Friday, April 30, 2010

April Wrap Up

Here it is the end of April already. Why did time go so slowly when we were little and wanted it to hurry and it goes so fast now when we'd like it to slow down a little? Anyway, some of my recent posts have caused a lot of questions from my readers. I try to answer your comments when I can, but so many of you have your comments set up as 'no reply' and it makes it much harder to get back to you. So I decided to answer some of the questions now.


First my throat problems. This has been a problem that I've been dealing with since I was a teenager. Many of you suggested that it may be my tonsils causing the problem, but I don't have my tonsils. After many, many bouts of strep throat and doctors treating the symptoms, only to have it return in about six weeks, I finally found an allergist who discovered that I'm a strep carrier. My allergies trigger the step and make it active.









For twelve years I took allergy shots and got the condition under control, but I stopped the shots when I got married and moved away from my doctor. It seems that my immunity from the shots has worn off and the throat problems have come back. I guess my next move is to find an allergist and start the shots again.


The next item you've asked about is Noah's tail. If you have forgotten, Noah had his tail grabbed by one of his sisters in a race and she apparently bit down a little too hard. The poor little guy couldn't lift his tail at all. Dr B said it wasn't fractured and put him on some antibiotics. It took about six weeks to heal, but Noah's tail is flying over his back once again. It leans slightly to the right, but only I would notice it.


Those squirrel pictures. No, I didn't have my camera with me when Morgan and I surprised the three squirrels on the deck. Those are stock pictures I found when I googled 'squirrel". I sometimes turn to stock images to illustrate a post, such as the aspirin bottle and syringe in this post.


Remember when Fudge and I competed in Rally Obedience last year? I have the option of going to the next level with Fudge, but there's a problem. The next level, advanced, is off lead. Fudge does very well off lead at home and in a controlled classroom, but not in a public arena such as the one where the trial is held. You see, Fudge likes the ladies. He likes them a little too much and off lead with so many lady dogs around, Fudge can't concentrate on what I'm telling him.

I'm sorry to say that for now, Fudge is retiring from competition. That doesn't mean that I'm retiring.


I don't know why I do this to myself, but I'm planning to continue in rally with another dog. After all I have plenty of volunteers.


Noah and I have started our training and later this summer I hope to get him into a formal class. The trial is in October, so we'll see how he's doing as the time approaches.


Just to drive myself totally crazy, I've decided to work with Norma Jean at the same time in rally and see if I can get both of them ready by October. Noah is a very quiet little fellow who tries to do whatever I tell him. Norma Jean is anything but quiet. She's the pup most like her daddy, Fudge. She likes to please me, but she likes to invent her own moves. Wish us luck.

18 comments:

Marjie said...

That's a pretty ambitious plan! I'm sure Noah can do it, and with a lot of work, Norma Jean will do you and her Daddy proud!

Dog Foster Mom said...

It'll be interesting to see how Noah and Norma Jean do with training - with their very different personalities. I wish you luck!! :-)

Thanks for the tip about the straw on my blog - I will try it!!

gMarie said...

I know why you are doing it? Noah will behave beautifuly and you don't have to work. But Norma Jean, she's a challenge and you both love a challenge! Good luck. I'm looking forward to seeing you all progress. g

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

So sorry to hear of your continuing throat problems. As Mom mentioned, one of our sisters had a bunch of strep throat episodes this winter. Thankfully they have stopped. But the doctor thinks someone in the family may be a carrier too. We'll see the next time she gets plagued.

We wish you lots of luck with the pups in training. Mom would love to do it too, but she says she is too old.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Good luck with the rallies. Noah's tail looks great. We always looked for it in your posts. Hope Samba's improving as well.

XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

Scrabblequeen said...

Interesting news about which dogs you are going to let drive you crazy this year in the ring. Sorry to hear you need to go through alltergy shots again...I've been there, done that, and wouldn't like to repeat it!

Sam said...

I don't think you're crazy for doing Rally. I think it's a great way to go out and have fun with the dogs who will like it and excel at it. I'll be looking forward to see how each of them do.

LizzieJane said...

Poor Sue, I am sorry that you are not feeling well again. I am sending good thoughts your way.
Also sending lots of luck with the training. I hope it goes well
Take care Sue.
x

Molly the Airedale said...

It sound like you have your work cut out for you! Good luck with rally! Keep us updated!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

soulbrush said...

allergies can be a darned nuisance, i live with mine and when i don't look after myself i know all about it. sort it out. yahooo you are ambitious, you go girl!

Dianne said...

Definitely time to find an allergist again! It's a pain to go through the shots, but if it helps, it's worth it!

the teacher's pets said...

Wow, Sue, you are a very busy and ambitious lady, for sure! It is such a great thing that you do rallys and training with your dogs because it creates such a bond between the pups and their owners to do something so challenging and fun at the same time.
Thanks for the update about your tonsils, etc, too!
Thanks for the comment about my "Fear of Flying" post! I laughed when you mentioned that 1 bird could be lured into the cage with a molasses cookie! That bird had expensive taste!
By the way, I started another contest last night & it's called the Floppy Eared Caption Contest so come on by & please invite your friends over too!
-Daisy & April-

Thor and Jack said...

Sorry to hear about your throat problems.
Good luck with the training.
Thor xx

the many Bs said...

we would say that your life is never boring. it's understandable that Fudge likes the ladies and we bet that they like him back. he's quite a handsome dude.

i, Bailey, and Benson have been swimming this spring, but Baxter likes to wait until the water is warmer. Brody wades in to his chest, but he prefers not to swim at all if he can avoid it. i Bailey, am part duck, so i have to swim. it's just what i do. i know that you water pups know all about that.

woofs.

SissySees said...

Fudge is luck you understand him so well. We look forward to hearing about Noah and Norma Jean's training.

Good luck with that strep. Nasty stuff...

Dexter said...

OK, I totally understand what is up with Fudge. I, too, am enamored with the gals and keen to share my mango-ness whenever they are around.

Hey, thanks for the explaining about your throat. Weird science for sure. You are like the typhoid Mary of strep, huh. Hopefully you can find a good doctor to fix it up.

Slobbers,
Mango

Lapdog Creations said...

So Fudge is a really ladies man, eh? :)

RILEY AND STAR MY MALTESEKIDS said...

Waht a grrreat looking doggy Noah is!

Have a fun, fun week!

Luv,
Riley and Star.