ONCE UPON A TIME, WE USED TO BE FRIENDS!

I believe one of the benefits of the sport of showing and breeding dogs is all the friends that you get to make along the way.  And like in anything else in life, many are acquaintances, some stay for a short while, some a little longer and then there are those few that stay with you forever.  But rest assured you will learn something from all of them, for the one thing that remains a constant in this breed is that everyone has an opinion and they are always willing to share it with you whether you want to her it or not!  So listen, pick their brains, take a little of this and some of that and discard the rest.  Don�t ever miss an opportunity to learn even from the most challenging of people. 

I cherish all the friends that I have made in this breed and love my long standing friendships and welcome my new ones as well.  Some have come along with me on this journey, some have fallen away and others embrace the future with me.  I�ve learned to stay away from those that wish ill will and lack integrity and chose those that walk in the light rather than the dark.

I can�t tell you how many times that I get private e-mails from people.  They will tell me something that someone is trying to do to them to hurt their reputation and the lies that they are spreading about them.  It�s hurtful to them as a person and to their business of breeding and selling puppies or offering dogs for stud services.  And we�re left to wonder why this is.

It does sadden me when friends of mine tell me of long standing friendships that they have lost over incidences involving dogs.  Co-ownerships that have gone bad, stud dog breeding rights that never happened,  puppies that were owed to someone that never seen their new owners homes.  I see this time and time again.  People lose friendships over a misunderstanding about something to do with their dogs.  How can this be? 

Psychologically, I don�t believe it has anything to do with the dogs at all.  The dogs just happen to be an excuse for one or both people to exercise their dissatisfaction with the other person.  So it really has nothing to do with the dogs if someone breaks their contract with you or sells a puppy that should have been yours or doesn�t give you back puppies like your contract that says he should.

It�s never about the dogs.  It never has been.  It never will be.  It�s ALWAYS about the people that own the dogs.  It�s about jealousy.  It�s about control.  It�s about people wanting to knock you down a few pegs.  It�s about people wanting your level of success.  It�s about people wanting what you have.  It�s about people wanting others to recognize them like you�re recognized.  They really don�t hate you.  They hate that they don�t have what you have.  Gosh, the �green eyed monster� can cause some people such havoc.  It causes havoc to the person that the venom is spewed on and it holds the jealous person captive to the person that they�re jealous of.  And the end result?  No one wins!    I have seen friendships damaged and never the same again and ones that are lost forever��.all in the name of dogs!  

Someone on another social group that I belong to just wrote to me and said that recently someone had asked her what she dislikes about people the most.  She replied���Human nature.�  To which I replied�..just another name for �free will!�  So we choose to like and dislike people.  We choose to keep or discard friendships.  And we choose to blame it on the dogs and our relationship with the people involved in the sport of dogs.  The dogs are just an excuse for some of us to show our true colors!

From the book: "WHEN FRIENDSHIP HURTS" - Does anything hurt worse than betrayal by a close friend? Sociologist and friendship expert Jan Yager (Friendshifts: The Power of Friendship and How It Shapes Our Lives) explores failed, hurtful, and destructive friendships in When Friendship Hurts.

The book describes 21 types of potentially negative friends. The "Rival," for example, is envious to the point of malice. The "Blood-sucker" expects you to be there every moment. The "Controller" must be in charge of everything, from where you meet for lunch to whom you date. Yager lays out strategies for dealing with the problems when you want to keep the friendship, while also warning about extreme behavior and discussing triggers that lead to friendship conflicts, such as jealousy, anger, and change (of marital status or job, for example). Yager also guides you to examine your own destructive or harmful traits and recognize patterns in your family background that affect your friendships.  Overall, this book will help you learn how to deal with destructive friendships--when and how to save them, when and how to end them, and how to cope when a business friendship goes wrong. Yager, who has appeared on Oprah and other TV programs, also encourages you to celebrate the joys of positive friendships. --Joan Price

My rating:  Using dogs as an excuse for the breakup of friendships: (1) 

HELPING A CHILD SAY GOOD-BYE TO "BABY DOLL!"

It�s bad enough that we as adults have to deal with the death of a beloved pet or have to face the decision to have them put them to sleep, but helping a child deal with it makes it a whole lot harder.

I�m dealing with this right now. I mentor a teenage girl who is problematic and emotionally immature to begin with. She comes from an abusive background and was taken away from her mother and doesn�t know her father. For the last several years she was raised by her beloved grandparents. Both of them died last year and in their will they left her their old dog, "Baby Doll." No she�s not a German Shepherd, but nevertheless loved just the same. This girl has this very old dog and a much younger one as well. To make a long story short, just recently "Baby Doll" was diagnosed with cancer and she hasn�t been doing well this past week. She�s been to the vet and has an appointment to be put to sleep this Monday.

As I said this girl has many problems to begin with and especially has an abandonment issue. On top of it she is in a special needs class in high school where she is bullied and picked on. I correspond with her every single day (and I never met her, nor does she live in my state), but she�s attached herself to me and I try to be there and help her the best that I can. She has been very challenging to say the least. But now she�s has been handed another blow and that is dealing soon with another loss, her beloved grandmother�s dog. The only love this child knew was the love of her grandparents and now losing their dog is just about too much for her.

So she�s asking me a million and one questions to help her understand about the process of putting an animal to sleep and wondering if "Baby Doll" will go to Heaven. Oh if only I had a magic wand and could make the pains of the world go away��but alas, that�s not ever going to happen.

So having to prepare her for Monday and the �putting to sleep� of "Baby Doll" is one of my more challenging things that I have to deal with especially because she�s there and I�m here. She will be confused and even frightened by seeing the lifeless body of her dog after the euthanasia is performed. She told me that she�s decided to stay with her when they put her to sleep. I don�t know if she�ll be strong enough for this, but she was with her grandmother when she died as well and she�s still carrying the weight of that around her shoulders all the time. I know God put this girl in my life for a reason, but "Oh Lord, this one keeps me on my knees!"

It is best to be honest with a child about his terminally ill pet and the decision to euthanize him. Just realize that they are an appropriate level of details that should be related to the child depending upon his age. Very young children need to know that this is final and that their pet isn�t going to wake up or come back home with them.

To say that the pet "went away" or is "in heaven" without offering any other details can also confuse children. Older children need to know the reasons why this decision is being made, and why it is humane for the suffering animal.

To be or not to be present at the actual euthanasia is a question many adults wrestle with. This is a personal decision, and one that should be discussed with your veterinarian. When children are involved, some veterinarians do not allow children under the age of 5 to be present for the actual euthanasia. Some feel that very young children have a hard enough time understanding the concept of death and that witnessing the event does not make it easier to understand or cope. Even kids up to the teenager years can have a difficult time understanding the reasons why and the emotions involved with the act of euthanasia.

It is important to realize that when the humans (adults and children) are upset, the pet is, too. While difficult, it is important that the humans try to lend support and comfort to their animal friend in this last time of need. Seeing their humans upset may upset the pet, too.

Children may take a longer time to grieve and get over the loss of a pet than adults do. They may get depressed, act out or be gloomy which is normal and with time should go away. There are warning signs of severe or prolonged grief which need to be addressed depending upon the child�s age, relationship with the pet, emotional maturity, circumstances involved with the death, etc. Some of the signs of grief in children may include: not interested in usual activities, withdrawing from friends and family, eating considerably less than usual, reverting to pre-potty training or bed wetting, afraid of being alone or going to sleep, nightmares, and preoccupied with thoughts of death.

It is important that the child not be belittled for grieving the loss of his pet. It is not the wise parent that makes little of the loss of a pet by saying, �Oh he was old anyway, or we�ll get a new one tomorrow dismissing the child�s relationships with his pet. It does not matter how insignificant the pet was to adult. If the pet was important to the child, then the parent needs to recognize that and accept the child�s feelings and emotions.

To help the child have some kind of closure, a parent may want to have a ceremony for the pet like a burial or memorial service in the backyard. Perhaps the pet can have a gravestone where he is buried. Maybe he can be buried under a special tree. Maybe the child can decorate the urn of the pet�s ashes. Perhaps he would like to draw a special picture of his pet. Buy some balloons and put little notes of love to the animal inside and blow the balloons up and let the child release them in the air as if he were sending a message to his pet in Heaven.

Should you buy a new pet for your child? It�s normally not a wise thing right after the loss of one pet. One pet cannot replace another. The child needs to go through the grieving process, say his goodbyes, let go and then start to heal before he thinks of getting another pet. Normally he�s ready for another one, when he starts talking about having a new pet.

So soon "Baby Doll" will join the other beloved pets in "Dog Heaven" and we here on earth are left to grieve and miss them and wonder why until the good Lord sees fit for us all to be reunited once again!


From the book: "WHEN CHILDREN GRIEVE" - It would be a pity if this interesting, humane, and practical book were read only by parents of recently bereaved children--for two reasons. First, the book is about grief in a broad sense. Its lessons apply not only to the child whose pet, aunt, or parent has died, but also to the child whose parents have divorced, who has suffered a debilitating injury, or who has experienced other forms of traumatic loss. Second, let's face it: every child will suffer a loss at some point, so it behooves parents to be prepared in advance. As the authors say, "our task as parents is to prepare our children to deal with the experiences they will have."


My rating: Acknowledging and accepting the child length of grieving: (4)

TO HELP MAKE YOUR LIFE A LITTLE BIT EASIER

I�ve gathered some ideas to help make your life a little bit easier when you�re looking for solutions to some of your pet questions.

Just because summer is now officially over (boo hoo) doesn�t mean that ticks and fleas are still not looking for tasty drops of your or your dogs blood to help sustain them through the cooler months. Nope these tiny, itty bitty �yuckies� are not going away just yet. If you plan on hiking with your dogs, still wear lighter colored clothes to make ticks stand out. Spray your clothes with a product like Repel�s Permanone which has a chemical called permethrin. You can also use a product containing oil of lemon eucalyptus such as Repel Lemon eucalyptus Insect Repellent to use on your skin. I spray my dog�s everyday with a mixture of Lavender Essence and water to help repel these and other �buggy� creatures.

The fleas are still biting so try dabbing a drop or two of lemon essential oil (like lemon balm or lemongrass) on the back of your dogs� neck and on his rump. The citrus oil contains a powerful chemical called linalool that is toxic to fleas but not to dogs. The fleas should move on.

For the persistent little buggers (fleas) that reside in your house, here�s a trick that seems to work. Salt�..it is the perfect de-bugger. Just sprinkle a liberal dusting on rugs and carpets, banish pets from the room for a few hours, and then vacuum thoroughly. Repeat twice a week as needed. Salt dehydrates flea larvae that hatch from eggs deposited deep in carpeting, arresting the insects� life cycle.

Has your dog put his nose where it doesn�t belong and got tangled with a skunk? Here are a couple of remedies to help your dog smell like a rose once again! Rub a can or two worth of beer into his coat, then rinse with water and bathe him with doggy shampoo to remove any beer scent. Beer�s yeast cultures will penetrate the skunk sprays� water resistant oils so the brew�s carbonic acid can dissolve them. Plus, the alcohol will kill odor causing bacteria, resulting in a fresh smelling dog once again. Then you can sit down and enjoy the rest of the �six pack� of beer knowing that all is well with your dog once again.

Another idea for a skunk smelling dog is to mix � cup of baking soda, 1 tsp. of liquid soap and 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide. Work it into the pet�s fur, then rinse. Caution � keep the mixture away from his eyes! Hydrogen peroxide neutralizes the sulfur compounds in a skunk�s spray to render them odorless, while the other ingredients leave fur smelling clean.

Got a dog that hates going for rides in the car because he gets sick all the time? All dogs love cookies, but give him one gingersnap cookie 10 minutes before you leave the house. If the trip will be a longer time, give him another cookie while en route. The ginger in the cookie will stimulate the flow of his digestive enzymes to help settle his stomach, so you both can get to the destination without an incident.

We all know that German Shepherds are notorious for shedding their fur all year long. They leave their calling card where ever they go from room to room. My house dog Amber has little area rugs that I put out for her to lay on. Well she also thinks that that is her invitation to lie on my bath rug as well. I hate that when she does that. The last thing I want to do when I come out of the shower is to step on a hairy bath rug. So I found an excellent and quick way to pick up the loose dog hair lying on my bath rug without using the vacuum cleaner that tries to eat the rug. I use my �squeegee� type �thing a ma gig� that I use to wipe away the excess water on the walls of my shower. I just take it and run it across the rug and like magic it gathers any of the loose hair so I can easily pick it up and throw it in the trash. Simple and it works!

Does your dog need to go on a diet? If cutting back his food consumption is leaving your dog begging for more, there are a couple of things that you can do. Try adding some vegetables like string beans or carrots to his daily meal. This way you won�t be adding very many calories and he�ll feel fuller. Also recommended by a vet, to slim him down while satisfying his appetite, gradually substitute 1/3 of his usual food portion with canned PURE pumpkin. The low-cal addition is high in fiber, which will prevent hunger pangs.

I hope you can use some or all of these tips to make living with your dogs just a little bit easier and without breaking the bank.

IN THIS STINKING WORLD, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO BE THANKFUL FOR ANYWAY?

If you can afford to go the German Shepherd Dog National Specialty show in the beautiful state of Utah in a couple of weeks, be thankful.

Some may complain that this years National received a small entry because among other things the area of the country that it�s being held at. Utah is a photographers and a sightseer�s delight to the eye. If you�re lucky to be in God�s country, be thankful!

If you can afford it or think it�s reasonable to pay $15 - $40 to watch the streaming video of the National this year, then be thankful.

If you can afford to feed your dog natural holistic dog food rather than road kill advertised as dog food, then be thankful.

If you can afford to drive a car that holds two or three dog crates instead of having to let your dogs ride loose in the back seat, then be thankful.

If your dog won his futurity/maturity show and was chosen to represent your area, then instead of complaining about the location of the National show, remember he beat other people�s dogs that wish they were in your shoes this year. Who knows, you might be bringing home the next Futurity/Maturity Victor/Victrix, so be thankful!

If you got one of the top dog handlers in the country to consent to handle your dog at the National this year, instead of complaining how expensive he is, remember many other people wanted him too and he chose your dog to show so be very thankful.

The next time your dog loses to an �inferior� dog, remember he might not have won today, but most of the time he does. It was just the �inferior� dogs� day today. Your dog is still the top winning dog, so be thankful.

Some of you can read this blog. Some of you belong to many different dog e-mail lists. Many of you can look up all the health information you want about our breed right here on the internet. But what about all those that can�t because they can�t afford a computer or they don�t have high speed internet service or any service at all where they live. So many of you have access to the information highway, be thankful.

Some of you enjoy the comforts of your home, your car, your vacations and having a good meal in your stomachs. Not that you are any more hard working or dedicated than your neighbor who lost his job six months ago after working for his company for 30 years. You sleep well at night, while he suffers from anxiety with the mortgage company knocking on his door with an eviction notice. Be thankful.

When that mortgage company knocks on your neighbor�s door, realize that he is trying to figure out how he�s going to continue taking care of his family and coming to the realization that his families beloved eight year old dog may be making an appearance at the local animal shelter soon. Your dog lies contently by your side. Be thankful.

Every litter born that is healthy and strong and has no complications for the mother dog is a miracle in itself. No super stars. No strong contenders for Best in Show. Not this time. Not this litter. Another German Shepherd puppy rests peacefully tonight because you cared enough to find them their wonderful, loving forever homes. Be thankful.

Your dog may never win a blue ribbon or win a Best in Trial trophy. Heck he may never do any winning at all. But every time an unfamiliar car pulls into the driveway and he rushes to the window with teeth bared ready to defend you with his life, be thankful.

A gazillion German Shepherds will die in kill shelters this year. Faces with quizzical eyes peer out of the cramped cages wondering why the man that they normally love and protect is not doing the same for them. Hug your dog today and be thankful.

Every congratulations, every �well done�, every pat on the back, every well wishes received, all deserves a �Thank you� from you. It�s your day. It�s your time. Enjoy it but be thankful.


From the book: CHOOSING GRATITUDE: YOUR JOURNEY TO JOY - Gratitude is a choice. If we fail to chose it, by default we choose ingratitude. And once allowed into the heart, ingratitude does not come by itself but with a lot of other seedy companions that only succeed in stealing joy. To not choose gratitude - daily and deliberately - is more costly than we usually realize. And when we do choose a lifestyle of heartfelt, humble gratitude, we are mindful of the benefits received from our gracious Savior and those He has placed around us. By intentionally thanking God and others, bitterness and entitlement are replaced with joy and the humble realization of just how undeserving we really are.


My rating: Thankfulness: (4)

WHICH DISQUALIFICATION OR FAULT BOTHERS YOU THE MOST?

According to the German Shepherd Dog Club of America�s standard for the German Shepherd Dog, these are the disqualifications for our breed:

DISQUALIFICATIONS:

Cropped or hanging ears
Dogs with noses not predominantly black
Undershot jaw
Docked tail
White dogs
And dog that attempts to bite the judge

Surprisingly enough, all of these disqualifications (except the last one) are all physical things. That just about blows my love of the movement of this breed right out of the water. Many of you that know me, know that I�m a movement nut. Okay I admit it; I�m crazy for a good moving dog. But it�s not a disqualification if your dog isn�t a good moving dog. You just don�t show him under a judge that is �nutty� like me!

So the next time you hear someone say something about someone�s dog that can�t move out of their own way, carry a copy of the breed standard with you to show them. If he can�t move, that�s not a disqualification.

Oh there are other things in the breed that are considered serious or undesirable traits. To view them, go on the German Shepherd Dog Club of America�s website and look at the breed standard.

Some of the other things that I dislike about some dogs that are not disqualifications are: light protruding round shaped eyes. There is just something so unattractive to me about a homely face on a German Shepherd and in my opinion ones that have eyes that look like this, well lets just say he�s not going to win any beauty contest. Top that off with ears that stick out like a donkey, well you get the picture.

Missing teeth doesn�t bother me as much as a very overshot jaw or one that is undershot. Any missing teeth other than first premolars are a serious fault. I wonder why they need all those teeth anyway � 42 teeth, 20 upper and 22 lower. I wonder why it�s considered a serious fault.

I�ll tell you one structural fault that I truly dislike and that�s a bad back. Now a bad back can mean many different things to different people. It could mean that the dog is roach backed, shows a dip behind the withers, soft back, swayed back, running downhill into the shoulders, etc. The only thing that I want to see moving on the dog when he gaits is his four legs. I love looking at an iron back and a dog that carries a great top line in motion. You won�t see this dog moving with a soft back that moves every which way or a dip in his back. You won�t see the dog running downhill in motion making him look like his rear is running into his shoulders.

Then there�s the croup. A certain popular dog in recent times was notorious for producing flat croups. I remember watching his stud dog presentation at a National one year. It was a huge class, but the majority of them all had this same unattractive flat croup.

How about the front of the dog and the lack of a good shoulder? Does this bother you? I love a good front on a dog. Nothing is so unappealing to me than when I see a dog reaching from the elbow. And nothing is so shocking to me to see people show pictures of their dogs moving like this and saying what a great mover he is!

Besides a dog trying to bite a judge, there are other undesirable temperament problems. A dog that shies away from the judge, backs up, belly crawls on the ground, tucks his tail, his eyes looking as if he�s ready to bolt and say �Let me out of here�, one that growls or shows is teeth��all undesirable traits.
And how about the pigment of the dog? Ideally rich, dark colors are what we all hope to achieve when we produce litters of puppies. This is not always the case. We have lines in the breed that consistently produce washed out colors in their dogs. Of course it�s not a disqualification, but stand him next to a dog that�s richly pigmented, and then it becomes even more noticeable.

So what fault bothers you most? Is it locked hocks, kicking up in the rear with no follow through? Perhaps it�s a lack of length of coat. Or maybe you don�t like a German Shepherd that acts like a Golden Retriever in personality��loving on everyone he meets. What is it that you just can�t live with in this breed? And I�m not talking about health and genetics here. I�m just talking about the breed standard.

My rating: Disqualifications and faults of the breed: (1 - 4)

NO GOODBYES...JUST I'LL BE SEEING YOU

I apologize to those who inquired about what happened to my blog yesterday. Well yours truly was gone from morning until early evening. When I got home, I had 579 e-mails. Yikes! What a bunch of correspondence for me to shift through. Lot�s of deletions as well. I was saddened when I read the news of a great lady in the breed that passed away, Peggy Douglas. She was a very beloved and respected woman for a very long time in this breed. I never heard people say a bad word about her.

Just the night before, I read of a young champion dog only about two years old that had been hit and killed by a vehicle while chasing a wild animal. I believe it was a bear. I�m sorry I don�t remember this young dog�s name as I didn�t save the e-mail, but I felt a pang in my heart just the same. It�s sad enough that our beloved dogs don�t live long enough but to have one taken like this that was by all rights still a puppy, well that�s just too unfair.

My heartfelt condolences to the families of Peggy Douglas and of the young champion dog. They join the elite group of German Shepherd residents in Heaven that welcome them with open arms. I read on one of the lists this morning that someone wrote that Peggy would now be joining LaMar Kuhns, one of her favorite handlers and they would probably be putting on a dog show up in Heaven. So with that thought in mind, I thought I would include the very first story that I ever wrote for my German Shepherd friends when I first came on the Show List. It was probably the article that I received the most e-mails about. It was written to honor another beloved handler that had just passed away, Henry Dancosse.

INTRODUCTION TO STORY:

Saint Peter opens the Pearly White Gates of Heaven to see a young handsome male dog standing outside. �Hey fellow,� he says to the friendly German Shepherd youngster, �Come in, come in. We were told you were on your way.� But all he gets from the beautiful dog is a bark and a wag of his tail. He keeps turning around and looking down through the soft billowy white clouds as though he�s waiting for something (or someone). �Well boy, either you�re coming in or your not, but I can�t stand here all day with you. Besides no germs are allowed to pass through these doors and if I hold them open too long, that�s just what�s going to happen.� The dog doesn�t budge, but just keeps looking the other way. �Alright boy, suit yourself then� and with that Saint Peter closes the big heavy doors. The young dog finally lies down and sleeps through the night.

By the dawns early light, the dog is wakened by a feminine voice. �Alright now boy, I�m told you were waiting for me to join you.� With that, the dog jumps up and down and starts to bark with joyful anticipation. The lady appears out of the clouds and walks toward the dog. �So you�re the young champion that just had to go chasing after that bear, well now, you and I are in this together. What do you say we knock on these doors to see if anyone�s home?� Before she can knock on the door, the Pearly White Gates begin to open. Out walks Saint Peter who is smiling and says to the lady, �Welcome Peggy, we�ve been waiting for you and it appears that this dog has as well. He wouldn�t come through last night. Now he has a companion.� With that the two of them walk through the gates. Saint Peter tells them that they will both be very comfortable here because today they�re putting on one of �those earthly dog show� events. �Right this way, he tells them. Seats are limited, so you better go grab yourself one over there.�


FIRST EVER GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG SPECIALTY IN HEAVEN
by
Barbara J. Galasso

Today the tunnel of light was opened and shone on another German Shepherd great.....Henry Dancosse. But before he was allowed to enter this tunnel of light he was approached by Saint Francis, patron Saint of animals. He told Henry that God saw fit to take some of earth's German Shepherd Dog people these last few months for his own purposes. God told him that it looked like people on earth were having so much fun showing his dogs, that he decided it was time to put on the first ever National German Shepherd Dog Specialty show in Heaven because, "I'm tired of all you earthly people bickering about where to have the next National!" He told Henry that in order for him to enter Heaven that he would have to pass a test first. Now there were so many great dogs of the breed that had passed away over the years, and that he being a German Shepherd Dog handler, would get his choice of all the top dogs that were in Heaven. But he told him to choose wisely, for although Ernie Loeb was there too in Heaven, this would not be his assignment this day. No, it would be God who would be the judge of this event.

Henry was excited. Just think he said to himself, "I get to choose from all the greats that have passed away. Wow, Lance, Paladen, Rosemary, Manhattan, Hawkeye, Hammer, Andretti, Nestle's Crunch. Who do I choose, who do I choose?� Just at that moment an old familiar voice called out to him. He said, "Henry dar...ling, don't even think of taking Lance in. That's who I'll will be showing. He may have been Jimmy's dog on earth, but up here, he belongs to me. Besides, everyone knows up here as they did on earth that no one knows how to stack a dog like me,� LaMar said as he throws his hands up in the air.

"Now boys, boys, stop your bickering Charlie Chester says. Don't pay attention to him Henry. He and I were out partying too much last night, so he doesn't know what he's talking about. At this rate, if we keep this up, we might both find ourselves back in purgatory."

Just then an announcement comes over the loud speaker by another familiar voice. "Ladies and gentlemen gather up your dogs and bring them to the rings and they better be in top "Naked Care" condition" a laughing voice says. "Well, I'll be darned", Henry thinks to himself, Len Steen is still making announcements and still cracking the jokes."

"OK then LaMar you can take in Lance, I'll take in Manhattan. God should be impressed with him. He broke all records on earth. As this thought lingers in his mind, he feels a tug on his pant leg and hears a small little voice whisper, �Hey mister, I know you have a choice of which dog to show, but I was wondering if you would please take my little guy in. I know he's not much to look at with his long coat, down ears, overshot bite, and he kind of elbows coming at you, but he has a big heart and he'll really try to win for you." Henry looks at the child and remembers what he tried to practice while on earth. "To thine own self be true.� He knew he always did try to help the little guy. "Yup, I'll take your little guy in for you,� he tells her.

All the greats strut into the ring. Age certainly didn't change these guys. LaMar and Lance..........what a team. (Jimmy Moses eat your heart out). And in walks Henry with his down eared, long coated Shepherd. God asks them to move their dogs around the ring and Henry's dog hits the end of the lead and the two of them float around the ring like there was no one else there but them. No double handling was needed or allowed in Heaven. The dog�s ears stood straight up, his coat smoothed out. God points to Henry and the crowd of angels and Saints roar.

When God approaches Henry to congratulate him on his win, he says, �You did well my son. You passed the test.� He tells him, �You see as you were on earth so you are here too in Heaven. You never let the little guy down. You stood for what you believed in.....you were true to yourself. A gentleman there, a gentleman here. We don't have any trophies in heaven Henry; we just have ways of earning your "wings".



So we won�t say any goodbyes to Peggy and this young champion because after all, we�ll be seeing them again. For those who have lived and loved, they never die. Besides they�ll be too busy with the dog shows in Heaven. Hey Peggy, save us a front roll seat, will you?!


My rating: Living a good life so you�re missed like crazy: (4)

THE TELLINGTON T TOUCH

I�ve been interested in this subject for awhile. I know how important therapeutic touch can be for us humans. It would only stand to reason that it would be important to our companion animals as well. Just look how good our dog feels when we pet and stroke them. Some of them live for the time that we give them affection and attention. It�s what they thrive on.

Having been trained as an esthetician I know the importance of massage to make a client feel relaxed and comforted. It helps reduce their blood pressure and for the hour or so that they are receiving this relaxing massage, they can literally tune the world out of their thoughts. I personally feel if people got massages, the world would be a better place to live. No I�m serious. We run around with tight muscles in our neck and shoulders where all the tensions and stress of the day accumulates. Every worry that you have will eventually present its ticket to your body in the form of tight muscles, headaches, stomach problems and gastro-intestinal illnesses. I strongly believe along with other environmental health triggers that the mind/body connection helps determine how we feel. Well the same thing can be said for our dogs. Of course they�re not carrying the world upon their shoulders, but they do get stressed just the same.

I remember the first time I ever received a professional massage was when I was in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel. I had planned on getting the massage and then going to the swimming pool. When I was finished receiving the massage, I was so weak and relaxed that all I could think of doing was going back to my room and sleeping. The swimming pool was the last thing on my mind. Just see how wonderful our world would be if everyone got a massage!

The Tellington T Touch system was developed by Linda Tellington Jones, PhD who is an internationally recognized animal expert. The Tellintong T Touch system is a method based on circular movements of the fingers and hands all over the body. The intent of the TTouch is to activate the function of the cells and awaken cellular intelligence - a little like "turning on the electric lights of the body."

The TTouch is done on the entire body, and each circular TTouch is complete within itself. Therefore it is not necessary to understand anatomy to be successful in speeding up the healing of injuries or ailments, or changing undesirable habits or behavior.

This method based on cooperation and respect offers a positive approach to training, can improve performance and health and presents solutions to common behavioral and physical problems. It also helps establish a deeper rapport between humans and animals through increased understanding and more effective communication.

Using a combination of specific touches lifts, and movement exercises, TTouch helps to release tension and increase body awareness. This allows the animal to be handled without provoking typical fear responses. The animal can then more easily learn new and more appropriate behaviors. By using the TTouch and a variety of other tools, like the Confidence Course, you can assist the animal in experiencing self-confidence in previously frightening situations. Even the most difficult problems are often eliminated. You can also learn how to apply the Tellington TTouch to assist with recovery from illness or injury, or just enhance the quality of your animal's life.

The Tellington TTouch can help in cases of:
� Excessive Barking & Chewing
� Leash Pulling
� Jumping Up
� Aggressive Behavior
� Extreme Fear & Shyness
� Resistance to Grooming
� Excitability & Nervousness
� Car Sickness
� Problems Associated With Aging

I confess I�m not familiar with the techniques of the Tellington T Touch, but with the massages that I give my dogs, they�re not complaining. Some dogs even love it when you massage their toes. After all the feet carries the weight of the body. With one of my dogs, all I have to do is touch her and she collapses at my feet ready for me to work my �magic� on her. Sometimes I feel like telling her she�s a lot younger and healthier than me and I should be the one laying down getting the massage. But somehow I don�t think she understands me and if she did, she wouldn�t want to relinquish her position of receiving the massage anyway!


From the book: GETTING IN T TOUCH WITH YOUR DOG - Animal bodywork expert Linda Tellington-Jones's latest offering is Getting in Touch with Your Dog: A Gentle Approach to Influencing Behavior, Health, and Performance. Tellington developed the Tellington Touch Method (TTouch) throughout her 40-year career working with animals. Here, she offers a way to effectively influence dogs' behavior and character, as well as their ability to learn. The guide enforces mutual respect between dog and owner, stressing a relationship based on appreciation and friendship rather than dominance and submission. By using a specific combination of Touches (there are 22 altogether) and performing exercises, Tellington insists dogs' performance, health and behavior can improve.


My rating: dog massage: (4)