Balancing Act

I am completely hooked on Stetson.  He is an amazing partner in EVERYTHING we've set out to do these past five months.  He is becoming as enjoyable a running partner as Mira was - and those are large paws to fill.  With a good amount of conditioning, I think he'll take me further into the summer months than she did.  He enjoys the run, somehow he seems to understand that this is the connection we were meant to make; sneakers, leash and pavement or a dusty trail.



After a three mile run and snack last week at the Chattahoochee River
 

He has taught me that the delicate details of competition obedience are as much "eye candy" as his stride when we run.  Until Stetson, I had no inclination or curiosity about Obedience.  But I am hooked now, at least with this dog.  He puts a lot of heart into this sport.  I have come to think of Obedience as I do dressage; it's the nuance of movement, mental connection and teamwork that makes the exercises a joy to watch.



Waiting to begin a heeling pattern

Most recently we have begun agility classes.  I didn't see myself back in competition, ever.  I just thought I'd moved into a different phase of life where there wouldn't be time for it anymore.  But, since I'd decided I wanted to get a Versatility title on him, I need the NA and NAJ agility titles.  So we began classes, primarily to see if he had any desire and/or skills that could be developed.  Ha! On the third class night, I knew I was back in this sport too.  He not only has a desire to please, he has probably as much drive as Madison or Nakeeta for the obstacles.  Being extremely food motivated, there was not a moment of hesitation on the teeter the first time we took him over a lowered teeter (gently lowering it at the tip point).  My mind was kind of blown last week and my heart was racing.  I think I'm back in it with a super partner.

Now I have found myself deep into figuring out how to balance the sporting needs of both of us.  We are out of the house back to back nights for training.  Tuesday is Agility followed by Wednesday Obedience class.  I am a short distance triathlete, and have my mind set on another half marathon in October this year.  That's a lot of variation in time consuming activities.  So after a little contemplation, I've come up with the following schedule:

Monday - run night, obedience work/practice (weather permitting)
Tuesday - morning before work swim, evening agility class
Wednesday - morning before work swim, evening obedience class
Thursday - run night, obedience work/practice
Friday - morning before work swim, evening off and dinner out with the man of my dreams
Saturday - morning long run, obedience work/practice
Sunday - spin or bike ride, obedience work/practice

As soon as I get some agility equipment from my good friend Catherine Ford, I'll throw some agility work in there too.  The one thing that is missing from the schedule is herding.  I love herding, if I had too, I'd give up agility to pursue herding, but I think I can figure out something here.  It will depend on being able to connect with Amy Burnette on evenings and/or weekends that she is home to play with dogs and sheep.

I will be forever grateful to Stetson for grabbing my heart and bringing me back from the darkest time of grief after the unexpected death of Mira.  He is a once in a lifetime dog.

We were pretty new to each other in the picture on the beach, but somehow I think we both knew that wonderful things were in our future.

Recovery Runs

Stetson is healing - or maybe he's healed already.  But he is definitely not conditioned at the same place he was before the toe injury.  He didn't really get a chance to work back up to his previous level because we suddenly had to shift our "caretaker" role to Madison and it's been absolutely crazy around here since.

I started running with him again and was building mileage back up when she got hurt.  The picture above is after one of his recovery runs, I think he is such a handsome animal.  I don't think I'll ever tire of looking at him. Still, or in motion, he is simply beautiful.

I was taking the dogs to drop them off at our Vet's office on a Tuesday morning when I rushed and called him into the house before Madison had safely cleared the sliding door from the patio into the dining room.  In the next flash of my life, I witnessed her being wrapped around the slider door as he pushed into the house.  And then, as a result of my scream I am sure, he backed out of the door.  She finished coming into the house and turned toward me; in that same instant he flew through the door and hit her broadside.  She went down and the result was a bruised 13 year old dog.

The trauma from the accident/injury threw her previously manageable dementia symptoms into a full-blown situation.  I left my home for work two days after the incident with a typically happily crated dog in a screaming, crying hissy fit with eyes that were glazed over and "checked out".  Stetson was left crated next to this "beast" who replaced his new found best friend.  He was stressed to say the least.  Thanks to treatment and guidance from Union Hill Animal Hospital owner/veterinarian and staff, we were able to successfully bring Madison back to a relatively normal mental state.  We are so grateful to know that we have yet more time with this magnificent being that has lit our lives up for the past thirteen years.  Our gratitude can never be fully expressed.

In the meantime, runs with anyone and training of any kind were put on the back burner; and the burner was not lit.  All that we focused on was working toward her brain recovery and a little stress relief for Stetson. 

His stress relief came in the form of heeling work and fronts, with some downs, sits and stays added in where possible.  Now, all these weeks later, we are nearly back up to a three mile run during the week.  I hope we can push ahead and make strides this week with two three milers and maybe a four or five on the weekend.  We'll see, let's just hope the recovery continues and the injuries remain at bay.  The last picture is of Madison just a few days before her injury.  Sweet, sweet girl.  We had been out for a run and she was in "recovery" mode waiting for her "jackpot".  I love her spirit!