One year post-op!!

This weekend marked the one year anniversary of Winston's surgery on his front legs for premature closure of the distal ulna.  One year ago, Mark and I traveled to Dr. Mary's for surgery that we hoped would prevent a lifetime of lameness for Winston.

Winston: post op on 9/17/2010

Winston today: 9/19/2011

I can run!

I can run fast!

I can tumble, too!

I am really handsome, too and look like my dear ole Dad, Riley!

I am wonder dog!

We are so proud of Winston! We can barely belief all he has accomplished in his 20 months of life.  One thing is certain, Winston's adventure continues. Again, we express our gratitude to Dr Mary, who made this all possible. 

PS: Yes, we know we set the jump up wrong--we were in a hurry and we never noticed the jump until we saw the pics. OOPS! 

Soggy Weekend

Tropical Storm Lee has been around all weekend, making for a soggy holiday weekend.  Winston has not been too happy with the limited outside activity.

Winston on the couch

Carly in her chair

Elliott on the couch with me

Winston relished his outside time in between rain bands. 

Seems like Winston is trying to tell me something!

Mark took this awesome pic of Carly(left) and Elliott(right) this week. 

Not only was this a stormy holiday weekend, it was Elliott's (in the middle)Birthday!

Elliott was ten years old this weekend! Here they pose with the cake I made for him.

Happy Birthday, Elliott! They can have their cake and eat it, too!

Still breezy and rainy today. Hopefully clear skies are on the way soon.

Winston learns to R.E.A.D

A few weeks ago, I attended a workshop for the R.E.A.D program:  http://www.therapyanimals.org/read/

This program advocates children reading to pets to help build the child's reading skills and reading confidence.  The dogs are un-biased listeners who do not mind if the children read slowly or have trouble with some words.  The results and improvement in children's reading who participate is amazing.

Today, I received the official welcome packet from the R.E.A.D program notifying us that Winston and I are card carrying members!

Our official creds!

As a kid, I spent many an hour reading to my dog, Raggs, the wondermutt. I have always loved books and reading. It should be  fun to participate in this program with Winston!

Winston and his books

READ me a story about a good puppy!

So, be on the lookout for us at the local library. We will be the Girl and the Glen curled up with a book!

Another title to the story...

This weekend we had our local dog club Rally and Obedience Trial. We were working towards the final 2 legs in Beginner Novice Obedience to get Winston's BN title.

On Saturday morning Mark showed Winston in Beginner Novice and they won second place and received a qualifying score! YAY! One more leg down!

Look at me! Super dog!

In the second class of the day Saturday, Winston NQ'd. He was not having fun in the ring and just not cooperating. Can you say terrier?!


We did get to see some of our friends competing too and Winston was able to see some of his doggie friends.

After Saturday's NQ, Mark decided I should handle Winston on Sunday. EEEKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!! I have not been in a show ring since college and that was with horses!

So this morning, Winston and I entered Beginner Novice Obedience together and we qualified!!!
We also received our third leg and third place, plus Winston now has his title: BN!  Winston now holds a BN and RN.

Winston poses with me and Judge Brown with our awards. 

We had a great weekend and now we all feel like a huge weight has been lifted since we received that last leg! We want to thank all our fellow dog friends for all the support: Mary, Anne, Becky, Betsy, Linda, Debbie, Karen, and Susan! Thank you all for your words of encouragement and support! Also a special thanks to all the Five Flags people who made the show possible from the stewards and step up people to all those who worked behind the scenes to make the show such a success!  Now we have lots more training to work on to take it to the next level.  Winston....the little terrier that could!

Dog daze of summer

We have been quiet on the blog lately. It has been in the triple digits here for the last several weeks. TOO hot! Lots of napping and some outdoor fun too this month!

Winston barely fits under his favorite chair now!

Carly napping

Elliott 

You lookin' at me?

Must sleep...soo tired.

Paper shredder expert!

More napping...

This looks so uncomfortable!

Winston also has some work to do with Dad at the office!

These tax returns are so boring!

The Red Baron has made a re-appearance this summer. Elliott will be 10 years old  in a few weeks and the walks are tough on him in the heat this year!

Winston hitches a ride in the Red Baron, too!

Make room for me!

Elliott's tail didn't quite make in inside the cart!

Where's the water, dad???!

Ah, that's more like it...a nice, cool dip!

Winston met a new friend at tracking practice last week! Our friend Susan's Belgian Tervuren, Miles!  They had a blast playing! Miles is an adorably handsome little man!

We have another busy week ahead... more updates soon!

Red, White and Blue

While we were at the dog show with Winston this weekend.  Carly and Elliott visited with their "Auntie Annette" who spoils them.  They also get to visit with her dog, Tucker, too. 

All the doggies pose with the collars Auntie Annette bought them! 

Auntie Annette bought Carly a dress!

Auntie Annette also took some other pics of all the doggies playing! Here is the slide show. We are so lucky to have Auntie Annette and Tucker to visit with. 

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-legacy&localeid=en_US&h=1

It is always a struggle to get all three dogs together for a photo. Winston is a ham and he loves to pose. Carly really does not like to pose so she will not look at the camera. She especially dislikes posing with Winston! Elliott always makes a break from the pack to kiss the photographer. So here is the sad lot of photos of the gang today on the 4th of July.

Winston posing, Carly trying not to look and El thinking about the break!

Winston posing, Elliott lurching towards the break and Carly wishing she lived in a one Westie home!

Elliott makes his break, Winston posing and Carly accidentally sorta looks at the camera.

Winston posing, Elliott about to leap and Carly hoping we will all go away!

Maybe we can get that group photo  perfected next year!!  Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!

Show weekend

Winston traveled to Jackson, MS for a dog show this weekend.  We entered Beginner Novice Obedience. We stayed at a hotel and Winston had to battle one of his worst demons: the elevator! 

Why are elevators so scary and noisy?!

Better read the rule book again!  But after we play ball.

"Are you ready?"

"Ready!"

Very nice heeling! 

Decent figure eight! 

The dreaded recall. Winston nailed it! Good job!

Mark had to check his arm band number when the judge called 2nd place! 

WOO HOOO! First leg down for the Beginner Novice title! 

I'm so sexy with my ribbons, my ribbons, my ribbons! So sexy it hurts! 

Winston and Mark had 2 more tries at Beginner Novice Obedience but we only came away with one leg this time around. Winston would not come to Mark on the recall in the second class. Then today Winston was off his game and just not himself. So, we will be working on those issues for the August trial at home! We met a few new friends and also got to visit with some other friends we have met along the way.