MACH Samurai

MACH Wingssong The Seventh Samurai MXB MJS OF T2B

Oct. 25, 2014

 Samurai earned the 20^th QQ for his MACH at this trial. We celebrated at the trial with a cake decorated with the Japanese kanji character meaning, “Samurai”. The “i” in Samurai was dotted in red symbolizing the red sun symbol of Japan.

Samurai was named in honor of my Japanese aunt, Chieko, who passed away shortly before we adopted Samurai. His registered name was taken from the classic Japanese movie, “Seven Samurai”.

Samurai, who was a troubled, reactive puppy, was named after the movie’s character,  Kikuchiyo.

Kikuchiyo, the seventh samurai, was a brash, silly farmer. He only pretended to be a samurai, but in the end, he became a hero. We gave Samurai this name in hopes that he would someday find his way from being a crazy puppy to being a good dog.

It was a very long journey. Samurai’s reactivity made it difficult for him to go to classes. I trained him mostly alone and then added classes as a distraction. From the beginning, I didn’t dare hope that he would ever be able to go into the ring. Later, my highest goal for him was an Open agility title. Even earlier this year, I thought he might not ever have enough focus to have consistent weave poles.

Then, we nearly lost him summer before last due to chronic digestive problems that made it a constant battle to keep weight on his skinny frame. After being diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disorder, we changed him to a raw diet supported by Chinese herbs. Samurai gained weight and became stronger. His tummy no longer hurt as much, so his attitude improved, too.

We are very proud of our brave little Samurai and look forward to many adventures to come.

3 QQ Weekend for Samurai

Samurai made a clean sweep of the weekend, bringing home his 17th, 18th and 19th double Qs.

I had just told a friend that I didn't expect him to finish his MACH until next year.

I'm hoping this means he'd like to get it done just a little sooner.

Samurai Celebrated 17th and 18th QQ at Antique Archaeology

He met this foxy friend along the way. Looks like he found his twin.

Taylor at Antique Archaeology at Le Claire, Iowa

Luckily, the staff didn't try to pick him as their shop dog this time. But he still seems to fit right in.

Sunset on the Mississippi

Samurai

Everyone is So Tired Tonight

Outside the Ring: When Sad Times Come

End of summer (and other things).

Sometimes, you try very hard and do all the right things. But life moves along by unseen design. And often, the things you want very much not to happen, do.

In late July, our old Toy Fox Terrier, Shaunie passed away. He was 17 years old and we'd been expecting it. 

But as much as you know the end of a life is coming, it doesn't make it any easier when it finally comes tottering and blinking to a close. 

Drifting off in a cloud of love

Every day since the time Shaun left this life -- drifting off in a cloud of love and with a peaceful smile of relief on his grizzled muzzle -- I've looked for him without meaning to.

Maybe it's just the slow decompression from the long period of caring for a blind, deaf and happily senile old dog.

But every day, at least once, a thought flashes through my mind. Maybe I think it's time for him to go out. And then, I remember...he's not there.

For days, Taylor would stand outside the room where his old friend used to sleep and stare and STARE at the door. It was almost like he was willing Shaun to turn up behind it.

When I would pass, he'd look up at me, asking. And I'd nudge the door open and show him. 

"Remember, buddy? He's gone." And Taylor's poor little shoulders would slump so dejectedly and his gaze would drop to the floor.

Shaun, in his glory days

One of the first performance titled Toy Fox Terriers

And I'm suddenly aware that I'm describing this scenario, probably as a way of skirting around some issues that are more important. Most significantly, the sharp health declines of my mom and dad.

I don't want to share details. I probably don't have to. So many of you have shared that experience.

But the point is, when they come, these larger issues of life swamp over us like tidal waves. Unrelenting, all-encompassing and completely undeniable.

In these crucial moments, it's the structure of each day that often keeps you going. 

It's the ladder you climb on -- sometimes up, sometimes down --  until you reach the other side.

Look to the horizon but keep 

what's close to your heart

The importance of agility and the comfort of routines.

So that's where the habits and structures of agility training fall into my life right now. 

It's the familiar. The comforting. It's a way of maintaining a sense of progress and motion when the larger things overwhelm.

And the "little things", like enjoying agility, can have that purpose. Beyond ribbons. Beyond titles. Beyond what we get wrapped up in and often think that it is.

Because there are certain times in life when it all comes down to just putting one foot in front of the other. Over and over again.

So while agility isn't the most important thing in my life right now, it's important to what makes my life fulfilling and truly worth living.

Tomorrow IS another day. 

Or at least we can hope.

Before you can make lemonade, you first gotta get a grasp on those lemons.

I don't mean to sound like I know what I'm doing here. Plenty of people could point to evidence to the contrary. But along the way, I'm learning. Bit by little bit. 

For what it's worth, I'll leave you with a few of nuggets of rainy day wisdom:

• Don't try to figure it all out -- Most likely, there isn't an answer. Or at least one any sane human could comprehend. Make peace with chaos. After all, even the world started out that way.
• Take time to enjoy the things that make life worthwhile -- When things get tough, it's easy to lose yourself in the things you have to do. Treat yourself as if you were your own best friend (you actually are) and schedule some time on your calendar to catch up.
• Appreciate friends and family -- The silver lining of trying times is that you find out what the people in your world are truly made of. Including, and maybe mostly, yourself. Yes, some people will disappoint. But others will amaze you. Forgive the first kind. For the second kind, open your heart, appreciate and hold close.
• Work hard -- Working hard has been the salvation of many a beleaguered situation. Just remember to keep it all in perspective.
• Chase some little goals -- You might not have the time or energy to take on something big at this moment. So pick something light. Maybe it's trying one of those fancy, new handling moves or teaching your dog a cute trick. Sure, it's not going to save the world. But it will probably bring a ray of joy that will restore your confidence and inspire your ability to DO.
• Help someone else -- Often the best way to ward off the shadows is to help a fellow human. Once again, it doesn't have to be something big. Maybe it's giving a sincere thank you, sharing a favorite training tip or buying a random person a cup of coffee. The warm feeling that results will be yours to keep all day.

This article is part of the Dog Agility Blog Action Day on the topic of Outside the Ring. Help yourself to lots of other great ideas by checking out the other articles on Dog Agility Blog Action Day.

Wind Star

End of Summer

Our Zinnias in the Summer

Mike Across America Birthday @Destilhl

Mike partakes of a Black Angel Stout (or as Mike prefers, St Micheal's Stout) on his special day.

Happy birthday, Mike!

Samurai Celebrates #13 QQ @Whitey's Ice Cream

He did such a good job. Running fast and happy. Searched out ice cream places to celebrate and discovered Whitey's Ice Cream.

It's really creamy, high quality ice cream. Just right for a splurge. Mike got a 3 Berry Smoothy. All fruit and OJ.

As you can see it won big smiles from my guys.

Saving Samurai - Finding a Road Where Healthiness Means Happiness

A low day for Samurai

The picture above was taken on the day before we almost lost Samurai.

He'd been battling a stomach virus for quite some time. On top of the fact that he'd never been a good eater and we were always fighting to keep weight on his skinny little frame.

At the time this picture was taken, he had dropped to three pounds, and still, he wouldn't eat.

The next day, it took an entire IV bag of fluids to get him stabilized.

At that point, I knew something drastic had to change. And so, from that day forward, we've tried to put together the pieces of a plan that could not only keep this fragile little dog with us, but also make him strong and happy.

Samurai's plan

Love finds a way

To back up a bit, Samurai had always been a dog with special needs. He can be reactive and volatile under stress, but can also be the most charming and loving little thing when he's in his element. 

We thought we had made it through the worst part: The conditioning against his reactivity and helping him to feel comfortable with his world.

But the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Disorder (IBD) threw a whole new curve -- and lots of new questions to consider. 

I thought about whether to discontinue agility training and competition with him. I gave him a long break to see if it would help.

But I found he really seemed to prefer and even craves an active life. I would just have to find a way to make it safe and supportive plan that would help him stay in the game, without putting him at risk.

Samurai fights back

A little lion finds his roar.

Here are a few of the elements of Samurai's plan. He's stronger and happier now than when we started. And significantly, he's thriving on the course, as well as off.

1. A raw diet -- It's been said many places and many times before, but a natural diet is best. We chose Stella and Chewy's diet for Samurai. Since we're partial vegetarians we appreciate that it requires minimal preparation and handling.
2. Chinese medicine -- Although we still depend on Western medicine, the Chinese medical perspective added a crucial element of his care. Acupuncture helped him through the critical part of his recovery. Herbs helped heal and balance. And choosing a "cool" diet helps calm inflammation.
3. Physical conditioning -- Making his little body stronger has helped make the physical demands of agility easier. Proper warm ups and cool downs prepare both body and mind and help prevent stressful reactions. 
4. Stretching -- I can't emphasize enough how much a program of full body, fully relaxed stretching has added to Samurai's physical and mental well being. It's much more than the athletic stretch you might do after a competition. In this case, with the dog lying down and fully relaxed, it becomes more like guided yoga with the calming properties of massage.
5. Scheduling -- I'm learning to structure and schedule Samurai's training, conditioning and rest time. By thinking first, then doing, you get more done with less stress on your dog. Every week, I look at the time available and choose his rest, training and conditioning days. Usually, that will include three training/trial days, two conditioning days and two rest days. I pick specific targets for the training and conditioning days. On the rest days, he does nothing but rest.
6. Trial selection -- I've gotten much more selective about the trials I choose to enter. I don't need or want to enter trials "just because they're there". I want to be there for a reason. Whether it's a trial site Samurai enjoys or courses we'd love to run, it's more about total experience and less about knocking out Qs. 
7. Happiness first -- I was fortunate to spend some time with Daneen Fox at an event recently. When you meet her, it's clear why her dogs do so well. She's got just tons of energy and she puts the dog's happiness above all. An ounce of happiness is worth a ton of pure technique when it comes to building a successful environment for your dog. It's not that technique doesn't count. It does. It's just that happiness is the glue that binds it all together. And somehow makes it all something very much more.

Success is a thing with wings.

Healthiness is happiness

I wish I could tell you this story ends in big wins, lots of ribbons and arm's lengths of titles. Almost. We've had some of this along the way.

But the main thing is, when your goal is building a healthier life, competition goals pale by comparison.

When you see your dog jumping easily and freely. Eating a whole meal without coaxing. Standing tall and confident without a back and belly pinched by pain.

It really feels like winning. And you know what? 

It is.

This article is part of the Dog Agility Blog Action Day on the topic of Success. Help yourself to lots of other great ideas by checking out the other articles on Dog Agility Blog Action Day.

Watching Twister Chairs @Pii Party

Mill at Deep River

Willows at the Old Mill

Samurai at the Old Mill on Deep River

Taking a Break by Deep River

The park has covered porch swings along the trail.

Guess Which One is a Flower?

Sawmill Sam

Tried to somehow make something of a bad backlit shot of Sam at a nineteenth century sawmill in the late afternoon.

Stray Dog Merchandise Display, Stray Dog Cafe, New Buffalo, MI

Stray Dog Logo, Thumbtacks on Wood, Stray Dog Cafe, New Buffalo, MI

Painting of Dog over The Mantel @ Stray Dog Cafe, New Buffalo, Mi

Lots of cute vintage and candid dog photos everywhere. Do we love this. Yes.

Stray Dog Cafe, New Buffalo, MI

Nice atmosphere with view of the harbor.