Happy Birthday

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

Good Morning All,

One year ago today in a couple of hours the moon babies started to come 
into the world.  Happy Birthday one and All.  Scarlette send her love and 
TRiX wants to know when do we have cake and ice cream?  She says Breakfast 
time would be good...

Here is a ditty about TRiX first year:  TRiX started out to be the most 
obnoxious puppy in the entire litter, she climbed trees, strutted around 
the other puppies like she was the big dog.  Today she knows her place in 
the pack and is respectful of the older dogs.  TRiX has missed out on going 
to formal obedience school so far, we had a couple in front of her and when 
thing looked clear like she could go we didn't sign her up as we were sure 
she would be coming into heat.  Well we are still waiting on this to 
happen.  So her formal training has been zilch but she has had a few 
lessons and is a good girl minus jumping up and counter surfing and,,, wall 
chewing occasionally.  She is a very social dog very much enjoys other dogs 
and people.  She is out going yet submissive.  She enjoys being outside 
loves to run the property, comes back when she is called knows her 
boundaries.  Is an intense ball player and can out run Haus.  She really 
enjoys the beach and last summer she got to do that a lot, and she tells me 
this is what she wants to do all of this summer too.  She also is a very 
good bed dog, figures, just what we needed another bed dog... :-)

TRiX  has made one trip to Canada last October and was shown twice with no 
great result other than to say she enjoyed it.  In this venue she is slow 
maturing and won't be shown for probably about another year with any 
seriousness.  She does go to training classes weekly and we are seeing her 
conformation coming around.  She is not a big girl weighing in at 53 pounds 
she is moderate in every respect:  Coat, bone over all substance. I am sure 
that BARF feeding her 98% of her life has a lot to do with her slower growth.

  We will be taking her in to have her prelim hips and elbows done with in 
the next few weeks.  On that note any of you that might be interested in 
doing hips and elbows I would suggest you contact me for a vet referral in 
all honesty most vet's do not do a good job at getting the positioning 
right and this is critical for the best evaluation.  Many vets feel that 
dogs have to be put under to be x-rayed, I do not agree nor do many vets 
the vet's that do the majority of the x-rays on show dogs have the skills 
to be able to accomplish this with out putting them under.  I have seen 
many x-rays on dogs that were sedated that are poorly positioned, more than 
dogs who were not for what that is worth.  I also don't think any of you 
need to be concerned about doing x-rays since no one has reported any 
lameness but if your incline to want to do this I am certainly available to 
discuss it, on or off list.

Well here is to everyone having a GREAT birthday!  The weather is not so 
nice here and we are going to be busy getting George off to Hawaii {poor 
old George} NOT!

Gina :-)