2 weeks ago I went down to the training field for our Tuesday night club training. It sounded like training was cancelled but then I got a call that it was not. So I went. I had good sessions with the dogs. However, I probably should have stayed home and packed. Once Wednesday morning rolled around I had absolutely nothing packed nor a plan. And it had SNOWED overnight.



I just knew that I wanted to leave by 10am. Which did not happen. But once I got on the road it was a nice uneventful drive. Nellie told me to take back highways down so it was a bit more scenic and about the same amount of time as taking the major highways. My goal was to get to the cabin around check in time so I’d have time to enjoy it. And get a good night’s rest before the seminar. I love this little cabin.


Letty worked on Thursday at the Foundations day. It was rainy so we worked in the barn. I was really nervous about how she would do. We’ve been working so hard on getting her to stay engaged with me and I knew there would be alot of distractions there and alot of people for her to bark at. She did great! I started with her on-leash on her Gentle Leader and then went to leash and collar and then no leash. A few dogs ran up to her to play too and once they were caught she came back and worked with me. And when we did exercises she ran and snatched up her toy and came back and punched me with it. I was so happy to see our hard work paying off. And it was a sign to me that we need to move on and get moving on her agility skills. Our foundation is good! Letty had come into season the Monday or Tuesday before we left for IA too.





Friday was Masters Handling day. I just audited. It was nice to have a day off. And we were able to move outside into the sunshine in the afternoon.

Saturday I worked Seven in ABCs of Handling. We did this same topic with Tracy when she was in MN in August. But there wasn’t really an Open/Advanced level course. We learned some things and tweaked my handling to make things more clear to Seven. I think Seven was happy that someone was fixing me. I was super happy with his level of drive all day. Bummed that we didn’t get outside but it was windy out.





Sunday was the last day of the seminar and European Handling day. Vada had a working spot. It ends up being a super fun day since the courses are hard. I’ve had a crappy attitude lately that Vada just can’t do certain things physically and I’m an incompetent handler. Well, both notions were proved wrong. We both did really well and we both had alot of fun.







Ami Sheffield took all of these great seminar photos.
I did alot of walking with the dogs around the campground. Everyone got walked individually in the morning and in the evening. They all did really well in the cabin. I crated Seven for meals but that was it. I crated Letty much of the time but gave her some time out alone or with Vada. They got lots of bones and ribs and Letty got some stuffed Kongs. They had a great vacation and I got alot of exercise. My drive both ways was very uneventful. It was very nice. The campground is a pretty place to walk.





I got home quite late on Sunday night. I walked all of the dogs on the path at Christy’s before I left and then stopped a few times on the way home to potty them. Monday I had a VB project due. My intentions were to get it done before I left for the seminar or to at least work on it in the cabin. Neither happened. This was the first project that I have not turned in on time. I got much of it done but not all of it. I still don’t have it done and plan to turn it in tonight. I’m hoping to wrap up the final project too. It’s not done but I did get a start on it. It will be a long night but if it means that I don’t have to go to class next week then I will be very happy. Instead I can go tracking or start doing some agility jump training with Letty and Narc (and maybe Prozac).
Last week I had appointments with both my dentist and rheumatologist. Both said everything’s great. This week I have an appointment with my kidney doc who will say the same thing and I’ll be off the hook for appointments for awhile.
Tuesday it was raining so SchH training was cancelled. I thought about going tracking but didn’t make it (Glee was on for 90 minutes). Wednesday I decided to stay home from obedience classes and I did go tracking. I wanted to get at least 1 track in for Narc and Letty before we did club tracking on Saturday. Letty had been out a few times but Narc had not. They both did great! I let Copper and Vada out when I was done so they could run around. Vada tracked Narc’s track then my path to Letty’s track and then Letty’s track. Copper was hot on her heels. Such good noses!
Copper turned 14 on Thursday! I’m so happy that he’s still doing so well. We’ve hit quite a few bumps this year but overall he’s doing well and he’s currently ailment free. Karl’s Mom also had a birthday on the same day.

Friday night I had dinner with some girlfriends. I invited like 10 people. At least 4 bailed at the last minute and didn’t show up. There ended up being 4 of us who met at the Park Tavern. We had a good time. Next time we’d like to do something like walk around a lake or walk at Cortney’s greenway trials.
Saturday morning I drove down to Jordon to track with my Schutzhund club. It was cold and raining. I did 2 tracks with Letty and 1 with Narc. Narc did well. His track was just an L with the corner going to the left. No article. I need to do longer tracks, lay my corners curved and thicker and teach him articles. For Letty’s first track I did 3 scent pads and baited my steps inbetween. I had Angeli come over and watch. Letty barked at her at first but she ignored her. As she was freaking about Angeli she walked over the flag and freaked cuz it was attacking her. Later Angeli was flapping her arms in her rain coat. Nothing extreme but it was different. Letty ignored her. And then she left and Melissa walked up and she ignored her. I was happy with that. She tracked well. She went through the 2nd scent pad as she was following the path to the 3rd pad. I let her backtrack to get all the food. The 2nd track was just a straight line til I ran out of food. I wanted her to go slower than she was but when I put pressure on the line she really started pulling into her collar and went even faster. She had only done puppy circles offleash til this day. I need to do longer tracks with her, teach her corners and teach her articles. Corners and articles and serps will help slow her down. Denise F also suggested doing a square track – similar to a circle but with square corners. I like that! Not sure when we’ll track again but I’ve got the bug.
Sunday I trained with Warren’s group. It was snowing when I left home, got there and it snowed again at noon. Narc had not done bitework in a month or more. Letty had not done bitework in quite a few weeks. Actually the last person to have worked her was Stephan the first weekend in April. Unfortunately, Narc’s gripping problems were still there. The antibiotics have not resolved the problem. So, he’s done with bitework. We’ll do xrays and see if it’s changed at all and make sure he’s not in pain and then leave it be. Then I need to decide what my goals are with him. BH? TR1? OB1? Agility? AKC obedience? Rally? He goes with to training so I’ll keep working his obedience. I’m hoping to do more agility with him in the yard too. Letty did great! Her strikes and grips were amazing. No moving on the sleeve like she was doing before. Warren started teaching her the bark and hold. We work with Greg Doud this weekend so I’m curious to see what he thinks and what we work on. I’ve not worked with him before with any dogs. I audited once but it’s been awhile.

I just realized that today is Quest’s birthday. He’s 9 years old today! I can’t believe he’s that old already. Where does the time go?!?! It does not seem like I’ve had him very long. He’s such a good boy. He’s quiet and wise. Happy birthday Quest!