thus was pulled from Notra. He placed a respectable 3rd in LGRA tho. Sounds like it was MUCH better ran than last year’s event. Next year’s’ll be out this way, and I can’t wait!

Was told that AKC was doing away with Veterans stake, and been trying to find that out. Search of AKC's website has found nothing. if they do that, they're cutting off their nose to spite their face. . and going to cost themselves and clubs money. . push judges to give more NQ's in all stakes, and make the rules harder so that those who revel in playing with the loopholes can't, but don't take away Veterans. .they'll just use a different stake to play their stupid little piss ass games in. Dropped them a note, but haven't heard back from that either. . thing this big, if it's true, you'd think it'd've hit one of the lists, but it's been ssshhh.

Well, that's it, quiet week, may take First coursing this weekend, Reba's lame. . we'll see. . .:P

*it’s not an insult. .we have three Johns at some events, so we’ve labeled them Old John, Big John & little John LOL to differentiate between them when they are all there. Gets too confusing when they all turn and go what!?!?! LOL

the joy of Gossip

Dogs are such funny creatures.

Gossip is a very finicky toy dog. . sometimes she'll pick out her prize at race meets, othertimes she ignores them. . and if she plays with them, it's never for long. My bedroom is riddled with various dog toys I've bought her, and she doesn't play with them, same thing with bones, she doesn't chew them.

BUT.

Take said toy, or said bone down stairs, and she's a brat LOL Maybe 'sibling' rivalry is good for something. . I swear she raids Surya's toy box just to annoy him. . .or plays with her own toys just to annoy him. . i bought her a spider that she played with at the store, because Surya was there. . but ignored it in the bedroom, brought it downstairs, and she was racing around the house with it, with him in hot pursuit. .I don't bring hers down often, as they have a tendancy to break(where his never breaks unless Great Uncle Aster comes in LOL). Same thing with a rawhide, she'll race around with it, with him trying to get it away from her. And when she lies down to chew on it, he stares at her. . I'm so glad they can't talk, I can hear them now.

"MOM!!! She took my toy!!!""MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!! He's staring at me!!!"
"MOOOOOOOOM!! She won't share!"

It's also funny watching them if they both have a bone. .if one gets up, to get a drink or a scritch, the other will move over to chew on that bone. The first will go back and take up the other's bone. . with nary a growl . .BUT bring another dog into the equation,a nd forget it. Tilly came in the other night and walked by Surya, who growled LOL

Last Sunday I came in with Umbra's prize he won by going Best in sweeps. .it was a stuffed fox, he's NOT a toy dog at all. .Gossip tore it out of my hand, and out of nowhere came Mr Surya to grab the poor fox by the tail. . LOL I got it away from him, and Gossip bolted threw the gate towards bed, with Surya in hot pursuit. She bolts up the stairs and I swear as soon as she heard the gate latch shut, locking Surya in the living room, she dropped it and wanted nothing to do with it. LOL. Brat, only wanted it as long as Surya wanted it. .

what a little shit LOL

Last night she came in, and grabbed a toy and started playing with it, even tho it didn't squawk. .can toyness rub off on a dog?

The weekend

Wrote this last night, and forgot to post

Brrr, where did fall go? WE keep bouncing between summer (warm and sunny) and winter(cold & rainy). Makes for miserable people, that’s for sure.

Looking to be a nice weekend, small meet, but nice entry. Trying to get Jim to come down with HIS dawg(Tipp), but he finds straights boring. At least with a small meet, I can get in lots of box breaking, Bagheera & First are going, FTE’s, and taking Eros to work box with him. . .maybe I can get him where he’ll stop fighting the box. Would be nice. . getting him into shape to hit the coursing field some this winter. And working with Grins on rally stuff. . he’s such a DORK!!!!!!

Watching Snoopy & Jammin fight it out for #1 is so exciting, and the sportsmanship between the two owners is wonderful . . They cheer each other on, may the best dog win. . .it’s going to come down to the finish line this year with those two. . .both nice dogs, so have a hard time cheering one on over the other. Would love to see a ‘match’ race with Gossip & Jammin, just to see how much he beat her by. . .problem with her is the head games she likes to play LOL. I’ll only go as fast as I have to go, and not an iota more. .drives Karen & Michelle nuts when they’re running the lure. . .OTOH, means she’s a smart dog. Can’t wait to see how Bagheera & First rate next to her, and next time it’ll be Focus & Carrot and maybe Tip, she can be such a pita to catch, so not sure I want to take her.

Unfortunately the dog I had wanted to breed Gossip to is out. . .won’t go into it here, but he’s no longer with us. Damn. . .so back to the drawing board. Thankfully got a long list of Boys I like, just have to widdle ‘em down with Marie.