My Rusty dog is getting older

My Rusty girl has given me two scares this year. 

First, suddenly weakened back legs for, fortunately, only a day - on New Year's Day. I suspect this was from a bit of strain on the trail the day before when she stepped over a log (maybe caught a back leg). We started on meds that help with arthritis (she has had joint supplements for a few years). We did four weeks of weekly shots and we are now on monthly. 

About three weeks ago, the vet recommended that Rusty has anti-inflammatory daily, not just as and when needed, which is what I had been doing for years if I saw she was looking a bit stiff. 

Last Saturday night Rusty was restless. We were up multiple times in the night and her poops we dark and liquid. I knew what near-black faeces meant: blood and a possible bleeding ulcer. This is exactly what my mom xprienced last year - also as a result of anti-inflammatories. 

I phoned the emergency vet on Sunday morning. As Rusts was eating, drinking and not vomiting, we were not at emergency stage. 

Rusts was improved Sunday night but lacked her sparkle and was very down. She didn't eat her breakfast on Monday morning. Rusty never says no to a meal, and as she never complains she must have been feeling terrible. 

We saw our vet on Monday morning and started on stomach and gut protecting and healing meds. By Tuesday afternoon, my girl had some sparkle and appetite back. We even went to the Botanical Gardens for a short walk. 

Feeling better. Visit to the Botanical Gardens on Tuesday afternoon.

We've had some beautiful late evenings this week. We've been chilling on the lawn or doing gardening. I enjoy this as an opportunity to do stuff outside with the dogs. Rusty loves to watch Rosy catching the ball and even does her herding thing. She also made a lot of faces for me (the puffed out upper lips / cheeks is part of her smile).

Miss Silly Face (her, not me)

Rusty is going on towards 14 years of ages. We've been together for almost eight years. My special girl is no longer young and while I will never be ready to let go, that day will come. She has rarely been ill and I find it very distressing to feel unable to help my girl. She is through this and I am thankful to have a well dog by my side. I treasure every day with her. My heart almost bursts with love and adoration just to look at her. Rusty changed my life, that's for sure.

I am very much a one-dog-person, but as luck would have it, I have three dogs. There is Rusty, Rosy (sorta shared with my mom as Rosy was her dog, but Rosy is very much my special girl and trail companion), and there is Cani, my foster turned adopted child.

Rosy and her ball. She is a silly monkey. Lots of attitude but actually a softie.

Purple flecks on her tongue. Chows are the breed known for an all-purple tongue, but many other breeds can have spots. Rosy is certainly a genetic mix that arrived at a 'small black dog'. She is the splitting image of the Dutch Markiesje breed.

A common Rosy look - ball in mouth

My love dog, Cani. We still have reactivity issues with strangers. Some days good, other days not as good. Slow improvement. She is a super loving and sweet girl. She was concerned about her Rusty.

Cani is such a pretty girl. She has a little white under her chin, a small flash on her chest, another on her belly and bits on her paws. Otherwise she is an almost-all-black border collie. She is actually a browny-black. Rosy is properly black.

Rusty's 6th adopt-versary

Six years ago today, I collected this doggy girl in JHB. With incredible trust, she climbed into my car and came home with me to Parys.

Rusty is a blessing. She is silly and funny, smart, fast learning, loving, playful, easy going, and sweet. We've been a perfect match from the moment our eyes met. We are fortunate that we have granny Liz who loves Rusts so very much and looks after her when I am out or away.

Rusty was about 5-6 years old when she came into my life. She is a mature girl now. She is still active and loves trails and outings but we do low-key activities and focus on health and enjoyment.

Ultrasound and x-ray for Rusty without anaesthetic

My Rusty came with me on an in-and-out road trip to CT for a meeting with an overnight stop on the out and back routes. She is a great traveller and it was special for us to hang out. Tomorrow is our 6th adopt-versary.

We had a bit of a worry when I spotted blood in her urine during our Tuesday evening walkies. At 8am on Wednesday morning, we were at the Bergview vet in Hermanus. They found crystals (and bacteria) in her urine, recommended an ultrasound soonest and gave her antibiotics and pain meds.

I called my vet, Vetcare Animal Clinic - George and got her booked in for an ultrasound for our return home.

Rusty never complains about anything and had been her normal self - playful, loving walks, loving road trip and devouring meals. I had no sign that anything was wrong.

We're back from the vet and thank goodness there are no blockages and no kidney stones. Vet thinks the crystals are secondary to an infection she must have had.

What I am super proud of is that we did x-ray and ultrasound today without anaesthetic. She was held, of course, especially being on her back for the ultrasound - and having her belly shaved. Rusty is quite a private girl a d doesn't like to be exposed but she handled this all really, really well. One of the veterinary assistants hugged her shoulders, another had her back legs. And I focused on her face and eyes - and mouth with yummy liver treats. She came out with smiles, she stuck out her tongue, she made cute faces and she gave the assistant a kiss. This girl!

At dog school, one of the things that Teacher Nics has always said is that it is so important to train your dogs to lie on their sides and to stay there - and for strangers like a vet to be able to inspect them. This makes doing things like x-rays possible without needing to sedate the dog. Rusty got full marks today.

Rusts is in for a diet change to food that will help to dissolve the crystals, needs to finish her course of meds and will be under my watchful eye. She is otherwise in great condition for being 11 to 12 years old.

parkrun dog-run-volunteer balance

I've been regularly volunteering at our George parkrun since it reopened in November 2021 post-COVID lockdown. I only ran it for the first time in about May this year. I maybe run it every 4-6 weeks and the rest of the time I generally volunteer with barcode scanning being my favourite duty.

George parkrun is a lovely route but it is not the course to set an all-time 5k 'Personal Best' (PB). I'd say that most will be >3 minutes slower here than on a flat course. I've taken 2.5 minutes off my time these past months and I'm looking to further gains as I get fitter and faster with running again. On days when I run, I'm generally in the Top 50 so I'm able to resume my volunteer duties at the finish before the bulk of the field gets there.

I've been taking Rosy along to parkrun, especially on days when I'm running. She has come along to volunteer but it is a bit boring for an exuberant dog. By running first, we drain a bit of energy. She knows that Saturday mornings are parkrun days and she asks me to take her along.

Two weeks ago we enjoyed a lovely run together. It was warm and we took the pace a bit easier. Rosy also enjoyed two swims in streams. 

Rusty used to always come with me to parkrun in Parys to run and to volunteer. I feel bad leaving her at home now but running parkrun is no longer an option for her with spondylosis in her lower vertebra. She would be keen but she would be stiff afterwards. Rusty still loves running, but we keep our runs together very light and short, avoiding anything too steep up or down. We traverse the parkrun route trails regularly, but at an easy pace and without the excitement of the crowds. This is right for her.

I decided to take Rusty along this past Saturday to volunteer as she always used to chill at the finish in Parys and loved watching the people come in. This was her first time at a parkrun since before lockdown. Rusty was super excited at the start. She loves the buzz. We ran about 200m with the crowd before turning back; she loved that. At the finish, she was 99% good, only barking occasionally at some dogs crossing the finish. I was on timekeeper duty, but I think Rusts will prefer the scanning location (more comfy and better views of people), so I'll take her along for the next one.

Rusty with me at parkrun on Saturday.

Where I could still be lazing in bed on Saturday mornings, I favour getting up to volunteer at parkrun instead. It gets me up and moving, the 1.5km run to the venue is a pleasant trot and we've got a lovely volunteer community that I'm glad to be part of. I also enjoy seeing the regular participants. 

A beauty of a day (my photo)

I should be able to strike a good balance with taking Rosy along on run days and Rusty along on volunteer days.

All of these parkrun photos by Louis. He volunteers every week, taking photos of the participants and volunteers, which he uploads to the George parkrun Facebook page. He is always happy to take photos of my with my girls for my picture memories. Thank you Louis.

Woodwork: seat extender

A year ago, I did a work trip to Cape Town and I took Rusty with me. The bakkie is a single-cab and the passenger seat is a bit wider than normal. So that she would be comfortable, I had a bag in the footwell of the passenger seat and her cushion spanning the seat and the top of the bag to give her a bigger area to spread out on.

We had the most awesome trip, visiting dealers and staying in dog-friendly guesthouses.

I've been taking the dogs with me when I go to the storage garage. They love doing anything with me, including riding shotgun, waiting, watching, helping and sniffing around. They know the storage property now and they know them. The dogs are safe and happy there.

Fitting Rusty and Rosy - and sometimes Bella too - on the seat is a problem. 

Rusty is a medium-sized dog, weighing in at 20.5kg. Rosy is a small-sized dog, weighing in at 10kg. Bella is a little dog, weighing in at 3.5kg. 

I've built a 'seat extender' so that the dogs have plenty of space and cannot fall off the seat if I have to brake suddenly. I made it out of pallet wood (legs) and a piece of plywood, and shaped it to fit perfectly between the seat and the cubby hole. The space underneath can still be used and is easy to access from the open door.

Before the seat extender...

After - with the seat extender

My furry assistants helping (by looking cute) with a courier drop off.

Rusty's 5th adopt-versary

 Five years ago, on 24 March 2017, my life changed when Rusty came home with me. 

I still cannot get enough of just hanging out with my dog. 

Rusty was about 5 to 6 years old at the time (so 10 to 11 years now). She has been with me through four house moves and one provincial move. I had the pleasure of being with her all day, every day until July last year when I began working from the factory office. She spends most days with granny Liz and dogs Rosy and Bella. Sometimes I take her in to work because I just really miss being with her.

She started going to dog school just over a year ago. This amazing girl got 98% in her first 'exam' and is the oldest dog in the advanced class. She is super smart. She loves doing go-around the cones and is really good at going through hoops. She gets excited like a puppy when we do these. She is progressing with nosework. Rusty has amazing focus on me and she is excellent at down stays where she grins at me across the distance.

Almost every evening we hit the trails. She has spondylosis in her lower vertebra so we keep distance and difficulty within reason these days. She is incredible at recognising and leading on routes traversed only once even if from the other direction and weeks later. She loves being out. She also loves swimming and is a doggy paddle champ - she prefers to be in the water with me. She also loves being on my kayak.

Rusty is the July pin-up girl in the 2022 Border Collie Rescue calendar. I'll probably go April, May, June, July and then stay on July for the rest of the year.

Rusty is funny, sweet and smart. She loves hanging out with me as much as I love being with her. Rusty is my first dog ever - and did I get lucky with this one! 

I didn't rescue her; she rescued me and continues to be the light in my life.

Rusty is July 2022's BCR Collindar pin-up girl

My Rusty girl features in Border Collie Rescue's 2022 calendar. 

She's the July 2022 pin-up girl in the feature photo (Rusty in a hammock - she loved it) as well as the smaller photo on the left (second from the top of the four images). 

This 'Collindar' is R120. I've got a few ordered or you can get directly from Border Collie Rescue SA. 

This annual calendar is a fundraising initiative by Border Collie Rescue. 

"It provides much-needed income over the festive season, which traditionally is a high season for us in animal welfare as we take double to triple the amount of collies during this time into rescue. 100 % of the funds raised goes to Border Collie Rescue SA, and our rescued dogs. It helps us to cover kenneling fees, veterinary fees and food bills." 

Border collies are pretty and they are smart and the puppies are cute as hell. But, a border collie is not the type of dog to be locked up at home alone all day with zero stimulation and exercise. Border collies are the right type of dog for the right type of person. Unfortunately, too many people choose this dog breed because they are cute and pretty. 

Make the right dog breed choice for your lifestyle, sterilise your pets and buy a Collindar. 

These stunning photos of Rusty and our doggy friends who also feature - Echo and Layla - were taken by Melissa Pohl Photography ❤  

Business road tripping with my dog

In the week of 11 October 2021, I took Rusty with me on a working road trip. Until late June this year, Rusty and I were together all day, every day from the day she came into my life 4.5 years ago. 

Almost four months ago my office at the factory was ready. My plan was to spend half day there and half day working from home with my dog. Instead, I spend the whole day at the office and Rusty hangs with granny. 

I miss my dog. I needed to spend sometime with her and Rusty needed to spend time with me. Rusty is an amazing road tripping companion. In towns, she sat up a lot to look around - very cute. On the open road she snoozed on her cushion. There was lots of smiling from this sweet girl. This four day trip with lots of driving and many stops was a very special experience to share with my Rusty girl.

Dog and owner lookalike

 At dog school this evening, our teacher Nicola asked us all to get our dogs at heel and she snapped quick photos. This one is a gem and it is now my favourite-favourite photo of me and Rusty together.

When you look at us two grinning monkeys, you have to ask whether I'm looking more like my dog or is she looking more like me?

Rusty really loves going to school - she smiles a lot there. We love hanging out together and when we're at school we have an hour of time dedicated to being with each other and where she has my undivided attention. It is wonderful for both of us.

Rusty is too smart

 I've been really out of sync with dog school. When covid restrictions came in again, school stopped. Since restrictions reduced and school re-opened, our participation has been sketchy. It seem to have been one thing after another on Thursdays that has impeded our attendance.

Rosy had her first class this evening for many weeks and she totally clicked with some activities that we worked on some time ago. I'm super proud.

Looks like we're dancing. Doing over, over and around the cone. Rusts gets super excited like a puppy and she bounces everywhere.

Rusty had class last week and this week. Today I noticed something interesting.

Rusts loves jumping over. Out on the trails when there is a log across the trail I call, "Over!" and she will speed up and jump over. We use the lowest jump height for her as she has spondylosis in her lower spine so we go for keeping the activity with minimal impact on her back.

When you do a stay, the dog should not anticipate being released from the stay by breaking before a command is given. Rusty is actually pretty good at her stays - for duration, distance and distraction. She broke her stay a few times this evening and, after two consecutive breaks, I realised the reason.

Waiting to be recalled. This is where we figured out that she has worked out Nics' command to me.

I instruct her to stay and then I walk away, turn around and face her. After a period, our teacher Nicola gives me an instruction to recall Rusty - to tell her to come. Rusty has joined the dots and was using Nics' instruction to me, regardless of the words used, to recall. She figured out that I tell her to stay, I walk, I turn, I wait, Nics issues an instruction and then I call her. She reasoned that she may as well run to me when Nics speaks.

For the third one, to test my theory, Nics was standing behind Rusty and gave me a nod. Rusty only came when I told her to. This dog is too smart for her own good!

Thank you to teacher Nics for these photos of my girl at school.

Stay. Waiting for me to return to her.

Rusty - photoshoot model

A few weeks ago, Rusty took part in a photo shoot for the annual Border Collie Rescue calendar. A local photographer, Melissa Pohl, volunteered her skills and time to photograph a bunch of border collie rescues for photo submissions for the calendar.

When I take selfies with Rusts, or just general photos, she will often turn her face to the side the moment I point the camera in her direction.

At this shoot... Well, this doggy acted like a seasoned model - all poses and smiles.

Melissa gave us one of the photos - her favourite - and we could choose from a selection of others to buy. I loved all the ones of Rusty for her different expressions but settled on these two.

Peeka-boo! We learned this during lockdown last year and this move has been reinforced at dog school this year. There is nothing more sweet than seeing this beautiful face looking up at me.

I put Rusty into this hammock - her first time in a hammock. And she loved it! Couldn't stop smiling. 

Melissa specialises in people + pet photography and I think I'm going to spoil myself in the next few weeks by booking a session with her to get some good photos with my special girl.

Rusty and I have been together for 4.5 years now and I love her more and more every day. She can be really silly and funny but also very smart and independent. She isn't a very cuddly dog but she is sweet and loving. She is quick to learn and is evidence that you can teach and old dog new tricks.

She has spondylosis in her lower spine and at around 10 years of age we are at the point where I can't take her on long (distance or time) outings because she does get stiff (and probably sore) in the evening. I've got anti-inflammatories for her but the stiffness really is a sign that her activities have to be limited to those that are kindest to her mature body.

Rusty rescued me and is the shining-east light in my life and heart. I am so thankful that this dog came into my life and I treasure every day. The best thing about waking up each morning is opening my eyes and she is the first thing that I see, cuddled up in her bed near me. Blessed. I am. 

Rosy, speak! Little dog (almost) lost in the forest

The dogs and I enjoyed a bit of an adventure on Friday evening. 

I was heading off to dinner so we didn't have too much time but I headed to a section of indigenous forest that I really enjoy (pretty plus lots of fungi). My plan was to hit a nice loop and make it home in time for a quick shower before going out.

We found some fungi, took photos and were a bit behind schedule but all was pretty normal. And then... Rosy had been ahead of me. I must have heard her bark and as I looked up I saw her little black dog body in full-out running posture and ahead of her the white flash of the tail of an antelope. Not again!

Within seconds they were around the bend and at least 150m ahead of me. Rusty had charged ahead, stopped to look for me and then trotted on. By the time I got to the bend, there was no sign of Rosy except that I could hear her barking some distance inside the bush.

The area where we were used to be a forest plantation. I don't know whether the trees were felled or whether the forest was burned, but either way the forest blocks are now thick with bracken, black wattle, thorny brambles and lots of branches and logs. You can't see more than three to five metres inside.

I walked along the forest track for a bit, calling "Rosy come!", a command to which she usually responds. I stood around for a bit too. Calling and listening. Rosy was quiet - something that this little dog is not.

I figured that initially she was barking at the antelope but her bark had been different. When she got quiet, I began thinking that she was injured. Unless the antelope was lying in a tangled heap, it would be long gone. There had to be another reason that she was not coming to me. An injured paw? A broken limb? Impaled on a sharp stick? 

Rusty and I made for the corner of the forest block, coming up the other track to look for a better spot to head in to look for Rosy. We made good progress initially but unable to hear Rosy, I really was going in blind and didn't know where to head.

And then I had an idea.

A few weeks ago I taught the dogs 'Speak' and 'Quiet'. My objective was actually to teach talkative Rosy to be quiet on command. In order to teach 'quiet', she needed to know which command her talking falls under - in this case 'Speak'.

I shouted into the bush "Rosy, speak!" and got a squeak in return. Again, and then an answer. Rusty and I got held up at a dense section so we backtracked and headed back to the original track, trying again to get through at a spot that didn't look too bad.

I called to Rosy, letting her know that we were still there and that we were coming. Rusty and I crawled beneath bracken and over logs, taking care not to get too ripped by the thorny barbs of a bramble-like plant. Rusty did amazingly, finding us animal-sized spaces to crawl through. 

We got to a point where I could hear Rosy's soft responses but could not yet see this all-shadow black dog. I stood up, turned and looked into a small 'clearing' and there she sat, looking very, very sorry for herself. She didn't even come to me when I called. So I went to her and as I stretched out my hand she came to my side. She thankfully was not injured at all.

My theory is that Rosy completely lost her mind when she chased the antelope. She has a high-prey drive which makes her crazy for balls and chasing antelope, bunnies, seagulls and ducks. She isn't a hunter and she won't hurt them. They run, she runs. She followed and ran into the bush and then found herself trapped on all sides in the vegetation. She did not know what to do or where she was. It is curious that she didn't try to come to me as she could clearly hear me out on the track. The location of her barks and answers didn't change so I think she sat in the same place the whole time.

It had taken me 30 minutes to get to her and we only had about 20 minutes of daylight left. 

My Rusty girl then showed her uncanny trail sense. I'd been planning to get out the way we'd come in. Not far from where we found Rosy, I lost both dogs - I didn't know through which crawl space they'd gone. I called and Rusty came back to find me, leading me off to the side and not straight ahead.

My clever girl linked our new track with the initial one coming from the other track into the bush! Once past the dense stuff it was a shorter and easier exit. So proud of my dog!

We ran all the way back to my car - all of us safe and sound. The dogs, with their furry coats, were no worse for wear. Me, with my human skin, picked up some bramble scratches.

Rosy's behaviour has been exemplary these past few days. I think her adventure on Friday evening was a bit of a surprise and shock. We haven't seen another antelope since and I'm not entirely convinced that this crazy little dog can keep her head - but she does try.

I took the dogs paddling on Sunday morning. Rosy was a gem and is finally taking to her place on the front of my kayak. Rusty's spot is behind me - she is such a chilled passenger.

Calm water. Calm dog.

That face!

My special girl.

When we got Rosy from the SPCA she was listed as a border collie cross. She looks like a small version of a border collie but she is all black, without any of those distinctive border collie white flashes, which are strong genetic traits. She certainly has the temperament of a border collie.

Last week, our dog school teacher was researching dog breeds and came across the Markiesje, an old dog breed. 

She sent me a whatsapp saying, "Google 'Dutch Tulip Dog/Hound'".

"OMG! That's Rosy!" I replied.

This description from Wagwalking totally suits our Rosy.

These are generally very friendly little animals who love everyone, and thrive on attention but don’t tend to be particularly demanding about it. The Markiseje is gentle and playful with other dogs as well as with children of all ages, and although all interactions between small children and canines should be monitored, this breed is generally very trustworthy with the younger set. They are not prone to separation anxiety when left home alone, and they are generally well behaved when taken out in public as well. While this dog’s smaller size and cuteness make it popular as a family pet, they are also willing to do the work of a gun dog, easily taking to retrieving small game or game birds. These small dogs are typically too friendly to make an appropriate guard dog, but due to their alert natures, they often excel in the role of watchdog, alerting their family to any perceived threats and dangers. 

The Markiseje is a moderately active breed that needs to get around an hour of vigorous activity each day in order to keep them happy and healthy. These dogs can keep up on most walks and jogs, but they may also enjoy or possibly excel at several other canine activities as well, such as swimming, agility training, or canine freestyle dance. While these dogs are on the smaller side, they are often inappropriate as pets in smaller living environments such as apartments due to their higher activity and noise levels than some other dogs and are more likely to thrive in a larger home with a fenced yard.

We're going to go with this instead of 'border collie cross'.

Rosy is very, very smart. We're really settling in nicely now at dog school and she impresses each week. Where Rusty is a total natural, Rosy has to work harder to focus as she can be easily distracted by other dogs and people. She really tries to please. Sweet dogs. 

Rusty's 4th adopt-versary

 24 March marks Rusty's adopt-versary. 

On Friday, 24 March 2017, this special girl came into my life. We were a perfect match from the start. I am very fortunate in that I spend most of every day with her. Four years down the line, being with my girl 24hrs a day, seven days a week is still not enough. 

Her smile makes me smile. The white tip of her tail raised high as she trots ahead of me on trails raises my spirits. And the way she looks at me and talks to me... Well, I fall in love with her every day. 

Rusts is now about 10 years young.

We went - with Rosy - for a forest outing to celebrate.

Reflecting on our first few hours together four years ago...

Day 1. Friday, 24 March 2017

Banting for dogs

  Despite being an active, trail-loving dog, my Rusty is on the heavier side of the scale.

On that first afternoon when she came into my life almost four years ago, we went to the vet for her vaccinations and deworming. The vet recommended dog food for her and guided me on her meal portion - to eat for the weight that she should be and not what she currently weighed. She gained weight.

She then went on to Hills weight loss programme. We did regular weigh-ins and she still ate for the weight that she should be and not that she was. She didn't lose more than 1kg and was always, always hungry. That must have been about 2.5 years on Hills.

Just over a year ago I changed to Orijen. It's a pricey, higher-protein food that is lower on the cereal side. I still fed her less than recommended for her weight, especially as she is not very active in the day - only when she comes out with me. She was definitely more satisfied but her weight just remained stable.

I then swopped to Acana and Montego Field & Forest. Also a good protein contribution but a bit less costly than Orijen. Same effect - better satisfied than on Hills but stable weight. It has just not been reasonable for me to drop her food amount even more. 

On the treat side (of course she gets treats!), she has 1-2 dog cookies a day (small size dog ones), half a rollie before bed and some training treats (they get broken in half). Her granny has had to be strictly addressed on not giving her too many treats.

We started dog school last week. The classes are obedience with some agility for fun. Rusty was a star.

Her teacher addressed her weight and recommended that she does a banting diet. For the next six weeks, Rusty is on a meat diet. There is chicken, ostrich, lamb, beef - it is meat and offal all ground up together (yuck!). I do lightly cook it because raw is just a bit too much for me to handle!

Rusty has had four days on it and for the first time in four years she is not an always-ravenous dog! She is totally satisfied for hours after her meals and does not seek food and treats during the day.

Her weight has always been a concern, especially as she is my outdoors companion and extra weight on joints (for people too!) is never good. Rusty is approaching 10 years so it is even more important that she goes into her senior years in the best condition possible.

Rusty does not have an hour-glass figure - yet.

When in Rome.

I've never enjoyed getting up in the morning, even if there is a whole lot of excitement in the day ahead. As a child I struggled, as a teen I struggled and things did not change in my adult years. Of course, as I got older I dealt better with always feeling like I'd be hit over the head by a sledgehammer whether I had the misfortune of only getting four hours of sleep or the pleasure of 10.

As a result, if I can avoid waking and getting up before the sun has warmed the earth, I do. My preference is to run in the cooler evening hours in summer an the warm late afternoons of winter. Of course, I do mornings where I have to for events or meet-ups with other people, and I enjoy being out once I'm up.

With lockdown restrictions lifted to Level 4 and exercise permission granted only from 06h00 to 09h00, morning running is my only option. When in Rome.

These near-winter mornings are brisk but very pleasant by the time I'm out of the door just before 8am. And the skies! Sparkling, clear and deep blue.

Rusty, like me, enjoys the comfort of her bed in the morning but the moment I start lacing my running shoes she bounces into action.

Rusty in her basket.

The best view ever. Rosy and Rusty.

My Rusty girl this morning next to the river.

With Parys being a small town, I enjoy shouting hi to friends and parkrunners when I see them out-and-about. What I have seen very little of are children and teenagers! Exercise would do them a lot of good. Maybe they'll get out during this coming week? I think the optimist in me is going to be wrong...
Exercise permitted has been limited to running, walking and cycling. Paddling and other watersports are currently prohibited. Like many other regulations, this makes little sense but it is what it is - for now. The real bugger is that for the past five weeks, the river has been running higher than during most of summer. It has been brilliant this weekend after last week's rains. Oh well.

This easing of lockdown has come just at the right time for me. On Wednesday, my annual pre-birthday 'game' starts and this year it is '44 Days of Running' and my 10th consecutive year of doing this. I'm ready!

Photos with my dog

There is an awesome photo studio in Parys called Kiki's Vintage Photo Studio. Belinda is a talented photographer with a lovely style. She had a special in Feb with an offer of two prints for R100. I found out about this after a friend went to have photos done of her grandsons.

My mom and I took the opportunity to have our photos taken with our dogs.

We love our photos. Rusty outshone me - she is such a pretty girl. I've got the two black-and-white prints at home in frames. The colour one was a bonus photo from Belinda. 

Rusty doing her happy sticky-out tongue thing.

Sitting like this on the couch made me look chubby - but Rusty looks magnificent - smile included.

This is my favourite xxx

My mom with Rosy. 

We've got other friends-with-dogs heading to Belinda too. 15 minutes with Belinda = special moment with our dogs preserved xxx

First woman and dog at SPCA night run

Earlier this year, a SPCA fundraising run was held in town and last night another was hosted at the Parys Golf Estate. This time I took Rusty along. They had a 5km route and a 10km option (double lapper) so I decided to run Rusts with me for the 5km, drop her with my mom along the route and then run the next 5km.

It turned out to be the most perfect evening - the temperature was just right.

Of course, Rusty was a monster before the start - at timetrial, parkrun and myrun too! She likes to bark and gets so excited - totally embarrassing! Fortunately, after the first 200m of running she is again a perfectly behaved girl.

She did very well on the 5km and seemed happy to see the finish because she didn't want to turnaround to head out again to catch my mom. It took a bit of convincing and then she trailed behind me (she is usually in front or to the side). For the next 500m, I almost dragged her and then she seemed to realise that she wasn't getting out of this and she picked up the pace again. Luckily for her, my mom was only another 200m away but when I handed her over, Rusts then wanted to watch me running of instead of walking to the finish with my mom. Mom says it took a while to get Rusty moving towards the finish. Funny girl. At the finish, my brown girly was waiting so patiently, looking out for me. My heart!

There weren't many of us on the 10km. I had a really strong second 5km but there was no way that I was going to be able to catch Elise. She led from the start and must have ended a good 500m ahead of me. There were no guys ahead so that would have been a one-two placing for us.

The turnout wasn't as good as in March, but there was a decent crowd -  and a good number of dogs (some we know from parkrun and myrun). There was a prize for the first man & dog and first woman & dog. Hendrik with his young spaniel were ahead of us; Rusts and I got the woman & dog prize. We received a lovely gift bag with goodies for Rusty (toy, ball, shampoo and munchies) and for me (chocolate). 

Our Parys SPCA went through a rough time about a year back and NSPCA stepped in to take charge. The new committee has made a huge effort to raise funds, upgrade the facilities and to improve governance.

Thank you to Lorette, all her helpers and Parys SPCA for a lovely run. xxx

A bit of whitewater

As if myrun and social paddling were not enough, I enjoyed a late afternoon bit of whitewater at our local spot, Gatsien rapid. I got to paddle our Pungwe whitewater kayak for the first time (without swimming).

My challenge of the day was paddling our Vagabond Usutu whitewater sit-on-top (blue one in the photos below) with Rusty on my lap! This kayak was not made to carry a 21kg dog! On our return route she went down some little bubbly water (not a rapid) and she didn't even flinch. Unfortunately we didn't get a photo as the camera was in my backpack (on my back!).

This was Celliers' first post-shoulder-operation paddle (surgery was back in late January). It is a long road to recovery and will still take many months to gain full strength.

It was a beautiful afternoon next to the river.

Rusty watching Celliers run the first production Pungwe through its paces.

Celliers just makes it look so easy.

Ruben and Kyla chilling on the warm rock.

My first turn in the Pungwe, which is my size whitewater kayak. I really don't have great skills but I did catch some eddies and do some ferrying without swimming. Rusty kept a close eye on me.

On the Usutu whitewater sit-on-top. This is more my comfort zone.

With my girl.

Rusty rocking her doggy PFD.