Living

Annie was the first out for her early morning walk today.  This is dog-pleasing weather, for sure.  The clear air, blue skies, cooler (but not too cool) temperatures, are just what our dogs crave.  I should add – me, too!  I’m sure most people would echo my sentiment that July’s heat and high humidity made outdoor summer activities hard to find enjoyable.

We have been fortunate to have this dog-pleasing weather all of August, so far.  Wouldn’t it be nice if this extended into September and October?  Who knows…  For now, seize the day – and make the most of it.  I know Annie and her sister Lily will want to spend most, if not all, of the day out in the back hayfield, up the on wooded hillside scouting around for wild creatures.  My pal James will want to hang out with me while I attempt some light gardening.  I’m still not able to get myself to re-enter my forest of plants on my hillside garden since the day I came out of there and ended up with Lyme disease.  Clearly, ticks love to inhabit my thriving perennials that rise 4-7′ in height due to the rich compost I heap on them each spring.  This black gold comes from the farmer, Peter Montague, who lives around the corner.  (If your garden needs some help, by all means, check with Peter!).  So – out we go…  not a minute to lose!

Annie on the grooming table

Annie loved the Puppy Cut I gave James a few weeks ago.  In fact, I think she was a bit jealous!  Annie is not a dog who is eager to spend time on the grooming table.  Her sister Lily is the opposite.  Grooming time…  she’s on the table eager to please, and even more eager to get the undivided attention she receives while being groomed.

I have written many times about Annie’s role here at Bridgvale Farm.  She is our senior scout, in charge of patrolling the back field, fenced in and kept mowed for the gang to run around, get excerise, and do their hunting.  Annie is a bit shy and reserved.  She wouldn’t care to be a therapy dog like Lily and James.  She likes to stay close to home.  Therefore, she argues (she has a voice… which I only hear!!!), I don’t need to look dressed up with all that feathering.  Once James, our senior boy and semi-retired therapy dog, got his Puppy Cut, she has been on me to give her that same look.  In other words, Remove all this unneeded fur and give me that nice sporty, practical cut.  In her mind she’s thinking, Lots less time spent on the grooming table!

Lily wanted in on the attention, too.

Today was the day.  Annie got her wish. She sure does look like a young pup, and she’s jumping for joy!  Lily, not to be left out of this attention, quickly jumped up on the grooming table this morning while Annie stood there – contemplating the necessity of getting on the grooming table in order to get her new Do.  Annie is a character!

Dogs are considered Seniors once they hit the age of seven years.  My sweet boy James is now 12 1/2 years old and has been in the Senior Dog category for several years.  I am ever-vigilant of all my dogs, but pay very close attention to my aging canines.

James is a working dog.  As my readers know, James has enjoyed a very active Therapy Dog career.  He actually has visited in more different types of facilities than had Beatrice, Phoebe, Trudi, and Julia during their therapy dog careers.  James has seen the opening of doors at both healthcare and educational environments due to an ever-growing understanding of the role the human-canine bond can play on the wellbeing of those experiencing pain, loneliness, and dispair. James has visited in nursing homes, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, Alzheimer’s Units, hospice care, and played a major role in starting our unique Bright Spot Reading Buddies Programs in western Massachusetts elementary schools.

Over the past year my boy James has been slowing down.  At first, I was concerned about Lyme disease, but he tested negative.  Lyme disease dismissed, it appeared that his weakening rear legs were a result of arthritis.  Our vet started him on a generic drug called carprofen.  The results were amazing!  Within a few hours, James was playing around like a puppy.  He was happy and smiling.  Trotting out ahead of me on our morning walks.  Use of this drug requires monitoring, however, to be sure it is not having an effect on the dog’s liver or kidneys.  Only a small percentage are effected, my vet assured me.  After being on the drug for three weeks, James returned to the vet for repeat bloodwork.  Unfortunately, it was effecting his liver, so use of carprofen ceased immediately.

The vet recommended we try James on a human drug called meloxicam.  This we started after waiting a three-day period to flush the carprofen out of James’ system.  He’s been on his new meds now for three days and he’s once again acting his puppy-peppy self.  It’s wonderful to see him spring up from his dog bed, ready for action.  He has even started playing around out back with the youngsters, Annie and Lily!  More monitoring:  we return to the vet in another three weeks for repeat bloodwork.  My fingers are crossed.

August 1st marked an important day for Lily and me.  It marked the second anniversary since I picked her up at Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut, to bring her here to live with us at Bridgvale Farm.  She flew from Wisconsin to us on a leap of faith.

My dear friend and wonderful English Setter breeder Judi Hunter had emailed me about Lily.  She thought Lily would make a great therapy dog.  I trust Judi’s instincts.  She sent me James and his sister Julia, and it was she and my good friend Eileen Hackett (superb professional show dog handler and longtime breeder of fine English Setters) who breed my beloved Phoebe.  I was thrilled to have Judi entrust Lily with us and let her make her home here on Bridgvale Farm.

Lily was two years old when she arrived, and she was a challenge!  Annabelle, the Senior Farm Scout was horrified as she stood listening to our new canine family scream – literally scream – at the baby birds in the nest by the side of the barn.  Annie had been ever-so-quietly observing the babies since the parent birds had constructed the nest in the honeysuckle brush.  Screaming has got to cease, Annie must have instructed Lily in canine language.  Today, Lily has become Junior Scout under Annie’s tutelage.  The pair spend countless hours together on the wooded hillside silently hunting for wild things.

On my part, Lily and I spent a year in intense training, building a strong bond between us.  She loves to jump up on the grooming table where she is face-to-face with me, loving the one-on-one attention.  We spent hours of time together riding in the car and going to all kinds of public places together for socialization.  We attended manners classes and canine good citizen classes.  All this in preparation for her career as a Bright Spot Therapy Dog.

Judi was right, of course.  Judi knows her dogs.  Today, celebrating two full years with us on Bridgvale Farm, Lily has evolved into an amazing Therapy Dog.  Her forte is working with children as a Bright Spot Reading Buddy at the Westhampton Elementary School where first and second graders read their special books to her, one-on-one, each week.  I am very proud of this wonderful dog.  She knows how I feel.  She can tell – and she’s a very happy dog!

I love a sunset.  I always have.  From the time I was seven years old, I watched every sunset over the White Mts. for 51 summers on Long Lake in Maine.  Now, for us, the sun sets over Sebago Lake.  This past week, Sisters’ Week at the Lake, my sister and I ended each fun-filled vacation day by watching the setting sun while sitting on the beach or porch of our rented 1900’s bungalow-style lake house.

I have never ceased to feel a sense of calm, to feel totally relaxed, while sitting silently watching the gradient hues of color paint the evening sky.  Each night,  the horizon – a fresh blank canvas – evolves into a new magnificent painting before our very eyes.  I have often heard people say that you become used to something that is right in front of you every day.  Not the sunset.  Not for me.  I avoid any nightly distraction that would prevent me from taking my front row seat for the sunset show.

Our father’s nightly post on the beach (Long Lake) with his special dog Talley at his side, ready to enjoy the sunset.

Our last sunset of our Sisters’ Week seemed the most breathtaking of all.  Bittersweet in the knowing that it would be an entire year before we would be back, sitting on the beach awaiting showtime.  In tribute to Oswald Johnson, our father, who brought us to the site of beauty back in 1958.  He never missed his sunset, ever.

Sunset over Sebago

I am so ready for this!  Car packed.  Kayak mounted.  Just the basics:  some good books, my writing journal, and my beloved inner tube.  It will be a week of total relaxation – away from phones and internet connections.

I’ve been down-and-out with Lyme disease for the past six weeks.  My course of doxycyline ended this morning, and I’m cleared to go.  I’m optimistic that the Lyme disease is behind me.  Best to have a positive outlook.

Pictured above is the view from our 1920’s lakehouse that we have rented for our Sisters’ Week for the past five years.  The private beach is right outside the door.  This area of Sebago is dotted with islands, mostly inhabited, in varying sizes.  Last year, we managed to kayak around all eight of them.  The sunset is typical of the nightly show we have while enjoying a late dinner on the beach or up on the front porch.  Who couldn’t feel relaxed with that scene in front of them?

James, Annie, and Lily will be well taken care of by my husband who is all set to spend quality time with our canine family members while the sisters head out for their quality time together.  Off to an early start, our first stop will be Portland and a morning snack and coffee from the Standard Baking Company (SO GOOD! I could move there just for this!).  We’ll spend some time hanging out in one of our favorite cities, then have lunch at The Portland Lobster Company.  My mouth is watering already for the BEST lobster roll you’ll find anywhere.  Once fortified, we’ll head to Sebago and hide the car keys for the week!

Photo: Wikipedia

James and I have been starting our morning walk each day earlier and earlier in an attempt to beat the intense heat and humidity before it becomes unbearable.  The earlier the morning walk, the better, from many perspectives.  Aside from the weather, wildlife is far more abundant in the wee hours of the morning.

On our morning walk today, James and I spotted a beautiful Indigo Bunting.  Not at a distance up on a tree branch.  No, this striking species was just about a foot in from the roadside, sitting in the cool, lush greenery.  It just sat there, not moving.  James and I stopped and quietly observed this rare bird, pausing in the shaded area.  James sat motionless, both of us mesmerized.  I hadn’t seen an Indigo Bunting in years.  They are seen only occasionally here in western Massachusetts.  In the winter months, they’re off to southeast Texas and Florida, down to Central America and the West Indies. After 2-3 minutes, off it flew, up far into the treetops, and off James and I went to continue our peaceful morning walk together.

Our dear, sweet English Setter Annabelle turns six years old today.  She is the great, great, granddaughter of our late Trudi who lived to the amazing age of sixteen years, two months.  Unlike all our other English Setter who have come to live with us here on Bridgvale Farm as adult dogs, Annie  has been with us since she was a wee pup of ten weeks.

Annie as a wee pup

Annie is our official Bridgvale Farm Scout.  She loves to spend hours in the back field hunting for wild things that visit the farm.  This trait, I am certain, she inherited from her great, great gran.  Trudi liked nothing better than to spend hours scouting in the back field.  Annie, as a wee one, would be out there with her.

Annie is the self-appointed teacher of other Setters joining the family in the ways of hunting, ever-so-quietly, on the wooded hillside where she spends the better part of her day, in all kinds of weather.  When Lily joined our pack two years ago (at the age of two years), Annie’s skills were put to a true test.  Lily screamed like a coyote when sighting a bird, much to Annie’s chagrin.  Today, hunting side-by-side with Annie as her teacher, Lily has picked up the skills of a pro.  Good job Annie!

Annie takes her job as offical Scout seriously.  I consider her my canine household manager, as well.  Annie is a quiet, reserved girl.  She likes to stick close to home.  She doesn’t even enjoy a ride in the car, unless others from her pack accompany her.  Annie is not a therapy dog, like James and Lily.  That job just simply wouldn’t be to her liking.  She has chosen her own job and does it well.  I wouldn’t dream of forcing her to take on a different role.

Annie’s favorite treat!

Annie with her favorite toy Chicky.

Annie will celebrate today with her favorite treat:  Broccoli.  Yes – this girl loves this healthy green vegetable.  She can smell it as I bring a bunch from the refrigerator.  She runs in from wherever she is to ask for a piece or two.  She’s thrilled to offer her pals James and Lily a bowl-full of Broccoli.  A little portion at a time.  A week’s worth.  Annie and I took an early morning walk together.  Something she truly enjoys, and later today, she and I will bring her favorite childhood toy out of the closet where it’s kept safely from Lily who would tear it to shreds within minutes.  I’ll toss her chicky for her and she’ll run around the room tossing it in the air, just as she did as a puppy.  I hope Annie’s great, great gran’s longevity genes pass on to her and she has many more birthdays ahead of her.

James had a puppy clip, removing much unwanted fur. He’s smiling and wagging his tail.

Trimming an English Setter takes time, under the best of circumstances.  Trimming the Senior Dog needs to be expedited as much as possible.  Standing for a long period of time is difficult for a senior dog, even with breaks.

My Senior Dog James was in dire need of a trim.  I had put it off way too long – for many reasons:  I don’t like to put him through it too often, the intense heat and humidity would make it that much harder a task, and I came down with Lyme disease – so I had no energy to take it on.  As time went on, James began to look like a sheep-needing-shearing!  As soon as there was a two-day break in the weather, I seized the opportunity.  Part One, brushing and bathing were covered in yesterday’s post.  Today, Part Two, the trim…

Tub with roll-out ramp

While I put off James’ trim, I was pondering a way to make the whole experience for my Senior Dog one that would be more relaxing and enjoyable for him.  Up until his hind legs became arthritic about a year ago, James would jump right up on the grooming table all excited about having a trim.  Yesterday, while bathing James, it dawned on me that he was totally relaxed in the tub, surrounded by the security of the steel walls.  The roll-out ramp had made it possible for him to walk up into the tub with assistance from me.  (Waiting for him in the tub was a cookie!  Now, that was a pleasant experience!)  I decided, why not trim James in the security of the tub, vacuuming up the fur as we went along?  The whole thing would be easy on me and on my Senior Dog.  I figured it would be worth a try.

The tub proved to be the perfect place to get the major trimming

Smooth transfer from tub to table

accomplished.  I was able to trim James’ feet without him feeling like he would fall.  It’s so important to keep the fur between the dog’s foot pads trimmed.  This helps with  traction.  Even more so for the Senior Dog whose pads become smooth with aging.  Once James’ neck and body were trimmed, it was time to make the transfer to the grooming table.  I had given a lot of thought to how this would be done.  Easy:  I moved the table right up next to the tub and James’ walked out from the tub onto the table.  Very smooth transition.  Once he was stationed on the table, I worked quickly to trim his head, face, legs, and scissor his body feathers and tail feathers.  Done!  He was happy to be clean and looking good!  He looks quite youthful with his cool puppy clip!  Throughout the entire event, James wagged his tail and smiled – and got lots of hugs and cookie breaks.

James feeling secure in his tub surrounded by steel walls.

It’s tough grooming the senior dog.  Brushing, bathing, and trimming take a great deal of time.  My younger dogs, Annabelle and Lily, are easy.  For them, it’s up on the grooming table for a quick 15-minute brushing, ear cleaning, teeth cleaning, nail clipping, then into the tub for a 10-minute bath (shampoo, rinse, conditioner, rinse, towel dry).  When completely dry, it’s up on the grooming table for trimming.  This is usually a 45-60 minute task in which Annie and Lily each stand steadily on the table while I clip away.  James, when younger, was the same way.

Now that James is a senior dog of 12 1/2 years, his rear legs are weak from arthritis.    He is no longer able to jump up on the grooming table.  I must lift his 64 lbs. body up.  Once on the table,  he feels very unsteady and insecure.  He’s afraid he will fall and requires much bracing.  Most of the time, I brush him while he’s lying on his dog bed.  I don’t bathe or trim him as much as the other two dogs, so he doesn’t need to go through what has now become a very unpleasant task for him.  Unfortunately, by avoiding baths and trims, when these tasks become a necessity, they are that much harder to perform.