February 2009

Well I can't believe it's the end of February already. The competing season will soon be on us.

At the beginning of the month we had quite a bit of snow so I took the boys up the field to have a play and get some photos at the same time. Below snoop and Dre enjoying the snow.

Also this month Snoop had his Kennel cough vaccine and Dre has his annual boosters. Whilst we were there Dre also had a check up as it had been two weeks since stopping all medication. I can happily say Dre was giving a nearly clean bill of health. The only issue he has now is his skin is dry and flaky, a side effect from the steroids, once they are out of his system all will be fine. The vet was very pleased with his health and can't believe how well he is. So life for Dre is currently medication and symptom free. It has been three and a half weeks and he is still improving. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

Also another lot of good news for you all this month. we have a new addition to the family. A little girl I rescued from a family with six kids and not enough time for her. She is a black and white working sheepdog (border collie) called Holly. Holly is 16 months old and fitting in nicely. Below you can see some pictures of her and the boys (it was quite hard to get the three of them to sit still as all they wanted to do was play). Her obedience training starts next week and then watch this space for when her agility training will start

January 2009

Well 2009 has truly arrived! The weather isn't any good, lately we had had a mixture of freezing weather, rain, freezing weather, snow and yet more freezing temperatures. (yes I thought it was bad enough to put freezing in three times - did I say it is freezing just of late) Record books say it is the coldest and wettest winter to date since records began - does that mean we will have the hottest summer (April to September) and with no rain this year?

The boys have been resting from competitions this month, basically there isn't much going on or they are miles away. The boys haven't complained as they have been having lots of walks instead. Training has been cancelled for a few weeks (well most of this month) due to unsafe ground conditions or bad weather.

We attended training today, our first since xmas. Upon arrival it started to snow and once out the car there was a bitter wind and yes freezing temperatures. most of us had anticipated the temperatures and had put that much clothing on that we could hardly move. I spent the first lesson teaching one of the groups and even all my layers of clothes couldn't keep me warm. In the second class I ran Snoop who was mental and then during the third class I did some training with Dre who was even more mental than Snoop and this did warm me up.

Both boys are doing really well at the moment with Agility, both are eager and very fast. Dre is still improving and building up his stamina and muscles by the week.

Dre heath is still continuing to improve, though we had a set back earlier in the month when Dre had a campylobacter infection, giving it to Snoop, putting them and the house in quarantine as it is highly contagious even cross species. Luckily the vets picked it up quick, a short course of antibiotics and all is now fine. Apparently as the steroids is suppressing his immune system, this allowed the infection to take hold. On a good note, the vet is pleased with the progress he is making and reduced his steroids even further and next week he has his last dose and we are going to see if he can come off all treatment altogether. Towards the end of February both boys are due their annual vaccines update (don't tell Snoop he hates having his Kennel Cough Vaccine) and the vet will assess Dre to see how he is doing with the hope to continue giving no treatment and then just treat any flare ups (fingers and paws crossed they don't occur).

We received from the artist of Dre's painting some photos she had taken but not used in the end, these were taken in October and as you can see he is a very handsome boy.