After a few hard weeks, it was good to get the news that Nemo's litter is on the ground . Moxie had 7 puppies on Monday and Tuesday. Donna sent these photos on Friday - there are a couple of beauties there! I look forward to watching them grow up.

Since I felt able to post anything here. This hobby can be heartbreaking at best, but sometimes you lose a dog and it feels absolutely devastating and you wonder why you put yourself through this over and over again.

A week before his 9th birthday, I noticed that Trick seemed kind of wobbly and weak on his front legs. He'd been on Deramaxx for an injury in his neck for the past year, and I thought it might be time for a change in medication. I made an appointment for the following week, meanwhile upping his meds to daily instead of every other day. He seemed to be doing okay, but I thought he was gradually getting worse. Joe examined him and found arthritis in all his joints and spine, most likely from the bout with Lyme disease he had had 4-5 years previously. He suggested we treat him with antibiotics in case the Lyme had flared up again, staying on the Deramaxx, and adding Tramadol to keep him comfortable. We expected some improvement within several days, but he was just going downhill. A week later I called and said there was no improvement at all, and Joe said lets try steroids. That was Tuesday morning, Nov. 11. Late that afternoon after his dinner, Trick wasn't able to get up on his own at all. His front legs splayed in front of him and he was whining, obviously in pain. I called the vets office and said I was bringing him right in. Marc came home to help me get him into the van, where he lay, whining and uncomfortable...but still wagging his tail. He was so weak that two techs brought out a stretcher and I was able to manipulate him onto it and strap him down and the three of us carried him into the office. Joe examined him quickly and said the only thing that could cause such a rapid decline would be a tumor in the brain or more likely spine - there wasn't much choice about what had to be done. Trick continued to wag his tail until he was gone...its so hard to do this when their mind is still there and happy but the body is falling apart...it was the same way with his mother, Karma, another heartbreaker.

It's been three weeks now and I can't get used to him not being here. That big goofy dog with his big grin and puppyish ways even as an older dog. He'd bounce out of here every morning, grabbing a rawhide or pig ear on the way, to lay in the sun at the top of the yard and chew it as he kept an eye on his territory. He was full of himself from the minute he was born and knew he was something special. He loved to act up in the show ring and infuriate his handler with his shenanigans, but that was Trick. He thought his purpose in life was to have fun and he excelled at it. He was an unforgettable dog.

Ch. Nutmeg's I Wanna Rock October 29, 1999 - November 11, 2008

Yesterday morning I had to bring Flyer in to be put down - never an easy decision, but in his case it was the only decision that could be made. He had slowly been going downhill for the past few months and was slowly losing weight and muscle mass - he actually had been doing better than I expected at his age (nearly 11) and size (158 pounds at last check up in the spring). He suddenly became lame Sunday afternoon and was having a very difficult time getting around, to the point that I had to put a sling under his belly to help him get up the 5 steps into the house. He was just too big to do that for, and it was obvious he was uncomfortable. I gave him a Deramaxx Sunday evening to keep him as comfortable as possible and knew that the next morning I'd be at the vet's office when they opened.

It took two of us to get him into the consult room where a thick quilt was waiting for him...Flyer was so ready to go that he was gone before he had gotten half the injection...I'm glad he went so easily, but this tears my heart out every time it has to be done.

Flyer had a "old time" Akita temperament - he loved his family and was very loyal to us, but quite frankly, he didn't like anyone else. I was never worried about my safety with him in the house with me...as if just seeing him wouldn't be a deterrent enough! He was playful with us and loved attention and his marrow bones and many times I would look at him and see Temma looking back at me through his expressions. He loved string cheese sticks and would race up the yard when he heard me open the fridge and the deli meat drawer - he could swallow it in one gulp and then would look for another!

I'm going to miss my Flyman, and am thankful that we have his daughter, Cassie; grandkids Gringo and Dixie; and great granddaughter Mandisa. Here's my all time favorite picture of him, in his prime, doing what he loved best, playing in the snow.