Monday, June 07, 2010

CNEMA - Portuguese Breeds and Agility !

For those who love dogs, 10 of June is the day to go to Santarém.

Besides being the Portugal Day and one of the days of the agriculture fair in Santarém, CNEMA, it is also the day of the Dog Show of Portuguese Breeds.

On this dog show will also be the Portuguese Water Dog Monograph.

The day will end with an agility trial, where me and Angel, my Australian Shepherd, will make our first competition.

Portuguese Water Dog Monograph

10 h - Portuguese Water Dog Monograph

Santarém Agriculture Fair 2010 (CNEMA)

Santarém Agriculture Fair 2010 (CNEMA)

australian shepherd in agility

15 h - Agility trial organized by Os Cãogurus

Other activities:




Wednesday, June 02, 2010

2010 – Say NO to abandonment of animals!!

Once again the summer is near and with it a new wave of laws to sacrifice the Portuguese population … financial difficult that goes from unemployment, over debt, income cuts and expenses increase are affecting people.

What can we say in front of this scenario? what to say to a people that calls himself evolved, in front of other foreign countries and treats so cruelly their pets ?

It seems that with the increase of our pleads and statements that animals deserve their owner in this world and dedication from their owners, less people show any effort to keep them.

So, once again I underline,
A dog is no just a dog !
A cat is not just a cat !

And it is also in the way we treat the animals that are OUR RESPONSIBILITY !! that reflects the way we will be treated on our Judgement Day !

Remember that next time you think in abandon your pet !

animal abandonment

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Spring Trophy – Agility Alenquer

On this weekend me and Angel, my Australian Shepherd, went to the open trial organized by the Clube Canino Amigos do Alão on the charming city of Alenquer.
We were able to enter in the beginners class, so it was a good experience !

agility trial in Alenquer
agility trial in Alenquer

The organization - Clube Canino Amigos do Alão

agility trial in Alenquer
Some of the canine competitors

agility trial in Alenquer
agility trial in Alenquer
australian shepherd in agility trial in Alenquer
My Angel watching the agility trial


João Sá and Jimmy de Os Cãogurus

Video Source - http://just-agility.blogspot.com/2010/05/trofeu-primavera-de-agility-para-o.html

Other activities:




Monday, May 24, 2010

Sport Obedience Seminar in Lagos - Don't miss !!!

Sport Obedience Seminar
3º Seminar of Sport - The official Portuguese team for Obedience of Portuguese Kennel is going to make its 3º seminar "Obedience 100 Secrets 2010" , on the next days 29 and 30 of May in Lagos with the collaboration of the, Clube de Instrução Canina de Lagos.

Sport Obedience Seminar
Days 29 and 30 May – Schedule: 9H - 12H30 / 15H - 18H

More information at http://portugalobedienceteam.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Belém - First Agility experience

Monastery of Jerónimos - Belém, Portugal

Monastery of Jerónimos - Belém, Portugal

Never before I had attended an official Agility trial and Caoguros gave me that opportunity,Pasteis de Belem - Portugal
Pasteis de Belem
participating on the organization of a trial. And what better place than the one of the most beautiful places of Portugal, Belém.



The stage was its gardens, in front of the unforgettable Monastery of Jerónimos and the famous house of the Pasteis de Belém. Everything there shows the story, tradition and true Portuguese culture.

42º Agility Trophy
42º Agility Trophy


Australian Shepherd in Agility at Belem
Angel, on the competition break
For someone that only sees and participates on a trial, doesn’t see the effort, dedication, and in the end, pleasure, around the successful organization of such a trial.



It starts with the maintenance and checking the condition of the obstacles. Then we have to load the obstacles, transport then to the trial site, put together the track and help the judge to place the obstacles. Finally all the documentation must be very carefully made and it is necessary to support all competitors and the judge.



Australian Shepherd in Agility at Belem
Angel, on the competition break
A lot of work, but that doesn’t take out the pleasure of seeing the several trials, some with success and other without success, but all made with lot of enthusiasm and joy buy the dogs and conductors.

Of course, on the lunch break, me and my Australian Shepherd, Angel, went to try the first level course and it went quite well. Hopefully, next time we are also in the competition.

Without any doubt an unforgettable experience of social interaction with people that work on one of the most enjoyable sports with dogs.

My thanks to the Os Cãoguros for this memorable experience !

Australian Shepherd in Agility at Belem
Angel, on the competition break


Team Caoguros
Team Caoguros (image source: Caoguros Blogspot)


Australian Shepherd in Agility

Other activities:




Friday, May 07, 2010

The big visit to Portugal – a moment to think

Our Lady of Fatima
You know, as days go by and the “big visit” day to Portugal by the pope is coming closer we start hearing people speaking and exchange ideas.

Being Portugal a catholic country it is only natural that we catholic people feel that is a very important moment and start to think about that day and the even more important day of 13 of May, day of Our Lady of Fatima

Well I always had a superficial knowledge about the story of Our Lady of Fatima and as such I decided to do a little research and end up quite disappoint of what was publish on the Internet.

I always saw Our Lady as the protector of mother and children, Our Lady and babyJesusbecause she was a mother and suffered a lot for her sun.
So if someone knows and understands what is to love and suffer for a sun/daughter it is her.

So, when I can’t be and protect my sun, I send a mental pray to Our Lady for her to watch over and protect my little boy.

It is with a great sadness that I read the publish story of Our Lady of Fatima that transmits an image of someone cruel that asks 3 little children to suffer by the sins of the adults … and frankly I don’t believe it ... and I choose to stand by the version of Our Lady that spoke with 3 little poor children, because she, as a mother, had pity of them, and wanted to comfort then and to give them a path in live (in a world without future) as prophets and visionaries.

Our Lady together with St. Francis of Assisi are the two saints to witch I send my prays.
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi was dear to my father and he always said that when he would dye it was to his heavenly garden he would go to help St. Francis of Assisi to take care of the animals over there, so it is where I imagine my father soul.

For those that don’t know St. Francis of Assisi, he was a man that was born in a very rich family and along his live path decided to dedicate his life to the church and animals. He defended the ideal of a brotherhood that would integrate men with nature and animals.
For him each living being was an expression of God kindness and to love an animal was to love God and his creation.

heavenly gardenIn conclusion … people won’t find me in a church or in any other place of worship, well maybe in a church when I visit one for its monument and history. I follow the words of Jesus that said that church, belief and devotion is inside of us and in the way we face life.
So in this date I will send my thoughts and prays to Our Lady of Fatima and St. Francis of Assisi to ask protection and happiness to the living, people and animal, and to ask for those who left us to be in the heavenly garden.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Golden Retriever in Agility with a 8 year old child

My sun is training her Golden to Obedience, but since I love Agility and have the chance to take him time to time to my class, I decided that he could improve is relation with Bianca, by training on the obstacles.

Only Bianca, with her Golden Retriever, temperament show a never ending patient for everything my sun asks from her.

She is truly his best friend !


Golden Retriever in Agility with a 8 year old child
Golden Retriever in Agility with a 8 year old child
Golden Retriever in Agility with a 8 year old child
Golden Retriever in Agility with a 8 year old child
Golden Retriever in Agility with a 8 year old child


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Obedience Competition in Lagos

This weekend, me and my Australian Shepherds, went to the Obedience Competition in Lagos.

For Cookie first time, she surprised me and behaved quite well, ending with a GOOD classification. So a big congratulations is in order to her !

Teco, could have done better, but had also a GOOD classification.

australian shepherd in obedience competition

Cookie, my Australian Shepherd, in class II


australian shepherd in obedience competition
I was 3º place in class 2


australian shepherd in obedience competition
Cookie and Teco, my two Australian Shepherd


Other activities:




Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Angel is finally at home !


Finally I have my Angel at home.

I am one of those persons that in reflection, I think I have being through a lot. More then that ...

Last year was a really complicated year, full of ups and downs. You know what is to have someone that makes you fell in love and then treat you like garbage ? then you know what I went through last year. But, even so, I think yesterday was one of the most difficult days of my existence.

There is some moments, especially when we deal with our babies, that it seems that someone is draining all our life and yesterday was one of those moments.

Well, let me explain,

My girl flight was schedule for 8:15 a.m. With my car out of service, I had to rent a car and since I didn’t know the car I decided to go early, just in case.
At 7:40 h I arrived at Lisbon airport and e decided to see if I could advanced some of the papers. I went to 3 places and got the some answer, must wait for the flight. The flight was late and its due time was around 9h.
At 8:40 h I went to the company representatives and they told me that the plain was landing and to come back after 30 min.
30 min after there I was, and they told me that the animals were still on the plain and to come back again in 30 min.
(I started to twitch my nose but I counted until 10 and waited 30 min)
30 min later I was going towards the elevator and a men from the company call me and gave me the papers (what a relief) and told me to go to another office.
And there I went, waited for my turn, and a lady took the papers, inserted the process number into the computer and told me “oh, they still didn’t put the process in the computer, you have to wait”.
I told her, it was concerning a dog, she call, no one answer and told me to wait.
(well, I started to see things clouded and decided to fetch the car to where I was suppose to pick Angel and make time)
After coming back, the answer was the same, she phone with success, and told me her colleague was putting the information in the computer.
(I started to count from 1000 backwards to see if I could stay controlled)
3 attempts later the lady could process and sent me to customs.
On customs office there were two ladies talking, and I call their attention, and they told me, I had to wait for their colleague to come back.
(I continue to count the numbers backward)
Ok, lost the patient and told then it was about a dog and the lady got up, saw the papers and sent me to the airport veterinarian office.
To enter the veterinarian office I had to go through a X-ray and a security officer (strange), but ok, I went through.
On the veterinarian they asked me if I want to see Angel (finally).
...
Well ... what can I say ... when I saw her cover in poop, I felt all my live being drained from inside, and start crying like crazy.
I took Angel out, great her and ask something to clean the box.
When the so call veterinarian saw Angel loose started shouting at me to put her back inside.
I was completely heartbroken and asked them to allow me to, at least, clean the box.
Answer, “did you ask permission to take her out ?”
I told him No and he demanded for me to put her back inside.
I held Angel and scream, shouted and told them I wouldn’t put her back in all that mess.
...
After a lot of yelling and the reach of the point where I told him that he wasn’t a vet, since a vet should take care of the animals health and got the answer that I was exaggerating, since she was just an animal and it was my fault since I decided to send her out, the so call veterinarian allowed me to clean the box, demanding that I took all the dirt out with me.
...
Do you think they allowed me to take Angel with me ? no … this is still not over
I had to put her back in the box, pay 25 € for the veterinarian papers and went back to customs office.
On customs after they had look and analyzed every single piece of paper, they stamp, sign and gave me more papers.
And there I went to the place where I suppose to pick her ... and ... more papers and I was sent to another office, treasure.
18 € later and a few more papers and stamps, I went to the pickup place and finally they allowed me to bring my poor dog.

After all of this, what to say ? How would you be ? I think there is no words to describe my fury, and state of mind ...

For the USA, with all the terrorism and problems they have there, the dog arrived in excellent conditions and the people that pick her up didn’t had any problems. Me, in my own country, in my dog birth country, spent 4 h on the airport and my baby was treated worst than a package.

Of course I had a 4 hour drive to the airport, a 4 hour in the airport and then a 6 hour driving back, since I had to stop a lot for Angel to stretch her legs, drink and relief herself (it was enough the time she was closed on the airport and aero plain).
The smell on the car was unbelievable and only after arriving home and giving her a warm bath I allowed myself to think “Finally Angel is home !

Sunday, February 14, 2010

New photos of Angel & Jake

Witch such Australian Shepherd parents, that have high pedigree, beauty and working capability, you can imagine what a amazing puppies will come out !

australian shepherd
australian shepherd
australian shepherd
australian shepherd
australian shepherd

Photos kindly provided by Ami from Mercury Aussies

Friday, February 12, 2010

Happy Carnival 2010 with lots of Fun !

australian shepherd

Happy Carnival 2010 with lots of Fun !

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Angel and Jake playing

And there they are, the two Valentine Australian Shepherd, playing together.



Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Angel and Jake

australian shepherd
australian shepherd
australian shepherd
australian shepherd

Photos kindly provided by Ami from Mercury Aussies