Blog

Photo with SHAKTI on the IACP homepage!

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:51:00 -0400

Shakti's photo (with her K9 Friend) on the International Association of Canine Professionals homepage!

IACP's 10th anniversary is coming soon! Visit website: www.CanineProfessionals.com

Our movie on the UK's favorite Vet's Blog!

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:12:00 -0400

In April 2009 one of our previous movies (Novice level tricks) was posted on CRUFTS blog by Marc Abraham, the UK's favorite vet.

Here's the post on the CRUFTS Blog

A few days ago Marc added our recent movie with the advanced tricks and a link to Shakti's website!

We feel very flattered! Thank you so much Marc!

Shakti's movie on Marc Abraham's Blog

Shakti's Amazing Advanced Tricks - a movie!!!!

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:21:00 -0400

Another of Shakti's amazing trick movies is here!!!! This time Shakti's presenting some amazing

"Advanced Dog Tricks".

Shakti, the Shiloh Shepherd canine star is presenting some of the amazing advanced dog tricks she knows!

The movie is available in the HD (High Definition) format. For better viewing experience, please click on "HD" sign on the bottom of the movie AFTER you press on PLAY. Thank you! :)

Shakti got awarded the Advanced Dog Trick Title by Kyra Sundance.

It's Shakti's 3rd Trick Title (Novice, Intermediate and Advanced).

She got her CGC (Canine Good Citizen) title as a 10 month old puppy.

The required number of tricks was 5, but Shakti's showing 15 advanced tricks in this movie. This is Shakti's 3rd dog trick movie and so far she has presented about 61 tricks. She knows even more tricks than that.

I hope you'll enjoy the movie! Comments and ratings are appreciated as always!

View Shakti's movie on YouTube

or you can go straight to Shakti's newest movie on her Movies page:

View Shakti's movie on her website

Shakti's website: http://www.ShaktiShiloh.webs.com

Slideshow documenting Shakti's bloat recovery and healing process

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:11:00 -0400

Some of you might have heard about Shakti's bloat bloat surgery in February 2009... You might even have read the detailed article I wrote about it. If not, you can read the full article about our personal experience with canine bloat, the symptoms, the healing process, etc. here:

Direct link to the article

"Bloat happens...A victory story about bloat recovery"

- written by Aleksandra "Lexi" Hayden, a proud IACP (International Association of Canine Professionals) Member

Today, we'd like to invite you to review our pack's bloat experience in the form of a slideshow.

The slideshow is pretty long (about 10 minutes) as it documents the recovery process after Shakti's surgery in February 2009. This is Shakti's very first reappearance after her emergency surgery! :D

The photos at the very end of the slideshow show how Shakti, now fully recovered (by the way - she just had her general check-up at the vet's and everything is GREAT - Shakti's VERY, VERY healthy :D), is helping a fellow canine fostered by our "pack". Shakti's healed and now she's helping others to heal as well. The slideshow has some background music so please turn your speakers on.

Enjoy the show and we really hope that you'll also enjoy the positive message we tried to present in the slideshow.

PS. Advisory note to emotional viewers: you might need some kleenex handy... :wink: - but don't worry - it is a story with a HAPPY ENDING!

Click to view the SLIDESHOW

(and please turn the speakers on)

With Love,

The whole pack: Lexi with Mike and Shakti

Shakti's oficially the ADVANCED TRICK DOG

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:08:00 -0400

Here's the certificate that our team: Lexi (pack leader) and Shakti (canine team member) received from Kyra Sundance on July 13, 2009:

Shakti and Lexi team receive another title!

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:36:00 -0400

Our K9-human team is very happy to announce that we were awarded another title! :D

Both girls, Lexi and Shakti, worked very hard on some more trick skills and we were awarded the

Advanced Dog Trick Title!

We're very proud and flattered to be listed on Kyra Sundance's website:

Lexi and Shakti receive the Advanced Dog Trick Title!

Please look at "Advanced Trick Dog" and you'll see: Aleksandra Hayden and Shakti (Dayspring's Spirit of Shakti),ATD 7/09

THANK YOU KYRA for being such an inspiration and a great role model to us and to many other dog owners out there!

We'll post some more info about it soon. :)

Article about bloat, pack leadership in critical situations and human-canine bond

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:57:00 -0400

This article was born of life experiences. The experiences affected the whole "pack" and, of course,Shakti in particular. I put all my memories, experiences, insights and thoughts on paper in hopes that the article would help other dog owners and their dogs to lead happy, balanced, positive lives...

This article describes a bloat incident, the owners' response, veterinary treatment and Shakti's recovery. It emphasizes the benefits derived in a crisis situation when the owner acts as pack leader, and shows how prior training of the dog helped in the recovery process. The article includes a summary of the common symptoms of bloat, as well as a diary chronicling the bloat incident from onset through complete recovery.

It's a story about how a strong a human-canine bond can foster healing and create a positive outcome that restores balance in the face of difficulties, hardships and suffering.

I really hope that you'll enjoy the read...

With Love,

Lexi Hayden (Shakti's owner, pack leader and trainer)

Link to the page with the article

Shakti's 4 years old today! :)

Mon, 04 May 2009 18:24:00 -0400

Today is a very special day: Shakti's birthday! Shakti's 4 years old today. We celebrated her birthday by taking her to do some agility and she loved that. She got a bone to chew on and there are still a few more surprises to come! :)

They talk about us on CRUFTS website!

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:52:00 -0400

We just found the post about "Lexi & Shakti team" on a CRUFTS website and we thought we'd share that with all Friends and Fans! YAY!!!

A post was made by the UK favorite vet, Marc Abraham and we feel very flattered and honored by his compliments. This is what Mr. Abraham said about one of of trick movies and performances (the Novice level trick movie where Lexi and Shakti are showing 26 tricks together):

"Something to brighten up your weekend as Shakti the female Shiloh Shepherd performs 26 tricks for Novice Trick Dog Title:

Click here to view clip.

Shakti was awarded the Novice Trick Dog Title by the Trick Dog Trainers Association and Kyra Sundance.

I love this clip for the sheer strong pet-human bond that's so obvious here - great to see."

Here's the link to the original post: http://www.crufts.org.uk/interact/blogs/26-days-go-26-dog-tricks-see

Friday the 13th... - what a HAPPY day! :)

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:17:00 -0400

Hello! :)

Friday the 13th was a VERY happy day for Shakti and her pack for a few reasons!

Shakti had a vet appointment during which all 30 stitches were removed! Shakti was VERY brave and patient. She understood that we were helping her. She really likes her vet and gave her lots of kisses. Her vets did a FANTASTIC job during the whole hospitalization and healing process after Shakti's emergency bloat surgery. Also, Shakti's heart is healthy and she had no fever. Shakti's general health condition is really good and improving everyday. She still gets a lot of rest but we started practicing some tricks that don't require a lot of movement and are easy on Shakti's body. The mental stimulation always cheers Shakti up and brightens her up.
Shakti's vet told us that Shakti can start taking short walks again! YAY!!! :) Shakti was so good about staying home and not being able to be active the way she usually is. She lost some weight and we're going to make sure that she's not getting too much exercise too soon. Short walks are ok though. Shakti will be able to start chewing her bones (with our supervision as always).
The vet said that in about a month or so Shakti would be able to go back to her normal routine and lead a NORMAL life! :) We were told that Shakti can go back to doing agility as well! YAY!!! :)
Shakti and her trainer/pack leader/ "Mom" Lexi were awarded another trick dog performance title, The Intermediate Trick Dog Title by the Trick Dog Trainers Association and

Kyra Sundance!

So Shakti's officially an Intermediate Trick Dog!

Kyra also sent us a wonderful note:

THANK YOU SO MUCH KYRA!

We'll start working on new tricks as soon as Shakti's physical codnition improves after her emergency bloat surgery she went through on February 26, 2009. I kept telling SHakti that there are more movies to make and more tricks to learn and that she needs to get better fast. :)

We are really looking forward to exploring more and more tricks and we both enjoy trick training very much!

~ Lexi and Shakti ~