The last of our “agility dogs from the 90’s” left us this week. My husband pointed out that all our first & second generation agility dogs born in the last century have sadly departed the life we shared with them. Wicked was almost 16 years old, born in February of 1997. She joins Scud and Mick, 1991, Riot and Swift, 1995, Toast & Winston 1993,  and Spy 1999.

Wicked was so decidedly not “wicked”. She loved every human and animal that she met. She was bred in England to be an agility dog and not to be one of those “herdy border collies”. She shocked us all when she showed such calm talent at moving the sheep around our fields, surpassing in skills some of our other collies who were better bred for the job.

She was the easiest dog I have ever trained, and rarely put a foot wrong.  She helped many of my friends and students learn to do agility as she got to be the lesson dog, when visitors came to train without their own dog or needed a backup dog to run at a camp. You knew you got it wrong if there was an error in the run as it was so rarely ever her mistake. She retired from her agility career at 12 years old on the same day as her best buddy Riot when they both got their 500th platinum qualifying legs in USDAA. She and I had some great moments together over the years, winning the USDAA National Championship  in 2000, and winning the DAM  team tournament with Spy and Trigger in 2004 and taking third at AKC Nationals in 2005.

One of my students called her the Phyllis Diller of dogs, she was funny and silly and could not sit still while watching her friends run. A friend penned these drawings of her many years ago, and for the life of me I can’t recall the artist. Wicked would stay on the table while I trained another dog, but not very calmly. She was usually jumping up and down, spit flying from her mouth, but she never ever left her spot on the table. These drawings are how I remember her best.

Our life is emptier and sadder without her at our heels, always a riot tug in her mouth and a smile on her face.  God speed Wickie.

NJG

The dogs and I are home alone today, enjoying a very quiet Christmas. Jim is with his family in Seattle and for a variety of reasons I decided to stay home. Our house sitter Joan was busy at her other job, and deep down I know I also wanted to stay away from my regular pilgrimage to Washington state and my family. With my Mother gone now, I was just not up to visiting siblings and driving right past our family home where strangers now reside.

Scoop and Ace and I are going out to train in the agility yard that is mine all mine today:) no guests, no classes, no students to share our space with today. Then I will take all 6 dogs on a long walk around our little 15 acre haven and enjoy the beautiful winter day.

Marcy took some goofy Christmas photos of us this week, and I learned a bit more about creating cards in photoshop while putting together our annual card. It was fun and I made quite a few versions as E-cards and a totally different one to print. Yeah, VERY late to put cards in the mail but I will get away with calling them New Years Cards! Even 15 year old Wicked obliged to hold still wearing a Santa hat long enough for her cute photo. She is almost totally deaf and blind and there is no way to tell her to stay, but she was so cute acting her usual silly self. Here are a couple photos that should have made the card.

I am looking forward to my husband Jim coming home so I can open up the Christmas presents hidden in his office. I *almost* wanted to open the edges of the wrapping paper and peek inside like I did as a kid, but I am resisting like the adult I am supposed to be! I hope that you are having a wonderful holiday with your family and your pups this year. Enjoy every moment, and never forget how short a time we have on this planet and with our precious friends and loved ones.

Happy Holiday and Best Wishes for a fabulous 2012!

My oldest dog Riot died yesterday, she was exactly one month shy of 16 years. Together her and I won 2 AKC National Championships, 2 USDAA World Championships, made the World team three times, and took home a first and a second place in the agility classes at World Championships the two years she competed there.

She was a world class athlete and my best best friend. Saying goodbye yesterday was the hardest few hours I have ever spent with a dog. Her nickname was The Babiest Dog, and Jim and I had a song to go with the silly name which like all stupid pet owners, (I am one you see) and we sang it to her all the time.  I am at peace in knowing that she is no longer uncomfortable and suffering from the renal failure she has endured the last three years. I count each one of those extra 1000 days as a blessing, and thank the vets who helped me keep her here.

Here is one of my favorite photos of her at 9 weeks and one of her two days ago still carrying her namesake Riot toy and happily having a game of tug with me.

This should have been a happy week. Clean Run put my Alphabet Drills book on the website. I am officially a published book writer. Scoop is doing better and I am dreaming that we won’t have to have another treatment. All the time off has actually been good for him. He is still an immature boy and we have a long way to go to be a world class team.

Alphabet Drills Book

Kiss your old dogs, treat them like kings and queens, and sing them a special song.

NJG