La primavera

 
 

I have been walking here in this beautiful place at least 3 times a week during past 5 months and very soon I shall pack my belongings and return home. I wonder, as usual, how it is possible that all this time spent here just vanished in one second? It must be because I love being here? And how it is possible that I didn´t find a moment to update my blog even once? Is it because I´m always busy doing something more important?

Anyway, here I am trying to write something in English though my head is full of Spanish words. Learning this complicated language has become my new hobby and I can see a reasonable improvement since last year. But I have a looong way ahead before I can manage to say what I wish to say and how I would like to say it.

My dogs enjoy being here as well. I haven´t been able to find a place to train obedience but somehow we can survive without it. Instead we walk a lot in the mountains, on beaches and around my favourite lake of Vinuela.

 
 
 
 
 
 

We have also become a part of the family in the little village where we live, or so it feels for me anyway.

I know all the neighbours, dogs and even cats. I have been helping feeding the street cats here and they are not afraid of me anymore. There is one woman here who had opened her heart for unwanted cats and ended up with about 20 of them. It feels so right to be able to support her!

 
 

Some of the cats are tame, some of them half wild but they all come out when they see me. Some would like to follow me home but my dogs have shown an absolut lack of hospitality!

The weather has been a bit unpredictable this winter. At least when I compare with last year. We had some very cold periods a bit unusual for Andalusia. I have seen snow on the nearest mountain quite often this year. And now, the whole March has been unusually hot.

 
 
 
 
 
 

March last year was a bit cold and wet, this time we have been swimming every day, the dogs in the lake and I in our pool. Every day the temperature has been well above 20 degrees. Like Swedish summer.

The only thing that worries me is the lack of water. Not only for the plants in my little garden but generally. Since I came here in November it rained a couple of days in middle December and half a day in February. That´s all.

 
 

The dogs have been very healthy and balanced all the time. No worries, just pure happiness.

Only lately I noticed Ruda had worms and had to deworm them all earlier than planned. I always do it just before we return home from travelling abroad but I suppose I have to do it once more time this year and keep doing it twice every time we are here.

They all had their Birthdays while being here.

Prima turned 7 in December.

 
 

Then Ruda turned 9 in February

 
 

And little Brita is now 3 years old!

 
 

On our walks we sometimes have company of two chicos living across the street - a chihuahua Bruto and a some kind of Spaniel Roy.

 
 
 

I must say I am impressed by Brutos strong personality and Roys infinite patience with this little guy. The boys sometimes follow us on our walks in the nearest area without their owner.

Well, I could say I made friends among people here and my girls among the dogs but that partially would be a lie. The girls hardly accept them though finally the boys have learned to show a total respect.

 

I try to convince myself that it will be nice to return to Sweden, resume our normal activities, rejoin the family and old friends back at home. But it is hard to leave all the new friends and places we enjoy so much!

Life is about making choices and it´s never easy.

I will miss the paths around Vinuela, sound of singing birds, nightly frog concerts, ringing bells of grazing goats , the sea waves and SUN!

 
 
 
 
 
 

Everyone says summer in Andalusia is unbearable so we are so lucky to be able to take the best of two different worlds! Lets enjoy beautiful Swedish summer then!

See You soon sunny Andalusia!

 
 

Fall again

 
 

I have had an urge need to update my blog for quite some time. Haven´t found an inspiration though until now.

In the meantime the whole summer has swished by and I already planned my journey to Spain in every detail.

It will be so nice to leave Sweden before it gets very unfriendly for people who like to spend their life outside.

Like me.

We have had a wonderful summer this year, as almost every summer here recently. For me and my dogs it was too hot most of the time so I didn´t train them as much as I would like to.

Instead we worked on basic condition of all four of us by swimming every day across our lake and back and walking in the forest. The rest of the time and energy was consumed by the work in the veggie garden and social life. And learning Spanish every day.

Both Prima and Ruda were spayed at the beginning of July so they needed also some time off to rest and heal afterwards. Both were very quick with recovery.

 
 
 

After last year bad experience I had no plans to compete with any of my dogs this year. I lost my motivation and did not believe I was good enough as a trainer. And then I had a long break when I was in Spain. But I did not give up my dream totally. I am a trainaholic after all!

So I started to teach Ruda and Prima some new exercises from the new class 3 program. And noticed it wasn´t so hard I thought it was. Soon there was only directed retrieve that Ruda had some troubles with. So I signed her for 3 competitions and, yes!!! on the last one she got her first excellent!

Oh how I needed this one!

 
 

Picture taken during competition by my friend Lotta

I was extremely proud of her and so happy because I almost lost my faith in us as a team! I had a feeling that despite all my efforts I couldn´t see any results when it was needed. She was getting much better on the training ground but somehow it wasn´t showing on the competitions.

Generally the program is getting more and more difficult and the judges are more and more demanding but I have never had an ambition to represent the country on World Obedience Championships! This level is only reachable for Border Collies and some very special ones.

I just wanted to get 3 excellent results to get a Swedish Champion title and I always believed we were able to get there!

 
 
 

Now, with our first excellent I still hope we can do it! Well, we are fighting against time as Ruda will be 9 next year but I hope she is going to maintain her good condition and will to perform. We will try again in the spring!

Little Brita has been approved in the lowest class obedience and may now compete in class 1. Not so many new things to teach when it comes to the exercises but she has some problems with speed.

Very intense in daily life, on her first competition she gained just enough points to pass because of being too slow. Which means I have to change a lot of my criteria and find a way to speed her up without her getting too excited. Not an easy task for me to find the exact level of activity and avoid any unwelcome sounds! But I have a plan!

 
 

And Prima? Yes, she is doing quite fine! I do not have any plans to compete with her any more as she reached the goal already but we train every day as usual and play a lot, which she loves.

After being castrated she has not shown any aggressive behaviour towards Ruda and I really, really hope that it will stay this way forever.

 

She is such an easy going dog and a happy soul, really the easiest dog I ever had! I don´t ever need to use a leash, she would never get in any troubles and always obeys every command. But, I suppose, nobody is perfect! She does not see other dogs, they are just like air to her, the only one she wants to wipe out from the world is Ruda, her best friend! I hope that now we put the end to it!

During the summer our family has been enriched with two puppies!

Both my daughter and my niece bought an Australian Cattle Dog / Kelpie mix, a female and a male from the same litter. Must say I am in love with these puppies as much as my dogs hate them. Especially my daughter´s Sheila. She is just a pure energy ball, always ready to explode! Always happy and very social! But she does not take a no for the answer! When she wants to play she doesn´t care how the others feel about it!

So when she comes in my dogs pretend they are not there!

 
 

Sheila with a constant smile on her face

 
 

Sheilas brother Buddy, a serious one

 

It´s too early to plan anything and I must say that the only breed I am really interested in is Laekenois but… With years passing by I am getting forced to admit that Belgian Shepherds are too demanding for my worn-out spine and my aching muscles. If I am to train dogs, and that´s what I`d love to do as long as I live, I have to change the breed. There are Border Collies, of course, that are much lighter that my dogs but somehow I would prefer a Kelpie! Perfect size and perfect working abilities, maybe a perfect choice for me?

We will see what the future offers! Right now I have enough to take care of!

 
 

Back home

 
 

In the end of March it was time to leave sunny Spain and head back home to Sweden. It is the time when our garden needs intensive attention as the growing season usually begins in April. I thought I had to get ready!

Well, actually, I could have waited until the end of April! It has been a very cold spring and the only plants that I could make grow was tomatoes and peppers inside of the house.

Leaving Spain was harder than I thought it would be. Loved being there! I will miss our walks on the beach and exploring new tracks in the mountains.

 
 

Thanks to all the pictures I had taken I can easily go back and experience the best moments again.

 
 
 
 
 
 

In the meantime the little puppy Brita celebrated her second birthday and, as usual, I found it difficult to believe. I thought time would slow down now when I am retired but I have the feeling that it flies even faster?

 
 

A mature lady now but still happy and playful when she has a chance and calm and patient when needed. I´m so happy with this puppy! Such a pity she cannot be used in breeding! She could be an excellent mother!

Coming back to Sweden as early as at the end of March has given me the opportunity to see all the signs of approaching spring - from a few snow storms in the beginning until the blossom of apple trees right now.

 
 

All the hard work in the garden is finished now, all the seeds and cuttings are in the soil and all the peppers and tomatoes are out in the greenhouse. Whats left now is just everyday fight with the weed and the snails. And praying for some sun! I cannot do so much more. Now it´s up to the plants and it´s tough! Nights are still very cold and I really I hope for a change soon!

The very first visit we made after coming home was at my sister´s place on the countryside. There we met a new member of the family , a puppy called Maggi, a Cocker Spaniel mix. A very strong character together with enormous energy reserves isn´t going to make my sister´s life easy…

 
 
 
 
 
 

Except gardening I continue training obedience with the dogs almost every day. Mostly in the morning, before I lose the rest of my energy in the garden.

We are making progress in learning new exercises in class 3 with Ruda and Prima and preparing Brita to start in the lowest classes. If everything goes as planned I will try to compete again in the fall.

A month ago I have decided to find another home for Prima. She attacked Ruda, unprovoked again, on four different occasions, twice in Spain and twice here at home. Any stress or excitement, positive or negative, may trigger her attack. And I know this will happen again…

I have not been seeking a new home for her actively, I just told friends around hoping inwardly that I will not find a right person. I just cannot imagine giving her away. Right now everything works well between them. I can see some stiff bodies sometimes, now on both sides, but this is something I can handle. The next thing is to have them spayed as the first attacks came just before Prima coming into season. I hope that would help! Yes, I admit, I am an incurable optimist!

 
 
 
 
 
 

I appreciate so much being here in Sweden during the springtime! Nowhere in the world the sky is so blue and the green colour is so green as here!

Welcome SPRING!

 
 


New life

Above one of our every day views from long walks in Spanish mountains. Since almost two weeks me and my dogs have been enjoying living in a little house in a little village near the city of Velez Malaga. Quiet environment, nice people and wonderful weather are what we cherish most of all.

We almost settled down after a long and demanding drive through Denmark, Germany and France. Around 3 600 km. We made few stops under the way of course, visiting friends and family but I still feel rather sick while thinking about our journey back home.

But in time I will forget. We are staying here until the end of March.

It`s Christmas time. First time in my life I am alone at Christmas and I don´t really mind. Outside it´s raining a second day in a row. I don´t mind that either, it has been so terribly dry here. And in few days the sun will be back and the weather forecast promises about 20 degrees. That´s about 30 degrees more than at home!

We are exploring the surroundings and discover places we certainly will return to. Our favourites right now are Vinuela lake and the nearest beach.

 

At Vinuela lake

Brita enjoying playing with waves on an empty beach

 

Wherever we go there is not much people around and the dogs can run as they please. I like it this way.

 
 

Prima finds the Spanish sticks as tasty as the Swedish ones.

Yesterday she celebrated her 6th birthday! Time flies!

I got her back from my son and I am very happy for that. The reunion between her and Ruda went rather smooth, it took just 24 hours and I could have them together without muzzles. I think she somehow is more friendly now and hope it will stay this way forever.

 
 

Ruda melts in in the surroundings with her colours very well.

She has been coughing lately which worries me a bit. She is healthy, happy and has good appetite so there is no rush to the vets but I feel I will want to have her checked if this continues. About 2 months ago she had a kennel cough, rather mild version of that, and recovered completely after a week or so. Later she started to cough from time to time, maybe a couple times a day but now it increased to many times. Every time she moves quickly or will be excited she gives a cough or rather clears her throat from mucus. I really should wait and not worry, but I do…

 
 

And finally little Brita. Well, she is runs in the mountains like a mountain goat. Wherever we are she is happy and playful. She is on heat now so we are staying away from places where we can meet dogs running loose, which is rather common here.

I found a park where we can start training again but I will have to wait until she is ready.

 

The trio at Vinuela lake

 
 

The trio at the beach

 

I like it here! It´s not that I don´t have to fight with some problems like the blocked pipes in this old house or the narrow and winding roads around here ( I’m rather scared of heights) but seeing sun every day repays it all!

 

Vinuela lake again

 

Last trial season

 
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Well, certainly the very last trial season for my Ruda. A bit sad finish as I really believed we could reach our goal which was an Obedience Champion title but realised now that probably we will never get there.

She can make all exercises very well, no problem with that. I am also very proud of her progress in both speed and accuracy made during last year. But all this work just does not show in competitions. We competed 2 times this season and both times she made 2 major faults or refused to perform twice which cost many points. She seems to understand that no rewards will come in trials and does not want to make an effort. She is a smart girl and I must be that stupid trainer that has not learned anything from previous mistakes… She is a reward addict and so am I…

I will give it a try of course few more times but I do not really believe in a single one excellent result anymore. But as long as she is not in heat we can try. Next year she will be a senior dog, I can see first signs of this already. She is slower and more comfortable in everyday life so maybe she is just getting old? We run all the possible blood tests today, just in case, and found no explanation there. She is healthy. Which is most important. She is my friend in the first place.

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Prima, the Border Collie, gained her Champion title already. Yesterday we earned last qualifying result. She has been trained mostly the same way that Ruda but she is a completely different type of dog. She does not ponder so much, she just performs what she was taught. I do understand why Border Collies dominate the world of obedience. They are so easy in many ways.

I am very proud of her but…it would have tasted much sweeter with Ruda! She is a real challenge!

I hope I will be a much more clever trainer with little Brita, I don’t have a choice…

Well. Enough of that.

The summer has passed without any blog posts, I just did not feel like writing anything.

It has been a very busy summer!

Very hot July gave a chance to improve general physical condition for me and the dogs. Every morning, after a long walk we swam across our lake and back because it was too hot to do anything else. The rest of the days were spent inside until evening. We have been on the countryside few times and enjoyed long walks in the forest and playing in water as well. During the days the dogs were just lying and walking around in the garden while I studied some Spanish which has become my new hobby. We had summer guests and people just visiting shortly and the garden needed some attention as well.

 
 
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Then came August with its moderate temperatures and we could go back to training.

 
 
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Little Brita is showing good potential as an obedience dog but I am sorry to see that her paw is not completely restored. The good thing is that she does not have pain in the bones as she walks without any disturbance with her shoe on. However the part of the skin that has never been meant to be exposed to hard surface after amputation of the toe is still sensitive. I hoped it would get harder after so long time but now, almost 5 months after the accident it´s still a problem for her. Or rather for me as she does not seem to be bothered at all. She is always happy and enjoys her life fully.

I could compete with her in start class but I still hope her paw will be better. I think I give it time until next spring.

And now everything is back to normal. The summer guests are gone, the nights are getting colder and the garden wither. I train every day in different places.

 
 

Usually I always feel a bit depressed when winter is approaching but not this year! If everything goes well I will spend a major part of winter in Spain where we bought a little house and hopefully learn a lot more Spanish and find a place to train the dogs. At least the two which are going with me.

It has been decided that Prima will stay with one of my sons who loves her very much so I will never have to deal with fighting dogs again. It is a very hard decision and it will break my heart to leave her behind but I do not see any other way out. The fight will happen again, it´s just a matter of time. And I don´t want to experience this once more, I have had enough!

I believe she will have loving and active home but I am going to miss her terribly!

No puppies

 
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On the picture above happy and relaxed Ruda totally unaware of disappointment I feel after checking her belly yesterday. There will be no puppies, she is empty. The time was not right probably, exactly as I suspected. Despite right progesteron value.

I feel very sad about it as this was my last chance to get a puppy that could keep my kennel alive. I cannot use Brita for breeding so that part of my adventure with dogs might be over.At my age it gets more and more difficult to have long-term plans.

I am so happy we have our obedience training and maybe even competitions to look forward to. I hope they will be allowed soon when this Covid pandemics hopefully ends.

Unfortunately the lack of puppies is not the last distressing fact life has exposed me to lately.

Except Britas accident that had damaged her paw I noticed Prima has been limping from time to time on her right hind leg. Seems to have pain in her hip although she has been x-rayed and has no dysplasia. We will make a thorough examination of her as soon as we can but it worries me and I have to limit her movement. It means I cannot train her either. And chasing sticks will be totally forbidden.

 
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Britas paw is healing slowly. Deep wounds, in one place with visible bone need long time. As soon as we see that there is enough of tissue we can try to stitch it again which should hasten the recovery.

But Brita herself lives her life happily. She has mastered her balance to perfection and moves freely on three legs. Changing the dressing every day is the only stressful moment in her life but even then she lies down by herself and does not move until released. A perfect patient!

 
 

Of more positive things I have to mention an obedience seminar me and my friend Anne attended away from home. The journey, living together in a little cottage and seminar itself was a great experience. I have changed some ways of training Ruda and wait impatiently to implement some new thinking in both Primas and Britas training. When they will be able to move.

On the way back home we stopped at the countryside and visited our friends, which gave me some kind of distance from daily troubles. This place is like balm to troubled soul!

I really hope all the bad things that were aimed to hit us this year have appeared already. The future ought to be bright and full of positive events only!

Just to keep the balance!

 

When one bad thing happens another one usually follows

 
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This is my little Brita today. Walking on 3 legs.

She was allowed to run free during last 2 weeks after the surgery and now she is facing lots of restrictions for another 3-4 weeks again. At least. If everything goes well…

Everything happened so suddenly. She run in the forest close to our house, where we usually finish our walk. She discovered something interesting behind a hill and run over there. I did not have a chance to step on the long line she was on since the surgery.

She came back after just a couple of minutes with her left hind paw severely damaged. Tattered skin, all bones broken to small pieces in one toe, partially in the second one. All muddy and bleeding.

We went directly to the practice where, after x-rays were done, Jacek had to make the painful decision of amputating one toe and a half of the other one. Then he tried to do his best to put all the pieces of skin together and stitch it.

This happened a week ago. I have been worrying sick about possible infection that we would not be able to control. That could have ended in amputation of the whole leg.

But we had a bit of luck in this terrible situation. There is no infection. But the damaged skin dies and falls off piece by piece exposing deep wounds that will take ages to heal.

Brita herself has adjusted well to her new life on three legs. She wants to run and play now and keeps the balance very well. She rests a lot of course but I could stop giving her painkillers already after first 5 days. Her paw looks terrible though. I have to change her bandage every day and I see how it is getting worse every day. But I have seen horrible wounds in my life. I know it will heal. It´s just so hard to deal with it at home with my own dog.

I am very low. Can´t think of anything else. Blame myself for not being able to protect her. But the place where it happened has been a part of my favourite route for 15 years. I felt safe there.

There must have been some kind of junk dumped in a swamp her paw was trapped in. She must have pulled the leg with effort. She has small wounds on all legs. We tried to find the place to clean it but could not locate it.

I will never let her run without holding that line again!

Happy news, sad news and hot news

 
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It’s been such a long time since my last update. I did not feel like writing anything, I have been really low, very affected by Britas condition. Despite so many years spent working as a vet nurse I am totally broken seeing my own dogs being unwell.

The only thing I could do, when I was not occupied with something else, was playing bridge with robots. To kill the time and take my thoughts away. Highly recommended way to forget about reality!

But, happy news first! About Britas rehabilitation.

It´s with great relief I claim we have left the difficult time behind us now and Brita seems to be totally recovered. We started from short walks to the garbage bin, made a lot of exercises recommended by our rehab therapist, done some swimming in the dog pool and now she is allowed to run freely in the garden. She has never been lame or in any other way showed weakness on the right side. Her muscles are equally developed on both sides and a bit bigger that before the surgery. Everything seems to be back to normal and her chances for long and active life are obvious now.

In the meantime she was in season for the first time and celebrated her 1st birthday. Except her lovely character I love her looks though I would like to have some more furnishings of course. It´s such a shame I would never be able to use her for breeding…

 
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Now sad news. About Orca.

On April 5th my husband veterinarian was called to our friends taking care of the old lady. Her condition has worsened dramatically in the evening before and the right decision has been made. She was euthanized at home with people around who loved her dearly . She was my oldest dog ever, 14 years and almost 4 months old. I am so happy she could spend her elderly days being loved and spoiled by my friends. Run free my very special friend!

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Time for hot news! About Ruda.

We have been to Tibro and visited the male called Puzzle. Hopefully the result of this visit will be seen on ultrasound examination in the beginning of May!

But not everything went smooth this time.

As she is 7 years old I wanted to be sure she is in good health before the mating. Except physical examination I have even done an official eye examination, just in case. I thought it was just a formality as she was clear before but this time I was rather chocked when the veterinarian told me she had a very mild grade of Y suture cataract in both eyes! The word “cataract” sounds terribly serious in my ears so I thought my dog was going blind soon!

Hopefully, after talking to the vet and reading all the science material I could get I found out that this condition does not affect the dog’s sight at all and does not exclude from breeding according to the Kennel Club.

And I suppose many dogs used for breeding carry this disease but nobody knows about it since breeders check the eyes in young dogs only.

With this obstacle ruled out I was patiently waiting for Ruda to come into season. As usual both her and Prima started at the same time. But then something happened. I know Rudas heat cycle very well. Or, at least I thought I knew. For this time everything went with high speed. Puzzled by their sexual behaviour I run progesteron test on her and found she was very high! At least 5 to 6 days before I expected! I packed and drove with high speed myself and really hope this was the right time!

Well, we will know soon. In all the hurry I forgot to take my camera with me. So I found an old pic of him and Ruda and put it together. Once more I was really pleased meeting him! Such a lovely character in Laekenois is hard to find! Friendly, playful and totally confident! I really have high hopes for this combination!

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Now we shall not forget about Prima. Nothing really new about her. She has been nice to Ruda for a long time now and I hope that things will stay this way.

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Otherwise our life is almost back to normal now. I try to train as often as possible now when the snow disappeared. However we have had lots of rainy and very windy days and sometimes walking in the woods seems to be brave enough. Today it’s such a day with stormy northern winds. Cold and frightening. I just hope no trees will fall on our house. We have some real giants around that might break any time!

When it comes to training both me and my training mate Anne with her Border Collie Alvin are feeling we are not making enough progress lately. That´s why we have planned a 2 day long obedience seminar with a very well known trainer for the holiday of May 1st. That will be fun! We are going to travel away and live in a little cottage together and all that is a bright element of our rather grey reality.

And I hope a real spring will come soon! We have had few really warm days just to wake up the desire and make the earliest flowers bloom and then the cold was back again. I admire the nature for being so adaptable to all the conditions!

 
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