Champion FFT All Said and Done (Sadie)

We would be delighted and blessed to have Sadie join our family of Forever Friends!

Thank you so much for thinking of us as a good home for your beautiful, special Apsos. We feel honored that we are acceptable as guardians of these sweet creatures. Zeke has truly blessed us with his quiet canine wisdom and delightful humor. His love is genuine and affectionate towards us, and we continue to marvel at his generous nature towards other critters, as well. We know that Sadie Lady will be equally a blessing and a joy to all of us, although it might seem to her that she has gone from a life of city luxury to a rural wilderness! Sort of like ZsaZsa Gabor on "Green Acres"! We promise, however, to adore her and spoil her rotten, you can assure her of that.

I've been taking pictures of Zeke in his "natural habitat" interacting with the goats, birds and doing his daily thing around the house and hope to get a page up illustrating a "Day in the Life of Zeke" soon, on our Forever Friends page. I'm hoping to start back into painting in my studio very soon, after an extremely busy summer, and am wanting to paint the critters this winter. Zeke, especially.

We are a little short of cash right now, as we did some remodeling this summer. Is there a chance we could pay you out over a couple of months? Or trade for art in part? We certainly think the price is more than fair, considering the many costs of raising, training and showing these beautiful dogs, and the more immediate cost of spaying.

Also, because we will still be milking a fresh goat, we cannot be gone overnight. Would it be possible to meet you in Colorado Springs at the dog park at Palmer Park (north side) when we come up to get her. We will have difficulty managing a 16 hour driving day and if you would meet us it would cut that down to 12 hours. Hopefully we can work something out.

Ken and I are so looking forward to meeting Sadie . So is Zeke. When she has weaned her puppies, let us know and we will send her a toy with all our scents on it, to introduce her to her new family. It sure seemed to help Zeke; that toy I sent is his constant companion, his "blankie"!

Fall is in the air here, too. Love this time of year!

I just realized that Sadie is the beautiful banner girl on the What's New Apso blog!!!!

You are going to trust us to be the guardians and lovers of this beautiful soul?!!

We are truly, awesomely blessed!

My eyes are filled with tears of joy and gratitude!

Thank you, Debby and Julie and Kaylee!

11/3/2007 9:27:35 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time

I see by the Blog that you're off to Nebraska and I'm assuming that you're picking up Sadie while there.

You mentioned that you'd like to transfer as soon as possible after picking her up so that she doesn't have to suffer through two transitions. If you'd like and are able, we can change our plans and meet you in the Springs on the 5th, 9th, 10th or 11th, or just leave it on the 16th. Call or email if this is an option. 505-281-2754.

Thanks! Hope you have a fun, safe trip. It's exciting to read about all the wonderful Apso Accomplishments!

11/4/2007
Hey Debbie!

This is so much fun! How fun and exciting picking out all these Abba-names for these sweet babies over a great bottle of wine. I love "Rumor" (the song and as a name!). I haven't listened to Abba in ages, will have to order a CD since all the old albums are long gone. They had great harmonies, just like the harmonies that you and Julie and Kaylee are singing with the Apsos!

Of course, I had to look up what "Sadie" meant, and it is a derivative of Sarah, which is "Princess" in Hebrew; refined, critical, aesthetic, religious nature, kind and sympathetic...

And yes, post 50 my brain fog gets pretty dense sometimes. It can be embarrassing, but those of us who are in it are a bit more understanding of it!

We'll plan on getting out of here by 7AM on the 9th, which should put us in the Springs by 1PM. We'll call if we're delayed, or travel time looks like it's going to take longer. I'll have to look up the location of the dog park again, "saved" it somewhere (brain fog!).

And yes, you may use any of my blog entries in any way that suits you and is easiest to do, consider this my carte blanche permission. I am enjoying having this blog, it gives me an outlet for thoughts and incentive to paint. Glad you enjoy it, too. The Apso Blog has become one of my very favorite places and I have met some very special people there (Kathy and Gail), too.

See you sooner than expected!

How exciting!

Katy and Co.

11/6/2007

Debby,

It's probably way too late to ask you this, but would you consider giving Sadie her first hair cut for us?

There is not a good groomer around here, and I am certainly in the learning mode. She is so beautiful in her long coat, and I would be so afraid of messing up in trying to cut it myself. If you can, would you leave her "bangs" long so we can secure them with a barrette? Of course, we will pay your going rate.

I'll have to get her cut right away somehow, otherwise, because there's so much dry leaves and seed pods around that she'll barely be able to go out into the yard.

And, we'd love to take you out to lunch on Friday, but having both dogs with us would be difficult. Ken's very reluctant to leave them locked in our car, unless we can find a restaurant where we can sit with the car in view. But we thought that at least, we could stop by a Quizno's or Subway and grab a sandwich and bring it to the dog park, hoping that the weather will be warm enough to eat outdoors with the kiddos.

Thank you so much for all your efforts!

Katy

Art/ Life/ Art/ Life/ Art/ Life/ Art
http://katywidger.blogspot.com
http://www.katywidger.com

11/7/2007

That's wonderful! Short is good. I really appreciate all the love and attention both you and Julie are giving to this transition, for Sadie's sake. We are very excited! If Zeke can understand at all what I've been trying to tell him, then he is anxiously awaiting her arrival, too. And maybe I can use the pattern of Sadie's haircut to learn to cut Zeke's hair. I bathed him and gave him as much of a haircut as I could yesterday. It's around his face and top of his head that I'm not sure what I'm doing. He's a little choppy. Of course, he's a "moving target" right now. But he's much better with all phases of grooming that he used to be. He's growing up. What a sweet baby he is, too. He's doing very well with his obedience training, too. You should see him do his "tricks"!

I just know they're going to be fast friends and Sadie will have an adventurous life here with all the critters. Our life revolves around our home and animals, so she will always be doted on and have a place of love and respect in our hearts and lives.

Thanks so much! I'll write Julie as well.

See you Friday!

Katy

Hi Ladies!

I think we have a match!

We made home safe and sound around 9PM last night. Sadie spent her time traveling quietly in her crate, chewing on the meaty rib bone I brought for her. We made two stops and she did her job both times, then ate her supper.

It's been non-stop play for them both, without a cross word between them. Zeke's tongue is hangin' out; you'd think they'd take a break! He is very respectful and seems almost in awe.

She is a very confident little lady and I foresee no problems at all. She eagerly "goes outside" to do her jobs, so all I have to do is keep on task to have her housetrained in short order. Goats, parrots and chickens are now a part of her life with curiosity all around. She shows no fear nor animosity, true to Apso form.

She ate well this morning. Got her first taste of fresh goat milk, ate a few bites of smashed chicken neck, some Primal meatloaf and some of her kibble. They even ate from each other's bowls at the same time.

Zeke is trying to teach her to use the doggie door; she'll have it before the day's out.

Here's some photos in the blackberry patch and the garden.

Thank you so much, Debby, for bringing her to the Springs for us. We enjoyed our time with you, brief again.

Julie, she's a sweet, confident little champ and she's going to do just fine. Zeke is truly smitten.

And Kathy, thanks for your prayers for a friendship and harmony. Our prayers are answered!

Blessings and Joy to each of you!

Katy, Ken, Zeke and Sadie

Hi Julie,

We received your info yesterday, and will return a signed contract and check in today's mail.

She's doing very well. Learned to use the doggie door (Zeke patiently taught her). She licks her bowl clean and has learned to properly eat a skinned, raw chicken neck (that is what will keep her newly cleaned teeth clean). She's just settling in very well and learning our routine. They haven't had a single "argument" and Zeke is very gentle and loving with her, even down to sharing his food, bones and toys (and Mom!). They play constantly! Right now they're both relaxing on the cool tile with their tongues hanging out, they played so hard this morning! Housetraining is going very well, also. She's quick and very intelligent.

She's a sweetheart. Please don't worry about her. She's obviously so used to new situations and has such poise and confidence that she takes it all in stride. I think, just from observing her body language, that she is relaxed and comfortable and she and Zeke seem to genuinely like one another. (I think Zeke is in love!).

She's a genuine little lady and will be our sweet Sadie forever.

Thank you for trusting us with her.

Oh yes. She has a tiny grey spot on her left eye, that Debbie pointed out to us. It's very small. We looked at it through a magnifying glass and it appears to be on the surface. Ken thinks it looks like a tiny scratch. It doesn't appear to bother her and there is no mucous or drainage or anything that looks suspicious. It's not getting larger. Her eyesight doesn't appear affected. Debbie thought the same, and thought she might have scratched it in play. We'll watch it closely and take her to the vet if it appears needful. We know of an eye specialist in ABQ.

Best to you,

Katy

PS I'll send more pics as soon as they slow down!

She is adorable, poised, sweet as all get-out, such a lady and yes, very, very special. Zeke adores her. She's already got him "under her thumb" in the most benevolent manner imaginable. Yesterday(Thursday), there was a "sea change."

She settled in. She started "talking" to me. She "got" the routine, the new food, the other critters, Ken's coming and going. She sighed that Apso Sigh and decided that this was OK with her. Maybe even better than OK. She accepts and returns the love and understands her new station in life. If they truly do understand our thoughts, our intention, then perhaps I have successfully communicated to her that this will be her forever home, she will be loved, adored and cared for all her life here, in this place, with these new persons and this new family of critters. She is truly a blessing to us all.

Haircuts and disertations

Hi Debby,

We managed to get Zeke's hair cut today, using the clippers. He was amazingly well behaved.

We made some mistakes, but overall, he looks pretty good. Reminds me of the very first time we clipped a poodle. Anyway, he's just too handsome to mess up! We have observed a major shift in his behavior in recent weeks. Easier to brush, bathe, more cooperative all around, and now, this unexpected cooperation with the clippers. It's so wonderful when they "grow up"!

I finally finished the response to your "dead dog" blog entry. It turned, as I feared it would, into a dissertation.

I spent the better part of three days on it, writing and editing and got it compiled into ten pages of ten point type, in two parts. But I said what I wanted, needed, to say.

We posted it to our Forever Friends page, and here's the link.

Click on "Rage Against the Vaccination Machine" for Part 1, and "Unethical Breeders, Total Control by the State, and Vets Who Only Care About the Money" for Part 2.

http://raindanceberryfarm.com/foreverfriends.html

I'm glad to get all of this out of me. It was very cathartic.

I'm not going to post this to your blog, for the obvious reason that it is too long. But if you want to refer to it and give the link, you have my permission.

The Zeke and Sadie Show keeps us laughing, smiling and full of joy only Apsos can bring!

Warmest regards,

Katy & Co.

Zeke and Sadie's grand adventure
11/24/2007

Hi Julie and Debby,

Let it never be said that Sadie is anything less than spoiled to perfection! She must have had a great Thanksgiving Day, as here she is, 2PM the day after, still sleeping it off!

It snowed a bit last night, for which we are supremely thankful. She and Zeke are the ultimate snow dogs and will barely come inside, except to take naps.

The third pic is a part of the yard out in the garden that they rarely go. Until Wednesday, that is. Ken had been working out in the animal pens, and the gate to the back yard/garden had been open most of the day. (The dogs are still fenced in.) That evening, I noticed a cottontail bunny sitting on the sidewalk, next to the house. Ken went out to shoo it out the gate, but Zeke noticed it, too, and shot out the dog door, with Sadie hot on his heals. Around the yard he chased that poor bunny, and he finally caught it under the rose bushes! It gave a terrified squeal, and Zeke let it go, with a mouthful of fur in his mouth! We were trying to get it headed in a direction where we could let it exit the yard, but Zeke and Sadie had other plans. Zeke caught up with it again down in the garden, and Ken was able to take it out of Zeke's mouth and carry it by it's ears out of the yard. No one got bit, thankfully, except the bunny. It was surely traumatized, but after a brief rest, was off to it's lair, only missing some hair! Now Zeke and Sadie can hardly be persuaded to come in from the cold, they are down in the garden looking for that bunny! The amazing thing was, they worked together to catch that bunny. Sadie would chase it right to Zeke, and head it off when it escaped, right back to Zeke. Pack hunting instinct! They've still got it!

The monks of Tibet have said they fed the Apsos a strict vegetarian diet. But I think those hungry, furry little balls of lightning got their animal protein from some source. I'll bet there was nary a mouse to be had in any of the monasteries, with packs of hungry Apso's doing the night patrol! (I've also read that they ate land snails.)

The little video is down in the blackberry patch again, one of their favorite places to play with all the long rows to run down, around and between.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Katy and the Apsos

Debbie,

Would you mind sending me a copy of that beautiful Sadie pic that you use as a banner for the blog?

A large size, about 1024 x 768 pixels, if you have it that size. I want to paint her. And, having had a chance to become acquainted with her sweet, quiet, dignified temperament, that photo, indeed, captures her essence so well! Also, do you have one of Sadie in full show coat? We'd love to see what she looked like.

Perhaps Julie does, I'll ask her...

And, I ordered a copy of the book by Dr. James Busby, the country vet, "How to Afford Vet Care Without Mortgaging the Kids." Would you like a short book review for the blog?

All is very well here in Apso Land!

Best to you!

I posted a drawing of Sadie to my blog yesterday.

And Ken put that video of her and Zeke in the blackberries on our Forever Friends page, since it didn't come through when we emailed it to you. You can see it at your leisure that way.

http://raindanceberryfarm.com click on Forever Friends. He put pics of Sadie there, also. (Thanks, Debby).

Wishing a wonderful New Year to all the Apso folk!
I spent the first day of the new year giving my Apso's a bath,(priorities, you know!) and then painting a new portrait of Sadie. My version of the banner photo on this site is posted on my blog at http://katywidger.blogspot.com
(You can see a "current" painting of how she looks now with her new doo at www.katywidger.com)
I'm hoping to make this the Year of the Dog on my painting blog, and paint not only dogs, but all critters large and small, from mice to goats, anyway.
Blessings to all, Human and Canine!
Katy

Not long after Sadie went to live with Katy and Ken, Katy asked, "Would you mind sending me a copy of that beautiful Sadie pic that you use as a banner for the blog? A large size, about 1024 x 768 pixels, if you have it that size. I want to paint her. And, having had a chance to become acquainted with her sweet, quiet, dignified temperament, that photo, indeed, captures her essence so well!"

Here's some pics of the kids first "official" Widger haircuts, just in time for Christmas.

Sadie was a little jewel, and cooperated like the sweet little pro she is. Zeke is a perpetual motion boy,

and any hair that came off him was by sheer luck. He stands pretty well for the clippers, amazing, considering he used to run in terror at the mere site of them, but any scissoring around his head is met with constant bobbing and weaving. He was, however, the best he's ever been with his bath this time.

Sadie has really settled in and become very communicative and affectionate. Her place on the bed is well-established, and she defends it with a little growl if she thinks Zeke is encroaching in "her space". She has not had a single accident in the house (except for the first day) and is just a general, all around wonderful little sweetheart. She has settled into the routine, knows what to expect and gets along wonderfully with everyone. She's eating her raw diet very well. In fact, weighs 11.7 now, up from 11.2 on arrival here. They sure look forward to those chicken necks every morning! They have settled into a more comfortable play routine, and act like old friends. We have left them loose in the house several times now, with access to the doggie door, and they've been fine, in fact, more relaxed than when they were confined.

She is still "itchy" and concentrates mostly on her ears and licking the bottoms of her feet. We're trying some homeopathic remedies and also some immune-boosting supplements that are used for allergies, auto-immune reactions and general health concerns. The humidity is up and she is bathed regularly with a soothing conditioner, but I no longer think that is the source of her problem. I'm eliminating any kibbles (had been giving them Wysong kibbles as "training treats", but they contain some grain) to see if that could be causing an allergic reaction, since she's on an otherwise "clean" diet with no grains or preservatives.

She has had a transforming effect on Zeke. He truly loves her and watches over her in a protective manner. He "taught" her to use the doggie door, and will go out an "retrieve" her if she has trouble coming in. They are joyful and funny, and we laugh every day with them as our wonderful kids.

Have a very merry Christmas and thank you both so much, again, for allowing us to adopt this precious little princess into our lives.

Katy, Ken, Zeke and Sadie

We always enjoy hearing from you. It has been a sincere and abiding pleasure to have made your acquaintance, also!

Ken's been working on the Zeke the Apso site, correcting some links and adding some stuff. Like you, I keep thinking of new stuff I want to add, so this will be an ongoing, growing site that will evolve into something worthwhile, we hope. It's a full-fledged web site, so we've got lots of room to grow.

Zeke is an amazing little guy. He has a very, (I don't know what the word is), definite, pronounced, articulate, charismatic personality. He's the kind of guy, that the party doesn't start until he arrives! I have felt like he was "my dog" since you first offered him to us, and definitely, since we first "gazed into each other's eyes"! We love each other deeply.

Mychal was an extraordinary dog. He, too, was charismatic, forceful, independent and very protective. I mourn him like a lost son, or lover, or best friend. But Zeke is every bit as "large" of heart and soul as Mychal was/is, and God has once again blessed me with another beautiful animal spirit to share my life!

Sadie is doing much better. Julie called me and we had a nice talk.She's been very forthcoming with lots of good info and advice. I think it's a yeast infection we're dealing with, as Julie suggested, and I'm "attacking" it on all fronts. The advice and treatment the vet has recommended/implemented is directed towards restoring her internal health, and the things I am doing for her is comfort care, resolving the itching and attacking the infection in her ears directly. She is much improved on all counts this morning. We're on the right track. I'm determined to do all things holistically before we approach it allopathically. "First, do no harm."

I was dismayed to read your post to the Apso blog concerning the difficulties with the Gompa dogs procreation efforts.

When I first sought out information concerning the native diet, in Tibet, of the Apsos, and found out last year that they were fed a vegetarian diet of raw goat milk (good, but not complete) along with brown rice and other grain-based foods, I thought to myself, "Aha! That explains the fertility problems!"

I have learned a lot in the past several years about nutrition and good health. From four independent sources, two naturopathic MD's and two different acquaintances, we were directed to the Weston A Price Foundation, all in the same time period, in an amazing example of synchronicity that has proven to be invaluable to our health and the health of our animals.

I have learned from WAPF the indispensable value of "good fats" and "animal fats" for good health, especially maternal health and fertility. It's a generational thing, good fertility being passed down from parents to children.

I know you have studied a lot and are very knowledgeable about this issue from the perspective of your animals.

If animal fats in their diet (and such things as cod liver oil) is not something you have already given thought and practice too, then I urge you to do some more research into this idea. The Weston A. Price Foundation is a good place to start. I know I read a lengthy article in one of their professional Journals on material diet and fertility (we are members), and I'm going to look for it and send it along when I find it. Their web site is a wealth of info, also.

Looking forward to hearing from you, as always.

I've been meaning to write...

She's doing MUCH better. I'm really impressed with the Zymox and am going to order some more this AM, along with some ear cleaner that's better for yeast and bacteria maintenance.

Still has some tiny yeasty spots, especially on her ear flaps, but I've been putting the Zymox directly on her ear leathers and into the little flaps, and it really does "eat" the yeast. Her ears are soft and much less red, moving even more towards a more natural pink color. I've also been dipping her feet in cider vinegar water, which was recommended, and that has helped her "toe and toenail" yeast, also. I'll bathe her with a cider vinegar based shampoo this time and until all symptoms are gone.

She needs a bath and a haircut. It's been 21 days now between baths. She's been on the Zymox for nine days now, and I'm going to do another treatment tonight, then flush her ears as recommended and give her a bath and haircut tomorrow. If I need to continue the Zymox (probably will), I'll start again that evening. Since it's not a drug, it can be used for longer periods with no harm or side effects.

From her behaviour, I can say with some certainty that she is feeling better than she probably has in months.

She has never wanted to be held, petted or cuddled, but now she is asking for all three. She's "feisty" and lively and happy, gives lots of "kisses", cuddles, asks to be picked up! and seems to enjoy petting.

I fed her a course of a heavy-duty immune boosting supplement called Transfer Factor, and she's eating all sorts of pro-biotic foods, which is the long-term cure. She's been off eggs for quite a while, too. No carbs, of course, but a little heavier on the liver and gall bladder-cleansing veggies, so I'm feeding fermented beet and beet greens and kale (like a teaspoon a day). (Fermented veggies are equivalent to what a prey animal would have in it's stomach - pre-digested and contain lactic acid bacteria, the "good stuff".)

There's no mites. Just an overgrowth of yeast due to stressed-out immune system due to all she's been through the last year and especially the last six months. With continued attention and perpetual good diet, she should be just fine, long term. Figuring out what it was, was most of the battle. I didn't have a clue, so I'm very thankful for the good info from you and Debby. The vet has her on the right track, but I still had to take matters into my own hands as far as the direct treatment for the yeast was concerned.

So, bottom line: She's doing 90% better and is feeling fine!

Thanks!

Katy

There is one obvious error in my article, that I meant to correct before I hit the send button and failed to do:

I refer to "Mary's Wellness Cafe" as the source of the info on the Transfer Factor supplement.

It should be "Shirley's Wellness Cafe", and we have it linked on www.zeketheapso.us

(The "Cafe" is a literal cafeteria of info on animal and human health.)

She's doing great! She scratched her ears a little last night and this morning, so I took a look in the sunlight, fearing more yeast growth, but, voila! it was just dead skin peeling off and leaving nice, pink, healthy skin underneath.

Bath tomorrow and haircut Friday AM. Finally!

I do truly love your website and blog! What a great bunch of folks, and wonderful dogs.

I'm also very happy that you are the owner of the Panchen and Sadie paintings. I'm having such a great time painting dogs. I think I've found my bliss!

Here's a cute photo of Zeke and Sadie working on some beef rib bones this afternoon.

The bedroom usually looks about that messy. We're planning to tear out the nasty carpet and replace it with tile this spring or summer. But the dogs are still supposed to eat their bones on the old T-shirts provided, there under them, on the floor. Such good dogs!

BTW, my husband is a woodworker, too! He makes furniture, mostly, and he certainly noticed the beautiful cabinetry in your office that winter day we were there, however briefly.