The boys (and hopefully Kya in the future) are really starting to be competitive and earn some awards and certificates. I was keeping everything in one binder but that was starting to overflow so I separated and organized.
Binders:
Search and Rescue
Dock Jumping
Agility, Rally, Non-Competitive Obedience
Misc – this one includes things like their AKC/UKC registration, OFA, shot records, raw diet information etc
On the recommendation of a friend who does SAR in Oregon, we both ordered some Asolo hiking boots. They are made of gore-tex and supposed to be waterproof and really comfortable, requiring a little-to-no break-in period.
When we opened the big box we both laughed, because it was obvious who’s boots were whose.
Last year I joined the Labrador Retriever Forum. Since that time, I’ve made some friends on the board and this year Eric and I decided that we would take a trip down near Chicago, IL for the Labfest in that area. It was an absolute blast!!! Eric wanted to become a little more involved so he made shirts:
And a Chicago Lab Fest website! 
Which includes photos from past years as well.
FRIDAY
Eric took the day off in anticipation of packing for our trip to Chicago. I worked until noon, and then he picked me up and we were on our way. We made a couple of quick trips and then we were off. On the way, we stopped at a McDonald’s so Eric could grab a bite to eat while I took all three of the dogs (at the same time) out for a potty break. On the way back to the van, we were about 20 ft away, it downpoured. Now just rained, but a heavy, I -can’t-see-the-van, and it’s-too-windy-to-move type of rain. I commanded the boys to drag me, but in turn had to drag a terrified Kya. We were all completely drenched. I had to change into my pajamas for the rest of the trip.
Arrived fairly quickly it seemed anyway. I met Whitney and Grant for the very first time, after reading and following their stories, photos, videos and blogs of their dogs for quite some time. That was pretty neat.
They’re dogs are beautiful!
I was a little apprehensive about Midas meeting a huge number of dogs so we did a one-by-one meet of our three to their three and it went splendidly. Did not have one problem.
Mason did well too:
And Kya…she was curious and interested but really only comfortable with the dogs and I.
Then Lisa (and Steph) showed up with her 4 – that was a lot of dogs in the backyard. It was highly entertaining to watch Tractor play with the sprinkler.
Midas was wondering what was so fantastic about the sprinkler so he came up to take a look:
He wasn’t impressed lol, so Tractor was back at it on his own:
He sure can get air, even when playing by himself!
He’s a funny, sweet, endearing dog .
Karin showed up with Mason’s “brother”, Wedge – in both of these photos, Mason and Wedge are totally focused on the ball or on someone who may potentially throw the ball:
The household total was 11 dogs for the night – and it was completely fine.
Mason’s Canine Good Citizen certificate came today!! I couldn’t be more excited for the little dude.
Here it is:
To read about the test, go here.
The boys’ United Kennel Club certificates came in the mail today!! I’m so excited! Now, when we finally get up to competing for real, they can be registered in agility, weight pull, dock jumping etc etc.
From their website, “UKC promotes the interest of owners, breeders and enthusiasts who work to balance beauty and working performance to produce happier, healthier dogs.UKC dog shows are family events designed by and for the breeder-owner-handler. Professional Handlers are not eligible to exhibit dogs for others at UKC Conformation Events. At UKC dog shows, the emphasis is on the DOG, not the SHOW. “
I’ve heard wonderful things about newbies competing with UKC before AKC. Their motto is “Our Dogs Do Stuff” – I love it!
Here’s a photo of Midas’s foot:
It doesn’t bother him at all anymore and I am sooooo relieved and happy!
Tuesday, September 18
Midas came into the bedroom and I noticed right away that there was blood on his foot. On further inspection I found that there was a small, hard lump on his foot, next to his toe, which had split open a little. I put pressure on it until it stopped bleeding and mopped it up a little and throughout Midas couldn’t have cared less. Didn’t bother him at all. I was relieved that it wasn’t hurting him. I called and made a vet appointment to have it checked out on Friday.
Friday, September 21
We brought Midas to the vet up north, both of us figuring it would be a quick slice and he’d be all set. Nope. The vet thought there might be a possibility of skin cancer and therefore he needed to have surgery. Surgery to take the lump off. I was quite upset. So, I made his appointment for Saturday morning and headed to my parents house. I was going to the UP so my parents said they of course could drop Midas off and pick him back up. Again, I figured it would be nothing because last time he had a foot issue he bounced back full force by the time I picked him up…I was wrong.
He was unhappy being left behind – which is an understatement.
Midas freaks out anytime I leave him at my parents unless I, myself, put him in his kennel. Then I guess he “knows” I’m coming back for him. So, I had to put him in the kennel before we left.
Mason was totally lost, not knowing what to do and how to behave without Midas there to mimic and follow (which is why this was actually good for Mason to go on a trip with us by himself):
Saturday, September 22
I called my mom to make sure that Midas’s drop off had went fine, it did and then I called the vet. They told me he was going in for surgery at 12:30 and should be out at 1 and to call around then. I waited, called and was told that he was still in surgery and she would call me back in 15-20 minutes and let me know what was going on. An hour and twenty minutes later, no news. I am almost panicking at this point, terrified they had to amputate his leg or he was full of cancer or something and finally just called back. The relief of finding out he was fine made me forget to ask what happened to my return phone call, oh well. He pulled through fine and Mom picked him up without a problem and promised to call me when she got home. Downhill from there.
Mom calls me and says Midas isn’t doing so great: he’s stumbling and staggering into things, looking for me everywhere (hurting himself going up/down stairs and trying to look out the windows) and, worst of all, crying. Loudly. I can hear him crying in the background. I have not heard my dog cry since he was 8 weeks old and was being kennel trained. It about broke my heart. She said she was sitting on the floor with him (Mom doesn’t care for dogs much, so this was a big deal) and he was just wandering aimlessly, checking the doors and windows and crying….for me. He finally settled down and ate some and I got off the phone. It was horrible, I felt awful. After that Dad and Grandma (two of Midas’s favorite people) came home and saw him and that made him feel better. I called on and off all evening to see how he was doing – about the same.
Sunday, September 23
When I called in the morning, Mom said he was still whining and needy but seemed to be doing a lot better. She was thrilled with how easy it was to give him his medication. Thank goodness I’ve got such great parents!! We finally got into town and pulled into the driveway to pick him up. He was sooooo ecstatic to see me! He was flailing around, grunting and whining and licking and sniffing…basically going nuts. I was concerned he was going to hurt himself but he obviously wasn’t. He was all bandaged up on the one foot and his other leg was shaved where they had to stick him:
On the way home he crashed hard in the backseat (Mason missed him too) and slept all the way home. I feel a lot better now that he’s back with me, it felt odd being anywhere with Mason there and not Midas. Since being home he’s been super clingy to me. I can hardly go to the bathroom or take a shower without him right there, or right outside the door. He doesn’t listen to Eric if it involves leaving the room where I am in unless I tell him to. He needs to be touched and cuddled and pet and reassured. His foot is bothering him a little and he favors it a tad.
Monday, September 24
This was the day I was allowed to cut the bandage off for him. I could tell when I got home that he was irritated having it on still. It took awhile because he was “helping” me so much (licking my hand, the scissors, his foot, his leg, my leg etc) but I finally got it off. Then he had to lick his stitches until I made him stop and gave them each a new bone to gnaw on and forget about Midas’s foot.
His wound looks painful and red but it hardly ever bothers him. Once in awhile he will jump or step on something and jerk it up and I can tell it’s sore, but for the most part it seems to be doing fine, and he lets me look at it whenever I want to. After one time trying to nibble his stitches out and being reprimanded he pretty much leaves it alone.
Now I just have to wait for the biopsy results and decide what to do from there…
Monday, October 1
This was the day that Midas gets to have his sutures removed. It went smoothly (I hear, Eric had to take him in) and…they already had the biopsy results in – they came back BENIGN!!!! I was soooo relieved!!! I can’t even describe the feeling. I almost cried. Midas was pretty excited to get his stitches out and licked his foot a little bit, but again, he’s really good at leaving it alone. It looks a little raw to me still, but it should heal up fast.
