Welcome to our new blog! Borias and I have been meaning to move to wordpress for some time now, and happily, the move has been made! I have a little time this three-day (birthday) weekend. I kind of want to skip over the birthday part. I’ve been feeling older, and so has Borias. Very disheartening to say the least. I’m hoping part of it is the heat, he’s having bad allergies, and was on antihistamines. That made him drink more, and it’s harder for him to hold his bladder then. It wasn’t helping, so we’re stopping those now.
It’s shocking how fast dogs age. Seemingly right in front of your eyes. Ten is by no means ancient, though many people seem to think so. “Oh, that’s OLD for a Shepherd!” they’ll gasp. I tell them his mother lived to 16.7 years old. So there. He’s from tough stock. His bad back takes it’s toll, though. I saw an eleven year old GSD running after a frisbee, during a photoshoot the other day. Made me wonder if it weren’t for his herniated disk, would he be doing that, too ? I’m grateful that he has mobility still. But I’m bummed to see the vigor and stamina wane. Gone are the days he could walk to Hillcrest, the park, and back home. We could cover a lot of ground in our day.
He still likes to dance, though. It’s just a little less crazy and spazzy. And watch out! He’s the pigeon police!
August 1, 2011 | Categories: Assistance dogs, Borias, disability, dog photography, German Shepherd, German Shepherd. Service dog, German Shepherds, heart dog, older dogs, Service dog, service dogs, Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »
I recently got a new fun lens to play around with, called a Lensbaby. They distort the area that’s out of focus, and you can move them around for various degrees of the effect. Gotta manually focus them, so it’s tricky. But they can make some very fun photos!
My ever willing (well, ok, sometimes LOL) model posed for a few. As you can see from one, he does argue about being made to pose! Which makes some interesting photos, too!
July 8, 2010 | Categories: Canon cameras, dog photography, German Shepherd. Service dog, lensbaby, lensbaby composer | Leave A Comment »
It remains the biggest bonding endeavor my dog and I share. Wandering. As his arthritis progresses, it’s hitting me more and more just how much our wandering has been impacted. He does well for his age, now 9. And a dog with an impinged nerve, and arthritis.
After church at Missiongathering, food for my soul, where I had wheeled to this morning with Borias. We went up to the Farmer’s Market, to get African food from a vendor I like there. He makes really good food. Of course, he noticed Borias’ new collar, made by the Masai in Kenya. He asks me “what do you know of the Masai?” incredulously. I tell him I have a large affinity for Africa.
Then, due to budget cuts in the city bus system, the route going down my main street wasn’t running, as I find out after a few beers at Gossip Grill. So me and Bo head on the University St. route, and walked home through the hood. Well, sort of. Depends on how one looks at it. Let’s say the more ungentrified area.
We passed by a house where a Bassett Hound came running out, obviously overjoyed to see someone to pay attention to him. He whined and wiggled….then suddenly he stiffened, and seemed to realize that he should be doing his “duty” and protect his property, and began baying. I laughed out loud, and Borias gave me a bemused look. Good dog.
Then it was a stop at “our” Starbucks, for the near daily latte. I’m an addict. I admit it. Borias even knows what Starbucks is. I say it as we pass by, and he goes directly to their door ha ha. He also knows that’s where he can get a refreshment of water. “Starbucks water” I call it. I think he thinks it’s special, because he will refuse to drink water from other establishments sometimes. But he’ll drink that water.
I enjoy chatting with the baristas there. Giving them a little Reader’s Digest version of your day. I mentioned escaping two psycho kitties with Borias today, and the gal there really related. Wasn’t a huge fan of cats, which isn’t me, but I have noticed a distinct difference between outdoor cats and the genteel indoor variety. Territory. Invade it, and many the outside cat will risk life and limb to try and kick my dog’s ass. It doesn’t help that he puts off the “bring it on” vibe, I’m sure. Glad I carry Direct Stop!
Then we were almost home, when a guy passes me, who appeared to be perhaps homeless, or close. He said he was sorry for what happened to me. Meaning how my house was broken into, and my livelihood taken from me. Said that they were scum, who did that to me. I thanked him. How cool…not sure how he knew of my circumstance. Guess it doesn’t matter. It gave me another boost towards seeing my fellow humans out on the streets here as my brothers and sisters. There are angels among us. We just need to be open to seeing them.
Borias is an angel for me. A guardian angel, if you will. I know it means a lot to him to keep up with me, so I do everything I can to keep that possible. Even if I have to go without, he gets treated for his condition, to keep him at his best. Things have been on the downswing lately, though I’m hoping it’s just a temporary thing. Some tendon soreness perhaps. Borias seems to think it’s in his job description to run off pigeons, and it’s something that I’ve long figured out how to manipulate. Work with it rather than against it, in other words. Now, that enables me to allow one or two charges at a flock in “our way”, and then thank him and say that was enough. That, rather than constantly squealching his impulse to make those vermin flee from our presence.
I do hope that we can continue our wandering for a few more years, at least. One can learn a lot by wandering with a dog.
March 22, 2010 | Categories: Africa, angels, Bassett Hound, big cats, German Shepherd. Service dog, Gossip Grill, Hillcrest Farmer's Market, Kenya, Masai, Mission Gathering Christian Church | Leave A Comment »
Greeeen! Our favorite color. The color of grass, and Ireland! They say there’s two kinds of people, those who are Irish, and those who wish they were ; ) I have a lot of Irish in me, which I’m very proud of. And I love U2!!
So, I hope everyone has a great day, and part-ay!! Partake of the green beer. Borias will be doing an Irish jig for his dancing today LOL
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March 17, 2010 | Categories: German Shepherd. Service dog, green beer, Ireland, Irish, St. Patrick's Day | Leave A Comment »
Today the article on us in the Uptown News came out, in Tails of the City! What a great job! There’s a link to this blog in there, so for anyone looking for info on the paintings, there’s a new page on my website for them. http://heartdogstudios.com and click on “Work of Heart”.
Also, there’s more info in this blog by clicking here.
For those of you not in San Diego, here’s a link to the online version here.
If you’d like to reserve a painting, please contact me here! Email me
October 3, 2009 | Categories: art, dog art, dog painting, German Shepherd. Service dog, Uptown News | Leave A Comment »
We’re getting famous! Ha…that’s what some others are telling us, anyway. Recently Borias and I have been getting some press, with an article in Ranch and Coast magazine, Uptown News, and soon, going international with a Japanese dog magazine.
I think the writer, Mia Stefanko did a tremendous job! I’m so flattered. Glad Borias can’t read. He’d get an even bigger head ha ha.
Uptown News will be out on the 3rd, and it’s under Tails of the City. Can’t wait to see it! That one is more about the painting collaboration. Then the Japanese article is about large dogs, in a Retriever magazine. We did an in-depth interview today, and they took a ton of pictures. I think this will be a really cool article, with the questions asked. I talked a lot about how Borias helps me as an Assistance dog, and how I trained him using positive methods.
In Japan, they’re not very modern thinking with regards to people with disabilities. So it will be helpful for this to talk about how a Service dog can give such independence to a person who’s disabled. There are Service dogs there, they said, but it’s not very accepted, not like it is here. Most people have very tiny dogs, as well.
Only problem is, I won’t be able to read this article! Maybe I can get a translation somehow. Very eager to see how it turns out, and what the feedback is.
My Borias is such a rock star ; )
September 30, 2009 | Categories: German Shepherd. Service dog, Japan, Japanese magazines, Ranch and Coast magazine, Uptown News | Leave A Comment »
Last night was a good night. The San Diego Zoo had their annual Celebration for the Critters, and this was our fourth time going to this fun event. This year, I donated one of our “Forever in My Heart” paintings for the silent auction. I’m proud to say that it raised $275 for the zoo! Borias and I helped by hanging out, and letting people know about it being a collaboration with his real paw print : )
I swear that dog remembers this event, as he was in full “I”m starving and need food” mode! Guess I can’t blame him, with all the restaurants participating, the aromas swirling in the air was just amazing. I’m a vegetarian, so whenever we received a meat dish, Borias got it. I forgot to give hi his dinner before we left, so hopefully the filet mignon, mini-burgers, and tri-tip made up for that!
I love seeing people that remember us from past Celebrations, and chatting about Borias. Caught up with Joan Embery after her show with all her animals she brings from her ranch. There was a gorgeous cheetah, and I stayed off to the side, with Borias behind the curtain so they didn’t see each other. He didn’t seem interested in this huge Great Horned Owl that was on stage. Interesting to see which animals pique his curiosity and which ones he’s blase’ about. There was an exhibit of Warty Hogs, and the sight of him made them get all excited and run around, like how dogs get the zoomies. In turn, that got Borias excited. Too funny.
After a lot of food and local craft beers, we went to go dance. I’m thankful for yet another year where he can dance. I didn’t do a lot with him, mostly let him twirl me in my chair by his pulling on the leash in his mouth while doing tight turns backwards. He thinks this is great fun. Then he bounced and bucked to the Black Eyed Peas.
It was a good good night.
September 28, 2009 | Categories: Black Eyed Peas, Celebration for the Critters, charity, District 3 San Diego, German Shepherd. Service dog, Joan Embery, San Diego Zoo | Leave A Comment »
Well, the other day, my best friend helped me out with taking some photos of me an Borias. With the upcoming press, I wanted to get a few shots to send out as well. I really dislike seeing pics of myself, but it’s really fun to see pics of me and Borias together. Interesting to see how he looks at me from a different view.
So here they are. I particularly laugh at the one where we are making the exact same face. Proof we are psychically connected! LOL
September 14, 2009 | Categories: German Shepherd. Service dog, photography | Leave A Comment »
