ThE LiFe oF A TeRroRiSt...

Hey friends!

So, I've been SUPER bad about posting but, it's been a bit busy lately!  Here's a rundown of each day for the past two weeks.....wake, get the terrorist up, get ready for work/school, play with Tier, feed Tier, feed the cats, school, work, work, school, run, MCAT class, go home, feed Tier, play with Tier, try to keep Tier in line, feed the cats, go to bed....I try to fit in eating in there occasionally but it typically doesn't work out real well! Despite the craziness you can see that the terrorist gets quite a bit of attention....lucky for her, sometimes lucky for me depending on what she's doing!

This past week Tier didn't get to go to daycare because when she went in for her 16 week puppy shots she was diagnosed with Giardia.  Major bummer for her because she loves to play with all the puppies, I was told by the daycare people that they call them the "Puppy Gang!"  Apparently this group of pups likes to hang out with each other and I'm sure create a lot of mischief....especially since the terrorist is involved! I'm sure the people at daycare had a nice little respite from Tier and all the craziness that comes with her!  Since she was unable to go to daycare for all of last week the monster got to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa quite a bit along with their dogs Reina and Bink! Tierney thinks Bink and Reina walk on water and she drives them crazy with her overt displays of affection....

Bink sure does look excited to have the monster lying next to him, doesn't he!?  

With Tier being a terrorist, of course there were a few incidents at the grandparents' house....I'm surprised Tier survived one in particular....

One afternoon my dad picked up Tier from my house and when he got home he let Tier out of the car thinking she would stick around.....no such luck! Tierney, sensing her freedom, took off like a shot out of the car into the front yard, grabbed one of Badger's (my parents' Great Pyrenes) toys and headed for the sheep lot.  My dad took off after her, trying to get her to stop or to catch up to her.  Tierney made her first stop at the sheep  pen to bark at the sheep and just as my dad was about to grab her, she was off again!  She next headed to a pen with hay in it to see if there was anything of interest in there. When she went in this pen my dad thought, "Oh I've got you now you little.....bleep, bleep, bleep!"  He should have known better......Tier is a) a German Shepherd and b) a full blown terrorist, she's not about to get caught! 

After narrowly escaping from my dad, Tier was off into the pasture to see the sites.  She headed to the grainery first, then went sprinting around the yard.  She would stop every so often to let dad catch up but not quite catch her....she's a tricky little monster!  Then she headed to the neighbor's house!  Dad was getting real nervous/angry at this point because the neighbor has a lot of dogs and animals that Tier could get in trouble with!  Her first stop was the miniature horses but since dad was close on her tail, she didn't stop long.    After her stop off at the minis she was off again running along the neighbor's fence.  Fortunately, Rory (the neighbor's Pyrenes) was waiting at the end of the fence and Tier, making a good judgment call, decided to head back to my parents' yard....Rory can get a little grumpy with dogs she thinks are intruding on her property! Finally, Tierney returned to the yard and stopped long enough for dad to catch her....problem FINALLY solved! And, fortunately for me and her, dad decided to spare her life after the little charade she pulled! 

Of course, the terrorist did not strike just once last week....in addition to her shenanigans at my parents' house, she decided to do a little Microbiology studying and ate a page out of my microbiology book!  She also did a little more GRE studying but fortunately I'm done studying for that test (took it last Thursday) so it wasn't a big deal! 

Although the week was riddled with Tier's misgivings, the week wasn't a total bust! This past Thursday was Valentine's day and Tierney received multiple gifts!  Her main present was a huge gorilla that we named George.....

Tier thinks George is pretty darn cool! He originally came with a heart that he held in his hands with the saying, "I'm ape over you!" Tierney, not surprisingly, immediately ripped the heart from George! Tier also received a couple of new bones and some pretty yummy treats!  Her Valentine must REALLY, REALLY love her!!! 

Over the past couple of weeks Tier has gained quite a bit of weight!  Just two Saturdays ago she weighed 34 lbs., she currently weighs 39.8 lbs. - 

I still can't believe how she's gone from a tiny little puppy to this big ol' mutt in just 8 weeks!  I know I'm a little bias but she has gotten pretty as she's gotten older!  Although different from Brear, I'm lucky to say I have gotten to own two VERY beautiful girls!! 

Since the GRE is over and I will, hopefully, have a bit more time, I will be updating the blog a lot more!  Up next, Tier is going to her last puppy class with my parents' (I will be in class :( ) tomorrow, cross your fingers the three of them survive it.....update to follow!! 

To all of our friends out there, "Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful week!"  And, to that big beautiful girl in the sky, "I miss you so much! Running has been so difficult without you by my side, especially as the mileage gets heavier and heavier during marathon training!  I find myself continually searching for you out on the roads and trails but I know, even though I can't see you, that you're there every step of the way! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the gift of Tier, she has all of your best traits and reminds me more of you each day! I love you so much my sweet Brearsy!" 

Ciao, 

tIeR & sHaNnOn 

ThE TeRrOrIsT GoEs SpLiSh SpLaSh....

Hey friends!

Well, it's been pretty busy in the world of Tier and Shannon for the past week, hence the infrequent posts!  I'm currently studying for the GRE, MCAT and applying to a grad school starting in the fall and to medical school and/or (potentially) vet school to start in Fall 2014!  Tier, is currently studying for the GRE which involves sharing/chewing up the GRE book I'm currently studying from!  She is applying to Good Dog school, cross your fingers that she will graduate from Good Puppy school with high enough grades to get into Good Dog school! We'll keep you all posted!

Despite the craziness of the past week, Tier got to go to her first swim lesson last Friday!  I was beyond excited all Friday to get to watch her swim for the first time however, Tier did not share the same feelings and was nervous/anxious!  Dr. Steyn, Tier's vet, suggested that she go through the swim orientation and participate in splash sessions to increase her muscle tone and cardiovascular health.  Considering she will someday be running 40+ mile weeks with me, this kid has got to get her muscle tone and cardiovascular system up to speed before she reaches the age of 18 months.  Dr. Steyn also thought that Tier would like to swim because she frequently sticks her entire face in her water dish and splashes around....this was very cute the first couple of times, it's now not so cute and creates a HUGE mess!  I often find the kitchen floor turned into a lake if Tier is left unsupervised with a full water dish and the cats are very much unappreciative of the frequent swimming holes Tier tries to create for them!

Anyways, we arrived at AACC (Advanced Animal Care of Colorado) for our swim lessons at 4:40pm on Friday.  We were greeted by Tier's swim instructor Becca.  Tier was very full of herself when we got there so Becca put her out on the patio while she read the safety instructions to me....Tierney tends to be a bit distracting, especially when she's in her terrorist mode!  After Becca explained all the rules, the three of us headed to the pool!  While I took Tier outside for one last potty break before swimming, Becca found a life vest that would fit properly on Tier.  Tier put her life vest on without any complaints and, finally, it was time to get in the pool! Here she is with Becca before getting in:

Tier was a little nervous getting into the pool but Becca was very good with her and gently set her on the stairs.  Becca explained to me that it would be best if I would walk around the edge of the pool while Tier swam and give Tier lots of encouragement and praise.  Tier was very receptive to me walking around the edge and followed me as I walked a little in front of her.  Up until this point in her life, I did not realize the extent of her attachment to me.  I knew she was bonded to me but the strength of the bond was very evident by her trying to swim as fast as she could to where I was walking.  Here is a video of her following my voice as she was swimming:

Who knew the little terror could swim so fast! She's a natural!

After 2 laps in the pool we let Tier take a little break....swimming is hard for a baby, don't you know!? After a short break Tier got to swim 2 more laps with Becca following alongside her and with me walking along the edge.  After those 2 laps, Becca suggested taking Tier's life vest off because she is such a natural swimmer!  We took the life vest off and this time, much to Becca's surprise, I got into the pool with Tier.  Tier was so fast at swimming that I had to have Becca hold her on the steps while I went to the other end of the pool.  Becca would help her off the steps and set her loose to swim to me.  Each time she came straight to me and I would turn around and walk backwards with her swimming towards me to the steps.

Together, we swam for another 20-25 minutes with short breaks in between laps.  Here are some pics:

 Becca getting Tier into the pool for the first time.....she's a little nervous at this point!

Becca helping Tier start off swimming for the first time!  No help needed from Becca after the first couple of kicks, who knew German Shepherds are such naturals in the water!?

 Becca helping Tier navigate the upcoming corner....she got stuck there a couple times when I wasn't walking fast enough in front of her.

 Tier swimming all on her own before I got in. You can tell she's on a mission to get to me!

 Tier taking a break after her first 2 laps, swimming is pretty darn tiring for a little terrorist of only 15 weeks!

I had such a fun time getting in the VERY cold water with her and swimming with her! Being that she is not even 16 weeks yet, this little monster has gotten to do so many fun things; many of them thanks to AACC and Dr. Steyn!  I often forget that Tier is only 15 weeks old (16 weeks tomorrow) because she is so big!  But, considering she has already almost completed puppy school, she's swam for the first time and has gone to daycare numerous times, I'd say she's pretty well rounded for such a young pup!  My goal is to give Tier the best life I possibly can and I sincerely hope that I'm succeeding in my goal so far....but, that's a question only Tier can answer!

After swimming we headed home and I was of the assumption that Tier would be very tired......

But we all know what happens when we assume......

Yep, that's Tier playing on the couch with a chewy bone filled with marrow.  She was so excited after swimming that full terrorist mode came out and she proceeded to create havoc by sprinting around the house, chasing her kitties, jumping over the back of the couch, and stealing anything of mine that she could get her grubby little paws on! Considering her behavior, I'd say that our time spent swimming was nothing short of a fantastic time had by all.....hopefully Becca agrees with our assessment!

Quick update on Biggest Gainer....this past Saturday saw 34lbs on the scale! She's getting heavy and a lot more difficult to pick up!

This past Saturday marked 2 months since my big beautiful girl Brear left me for Heaven.  And, I have missed her every second of every hour of every day since!  My journey with Brear was beyond any expectation I could have ever dreamed up and I thank God for every second I got with her!  When she was with me, I never could have imagined life without her and it breaks my heart that life without her is now reality!  However, when I wake each day, the first thing I see is Tier and I am immediately reminded by her that when one gloriously beautiful journey ends, it opens the door for another of equal measure to begin! Tierney is not "just a dog," Tierney is my best friend, my constant companion, source of frustration, source of infinite joy and laughter but most of all Tierney is my savior from the unimaginable grief that came with losing Brear!  Tierney makes me smile through the tears, gives me comfort when I am sad and scared, and makes life more than worth it for me!  Yes, one wonderfully beautiful journey ended but, one of equal measure has begun and, just like the one before, it has far exceeded any of my wildest dreams and expectations.....I can't wait to see what's to come!!!!!!

Ciao,

TiEr and ShAnNoN

The Terrorist Goes to ScHoOl....

Hey friends!  On January 8, the little terror started her first day of school!  She has now gone to two classes and has had loads of fun…..

The first day of puppy class started with an orientation for me, introducing me to Tier’s instructor, her teaching techniques and everything that will be covered in her class.  I then went home, picked up Tier and headed back for the actual class.

When we arrived there were dogs outside in runs that scared the every living daylight out of Tier.  She was shaking with her hair raised on her back in her infamous Mohawk hairstyle.  When the trainer let us in Tier immediately started barking at all the other puppies, including a tiny little Puggle.  Tierney has clearly not grasped the concept, as of yet, that she is a German Shepherd and will someday tower over the little Puggle! 

We started class with sit, lie down and stand commands.  Tier already knew sit or “zits” as it is pronounced in German (Tier is being taught in German in order to compete in Schutzhund trials when she is older).  However, she had only just started learning lay down or “platz” earlier that day and stand or “shtaay” was far from her repertoire of new commands but, she quickly caught on.  It’s amazing how much you can get her to do with a few yummy Natural Balance morsels….she’s VERY food driven!  Thank goodness for her food drive, too, because there were 6 other puppies full of energy and spunk that she could have easily been distracted by!

Next we worked on the “go to your mat” command.  I hadn’t started this with Tier and had forgotten that this was probably something she should be taught for when guests come over to our house, especially German Shepherd fearing guests!  Although, if someone doesn’t like Tier, chances are I won’t like them and they won’t be visiting anyways, but better safe than sorry….right!?  Tier did pretty well with this exercise thanks, again, to the yummy morsels but she was starting to get a bit more distracted by the other puppies. 

After working on “go to your mat” it was time for, you guessed it……PUPPY PLAY TIME!!!!  I let Tier off her leash and she immediately took off to check out all the other pups, especially the Puggle!  Tier spent the entire puppy play time chasing, jumping, rolling, and wrestling with all the other puppies!  Puppy play time is definitely her favorite time in class!

Next up was “quiet puppy” time….and this is where things went to Hell and a hand basket!  Tier is not overly fond of quiet time, she’d much rather spend her time in manic, out-of-control time!  When I picked her up to practice “quiet puppy” time she immediately started squirming around and throwing what I affectionately call a “Tier Terror Tantrum”!  The trainer came over and discussed with us that as soon as she quits her tantrum for about 5 seconds then she gets to be set loose again.  Then we start the process over…..”OH JOY,” I thought, “this should be FUN!”  We continued on with the tantrums for a few more minutes until, thankfully, “quiet puppy” time was done!

We then moved on to loose leash walking…. “Haha,” I thought, “this is going to go real well considering she hasn’t really walked on the leash more than a few times!”  But, actually, she did very well and she kept her harassment of the other puppies we walked by to a minimum!  She did pull on the leash some but considering it was her first time actually being trained on the leash, I was very happy with her performance!  After loose leash walking it was time to say, “Goodbye,” and head home.  Overall, Tier’s first puppy class was a success!!

This past week was Tier’s second puppy class which began VERY differently than the first week!  Instead of her Mohawk hairstyle accompanied with barking and shaking, Tier walked into puppy class like she owned the place!  She strutted up to the little Puggle as if she were saying, “HEY! I know you, we’re friends!” 

We started class with more “zits,” “platz,” and “shtaay” commands.  Tier has gotten so good at the commands that I’ve had to switch up the order of the commands, or else, she’ll run thru the commands without me saying any of them and look at me like, “Ummmm, aren’t you going to give me a treat now!?”  We also started including a “watch me” command into her “zits,” “platz,” and “shtaay,” commands in order to break them up.  Here is Tier working on her "platz" command while out for a hike this weekend....

Next, the class moved onto “watch me” and “hier” commands (“hier” is “come” in German).  Tier performed these commands quite well, however, occasionally she got distracted by the Puggle and an Australian Labradoodle…which, by the way, is SOOOOO cute and smaller than the American Labradoodle!!!!  After “hier” and “watch me” we practiced “go to your mat.”  Tierney doesn’t quite get this command but we’re working on it! 

And, then it was time for, you guessed it…..PUPPY PLAY TIME!!!! Tier LOVES puppy play time! She ran around sniffing all the other dogs and jumping on the ones she thought would play with her.  At one point the Puggle got so excited it started running laps around the room as fast as it could with Tier and a mixed puppy, Monroe, hot on its tail!

After puppy play time the instructor told us we would be going out into the vet clinic and working on walking with a loose leash.  I thought, “You have got to be bat shit crazy if you think Tier will walk on a loose leash through the clinic with all the other dog and cat smells everywhere!”  The instructor told us to walk with our puppies on a loose leash and as soon as they started to pull, to switch directions and say “No pulling.”  After only a few redirections, Tier was walking on a loose leash anywhere I wanted to go in the clinic!  I guess sometimes I have to eat my words….or thoughts in this case! 

After about 15 minutes of loose leash walking we all headed back to the room for more puppy play time!  This puppy play time started with Tier trying to get Monroe to play with her.  Monroe, who I later found out had gone to the dog park earlier that day, was sitting next to his mom and would not play with Tier.  But, little did Monroe know, Tier was not about to take “NO” for an answer and she incessantly started slapping Monroe in the face with her paw!   And, the terrorist’s paws are not little by any stretch of the imagination!  Finally, after one slap too many, Monroe tackled Tier and the wrestling match began!  Monroe and Tier were jumping, slapping, running and tumbling all over the room!  Tier was having such a great time it made it VERY difficult to get her for “quiet puppy” time. 

Now, Tier is pretty darn smart and very good at learning and following commands BUT, she does have one nemesis and that nemesis is…..“quiet puppy” time!  Tierney thinks that puppy class should be full of treats, commands and fun times with her friends; she does NOT think it should include a time where she has to lay down on her back while being calm and quiet!  Similar to last week, the instructor told me to put her in the “quiet puppy” position and as soon as she stops her tantrum throwing and is quiet for a few seconds, she gets to get up…..clearly she has not made much head way since last week in this department!  She is making some minor improvement on her tantrum throwing times but the improvement is coming at a very glacial pace!

After “quiet puppy” time, it was time to head out for home.  Tierney had another very successful class and it amazes me how much she has learned, especially considering she is only 14 weeks old as of today!  Tonight she goes to puppy class number 3 and I’m hoping for another successful fun evening with my no longer small bundle of fur!  Update to follow shortly….

Biggest Gainer update last week saw 26 lbs on the scale and this past Saturday saw 28 lbs!  She is growing up WAY too quickly!!!!  But, it has and will continue to be such a joy to watch the little terrorist grow!

I, unfortunately, must end this blog with some very sad news – this past Saturday, January 19^th, my aunt Pat lost her long battle with liver cancer.  Pat is one of eleven siblings and my dad’s second oldest sister. Pat is loved by many and will be sorely missed by all of the family and her numerous friends!  It gives me comfort to know Pat is no longer suffering and I’m sure, alongside God, my big beautiful Brear was there to help welcome Pat into Heaven with loving arms and, in classic Brear style, screaming her fool head off (her way of saying, “Hello!”) accompanied with a big sloppy kiss on the face!  I wish all my family peace in this extremely difficult time!  

I have a poem that I think is very fitting for Pat –

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

To all our friends out there we say, “Make sure to let your loved ones know how much they mean!  TTFN, ta ta for now!”  And, to that big beautiful girl in the sky, “Thank you, thank you, thank you for the gift of Tier; I miss you and love you every single second!”

Ciao,

TieR and ShAnNoN

4 Weeks of PuRe JoY......or maybe it was TeRroR!?

Hey friends! Since I got off to a slow start, I’m going to give you all a quick rundown of the past 4 weeks with Tier, aka the Terrorist!

Week 1

Much to my surprise, I got Tier on Thursday, December 6!  The first week I had her were full of first; meeting her kitties, Butters and Nietzsche, meeting her new BFFs Bink, Reina, Shorty and Tink, meeting numerous new people, seeing her new house, riding in the car, etc!!!  She did remarkably well with everything and is not afraid of anything!  The breeder, Christy, told me Tier was a bold puppy and I joke that by bold she meant BAT SHIT CRAZY!  Let’s just say that this little terrorist has a LOT of spunk and personality!  Here is a picture of Tier with Reina…. 

Reina doesn’t know it yet but, she and Tier are best friends for life….whether Reina agrees with that assessment or not!

In addition to all the new people and puppies, Tier got weighed on the Saturday after I got her; a whole 12 lbs.  My dad thought it would be a good idea to weigh her each week to see how much she grows, which I now affectionately call the “weigh-in, Biggest Gainer Style”! (I love Biggest Loser so decided to incorporate it into Tier's life...hehe!)

Week 2

In her second week with me, Tier got to go to the vet for the first time!  My mom has a good friend, Dr. Heather Steyn, who is a vet and owns Advanced Animal Care.  When my mom told Heather about Brear passing and getting Tier, Heather asked if she could be Tier’s vet.  I had been to Heather’s clinic (which is B-E-A-UTIFUL!!!!!!) before but had never taken any of my animals to see her.  Heather told my mom that I could book an appointment with her anytime and that the first exam would be free.  So, I went ahead and took a chance with Heather and booked Tier’s first appointment and boy am I VERY happy I did!!!!

When we arrived at Heather’s I was a little apprehensive because I had recently lost Brear, was SUPER protective over Tier and didn’t know any of the people at the clinic.  But, I was soon put at ease because everyone was SO nice and accomodating!  I first saw a vet tech who asked me LOADS of questions in order to update Tier’s chart and get a sense of her background.  Then Heather came in.  We sat and chatted about EVERYTHING Tier.  She spent over an hour with us discussing training, diet, grooming, Schutzhund, socialization, daycare, swimming, running, etc, etc, etc!!!  After over an hour of talking all about Tier, Heather did a physical and gave Tier her 8 week puppy shots.  AND, Tier didn’t cry once while getting her shots, thanks to one of the vet techs and some delicious treats!  Tierney is VERY different from Brear when it comes to food; Brear was anorexic at best and very difficult to keep weight on, Tierney is very food driven and a very easy keeper!  Over two hours later, we were on our way home with a bunch of new puppy info, new food, toys, signed up for daycare and puppy class and a dictation of everything we talked about!  It was so nice to have a vet spend that much time with me discussing Tier and be given notes of everything we talked about; thanks to the nice vet tech who dictated the visit!  Yep, if you haven’t guessed it by now, Heather is now Tier’s primary vet! 

Biggest Gainer weigh-in saw 16 lbs on the scale for this week!  She gained a whole 4 lbs in ONE week!  I remember thinking Brear went from puppy to adult in about 2.2 seconds but I forgot just how fast the GSDs grow, it's amazing!

Week 3

Tier’s third week with me involved numerous visits to family members' houses for the holidays.  First stop, Aunt Barbara’s house for numerous snacks and some play time!  Here is a picture of Tier at Aunt Barbara’s house…..

Yes, Tierney got so tired she face-planted into the floor and fell asleep there!  Aunt Barbara’s house is pretty exciting and full of lots of treats for puppies; her face-planting incident was just a natural consequence of a great visit with her favorite great-aunt!  She got to run around the backyard, chew on a brand new rope Aunt Barbara bought her, get TONS of puppy treats and may or may not have gotten a few pieces of summer sausage, courtesy of yours truly!  What can I say, she deserves to be a little spoiled every now and then…..and by every now and then I mean ALL THE TIME!!!  

Next up, Tier took a 2.5 hour car trip up to Glendo, Wyoming, on Christmas day to visit my sister, brother-in-law, nephew and nephew’s girlfriend.  She was very good in the car and slept most of the way.  Upon arrival she was greeted with four, yes FOUR, Jack Russells, a Labrador and a Bulldog.  HOLY OVERWHELMING BATMAN!!!  She was very nervous and scared at first but when we took them on a walk about 30 minutes later, she quickly became the hero-worshipping puppy I know her to be!  She especially thought Grace, the Lab, was VERY cool and wanted to walk right by her the whole way!

When we got back from the walk Tier spent the afternoon attempting to escape the Bulldog, Captain.  Captain, an intact male, thought Tier was pretty exciting and attempted to breed with her all afternoon.  Little did he know, she had NO idea what the heck was up with his advances, after all she was only 10 weeks old!  After a great day of snacks, presents and playing we headed home to prepare for the next trip!

Here is a picture of her on the way up to Glendo, just hanging out with Grandpa in the backseat of the car….

 

The next trip was a 3 hour car ride up to Steamboat Springs to visit more family!  She did very well on the trip up to Steamboat and, again, slept most of the way in the car.  When we arrived she met Hannah, a 9 year old Australian Shepherd, with which she fell madly in love with and commenced her hero-worshipping ways, per the usual!  She and Hannah ran around the back yard in 2 feet of snow with Tierney attempting to bound through the snow like a Gazelle, seriously lacking grace but making up for it with extreme cuteness!  Here is a picture of her playing in the snow….

 

Tier enjoyed all of her trips to various family members’ houses and is very thankful to you all for the numerous treats and toys she got!  Tier also had a wonderful Christmas at her Grandparents where she was given more presents than me!  I’m thinking I might have some competition with who my mom and dad love more….I’m pretty sure Tier might take the cake on this one!

Biggest Gainer weigh-in for this week saw Tier at 18 lbs!  She slowed a bit in the weight gain but still seeing huge numbers for such a small little girl!

Week 4

This week started with sickness…..  I noticed a little rash on Tier’s tummy and a few days later a large hard bump that felt like a cyst.  When I noticed the large bump, I immediately emailed Heather (didn't want to call since it was 9:45pm) about the bump.  Much to my surprise, I received an email back from her a few minutes later asking a few questions about the bump and if I could email her a picture.  Once I sent the picture, we continued to email back and forth a few more times, ending the conversation with a recommendation to get Tier into the clinic in the morning.  Unfortunately, Heather wasn’t going to be working the next day but Dr. Alvillar, another vet, would be there and we could see her. 

I called first thing in the morning and the staff was already expecting my call because Heather had forwarded them the picture of Tier's tummy and her recommendations! (Seriously, I couldn’t ask for a better healthcare provider for Tier than Heather!!)   They got Tier right in and Dr. Alvillar did a needle aspiration of the bump and found fluid filled with white blood cells, indicative of a cystic abscess.  She also took one look at Tier’s tummy and agreed with Dr. Steyn’s initial assessment, based off the picture, that she had a mild case of puppy Pyoderma.  According to Heather and Dr. Alvillar, Pyoderma is very common in puppies and, typically, easily treatable.  Thanks to the wonderful staff and vets at Advanced, Tier was quickly on her way to recovery….but, by the way she was acting you never would have known anything was wrong with her, she’s a trooper! 

Biggest Gainer weigh-in for this week saw 20.6 lbs on the scale!  Not as much as the first week but still consistently gaining and growing!  It’s amazing to look at her pictures of when I first got her and where she is now, she’s HUGE compared to what she was!  Here’s a little comparison…    

 

 

My little terrorist is growing up fast!  But, in the process of growing up, she has brought laughter, joy and an enormous amount of fun to my days! 

Stay tuned for Tier’s upcoming events including her first puppy class and first day at daycare! 

To all you readers out there I say, "Until next time my friends," and to that big beautiful girl in the sky I say, "THANK YOU Brear for the gift of my little terror, Tier! Miss you and love you forever!"  

Ciao,

TieR and ShAnNoN

The Best Surprise....

Hey friends! So I’m a little late in getting this blog started considering it’s chronicling Tier’s life and I’ve already had her for over four weeks! But, I gotta start somewhere right!? So, here we go, the events leading up to and the day I got Tier…..

After Brear passed away my mom and I were searching, searching, searching for a German Shepherd (GSD) puppy.  She had suggested looking at getting a different breed since Brear was a German Shepherd and thought maybe I would bond better with a different breed.  We went to Barnes & Noble to check out the dog books and the second I saw the German Shepherd book I knew I need another one! There is something about the GSDs that I’m in love with; when I see one it brings a smile to my face and makes me happy!

After determining I needed another GSD we went online to try to find a breeder.  After countless breeders and no luck we finally stumbled upon Adel Haus German Shepherds.  When I looked at the puppies section there were 7 puppies but it didn’t say any of them were available.  I tried to write Adel Haus off because of that but for some reason just couldn't!  I went back to the website numerous times and had this weird feeling that I needed to call, even though the website didn’t say any puppies were available.  My mom called for me because I was still struggling with discussing Brear and we talked on speaker phone with the breeder for almost 45 minutes! Fortunately, she said she had one female and two males left so we scheduled a time to go see the puppies two days later.  After getting off the phone with her, for the first time since Brear died, I felt hope and happiness again.  I felt like there was something pushing me to call Adel Haus and I’d like to think that something was Brear watching over me.

Two days later we were on our way to Julesburg to see the puppies.  I was so excited I could hardly stand it and I refused to drive any less than 5 over the speed limit….I’m amazed I didn’t get a ticket considering how much of a lead foot I had that day!  We arrived that afternoon and were welcomed into the garage to get to the backyard by Christy, the breeder.  The first dog we met was this poor little pit bull that had been rescued from being a bait dog by Christy and her family.  She was the sweetest little dog, it really boggles my mind how people can subject dogs to such injustice!  We then went out into the backyard where we were greeted by 5 Shepherds!  It was a little intimidating at first considering there were these 5 huge GSDs but I was soon put at ease when Olli, the biggest GSD, came up and licked all of our hands.  

From there we headed to the pen to let all the puppies out.  I was a little shocked that Christy let all the puppies out with the big dogs but, her policy is that all her dogs will get along and if there is a dog that won’t get along with the others then that dog is rehomed.  We spent a long time playing with all the puppies out in the yard but, the second I laid eyes on the female puppy I knew she was “THE ONE”!  After playing for quite a long time, we put all the puppies except Tier back so we could meet their father, grandfather and grandmother; Tier’s mother was sent to Germany after the puppies were weaned to do some showing and Schutzhund competitions. 

After meeting Tier’s father, grandmother and grandfather, we went inside Christy’s house to play with Tier and her grandfather Olli.  I was immediately in love with Tier but over the next hour I fell in love with her grandfather as well!  Olli is this big, beautiful Shepherd with the sweetest, gentle giant type personality!  Tierney was climbing all over Olli and getting in his face but he never once got angry with her!  Although, he did push her out of the way a few times when she was getting petted more than he was….Shepherds tend to be attention whores and Olli is no exception!

After spending a couple of hours at Adel Haus German Shepherds it was, unfortunately, time to head back home.  We decided that I could come pick Tier up on Tuesday, December 11^th, in the afternoon after my Physics final.  I literally didn’t know how I was going to last until Tuesday, a whole week, before she would become all mine!  But, Christy was going out of town to San Diego for a dog show and there was no way to get Tier before then.  So, I begrudgingly accepted the fact that I would have to wait for a week until the little monster became mine!   

The Thursday before I was to receive Tier my dad and I had a run scheduled with FCRC and a potluck with the club afterward.  That day I hadn’t been doing well because I was missing Brear, wishing I had Tier to hold and comfort me and was just really not wanting to go to the run club event.  I told my parents I would meet them at their house and then my dad and I could drive to the run club together.  On my way to their house I called them to let them know that I was on the way and that as soon as I got there we needed to leave but, much to my dismay, they said they were driving back from Greeley and were probably going to be late.  I was so mad!  I couldn’t believe that my dad would be making us late to an event I wasn’t even feeling like going to!  I arrived at their house, changed into my running stuff and waited and waited and waited some more!  At 5:40 pm they finally showed up, leaving only 20 minutes to get to the run club and my dad wasn’t even changed into his running clothes yet!  My mom came into the house and said that my dad was out on the patio changing and I should go out there so we could leave.  I thought, “what in the HELL is he doing changing on the patio!?”  It never dawned on me that maybe that wasn’t the case…..

I stomped out the door of their sun room onto the landing, which is a flight of stairs above the patio, saw my dad standing there not changing, and asked, “WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING!?”  To which he replied, “Trying to get your dog to potty!”  At that second I saw her walk around his legs and look up at me and that’s when I became unglued!  I went running down the stairs as fast as I could, fell to the ground, grabbed Tier up in my arms and started sobbing uncontrollably!  Finally, my heart was made whole again; finally I had my best friend back!  In that moment I felt so much sadness for the loss of Brear but so much love and hope for my new baby, Tier!  I spent the rest of the evening following Tier around, holding her, playing with her and basking in the extremely bittersweet feeling of what the future is to hold!  What I didn't know is that Christy had called my parents the day before and asked if they wanted to meet her in Hudson to pick Tier up early.  My mom wanted it to be a surprise so she didn't tell me that Christy had called.  What a perfectly beautiful surprise that became one of the best days of my life so far!

Since Brear has passed I’ve done a lot of thinking about dogs and what they mean.  It amazes me that something that can’t even speak can hold your heart with such a profound grip.  Brear was everything to me, my companion, running partner, huge source of joy, source of occasional frustration, shoulder to cry on, my biggest fan, and my very best friend.  Life has been extremely difficult without her and there is nothing in this world that can replace her.  I miss her constantly and through the tragedy of losing her I have learned that it’s not the loss of the past that I will miss, it’s the loss of the future that I was supposed to get with her.  And, to be honest, I was a little apprehensive when getting Tier.  I thought, “What if I constantly compare her to Brear?  What if she doesn’t live up to what Brear was?  What if I don’t bond to her like I did with Brear?”  But, the second I saw that beautiful little monster I knew that she was a gift, a gift that was coming straight from my big beautiful girl, Brear!  And, I can’t wait to see what Tier’s journey will become! We will have so many adventures together and each and every second I get with her I will thank my previous best friend for my new best friend, I will thank Brear for the gift of Tier!

I recently read a quote that I will leave you all with that I think sums up a dog –

“It’s Just A Dog”

From time to time people tell me, "Lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "That's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent or the costs involved for "just a dog."
Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."
Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and, in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."
"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.
"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.
Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.
So for me, and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past and the pure joy of the moment.
"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."
So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile....because they "just don't understand."
- Anonymous

Welcome to the trials and triumphs of Tierney the Terror

Welcome!

This blog is dedicated to Brear, my German Shepherd.  Brear was killed by a car the day before her third birthday, which became the worst day of my life! Brear was my constant companion, favorite running partner, shoulder to cry on, partner in crime and my very best friend. She filled my days with love and laughter.  I miss her every second of every day and know that she is right beside me every step of every run I take.  Despite the extreme sadness I feel without Brear, there is a silver lining in losing her which brings me to........Tir Na Nog!!!!

Tir Na Nog, aka Tier, is a German Shepherd and my new very best friend. Tier was given to me to help fill some of the extremely large void that Brear left in my heart when she went to Heaven. This blog will chronicle her every move, from the funny moments to the temper tantrums to the fights with her kitties, Nietzsche and Butters, to the running career she will soon begin and everything in between.  Basically, her life as she knows it (or as I see it) with her kitties and me. I hope you enjoy the journey.....I know I will!!!!