Jesse won out of Pre-Beginners today

It was a very hot day today, but Jesse and I arrived at Northwest Kent Obedience Show in Culverstone nice and early.

We first worked Beginners, where things didn't go as well as I hoped, amongst other things a very crooked present...

Then we did the Pre-Beginners Stays... no problem! Jesse did them fine despite the heat.

Right after, we worked Pre-Beginners and Jesse did a smashing round. I was so pleased. We were in the lead from then on.

The Beginners Stays were no problem either, luckily the sun was behind clowds then, so it wasn't quite as hot.

Well, I was totally surprised when Jesse came 5th in Beginners! We got a lovely rosette!

And what's more... we stayed in the lead in Pre-Beginners to the very end and JESSE WON! I am over the moon. Only his third show and he wins out of Pre-Beginners... what a result! My little Jesse is a star.

Obedience Show, SEDTS, 19th July

On Saturday, we had our own obedience show and I was there all day to help. I took Jesse with me also as he was entered.

It was a nice day and Jesse did a nice Pre-Beginners round. However, he messed the recall up and went straight past me for a couple of feet, then came back into the present. How strange... that cost me enough to stop us from being placed. Never mind, the judge was over the moon with Jesse and thanked me several times for bringing such a fantastic dog to the show!

Re Jesse's skin: so far, so good. He has been off antibiotics for nearly three weeks now and his skin is great. He scratches very occasionally, but nothing much above normal really! The new diet seems to work, though he still throws up occasionally if he gets hold of something that he shouldn't or - if I try new treats to see how he gest on with them.

Antibiotics finished

A week ago, we finally finished the last of the antibiotics (40 days). Jesse's skin looks fine. He'd been itching a bit again over the last couple of weeks, but I think I have pinned it down to a herbal tincture I gave him for fleas. Since I have stopped that a few days ago, the itching is almost totally gone again.

So, so far so good.

18 months old!

Doesn't time fly... Jesse is already 18 months old today!

Jesse's skin finally clearing up

For the last 2 weeks, Jesse has now been on the new food NATURE'S HARVEST Ocean Fish and Rice. We have also stopped all treats other than fishy ones. And finally, his sores are all healed up and the itching has stopped. He is still on antibiotics (another 2 weeks to go), but it seems that I have finally found a food that he can tolerate with good digestion (he is getting pro- and pre-biotics at the moment too due to the antibiotics) and clear skin! I am really glad we seem to make progress here!

I find that Jesse's coat is getting more cottony now which I think is due to the castration (it's 4 months now since), but it could also be down to the food, allergies etc. So the next few months will show.

Show Report

Show Report
Show: Culverstone
Date: 18/5/2008
Class: Pre-Beginner Dog
Judge: Michelle Newman

Thankfully the weather today was a whole lot better than yesterday, and more importantly I remembered to bring cold weather clothing!! Thanks to Wendy for her sympathetic stewarding and your company, which is always a pleasure. Thanks also to Liz for scoreboarding, much appreciated.

Only about 2 dogs didn’t book in today (29 entries), and we weren’t kept waiting once, so thanks to the competitors.

.....

2nd: Vera Marney with Weiambea Jesse James (ACS).
I really thought when this team had worked they’d probably be my winners –
you were unlucky to meet the above team today. A super little dog with a smashing attitude, and who really looks the part! I doubt you’ll be in this class for long. Best of luck.

.....

Jesse's 1st Obedience Show

Dylan, Jesse and I went to Culverstone Obedience Show today... Jesse had running order 6. He did a really nice round and also did his stays. He got 2nd Place! Wow, what an achievement for a 1st show. I am so proud of him!

Test results, part 2 (food allergies)

Right, yesterday we finally got the food allergy test results back - and they are very surprising... (0 lowest and 5 highest score)

Beef (5)
Lamb (3)
Cows Milk (2)
Pork (1)
Duck (1)
Chicken (1)
Wheat (1)

So the biggest problem are - yet again - meat proteins and milk... Great! Just what we needed... another almost vegetarian dog in the family... ha ha. Never mind, at least we have got something to go on now and can hopefully sort this issue once and for all.

I shall try the NatureDiet Fish variety and see how Jesse gets on with that!

Test results, part 1 (environmental allergies)

Yesterday, Paul called me with the first part of the test results. Jesse shows level 1 allergies to:

Meadown Grass (orchard)
Blue Grass (cocksfoot)
Perennial Rye
Sweet Vernal
Timothy Grass
Nettle
Mites - A.Siro, D.farinac and D.pteronyssinus

We will get the second part of the results (food) hopefully by the end of the week.

I have give Jesse the NatureDiet Chicken variety for a couple of days, and he's started itching quite badly again. So I have put him straight back on Lamb last night and I hope that'll do the trick.

I think I will also need to get some more antibiotics for him as although most sores have healed, some haven't yet.

Skin getting better

After changing Jesse back to NatureDiet, he has stopped throwing up alltogether! So it was the foods... His poos are fine for now, but sometimes very slightly mucousy, so I will try him on the Chicken NatureDiet rather than Lamb, which he is having now. Even when he gets various treats now, he doesn't throw up - so I am happy with that.

His skin also seems to be improving. The sores are healing and I couldn't find any new ones. He is also less itchy. He will be getting another Malaseb bath tonight to speed the process up.

Mark hasn't received the allergy tests back yet, hopefully they will by tomorrow, otherwise it'll have to be the week after.