Monday, June 29, 2009

(pretend like Queen is singing) "We Are the Champions"...

Ah, this post is a little late news, but things have been crazy. Most of you know by now anyway! We are so pleased to announce that Maverick is now CH. Tahari's Magic Moment. He took back to back 3 point majors in Richmond last weekend to finish. His pictures came in the mail today!

3 Point Major to FINISH on Sunday.

3 point major! (Saturday)

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Time Flies...

I absolutely cannot believe that last Tuesday (the 9th) Maverick turned 5! He had a good birthday and a little "party" with the pointer crew to celebrate... doggy cake and ice cream. Too cute! Also, new photos of Miss Dahlia taken today at a little over 5 months old.

Happy Birthday!


Blow out the candle!!


I was very brave and let them all eat together... (I was just off of camera shot waiting to pick up empty plates... I didn't want any fights!!)


Stacked, just over 5 months


5 Month headshot


5 month head shot again!

Monday, June 8, 2009

"Let's Get it Straight"

June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month.

Scoliosis is an abnormal side to side curvature of the spine, displayed in either a "C" pattern, usually in the Thoracic spine, or an "S" pattern, which usually affects the Thoracic and Lumbar spine, although it could be in the Cervical (neck).

Scoliosis is a serious condition, and often painful. It is present to some degree in about half a percent of the population, and usually seen more frequently in girls than boys. Often there is no known cause (known as idiopathic).

As someone who was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 10, it is something I am very passionate about. Most of my childhood, I spent seeing doctors every few months, sleeping for years in a hard plastic brace, various therapies and swimming to "strengthen" my spine and surrounding muscles, and my curve still progressed. I had a 54 degree thoracic curve, and a 42 degree lumbar curve (look it up... it was crazy). Fortunately, my scoliosis often went unnoticed by a lot of people because of my dance and cheerleading background, I was "balanced looking" from front on. I did have a very prominent shoulder hump, and most people thought of it as me just having poor posture. Quite the contrary!

As many of you know, I had surgery in September (by the most amazing surgeon! Thanks Dr. Von Rueden!!). It was a HUGE surgery, but I bounced back and was shopping two and a half weeks later. Back to training dogs within a month. My nearly entire thoracic spine was fused and instrumentation was inserted. I am proud to announce my "curve" really isn't any more, and it's now at 13 degrees (I can BREATHE!!). Because of the flexibility of my lumbar spine, no surgical intervention was needed, and it self-corrected. Pretty amazing, huh?

So why I I telling you this "blah blah" stuff? Please be aware of this condition. For those of you who have kids, CHECK their spine. Scoliosis is painful and not fun! Make sure your school is doing checks on the kids. You only have one spine...

In the mean time, since June is Awareness month, I encourage you to do some research!

www.scoliosis.org
www.scoliosiscare.org
www.spine-health.com
www.spineaustin.com

Thanks! I'll get off my soap box now.... back to the dogs! TOMORROW IS MAVERICK'S 5TH BIRTHDAY!!! Where oh Where does the time go?

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Parker's Day at the Beach!

We took Parker and Dahlia to the beach Saturday! The morning weather was beautiful and Peekers surprised us by getting IN the water (we're talking about a dog who refuses to step on wet grass!). The old boy had a blast (he'll be 10 in July!!!).

It's a dark photo... but you get the idea! Parker got IN the Ocean!!!

Running on the beach...

Still running on the beach!

Exhausted after running back and forth on the beach. Parker has such a pretty pretty head!

Happy ol boy!

Turning grey!

Dahlia playing with her tennis ball (what's new?)

Pretty puppy!

Almost 5 months...

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Maverick's show pictures

We had a great weekend showing at the Memorial Cluster in Hampton, Va. Maverick went WD 2 days!

There was a fabulous photographer there (Phyllis Ensley Photography- "The Perfect Movement") and Sunday and Monday they took pictures of the pointers. Sunday's photos were not good of Maverick (he chose to be naughty that day!), but Monday's turned out well!

We're off to Richmond, VA next... we're praying for majors!!

Moving...

Pretty headshot! What a handsome boy!

Cutie pie Mav!

Possibly my favorite picture of Maverick ever! He looks so cute here!

On the go around...

Stacked...

Hugging my mom afterwards. He's such a teddy bear!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

New-ish Dahlia Pics!

Here's some pictures of Dahlia taken at 4.5 months (taken a week or so ago!). She's growing up nicely!





Memorial Day Weekend shows!

Maverick is having fun this four day weekend at the Memorial Day Cluster in Hampton VA!


May 17th!

A Happy Belated Birthday to the Maddie x Maverick litter! I CANNOT believe they are 1!!
Also, wanted to Brag! A million Thank yous to Brian Dofford-Johnson! Paisley went Winners Bitch and Best of Winners, and Best Opp (to her Half brother Josh, who recently took a BIS!!!) both days in New Mexico for two 3 point majors! YAY! Go Paisley! You're on your way!

Envy & Takara's Whirlaway "Paisley"

Envy & Takara's Count Fleet "Murphy"

Catching up! Lots has gone on!!!

A couple of weeks ago, we headed down to the ocean for a beach playtime with Maverick and Dahlia! We got there at sunrise, and it was absolutely beautiful!

Pawprints! Cute!



Floppy eared puppy!




Swimming in the ocean!


Mav's pretty head!

Kyle with the kids!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

BEST PUPPY IN MATCH!!

We took Miss Dahlia to the Greater Fredericksburg Kennel Club today for their Puppy Match! It was cold and pouring down rain! Luckily we had the sense to take our canopy/tent thing, so we stayed out of the cold rain mostly. I did manage to forget my flipping sweatshirt, but luckily by the time we showed the rain had mostly let up!

In any case, per the AKC, they used the proposed group realignment for this show. So, Miss Dahlia was the only Pointer, so she won her breed, and went on to win the "Sporting-Pointers and Setters" group! She was a complete goofball, but a happy girl nonetheless, and I loved to see her thing everything was absolutely super fun!

So, on to Best Puppy in Match! She was still playing goofy girl, but she WON Best Puppy in Match! Yay!

Watch me!!






Trying to gait!

Sitting in the ex-pen, trying to stay dry!

Best Puppy!

What a good little puppy...

Miss Dahlia (who has picked up the nickname "Day-Day")is impressing us every day. She is absolutely obsessed with "her" tennis ball! She could fetch for hours. I could swear she's part Lab...

She also LOVES water! We took her to Sandy Bottom Park and she literally dove into the water. This goofy girl seriously keeps us laughing!!