Rottweilers

Running in circles

November 3, 2011 by kathi

I’ve been away from the blog for quite a while, and I’m trying to decide the best way to catch up. Life hasn’t been super fabulously exciting, but there has been enough going on that I’m not sure where to start.

Freya is still on hiatus from training and trialing. Axe is mostly relaxing out of the spotlight as well. He passed his second and final try at the ATTS temperament test this spring. He earned another V rating, but sadly no placement, at a recent sieger show as well. Those will be more fun to talk about when I have photos ready, though.

It’s been a long busy week at work and I’m not sure how much longer I want to stare into a computer screen, so I don’t think I’m starting tonight.

(NaBloPoMo | November ’11: 3 of 30)

Quick review: GNC Pets Mega Hip & Joint Health

April 9, 2011 by kathi

Although I first learned about the GNC Pets line of vitamins and supplements last October, I didn’t get around to actually trying any of the products until last month. Freya and Axel have just finished their first bottle of GNC Pets Mega Hip & Joint Health with what seem to be satisfactory results.

I give all of my dogs joint health supplements once they reach adulthood. The ones who did have hip or elbow problems visibly benefited after a month or so. I feel the supplements help as a preventive measure for the others. It’s difficult for us to do a full review of any joint health products, though, since neither of the current dogs suffers from any hip or joint ailments. Axel failed OFA elbows with DJD1 (degenerative joint disease, Grade 1) but is completely asymptomatic. Freya passed OFA hips and elbows but has just entered her senior years as she turned seven in November.

At first, I was a little bit put off by the slightly chemical smell of the chewable tablets. They definitely did not smell like “Savory Beef” to me. I was concerned that the dogs would also find the chemical smell objectionable. They won’t take the tablets like treats, but they will happily eat them when mixed into their regular meals.

The pricing and ingredients are comparable to the brands I’ve tried in the past, and it is convenient to order them at GNC.com along with my own vitamins. I will likely purchase this product again in the future.

This product was purchased at a regularly advertised sale price. I have no connection to GNC other than as a generally satisfied customer, nor did I receive compensation for this quick review.

(NaBloPoMo | April ’11: 9 of 30)

Really? Ten issues?

April 3, 2011 by kathi

The tenth issue of The Total Rottweiler Magazine is being put to bed even as I type.

Hmmm, do they still say “put to bed” for sending a publication to the printer? The printer is here in Illinois, just two hours southwest of me. But I won’t be arranging for a courier or driving flats or film to the printer myself. Our editor Jane is in British Columbia, finishing up last-minute page corrections and uploading them to the printer’s server. I’m doing the final check and approval on those pages as she finishes uploading them. Everything is done online.

During the 17 years I have been in Rottweilers, many breed specific publications have come and gone. I still have fond memories of the original TRQ — The Rottweiler Quarterly. It may have often been way behind schedule, but the original owners always made good on subscriptions and advertising payments, one way or another. I can’t say the same for subsequent owners, and there are a few other now-defunct Rottweiler publications that out and out screwed over their subscribers and advertisers.

So I’m not surprised there was a place for us — so many others have bailed, some with honor and others without any class at all. And I’m not surprised that Jane has been able to keep the magazine going. She is one of the most determined people I’ve ever met. Her past life in accounting didn’t hurt either. I think a lack of knowledge in that area is what sent some of the other magazines to an early demise.

But it really did sneak up on me that we are just now finishing up issue number ten. Feels like a real accomplishment to hit that number!

(NaBloPoMo | April ’11: 3 of 30)

Did I say there was a lot going on?

April 2, 2011 by kathi

Those things that I said were going on this month? Yup, they are going on all right. Here it is, almost tomorrow and I’ve just gotten here. Sorry… all you get today is a gratuitous Rottweiler.

(NaBloPoMo | April ’11: 2 of 30)

Paws for Japan

March 17, 2011 by kathi

The deep feeling of relief that my family and friends in Hawaii and on the west coast of the United States were not affected by last Friday’s tsunami was soon overwhelmed by the horrible news and images from Japan.

I don’t talk about it very often here, but I am of Japanese ancestry. I’m sansei (third generation, or second generation born in the United States) and way more American than Japanese. I speak very little of the language and I’ve only visited Japan once. But there is still a real connection for me, as I believe everyone has with the land of their ancestors.

Many years ago, my brother and uncle were looking into our family tree. As it does for many Japanese-Americans, some of our branches break off with the records lost in Hiroshima during WWII. It is sad to think that there is a part of my past I’ll probably never be able to find, but the records were lost so long ago, long before I was born. It doesn’t even compare to the man I saw interviewed on television earlier this week. This Japanese man has been living and working in the United States for quite some time. He saw the village where he is from completely destroyed. He said he doesn’t believe he will ever go back, as he wants to remember it the way he last saw it. I can’t even imagine how it would feel to lose my hometown like that. Nor can I truly imagine what it would be like to be separated from any of my family members, two- or four-legged, in such a devastating natural disaster.

That brings us to today’s Paws for Japan, spearheaded by Pawcurious and BlogPaws. Human lives are important (and yes, I am donating to help people as well). But because animals are important to so many of us humans, the animal rescue teams now in Japan need our help as well. Please consider donating to World Vets to support that goal.

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