Dog Days of Summer

The Seattle area is under a major heat wave with temperatures into the 100's.

While this may seem normal to folks from the South, last night was the first night in Seattle's history that the temp didn't drop back down below 70. Today we're in for another record high of 105+.

So the plan for the week has been to get the dogs out early so they can peacefully spend the day inside with the A/C going.

On Monday, we had an early play date with our friends Dave & Heidi and their pups. Dave is an amazing photographer and all of these pictures are courtesy of him - Thank you Dave!!!!!

The first picture has Ru & Zulu cooling down in the pool, which was also known as 'home-base' for the dogs while playing. They'd run and run and run, then jump in the pool to cool down and then go off to run again.

The next picture is Ru & Zulu playing a great game of tag.

In the third picture, Dylan is a part of the game and witnesses Ru being taken down by Zulu...not that that stopped the fun as they all played for a good 45 minutes to an hour without a break.

Next we've got Zulu & Ru tugging on the Frisbee and last but not least, a picture of Zulu framed in by an Agility Tire. Don't worry, my 6 month old puppy wasn't jumping it, but rather he was standing at attention just waiting for the other dogs to start the next game of chase.

His breeder asked what I thought his ear set would be, prick, semi-prick or a combination. It's so hard to say at this point! There are moments they're as prick as can be, then there are the times they're semi-prick and then there's that lazy left ear of his that just wants to hang around while the other is straight up. It will be interesting to see which way they end up : )

Stay cool everyone. I know I'm going to take advantage of the heat and take a siesta later with the pups.

Why Not the World Team?

While living in the Pacific Northwest, I've often been ridiculed and put down because I have no desire to be an agility World Team Member (apparently that's the 'in' thing here). I don't think less of those that dream of being members and in fact, I admire those who have dreams and work hard to make those desires come true. I just know it's not the right decision for ME. I made that decision almost a decade ago and have been happy with it ever since.

What folks in the Pacific Northwest don't realize is that I've been around agility for a long, long time. In fact, far before the inception of the World Team. Long ago I competed with the best, traveled across the country with the best and knew the "who's-who" before they became the "who's-who". Over the decades, I've watched people emotionally fall to pieces, crash under pressure and act in a way that even they weren't proud of. It happens to most of them at one time or another and I've seen it all.

What most people don't realize is that for those working to be at the top, there is a lot of pressure from spectators constantly watching, from those who are judging every move and even more expectations for them self that go unnoticed. Given these conditions, it is inevitable that people will crack.

I feel that I've been very smart in my decisions as they pertain to the dog world. For one, I don't feel the need to prove to myself or to anyone else what I can and have accomplished. Second, I don't feel the need to be in the spot-light. Every time I walk out onto the Agility field or engage one of my dogs, I do it strictly for personal reasons.

Those going for WT status must make them self #1 or they'll never get to where they want to go. Another reason I wouldn't make a good WT member is that I do fully commit myself to my students, heart, mind & energy. When I'm teaching, the moment is about my students and NOT about me. I'll admit that I harbor a secret desire to guide my students further than they thought possible - there's nothing like seeing the light glow in their eyes the moment they accomplish something they never thought possible. I'm not saying WT folks aren't great instructors, but they're much smarter about their emotional investment and smartly keep the best for them self.

I had an old boss once tell me that not everyone in a group could be a go-getter and that every group needed their steady-eddies. For those who are World Team bound, it requires a great deal of self-preparation, training (both mentally & physically) and an intense inner drive and focus. Those bound for WT make immense sacrifices and work hard to stay focused on their task. 

Personally, I know I'm just as driven and intense (just ask my husband), the difference is that instead of focusing on a singular item, I desire more of a balance in my life and chose to focus my time and energy on multiple items that bring me joy. It doesn't mean that one is right or one decision is wrong, it simply means we all have free will and can do whatever we chose with our given lives.

It's a pretty neat concept when you think of it because it guarantees that none of us will be exactly a like. It adds variety to our world and it also gives us the chance to appreciate each person for their individual desires and choices.

Whatever your choice is, just be sure you're true to yourself. If you don't want to be a WT member, that's Okay! If you do, get a plan together and make it happen. Whichever path it is, I would caution that you don't loose yourself in the process. Make a list of things that are important in the whole of your life and be sure you're giving care to those items as well as living your dream.

From someone who has been there/done that and seen a whole lot more than I let on, take my free advice and remember that ultimately only YOU can make you happy.

The Pork Steak War - Human vs. Dog

Some days things just don't go along as planned and then snowball from there. 

You know what I'm talking about, you wake up, have certain expectations on what the day is going to look like or what you're going to get done....and then wooosh....you're swept off in a different direction and can only watch as your plans for the day disappear in the flood behind you.

Yesterday started off like that when I realized my freezer plug had somehow come undone. Luckily the food was still very cold, just fully thawed. As I began my massive meal preparation undertaking so that I could save my loot, the dogs were sniffing around like buzzards on a not yet dead meal. That should have been my first clue, but trusting me was sure they'd know their boundaries.

Later, in the midst of a meal baking in the oven, 2 full pots stewing on the stove and several already prepared items heading back to frozenland, I begin unwrapping packages of pork steak from the butcher. Beth, my mum-in-law, came over to claim a few potentials for her kitchen (thank goodness or that would have meant more cooking for me!) and we took a moment to sit and catch up. 

Within a few moments we spot Ru, my young Dalmatian, chewing on something and quickly realized it was one of the pork steaks! I scurry over and as I am just about to take it out of her mouth, Burton, our young Lab, spies her treasure, takes advantage of her submission, comes in like a parana on a fresh kill, grabs it and begins a gulp in hopes of capturing the prize for himself.

Unlucky for him, I'm not a good looser and am hell bent on getting that undeserved treat back! In true Selthofer fashion (read the Great Tumbleweed Adventure if you need a refresher), I tackle Burton and shove my hand down his throat, retrieving the bone-in pork steak before he has a chance to suck in another breath and attempt a second gulp. I promptly proceeded to toss that steak in the garbage having felt like a winning warrior in a battle to the death. After all, I showed him! who was boss!

Silly me to think it was over! A few hours later, I have to run out to teach a class and after putting away what I thought was all of the dogs, left with little Ru for some practice time. It wasn't until my return home a few hours later and found the garbage can knocked over, did I remember that Burton had been sleeping quietly on our bed and his stealthiness earned him some unsupervised time around the home.

You guessed it, that pork steak I'd fought so valiantly for earlier was gone! Not only that, but Burton had taken several pans used to make lasagna, brought them onto our bed (his apparent place of comfort) and licked them clean. Of course there were now tomato stains on our comforter as well as those sparkling pans!

Yeah, he showed me who was boss! LOL - resourceful little demon dogs, aren't they?!?!

Heat Stroke In Dogs - Article

Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook HEAT STROKE Heat stroke is an emergency that requires immediate recognition and prompt treatment. Dogs do not tolerate high temperatures as well as humans. They depend upon rapid breathing to exchange warm air for cool air. Accordingly when air temperature is close to body temperature, cooling by rapid breathing is not and efficient process. Dogs with airway disease also have difficulty with excess heat. Common situations that predispose to overheating or heat stroke in dogs are: 1. Being left in a car in hot weather. 2. Being confined on concrete runs; chained without shade in hot weather. 3. Being of a short-nosed breed, especially a Bulldog or Pug. 4. Being muzzled while put under a dryer (this can happen in a grooming parlor). 5. Suffering from airway disease or any condition that impairs breathing. Heat stroke begins with rapid, frantic, noisy breathing. The tongue and mucus membranes are bright red, the saliva is thick and tenacious and the dog frequently vomits. Its rectal temperature is high, sometimes over 106 degrees F. The cause of the problem usually is evident by the typical appearance of the dog; it can be confirmed by taking its temperature. If the condition is allowed to go unchecked, the dog becomes unsteady and staggers, has diarrhea that often is bloody and becomes progressively weaker. Coma and death ensue. Treatment: Emergency measures must begin at once. Mild cases respond to moving the dog to a cooler surrounding, such as an air-conditioned building or car. If the dog's temperature is over 104 degrees F, or if unsteady on its feet, the dog should be cooled by immersion in a tub of cold water. If this is impossible, hose your dog down with a garden hose. For a temperature over 106 degrees F, or if the dog is near collapse, give a cold water enema. A more rapid temperature drop is imperative. Cool to a rectal temperature of 103 degrees F. Heat stroke can be associated with swelling of the throat. This aggravates the problem. A cortisone injection by your veterinarian may be required to treat this. Prevention: 1. Do not expose dogs with airway disease or impaired breathing to prolonged heat. 2. Restrict exercise during the heat of the day in summer. 3. Breed dogs in air-conditioned quarters. 4. Crate a dog only in an open wire cage. 5. Provide shade and cool water to dogs living in outdoor runs. © Copyright 1998, Macmillan Publishing. All rights reserved.

© Copyright 1998, Macmillan Publishing. All rights reserved.