Tess - Countess of Butchercote

I dedicate this post to Tess (Countess of Butchercote): December 1998 – June 2011. Such a majestic looking girl and a loving and sweet nature.

Tess is Samroc’s wee sister. She was born on Easterton farm, Scotland in December 1998 and was owned and loved by Lynne and her aunty Gwen.

Tess loved her agility and was truly awesome at it too – mega fast and extremely talented. She was a dog who gave her all and then some. Her and Lynne won into grade 7 in the UK.

Lynne and Tess were pairs partners with Gwen (Lynne's sister) and Abbey (Tess & Samroc's sister) and rocked in this too. Having the sisters winning at Dundee was such a highlight and a proud moment for Gwen and Lynne. Very proud of their girls.

Sadly Tess got cancer in June and lost her battle to survive at 12 years young.

My heart goes out to Lynne and Gwen who dearly miss wee special Tess. She's gone from this world but never forgotten. Remember the tears of joy and the smiles and laughs, the people you met and the places you were able to see together. How lucky you are to have had such a special wee life cross your path and give you such wonderful memories.



Rest in peace Tess - Countess of Butchercote: Agility legend & a dog of a lifetime xxxxx

Not blogged for a bit but missed my dogs.

I haven't been updating my blog recently and for good reason too this time.

I've been really sick and didn't know it - until I was admitted into hospital and in ICU for 2 days and kept in a ward for a further 3 days - hmmmmm!!!!!!

My potassium levels dropped critically low - 1.5 and supposed to be 3.5 - 5. It's a scare 'cause such low potassium can cause cardiac arrest and death.

The doctors said it was from drinking too much Coke - WTF!!!!!! 4-6 litres per day is too much?????

So I'm on limited amounts of Coke now and drinking water mainly - along with the occassional tea and coffee. Missing it like mad but have to think of the dogs.

Angela and Tom were both Godsends and I couldn't have gotten by without them.

Angela took me into the hospital and has been my Angel ever since. Not only was she in the hospital visiting me all the time but also would bring me in clean clothes, went to the house and looked after the dogs and done the housework, not to mention umteen other stuff she done where she could've been at home with her own dogs and family.

Tom went over to mine after work and stayed over with the dogs - getting up at a such an early hour before work so he could walk my lot and his - in different batches.

Thank you soooooo much Angela and Tom for all you done - you are both champions xxx.

Also to Megan and my big sis Amanda, Nige and Jasmine for coming into see me and cheering me up. My poor wee Niece Jasmine got the fright of her life when she came into ICU and saw tubes connected from everywhere in my body - cheered her up when we said I would get cake and ice cream when in hospital.

And thanks to my mum and big sis and big bro in the UK. My mum was almost on a plane here and I had to make her promise not to come, i'd be fine and when she comes out it's to be on holiday and not as a carer. It was cute though when she asked if there was a spare bed she could have and move beside me in the ICU ward - mum it's ICU, lol. I have my own private nurse to watch me around the clock, lol.

I must also thank Jodes and Kriszty who were on the phone and let me know I'm loved :))) And to everyone who sent me well wishes.

Out now and heaps better. Gotta keep getting blood tests every 2 weeks to monitor my levels, etc.

Getting back into the swing of things - will take a good few months before I'm back to normal - as normal as I can be :))

Samroc's family

Samroc's getting on a bit in years - he'll be 13yrs old on 6th July. He's still full of life and loves his toys.



Here's an amazing thing - Samroc doesn't do agility any more - no that's not the amazing thing though lol. Yesterday I was doing some training with the girls (believe it or not that's not the amazing thing either lol) and had Diva out at first - was working on contacts. Diva just continues to blow me away - she's friggin brilliant and puts 100% into everything she does - and has an absolute blast doing it too :)


I then took out Mini and Samroc came out too. We were working on the 2020 position as I found out that Mini clearly hasn't got a clue that you are to go to the end and do a 2020 and not just do a cute front paws in the air and place them in front of you half a metre up the down contact lol.

Well I was working with Mini and letting her find the position - "touch" she didn't get it - I moved slightly forward towards the end - "touch" didn't get it - took her off and positioned myself where I was last time - "touch" she got it - yay Minmin. So I moved back half a step - "touch" she didn't get it - back to where we were when she did last succeed - "touch" - at this point Samroc was somewhere behind me (now Mini's already below the down contact - Samroc came busting over, pushed mini off the contact and went into a 2020 position himself - awwww good boy :))). Now this is the amazing thing - I never ever done 2020 position on contacts with Samroc lol. This is obviously something he has picked up from watching me do it with Diva and Mini - wow - and he knew exactly where to stand.

Samroc doing a running contact at a trial

Now if that's not amazing I don't know what it - that dog is just soooooooooo awesome - he continues to stun me :) that's my boy. I'm gonna have my video camera on next time Mini's doing it - just in case he want's to do it again and I can get it on film :)



With all the new pups going around at the moment - it's amazing how quick they grow up into adult dogs - far too quickly :( I just have to add Samroc's pups photos in:



Left: Rocstar (Roc) Right: Solar Eclipse (Sol)



Left: Stormy Right: Lucy



Left: Jazzy 'G' (Jazz) Right: Roxy

I got an e-mail from Gwen in Scotland - she and her sister Lynne have Samroc's sisters and other relatives.

They all do agility and just like their big brother/uncle Samroc they are super fast :)

I am totally thrilled that she has managed to contact me and have lots of photos to share with you of Samroc's relatives - they are all absolutely stunning and I'm not being bias saying that - have a look for yourself:



Tess - Sam's little sister - from same parents a Samroc - 2nd litter. She is soooo like her big brother - wow.



Abby: Sam's little sister - from same parents as Samroc - 3rd litter. She's a beauty.



Abby and Tess winning pairs at Dundee



Brodie: Sam's wee brother - same dad different mum



Kel: Sam's wee sister - same dad different mum (from same litter as Brodie)



Lucy: Sam's wee sister - same dad different mum (from same litter as Brodie and Kel)



Robbie: Sam's wee brother - same parents as Brodie, Lucy & Kel - 2nd litter



Rory: Sam's wee brother - same parents as Robbie. OMG isn't he just a stunner - he is my ideal looking dog - wow he is gorgeous :)



Sally: Sam's niece - mum is Tess (different Tess from above - another sister named Tess :) - just to confuse you lol - both Tess's have same mum and dad as Samroc. Sally is named after her granny (Samroc's mummy).



Mini & Oliver: Samroc's nephew & niece from Rory (Sam's brother - different mum) and Sally (Sam's niece).



Jake: Samroc's adopted brother lol. Gwen's rescue BC X - will be 14 in April :)



Rory, Lucy & Jake all together at the beach :)



More of Sam's nieces and nephews at a training session :)

Here's some of Roc- Sam's daddy - old boy - awwwwwww



His coat turned red before he died

He was 14 years old when he went - not too bad for an old farm boy working dog

And he hated getting his photo taken - I remember when Sam Weaver would try and get Samroc's photo and he would look away or look at the ground - like father like son lol :)

There are more of Samroc's relatives doing agility in UK - will have to watch out for them and get out my pompoms to cheer them on

Guess who I'll be going to watch run when I go back on holiday :))

Who knows - in future years there might be a wee Samroc relative running around this house - Wouldn't that be nice :))

But I've got little Zumba to keep me occupied for a good wee while yet :)