More bad luck. RIP Sky, 2/13/2016-1/6/2021 ….

My pointer Sky, 2/13/16 - 1/6/2021
My pointer Sky, 2/13/16 – 1/6/2021

It’s with tremendous sadness that write this post. Sky, Lexi’s half sister and my third pointer, padded away on Wednesday, 1/6. She was almost 5 years old.

Sky had a health issues all fall. They escalated in the middle of December. She was in pain and had trouble walking. She improved from Christmas to New Year’s day, but on Saturday, 1/2, things went down hill.

We admitted her to Angell Medical Center’s emergency unit on Tuesday morning. After a lot of testing and consulting with their vets, we decided euthanasia was the only way to end her suffering. We put her down Wednesday evening.

My pointer Sky, 2/13/16 - 1/6/2021
My pointer Sky, 2/13/16 – 1/6/2021
My pointer Sky, 2/13/16 - 1/6/2021
My pointer Sky, 2/13/16 – 1/6/2021

Gosh, I miss them. My girls at training camp…

Lexi at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018
Lexi at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018

I spend a LOT of time with my dogs–most of my time, really. I work from home, and so Lexi and Sky are my constant companions: A run in early am, in the office together all day, a walk in the PM, repeat.

But not this July and August. Both girls went to Wild Apple Kennel at the end of June for summer training, and they’ll be there through this month.

I’m counting down the days.

Sky at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018
Sky at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018
Sky at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018
Sky at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018
Sky at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018
Sky at Wild Apple Kennels, summer 2018

This could be big: Introducing Retrieving Pointers…

Shrunken head or slimey old tennis ball? I didn't pick it up to find out.
Shrunken head or slimy old tennis ball? I didn’t pick it up to find out.

You’ve heard of Pointing Labs. Well, I my dog Sky could be the foundation for a similar line of hunting dogs: Retrieving Pointers.

Sky’s nuts about anything round and mouth size: Tennis balls, lacrosse balls, slimy round things that may be shrunken heads. She finds these things on our daily walks and if I throw them, she brings them back–whether I want her to or not–over and over and over…and over.

I’ll be taking orders for pups soon. Like Pointing Labs, the prices will be stupid high. And yes, I’m kidding…

Here’s Sky’s growing collection of balls.

Personality and my two Pointers …

Lexi, always sweet and loving
Lexi, always sweet and loving

I was some pictures of yesterday, and I fired off a few shots of my girls. These two pics do a great job of capturing who they are and what sets them apart.

Lexi and Sky are Elhew-bred Pointers out of Superior Pointers in Bayfield, WI. They share a father, and Lexi is the elder by about two years now.

Sky, always a rascal
Sky, always the mischievous rascal

The pure joy of Pointers …

Can't catch me, Sky chasing Lexi
Can’t catch me, Sky chasing Lexi

My first bird dog was a Brittany spaniel. He knew a bit more about bird huntign than I did, but together, we still had almost no idea what we were doing.

Years later, I was getting back into bird hunting and dogs and I was interested in a Springer. An ad in Pointing Dogs Journal led me to visit with a breeder near me who had some Pointers. We took a few of them out for a run and I was hooked. They were they most incredible dogs I had ever seen.

Looking back on that day, I realize it was the Pointer’s athleticism that thrilled and excited me. Watching then run and leap is an impressive experience. I took these photos at a local beach. It was a low-tide sunrise–something I try to always take advantage of–and Lexi, Sky, and I had a great morning.

 

Lift off
Lift off
Dog smile!
Dog smile!
Every which way
Every which way
Poise
Poise