Hope you and your family, all dogs included, have had a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year!
Just wanted to let you know how well the apso pack is doing here. We have resolved all the behavioral issues we had been dealing with,
and now have a great little pack of happy apsos, plus one giant dog who thinks he’s an apso. Or maybe it’s Zeke who thinks
he’s a German Shepherd, I don’t know!
We’ve had all three apsos under the care of a great homeopath since last summer, and they have all shown remarkable
progress at eliminating some little, and a few larger problems. Wyatt’s in house marking has been completely eliminated and he
has become my sweet, funny little clown. He has finally started to really bond with Ken and I. We couldn’t be happier with him; he’s just
a great little guy. I really love Wyatt and am so happy he came to be my boy and live with us.
Zeke also is no longer marking in the house; in fact, he’s just mellowed out and is doing very well in every respect. No more snoring, snorking,
much increased energy and vitality, and he plays with Hunter like they were litter-mates. In fact, he tries to do everything Hunter does, and races after
Hunter and his frisbee out in the field. It’s amazing to see how fast he can run! He has great stamina now, too.
Sadie is doing better, too, in every respect. There seem to be no long-term effects from her exposure to the bio-identical hormones and we consider that issue to be resolved. She is my precious little girl and I adore her! She is also a very strong alpha bitch around here, and all the boys, Hunter included, are very respectful of her, and tow the line.
No more fighting, for about a year and a half, or more, now. I think that is all behind us. We have spent the past year doing a lot of obedience training
(and training me to be the pack leader in a more effective way!), and that has paid off with a more cohesive and obedient pack. I couldn’t be happier, with all of them!
They have all been on a “prey model” raw diet for the past 13 months, and they are doing very well. Right now, they are all eating venison and elk for their red meat, and the boys are eating chicken, while Sadie eats Cornish game hen, for their bone-in meals, supplemented with various organ meats and fish oils, and our farm eggs and a wee bit of raw goat’s milk. I think this is the best rendition of the raw diets I have come upon, and I have the full support of my vet. They show no symptoms of food allergies, have great poops, clean teeth, beautiful hair, no doggie breath or odor, and are full of energy.
Hunter has proven his worth and earned his keep several times already around here, by alerting us to owls and keeping a close watch over the apsos whenever they venture out. That’s his job! If Sadie goes out, so does he, and he follows her around like the shepherd and guardian he is. He and Zeke are just BFF’s – you should see them play! He lays down, sometimes rolls over on his back, and Zeke just climbs all over him! And He and Wyatt are poke around buddies outside. He’s an amazing dog, the epitome of what a good German Shepherd should be, and I have no regrets bringing him on board. We had a need for him around here, and he’s more than doing his job. He’s a gentle sweetheart and very calm, poised and thoughtful, but he has a bark like a shotgun and just his size and countenace are enough to intimidate and protect. I chose him, with the help of a good friend, as carefully as I chose Zeke, and I think I did a good job.
I continue to enjoy the Apso Blog, but don’t get to it as much as I used to. It’s been a very busy year, training Hunter every day, attending training classes with him, and keeping the apsos up to speed, as well. I wished for an “Ana Melara” down here, but went through three trainers and finally decided to just keep on with his training myself at home, a la Patricia McConnell!
I read a great editorial by Lowell Schmorrow-Zuckerman in the latest Clean Run magazine titled Aspiration versus Expectation. About how aspiration is realizing one’s potential and how expectation is built on ege. I liked the message and accepted the invitation in the author’s info to ‘follow their exploits’.
What a great blog! He takes great photographs too! Be sure to click on the slideshow.
Keeper returned to his breeder, Cathy Marley, the beginning of December, after being with me since the spring of 2007. While in Colorado he sired three Gompa litters and finished his AKC Championship. Five of his nine offspring remain with me; Echo lives with friends and will also contribute to the Gompa dog breeding program. The other three – Kipu, Dawa and Karma – are beloved pets.
Some have questioned the introduction of an outside male. The reasons are fully explained in this blog post. Strategy for use of his offspring in the breeding program takes into account methods used for the Przewalski Horse. To eliminate his offspring would also be eliminating 50% Gompa dog genes.
He claimed the end table in Cathy’s dog room right after arriving…
Here he is with his ‘Cathy-do’…
And the latest from Cathy: Keeper is in love. Her name is Kissie. Kissie spent about an hour this afternoon cleaning Keepers face and body. She completely removed all the eyestain from his face. Now he has spent several hours licking Kissie all over: – face, belly, ears, back. It is hilarious. Each just lies there in ecstasy for the massage!
Recently I subscribed to the Colorado Agility list. Mostly this list keeps enthusiasts informed about upcoming trials, matches and run-throughs. But, over last Kim shared a link to a video she’d put together. This past June FRAAD hosted “Run For Glory” to honor Colorado’s retired agility dogs. I am so touched by this tribute!
The first time I watched agility – it was years ago – at a dog show, I was uplifted by the connection between the dog and owner. Every one seemed to be having fun! At least more fun than most dogs and owners in the conformation ring. Time surely paints my memory, but I recall each and every team celebrating enthusiastically at the finish line. It was then I knew some day I’d train an agility dog too.
Enjoy watching these oldsters run the course. It appears there was no formal course, each owner ran their own course. The jumps are low, poles on the ground for some of the dogs. You can see a hitch in their get-alongs, along with gray hairs. And not just the dogs! Hitches or not, the dogs Ran For Glory. And, hey! Melissa! I enjoyed watching the different handlers run a course even I understand. <g>
Kunza at FleetFire Timbers 