Happy Birthday and Jesse coming to work

On Boxing Day, it was Jesse's 4th Birthday! Happy Birthday, my little boy. I can't believe that it is 4 years already since I saw those pictures of that little bundle of fur for the first time! Amazing.

We went to see Karen and David with all the dogs and it was lovely with lots of food and treats.

On Christmas Eve I had half a day at work, so I was allowed to bring little Jesse with me. He loved it at the office and everyone there loved him too. He was very well behaved and I am very proud of him.

He also did very well in the trains and got used to it very quickly eventhough he hadn't been on a train since 8 weeks old! He's a little star.

Graduation week-end in Yorkshire

Yesterday, I had my BSc (Canine Behaviour and Training) Graduation at Beverly Minster. Karen, David and I drove up there in two cars as we took all our dogs with us! I thought it was going to be quite stressful, but in actual fact, the boys were all so good and well behaved, it was no problem at all!

Here's a picture of all the boys ready to go in the Travelodge room.

Jesse being nosy

Thyroid results back

Mark called me this morning with Jesse's results. They are all a bit high, antibodies are still there.

However, Jesse's behaviour has been absolutely fine over the last about three weeks. In fact, he seems more playful again now in general. We are now thinking that his natural levels just need to be higher than average.

But so far just glad that all is fine and nothing in particular to worry about.

2nd Blood Test done

On Wednesday, Jesse had the thyroid blood test (take 2)! All went well, this time he didn't struggle either when under sedation which made life much easier. Let's hope they do the right tests this time...

Jesse also had a bath today... he looks stunning and smells devine! Shame it doesn't last long. LOL

Blood test tomorrow

Jesse is booked in for the new blood test tomorrow. I will be taking the day off so I can be with him aftewards too as of course he has to be sedated yet again...

Lab messed up + titre test results

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear... the lab have messed up and overlooked doing the comprehensive test and only did the basic one . And they couldn't have done it with a worse dog either as Jesse needs to be sedated. And being a thyroid blood test it needs to be in the middle of the day as well so I have to take time off work again... bugger!

Oh well, nothing much we can do about it... They were apparently very appologetic.

We know that the T4 is in the 50ies, so on its own looks ok, but we really do need to antibodies to see the full picture.

The titre test came back fine, Jesse has plenty of antibodies circulating in his blood against distemper, hepatitis and parvo.

Chiswick House Gardens Dog Show Demo

Flash, Jesse and I were very excited to be part of the Capable Canines display team at Chiswick House Gardens Dog Show on Sunday.

Flash did his agility so nicely, I am so pleased! 100% concentration each and every time, he never ran off, he enjoyed himself. And he did extremely well in the knock outs too.

Jesse did a rally-o demo which he naturally did very well being a competitive obedience dog. It was actually very enjoyable for me too.

Then Jesse and I did our heelwork to music routine to "Like a Prayer" by Madonna. We had been practicing in the park and at home, but I was very nervous never having done anything like it before. But surprisingly it went very well, the crowd seemed to like it and the feedback was good!
It would be nice to set up a heelwork to music group at WTDT... we'll see.

I have got some fabulous pictures of Flash taken by the official photographer, but unfortunately none of Jesse.

Blood test

Jesse got sedated today for the blood test for the thyroid (and also titre). Even under sedation we still had to pin him for Mark to be able to take the blood, but he could obviously put up less of a resistance and he won't remember it either. So overall, mission accomplished. LOL

Thyroid test booked

I have booked Jesse in for his thyroid test this Wednesday. He is much more grumpy towards other dogs as well now, so it is urgent. His coat is also not looking great, and he is very itchy for no reason that I can see.

Jesse attacked Troy

On Tuesday evening, all the dogs were waiting patiently (or not so patiently in Jesse's case) for their treat that I was sorting out from their treat tub. Suddenly all hell broke loose when Jesse and Troy were fighting. I didn't see the start of it, but Troy would never start on Jesse, so for the first time since being on Soloxine, Jesse went for Troy.

I smashed through the kitchen gate (no time to undo it properly), and apart from my bruised ankle, no-one was hurt. Jesse is very lucky to have such a good brother that would never hurt him.

So I am not 99% sure that his thyroid is out of whack again. I already thought this might be the case as Jesse has over the last few weeks become a little more anxious, a little growly towards some people (and is also itching a lot more again), so this attack just confirmed it to me and I will be bringing this test forward to next week instead of wait till August.

Great Baddow Show

What a disaster that was LOL. First Jesse followed me on the recall (though the rest of the round was very good, nice enthusiastic heelwork too), then he broke both stays on return. It was really strange too as he looked really worried when I walked back to him. Last week when he broke, I only said "sit" and led him back to the original place by the collar, I wasn't angry or anything... very strange. I am wondering whether the soloxine needs adjusting as he generally seems a little more jumpy and has had a few growls at people recently too. He is due his thyroid test next month, so we'll see.

2nd in Beginners at St. Edwards

Jesse and I had a very good day! We came 2nd in Beginners and that's even though Jesse broke his stay on return. He worked very nicely, the heelwork could have been a bit more enthusiastic, but otherwise he did really well with nice retrieves and fast recall.

Here's the Judge's Report (Linda Baldock):

2nd Mrs V Marney- WEIAMBEA JESSIE JAMES AM - COCKER SPANIEL
This was another good team to Judge. With a little bit of lagging in heelwork and finished with a clear recall. Won’t be long before you win this class, Good Luck.

And here's some pictures that Mo's husband took (she's the one with Rufus, the Australian Sheepdog here):






And here's the official pictures by Henri Miller

A funny picture

I took this picture of Jesse and Troy this week-end!

Finally getting better I think

Jesse's sore is finally clearing up, only little discharge now and not particularly painful anymore. So hopefully within a few more days, it will be fully healed.

Nearly a vet trip again

Jesse felt quite uncomfortable again yesterday and I was going to take him to see Mark again this morning, but by this morning he was much better, not in so much pain. I have decided to continue without further drugs as it's clearing up nicely.

Getting better

This morning, the worst scab came off and the skin underneath didn't look bad at all. Jesse isn't as itchy anymore and it isn't as painful anymore. I just clean it three times a day with hibiscrub and we seem to make headway now.

Vet trip after all

Yesterday, Jesse's hotspot got a lot worse. He wasn't scratching as much, but that was only because it was very painful. It also started oozing puss. So off we went to see Mark this morning, who has given him something to stop the itching, reduce the pain and antibiotics. Let's hope it'll clear up quickly as Jesse is really very uncomfortable.

Hotspot

On Friday evening, I noticed that Jesse had a hotspot on his throat area, which irritated him a lot. I shaved it, cleaned it with hibiscrub and then put aloe vera gel on it. It didn't make much difference and Jesse kept scratching. By Saturday it had expanded to about 4 times the size... I should have taken him to the vet, but as I had to get Dylan to Fitzpatrick's more urgently, that took precedence.

I tried to put a snood on him, a bandana etc but he could reach it with his backfoot even with that sort of thing on. I just kept cleaning it and telling Jesse to stop scratching.

This morning, it hadn't got any bigger at all and he is scratching much less. So it looks like I may be able to ride this one out without the vet, though of course if it isn't improving tomorrow, then a trip to the vet becomes necessary.

South Eastern Dog Training Society - 6th in Beginners

On Saturday, our club did the SEDTS Show in Warlingham. I was on the tombola stall as always, but I also worked Jesse in Beginners. His round wasn't brilliant, but the judge seemed quite happy. He also scratched in the sit stay, though he didn't break it. The judge docked me 1/2 point for that (which was fair enough).

We had a great day. I went home half way through, then went back to help clearing up.

NEARLY a Beginners Win and 6th in Novice

I set myself two goals for this season: winning out of Beginners and getting placed in Novice.

Well, today, Jesse nearly, nearly won in Sunbury and Hansworth Show in Warlingham - had he not broken his sit stay, he would have had the red rosette! What a shame! But he was working so happily and well, I am disappointed of course, but still pleased!

We have however achieved our second aim for this season: Jesse got 6th in Novice! I am well pleased and happy that we now "fit into the Novice" too! LOL


(Picture by Dave Scott)

Vaccination and 2nd in Beginners

Jesse got his lepto on 9th June. I didn't titre test him as his full vaccination was only two years ago and that lasts three years, so I will get him done later this year at the same time as the thyroid test in October.

On 13th June, we had an obedience show in Findon Downs! Jesse worked very nice and we ended up with a 2nd in Beginners! I am so pleased that Jesse is working so nicely again.

Obedience: Southern Border Collie

Jesse is back! Our first show this season and he came 5th in Beginners and did a nice Novice round. In the Beginners round he thought for a little while of shutting down again, but he didn't and caught himself well. Good boy.


SHOW REPORT by Sue Starr
5th. No.310. Vera & Jesse. D. American Cocker Spaniel. Losing 5. I really enjoyed this team Jesse really tried hard but the drifting in heelwork which then caused a tight lead costly today, which was reflected in the heelwork marks losing 3½ on lead compared to 1¼ of lead, so spend some time getting that heelwork position sound and another team that will be moving through this class. Good Luck & Well Done

This is the first time ever I had been marked for a tight lead... and I actually can't remember it ever being tight, but hey... I couldn't see myself working and the judge could. I'll be more careful next time. I know Jesse was lagging a little though and when walking past the table, he drifted off towards that - twice... LOL At least he was thinking about the treats and not shutting down! :-)

Portrait

Here's Jesse's Portrait



I like it a lot, love the colours...

Skin infection

Jesse went to the vet last week for an antibiotics injection as he has a skin infection again! I bet Cornel is spraying stuff again... But luckily it is slowly clearing up again.

Painted portrait of Jesse

I have taken part in a competition that a member on Salukis & Co held. Laura was looking for pictures to paint portraits for her portfolio. I sent a few pictures and Jesse's was chose as one of out out of 60. I am so pleased. The prize is a free portrait from her!

Here's the link to her facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Garabedians-Artwork/212014834464?ref=nf

Snow, snow and more snow

We have had a lot of snow here in January, though now all is gone. However, on 10th January I took some pictures on our walk: