Clean Run - May 2011 - 5

Editorializing…
A Change of Plan
By Julie Bacon

At a trial in February, I was taking my dog, Karma, over a practice jump when he landed straight then turned to me, holding his left rear leg high and crying. Time stood still. Karma is a tank. He is an athletic, four-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog and he does not cry. I searched for my friends who I knew were dispersed either working or running dogs. What did I need in this moment? I certainly couldn’t carry him back to the crating area! Finally I found a friendly face, and she came running, like good friends do. I scratched him from his runs and we tried to figure out what was going on. Thankfully the massage/rehab therapist was still on site and took a look at him. We formed a hypothesis, instructions were given and followed, and the plan was to see how he was in the morning. Breathe. Sunday came and my happy Berner bounced out of bed and played on his walk. He looked normal, but paranoia had set in. A few practice jumps, all good. Ran the FAST class, looked great. Ran Standard perfectly. Whew! A few hours later while warming up for Jumpers it happened again. What now? I was grateful that agility people come together for the sake of a dog and help was at hand. One of the exhibitors was a vet who isolated the problem to Karma’s foot and gave some ideas of what it could be. But further examination and X-rays were necessary. What I realized in this moment is how much I had already “planned” for this dog. No, not world team (Berner, remember?), but plans—more obedience titles, more agility accomplishments, another carting title, and more herding. A lot of plans! And yes, I knew none of this mattered so long as he could still snuggle with me in bed (king-sized, of course). So then, with the guilt, came more self-analysis. Karma had been hurt before, at age two. He was playing “tennis ball” with his Lab friends when he turned on

flat grass and broke a right, rear toe. He cried only once yet the X-rays literally made the vet techs gasp. A summer of healing and rest followed and he’s very stable on it today. So why didn’t I freak out then? Because I didn’t have “plans.” Ah, plans, expectations, hopes, dreams—tricky stuff. Trickier still when humans pin all those hopes on dogs. Karma is my “Novice A” dog, so he was a “pet” when he broke his toe. But the dog that got hurt at the practice jump is now a “performance dog” and somewhere in the evolution, I formed “plans” for him. It’s impossible not to have goals for you and your furry children, but can we change or let go when something happens? I have long had a daily ritual that includes saying aloud all the things for which I am grateful. Every night, I begin the same: “I am grateful for the 15 years I had with Dugan (my first dog), for my health, for my safety, for Karma ....” Never have I said, “... for our OA title.” In this moment, I am reminded of what’s really important and vow not to turn into a crazy person no matter the prognosis. Karma’s vet appointment showed a few things. He had jammed his fifth toe and strained his knee, both on his left rear. He also needed an adjustment, since his hips were potentially out of alignment from off-loading due to the injury. The protocol was prescribed: a combo of rest, laser, chiropractic and massage treatments, and pharmaceuticals. Thankfully, our vet also runs agility with a giant breed so she gets it. She understands what Karma is being asked to do and knows about my plans. After all, she has plans of her own.

Julie Bacon

Julie Bacon began her career with animals as a “horse girl” riding hunter/jumpers and competing nationally as a junior. She grew up with dogs but never competed until she got Karma and now is completely addicted. Julie pays for her newfound obsession through her day job as a marketing consultant. Julie and Edgeside’s Karma CD, RE, OA, NAP, NJP, OF, CGC, NDD, HCT-s are evaluating their “plans” in Northern Virginia and are ever-grateful for their generous support system. May 11 | Clean Run 5

Clean Run - May 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - May 2011