I'm thinking.....JALAMA...going to the beach. I keep worrying about Jet. He is so arthritic now at almost 13 yrs. of age this year. I'm right there with him. I take Motrin and he takes Metacam. Sometimes if he lies around too long without getting up he has pain. His back is arthritic and he gets sciatica down his rear right leg, not to mention his shoulders and toes. God, I can't even express to you how much I LOVE this dog. There will never be another Jet in my lifetime. I want to spend as much time with him as I can. To heck with trials. Sometimes when he is with me on my bed, I look in his eyes and tears just stream down my cheeks. What a fabulous dog. I have been so lucky.
So, I have decided to take Jet and Champ to the beach. Jet can mentor Champ. I may even take Trouble. The girls, Kilt and Yoko, and old Xena will have to stay home this time. My van can hold 3 very nicely. Four is a crowd. The weather looks like it is going to be nice. Maybe windy. Jalama is an Chumash Indian word meaning Big Wind. I have several books on my kindle and may download a movie or two from itunes on my ipad. There is no cell reception at Jalama.
Plus, I will take my new camera and get up close and personal with it. I am so looking forward to taking photos with it. Maybe one day when Jet is resting I will take Champ on the 5 miler up the beach and snap a bunch of photos. It is good for Champ to be with just me. We are bonding once again. Jet would like to go and do his tricks, the rings, etc. for anyone that might like to watch. He is such a performer ;0)
I am having fun with the Champster. He understands the mechanics and shapes of working sheep, but he really isn't sure of the "why." That may sound funny, but it is true. Suzy can teach him the fine arts and he will have a liberal (general ed) with me. He is now working flocks, geese, learning look backs, etc. He is a funny guy. He is an excitable boy on stock like his mother, so I need to be real quiet with him. When off of stock he loves everybody and everything. That makes for a very easy keeper. He is trying very hard. Can't ask for much more than that :0) I just keep having to remind myself to go SLOW with him. Just because his half sister (Yoko) was trialing at 11 mos. doesn't mean 15 mo. old Champ is ready. He isn't. But, what a lovely dog to just hang with. The perfect blend of Buzz and Kilt.
3 comments:
It is very hard to see the good dogs grow old. I often look at Strider and the tears come. Do the best with the time we been given, who cares about trials and points.
Thank-you Jorgen. That is how I feel....this dog has given me so much; I don't want to ignore him in his old age. I want to spend as much quality time with him as I can :0)
Have a wonderful time with Jet (and Champ too).
Brings back memories of our black lab Echo. She was diagnosed with cancer when she was 12. When I used to take her and Calli through the bush in the morning sometimes, I'd look at her still finding enjoyment, and then cry my eyes out:(
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