Harper B for ...

We Did It!

Harper B for So Many Things completed her CD (obedience title) yesterday. She did this in three straight runs — the first leg was at the Specialty, the second was Saturday, and the third leg was yesterday (Sunday). She even got ribbons! Second place on Saturday and this yesterday!

Full Disclosure — the placements were based on a lack of qualifiers. Basically, Harper was the Last Dog Staying yesterday as the three other qualifiers who made it to the Stay Group all blew their stays. Bummer for them — but Harper enjoyed the gift certificate she won for first place.

This was a Git ‘er Done CD for a very specific purpose — to complete the requirements for the BMDCA’s Working Dog Award. And she did it — Harper B for BMDCA Working Dog Award!

At eight and with two Harper B for Bionic Knees, there were few sits involved in her obedience runs — I think standing is more comfortable for her, and so she did. Oh well — only lost points and who cares?! Not me. Harper B for Better Believe It reminds me that adversity is just a detour and not a reason to quit.

I am so proud of Harper. This was not the journey I expected her to have — but it became HER journey and we walk it together. She is done with obedience but not ready to retire. Her future includes more tracking and a new sport that will utilize her great nose — Scent Work!

Learning how to adjust to new and sometimes unwanted realities is another way that Life with Dogs makes us better humans. I am grateful to Harper B for Best Teacher for the lessons, even as I wish she had been blessed with an easier path in her lifetime. Two Harper B for Bad Knees plus pyometra seems like a Harper B for Bum Deal for such a kind dog.

Dogs are free to remove themselves from children’s attention at any time. Harper B for Being Patient.

Kaibab Harper’s East of the Sun, West of the Moon TDX CD NDD FDC and BMDCA Working Dog

Because Children Matter

The topic in one of my classes this week is Practice with Children. Therefore, my mind has been on children and the reality that all of us have — or should have — an interest in children being raised well. We are, after all, collectively creating our successors.

I am in Boise this weekend to both visit children, large and small, and to compete with dogs — two of my most favorite things.

I have visited Boise at least once each month since Galen and Bethany moved here two years ago, determined that Berkeley and then Lincoln would know me. I want to give credit to Galen and Bethany for tolerating my visits, and to Dear Husband who is always willing to manage things at home so I can do this.

Because of my frequent visits, I am in an informed position to say that my daughter-in-law is — or should be — a role model to all other young moms out there.

Galen photo

Bethany is an intentional, thoughtful, and amazing mother to Berkeley and Lincoln. Her parenting skills are stellar, and the understanding of child development she brings to her everyday interactions with those two small humans reminds me constantly of the importance of education to effective parenting.

She parents with wisdom. Instead of arguing with an almost three-year-old, Bethany knows to offer choices.

Bethany creates opportunities for positive and desired behaviors, and avoids setting her children up to have unnecessary meltdowns. There are schedules and boundaries and limits so that each child has the freedom to grow, learn, and just become within spaces that are safe and appropriate for his/her developmental realities.

The children in this little family are managed with love and appropriate limits — inflicting pain through physical “corrections” is not part of Bethany and Galen’s parenting toolkit. I am so grateful for their awareness that using pro-social parenting techniques encourages similar behavior in children.

Galen photo.

Parenting is not actually a private endeavor — it has implications for ALL of us because we all live with the consequences. Therefore, we need to be intentional and smart with policies and practices to support and educate parents — for the benefit of children, families, and the communities in which they exist.

Bethany and Galen are raising children in ways that maximize the odds Berkeley and Lincoln will make positive contributions to our shared world. They are taking what they appreciate from their own childhood, and appropriately and kindly rejecting what was not done well. As a result, they are embarked on their own wise, loving, smart, intentional — and imperfect — parenting journey.

It is an absolute joy to watch.

Let Them Eat Cake

It is amazing to think that it has been eight years since that day when Sydney ushered her babies into this world. They were sent off — with love and celebration — to live amazing lives with incredible people.

We remember Mesa and Lainey who were denied this chance to celebrate eight years but know they were loved enough for so many lifetimes, and can trust their birthday celebration is under control, given that Terri Z is hanging with them. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MESA and LAINEY.

Let’s start this earthly party with Zimmerman Zeke — Barbz sends us this update:

“We are SO happy to be celebrating Zeke's 8th birthday.

Zeke!

We had quite the scare with him last November and December. He started with limping on a front leg. I ran him in for xrays- maybe a little arthritis in the shoulder. That progressed to stiffness, limping in the rear and finally to not wanting to move much or eat. All my local vets could do was say arthritis and give him pain med after pain med. After a few weeks we took him to an internist. He was xrayed and ultrasound from top to bottom. Labs didn't look bad except for some mildly elevated kidney function tests he has had since age 2. Then an orthopedic specialist looked at him and the xrays. He said basically all his joints looked fine. He felt it could be IMPA ( immune mediated poly arthritis). He tapped 3 of his joints and we waited. The results confirmed the diagnosis. He was started on high dose prednisone. Within days he was happy, running and eating! We have weaned his dose to 5mg twice a day. Any less and he gets stiff again.

So I am happy to report Zeke is leading a normal active life. He runs the fields with his sisters like a youngster. He is sweet and snuggly and such a happy boy.

We send Birthday wishes to his brothers and sisters.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZEKE!!!

Holden Squeaker also knows how to rock the crown…

Toby sends us this birthday update:

“I can’t believe 8 years has passed since I met “the plumpies.” Little did I know, I’d fall hopelessly and completely in love with little Squeaker, soon to add Holden in front of that name. My heart is over-filled with the love I feel for this boy.

We’ve done so much in our 8 years together, and my hope is we are far from done. We will be hoping for that elusive CD title in the upcoming year, as well as a father/son brace title with Clark, and I will continue to count my blessings every single day for having this incredible boy in my life. Love you to the moon and back, Holden Squeaker!”

LOVE — the best birthday gift a dog could have. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOLDEN SQUEAKER!

Heidi Heidi was named for Dear Friend, Almighty Heidi, who assisted with the whelping of the litter — and is still in therapy because of it (just kidding - kind of ;). John sends us this report:

“It's been quite the journey since Heidi came to live with us in December, 2011. Kai arrived that same month as well.

Since then it has been a whirlwind - my sister always reminded me to take pictures no matter what. She was right — looking back I don’t even remember some of the moments and I am happy to have the photos (twins will do that to you). All along the journey Heidi has been our happy, easy-going, ever-loving family member… and somewhere in there we squeezed in dog shows and her championship…

So a very happy 8th birthday to Heidi and all the H litter siblings no matter where they are!”

A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to HEIDI HEIDI!

Auggie! Lois sends us this report:

“Here is his birthday photo in our special ‘upside down heart’ tree in the woods.

You have probably seen a similar photo before as I take it on his birthday each year. But this year you will notice a new addition.  He decided he wanted a tattoo for his eight birthday so got a big black spot on his mouth. Its benign so we just figure it’s like those barnacles I get on my arms that seem to increase every year!

It’s been a challenging year for him. The good news is that he has recovered from his shoulder issues last year due to a lot of physical therapy and finally finding an anti-inflammatory that he could tolerate.  I am sold on the benefit of Rehab as his shoulder was not able to be fixed.  Everything has improved from strengthening everything else.  He has such a strong core now!!! Last year he was limping so terribly all the docs (as well as Paul and me) were besides themselves.  And today (and every day) we take a 4-5 mile hike and he does just fine.

 He also is an avid swimmer  (in ponds, not rivers-he’s not that strong of a swimmer!)

Here he is just before launching in…

Most likely because of his seizures over the years (at least that is what the most recent specialist consult thought) he probably has had brain changes and Auggie has been having more anxiety type of behaviors but we seem to have found a drug regimen that is supporting him and he is much happier.

 Like his brother Zeke, he also has had elevated kidney function tests for several years which we have kept stable without any further progression.

 And as Toby said about Squeaker-Holden our hearts too are overfilled with the love we feel for our sweet and special boy.

Neither of our boys would submit to having a crown on their heads but they do get to have birthday pup-a-chinos at Starbucks which they think are just excellent!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUGGIE!

And to end the special day, we have Harper B for Birthday…

Harper B for Big Weekend has B for Big Plans. And yes — it involves B for Boise.