Staying Honest

A while ago I posted about my new lifestyle and promised to keep on posting to "keep myself honest".

So, I am posting to let everyone know that things are going well. Not without a few hiccups along the way, but it is going well.

After much debate and soul searching I changed my diet plan. I left Weight Watchers and joined the Biggest Loser Club online.

I think it is the single most positive move I have made.

I'm not going to trash Weight Watchers because it is a good plan and it works for lot's of people but for some reason their new program just did not work for me. I actually believe that the problem is that I exercise at a very high rate. I don't think that Weight Watchers is equipped to cope with that type of exercising and their Leaders don't have the expertise to really deal with it.

The Biggest Loser Club is great. A very similar website but their support from nutritionists and exercise experts is absolutely phenomenal. I think its what I have been seeking for so long.

So, I am very comfortable with my plan. I am able to cope with it, live with it and I very much enjoy feeling healthy and energized.

Since January, I have lost 25 lbs. I still work out at Curves but I have added my elliptical trainer to the exercise regime. I am getting stronger every day.

I am pumped!

In The Light of Day

Last night on my way home from work I was involved in an extremely serious accident.

I had two of my dogs in the van with me yesterday. I was on the road for a while and thought it would be nice to bring them along.

As I was leaving work, I opened up the crates, and for a minute, thought of letting Jett ride shotgun. It's my way of telling her that she's special. It's her turn to hang out with me. It's her privilege.

I had her out of the van and was just about to put her up front when I decided not to bother.

In that moment, I saved Jett's life.

Not fifteen minutes later did I make a left turn, when a car coming in the opposite direction, ran a red light and t-boned me.

I saw the car coming. I saw the red light. Funny, I wasn't scared. I knew the car was going to hit me and I knew it wasn't going to be a small accident. But in that second, I turned to look at my dogs in the back. I was so afraid for them.

The car hit us at full speed. It didn't even try to brake. My van took a direct hit, lurched up on two wheels and almost toppled over. It then righted itself and came down hard at which point we were hit again by another car. We spun until we stopped facing in a macabre direction.

I remember looking back and seeing Jett bounced around. I don't recall watching Porter. But Jett bounced in her crate.

When we finally came to a stop. I put the car in park. I couldn't move. All I could do was shake.

Some very wonderful people came running to help us. A lovely woman with a very soft European Accent came to my aid immediately. It was really hard for me to talk. She held my hand and told me I was OK. When I was finally able to speak, I asked her to check my dogs. I could see the look on her face. I think she thought the worst. I had not seen the condition of my van at that point. A man came up and asked what I needed. I asked him to check my dogs. He ran to the back and flung open the back. He yelled that they were fine. Jett was doing her happy dance. I couldn't see as my glasses were thrown from my face. It was dark and I couldn't find them. But I could hear Jett greeting everyone who came to look at her. I was so relieved. The police checked on them, the fireman checked them out, and the paramedics did a quick check of them as well.

In the end, we all walked away unscathed. A little sore, a little shocky and somewhat traumatized but OK. The police officer told me over and over how lucky we were. It could have been much worse. He told me that if my dogs had been loose in the van, they probably would not have survived the accident. To tell you the truth, I heard the words but I didn't "hear" the words.

This morning I got a ride to the dealership to survey the damage and get all my stuff out the van.

In the light of day, it was much worse than it appeared the night before. I actually had to stand quietly for a while and take it all in. My Van is a write off. I went to the back and opened the lift gate and it was then that I saw the condition of the crates. Porter was nearly pushed right through his crate into Jett's. The force must have been quite something. The crate was bulging on one side the the top of the crate was buckled.

My dogs would dead today if they had not been in their crates. They would have been thrown through the windows. Everything in the front seat ended up in the back. It would have been horrific.

Sometimes I find myself defending my use of crates to friends who don't use them. They think it's terrible that I confine my dogs. They actually believe it is inhumane. They think a dog should be loose in the vehicle with their heads out the window.

I love my dogs. I always have and I always will. From this day forward, the best thing I can do for my dogs is make sure they are in a crate when we travel. I will show them how much they mean to me, every time I close the gate, and slip the latch. I won't fall for the sad eyes that beg to come sit up front.

I'm very sore tonight. The Jett and Porter seem quite happy. There is no appearance of any soreness with them. They're wrestling around in the living room right now. Life is good. I bought some very special bones for Jett and Porter tonight. I think we will have a quiet evening together, on the couch, watching Glee.

Hug your dogs tonight. They deserve it.

My New Lifestyle - Something Completely Different

About a year ago I started educating myself about nutrition (human not dog).

My entire life I have been heavy. I am one of those people that loses weight, gains weight, tries every diet out there....low carb, no carb, grapefruit, soup, glycemic, weight watchers, etc. etc. looking for 'THE" diet that "WORKS" for me.

I AM THE POSTER CHILD FOR FAD DIETING FAILURE

So, after doing a whole lot of reading, research, etc. I have finally convinced myself that it is not a diet that I seek. What I actually need is to get a grip and to change my way of thinking and not try to fool myself. All I need to do is change my lifestyle.

I rejoined weight watchers a week and a half ago because truly their eating plan is sustainable and healthy. It hits all the right points and it is something that I can do for the rest of my life.

I rejoined Curves and work out 6 days a week. I enjoy working out and feel so much better afterwards. I also joined the Y so that I can mix up my exercise.

I have pledged to walk my dogs everyday unless it is too cold for them and me or its really poor weather.

I'm going to post periodically on my blog to keep myself honest.

This is a positive step in reshaping my body, my health and my mind. I'm on a new journey that I am excited to be taking.

It's Been A While

It's been quite some time since I have posted on my blog. No particular reason really. Things were just very very busy both at work and at play.

Meg and I had a good trial season. Meg Jammed her first Junior. Placed in her second Junior, and then placed third in our first Qualifying Stake. With limited trialing it was a successful first season.

I brought Meg home in October for a break and then at the end of November Meg flew off to Colorado to train with Kenny Trott at Horsetooth Retriever Kennels. As of a few weeks ago, Kenny, Marcy and the crew arrived in Texas for the "winter trip". So far so good. Meg is getting along famously and from all accounts working well.

I'm planning a couple of trips to Texas in the next couple of months and I'm really looking forward to it, as I didn't get to go last year.

Since Meg has been gone, Jett was somewhat depressed. She didn't have Logan to play with so....I am fostering a beautiful golden retriever named Porter. Porter is about a year old so he is still quite the puppy. Porter's future will be in the show ring. I'm just very fortunate to have some time with him.

You may recall the puppy fits I had with Meg with her determination to "be free". Well, Porter puts all of Meg's efforts to shame.

Today, I went out and bought a new door for the grooming room. I had Rona Hardware saw the top off at a point where Porter can't reach his paws up to. Tomorrow, the new door is being installed and Porter will spend his alone time in the grooming room with no way of escape.

Jett and Porter love each other. My plan is to put the two of them together in the grooming room. They can play, chew on bones, sleep....do whatever their little hearts desire. The only thing Porter won't be able to do is get into the food bins, chew up my boots, distress my cleaning lady, and in general,...get into trouble.

Although I sound like I'm complaining, Porter has been great company for Jett and he's very playful and very sweet. I've got him figured out though. He's smarter than he looks. I can no longer be sucked in by his antics. I was talking to Porter's owner the other day and I told her that Porter was exactly what I would consider a golden retriever to be like. His temperment is awesome. He is generally laid back and sweet. He doesn't fight with other males and he just wants to have fun. Porter makes friends with everyone he meets whether they be animal or human. He has such a gentle way about him. He manages to wrap everyone around his little finger. It's quite amazing actually. Marcy says that Miikka makes her laugh. Trust me when I say that Porter genuinely makes me laugh. I really enjoy having him around.

Sherhaven's Wee Highland Fling

Today, I said good-bye to my best friend after 12 1/2 years.

It's important that I tell you the story of Logan because sometimes people don't understand the bond that people and their animals build and what our best friends teach us and how they change us.

When I moved out to the country with my first dog Kinsey I decided that she needed a buddy and I waited for a year for the right breeding. I wanted a male golden retriever and I wanted to show him. That was the plan.

Along came Logan. He was pick of the litter and beautiful. I was short on cash because I had to buy a new car and I had just bought a house. The car was a surprise and not in the budget, but I really wanted Logan. I sold a family heirloom to purchase him (my aunt's engagement ring). My aunt loved animals and had a poodle at one time. I knew she would understand and I believed wholeheartedly that she would approve. I brought Logan home in August.

Kinsey and Logan forged a friendship quite quickly and we were a happy little family. I started taking Logan to show handling class and things were looking good.

When Logan was 6 months old I started questioning his vision. Shortly thereafter Logan was diagnosed with cataracts on both eyes, a circular nystagamus and a brain lesion. How, why we never knew. The plan for Logan changed and it changed for me.

When Logan was 18 months old he had cataract surgery however, sight for Logan was not to be. The surgery did not go well and he developed scar tissue over BOTH corneas. Logan's life from this point on was destined to be different.

I was told by many to "put him down". Others said, "send him back to the breeder and get your money back". Others could not believe that I would keep this dog. I never ever thought of giving him up or sending him back. Putting him down was not on the agenda.

I became literally Logan's "seeing eye person". We worked it out. We had a system. I clapped - he followed. I put a bell on Kinsey's collar so he could follow her. I moved furniture so he could get around. Logan was never left home - he was always part of the party. Logan even went hunting. He sat in the blind with me. He was never left out.

Logan swam and in fact, he would throw himself off the dock and retrieve bumpers by scent. He was a good swimmer. We all laughed because he and Kinsey would "tag team" retrieve. Kinsey would launch herself off the dock with Logan in pursuit. Kinsey would retrieve the bumper and hand it off to Logan who followed the claps and my voice and brought it back to me. We had a great time playing that game. He went on every walk, he came to work with me, he went everywhere. Everybody loved him.

He was afraid of the sound of the wind if it got really windy. It would send him into a panic. I would bring him up on the bed, put him under the covers and hold him. He would shake and shiver for a bit and then eventually he would calm down and go to sleep. Thunder was another thing that could send him off the deep end but the thing that really shook him up was the sound of the computer music when the computer came on and when it turned off. I just stopped turning my computer off when he was around.

Being blind, never stopped Logan. This is a dog with the most heart I have ever seen. He managed to slip out of a friend's house one time and went on "a toot". I got a panicked call at work and flew home to search. He was found approx. 1/2 mile from my friend's house swimming in a pond in someones yard having a blast. He wasn't worried - he was having fun.

Logan played with all the dogs and was the king of "de-poofing" toys. I have swept up more stuffing out of toys than I care to discuss. Logan loved shoes and needed to have a shoe in his mouth when you came in the door because he knew he would be chased by me to get it back. He would roll onto his back with the shoe in his mouth and a goofy grin. He would get his tummy rub and then give up the shoe. This was the routine. In the evenings he was my couch buddy. He got up on the couch and we assumed the position - me at one end and he at the other with his head in my lap. I would stroke his ears and he would groan. We spent many a night that way. He was a great comfort to me and I think I was to him.

Logan had a fabulous relationship with my nephew and my sister. He loved them. I don't think there was a single person that Logan didn't like.

In the last few years age began to tell on Logan. I always worried what would happen if he lost his hearing too. I was worried he would be in a world of his own and afraid. I worried about that a lot.

So in the last year his hearing do go. Not entirely, but enough that it could get him into trouble. We went to Plan B which included louder clapping and now his walks were on a flexi. He still rode out to the end of the flexi. He never clung in close - he just marched on. He became afraid of swimming which was hard to see so I went to ponds where he could puddle and to the beach where it was shallow. I walked in the water with him. He really like the water and I didn't want to see him lose that joy.

And snow....my how he loved the snow. He rolled in the snow endlessly. It became hard to walk him because all he wanted to do was roll!

In November, I had a scare with Logan but he bounced back and I breathed a great sigh of relief. I really thought that we had dodged a bullet. I knew whatever was ailing him would reappear but I needed it not to happen too soon.

Dogs are incredible creatures and I know they sense things and worry too. I was scheduled for surgery in early January of this year and he went to my sister's while I was in hospital. I could tell he was worried when I left him with Cathy. I was out of hospital 3 days later and stayed at my sister's for a week.

I brought Logan home with me to recouperate and he was my constant companion. If he hadn't been here I would have been totally alone. It would have been unbearable. He and I assumed the position on the couch and pretty much spent the last two weeks that way. I really needed him in these past two weeks and I believe he knew that. I think he waited.

This weekend, Logan took a turn for the worse and by last night I knew it was time. I sat up all last night with him just like we had for years - me at one end of the couch and he at the other with Logan resting his head in my lap.

This morning I took that horrible drive to the Vet and said good-bye. My heart is broken and I cannot stop the tears.

I can't tell you all the life lessons that Logan has taught me, but for sure he taught me never ever to not try. Logan always tried, always wanted to do stuff, always wanted to be active - he never gave up. NEVER. Until today. The spark left and he had given all he could. I think he hung in there for the last two weeks for me. I really do believe that. I believe with all my heart that he knew that I needed him. He was a friend that was "there for me" and that's what friendships are all about.

I just hope he knows how much I loved him and how much I am going to miss him. He was my buddy and there will never be another one like my Logan.

Our Big Win!

I'm so proud of my Meg.

At the second last trial of the year in these parts Elmingo's Prime Suspect (Megan) WON the Puppy Stake at Mountain Valley!

I couldn't resist posting this picture of Meg and I. It's probably one of the nicest that I have.

Since the trial season is over, we're spending our time with some light training and hunting.

Next weekend is the big Dovetail Kennels Pheasant hunt and shortly thereafter it will be time for Meg to head south for the winter.

I'm going to miss her....

Noula - The New Star

This is a picture of a friend of mine, Margot, who, over the years has owned several Irish Water Spaniels. I met Margot, 11 1/2 years ago at Handling Class. I was learning to show Logan and Margot was teaching the ropes to Claire. Over the years, Margot has done obedience, conformation and field with her Irish Water Spaniels. For years Margot has been telling me how adorable Irish Water Spaniel puppies are and when Libby had her first litter this year, I went off to visit and was instantly "sucked in" by the IWS charm. Yes, Margot, they are adorable.

Margot kept one of these puppies and her name is Noula. Noula is also known as Noulie and affectionately called "Noodle". Whatever we call her, Noula is a doll and was the hit of training this past weekend. Below are a series of action photos of Noula's first swim and water retrieve.

This picture was taken of Noula on Saturday at training. She puddled around and spent a great deal of time at the line watching "the big dogs". She found it all very interesting and was very intent on watching what all was going on.

These next pictures were taken on Sunday when we trained at a local quarry.

Check out that water entry!!! Go Noula Go!!! Go Noula Go!!!

Amost there......

Got it...what a proud puppy and she turned right around and brought it back.

And away we go....let the games begin.

There you go Margot. Won't be long before she's ready for Master Hunt and maybe Field Trial???

THE BIRTHDAY BOY!

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Better late than never!!! On June 25, 2009 my Logan turned 12 years old and I felt it fitting to celebrate this milestone.


So....I bought a Birthday Cake, some party hats and brought them along to the Mountain Valley WC's Tests at Christie Lake Conservation Area.


Once we all had a piece of Logan's cake, I made sure he got a corner piece!



Although Logan is blind, he is in extraordinary condition. He is happy and in good health. We walk everyday and he swims and retrieves bumpers with my other two dogs. He is my couch buddy and an all around good boy.


I'm already planning Logan's 13th Birthday Party for next year!

Meg's First Trial

If Marcy says she's been lazy about blogging I don't know what to say about myself. I have really been bad about keeping up to date.

Well, Meg went off to Dovetail Kennels in early May to start her formal field training. So far, so good. She is getting along well with everyone. She sailed through Force Fetch and Collar Conditioning and is now on 3 handed casting. She is getting stretched out more and more on her marks and is just tremendous in the water.

So after 4 weeks with Sandie we decided to enter Meg in the Longpoint Retriever Trial Puppy Stake. Pete Ferin handled Meg while I was at another Stake with Jett. I managed to run over to the Puppy Stake in time to watch the land series. Pete did a great job and in the end came up with a 4th place finish! The picture above is Pete and Meg walking to the line for the first mark.

Pete's pretty happy handling Meg. He adores Meg and she's quite fond of him. They make a nice pair. I have to keep reminding him that Meg belongs to me!

Flyer Day!

Just before we left to come home we had one last Flyer Day. I handed Meg over to Sandie and told her to "have at her" while I helped Pete with the flyers. This was Meg's very first flyer. She was extremely excited and had a great time. She also learned that she couldn't be pulling people all over the place and that "sit" means "sit". Meg had a wonderful time in Alabama.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

We spent our first weekend in Alabama attending the Montgomery Field Trial which is held annually in Greensboro, Alabama at the State Cattle Ranch.

The Cattle Ranch is a very interesting place. It is, in fact, a prison and the inmates take on the job of gunners at all the stakes. The Cattle Ranch used to be a fully functioning self sufficient enterprise. Catfish ponds, farming and cattle were the mainstays of the workings of the ranch. The size of this place is unbelievable.

The inmates here are pretty much "lifers". These are not petty thieves. They got to the cattle ranch because of good behaviour and are model prisoners.

There are no fences, no guards that you can see and cars and people drive through the property at will. Nothing holds the inmates in. If they wanted to go, they could. Interestingly, they don't.

The former Warden of the Cattle Ranch is a dog person and trials his dogs. You could book time to train your dogs on the property, pay the inmates to throw for you, and invite the warden to come along and train. It all worked out very well.

About a year ago, the Cattle Ranch was sold to Forever Wild, a conservation group. Their mandate is to return the property to its former state and create a large scale habitat to support wildlife conservation. The Cattle Ranch as it was no longer exists however, the actual "prison" is still intact and inmates do live here. There is no more farming but you can hire the inmates to work for you.

During a break in the action we took Jett and Meg and let them have a swim in one of the ponds on the property. They certainly had a blast. Meg loves the water and so does Jett. I love watching them play and have fun. They really get along very well together.

Not only did the girls have fun, but our Canadian contigent did extremely well in the Qual on this particular weekend. Lorne Langevin won, Dan Devos got 2nd, Peg Willibond got 3rd (honorary Canadian), Connie Swanson got 4th. Pretty much a clean sweep.

We're Baaaaacccckkkk!

Well, our Alabama training trip is over for yet another year. This year I took 2 dogs with me. Meg and Jett made the trip while Logan spent the 2 1/2 weeks with my sister.

This was a big trip and primarily my goal was to acclimatize Meg to life with the pack at Sandie and Allan's because when they get home from Alabama it will be time for Meg to go in for training.

Jett is an old veteran but Meg is totally "green" to the whole atmosphere and I must say the experience didn't faze her one little bit.

She learned to swim, made friends with the pack leaders, Annie and Millie, cuddled up with Sandie and Allan, learned what real birds were all about, experienced the tie-out and riding in the "big truck". Meg is a trooper and did just fine.

The pictures below are of Meg's first time in the water. She loved it. She is now an accomplished "water dog". She just dove right in and couldn't get enough!

Once Meg, got in I couldn't get her out. It was the best fun she's ever had. This picture was taken as I was attempting to get her out. If she could speak I guarantee she'd be saying "Come on, throw me another!!!"

Not to be forgotten, Jett worked really well while we south. I was really happy with her.

I have lot's more pictures and stories to share in subsequent posts. Suffice to say, we had a great time and I can't wait to go back next year.

The Escape Artist

Meg is an "escape artist" and she's loving every minute of it!!!!

Meg is good as gold - when I'm home. She sits and looks at you with adoring eyes with her head cocked on the side but deep down inside a devil is lurking! Meg is very smart and quietly devious.

I feel bad leaving Meg in her crate for too long. I have hired a dog walker who comes in Monday to Friday at 1:00 pm. Jennifer takes Meg and Jett for a walk. When she brings her back Meg and Jett go into the kitchen with chewy things, toys, bones, 2 beds, the whole nine yards. The baby gate gets put into place and life is good.

Or so it was for a while. Apparently the arrangement doesn't sit well with the youngest member of the pack.

I came home a week ago to find Meg sitting on the step, inside the door waiting for me to come home, a piece of toilet paper hanging precariously from the corner of her mouth and her tail wagging furiously. Upon greater investigation, toilet paper was strewn from one end of the house to the other. Jett, looking terribly worried, was still in place on the other side of the baby gate in the kitchen. As nothing was out of place I could only deduce that she had climbed over. Sigh....

Marcy suggested two baby gates, one on top of the other. Great idea Marcy but we didn't realize that Meg was part mountain goat. This did not work either. Poor Jett. Again, Jett is still sitting in the kitchen behind the baby gates. What a good girl. Meg, on the other hand, greeted me at the door with a bra in her mouth. Another sigh...

Today, we tried a different approach. Thinking that maybe Meg felt the need for more space,I blocked off the living room. I gave Jett and Meg the kitchen and hallway. Then we took cardboard and covered the baby gate so that she couldn't climb up using the holes as toe holds. We then took the baby gates and tied them to the stairs so that Meg could not get up the stairs and couldn't knock down the gate.

Once again, Meg made me look like an Amateur! I never knew how much fun and tasty cardboard could be!!! Yup, you guessed it. The cardboard was torn to shreds and littered everywhere (except the kitchen and hallway, where Jett was trembling with worry). Meg, was upstairs asleep on the bed. Meg has very busy days and needs her sleep.

SIGH............ I am sure the saga will continue.

I'm going to send Meg to Doggy Daycare tomorrow while I mull over my options. I'm running out of ideas. I just think she's too young to spend a whole day in the crate.

Did I say that I still love my puppy?????

THE NOT SO PERFECT PUPPY!!!

It's amazing how dogs learn. The perfect puppy, Meg, who is the apple of my eye, has learned how to use her middle finger!!!

We went from being the best little girl who listened and did EVERYTHING on command to the really cute little dog who doesn't listen to a word I say.

Apparently "here" actually means run in the opposite direction with a toy, a bird or anything one can find as fast as you possibly can so that big meany can't catch up to you!!! It has been a very long weekend. What does get into them?

Did I say she was cute???? Just in case I didn't, she is still cute.

Back to the drawing board and the "really really long line"

We're Getting Brave

I'm getting brave.

I just figured out how to post pictures on Canadian Hunt Dogs and I have just officially introduced Meg to the "Canadian Retriever Community". I'm in for a terrible amount of ribbing since I have switched breeds and this doesn't go unnoticed.

I have had golden retrievers for the past 15 years and I finally decided that I wanted a lab.

Meg has settled in famously and she is just a dream. She is funny, smart and gets along with everybody.

We, the goldens and I, are having lots and lots of fun with Meg. Jett and Logan might try to tell you otherwise but I guarantee that they are having the time of their lives with little Meg. Jett finally has a playmate again and they are so incredibly compatible that its great! Logan doesn't seem his age anymore and he's even getting in on the action. Our little Meg has breathed new life into a couple of old farts. Well Jett's not really an old fart, but Logan is - but not any longer!!!

Meg is the hit of doggie daycare and obedience. She has a repertoire of sit, shake a paw and stay. She's working on down but I usually get everything else before the down. Apparently, "down" is going to be a problem. Well, it may be a problem but its very entertaining nonetheless!!

Here's Meg

It has been a while since I last posted and things have changed dramatically since October. Meet Meg (Megan) also known as Elmingo's Prime Suspect.

Meg joined our household a few days before Christmas. I flew out to Calgary to pick her up in the middle of two snowstorms which made air travel very difficult. Our trip home, which should have been a 4 hour flight, ended up being a 17 hour marathon. Through it all, Meg was a trooper. Not a peep out of her.

I have two golden retrievers and this is my first lab and I love her to death. Meg is absolutely the best puppy and the easiest puppy I have ever had.

Meg and Jett have forged a very good relationship and rip and roll around the house playing for a good part of every day. My old guy, Logan, even likes her. He tries to get in and play every now and then. I've even caught Meg and Logan curled up together. It's very sweet.

We started puppy competition obedience three weeks ago and Meg loves it! Mind you, anything involving food and/or treats is a big hit with Meg.

The weather here has been horrible - very very cold and very snowy so that makes things difficult for field training but we manage to get in some work. Meg is retrieving and bringing back bumpers and birds to hand. I can't ask any more than that. She is phenomenal.

Friday Night Hunt

I got home from work a little early yesterday and it was such a perfect afternoon. The sun was shining, it was quite cool and there was just enough wind to make conditions good for hunting...or so we thought.

As it turned out the fields we hunt have been abandoned. Not sure where the birds are going, we're going to have to get out and scout around.

All in all a nice night though and it's just good to get out in the fresh air. No birds, but the dogs had a good time.

This is Kinsey

This is a portrait of Rimfire's Kinsey Millhone WC, JH done by a very good friend of mine, Peter Ferin.

I debated about going back over old things in my blog but then I realized that if I didn't put something in about Kinsey it was being disrespectful of a dog that meant so much more than just being "just a dog."

Kinsey was my first dog and she came to me as a 7 week old puppy at a very difficult time in my life. My mother was terminally ill and I was forced to quit work to stay home and look after things. Had it not been for Kinsey, and the joy she brought to both of us, at that time I don't know how either one of us would have coped.

Kinsey was by far, not the easiest of dogs. She was very opinionated and stubborn beyond belief. She was quite independent and at at times even seemed aloof. But when it came to seniors and children her true colours came out. Kinsey adored seniors. She would cuddle and lie beside them with her head in their laps. She loved kids and would play forever with them. Kinsey loved the cottage and was a phenomenal swimmer. She would troll the lake for hours, exploring every nook and cranny. It gave me pleasure to watch a dog do what they were supposed to do. No leashes, no rules - just go and have fun. Kinsey had lots of fun.

Incredibly, and this may sound terribly corny, but through Kinsey, my life took an entirely different path. Because of her, I moved to the country. Because of her, I joined a training group and learned about hunt tests, field trials and obedience. Through her, I made so many new friends that I know will be lifetime friends. Because of Kinsey, I learned to hunt and then made a whole bunch of other friends. Kinsey took me to places that I never - ever thought I would go and to places that I never want to leave.

Kinsey was a good dog and my best friend. Kinsey died almost 2 years ago at 12 1/2 years of age. Losing Kinsey broke my heart in a way I never could imagine. I still miss her every day.

Jett

This is Eslana Tealgrove Jet Set MH, Can/Am WCX, CD, also known as Jett. My nephew, Harry and I co-own Jett together.

When it was discovered that Logan had vision issues it became very clear that he was not going to be able to be a working dog. My friends Alan and Esther had this beautiful Golden named Grace and she was unlike any other Golden I had ever seen. Grace was incredible and worked like a dream. I decided that I wanted one of her pups. Jett is that pup.

Jett will be 7 years old in November but you'd never know it. She is a WILD child and has been a challenge to train. Don't get me wrong, I love her dearly and she has a wonderful personality but she's work. She can make you crazy. Jett is one of those thinking dogs that is so smart that they end up thinking themselves into all kinds of trouble. Add to that the fact that Jett is REALLY REALLY fast. (Her name fits her perfectly) You have to be 10 steps ahead of her and know where she's going to go so you can blow the whistle really quick because if you let her go too long....IT'S ALL OVER.

Jett is very funny and loves everybody. I want to get her an audition for the Loto 649 Happy Dance because she's got a routine that I figure could make us millions. She is hysterical.

Jett loves to hunt and is an acomplished upland hunting dog as well as a duck dog. We're going to do more obedience this winter and then we're off to Alabama in the spring and hopefully one or maybe two more legs of her American Master.

Logan

This is Logan.

Logan is 11 1/2 years old and has been blind since he was 3.

At 18 months of age he was diagnosed with cataracts on both eyes. He actually had cataract surgery but the outcome was not as anticipated. Logan developed scar tissue over both corneas and the result has been progessive blindness ever since.

We all call Logan my "challenged" dog. He is very sweet and very cuddly but Logan has a mind of his own.

Blind dogs are supposed to stick close...but not this boy. If given the chance he is quite prepared to go on a "toot" and wander off to the nearest pond.

Logan loves to swim and retrieve bumpers. He will dive off the dock and he uses his nose to search out the bumpers. He's pretty good at it too. He brings the bumper back and sits at heel and delivers to hand. He's a great swimmer and tries very hard to please.

The hardest thing about Logan is trying to get a good picture of him. The one above is the best I could find. I can never get him to sit by himself for a picture. Unfortunately, I'm always in it.