Mootsie, my old warhorse, turns ten (10) on September 7th. She was the oldest dog in the Centennial Field Trial this weekend. All this year, I have entered in both the Open and the Amateur. But, if she gets the marks in the first series of the Open, I scratch her in the Am. So far this year, I have not run the Amateur with her. And I typically get to the fourth series of the Open with her. But, she doesn't have the oomph to close the deal in the Open. So we get lots of green ribbons in the Open.
Mootsie doesn't train every day any more. There are days when you open the crate on the truck and she is tucked in the back, lost in sleep. On the days that she does train, she does one set up. It's hard seeing the dog that you grew up with grow old.
This weekend, she acted like a young pup again. She would bark in the truck if I left it (Mootsie barks like a seal. Once you hear her back, you will never forget it) for more than five minutes. She was trying to put her paws on my chest in the holding blind, and whining off and on - all behaviors that I haven't had to deal with since she was three or four. She wouldn't put her butt on the ground for the marks - no matter how forcefully I said sit. It was kind of like we entered a time machine.
She ran a pretty good trial and I thought we might be in for a placement. That didn't happen. We got a green ribbon. In part, I was disappointed, because as a competitor, I always want to win. But, mostly, I was pleased that she didn't act her age and acted like the dog I knew several years ago. She ran a good trial and had fun doing so.
I know that her time is quickly coming, and that I will be retiring her soon. But, it was nice seeing the old girl work this weekend. And I am happy for the green ribbon to remind me of it.
Mootsie doesn't train every day any more. There are days when you open the crate on the truck and she is tucked in the back, lost in sleep. On the days that she does train, she does one set up. It's hard seeing the dog that you grew up with grow old.
This weekend, she acted like a young pup again. She would bark in the truck if I left it (Mootsie barks like a seal. Once you hear her back, you will never forget it) for more than five minutes. She was trying to put her paws on my chest in the holding blind, and whining off and on - all behaviors that I haven't had to deal with since she was three or four. She wouldn't put her butt on the ground for the marks - no matter how forcefully I said sit. It was kind of like we entered a time machine.
She ran a pretty good trial and I thought we might be in for a placement. That didn't happen. We got a green ribbon. In part, I was disappointed, because as a competitor, I always want to win. But, mostly, I was pleased that she didn't act her age and acted like the dog I knew several years ago. She ran a good trial and had fun doing so.
I know that her time is quickly coming, and that I will be retiring her soon. But, it was nice seeing the old girl work this weekend. And I am happy for the green ribbon to remind me of it.