WOW!!

What a GREAT weekend! We headed to Crystal Lake, IL for a USDAA trial :)

We took Zip, Klink, Gator, Crackers, Even and Lynn with us! Even went to TOPS veterinary rehab center on Friday. Dr. Christine Jurek diagnosed her with trigger points,described as hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. [1] Trigger point practitioners believe that palpable nodules are small contraction knots[ambiguous] and a common cause of pain. Compression of a trigger point may elicit local tenderness, referred pain, or local twitch response. The local twitch response is not the same as a muscle spasm. This is because a muscle spasm refers to the entire muscle entirely contracting whereas the local twitch response also refers to the entire muscle but only involves a small twitch, no contraction. She has them in the left tricep, superspinatus tendon and head of bicep muscles. Tricep is in bad shape. Could take up to 12 weeks to get back into work. No walks, just potty walks on leash. Ultrasound or laser treatments 2 times a week...massage, stretching, passive ROM...I can do some ultrasound on her tricep myself but will have to take her to have the bicep done and lazer if I decide not to rent one.

So a bummmer...HOWEVER, when Dr. Christine rechecked her yesterday at the trial she said that she is responding BEAUTIFULLY to the treatment and she will probably heal much faster! GOOD DEAL! Time will tell :)

Gator got his final CMJ measurement and now he can stay in 22 forever! 20 3/4"...I'll take it :) Crackers got his also, 11.25" so he will have to get that final measurement after 3, but he should be just fine to stay in 12"!

Dogs did very very well this weekend!

Klinker I felt super bad for though...on Saturday she started out in jumpers fine, then knocked a bar (which at this point is pretty odd for her but I assumed it was me) and then I gave her a Left command and she shot off to the right, VERY determined and that was very VERY odd for her...Hmmmm...and well, she felt funny when I was running her...just overly reactive to body language one second, then not at all the next....not smooth and very jerky...odd.

Next was Steeplechase...and she MAJORLY was acting VERY VERY VERY weird. Wouldn't send to jumps, wouldn't committ to lines, just kept coming into me...I got done with the run, didn't tug with her, just gave her tons of cookies and took her straight to Dr. Jurek, who, luckily for me, was at the trial doing treatments. Klink was WAY out in her back...she tried to even get away from Dr. Jurek during the adjustment, which she has NEVER done. She was hurting BAD. Poor girlie!

She got adjusted and then TADA! Fine again! :) She ran perfectly after that and got a Std Q and a Pairs Q---good girl! Goes to show a lot of the time when dogs are not acting right...there IS a reason :) She will get a couple of days off so she can chill out and let things settle in her back :)

On Sunday she picked up Gamblers, Grand Prix, Pairs and Snooker Q's :) And was back to her old Stinky self :) I love this girl!


Gator was DA MAN this weekend :) He went 4/5 on Saturday--Jumpers 2nd place, Standard 2nd place, Steeplechase Rd 1 2nd place (apparently 2nd place was his thing! LOL) and a Snooker Q---and 5/5 on Sunday--Gamblers Q, Won Standard,Snooker Q, Grand Prix Q and Pairs Q! SOOO...the Tator Salad is all Q'd up for USDAA Champs! WOO HOO!!!! Whatta kid!!


Zippity Zoom was also a lovely girl :) Well...mostly!?!? I am only entering her in the classes she needs for her APD so she doesn't have to run so much. She got 3rd in Standard on Sat and won Standard on Sunday for her PIII Std title! And got a Snooker Q to finish up her PIII Snooker title! Which in itself is AMAZING as, due to conflicts I had about 30 seconds (if that??) to walk it! HA! I got there and someone told me, you should be fine, we are having another walk through for Championship, right after Performance runs...I AM in Performance...so the very nice judge let me and another gal in Performance do a quick scan...I didn't know the course, or my plan beforehand...HA! It was truely a SNOOKER course...I did read a few numbers :) But we made it through :) So now we are down to just 2 jumpers legs and I THINK 2 Grand Prix legs...love her and I am REALLY going to miss running her...she broke 3 startlines too...little b*tch :) And did I care.....NOPE :) HA!


Andy and Crackers did SOOOOO amazingly awesome this weekend! He picked up an Advanced Snooker (1st), Advanced Jumpers (1st) to finish his AJ (so onto Masters!!!!), Steeplechase Round 1--3rd place (WP missed entry), Advanced Pairs (1st). So the Crackhead is Q'd up in Steeplechase now for USDAA Champs :)

And the highlight of my weekend? Watching "Team Crackhead" win the Steeplechase finals AND win Grand Prix with a LOVELY LOVELY RUN! I am soooo proud of them!


I am tired...worn out and so very happy with my dogs :)