KORNER KOMMENTS

In 2 days my sister's dog Kaos turns 13. This is a dog that has had many health problems in her life and was always quite a challenge. She was growling at 8 weeks old and was always very civil. At a year old we learned she had severe dysplasia and we were told to start saving for new hips because she'd need them by 3. She is still on her original equipment.

She mellowed into a wonderful dog. She did Schutzhund until it became uncomfortable. She is also titled in AKC obedience & sheep herding, is a registered Therapy Dog and the tester said she was a "poster dog" for the program.

Her kid sister is Halle. She is 10 1/2, and unlike Kaos, has always been disgustingly healthy. I retired her from Schutzhund after I lost Komet, her daughter I was training. I needed a break for a while. Only thing was, she wasn't ready to quit. So 4 weeks before our last club trial, she came out of retirement. About 8 weeks shy of her 10th birthday, she attained her 7th (8th?) Schutzhund 3 with a score of 269. She took the jumps and wall better than most of the other dogs. The judge was just tickled to death by her performance and attitude. Lee has also passed the Therapy Dog test although she is not nearly as good as her big sister. She has also done some sheep herding and AKC obedience. She has 2 FH titles under her collar as well. This time she said she was ready to retire.

So Lee and Kay keep each other company while we are busy training the new kids, working and traveling as they start their careers in Schutzhund. They get to come to training on Tuesday nights because it is cool enough, but they stay home now on Saturdays because its too blasted hot here in Florida. Lee made herself useful giving new helpers their first bites. Kay is content to keep the spectators company.

They both have always loved to travel. They've twice been to Niagara Falls, Rock City & Grandfather Mountain. They've gone to Gatlinburg many times. But as Kim and Riot mature and progress, Kay & Lee get left behind more often. Kay's health doesn't allow her to be as active as she used to be, so she stays at Nana's house instead.

A few weeks ago we took them on a weekend jaunt. A nice easy little trip, just the two of them. Spent a couple days driving home through South Carolina & Georgia. They went hiking and sightseeing. They splashed in the streams and admired the waterfalls. Wandered around St. Augustine & got their pictures taken as pirates. Kay put her paw down when it came to the eye patch, but Halle was game!

Best of all they were doing what they loved best. Being with their respective mom's and each other on the road. Not having to share the motel beds with the young whipper snappers. Sticking their heads out the window when moms were getting something to eat, being admired by or scaring passersby or even better, raiding the cooler and eating all the snacks before moms came back! When it was over, they slept the rest of the way home. Kay especially was sore and tired, but oh, what happy dogs. At her age, it may well be the last trip she gets to take. If it is, she'll have some wonderful memories of time well spent.

I also came to realize how important it is to take the time to make those memories before it is too late. Soon after we got back Halle became sick. It took a while to get it diagnosed, but we now believe she has developed an uncommon form of diabetes called diabetes insipidus. It doesn't have anything to do with sugar levels. She responded well to the first few doses of the hormone used to treat the disease. She hasn't consistently responded as well as hoped for and we are trying to stabilize everything and find the magic dose. Overall she is doing much better. But it was scary how fast such things can happen. One day a healthy dog, swimming faaaaar out into a lake because mom asked her to go get the tennis ball that was floating away. Then before you can blink, having to spend four days in the hospital.

So don't forget to take the time to make some memories with your furr kids. Don't put it off until tomorrow. Take that walk down the beach. Throw that Frisbee in the back yard. Sit at the picnic table in the park just the two of you watching the squirrels play. You'll both be glad you did.

Chris

(Editor's note: Cathy Daugaard is the "sister" Chris speaks of in this article. Cathy has been the SEKG Secretary since 2003 and Chris has created the web site and announcement list. These are Cathy's last few months in office as she has decided not to seek a third term. We wish them both well in their Schutzhund future and hope they continue being the terrific contributors to the SEKG as well as to this publication.)

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