Rigrunner Siberian Huskies - Archive

Happy 16th Grammy

// October 15th, 2009 // Comments Off // Gossip

It is always better to celebrate the goldon oldies before
they die, so today I will mention Grammy, as she is 16
years old today.

Grem, Gremlin, Ra Ra, or in fits of exasperation – you senile old
cow – came to us as an 8 week old pup, on breeding terms and to make
up a 4 dog racing team. She came 6 months after Brit, and they
shared an uneasy relationship throughout their lives together, I
wonder if Grammy is carrying on so well now, just to spite Brit who
died 2 years ago.

Sadly she couldn’t be bred from as she had heriditary cataracts,
however due to those plans going awry, we did go on to become
breeders (small time). She was from a repeat mating that was chalk
and cheese from the first litter, and her pedigree brought together
two of the most well respected kennels in the breed, Zoox & Forstal.
She taught us a lot in her ability to work, being clearly focused and
forward driving. Evan today on a walk, she treats it as a route march, although with no real power left in the pulling. Only last Sunday she steadily walked the 2 mile trail before the rally took place.

She managed a BPIB at Champ show level and a RCC, although a fidget
to show, we didn’t particulary have her out as a veteran as we had
other oldies who enjoyed showing more.

She worked well in harness until about 10 but has a degenerative
shoulder illness that meant we must walk her on a harness and stop
running her, she missed it at first, but soon adapted.

She has always been a most easy going girl to live with, loves pups,
respected her elders (just hated Brit), eats well, time has just
flown since she was a pup spending her first christmas away in a
hotel with us.

A couple of years ago she went deaf, so parts of her life are now a
surprise – dinner, and walks especially. She copes with the other 9
dogs by ‘raring’ loudly if they come too near her and she thinks they
may knock her. As she can’t hear herself she can be noisy (like
Sammy the Sealion) although a friends small daughter thinks she is
saying ‘help me’ ‘help me’

A while back she bagan suffering slightly more with her shoulders,
however cod liver oil plus glucosamine every day and metacam every
other day seems to keep her moving well.

She has had a nice birthday at home, with a little play with the two 12 week old pups who she adores

She is the oldest dog we have ever had, and long may she continue

Chez Keen

// August 6th, 2009 // Comments Off // Gossip

Sunday saw Bindy and I off for fun and frolics at Paul & Amanda’s to break the long journey down to Paignton.

Deb & Alan were there celebrating Charlie’s 17th birthday on the Sat and Alfie’s 13th birthday on the Sunday, hmm two children with birthdays that close must mean a celebration somewhere! Alfie is now officially a Kevin and can say ‘whatever’ with a fair bit of attitude. Kayla was also there with Charlie (message from Keith s…aaa…g!)

Sophie & Adele were also saying so it was a huge group who sat down to one of Amanda’s legendary roasts. Can’t say what else went on, but we’d all like to say ‘thanks Al, your really good’

I was sleeping in Katie’s room ….think pink princess palace….and Indy was deemed untrustworthy to be in there, so she was to sleep with Paul, Amanda & Katie in their room. First I could hear whimpering – obviously I couldn’t hear the exploring & pouncing that went first – then I could hear scratching as she tried to dig out, then apparently she attempted jumping out the bedroom window, before she was unceremoniously marched back to my (Katie’s) room. After an amount of foraging I got her to settle, however in the morning a number of objects were tastefully collected onto the floor, but luckily no damage.

Thanks for the hospitality, it was great.

SUSAN LIVINGSTONE

// July 29th, 2009 // Comments Off // Gossip

On the 20th July the Siberian world lost one of it’s best ambassadors when Susan suddenly died.

Today is her funeral and sadly I couldn’t be there, however I shared a silent thought at 2.15 and tonight will raise a toast in her memory.

God speed Susan, hope you had tidbits ready for Beanie

Telephone Troubles

// July 15th, 2004 // Comments Off // Gossip

A couple of weeks ago we started to get nuisance hang up calls, most likely computer generated, and really irritating. We put a block on our phone to stop people ringing whose number is withheld, this only stopped Yricka who wanted to discuss bib numbers & Tesco’s to tell me my glasses were fixed!

A number of phone calls later here are two numbers that might help others in this situation.

0845 0700707 Register with this number to stop unwanted sales calls.

We did this years ago and it really works, we checked we were still registered, we were, our problem was that the calls to us left no number to complain about. I was then given this number :-

0844 3722325 this blocks silent calls for 1 year…..next day peace from the phone reigned supreme. Happy us.

It’s New, Big & Beautiful

// July 10th, 2004 // Comments Off // Gossip, Van

Well the weekend started nicely with our new van arriving. The same as our old one, but with more whizzy bits, a parade of neighbours came to admire it & be shown around it’s empty interior. Great discussions also took place on the chat we all get to have with our local Police Lady on Monday!

Brit also had to be admired as she had killed a wasp and been stung in the process. I threw a piriton down her throat and checked her breathing was OK, but didn’t really know what else to do, it was her top lip on one side that very swollen and she seemed quite grumpy. It is now going down. I found the dead wasp next to where she usually sleeps.

Saturday saw a day at home, three girls washed for tommorrow and everyone walked. Unfortunately each walk timed perfectly with a rain storm so we all got wet. The Oldies went to the Moor again. No sign of the cows, probably they were lying down because of the rain. The cygnets have really grown. 7 of them swim in close formation, like a fleet of ships and 1 naughty one darts off to explore & is then brought back by a parent’s hiss. A dog from the boats broke his tether and came on the walk, he was kept at a distance by Bel & went happily off in the direction of home when I finally told him to go.

Cheered on Jenson Button in the GB Grand Prix qualifying…I hate single laps, I just want to fall asleep, I so hope he wins tomorrow.

Fun Food & Frolics

// July 4th, 2004 // Comments Off // Food, Gossip

Friday saw us off to Il Pappatore in Bushey with My Parents & our neighbours, Sara & Kev, to celebrate my Dad’s birthday and – gasp – Sara’s 40th! Yummy food, a couple of bottles of red & a jolly good start to the weekend.

Saturday night was a party at Kev & Sara’s, jugs of Pimms all night, that got stronger & stronger. Excellent food by Sarah up the road, good music & fun friends & neighbours. We partied well into the wee small hours, but thankfully Sunday allowed for a lie in.

After a lunch in front of the Grand Prix (go Schuie) it was time to visit the Moor again as the Oldies haven’t been for a couple of weeks. Mr & Mrs Swan paraded 8 cygnets for us to admire, they are getting very brave & come quite close to the dogs, which is challenging, then on our way back the cows were across the path. No problem, pop Bel back on the lead and go through slowly….nope a couple panic & skitter off, then they all line up behind and trot after us. Hmmm worrying thoughts of tales of people & dogs being trampled come to mind. Then I think, perhaps they are usually elderly people with yappy dogs….so Keith dropped behind with Emily on a flexi, which seemed to entertain them. So there we are walking 5 dogs & a herd of Cows! Where is the camera when you need it.

Back home we bid fond farewell to the Mothership Van as it made its way off to it’s new home, all in all a good few days.

Weekly Walk

// June 13th, 2004 // Comments Off // Gossip

We’ve taken to driving the Oldies, Sandy, Brit, Grammy & Emmy, plus Bel to Croxley Moor once a week for a change of scene on their walk. The Moor lies between Watford & Rickmansworth and is really quite pretty. The River & Canal run through one side of it and another is bordered by an old disused railway line. There is a flat patch in the middle where the local aviators fly their model aircraft, at certain hours only.

On the river the Swan has 9!! cygnets who have all survived a number of weeks now so are doing very well, they watch our passing warily with the Male spreading his wings and hissing.

The only problem is the cowpats, and occassionally the cows. A couple of weeks ago Brit actually tripped into a cowpat & came out with it all over her head and ears. But she Em & Bel are nightmares for having a sly shoulder roll if possible. Two weeks ago the cows were actually there when we arrived, they watched us with interest then settled back to their grazing.

Today there weren’t any fisherman or ducks on the river so the girls had a paddle and Bel had a swish – she still can’t swim!

Not the best week

// May 31st, 2004 // Comments Off // Gossip

Not having the best of times here at present. Keith’s Mother died suddenly last Monday night, a major shock all round. Sandy has an ulcerated tummy again, with treatment from the Vets only just controlling it. Then Toni, started producing milk and now has mastitis, which did look like it could be a rapid tumour too.

However a rather nice lunch with our friends, on this Bank Holiday Monday, in the garden of the Cart & Horses has re-established our equilibrium nicely!

BSHRA V ZERO

// April 26th, 2004 // Comments Off // Gossip, Working

So 9 years on, the scandal of Zero is still not resolved within BSHRA.

It’s not that they are scared to race them, you realise, they just won’t let them back in .

Their latest anomaly, is to allow unregistered Siberians to race. So a large number of Kennel Club registered Siberians cannot take part, but any that they view as ‘looking’ like Siberians can.

Hmmmm having seen some of the registered dogs they allow to run, this immediately strikes as odd, and then when you consider that dogs placed amongst large entries of Siberians judged, by the same people, at Kennel Club Championship Shows CANNOT race there you can see just how tangled a web they weave