Friday, December 22, 2017

Merry Christmas!




 "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach." ~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol


As I write this, Christmas is just a few days away. Looking back on 2017, I feel very blessed in all aspects of my life and am so very thankful for family, friends, and co-workers and for the blessings of the Lord.

Because I am still busy with Christmas preparations and assume you are also, this will be a brief post. I have some photos and messages to share.

First, here is the win photo taken of Onyx at the show in Belleville, IL, in early December. It seems so long ago now! Onyx needs a 3 point major and 2 singles to finish. That's a goal for the new year.

I received Christmas greetings from some of those who have purchased our puppies and was grateful for their greetings and for the photos they sent.

Diane and Tom wrote: "We’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Kuper is doing well. He enjoys playing in the snow, fetching his ball and practicing what he learned in puppy class. We’ll resume puppy classes after taking a break for the holidays. You were right, his coat is thick! Hoping we can keep up with grooming while it’s growing out. Enjoy the holidays"
Kuper

Kuper
Violet wrote to tell me how much Shadow loves her husband and how Shadow waits by the door patiently for him to come home. Shadow is a littermate to our Bekka and Chance. They will be among my "hopefuls" for the coming year in the show ring.
Shadow
Ted and Ev wrote, "This is the most recent photo of Lucky/Flash at his day care centre.  As he gets older, he seems to get smarter and recognizes a lot of things we say. Still very active and loves playing fetch---not only at the day care but when he comes home."
Lucky
Lynn and Robert send Christmas greetings and a photo of their Amiee.

Amiee




Lori wrote, "I don't know how often you go on FB, so I wanted to share this Christmas photo of Finn with you. Also attached another of him with the blanket you sent home with him; he still loves it!


He got his diploma from Puppy Playskool last Sunday and I'm still working with him. I'm thinking about signing up for the Basic Obedience in a few weeks. Who knows, we might just work our way up to Agility!


He's also gotten what looks like most of his adult teeth in the front. Just yesterday I found one of his baby molars on the pillow in front of him. Nice of him to save it for me :-)


I wish you and you family a very merry Christmas. I know I'll have one with this sweet little guy beside me."

Finn


Finn

To all who read this post, I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and hope all of us have a safe holiday and Lhasa good wishes for the best of new years in 2018.


Thank you for being a follower of my blog! Again, to quote Dickens' character Tiny Tim: "God bless us, every one!"

Joyce
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

   

Saturday, December 9, 2017

December!!



December is the twelfth and final month of the Gregorian calendar and the first month of winter.  It derives its name from the Latin word decem, meaning ten, as December was the tenth month of the oldest Roman calendar.  The Latin name is derived from Decima, the middle Goddess of the Three Fates who personifies the present." ~ Daily Lore

2017 is coming to an end and I can hardly believe Christmas is only a couple of weeks away. Is it only me, or do you also feel as if the days, weeks, and months just speed by? Maybe it is because we are all so busy and our calendars are so full of places we have to go and things we have to do.

My December began with a dog show -- the Edwardsville Kennel Club show, which was held in Belleville, Illinois. We had only a bit over a three hour drive to get there. Fortunately, the weather was great for a December show with temperatures in the 60s: no snow, no chilly winds, no sleet, no frost on the windshields.

This show was strange for me because I took only one of my Lhasas, my black girl Onyx. I've been so used to having two or more for most of our shows this year that it sort of felt like a vacation. Everything, especially grooming, went faster and easier.

Onyx took Reserve Winners Bitch on Saturday and on Sunday took Winners Bitch and Best of Winners for a 3 point major. Hurray!!! Her judge was Lisa Warren, who seemed pleased when I told her that she was the judge who'd given Onyx's sire (Josh) his final points. Onyx now has 10 points and needs a 3 point major and two single points to finish her championship. We'll work on that next spring.

Since the win was a major win, we had our picture taken with the judge. I'll post it when it comes.

My Christmas preparations are well under way, actually ahead of schedule. While I was making Thanksgiving Dinner, my husband (Lynn) set up and decorated the tree. He made the tree and our living room look quite festive. I have all but one gift that is still in transit wrapped. Everything is set for next week's office Christmas lunch. So far, preparations have been stress-free and fun. I hope yours have been the same.

 A Quick Note About Grooming Feet
Those of you who are not showing your Lhasas and are grooming at home rather than taking your Lhasa to a groomer need to be aware of how to take care of the pads of the dog's feet, especially with winter approaching, bringing with it snow, ice, and rain.

If you have not noticed before, you should pay attention to the hair between the pads of your Lhasa's feet. That hair grows quickly. If ignored and left to its own devices, it will mat! In the winter this is especially bad if the dog gets his feet wet from rain or snow. The mats can get hard and packed. Left alone, the mats increase in size and can spread the pads further apart until the dog feels pain or discomfort. Even in dry winter climates or spring, summer, fall in those areas that get snow in winter, if the Lhasa is outdoors a lot, burrs, stickers, and bits of gravel can adhere to this hair or become lodged in the hair between the pads, again resulting in the Lhasa's discomfort. Ignored, the mats can cause hot spots between the pads, resulting in a lot of discomfort for your Lhasa. 

Keeping the pads neatly trimmed is an easy task. If you are not showing your Lhasa, you probably will only have to trim the between the pads every 4-5 weeks. With the dog on his side or back, hold a leg steady at an angle that is easy for you to work with. The hand that holds the leg will have to do double duty because you'll need to spread the pads slightly apart so you can trim down between them. You can use a small scissors for the task, although it is easier and faster to use a small trimmer. My old faithful pad trimmer just died. In its place I purchased for about $17 a men's beard trimmer. It's working great -- a Phillips Norelco Multigroom Series 3000 (rechargable). It came with a lot of attachments that I won't use, but I like the size of the trimmer. I also like that it is fairly quiet so the puppies are not afraid of it.


Notes and Photos from Others
I was pleased to get some email messages and photos and would like to share them with you.

From Lori about Finn:  "We've had 3 puppy playschool classes so far and he's doing pretty well. Really good on the "sit" and "down", but we're still working on the "stay". The best part is, he's so well-socialized. They're small classes, just one or two other dogs, but he's always the little guy. He goes right up to the other dogs and says hello with a sniff and a kiss. He's great with the people, too (and their kids). Just the best temperament, so sweet and mellow. Everybody loves him. Especially me."
Lori's Finn
Kim wrote: "Hi Joyce, Hope you are doing well and enjoy this holiday season. Here is Snickers. He turned 5 yesterday. He loves his toys as he has so many.  (spoiled he is :) Again we can't tell you how amazing he is and we are so thankful for you and him. He has blessed us in so many ways we can't even begin to start. He is so smart and just so lovable to all of us. He is the best dog we could ever of hoped for. Thank you always !! Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season."
Snickers

Snickers with his birthday treat
From Krista: "Hi Joyce just wanted to touch base and say Winston is doing great. Puppy class was good and entertaining of course he was the class clown believe it or not. He's come out of his shell was just say that. He's growing fast and he's going to be a big boy. He is going to puppy daycare in the afternoons twice a week. And he goes to the dog park when it's decent on the weekends. Trying to keep him socialized with kids and people. He's definitely entertaining and loving! Here are a couple pictures of him, one of him after he got done with his first grooming which he did great at. One of him being silly and trying to get the ball out of the cat's toy. This is almost a daily routine it will crack you up. Just wanted to drop you a note and let you know what a wonderful puppy he is and he is loved very much!"

Winston


Winston

 Tom and Penny wrote, "Joyce,  Griffin sends greetings and best wishes on his 6th birthday.    He is well and continues to be a blessing in our lives.  Happy holidays to you and family."
Griffin
 Judy wrote: "Sophie joined Raven today for the every-other-Friday Spa Day...The two of them get along really well. I've probably told you that Sophie sleeps on the bed now. Raven moves over from her normal corner to lie next to Sophie." 

(Note: Raven on the left, Sophie on the right. Judy got Raven from me as a "retired champion." Sophie, Judy's older Lhasa, came from a Canadian breeder when she was a puppy. The two seem to be fast friends.)


Maria wrote, "Hi Joyce, Sending happy holiday wishes to you and yours! Ella will be celebrating her 5 th Birthday on December 3rd. She has had some change in her daily activities. My mom passed away......and Ella would visit with me almost daily. She notices and also is missing her! So it’s been an adjustment just like it is for us. Ella was not only a friend to mom but to mom's friends. They waited for her visit. She was so sweet to all of them. 
      It’s been hard to go back and visit the friends because I know she’ll go straight to mom's door!  So waiting for warmer weather and maybe we can catch some residents out of doors to visit. 
     So now she has a new friend at home ...to play with ,walk with ,sleep with ,and have girl fights with on occasion!  My daughter bought a dog and named her Paisley. She’s full of energy ... all the time. And has been a great addition to our family! 
    In the picture Ella is on the left and Paisley on the right!  Looking out the porch door.  There isn’t a day that doesn’t go by that I don’t think of you and your wonderful Lhasa’s!
We are so happy We have Ella!!" 

Miss Ella

Ella on left, Paisley on right

Merry Christmas to All!! I hope your holiday season is filled with Lhasa love!

Life is Better When You Have a Lhasa to Love You!

 

Joyce 

 














 

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving!




"Saying thank you and being thankful are two very different things. The former is part of being mannerly, the latter - well, it's the secret to a life of happiness and success." ~ Deborah Norville
 
May your lives be blessed with peace, happiness, and love as we begin the holiday season. When you count your blessings, I hope there is a Lhasa Apso whose name is on your list.


Life is Better When You Have a Lhasa to Love You!

Joyce

Monday, November 13, 2017

Updates and Some Photos



Last time I wrote the focus was on the preparations for the national specialty and some of the highlights for us while we were there.

My life is not all dogs and dog shows, so between going to shows and grooming and training the dogs, my life revolves around family and work. Home from the national for four days, I packed my bags and went to the Illinois Early Childhood Conference "Sharing A Vision" for two days. I learned a lot about children's challenging behaviors, children and physical activity, and children and music, to mention only a few.

Shortly after I wrote the last blog post, I was again preparing for a dog show, this one in Winona, WI, a place I had never been. The drive was long but scenic. The show was held at an equestrian center. We groomed in horse stalls and showed on a packed dirt arena -- another new experience (not the horse stalls, the dirt floor). Jenna took Winners Bitch on Sunday so now needs only two single points for her championship. She has a very slow growing coat, something I am not used to and am really aggravated about. She totally blew it all when she went through her puppy coat change last fall and it has been so very slow in growing back, as you can see from this photo. I think God is trying to teach me patience! Seriously, I have been thinking about giving up on her and then think, "But we just need two single points!"

Home from the show, I had two days to do laundry, groom dogs, go to the office, and unpack and repack, this time for another two-day trip to Chicago for work. Happily, this time I did not have to drive. I took the train.

The official show photos from the National Specialty came back from the photographer. I know I posted them last time with writing across them but here they are again sans the photographer's mark.

Onyx (Best in Sweepstakes) and judge Brad Reese

Onyx (Reserve Winners Bitch, Best Bred By Exhibitor) and judge Robin Stansell









I am posting the photo of Josh but it is not one of my favorite photos of him.



Here is a photo of him while he was being judged. This photo was taken by Ronnie Crowder.
Josh on the examination table
 Then I found the following photos of Josh that I did not recall seeing before. These were taken at a different show but I thought they were good of him and wanted to share.


Josh is now "retired" for at least a year. He has been shown since he was 4 months old. He will be 4 in January and I thought it was time he took a break. He did well for himself this past year, ending the year as #5 Owner-Handled Lhasa in the country and, as of the Canine Chronicle statistics through October 31, as #10 Lhasa Apso in the Breed Standings. He received his invitation to the AKC National in Orlando, but we are not going to go. I don't have the energy or the money to attend this year.

Yesterday we took pictures of Bekka who is now 3 months old. She is learning to be a show girl. She is doing well stacking on the table and letting me see her bite. Lead breaking is so-so. She is walking but not too happy about it.

We also kept her brother, whom we call Chance, but lately I have been thinking of re-naming him because I keep calling him Chase. We'll see... Anyway, he was not home to have his photo taken. He is on "vacation" at Mary's house in Iowa. I often tell people who want to buy siblings that it is not a good idea because they tend to bond with each other and rely on each other instead of on their people. Not being one to take my own advice (!!), I decided to keep both Chance and Bekka because I could not decide between the two of them. So, guess what is happening?? Mary visited recently and I asked if she would take Chance home with her for a week or so. She agreed. Mary wrote saying, "Sam is in seventh heaven with the pup. She snuggled over and laid her head next to the pup. He bounds through the grass with me like he's half bunny. He is such a lover. I can tell why he is your favorite." Mary is working with him on the table and the lead, as I am with Bekka.

I love hearing from those who have purchased our puppies and love it even more when they send photos. Here are some notes and pictures I've received lately.

From Renee: "just wanted to let u know we had to put my beautiful Namri down in late August, 4 days after we moved into our new home in Solana Beach. It was, of course, a very painful experience, but our wonderful vet assured us it was time. Among other things, he was suffering from dementia. I will forever be grateful for his companionship and love over the last 16+ years and he will live on in our hearts. I’ve never been loved better. Will forward some recent photos from the La Playa Trail in San Diego Harbor, which was his favorite place in the world. Dalai was noticeably depressed for a couple months and was always lying in Namri’s bed, but is doing better now and back to rough housing with Jet."
Namri at his favorite beach
From Diane and Tom:  "Just wanted to wish you both a Happy Thanksgiving. I've included a picture of Kuper after his first grooming appointment. I'm sure he was a handful since he's always in constant motion. He's doing well in his puppy class and never fails to provide a few chuckles to other puppy parents. I've noticed in play groups he is immediately drawn to black puppies and runs over to check them out. We are certainly happy (thanks to you) that we have a Lhasa to love!"
Kuper -- what a darling photo of him
You may recall that I previously wrote about Penny's bad experience after having a vaccination containing Lepto. Diane and Tom wrote about their experience: "I wanted to share with you our experience with immunizing Kuper. When Tom took Kuper for his 1st vet visit as per your contract, he told either the vet or vet tech that we did not want the lepto vaccine to be given. He was told that it was entered in Kuper's chart. We needed to take Kuper in for the bordatella immunization and they told us he could also receive his distemper at the same time. An appt was scheduled for bordatella and Distemper. Tom took Kuper in and the vet saw him again and gave the immunizations. After getting home he realized that they charged for DHLPP series as well as Corona vaccine and the bordetella. To say the least, we were upset!  After a call to the office, we were simply told if Kuper had any side effects he could be seen in the emergency clinic nearby.
     We felt we had informed them and had scheduled appt for the specific immunization we wanted Kuper to receive. However, we learned the hard way that we also need to question what they have in hand when they come in the room. Kuper had no initial reaction. We do feel he has been scratching the site of the injections, which could be side effect. I share this in hopes of preventing further puppies and owners from this experience. We will, in the future, ask to see the label on the vaccine before they give it. I also plan to get the list of mandatory vaccines as additional ones were given without our knowledge. We will be changing vet office and have interest in a holistic vet that has concerns about vaccines and vaccine dosing for small puppies."



Lori wrote, "Finn is just the best little guy ever...Still has all his sweet puppy charm, though. He starts every day with kisses and a big, squeaky yawn. He's a happy little fellow, always wagging his tail. And he has the funniest voice -- he "talks" more than he barks, it's just hilarious! ...Finn has such a cool, laid-back personality and he deferred to Emma right away. Such a good fit. So much fun to watch them play together. We're starting puppy obedience class next Sunday. I'll let you know how he does Love him SO much,
P.S. I always figure a dog is truly part of the family when he has multiple names. That said, Finn also goes by Finnegan, Mr. Finn, Little Chap, Young Sir, Finnamon, Finnegar, Finnster, etc."

Finn (right) with his buddy Emma
From Marilyn: "Hey Joyce, I wanted to send this pic of 2 friends just chillin after a game of 'You chase me, then I’ll chase you!'”
Maci (left) and Hunter (right)
From Jennifer: "I have a picture of Grace in the truck on her first trip. She is doing pretty good overall when we are out on the road. I know that she gets cabin fever a bit. I try to find places that are big enough to play ball, she's very good at chasing it down and bringing it back. I'm impressed that such a young dog would do that. She is a bit of a wild child and very stubborn. Potty training is going slow but I am not pushing too hard because she has to learn in the house and truck. She still will not walk with me with the leash, I can hold it and go where she wants to but she digs her toes in and refused to go where I want to. She is learning to sit and down with no problems. She loves meeting people and dogs. So no problems with socializing. Still loves the cat. You have to put stuff up high because she can jump like a rabbit. My mother doesn't call me anymore, she just texts and wants more pictures of Grace…There are a thousand things I would tell you about Grace and I know you have heard them all from puppy parents. I going to end this by saying I still absolutely love Grace from nose to tail to her furry little toes."

Grace

Grace
Violet sends frequent updates about their Shadow. Here he is taking a nap. Violet says he sleeps on his back like that a lot.







 This is a birthday month for three of our dogs. Onyx was a year old on the 11th. Jenna will be 2 on the 22nd, and Rafe will be 6 on the 27th. Time does fly!

This is Rafe as a 9 month old puppy taking his first Best of Breed after finishing his championship the day before.
Until next time...



Life is Better When You Have A Lhasa To Love You!

Joyce










Monday, October 30, 2017

Happy Halloween, Lots of Pictures, Random Musings...




On Halloween, what bothers some
      About these witches, is how come
      In sailing, through the air, like bats
      They never seem, to lose their hats?
Hitchhiking owls, as we have seen,
      Ride nicely on this queer machine...
Another thing: if brooms can fly,
      Do witches keep them handy-by
      To sweep the kitchen floor with, say?
      Or do they have them locked away
      For private passage through the sky?
~David McCord (1897–1997), "Witch's Broom Notes"


Happy Halloween to you all! Enjoy the costumes, the parties, the young trick-or-treaters that knock on your door, and treat yourself to something yummy to eat!

It's obviously been three weeks since I last posted, so there is a lot of news and just "stuff" to share. As you know, the week of October 16 was the American Lhasa Apso Club's National Specialty Week in St. Louis. It involved a great deal of planning and preparation from members of the club's various committees, but I am pleased to say that it was a successful week with many lovely Lhasas from all over the country (and one from Finland too!). Seeing friends I get to see only once a year was great.

However, before I left on October 14 for St. Louis, I had a lot to do to get myself and the dogs ready. I am a list maker, so here's a look at the lists I made so I would not forget anything. I am pleased to say that I remembered everything I needed and that it all fit into the car!


About 9:00 AM on the 14th, Lynn and I hauled everything outside and piled it in the driveway. I asked him to take pictures so I could share with you how everything managed to fit into my 2014 Ford Taurus. (I am so grateful for the trunk of that car!)

First, here is a photo of the trunk before we started loading the items from the house. The trunk already had 2 wire crates, 2 grooming tables (one for the show room and one for the hotel room), 2 ringside tables, an exercise pen mat, and the wheels in it.
The next three photos show all the things I had to fit into the trunk, the backseat, and the passenger seat. You'll see crates, 2 exercise pens, my stand dryer, tubs of groomings supplies, bags of groceries and dog food, luggage, and baskets for the raffle.




 And now, here are photos taken after the car was loaded. It all fit!!
Back seat, driver's side

Trunk

Back seat, passenger side

Front seat, passenger side
Actually, there was even a bit of room left over! I was glad I decided to load the car early because about an hour after I finished loading, the rain began! I left around noon and drove in rain most of the way to St. Louis. Unloading the car meant numerous trips into the hotel and up the elevator to our second floor room. Fortunately, the rain had stopped and was no more than a light drizzle during the unloading.

As for the week of the show, it was great! If you would like to see videos of the Futurity, the ALAC Regional Specialty, and  the National Specialty, go to YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJh_luMwE0Kmz-TZAoUsHAA

Those events took place on Wednesday and Friday. Monday was the day of the Greater Milwaukee Lhasa Apso Club (GMLAC) specialty. That was not video taped. Tuesday was the day for Rally and Obedience. That was not taped either. Thursday was a day of meetings.

Here are some photo proofs of my dogs during National Week.

GCh. Ch. Joyslyn's Heartbreaker, shown in the 7-9 year old veteran class
Breaker in the ring 7-9 year old veteran class

Breaker on the exam table

Breaker's first place ribbon and trophy from veterans class
Joyslyn's Onyx in the ring

Onyx won this lovely hand quilted table runner
On Monday, Onyx participated in the GMLAC Sweepstakes and Specialty Show. She won her sweepstakes class, then went on to take Best Puppy in Sweepstakes. Then she had to compete against the Best Adult in Sweepstakes and she won Best in Sweepstakes! In the GMLAC Spedicalty show, she won her class (Bred By Exhibitor), then went on to win Reserve Winners Bitch and Best Bred By Exhibitor.
Onyx...Best in Sweepstakes
.

Onyx -- Reserve Winners Bitch, Best Bred By

Josh was shown in Best of Breed in the three Specialties. He made the cut on Monday and earned an Award of Merit. He did not make the cut on Wednesday. He made the cut again on Friday but that was it.







Here is a photo of the ribbons we came home with.

I also came home with a lot of Lhasa loot! I bought a logo T-shirt, and a logo mug. Then I bought a few Lhasa pins and statues. Not that I needed more Lhasa stuff in this house, but some of it was hard to resist!



Speaking of Lhasa items, my friend Marsha Susag surprised me with this beauty. Thanks again, Marsha. I love this one...so pretty! She has a place of honor in our home!

The annual photo contest winners were submitted by club members. The categories were Most Humorous (won by Susan Stoddard) and Best Head Study (won by my photo of Kimmi, Ch. Joyslyn's Heart Song).
Winner: Most Humorous

Winner: Best Head Study
Puppies
We now have only two of the puppies (Chance and Bekka) from the summer litters, and we plan to keep both--at least for the time being. I'm not actually sure if want to raise siblings right now. 

Hunter now lives in MO with Marilyn and Dennis. Little Shadow lives in SC with Violet and Roman. Dottie went to Jan and Karen in WI. Beethoven is with Gwen in IN. Thanks and best wishes to all who purchased puppies from our three summer litters. May they give you Lhasa love and be all you hoped them to be.

Notes and Photos From Others
From Marilyn: "Hi Joyce, I hope you and Lynn and the dogs arrived home safely. Wow! There aren’t even words to describe how I felt about watching the dogs in the ring. They were amazing, a true picture of beauty. I was even more impressed to watch you and the handlers working so zealously to groom and get them ready for the judges. What impressed me most is at our age, you were able to be on your knees, pop up, go around the ring, get on your knees, and pop up again!! I told Kathy she and I would have to show just 1 dog, go around the ring together, and help each other off our knees! I am so glad I went, I learned a bit, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
        On to Hunter. He is settling in nicely, loves Maci, and wants to be with someone at all times. It’s funny how Maci understands he is a puppy, and she tolerates him for just so long before letting him know she is the adult in the room. Potty training is going well. He knows what to do outside. He loves me, and that is what I wanted. We’ll see how he feels after I return from my next grandchild trip. I am so grateful to you. It has to make you feel good inside to be able to fill voids in peoples’ hearts. I didn’t necessarily have a void, but Maci is definitely Dennis’s dog. Plus, she needed someone, and I think Hunter will help that need. She certainly comes running if he cries. We thought about adding another way back when we got Abby, but again I was fearful about whether they would get along. Plus, Abby was so meek that she probably would have been traumatized had a little puppy entered her world.
        Thank you again for the gift you give. We love the breed and our breeder. Hope you can take a bit of time to decompress and celebrate Onyx, Josh, and Breaker before the next show. Fall will soon bring the howling winter winds, and I plan to be snuggled up with my Joyslyn’s Lhasa’s!"


Hunter in his new home

Hunter in his new home
From Judy: "Raven still has that beautiful orange bow in her top-knot, but I believe the sparkles on her center part have disappeared - Raven and Whisper have been quite active in their mock fights and rough play-housing. Raven's coat is growing out very nicely, although I believe the sibling rough-housing is not inducement to the growth of Raven's coat."

Here is Raven (Ch. Joyslyn's Midnight Enchantment)  after her visit to her groomer, Sandy. Note the sparkling bow and sparkles down her part. Raven is our Luna's (Ch. Joyslyn JaMa Dancing by the Light of the Moon) mom.

From Catherine: "I'm a little late, but that's the story of my life right now, but I wanted to share a couple of pictures of Maggie. We celebrated her 7th birthday on Saturday! We love this little girl! She's such a sweet girl that loves to be held and gives lots of kisses. Our groomer says Magoo and Maggie are two peas in a pod. Personality wise they are so much alike. On Tuesday, she went to the veterinarian for her distemper vaccine and everybody just loved her. Thanks so much for this little blessing in our life!"
This is Maggie (Ch. Joyslyn's Moonlight Magic). She is Kimmi's mom
Jill says Shadow is doing well and she sent me these photos of her. Shadow has been with Jill since early October.
Shadow lovin' her new bed

Shadow hanging out in the yard with her new buddy Cruiser

New toys and soft blankets for Shadow
Lori wrote on her FB page: "Finn got his first haircut yesterday. Just a trim, but you can actually see his beautiful eyes now! And he smells sooo good."
Finn after his hair cut
From Gwen: "Beethoven only barked for the first 15 minutes before bed in his crate Sunday night and probably 5 minutes last night.  He is doing well with potty training, although it's a little tough to tell that he's going between the grass and his dark coat.  He is warming up to the girls well, especially the younger one.  He is my shadow when he's not in his crate.  He is also following our other male around and they were laying down together last night.  He's also tried to nurse from our male several times.    He's eating and drinking well.  I took him to our Vet today for his first check up and to schedule his appointments for his shots.  His weight is up to 5.5#.  He has a great personality."


From Violet:  "We took Shadow to Pet Co for his first bath, they also trimmed the hair around the eyes. Kayla the girl who took care of him, said he loved the water, being bathed, but got nervous as soon as they put him on the table for the trimming around the eyes. They were so friendly there and just adored Shadow. We would take him back there. As soon as he got home, he ate his supper. Roman bought a basket type of car seat for Shadow in the back seat. Bet he would love it. He can see outside of the window.Shadow loves his soft bed, often jumped into it. Roman got a wine refrig by the dining room cabinet. Shadow saw his image, could not understand why the other dog not come out to play with him. He barked at it twice. Joyce, we are enjoying Shadow so much. Thank you."

From Jan about Dottie (whose name will be changing):  "Thought I would let you know that she is doing well. She is in with all the big guys and has settled in very nicely."


Some Not-So-Good News (But It Ended Well)
From Rita: "I wanted you to know that the vaccinations on Saturday were a disaster for Penny. After an oral dose and a shot she was sent home with a tablet to be given a day later at home to avoid vomiting. Penny on the way back started to throw up and by the time we reached home she could not even lift her head or stand. I thought we have lost her for ever.  We called the vet right away and took her back. The vet gave another shot which seemed to help her,however a day later, on Monday night, two hours after eating her Drontel pill she again heaved and threw up 12 -15 times. We called the vet and was told to withhold water and food.  
She is now sleeping in her crate and hopefully will be ok tomorrow. Also I remember reading about a vaccine that Lhasa should not be given but cannot find the source again…On the positive side Penny weighed 5 pounds and 4 ounces, she  played fetch with the ball in the yard very well and met her first butterfly today. I thought you should know.. May be there is a better way to help with the vaccinations…The vet explained that the throwing up was probably due to presence of Leptospirosis in the vaccine."


Okay, so after reading that, I totally freaked out. Those of you who have purchased puppies from me know that I have in the sales contract that the puppy should not be given a vaccine that contains Lepto. I also spend time pointing out to buyers why I put that in the contract. But...in the flurry of playing with the puppy and excitement of finally being able to see the puppy in person and meet us and the sire and dam, people tend to forget. Lesson learned...Next time it will be written on a separate sheet of paper in huge capital letters!!


Here is an excerpt from an article titled "Read This Before You Vaccinate For Lepto" by Dana Scott
Here is the link to the entire article, if you are interested to read more.
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/read-this-before-you-vaccinate-for-lepto/

 

"…About Lepto Vaccination
     Many dogs are routinely vaccinated for lepto, despite high adverse effects.
     Here’s a summary of what you need to know about the lepto vaccine before deciding to give it to your dog.
     You must vaccinate for lepto at least yearly. Unlike viral vaccines which likely last for the life of the animal, bacterial vaccines such as lepto only last for a year at most. This means that many vets recommend vaccinating every six months to protect your dog. Leading veterinary immunologist Ronald D Schultz PhD has said that you may need to give a lepto vaccine as often as four times a year. As you’ll see below, the lepto vaccine involves a high level of risk for your dog.
 

The Vaccine Is Limited
      The lepto vaccine may not cover the strain of lepto your dog encounters. There are 20 different species of Leptospira bacteria and more than 200 different serovars. The original vaccines contained only the L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiae serovars. The current vaccines now contain L. grippotyphosa and L. pomona. The latter two strains are now much more common. Two additional serovars that appear to cause infection, L. bratislava and L. automalis, are not included in the vaccines currently available.
     So if you do decide to vaccinate your dog, it’s a very good idea to find out which strains of lepto are in your area so that you don’t give your dog a risky vaccination that won’t even protect him.
 

Vaccinated Dogs Shed Lepto
     Vaccinated dogs and livestock can shed lepto in their urine. This means they can infect other dogs, wildlife and even you. So routine lepto vaccination actually increases the threat of lepto on the whole.      The greater the number of vaccinated animals, the greater the spread of lepto.


Adverse Effects
     There is a high rate of adverse effects from the lepto vaccine. Veterinarian Patricia Jordan DVM has documented several cases of tumors from the lepto vaccine, especially from combination vaccinations that include leptospirosis. Kidney failure is another common reaction, as you’ll see below. Bacterial vaccinations can also cause autoimmune disease.
     In the UK, where leptospirosis vaccination is quite common, Canine Health Concern conducted a survey and found that the vaccine can also cause the disease it’s meant to prevent.
     In that survey, 100% of dogs with leptospirosis caught it just after their lepto vaccinatons.   Leptospirosis attacks the kidneys and kidney failure was a very common effect after lepto vaccination. Dr Jordan explains that the basement membrane can be damaged by clogging when the immune complexes drain via the lymphatics. The kidneys are a big part of the lymphatic system. The body tries to clear the toxins in the vaccines and the kidneys are damaged by this clearing mechanism.


There’s a long list of other documented adverse effects from the lepto vaccine:
    •    Anaphlylaxis
    •    Anorexia
    •    Dermatitis
    •    Infection with flesh-eating bacteria
    •    Uncontrollable pruritis (itching)
    •    Vomiting
    •    Lethargy
    •    Lameness
    •    Vocalization
    •    Fever
    •    Dehydration
    •    Polyarthritis
    •    Kidney Failure
    •    Liver Failure
    •    Pancreatitis
    •    Mast cell disease
    •    Urinary tract infections
    •    Diarrhea
    •    Chronic weight loss
    •    Enlarged spleen
    •    Cancer
    •    Enlarged lymph nodes
    •    Death"

I cannot even express how angry I am at that vet for either not knowing or not caring about the adverse effects of that vaccine. Thankfully, Penny recovered and I sincerely hope both the vet and her owners will not be using a vaccine containing Lepto on her again. EVER!!!

Life Is Better When You Have A Lhasa to Love You!

Joyce