Lync

So so much has happened. At the moment all I can write is that I had to put Lync to sleep on Tuesday November 23 2021. I am heartbroken. He was only 8 years old. I will write more when I'm able.

Ash!

I don't post very often about Ash as he is not doing any performance things and he is done showing as well. Rest assured though that he is enjoying his life to the fullest. He is probably the sweetest dog I have ever owned and we love him very much! On September 14 Ash had to go to Calgary for teeth cleaning as well as needing some extractions. He wasn't able to have it done in town as he was high risk to put under anesthesia. When Ash was neutered he would stop breathing. Ash is MDR1 mutant/mutant. This is a gene that affects Collies and Collie crosses. It makes them super sensitive to medications and anesthesia. Some Collies are normal/normal and some are normal/mutant so they are less at risk. Anyway we drove down the night before as he needed to be at the clinic early. The surgery went off with no issues, yay! He needed both lower right side back molars pulled. The one had extremely inflamed roots and the one beside it had a cavity down to the pulp. Poor Ash must have been so uncomfortable! He also had 2 lower front teeth pulled. One had started sticking straight out for some unknown reason and I'm really not sure about the other one but I bet it was also moving. It's been just over 2 weeks since the surgery and everything is healing nicely. He still has stitches but those will dissolve soon. I am now brushing Ash's teeth. He is my first Collie that won't let me scale his teeth so brushing it is! Hopefully he won't need any more surgeries in the future.

Barn Hunt

On September 11 & 12 I entered Lync in a Barn Hunt Trial. He had competed at the Open Level a few times before but not since Covid hit. He had never managed to Q in those trials. Going into the September Trials it had been 2 years since we competed. On Day 1 we had 2 Trials, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. At the 1st Trial he Q'd! I was actually shocked as I was not expecting to! Not only did he Q but he came 1st in his large dog class and then 1st in the entire Open Class! he found both rats in just over a minute! In the afternoon he Q'd again! I was so excited! He got 3rd in his large dog class this time. He found the first rat right away but it took him a bit of searching to find the 2nd one. On Day 2 he alerted pretty much right away, he ran in, veered left and frantically dug at a tube so I called it, Nope! it was not a rat, darn, that would have given him his Open Title. We won't have another trial close to home until next September now. I will have to decide if I want to go out of town earlier. There won't be any trials until Spring now so I have lots of time to decide. There was a Sprinters Trial this weekend in Strathmore but I decided to skip it. I'll have to wait until Spring for another trial now as well. He should get his Advanced Title at that one as he is just needing 200 points for it. This really has been an amazing summer for Lync. I might try him in Nosework for something new. Ash has already taken a beginner class so if I continue on with Ash in the classes I will teach Lync at home.

Summer Time!

 

Lync at the Sprinters Trial

Lync and I are having the best time this summer! So far he tried out Sprinters and earned his Novice Sprinters Title. On August 20,21 we travelled to Strathmore once again for a Sprinters Trial. Lync earned his Sprinters Title with tons of points toward his Sprinters Advanced Title. 

On the August 28,29th weekend we went to Wabamun to attend Lync's 2nd Hunt Test. On the first day he passed and was able to add the Junior Hunter Title to his list of accomplishments! In a Hunt Test you need 3 passes for the title. He got his other 2 in July. On the 2nd day of the Hunt Test I put Lync in as we were able to just relax and enjoy it as we already had our title. Lync got all the way to his last mark. It was on land, previously to this mark he spotted a live bird in the water. I could not get him to take his eyes off it! Finally he was able to concentrate long enough to pick up and deliver his bird. The next mark was the land one. Lync kept peering over his shoulder at the water looking for the live bird. He wasn't paying attention so he did not see his bird fall. Needless to say he had no idea of where to go tofi nd his bird. That earned us a big fat fail! I was actually disappointed. I think because it was the last mark, all he had to do was pick it up and bring it back to me and we would have passed. Oh well, something to work on!  At the Club Barbecue on Saturday  night I won a gorgeous framed , limited edition duck print! I have already hung it in my livingroom . 

Junior Hunt Title

This weekend we are entered in a Barnhunt Trial. We have not been to one in 3 years! I hoping he remembers what he's looking for! 

We have one more Sprinters Trial in October. I am undecided as to whether I will go. We often get snow the end of September and I'm  not one to do highway travel on snow covered roads so we'll see. 

Westwinds Sporting Dog Specialty

 

On July 31 2021 I entered Lync in the Sporting Dog Specialty held in Calgary AB. It has been 2 years since he has been in a show. I was surprised how much more he has matured ! He looked fantastic. H e ended up winning Best of Breed, there were 9 entries. Lync will be 8 years old on the 24th of August.  There are alot more things I want to do with him and I'm so thankful he remains in such great shape !

Sprinters

 

Lync and I had another great weekend. We travelled to Strathmore to compete in a Sprinters trial. Lync had a blast! Sprinters requires the dog to run a 100 yard dash and they are timed.  The times are then converted into points. Lync's times were consistent, 9.1, 9.2 or 9.0 in 8 runs.  He received enough points for his Novice Sprinter title and is well on his way to his next level. We compete again in August.

Lync's First Hunt Test

This past weekend, July 3, 4 2021, I entered Lync in his first Hunt Test. He is at the Junior level right now. To earn the title of Junior Hunter you have to have 3 passes. Lync is well on his way with his 2 passes earned ! The last time I trialed Lync in any Field event was in 2014 and Lync was just a year old. So here we are 7 years later!  I really love doing this with Lync, to watch him doing what he was bred for is a thrill. I don't know why I waited so long. 

There is another trial at the end of August I want to attend with hopes of getting 1 more pass to earn the title of Junior Hunter. 

    

Getting set for our water mark, Lync has spotted the gunner

Lync with his passing Rosette

Good Boy!

Bringing home the duck

Changes

 Life has a funny way of deciding what is best for you. You might not see it at first but eventually it becomes clear. 

Take me for instance. My life has been difficult this year for a number of reasons.  For instance my husband is bi polar. This year has been really hard on him. He has been in & out of the hospital 4 times.  The last time did me in. I was mentally exhausted . I found working and worrying about Brad just too much. Something had to give and that something was my job.  My last day of work was June 10. I haven't regretted it for one minute. My stress and anxiety levels have gone down considerably. At this point in my life I can't ever see me going back. It's just what I needed.

I'd also like to address the "anonymous" person that left the hurtful comment on my blog. Shame on you, shame on you for not having the courage to identify yourself. Shame on you for not addressing me in private. Shame on you for not taking the time to find out what was wrong with Brad, or if you knew, not to care that he has a mental illness. Just Shame On You !

New Homes

 Lync and Andi's puppies are growing by leaps and bounds! They are pictured here the day they went to their new homes with their new owners.  Stevie was kept by the breeder of the litter and Hennessy was kept by the owner of Andi, mom of the litter 💗

MuddyFlats Bokeh ~ Remy

MuddyFlats Nightscape ~ Hennessy

MuddyFlats Shutter Speed ~ Stevie

MuddyFlats Dark Room ~ Molly

Puppies

Lync and Andi's puppies arrived on March 5 2021. 2 liver girls, 1 black girl and 1 black boy. all are healthy and doing well .

Puppies!!!

 

Lync

Andi

I am so excited to announce that Lync is going to be a father again! Andi was bred to him at the end of December. The puppies are due around March 4 2021.Fingers crossed that all goes well. 

Happy Birthday!

 Yesterday Ash turned 6! I cant believe that he is almost a Veteran! I took him for a run yesterday with my friend Amanda and a few of her dogs. He enjoyed himself.