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 »
Well, hard to believe my last post was the first of the year! Life got in the way, I apologize. And it’s the damned Facebook ha ha. Borias actually has a page there, now http://facebook.com/HeartdogBorias. So go “like” him 
I was also meaning to switch over the blog to a different, larger format, and just haven’t gotten to it. So for now, I’ll just go back to posting here until I get that done. It’ll be the same URL and everything, just larger images, which will be nice. And, Borias himself will be posting in his own ‘voice’! He does have a lot to say, after all hehe.
So if you’re here from the segment on San Diego Living that aired this morning– Welcome! Stay tuned for a post from Mr. B on being a third year Comic-con veteran! It’s been a busy year for Borias so far. Up for the Hero Dog Awards, being on the news, going to events. What a life!
We are in fourth place on the Hero Dog Awards, for Service dog. I’ve been pulling out all the stops to get votes for my boy, but a few dogs have managed to get several thousand votes ahead, so not so sure with just less than a week left to vote that we’ll make it. That’s a lot of ground to make up. But maybe we can make it to third! So please, you can vote once a day til it’s over… http://bit.ly/VoteBorias. And be sure to vote for his pal Surf Dog Ricochet, too, in the Emerging Hero Dog category
And stay tuned, I promise to turn back into a prolific poster….at least semi-prolific!
July 26, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »
Hard to believe it’s a new year already, eh? I swear, the old you get, the faster the year zips by. When it comes to life with a dog, that can be a very sad reality. Their time with us is so damn short! I’m so grateful that at 9.10 years old, Borias is still going pretty damned strong. With a little help from our friends. His acupuncturist Dr. Keith Weingardt, is chiropractor, Dr. Cheryl Mulvey, and the Healing Hands of Ann, his masseuse.
OK, I know it how it sounds, my dog has a masseuse. But seriously, when you see his blissed out face when getting a deep tissue massage, and how frisky he feels afterwards, you wouldn’t giggle. I have to budget to afford these things, but to me, it’s so worth it. (Let’s not discuss how I have put off some dental care for myself, here. My boy comes first!)
People often remark how amazing Borias looks for his age. Not having had a dog live this long, I’m baffled by such comments. I’ve seen dogs younger than himself look quite old, indeed. But his mother went to nearly 17, and was still mobile. That’s just my hope. I wish for him to stay mobile for the remainder of his years, however many he will make it to. He does still love to go “zoom zoom”, especially since I got a new wheelchair. But he’s not a spring chicken any longer..nor am I !
But he is a proud boy. He makes sure the world knows that, every day. I just wish not so loudly…every year I make the resolution for him to not bark so damn much. But, he just believes in living out loud. What can I say?
January 3, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »
Been a little span between posts again. So busy with photo sessions, and editing said photo sessions, ordering stuff for clients. Think I’m finally wrapping it up, though. Haven’t even started on what I need to get for presents for my family, and Borias of course. And my kitty, too. Though with him it seems the simple joys, like a box, are good enough : )
Not sure what to get Borias this year. He’s been pretty naughty ha ha. Though, he usually is! Or, make that a really good boy, with naughty overtones! I’ll probably get him a few small things, because he loves to unwrap presents. That’s the fun part for him!
As usual, I’ve been taking the yearly holiday themed images of him whenever I can. Here we’re in Balboa Park, his favorite, with his “I’ve Been a Good Boy” scarf (yeah, right).
December 11, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »
Wow this year has zipped by so fast! This is my favorite holiday, Halloween. A tradition going back three dogs, is having them carry around a severed fake hand all month. It gets the funniest reactions! Then I have the Jack Skellington scarf, and this year, I found a bright orange necktie with polka dots! Rad!
For Halloween we went to The Original Paw Pleaser’s party, where all manner of pups came in costume! Both humans and dogs got to have cake, and there was even pumpkin dog ice cream. Yum!
After that, I took Borias to Balboa Park, where we showed off our costume. I made a t-shirt that said “Service Human”, and put on a collar, then let him hold the leash attached. Real smart, he delighted in jerking me around vigorously, the leading me down the road by the neck ha ha! Now that really got some laughs!
Last night, we went dressed to a party for Second Chance Dog Rescue, where I had donated a photo session and print credit for silent auction. That was so much fun, and there was even another German Shepherd Service dog there. Bill Griffith from Channel 10 News was MC, and he and his wife bid on my auction donation. I hope he won, though I forgot to check. They have a huge menagerie of Papillions and Chihuahuas. That would be a fun session!
I think next year, Borias is going to be Count Barkula. Yeah, that fits!
November 1, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »
Thought I’d share this photo I took today, at the side of a school in South Park San Diego. I went by it on a bus last week, and thought it would be a great background. I love how my boy is smiling for the pic!
May 29, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »
Just had to share this pic I took the other day at the beach. I think Borias was about to protest bark for making him sit for yet another photo. I love it! So hilarious : )
March 26, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »
Well, it’s official. Nine years old. Yesterday, I took Borias to Coronado beach, then headed to Pacific Beach for some fun. Armed with camera for lots of pics. Borias had a blast running with me on the boardwalk, and I got him to run on the beach a couple times.
Then after taking a pic of him on a 3 foot sea wall, he jumped off it, instead of coming down the steps. I worried, but he seemed ok…for awhile. Then he ran on the beach after a bird, and came limping back. Uh oh. So we went to a restaurant to eat, so I could let him rest for awhile.
He got to have some prime rib bits, which he scarfed happily.
When we got up, he yelped. He was having a very hard time walking, and I got pretty freaked out. He hobbled out of there, where I ended up face down hitting a crack in the ramp to the restaurant. Lovely. The car was a good few blocks in length away, too. Poor baby was limping really badly now, and we took it really slow.
When we got home, he lay right down on his bed, and didn’t move. I fed him his dinner there, and gave him his cake I bought. Then gave him a good massage, which he enjoyed. After helping him potty (yeah, it was that bad), and to his bed in my room, he stayed there the whole night.
But in the morning, I awoke to find him laying on my bed with me. Which was really amazing.
He was walking around just fine when we got up! Whew! I was going to have him stay inside all day, but when I went down to meet someone to sell a camera bag, I decided to try and take him with, since it was just a few blocks. Darn dog was leaping at birds, and rearing to go! Sheesh!
Weird. But hey, I’m not complaining! Just grateful he’s OK!
Guess it’s like me. Age gives you some bad aches and pains, which come and go quickly. Goes with the territory. But I’ll make sure he doesn’t take any leaps off of 3 foot walls any time soon.
Borias looking at what kind of goody he was getting at The Original Paw Pleasers.
Taking in the fresh air and ocean smells
A heart cake for my Heart Dog : )
CHOMP!!
March 10, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »
Borias loves to open presents. In fact, he’s gotten quite greedy about it lol. Reminds me of a little kid, saying “that’s mine!” and scrambling off to rip it open. Well, witness for yourself : )
December 27, 2009 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »
