Taylor - A party on 4 legs.
Taylor on 5th March 2010
Taylor, my second Flat Coated Retriever, the only bitch I have ever owned and while she has given me many grey hairs, I could not imagine life without her. Always ready to be doing something, wether its training or getting into mischief she sure does it with alot of enthusiasm. One of my friends once told me if I could bottle her enthusiasm I could make a fortune and the same person called her a "party on 4 legs" which I think describes her very well.
She sure has had a alot of upsets in her life, and spent the best part of the first 2 years of her life in and out of the vets. Starting with parvo, not 2 days after she first came to live with me, she was very lucky to survive and there were many more trips to the vet after that. Her last major problem was a dislocated hip in 2007, where she had 2 pins inserted, and while in intensive care managed to dislocated it again in less than 24 hours. To top that visit off she came home with a rash, which turn out to be a very serious infection and thanks to my own vets we were able to get it under control. However the journey forward has not been easy and almost 12 months later, with alot of swimming and accupunture, I am going to say very quietly, I think we are on the road to recovery.
However, with all that has gone on in her life it has not dampened her enthusiasm for training and fun and I should add mischief. Taylor is currently training in obedience and tracking. Last year we did start off at retrieving training but due to her hip problems we have not been able to continue.
Early 2007 Taylor got 2 passes in obedience, then in 2008 at the Gundog Club Obedience trial on 13th April she got her last pass for her Community Companion Dog title, in fine style with a fabulous score of 98/100 taking out first place. A few weeks later on the 17th May, our first tracking trial for the 2008 season, passed her Test 1 to get her first leg towards her Tracking Dog title.
Update for Taylor, on the 12th July 2008 she passed her Test 2 at tracking to gain her Tracking Dog Title.
Tracking trial on 30th August 2008, Taylor worked really hard on her Test 3 track which was covered in Kangaroo's and Passed with grading of Very Good, 2 more legs to get for her next title which wont happend now untill next year as we only have one more trial in a couple of weeks to end this season.
Now that tracking is finished for the season we will concentrate a bit more on obedience and visits to the beach or the pool.
15/11/08 - Well all that swimming and exercise is certainly paying off as Taylor had her hip checked today and Dr Deb Nook is very pleased and her muscle build up is terrific. Still going to keep the swimming up as its really good for her and she loves it, also the massages as well.
18/4/09 - Yipee back to tracking, season started today, Taylor was one very excited girl to be out there again. Check out how she went on the "Tracking News 2009" page.
27/6/09 - We had not been home long from a trial and Taylor doing her usual leaping about must have landed a bit oddly and dislocated her left hip (her good one). The vet x-rayed and it was put back in, with it in a sling to give chance for the muscules to heal. Stayed in over night at the vets, and they were warned what she was like and I would have thought they would have put a bucket over her head, but no. Next morning I ring up to find out how she was to be told that she have removed the sling and it was torn to shreads. Was I surprised no, and got my "I told you so" in. Good news was the hip was still in place, thank goodness and I was allowed to collected her later on that after noon. She came home with strict instructions for complete rest and only movement was a on lead walk to do the toilet and that was it. So for the next few weeks she came to work with me. Back to Dr Deb Nook for accupunture and she was pleased with Taylor's progress but still more crate rest. Good news is that the hip has stayed in place and hopefully thats were its going to stay. We have been doing bits of obedience for a couple of week and walking and on last Friday Taylor was allowed to return to track training, thank goodness we all thought. She has been doing a awful lot of protesting when the others have been out working. So say she was a bit excited would be an understatment but after a few minutes has settle down and worked her tracks very nicely. Now have my fingers and everything else crossed that all goes well for her from now on, I think she really has been through an awful lot in her short life. She is entered along with Rebel in our club next tracking trial in a couple of week.
29/8/09 - Taylor's first tracking trial in a few months, she was fabulous, terrific start and just gave the cross tracking a very quick glance and carried on. We had a problem with the smell of a dead Kangaroo on her last leg, but she resisted the urge to go check it out and went to find the tracklayer instead to get her pass for her Test 5. Yipee for Taylor some of her best work except for the last bit. 
11/11/09 - WooHoo Taylor is 8 years old today. There has been many times when I thought she would never make it past 2. Wishing you health years ahead.
To pass the time while we are not tracking, a couple of weeks ago I decided to going along to a Heel work to Music class with Taylor. Have to say we both had heaps of fun and it was very pleasing to see that all those tricks I have taught her are going to come in very handy. We came away with lots of ideas and things to work on, so that should keep us both out of mischief for awhile.
30/5/10 - We have now started back at tracking, and Taylor sure is enjoying herself. I just cant believe how strong she has got, so all that swimming and walking has done her alot of good.
Yesterday we had great fun at a Heel work to Music seminar, got some very nice comments from one of the instructors at the end, now we just have to find some music we both like, a routine and some spare time to practice. Dont think we will be doing any comps until summer as I am busy enough with the tracking and retrieving in the winter time.
