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April, 2011

  1. Testing Time, Waiting Time, Planting Time, Practice Time

    April 27, 2011 by myeye

    VetGen DNA laboratory is running a CWCCA special through April for PRA testing.  I decided to run the test on both Holmes and Nola — every couple of generations, I don’t want to rely on “line-cleared” and decide to actually submit DNA.  Though Chase tested clear for PRA, the mothers were line-cleared rather than tested.  So I ordered two PRA kits (and the half-price OFA reporting fee as well).  Since I’m at it, I took advantage of DDC’s “buy one test, second test is $20″ special, and ordered the tests for the ee/pink dilute and for coat length.  Finally, I ordered a DM test for Nola.  Both of Holmes’ parents have tested clear, but we don’t know about Leidy.  At some point I will be making decisions about both of these youngsters.  It helps if I know as much as I can about what is hiding in their genetic make-up.  Once those tests are submitted, we are cool until Holmes is two (permanent OFA films) and Nola turns one (preliminary OFA films).

    I am (not so patiently) waiting for the National Specialty photos to be posted at Patricia Witter’s site.  She has photos up through the regular dog classes.  Since I had to wait to sit (stand) for photos until Lauren returned from taking her exam, we are in the last group of photos from the last day.  The “Megan – Best Brindle Dog” was such a wonderful surprise, that I am all the more eager to see the photo.  Then I can pinch myself and be certain it really occurred.  In addition to that, the Bulletin deadline (May 15th) is really dependent upon people receiving their National Specialty photos.  I can already feel deadlines being shoved back.

    The wind continues to blow and the dust continues to filter into the house.  I have organized the planting of my meadow for next week.  I ordered 15 pounds of dry area wildflower seeds.  The disking will be a horrible mess, but once the seed is down and the erosion blankets are rolled out on top of it, the dust supply should diminish considerably.  Then we’ll just need some rain — PLEASE!

    Sunday there is a puppy match and little Nola needs to go.  Although she will be a STAR Puppy graduate on Saturday, she hasn’t much experience trotting with a group of dogs and having someone look at her mouth while she’s standing still on the table.  It ought to be a hoot!  She’s entered in her first shows May 14th through 17th.

    Category Chase, Chores, CWCCA Nationals, Nola, Pinto - Los Lunas | Tags: | 3 Comments

  2. AKC Sez So

    April 25, 2011 by myeye

    This is pretty fast — AKC says Chase may add HSAs after his name.  He is now American/Canadian Champion C-Myste Baledwr Pursuit of Happiness CD RN HSAs VC TT.  Great job, Susan and Chase!

    Category Bluefox, Chase, Herding | Tags: | 10 Comments

  3. Easter in Tennessee — or It’s A Dog’s Life

    April 24, 2011 by myeye

    Cheryl filled little plastic eggs with dog treats, but left some empty.  The eggs were scattered around the yard for Chase, Treasure and Monroe to find, open, and enjoy.  Chase, with his tracking background knew immediately what to look for (and what to do with them).  He bypassed the empty eggs.  Monroe caught on.  Treasure thought Chase would do the heavy lifting and then share.  She might have come up with a better plan.

    More egg hunting:

    More to it though. Chase was scheduled to begin Round II of his herding training. It’s time to learn to drive the sheep for Intermediate and Advanced herding work. This is his first lesson.

    The egg hunt continued at Papa Ron’s and TM’s. Visit lowrinkearney’s blog tomorrow for more photos. To tide you over, here is a photo of Lowri finding the Easter bunny — a hint: she took him on and won the battle.

    Category Bluefox, Chase, Chuckles, Herding, Lowri, Other dogs, Tennessee | Tags: | 3 Comments

  4. Resuming Normalcy — Whatever THAT Is

    April 23, 2011 by myeye

    All week I have been in witness interviews for the murder trial.  It’s lucky we record them because I reach a point at which I do not know who said what.  My poor dogs have been a bit neglected because when I come home, I feed them and then fall on the couch in an allergic stupor.  So, we pulled ourselves together today.  First Holmes, Nola, and I went to see Dr. Donnie.  They both received the first of the canine influenza two-shot series.  Nola received her rabies inoculation and Holmes got hisProGard.  ProGard is a heartworm shot that lasts for six months.  It’s the same cost as the monthly pills, but I don’t have to remember to give them.

    Then Ms. Nola and I drove into Albuquerque and attended the STAR puppy class at our training club.  She’s such a happy girl — loves to show off.  STAR graduation is next Saturday.  We have no conformation drill tomorrow, but next Sunday she is going in for a crash course to get her ready for the Rio Grande Kennel Club and Coronado Kennel Club Show Cluster May 14 through 17.  She needs some hands-on by other folks — looking at her mouth and tickling her ribs.  This will be her debut and I want her at least slightly under control.  Tonight Holmes and I went back into town, back to the club, for our handling class.  He is a joyful boy who loves the attention.  Tonight he learned to catch treats — he was awfully proud of himself.  He is still in love with Ellen Gerwin’s Pem girl, but Ellen still insists “It’s not going to happen!!!”

    I ordered a DM test for Nola (since Leidy was not tested) and am going to order the ee (pink) test for Holmes and Nola as well as PRA and  coat length tests.  At some point I will be making breeding decisions about them both and I need all the information I can gather.  I look at each test as two entry fees.  If I’d spend that money so a couple of judge can spend 2 minutes each looking at my dog, I should be able to spend that amount of money to predict what they will and will not produce if bred.

    Yesterday Chase sent a gift box to a pretty girl in Texas.  More about that when we have something positive to report.  Chaser is always happy to oblige.

    The Dink is getting ready for her 9th birthday the end of May.  She doesn’t look much older than when she came to live here (at least to me).  She’s happy being the queen, telling Nola all the things she’s not allowed to do, and taking toys away from both Nola and Holmes.  When I see Nola and Inca sprawled out together, I am struck by their similarities.  Gramma and Granddaughter have much in common.

    This has been Earth weekend.  Because of the high winds during the week I was in Houston, EVERYTHING in the house is covered with dust.  Vacuuming is not the way in which I would choose to commemorate earth day, but it is certainly a sign of normalcy.

    Category Chase, Conformation, Dog Shows, Health and Welfare, Holmes, Inca, Nola, Testing, Work | Tags: | 2 Comments

  5. Scattered

    April 20, 2011 by myeye

    The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.  The murder trial looms so we did more witness interviews this afternoon.  Tomorrow I have a State Court hearing at 8:30, Federal Court at 9:30 and 11:00 (in a different Federal Courthouse), then back to the State Court at 1:30.  Tonight I left the cell phone at the office — I feel a little naked without it, but I am able to remote into my computer to check my schedule so it’s not the end of the world.  Dogs have been fed twice a day since I returned (boy are they glad), and they seem happy that I came back.  I ordered chicken necks for 2/3 of what I’ve been paying for them (yippee), and the meat manager offered me a case of frozen gizzards for $ .50/lb because they are close to expiration — I can deal with that.  The motel near the herding site has FINALLY agreed to refund the double charge on one of the rooms — it took a half a dozen calls until I got someone who could do it.

    Bulletin ad reservations are flooding in — it’s a huge help to know ahead of time so I can plan.  Two CWCCA members also offered really good articles that I think the readers will enjoy.

    We had terrible wind/dust storms while I was away, so the entire house needs to be re-vacuumed.  I’ll save that for the weekend.  I ordered three (what I hope are) slimming suits for the trial and two new pairs of classic pumps.  You have no idea how much I do not want to be on television!  Today I reminded the Deputy District Attorney that the plea offer we had made was probably better than he would do at trial.  Now that he’s talked with most of our witnesses, he might be thinking the offer looks pretty good.  Friday he gets to interview our psych and she may push him over the edge — one can hope.

    Our house full of baddogs is sending good thoughts to Traci’s baby Adam who apparently contracted pneumonia.  Cardi puppies seem harder to grow up than some other breeds.

    I’ll drag out the camera if I’m home before dark tomorrow night — you all deserve a photo or two for putting up with my rambling.

    Category Baddog, Blogging, Pinto - Los Lunas, Work | Tags: | 3 Comments

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