Erlina continues to do well, my computer, not so much.

Erlina continues to improve.  She gets her banana each morning and then, after a suitable interval, goes out with the other dogs to play monster.  She goes out to play monster - jumping in the air and growling and running and more jumping.  Oisin likes to play with her, the others mostly tolerate the "little kid."

It is not well known, but electricity is merely smoke running through wires.  Yes, I know all that theory about electrons and such, but come on, have you ever seen an electron ?  We have all seen smoke on the other hand.  It is clear that when something in a computer breaks it lets out the smoke and then the computer stops working.  So it is with my computer and that is why there are no pictures in this post.  They are all backed up - twice, but not available at the moment.

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Erlina and Oisin - Stoop Tag

I remember when I was small we used to play a game we called "Stoop Tag" (als0 known as "Drop Tag"). There was one official rule, the person who was it could not tag you if you stooped down. There was another, unofficial, rule which was that the kids that were not "it" were to bedevil the "it" person by running as close to him/her as possible without getting tagged. Erlina and Oisin have learned to play this game quite well.

Erlina, nipping at Oisin, who is obviously "it."

Oisin charges back

and gets ready to "tag" Erlina

who drops to the ground, taunting Oisin, "you can't tag me."

When the game is over, it is time for a good stretch and roll in the grass.

As you can see, Erlina continues to do well off the antibiotics. An extensive checkup at the Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital this week said that all is well - so far.

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Erlina - so far so good. Riona is ok too.

Erlina, chasing Finian towards Myrna

One week off the antibiotics, Erlina is feisty and doing well. Here she is chasing Finian towards Myrna who has her favorite "Make my day !" look. Erlina still does not have the stamina one would hope, but it is improving as time goes on.

Erlina as Monster Dog

Over the past few weeks we also struggled with a massive infection in Riona's tail. We could not save the tail so decided it was much better to lose the tail than the dog. Here is short-tailed Riona, who does not mind a bit.

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Erlina

Erlina as a Monster Dog.

Ready to Attack

The Attack

Erlina is doing quite well. She has just finished a 4 month course of the the antibiotic Amikacin, by injection every day. The maximum recommended course of Amikacin is 7 days because it is toxic to the kidneys. By checking her kidney function 3 times a week for the first 2 months and twice a week for the last 2 months we were able to continue the drug more or less safely.

Now the waiting begins. If the infection returns, there is not much more we can do and the story will end sadly. If the infection does not return, we continue on with the story of the Platinum Princess ! Prayers, good thoughts, candles lit, and glasses of Guinness raised in her honor will all be appreciated.

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That Darn Wascally Wabbit

The pups (here Rhiannon and Keva) are entertained and excited by a rabbit that appears to have no sense, or perhaps a very good understanding of chain-link fences. The rabbit keeps coming back to eat the clover in the grass right next to their pen. The dogs go completely nuts, but the rabbit does not pay any attention to them, which makes them more nuts.

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The win picture

Here is the win picture from the Group 1 win about which I posted last time.
Oisin is wonderful, I look like I lost a bar fight.

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Oisin - a Group 1 at Genesee County Kennel Club Show 5/21/11

Oisin

Oisin and Bill went to the Genesee County (MI) Kennel Club Show on Saturday 5/21. Oisin took Best of Breed in Irish Wolfhounds and was advanced to the Hound Group Competition.

At dog shows, each breed is judged against others in the breed and the winner, Best of Breed, then competes against all other dogs in their group that have won their Best of Breed. Irish Wolfhounds, like Afgan Hounds, American Foxhounds and others, are part of the Hound group.

First Prize Ribbon in Group

Now, we would like to say that this was a usual and uneventful win, but not so.
As Bill was leading the group out onto the ring, at full speed as IWs are wont to do, Oisin bumped his left leg behind his right. Both feet stopped, the rest of him did not. Boom, crash, Bill made a not-so-graceful landing on his face on the concrete. Oisin, loyal hound he is, stayed nearby. After a brief intermission where the judge and others got the bleeding stopped and took the broken pieces of Bill's glasses out of his face and applied an ice-pack, the competition resumed.

Because Bill won the Hound Group, he stayed for the Best in Show competition, which he did not win. Then there was an hour drive home, a half-hour drive to the ER and a 2 hour fun time in which he was x-rayed (left hand/wrist), CAT scanned (head), stitched (face) and sent home.

He is quoted as saying, "Sure I have a headache, but it was worth it."

If you want to comment, please send an email to:william {at} HoundsOfHeaven.com,or go to our website: www.HoundsOfHeaven.com