Hannah and SRMA

I am feeling a lot better than I was last week. Tiffany has been very gentle with me as I could not move my neck and it hurt whenever I moved. Thanks to the drugs I am on, we can play a bit again which is making both of us happy. The pic shows where they shaved my back so that they could do a Spinal Tap to draw fluid from my spine and send it off for analysis. The results are still not back yet, so I am still on the temporary treatment. They think I have Steroid Responsive Meningitis Arteritis or SRMA. The link will take you to a report from the University of Glasgow that explains what it is, if you can understand the big words. Not many people had heard of it before although there is a lot of information on the web about it. There is no clear cut cause, the diagnosis is often mistaken for ear problems or physical injury so it is difficult to identify. It looks like I will be on steroids for a long time with regular check-ups. Keith said the vet ordered a new Mercedes as soon as we left the surgery. Not true, it was a Lexus.

Tiffany had a good day on Sunday, she passed her first Novice Gamblers trial and just missed one colour on the dog walk for the closing sequence of the Snooker trial.

Trials Over

I had a good weekend at the Trials in Mount Gambier. I passed 4 of 6 attempts, getting 3 out of 3 for Agility Novice, with 2 first places and a title, but only 1 of 3 Jumping Novice trials. Keith had to judge the fourth trial, and they wont let me run under him. The pic shows me touching the colour on the way over the scramble. Thank you to Kelly's sister for the photo.

Hannah however did not have a good week end. She was feeling well enough for the show on Friday, but Saturday and Sunday she was in a lot of pain and stayed in bed for most of the time. We came home early on Monday so she could rest at home. Today she seem a lot better, but she is still not right. Her left shoulder seems to be the main source of her pain, but her neck still wont bend very well either.

Tiffany AD

We finally did it, I got Agility Dog as a title after my name (subject to Keith paying the money to get it registered.) The pic shows me with all the sashes I won today. We did the morning trial with judge Joy and got first place, then the afternoon trial was with Judge Dave. Keith got everything wrong. He forgot to change sides at the scramble so I had to cover for him, then he forgot to change sides again at the table. I could have bitten him. Anyway I got round the course despite Keith. This pass was the third one and so I can claim the title Agility Dog. The last time Keith got an Agility title was with Tisha the Golden Retriever in 1992, also under Judge Dave. We also passed a Jumping trial today so I need one more to get Jumping Dog title. Maybe tomorrow will be the day.

Hannah is still crook. She could not go into the show today and she has been in the caravan with Kathy all day. I am getting very worried about her.

Hannah on 54 points

Hannah has 54 points towards her Champion Title. Despite suffering from the injury to her neck, she has gone through the ring with her tail high, stepping out proud as punch. I had a bit of a chat with her before she went in to boost her morale, and she went out and did everything right. She was getting tired by the time she went for Minor in Group, and she was glad to come out and have a bit of a kip while we had lunch.

After lunch we went for a run at the dog club grounds. I did some agility training, but Hannah just went for a quiet walk. Tomorrow Hannah has another show, and I am in the Agility trials.

Hannah is injured

Hannah ran into the clothes line while we were playing and hurt her neck. She went to the vet and got checked out, the verdict was she has done something to her neck muscle and is in a lot of pain. The pic shows her in the caravan at Mount Gambier, tucked up in bed trying to keep still and warm. We have not been able to play for 2 days now, and KnK say it will be 2 weeks before she is back to normal.

I have to make sure I don't bump her as she squeals if I do, so I have to keep quiet and still too. I am in the trials on Saturday, I hope Hannah is better by then because I miss my playmate.

Tiffany's Two Passes

At the Agility trial I passed one Agility and one Jumping trial. The pic shows me clearing the broad jump in the Jumping Trial with just one jump to go. My ear leathers are sticking up due to the force of the wind. (My ears usually hang down like all gun dog ears. Keith says they hang down so it will stop the echo when the gun goes off.)

I nearly passed the other two trials, but Keith stopped too soon at one jump and so I went the wrong side of it, and in the other trial, Keith was so worried about getting the weaving poles right he pushed me up the scramble.

I need two more passes in Agility and Jumping to get more letters after my name, so hopefully Keith can get it right next week-end.

The Great Pen Mystery

There was a big blue stain on the floor in the family room, and another one on the carpet in the lounge. There were the remains of a pen nearby. The question was, Who Done It?.

The most likely suspects were rounded up and put on an identity parade. Tiffany had to turn her face so she would not laugh, but Hannah had no defence to the blue feet and blue mouth.

She finally admitted her guilt, claiming it was the Genie at the bottom of a Jim Beam Bottle that made her do what she didn't want to do.

Fortunately the ink was water based and washed out easily. Hannah however got a not so gentle dunking in the laundry trough and a rub down with a rough towel.