Birch-Bark Hill

Zara Heartwood 1950 ~ 2012

2012-03-05T08:52:00.001-05:00

We were very sad this past week to hear of the loss of Zara Heartwood in B.C. It was because of Zara, that Jess became a part of our lives. I am sorry that Zara and I never met, face to face, however we kept in contact, although not frequently. Zara, along with the Shetland Sheepdog Club of British Columbia, took Jess into rescue where she was fostered in Zara's home.

This was Jess the day she was rescued, at over 9 yr. of age, wet and dirty.With Zara's loving care, this was Jess "cleaned up" being led by one of Zara's puppies. Zara was instrumental in getting Jess to us and will forever be remembered for her love of the many dogs she help to rescue. Jess lived over half her life in a horrible environment. She was so lucky to have Zara in her life when she was most needed.Thanks to Zara, Jess was able to live her senior years with us, becoming a loved pet therapy dog for six years. Jess also earned a Rally Novice title and a Tracking Dog title just before reaching 15 years of age. Zara was always so happy to hear what was new with Jess, and see every birthday party picture of Jess with our other dogs. This picture is Zara and Jess. Zara was preparing to load Jess in her crate at the airport to come to us. May Zara always have this smile on her face.

Thank you, Zara, for all you did for all the rescues, not only for our special Jess.

The Day After....

2012-03-04T14:45:00.002-05:00

Usually, after a storm the following day is beautiful and sunny...voila! It is...even though extremely cold and windchill of -28 C. This is the most snow we have received this winter.

Plowed again this morning, Blast up on top hoping I will not call him inside.

This was the former path behind the house and into the forest that the deer used. It is very buried in deep snow right now.Taken this morning from the back deck, very pretty, no tracks anywhere now other than bunnies and squirrels.Down at the bend in the driveway, deep piles at the sides, and the driveway is very narrow now. Trees are very heavy with ice and snow.From the driveway looking into the east field. Most people would think this was a winter wonderland, but it has become just major work for us now, and the melt will not be a fun time. Only the dogs are happy!!!

March 3rd + Biggest Storm Yet!

2012-03-04T08:24:00.006-05:00

Our snowplow guy did the driveway around 8 a.m. These first few pics. are around 9:30. We've been under a heavy snow warning for 24 hr. and it's been non-stop driving snow sideways most of the time, so drifting as well.

Tank and Trust and I are heading back up to the house.Trust is standing at the bend in the driveway, which is now mighty narrow, heading up to the house.None of these early pictures truly show the driving sideways snow, but this one gives you 'some' idea. It was awful walking and you had to hold your hat or hood on your head most of the time.Looking south on the driveway, and even a short time after it was plowed, it is already snow-covered and drifted in again.Trust pushing through drifts in the driveway. All our dogs love the snow...after all, they have servants and no worries! It's all just fun!!!Out again in the afternoon, snow up to 6" again in driveway, with drifts. Some places the snow is blown off to nearly bare where it is drifting, other places the snow is so heavy, you can hardly walk through it.Blast always finds the highest spot to jump up on and "protect" his ball from Tank!Doesn't matter how cold or awful the weather, he'd be happy spending more time out here.David and Kira in the driveway. He's throwing snowice pieces into the field for her. The drift on the right is actually the driveway.Here she comes, back through it all. This is actually a ball she has in her mouth this time, covered in snow.The poor trees were covered in ice before the snow began. It was wet at first, and piled up on the branches. I'm surprised we didn't have some snap off, and even more surprised we did not lose hydro in this storm.

The driveway was just plowed out again, and now all the paths around the house, the deck and the bird feeding areas need to be done. Too much work, the snow is terribly heady and the dogs will just want to go out and play...

So when is it spring?!!

New Ball - Dog(s) Approved!!!

2012-03-02T14:42:00.004-05:00

Well, here we are again, nothing but more snow and dog pictures....latest forecast is for 15 -20 cm snow. Planning our tracking entries for next week, which seems a bit ridiculous right now.....what can you do?!

I can't believe how big Tanks' mouth is! He saw the new ball on a rope and thought he'd died and gone to heaven.I'm sneaking up on him and he's pretending he doesn't know. In a flash he will duck off if I don't call him.Look at Tanks' back legs, funny guy, he's trying to stop in mid air, seeing the ball landing beside him when he expected it well out in front. Trust is making one of her feeble attempts to get it!And here she is, actually TRYING to get it away from Tank. Trust really has no interest in balls, she's just in one of her 'princess' moods...And now the Princess has turned into a Puppy...a ten year old one! She was acting very silly and having a great time.Kira's turn. She also approved of the new ball. Today was her first day after being spayed being fully off leash on walks. And she was having fun, jumping over the snowbank.I threw a few balls out into the deep snow, she hasn't had this much fun for a while, and was certainly enjoying it.All four off the floor! Running back with the ball on a recall.She's up on a snowhill here, waiting to see which way I'm going next.I was tossing the ball up in the air here, not for her to catch, I wanted it to come down to the side so she wouldn't jump for it.Blast is saying, oh boy, it's finally my turn. I heard all the commotion and I know there's a new ball, and holy cow, there it is outside of the gate in the driveway, let me out, let me out, I need that new ball!!!! And he said all of this without taking a breath, poised and ready to spring.So, when I finally got it....I tossed it way over the highest snowbank. He had no trouble going up and over, but coming back was another matter. The other side is soft and he got bogged down pretty good and really had to climb and push to get up and over coming back to me. I'm so mean. But he loves it.So, he's up on top, pulling himself together so he can jump down.Blast coming back further down into the field. He would do this all day. He would get tired, but wouldn't quit if he had a choice.Climbing out over another snowbank along the driveway. I'm so NOT looking forward to another big dump of snow. I sure hope the forecast is wrong (it often is!).

Afternoon Driveway Walks

2012-02-26T16:38:00.004-05:00

Since Kira is being leash walked for a few days, I decided it's a good time to work on some on-leash manners. I also took a tug toy for rewards as she can't run to chase a ball right now...on leash!

She's much more calm than I expected, as being on a leash is certainly not desired by her...so much snow to run ind...She does do a nice "out" and a good "sit". Good practice for her which she certainly needs.She's enjoying this tug toy, especially as we haven't used it for some time. It's always good to "change it up" with rewards and toys used in training.Back 'home' behind the house, we are checking the bird feeders to see if they require filling, and also watching chickadees in this picture.Tank and Trust had gone quite a ways down the driveway ahead of Blast and me and just noticed and decided to turn around and come back.Blast coming down a snow hill. I had thrown the ball over the top of the hill for him to retrieve.Some training for Blast as well. I'm holding a ball about 6" from his face, have told him to 'leave it' and am waiting for eye contact....click....throw.

Nice afternoon, but afraid more snow coming in tonight...curse, curse, bad words go here...

Major Snowfall Last Night...

2012-02-25T12:08:00.006-05:00

Since my last post, I was beginning to become optimistic again about losing some snow, temps. slowly climbing, and drove around looking for potential tracking sites again. Must be my fault! Yesterday, we got the storm that was supposed to be bad in southern Ontario, and it moved up here. I was driving home in some of it and it was whiteouts...awful. And here is the result.

We had to wait for our snowplow fellow to do the driveway this morning before we could get out for dog walks...it was just too deep. Of course, the dogs love it, and it is always pretty, but sure puts a damper on any activities.We had about 20 cm of snowfall, so I don't know when we will get out to track.Blast retrieving a ball I tossed over the snowbank. He loves it, not a lot beats snow in his mind.Tank is still looking for the purple ball, and doesn't realize Blast found it and is taking off with it!I threw up a piece of cookie to get Tanks' attention, and now he's buried his head trying to find it...Nope! Nothing there! What else do you have for me?!The cookies worked well, so when we got to this larger pile, I threw up a few so that Trust would also climb up.Trust found a couple and decided the smart thing was to come down to me and likely I'd give her another one...smart girl...Like I said...it is pretty! But it's almost March!!!!!!!!!

Not Long to March...

2012-02-18T13:59:00.002-05:00

For what it's worth, I guess. There's certainly no impending signs of spring here and won't be for some time. Often the month of March is the worst for us with our driveway drifted in with strong winds. Even if the day is lovely and sunny, and no snow, we can be stuck here from the drifting. Hope not this year!!! But it's hard to believe that "officially" it will be spring in just over a month and even worse...the worst thing is the first tracking trial is in just over two months!!! How can anyone propare for this unless they live in the southern part of the province!!!

We lost almost all our deer a couple of weeks ago. We were up to nine regularly, and then the wolves came. The deer were scattered and broken up and only a few returned at a time. Although they caused a lot of problems for me trying to get the dogs out, I couldn't help but wonder what happened to them and especially our lovely buck, who was only visiter for some time. I hope he has gone to their normal wintering grounds, at least that's what I 'want' to think...

Two days ago, these six came in the afternoon, but didn't stay too long, they have become very skittish.Playing with the ball this morning in the front fields. She's a solid looking girl.And a crazy one at times too...Finding the stick was a bonus when I wasn't tossing the ball for her...gotta' do something!Intensely looking at the ball I was about to throw for her.Blast! I love how he stretches out, even though difficult getting through the crusty snow. David was throwing the ball for him, as I was trying to get some profile shots of Blast. Never works when I'm alone.

Boy, I want to get back tracking!!!!

A Little More Snow..

2012-02-15T21:21:00.002-05:00

Snow in the field has softened up enough so dogs aren't having as much trouble getting through it. This is Kira coming back with the purple ball.Kira and Tank having a good time in the driveway. Not quite as slippery with some snow covering the ice.Kira and Tank chasing the purple ball in the field. Although they look fairly closely matched, Tank is a good 20 lb. heavier than Kira, but she's much quicker.Blast did some searching for the blue ball as far as I could throw it out into the field a number of times.Tank and Blast coming back in, pooped from racing.

Find Tank!!!

2012-02-08T08:33:00.002-05:00

Blast was having a 'love-in' with Trust, and Tank decided he wanted some of this too!

Silly dog flips upside-down and wiggles up between the two of them. For his efforts, he got his ears licked from both sides.Blast is saying what a wonderful experience that was....why they like to lick out ears is beyond me!

Tracking Classes and CGN

2012-02-07T13:08:00.002-05:00

Below, Tank flips a plastic article on an urban track last year...looking for a treat...

I have decided to offer a short four week session of classes this spring, so no-one is tied down too long with a longer session. In four weeks, you should know if you want to continue further, are enjoying the work involved, and will see other dogs working at various levels and on different types of tracks.

I'm planning this a little different than what I've done in the past, after not offering classes last year (too busy with my own tracking dogs!), but there will be many changes in rules coming up the following year also, and now's a good time to incorporate those in the learning process.

I have asked for people with previous knowledge of tracking for these classes, they will not be set up for complete newcomers at this time.

I'm looking for input from people interested before I set the classes up, so if you're interested, contact me: sustracks@gmail.com It's possible to have both weekdays and weekends going, field and urban.

On Sunday, June 10th, there will be a Canine Good Neighbour Test in North Bay on Lakeshore Drive in front of Global Pet Store. You can drop in there for information and to register, or can also contact me for further information. A great programme for all dogs, registered purebred OR mixed breeds!

Tracking was a bust...

2012-02-04T11:41:00.002-05:00

My great hopes for tracking yesterday fizzled out. Although the first location looked very promising, I got bogged down in snow laying the first leg, then out on hard surface was sliding all over. Back to a decent area, but then again into deep and crusted snow. So ended up doing one dog over the other, and although they did ok, it was all I could do to stay on my feet being pulled behind them. Will have to give up or look in another area this week. Disappointing for sure.

Down the driveway, Kira found great icy crusted snowballs along the sides from the snowplow scraping. I can't believe the size she can carry in her mouth....and running! They are quite heavy as well, as they are frozen solid.This gives a better idea of the size, although she has begun to bite chunks off it.

Soooooo Frustrating!

2012-02-02T19:09:00.004-05:00

Feb. 2 and although we actually don't have the normal amount of snow or extreme cold temps. it is frustrating to continually hear that further south there is basically NO snow and my tracking friends are all out working. I'm dying to go tracking. Even our walks are completely curtailed right now. I just can't seem to give the dogs enough exercise in limited space either due to deep snow or ice.

We have two distinct snow layers. There is an icy crust on top and in this photo, Kira is standing down on the first layer. The depth out here is about 1 1/2 ft. but they break through the top and stand on the bottom...mostly...but occasionally go through. It's very difficult for them, they can't run through it.Blast is coming back the way he went in as it's easier. He leaps from hole to hole.You can clearly see this in this picture. If the top crust gets thicker and harder than it is now, they can be hurt going out on it. At times you would stay on top, and then suddenly break through. But the driveway is solid ice and very slippery.Blast has two balls in his mouth as Tank was out with us, and he wouldn't let Tank have one of the balls...stingy and possessive, Blast is.

After taking these pictures, we heard the wolves running behind the house, and I thought it best we head up the driveway and go inside....it was 3 p.m., very unusual for them to be out running deer in the middle of the day....a bit eerie.

I'm driving towards town tomorrow and looking for a couple of areas to try and track. There is less snow north of us. Keeping fingers crossed!

Close Call with Deer

2012-01-27T16:25:00.004-05:00

This afternoon I took Tank and Trust for a short walk down the driveway in some sunshine...a nice surprise that was. An unevenful walk...the best kind! Plan was Kira next, same walk down driveway and we had the large purple ball to play with.

We did a number of throws out into deep snow, and here she is 'taunting' me with the ball. She sets it up in front of me, backs up a few steps, hoping I will rush in to get it, and she pounces on it. A little game of her creation, I've never beat her, so she wins each time we do this.I was able to get a quick sit and quick picture by pulling out "my hidden ball" in my pocket! Unfortantely, our 'nice' walk changed when we went up behind the house. She spotted a close squirrel running and raced after it with the purple ball still in her mouth. Suddenly, a deer I hadn't noticed, flagged and raced off in front of them, with her in hot pursuit. She was already 'gone' before I had a chance to call. And still had the ball in her mouth. Talk about fast! When she did hear me and began to come back, I saw her circling. Somewhere she had dropped the ball, and there was no way she would leave a ball behind before coming back. Not this one. Not with all her ball training. I finally tried to walk down a deer track hoping to spot it if she hadn't. She was running ragged and one swoop past me, she was tiring and I reached out and managed to grab her. I took her back to the house, I've never felt the need to pull her off a search before, but with the deer out there, I wanted her back. I decided to let Blasts' walk go and instead bring him out to search for the ball. I knew it wouldn't take him long.

He made a number of circles over the deer paths, and then went down in behind and under some spruce trees near the fence, coming out with the ball . What a good boy.His reward was to go back and play on the snow piles, which he loves to do. He's just coming up from the back and over this one.He pushed the ball down to me, and lay down on top to wait for me to get it and toss up to him. These dogs are all smarter than me!!! Loves, loves, loves to jump!

Trusts' 10th Birthday Party!

2012-01-21T17:02:00.003-05:00

Today Trust turned ten years old. Hard to believe. If anything, this past year she seems to have become 'younger' and more silly and active. As we have done for years, with all our dogs, we had a birthday party. For years we had eightdogs in the pictures, all calmly waiting while hats were adjusted, candles lit, and pictures taken. Those eight together were 'easier' than today.

Trust was a good girl..she knows the routine well. Look, and act, like a princess, and she did. Tank had some issue with the elastic in his hat...never been a problem in the past...but he was going through contortions trying to get it off, the rest of the time looking annoyed. And Blast! Well, he just wants to kiss Trust all over and wants to flip in front of her, thinking he somehow is appealing...so we actually did these pics. pretty quickly.Tank is now rolling his eyeballs, David was on the sofa with cookies, and Blast was now interested in those. Trust is still "perfect". David finally had to hold Blast, now with his hat askew. Carrot muffins still intact!The birthday princess is always patient and ignores the riff-raff on each side of her. We moved to the kitchen for the feast!Trust took her muffin whole, and turned and ran off to the carpet and dumped it upside down (icing downward) on the carpet. I only got a picture of her with them as Tank was next and all you saw was the icing all over his face as if he hit it at 90 miles an hour. Blast took his, and promptly spit it on the floor. Gave him a cookie.

What a change when the dogs are not "the same old". It was fun (well somewhat) but miss the parties of old with the calm, well-behaved, and patient dogs.

And Kira was not invited to the party as it would have been total chaos. She was in her crate with a chewie and happy with that.

But since she missed the birthday party, she got an extra walk down the driveway and played ball with David. David and I got the "extra" goodies, so we all ended up doing ok.

Only the Dogs love this much snow!!!

2012-01-20T17:24:00.003-05:00

This is Blast up on a snowpile where we usually turn around and park beside the house.And Kira leaping and pushing through the snow in the field.Blast retrieving a ball in the front field. He is very tall, long legs, but bogged down here.Kira retrieves a snowball I threw out in the field. Don't you wonder how she finds it?!She is standing here. She's giving me her 'annoyed' look, as her head was buried looking for 'my' snowball when I called her. She found it!Today, up on a plowed pile of snow, I have Blast and Tank catching snowballs, both have turned toward my lousy throw here.Trust decides to climb up snow mountain also. She doesn't want to catch, just nosy.Kira just off the driveway this afternoon. A lovely sunny afternoon after yesterdays' horrid storm.I took Kira out front on Tanks' and Blasts' snowpiles when we came back. She's just about to leap for the block of snow coming at her.A perfect catch...splattered all over....just the way she likes it!!!

Our Little Herd

2012-01-20T15:07:00.004-05:00

While I put these pictures on, there are nine deer behind the house, having just come out of the forest. While we don't really want them here, they seem determined to stay. Because they were eating all our bird food, we finally bought deer feed as it's much cheaper than what we are spending on the bird seed. We put the deer food out behind the house, behind the fenced in area for the dogs. At times, they do jump the fence and clean up the bird seed. The buck (first picture) is the most 'tame'.

Here, he stares at me in the living room window, inside the fence where he should not be.Three does walking up the paths they've made to the corn. Taken from bedroom window.This one I refer to as the 'baby' - the smallest - it sees me in the window.Barely dawn two mornings ago, some have already arrived looking for food. A little disagreement between two of them.Yesterday morning, before the snowstorm. Baby and sibling and mom. After the storm, they did not come out last night for food, and we late coming today. As much as we wish they weren't here, we worry about them when they aren't.

Wolves, and last night -28 C with heavy, new and very deep snow now.No-one in sight this morning. I finished with the dog outings and went out to leave the feed expecting them to come soon. Suddenly, the buck came out of the bush and watched me. I began to talk softly to him and he continued to approach. I turned and went to another area and he continued to follow me up towards the house.I went up the stairs to the deck and he flinched when I opened the door, but stayed. I got the camera and went back out and stood on the deck, continuing to talk to him and took these pictures. It took only seconds for him to put his head down and begin to eat.He looks quite relaxed here, chewing away. He has the most beautiful eyes. It wasn't until this afternoon, that the rest of the little herd came up for food.

I think with the easy winter we had early on, they did not move to their normal winter deer yards and then got stuck, left behind. Now, we seem to be 'stuck' with them, as I don't imagine they will leave now.

If we can't track...we'll search!!!

2012-01-14T21:04:00.003-05:00

A few days ago, I took Kira with me to an appointment, and went into a shopping mall with her. Rotten weather, so guess a lot of people touring the mall, which was great for us. We 'met' lots of people, and Kira was polite with them all..she especially enjoyed a very young child in a stroller who kept offering her toy to Kira and Kira would kiss the toy, not trying to take it, then the child, over and over. I had a few items with me, and was able to hide them in interesting places our first trip through, and luckily, when we back to 'find' them, they were still there. We had fun tug rewards and a good time.

We've not been getting the normal amount of activity and exercise being somewhat snowbound, and for a change here tonight, we did an off leash search in the house.

I had hidden five items, briefly scented, briefly aged. Being able to stand back and watch her, I could take pics. Most amazingly, she would ignore her very special two balls, as she was "working"...very impressive...

Here she has found a 2" square of flat leather in the magazines.She's just turned back to me with a glove I had shoved under a scatter mat by the back door.And here we have a small cloth article shoved down inside the boot.Another 1/2 glove in the black bag on the chair, she is just pulling it out.Toughest one. There was a small white, plastic 'gift card' tucked inside the opening of the bottom kitchen drawer which holds the cooking herbs/spices. When I opened the drawer for her, she picked it up and backed up with it.

Keen little search dog, she is. We then played with the ball she had ignored. Always happy, this busy little girl.

Real Winter Finally Arrived..

2012-01-13T20:51:00.003-05:00

And I'm not too overjoyed. No walking trails, and we now have six deer coming regularly to the bird feeders. Very difficult getting dogs out for walks, having to check windows all around house, and make sure it's "safe" to go...The dogs are happy with the snow, but not happy about not going out into the fields, and now not the forest either because of the deer....sure don't need them running after the deer!

Amazing noses at work again! Out in the middle of nowhere in the deep snow, Trust has detected (I imagine) rodents travelling under the snow. She was very intent trying to pinpoint them.Blast clued in and came over to inspect the area also. I called them both away shortly and we moved back into the plowed area around the house to play ball.Trust doesn't play ball, but Tank was also out with us and it's a mad scramble between Blast and Tank...I have three balls going, and usually Blast manages to confiscate all three. After I put Tank and Trust inside, Blast scrambled up one of the plowed snowpiles hoping he could stay out longer. He always thinks that if he lies down and stays still, I won't 'see' him...It was pretty cold, a windchill of -24, so I just threw a few balls and back in we went.A little later, Kira and I went out the back. I was shovelling snow off the deck and she waits below to "catch" each shovel load I toss over. Spook used to do this. Kira is just more intense and jumps higher. She gets in this springloaded position ready to leap.We attempted a little walk along the deer paths, it was actually helpful to walk through the snow. She's running back to me, I had just called her off trying to rip a live/attached branch off a tree!

Switching to a ball, I was tossing them as far as I could into deep snow and down into trees. It's really neat to watch her scent these out, following the scent down the branches. I figure running through deep snow will tire her out...ha.ha.ha. Wishful thinking. She just has so much fun.What?! Go back inside?! Are you serious?! One more throw, one more throw...just one!? Please!!!!! Meanwhile, my fingers were so cold they could hardly hold the ball to throw it, let alone the camera. So, ok, TWO more throws and in we went.

Snow, Balls, Jumping-Bean Dogs..

2012-01-07T19:21:00.004-05:00

Walking down the driveway with Blast and two balls early today, beautiful, mild and sunny before another deep freeze sets in. I even had my mitts off making snowballs.

I was tossing the smaller ball into the field for Blast to find. He's located the spot and shoving his head down in the snow to find it.And here it is! He loves to do this, usually he has no idea where I've thrown it, and has to find it by scent, under the snow.But....we also love to catch snowballs! And we REALLY love to jump high into the sky!He's just caught this snowball, so is actually coming "down". He is quite the high-jumper!And a few easy ones before we head back up the driveway.Kira was the 'next walk'. Here she is just perfectly poised to catch the first snowball. Does life get any better than this?!!Kira would be happy all day to catch snowballs and like Blast, she absolutely loves to jump. Down the hatch with this one.I actually 'see' more looking at the pictures than being right there. It all happens so quickly. Throw the snowball, jump, catch splatter...ready for the next one!Kira has quite the 'stretch' body when she lunges for something. Time to switch to a ball...Like Blast, I was throwing this one into the field for her to search for. She would never, ever quit doing this if I was willing to continue. But I really do have other things to do!Atop a little snow mountain on the way back to the house, alert to something, hopefully not the buck behind the house..

We had a great time this morning with nice weather, three walks. I forgot the camera on the first walk with Trust and Tank, but they had tons of fun as well.

A Happy New Year...

2011-12-31T22:23:00.004-05:00

A healthy, happy 2012 to everyone! Whatever your goals may be this year, I hope you achieve them. This year has brought a few changes for us at Birch-Bark Hill, and some highs and lows. Once again, we have lost two special dogs...Jess at 16 and Storm, nearly 17...our last two shelties. We have a number of friends who have also lost dogs this year; regardless of age, they just leave us too soon.

Tank earned his UTD this year, and will now be striving towards that darned UTDX. Our highest point this year would have to be Trust earning her Tracking Champion Title. She now seems to think of herself as a goddess and is acting accordingly...I guess that's ok.

Best wishes to all.

A Special Presentation for Trust!

2011-12-28T21:23:00.003-05:00

Trust was presented with an engraved medallion from the Cross Country Tracking Club earlier this month. She was the first "member" dog to earn the CKC Champion Tracking Title. I joined CCTC back in 2000, when Spook earned her TDX there. At that time, no-one else was tracking in Northeastern Ontario, where I live, and it was great to 'head south' two or three times a year and be a tracklayer, or enter tests. We have a lot of fun there, and have made some special friendships. This was an honour (and a lot of work!) to earn the TCh title and being presented with this medallion was such a wonderful award from the Club. As a picture with Trust wearing the medallion was requested for the newsletter, I decided to do something a little special for this. Also, Trust will be ten years old in January. It just seemed right...I wanted something nice for her, and arranged a photo session.

This picture includes her CKC Tracking Champion certificate and her final UTDX rosette, and includes her long line, harness and glove. She completed her fourth track at CCTC with judge Marie-P. Babin, and tracklayer Joseph Weir. Her TD was at CCTC, her TDX was at Sudbury, and her UTD was in Ottawa. Of course, she is wearing her lovely medallion.We did a number of different "arrangements", both of her and the "props". The photo session took about 45 mins. and we had a lot of fun doing this. Trust just loves being fussed over, and was so easy to work with. The two young ladies working on this session had a lot of fun as well. The photographer was Jenny Brunet.I've included an assortment of pictures here...would you believe there were 60 in total?!! I am quite certain that Trust knows she is 'special'...she is definitely a real poser....and so very pretty, too! And she knows it!!

I'm breaking off a piece of cookie for her in this picture when we decided to play around with a few pictures. Although I take a huge number of pictures of the dogs, I have almost none with both of us together. So we played a bit and wound up with a bunch of candid shots. The young lady taking the pictures had not worked with a dog before and thought it was amazing. Of course, Trust is very well behaved, well trained and great with people. She has previously done Pet Therapy work with seniors and is very good in unusal or busy settings.

I just love this dog! I am so proud of her, as we struggled for some time switching from field work to urban settings. I learned so much from her, watching her figure out what was going on with the scent in tricky areas. We had only each other, and one little book, to learn how to become a good working team in urban locations.

The medallion presented to Trust by CCTC will be a cherished remembrance of a very special day when she earned her Tracking Champion Title. And a special day having earned it in the presence of good friends. Thanks to everyone who cheered us on along the way!

And it snowed all day....

2011-12-28T19:29:00.002-05:00

A LOT of snow yesterday and overnight! We were trudging through out the back early, and the snowplow guy came later so we could head down the driveway. Kira was out with me before he came, and some pictures are in places where I took them 2 days before with the other dogs.

David and I returned from the afternoon walk down the driveway and into the field with Trust, Tank and Blast. Blast was hoping we'd forget him and he could stay out on one of the snow piles! He always seems to think that when he lies down, we can't 'see' him!!!The west trail into the west side of the forest, same as a couple of days ago, but with more snow today.Kira coming back on trail behind and west of house. It was so beautiful today with the sunshine, and we weren't getting the high winds from the north as the forest protects us.Just popped up for a minute before I run off again!!!If this branch had a point on the end, I swear she'd go out of her way to impale me!The forest was so pretty, with little sunbeams shining through, and some snow falling off the trees.Was that a snowball???!!Heading back up the driveway. So nice when it has been plowed...

The Day After Christmas...

2011-12-26T15:14:00.003-05:00

Now this looks more like winter. It's perfect, as everything is sparkling with fresh clinging snow, yet it's only about 4" deep and so all the walking trails, or anyplace really, are open. Very pretty this morning, but rain is being called for then a deep freeze...crazy once again!

This picture is the trail to the west from the house into the forest. Only fox tracks on here this morning.And this is the vacant old barn across the fence on our east side. Always love this place...it's 400 acres of wilderness, where most of the wolves howl from.Heading up behind the house, in front of the back forest. Don't know what, but 'something' sure had Tanks' interest. He could be a show dog!!! Actually he did get one point in his early life, at his first show, but conformation shows were not my interest.Same trail, Trust (the new almost 10 puppy) is racing back to me.Next walk....Blast out in the front field, surveying the scenery atop a hay bale. He's the lookout, should have called him "Scout"...Then Kira and I went back into the forest, following the tracks from the buck to see where he was travelling to and fro. She had jumped up into this tree and all the snow on the branches fell on her. She thought this was fun and was about to try again, but no snow left this time. Oh, well, there's always branches to yank out!!!! And that's where she moved off to.

New Snow on Christmas Day!

2011-12-26T07:12:00.003-05:00

Christmas Day brought a 'somewhat' unexpected snowfall...flurries were predicted, but the system stalled and what started as a light snowfall ended up to be very signficant by the evening. I have to go out early today and take a few photos as it is unbelievably beautiful. The temp. went above freezing and it was wet, so absolutely every little thing out there has snow stuck to it and it is glistening.

This is Blast, Tank and Trust on our first early walk heading out of the east field, across the driveway and over into the west side. Even early the small pines in front are being weighted down.Further into the west field, looking back towards the house. Snowfll much heavier now. It's hard to believe only a few hours ago, everything was bare...clear of snow.David and Kira beside one of the larger spruce trees at the side of the field. Skies are very dark, but it is nice and mild.The snowflakes were the strangest shape yesterday, either big and boxy, or looking like large white butterflies flitting downwards. David was tossing snowballs up in the air for Kira.I couldn't figure out what was wrong with my timing to take pictures of her jumping up to catch the snowballs. Finally I watched, and he was throwing them so high, she had to sit and wait for them to begin to come down. At least her timing was good. I gave up on these. We enjoyed a few walks though yesterday. For years we've looked forward to our Christmas Day Dog Walks, but hard to believe we used to take eight to nine dogs at once on these. Miss those old days and miss those old dogs...

Our buck has moved in...

2011-12-26T06:56:00.003-05:00

Well, it looks like we might have a permanent visitor here! Our lovely little buck has rubbed off his antlers, within two days of his first visit. I wish we could find them, they were so lovely, but it's pure luck, no matter how hard you might search, to find them. He showed up three different times on Christmas Eve Day, and would watch me...watching him...from the window. He's pretty brave, or...not very smart - not sure, as the dogs don't seem to pose much of a threat to him.

When he has slurped up any bird feed on the ground, he licks around the bottom of this feeder. And tipping it brings out more, of course.

You can clearly see in this picture where the antlers were!He is such a beautiful fellow, counting the 'points' on his antlers the other day, he is three or four years old. He doesn't seem "hungry" as he is in great shape, but I think he has just found an easy place to find readily available 'extra' food here at the feeders. We are not trying to encourage him, it is difficult to take the dogs for walks into the forest and not have to worry about running into him!

More, please!!!

Looking for Santa?

2011-12-23T06:22:00.002-05:00

OK, so he's not a reindeer! A beautiful young buck on Thursday morning at the bird feeders, as I was about to take dogs out. Luckily, I checked all the windows first! The day before a doe in great shape on the other side of the house. I took a lot of pics. but through the window, so not many worthwhile ones.

Notice the lack of snow!!!!!! A couple of weeks ago we had a huge dump of snow - other pics. on here previously - up to my knees. It was horrid, our first real snowstorm and lost ALL our walking trails. I'm actually very happy to have it gone and able to walk dogs all over again. Today began with a light snowfall, which is fine, very pretty, no problems.He has seen me in the window, but still hung around for a while around I finally had to make a noise to send him on his way. I had to take the dogs out as I planned to go into town.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON TO YOU, FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ALL YOUR 4 LEGGED VARIETIES OF BUDDIES.

Kira and her "sticks"...

2011-12-17T15:45:00.002-05:00

Walk in the forest today, there's still some snow in there, the rain has removed it everywhere out in the open. Kira was driving us nuts with her log, branch, and stick hunting and running into us. We decided to "trick" her....that's pretty much a joke!

We were about 1/3 of the way through here and she had just dug up this one, about 8' long and was swinging it around. David took off running down the path, and she just cued in to this, paused, and was gone in a flash. I ran off behind, and we prevented her from running back for this one. Of course, she momentarily found another.....This stick was balanced up on a couple of knobs on this tree, above the level we felt she would be able to get it...let alone even find it to begin with. She had been way ahead, and ran back, scented it above her and up she goes. This dog does not know what "quit" means. Such a tenacious little she-devil she is!

It was a lovely day for walks though, we did three separate ones in the forest, for her, Blast, and Tank and Trust together. We're all pooped..time for a 'toes up' as my friend, Eileen, would say...

Kira in the Forest

2011-12-12T06:25:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, we took all the dogs for a forest walk in the afternoon. So nice back there, haven't been in for a while. There's been lots of action...deer, fox, bunny, lots and lots of overlapping tracks.

Headed back to the house, we did recalls with Kira on the trail. David was up towards the house and I stayed back down the trail. Here she comes, full speed ahead!!!There's always 'something' worth inspecting up on the top of this rock.Kira stole my glove and had run off with it. We had to "trick" her to get it back and David was whacking it against the trunk to get the snow off and out of it....he "thought" high enough so she couldn't jump up and get it....right....lost it again!We spent much of the time trying to get rid of all the branches she was picking up, as she would run towards us either from behind or front and almost knock us down in narrow spots. She has a firm grip on this one and REALLY doesn't want to let go.

The dogs all have him wrapped around their finger...(paw?)...and alway win a tugging match with him.So, if we keep taking "her" branches away, she just "has" to work at removing a live one still attached to the tree.And even better, the giant ones! I never thought she'd get anywhere with this, it was solidly locked in place. She pulled and yelled at it for the longest time, and wasn't going to give up. We had walked on and heard her still snarling at it. To my amazement, although I should know by now, suddenly she ran up behind us with about 5-6' of it. She had bit right through it. So once again, it's dodge the tencious little devil dog. Kira had a non-stop good time out there. Back at the house I was hoping she'd be a tiny bit pooped, but she was still raring to go. I wish I had a fraction of her energy.

Nature can be brutal...

2011-12-06T18:41:00.002-05:00

But nature is also amazing! Something must die so that another may live...

What's the chances of ever seeing a weasel in the night, having killed something way larger than he is and dragging it possibly a good distance so it can feed?! These 4 pictures aren't great, but it was 9 p.m. at night out behind the house and I had only a flashlight to watch this and take pictures. The weasel is brown in summer and changes to white in winter..like wild rabbits do. The grouse feeds normally on the ground, nests in the trees at night, and I have to assume the wily weasel surprised it. Weasels are voracious killers, brave beyond belief.I was taking the dogs out when I heard something odd behind the house and went to inspect. When I got too close, he would leave his kill and run large circles around me. He certainly was not afraid of me, and was warning me not to get too close. He's actually very cute and very fast!I backed off and he went back to the grouse, trying to drag it off the pathway. Where he was going, I don't know. He ended up eating and this morning much of it was still there. I might go out tonight to see if he has come back. If not, something else will come along and finish it off. It's just Mother Nature working her wonders.

Our Precious Storm

2011-12-05T20:10:00.002-05:00

On Saturday morning, we lost our wonderful little Storm. He would have been 17 in January. Storm brought joy and laughter to so many people, not only us. He was the favorite of all visiting therapy dogs, for 9 years, taught children how to behave around dogs and made them laugh with his favorite toy, "the rat" and sniffing each ones' feet. A beautiful sheltie, with two blue eyes, he caught everyones' attention.

He was a ham in the obedience ring with an "I'm smarter than you are" attitude. And he was! After his second leg in "Open" competition, he knew in training he could be perfect, but in a trial could refuse an exercise and get attention. Storm loved the camera, and enjoyed wearing party hats to have his picture taken. He was the boss of the house, never doing anything to be top dog, the others just somehow respected him. We always called him "annoying" - he was just too cute and funny to ever get truly annoyed with. He loved his walks through the woods with the big dogs until the last couple of years.

With the hundreds of pictures I have of him, I've always loved this one. He will live forever in our hearts, and his breeders', Jo Ann and Terry Pavey.

Jo Anns' favorite memory of Storm is watching him play with and whack his wind-up frog. He was quite the guy.

CH Fairisles Whitegates Powerline CD CGC St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog (extraordinaire).

The BIG Snow!

2011-12-01T21:58:00.004-05:00

Well, we had an extremely late first snow this winter..it began on Tuesday night and continued all through Wednesday. Under a Winter Storm Warning for over 24 hrs. and ended up with snow over my knee-high boots. Freezing rain, ice pellets, snow, back to freezing rain and then a huge dump of snow. Not happy here! Considering it was the first snow of winter, we already have no walking paths left, and it looks like January. The dogs LOVE snow, but they cannot navigate well into the very deep and very heavy stuff. We pretty much have only the driveway for walks so am praying now for a few sunny, warm days and rain. Way too early for these conditions!Tank and Blast tried to go down a trail and turned around and came back!Tank still standing on the same trail, wondering where we are going to go...Trust, Blast and Tank on the driveway. David had already cleaned the snow off this section the night before, and drove out in the morning. A lot more snow fell after this.Kira behind the house, was digging out branches and flying through the snow. She seemed to be able to navigate the best of all, probably as she's lighter and just leaps and bounds through.She was hunting for something in here, perhaps heard a rodent under the snow.She made a 'racetrack' around some bushes and trees in this area, so she could actually run through fairly well and 'chase' me with one of her branches. She thinks she's so smart!This was a branch she ran into, actually was attached to a tree, and she seemed to feel the need to punish it when she couldn't pull it out.I just like this head shot of Blast!

And we have more snow falling tonight....

Kira In The News!

2011-11-18T06:55:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, when Kira and I were working through a local indoor shopping mall, we crossed paths with a reporter/photographer from an area newspaper. She was interested in what we were doing, Kira had just gone through a childrens' ride where she found articles I had placed in there. We arranged to get together in a few days for a story for the paper, North Bay Nipissing News.

Kira is "identified" as most places we are permitted to work in for training do not allow dogs. We do some searches, and she meets lots of people. As she is training, I allow her contact with people, she's a great ambassador for the breed, "shakes hands" and kisses for kids. Some other locations, she is able to climb, jump on, dig through obstacles so it is all great work (play) for her.

Shayla Brunet took all these photos, the ones below are from our second meeting at a local resort. Thanks to Shayla, for her interest and time spent with us.Shayla worked to get a sampling of Kira's personality and took a ton of pictures. We spent time outside discussing the value of service dogs, the importance of these dogs socializing, and to be confident working in any venue. What to look for in a puppy to prepare for this work, the extreme ball drive and search work ethics you want in these dogs is so important. Not 'just' a sound body, but a sound mind is critical. Kira has just turned one year old at this time, and is confident and alert with everything she is being exposed to. What we would refer to as "work" for these dogs is just fun and rewarding for them. Hmmm, who's been walking through here? Kira has been entrusted to me to prepare her for service work, and is owned by her breeder, Carmen Duggan, Carmspack. Carmen has produced many, many German Shepherds that are in police services in Canada and the U.S. Many are general purpose dogs while others specialize in explosives, drugs, etc. My Trust and Blast are from Carmen. These dogs have amazing scenting ability and love to work. Blast finds articles in the dead of winter under deep snow, frozen solid, that were left out weeks previously. Trust just earned her Canadian (CKC) Tracking Champion title this year, the 18th dog in Canada to do so.Here we were coming out of the resort and there was a small group of teenagers standing at the bottom of the stairs. Kira is instantly alert to them and they were certainly 'alert' to her. We joked a bit about what they might have hidden on them...and then went down to see them. People have become knowledgeable about not touching dogs wearing vests, but because she is training, I encourage some contact and they always have questions.While in the resort, we did a couple of quick searches. I also have to be aware of some people worrying about what we may be looking for, and often explain this is a "set up" for training. Kira has not been put on any specific scent, that will done when she is placed. But dying to search, is what it's about. The instant I tell her our search word, her whole attitude changes and she is raring to go. I had hidden a couple of small cotton gauze pads in the building. After we walked through, we did a 'search'.

In the picture above there is an article squished between the wall and the door. The door was propped open and heavy and she was reaching in the little space trying to dig it out with her paw. I was looking in, hadn't realized it was too far back and the door wouldn't budge, so in this case, I eventually helped to pull it out. She wasn't going to quit, but I also didn't want her scratching the carpet or door in here.Out in the lobby, she's found 'something' inside the phone book, another piece of cotton I placed there. Her reward is normally her favorite ball, or we pull on a knotted sock. Often depends where we are, sometimes I have a special pc. of food if playing might be a problem. She's not that interested in a food reward, much better to play, but not always possible (like in a hotel lobby!) She will often just spit the food.I only included this picture, that Shayla captured, to show how Kira loves her special ball. And she did catch it! It bounced up from an odd direction. She is very athletic and quick, and that ball is not going to get away from her!!!

These pups are hand-picked from very selective breedings. As sound as they are, they need to work, having boundless drive and energy, making them unsuitable for most pet homes. These dogs live to work, providing valuable service.

Blasts' Short but Interesting Track

2011-11-17T22:41:00.002-05:00

Just a short drive from the track that Tank was doing, Blasts' track had a nice mix of grass, gravel/sand, nice grass, chunky gravel. I also saw fresh deer tracks when I laid the track and a couple of fresh deer poop piles almost on the track.

His track started beside a building on grass, headed out to this area where he's made a turn and nearly completed a long leg on gravel. The deer crossed here and there were fresh truck tracks also, probably looking for the deer. He'll hit the grass soon and turn right, over a narrow driveway and back onto nice grass.Blast has just made another corner, and is just passing the deer poop. There is an article just ahead as a reward/lure to pass the poop. Up ahead, we cross the chunky gravel, through a bit of a ditch and climb up the little hill.He's just making a corner here, continues to near the end of the tennis court before turning right again. There was also an article up here.Heading down the hill, I had to carefully go sideways, it was steeper than it looks. Why I turned down here is beyond me! I had to keep telling Blast to 'wait'.We head up this stretch of grass, cross a gravel driveway and his leather article is on the far side. I stopped taking pics. here, as I saw a lady with a small dog walking towards us from the left. I guess she spotted us, as she turned and went around the other way. Blast worked really well, he hardly veered from the track at any point from start to finish. It was aged about an hour.

Tanks' Big Water Reward

2011-11-16T14:46:00.006-05:00

Tuesday was one more great day for tracking, and we went out for two in a nearby town. Tanks' track was aged under two hours, a nice setting and he got a huge bonus after his.

He's on his first leg in this picture. I almost nixed this location as there were lots of geese last week, and wasn't sure about the goose poop. Then figured, might as well work "through it" if it was present. Wasn't much, and he had no interest.A person and a dog walked through here after I laid the track, but he worked along easily and out on the grass again. I just noticed...the swings are gone, getting prepared for winter. The red X marks a wood article.We made a turn past the playground equipment and moved up around the other side of it. He is working really well through here. A couple of kids were playing on the equipment and he totally ignored them.This turn takes him down towards the covered pavillion, cement floor. Just before he reaches it, there's a cloth article in the shade, which he pounced on. We go through the pavillion, onto grass, sand/dirt, and turn left taking us into the gravel area of the parking lot. This turn was really close to the water, and he stopped to watch a bunch of gulls on a dock, and ducks swimming...oh, he wanted to go there...But...turned in between the cars and heads out to the next row. Just behind the next row, the parking lot becomes asphalt heading towards the building.With all the comings and goings here, causing scent to swirl around, he did really well, keeping right on the track. It's a medical building we are heading towards and also lots of foot traffic on the asphalt to the back entrance door.Quick change from asphalt to brick here, as I cut across it, to 'hide' the piece of leather so it hopefully wouldn't be picked up. Interesting to see how the dogs work these areas.And here's his reward! I walked him down to the beach and kept the long line on, as I didn't want to see him trying to swim out to the ducks!!!So he just got to paddle around a little, and I threw a few little sticks for him. He was very happy. This is a rare treat, and especially so late in the year. He ended up pretty soaked.The last picture..I was calling him out. The look says "are you kidding"?!!?

2011-11-13T09:41:00.004-05:00

I've not done any article 'searching' for Kira in a while, and decided to take a couple of items out in the barn this morning, let them age a short while, and then take her out to "work". The storage barn is a real jumble right now, and almost impossible to walk through in there. I ended up tossing the items back into difficult places to reach. I took her out for a brief 'walk and relief' first, snapped on her leash and headed to the barn. As soon as I mentioned "work" she was instantly alert.

I expected a little time for her to begin searching, and wasn't ready with the camera. As soon as I unsnapped her, she was rushing in towards the first item. She had it in her mouth coming out, before I could focus. It was a sock, hidden to the left, back behind a bunch of garden items.I sent her back in, and zoom...around to the right this time, she tried to squeeze back in here but was stuck. It is in a small opening, back against the wall. She backed out far enough so that she could turn.Out around the snowblower, and over the mower and then squeezed between the blower and the grey thing over to reach in and get it.No problem, just fun, out she comes with the old glove. Just great fun for her. She is so keen and so fast to scent these hidden articles out, regardless of what she has to go through to get them. You can see there are gas cans in there also, no problem.

Searching on Walks This Morning

2011-11-12T12:06:00.009-05:00

Just doing individual walks this morning, "cleared the way" first with Tank and Trust. There was a lot of shooting early and wanted to make sure no deer were taking refuge where we might scare them out of the front fields and back towards hunters. While walking with T and T, was thinking I hadn't done any searches for a while so decided to do a few little ones with Blast and then Kira.

When T & T and I walked past the rock pile, I spied a couple of suitable rocks and set them aside near the bottom. Heading out that way with Blast, I picked up one, rubbed it twice, and when he wasn't close enough to notice, I tossed it up into the pile. Called him to find it, and he raced to top, it had bounced up there and dropped down. He scented down to it, found it, and braced himself to pull it out.It was pretty locked in where it landed, so I decided to go up and take it out, before he went crazy working at it and hurt himself.Further on, I had tossed a partial old glove into the high weeds. Told him to look for that and he circled out, scented it, and moved in. He has just found it, above.Poor guy, when we were walking up along the east fence, I tossed a sock towards it, told him to go back and find. He worked and worked, and then I realized it must have gone through the fence. He stood up on the fence, pushed and pushed trying to get through. I ended up convincing him to go down with me to an opening so he could go through and up the other side to get it. He is so amazing to me.And here he is coming back on the other side of the fence, to come through and back to me. Such a smart guy!So, then his reward for his hard work (just play for him!!). A few ball throws out into the weeds again, good exercise for mind and body.Kira was next. A different rock tossed up, and like Blast, she headed to the top first, and worked down. Hers was a larger one and she was determinded to work at it until she could pick it up.She did get it out, it wasn't wedged in as tight as Blasts' was, and brought it down. I played with her a bit, and we ran off so she would leave the rock behind.I had dropped another half glove on a low tree branch on the way through, and when I told her to find it, she turned back (we had walked past) and first scented all around the area on the ground, then began to lift her head and scent, and zeroed in on it.In another area, just off one of the paths, I again left an article behind, and this time said nothing, just let her realize she had run full speed past "something" and come back to find it. I had a ball hidden and we finished the rest of the walk playing ball.Before heading back to the house, did a couple of throws into another tall area of weeds. She really had to hunt for this, I didn't let her see the direction I was throwing two of the three. They were 'somewhere' back in here....This was the last one coming out. Kira just loves this "ball game". Well, this should tire her out for about 20 minutes!!!

Cloud II

2011-11-10T07:38:00.002-05:00

LEGENDARY POLICE DOG TO GET A NEW FINAL RESTING PLACE.

Cloud II was the first OPP police dog to die in the line of duty. The remains of Cloud II, one of the most famous police dogs in Canadian history, has been exhumed from his grave in North Bay, Ontario, in order to be moved to a permanent resting place at the OPP Headquarters in Orillia, Ontario. Cloud II had a brief, but amazing, career with his handler, Const. Ray Carson, capturing 123 fugitives and finding many missing children and lost hunters. There were many "famous takedown" stories, but most memorable to me, was to be his final operation, the capture of escaped murderer, Donald Kelly, in 1975. Kelly overpowered a North Bay prison guard while awaiting trial for a double murder, fleeing with his rifle and stolen car. After 11 days searching for Kelly, Mr. Carson and Cloud II were called to join the search. Two weeks later, 140 km. n.w. of North Bay, Cloud II picked up his scent after a railway crew gave them a tip that Kelly had been seen in this remote wilderness. Cloud II and Const. Carson tracked Kelly on a gruelling trek through bush, swamp, and in the dark of night. They came upon Kelly in a broken cabin and Cloud II was sent to disarm him. When Cloud II lunged at Kelly, he swung around and shot him behind his head. Cloud II died at the scene.

Const. Carson shot Kelly in the shoulder as he was fleeing, and he was shortly captured.

Mr. Carson attended the exhumation ceremony. I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of visiting with Mr. Carson recently and a memory I will never forget of his recounting the story. What an amazing dog Cloud II was. His cremated remains will be interred in a special ceremony in Orillia at a later date.

(excerpts from North Bay Nugget, Gord Young, T.Hopper, National Post, and my conversation with Mr. Carson)

2011-11-05T20:40:00.005-04:00

This afternoon, I was short on time to get three good dog walks in, and decided to try a little experiment and take Kira out with Tank. Kira thought she had died and gone to heaven, Tank was very kind with her, and loving all the attention.

Tank has the new blue ball in his mouth and Kira just about did head stands to try and get it from him.She had her "arms" wrapped around his head, jumping on top of him, and he finally let her take it. No doubt, it was just to get rid of her, if only for a moment.Then the little witch teased him mercilessly, running back at him, sticking the ball in his face, over and over.Finally, he took off after her, much to her delight, and they ran full speed circles around the bushes and the trails until I had to intervene. It's clear who is boss in this scenario, but they both had a great time.

Walks, Huge Branches and Balls...

2011-11-04T21:31:00.002-04:00

Although the nights are below freezing, the days are sunny and "almost" warm...still good weather for this time of year. After tracking in the morning, just did two afternoon walks...one with Tank, Trust and Blast, and one with Kira.

As I planned to do some "ball work" with Kira in the field, I wouldn't let her take anything on our walk out, and she just HAD to dart into the forest first and drag out a large branch.The worst part of this, is that she runs straight at me, and I have to duck around something. She knows one speed, and that is full throttle...Ah, I managed to find a momentary lapse of attention, and was able to break it! I'm getting the "what did you do that for" look...We then went on to work on the balls which certainly made her even more happy than trying to knock me down with the branch.Jumping Jack Blast. Have to make sure Tank doesn't get any opportunity to catch that ball, he's up and ready to grab it, before Tank barely left his sit position.Trust has just about had enough of both of them, and flips around to show them both who is really the boss here.

I like to think this all tires them out, but, alas, it doesn't last very long before they try to convince me we haven't been for a walk yet!!!

Great New Urban Tracking Location

2011-11-02T19:48:00.005-04:00

I walked through this area a few weeks ago, and had it in the back of my mind. It's a huge (80 acres) outdoor sportsplex, new this year. Now, it is rarely used (time of year) and I went back to check it out. Perfect! So many configurations could be put in here. Only one front field still has some geese/poop on it, the rest is clean as a whistle. So, I decided to lay a track there yesterday for Blast and today I went back and did an identical one for Tank. Between the fenced fields it's like a wind tunnel and there are cover changes all over. Both yesterday and today, I never saw another soul there.

I really can't handle either Tank or Blast properly and try to take pictures at the same time. So I decided today to take a few while I laid the track. Above is my first leg. There is a paved parking lot to the left of this grass. Before I reach the pavillion, there is an asphalt drive, woodchips, on to a cement area under the overhang. Then back out on woodchips, then grass again, where I make a right turn.Second leg on grass, over a paved drive by the fencing and both days I laid a serpentine track through this complete section, with the first article 2/3 of the way up. This was the 'wind tunnel' area.Even though there is fence on each side, there is still plenty of room to train. All the fenced in fields are locked.This picture shows the track coming out of the serpentine area, turning and moving along one field in grass, and a second article out behind. Then an open turn up and over onto coarse stone driveway, which is next to a strip of asphalt again, beside another fenced in area.Moving along the stones and making a turn between two more fenced fields and out onto sparse grass.A left turn onto a long stretch of paved drive and and up to the final article next to unfinished area which was dirt. It was interesting to do the "same" track for both dogs. Conditions were very similar and both Blast and Tank did pretty well, but made it obvious how they have very different styles of working on a track. Neither worked the serpentine as well as I thought they might have, but it was strong wind coming towards us both days. Would be interesting to give it some time and try again, if weather co-operates...running out of time here before winter!!

Finally, Trust Gets to Track

2011-10-28T20:03:00.003-04:00

I remember when I used to think how slow Trust worked and that she seemed to 'daydream' along the track. Not doing a track very often with her any longer, since she became a TCh...what a change to go back to her from Tank and Blast. A REALLY NICE change, I mean...It was so nice to be walking 'behind' her...

She's so confident now, and happy and full of energy going tracking. She acts like the puppy she never was!Trust just made her first left turn, I'm just about to follow. We will be crossing the road, towards the lake.We had to wait for traffic to cross, so are now running over as there's another car coming along.We've crossed a stretch of grass and moved out into the parking lot. Luckily, the geese seem to have mainly left, as there wasn't the normal amount of droppings...I had forgotten about that! This is a tough area, normally with wind coming off the lake.We've turned left, I really don't remember what she was 'interested' in here, I don't remember seeing anything there.On we go across the asphalt, there is a cloth article before the curb, and then over onto grass. She's really working nicely here.We move up a little slope and under some trees, she's very determined and close to another turn.After her corner, we go down a slope, over a walkway and up a little hill. She's just reached another article before the top of the hill. Windy on top. We will go over the hilltop, down and along a long stretch of patchy grass to her final article.There it is! This was not a really long track, just a good time for her and she did it with ease. She was hopping around like a young pup after we were done, walking back to the van. Such a good girl!

Emmas' Track Thursday

2011-10-28T19:49:00.002-04:00

Tracking both Emma and Trust along the lakefront on Thursday, not as many distractions as normal due to very cold and frost morning. Emma started out with two legs on nice grass and headed up over a hill to turn right along a sidewalk.

A little bobble getting started but then moved along both legs really well. This is an area where people cut through with dogs heading to the boardwalk.Working along here really nicely, look at her nose!After crossing a driveway, they turned and went through some bushes onto a strip of grass then into this parking area. I think her second article was just before she turned left in this picture. They would be on their fifth leg here,heading toward the strip of grass again, and then to a road crossing. Emma is working great.It was quite a wait for cars in both directions to clear, as it takes a while to cross the road. Tascha is staying close here, just in case. They will make another right turn on the grass taking them to their final article behind the sign.Emma just loves her articles, and has a great time playing with them at the end of her tracks. Nice job.

Today - Tank & Kira

2011-10-28T17:50:00.003-04:00

I still have pics. from yesterday, but since only taking a few today, thought I'd get them on here quickly. Tank worked in a busy intersection area, around the Quints' home (in the background here) and in front of a hotel. I didn't get my camera out until his fourth leg, he had slowed a bit by then, and mainly done with the grass area. Like yesterday, unexpected obstacle on his...It was quite windy here, cold but sunny, aged 1 1/2 hr., 4 articles.

Did a lot of short grass with garbage scattered about, and had a cloth article on his second leg. Above, we finish most of the grass, and will turn left onto brick walkway after corner of this building.Tank has just hit his corner, and turned. Will move down brick walkway alongside building to the front of it.We hit a small triangle of grass before crossing a well-used driveway. Tank has just found a small plastic article under the bush branch. I hid this one, as the walkway is busy, and I didn't want someone to pick it up.After the driveway, we cross a small square with grass into hotel parking area. Tank headed to a piece of ?, close to the track and he dismissed it. Red arrow shows the track. Besides the sewer drain, is his metal article, luckily, still there. Just before it, pointed in yellow, was an old leather glove. It was there when I laid the track. Tank actually picked it up and looked at me. I said "is it ours" and he spit it out, moved to the sewer and found the metal article. Further on, you will see the track goes UNDER the transport truck, under the first set of tires, which was making a delivery.Tank stopped at the article, I asked him to "touch it", which he was just preparing to do.He tracked well over to the truck, and made a little detour around to the front. Surprised me, actually, it looked too easy! (my dogs always surprise me, they're smart, I'm not!After going around the front of the truck cab, he went back on the track, still on pavement, until this area, when he crossed the curb and moved along, down into the deep ditch for the final article. It was quite a drop, more garbage, and although I went down in it to leave the article (leather), I was glad he picked it up and climbed back up to give it to me. He did a really nice job!

*While it was aging, Kira and I went to the shopping mall and trooped around through there...meeting lots of people of all sizes and inspecting some (at first) kind of scary Hallowe'en 'pretend' people. A lady approached us from a local paper and was quite interested in what we were doing and took a bunch of pictures. She might do a little story, regardless, I will contact her to see if we can get some pictures.*

Still have more tracks from yesterday, when I get back to them tonight or tomorrow.

Blast-Working as Long as We Can!

2011-10-28T07:06:00.006-04:00

Back out tracking, into the cold now....until winter sets in. Hate having to stop when it gets just too cold, or too much snow. Once we have snow here, it stays, and it's not possible to track right through the winter. So we are enjoying the time we have left. We did a track with Blast today, and also a fun one for Trust - she was amazing!!! and a track for Emma, as well.

Blast is at the scent pad, I took him in on a bit of an angle, so he would determine the correct direction himself. No flag here, I leave a tiny piece of kleenex stomped into grass, so that people won't see the flag and come over while the track is aging.Off he goes, a solid start as I begin to let out some line. I will mainly work him 'short' today, and work on our focus/distraction, as I expected dog walkers.The track leads out over the wide driveway, and near a big "green box" where we have the first corner to the left.Blast just found his corner, today, I left one pc. of food on each corner, otherwise just a little food along the hard surface. He stopped immediately on this corner (with food) and then turned abruptly onto the next leg...what I was looking for.He has started on the second leg with determination, no fooling around. I'm at about 10', have a knot on the line at 10'.Just reached his first article, a plastic lid, and he flips it, looking for a treat beneath. I rush up and grab it quickly as he's already on his way. (Red line painted on in front shows our direction.)Blast has just slightly overshot the exact corner, and is making his turn back onto the track. This was good, no searching around, he had the scent. Wind was coming from behind us. (Flags in second picture show the strong winds).A piece of food on the asphalt. The blue van had just driven past us, and pulled over and parked. It is directly over top of the track...interesting, unexpected obstacle...Moving along very closely on the track, I was really pleased with his work. I continue to stay close on the line, if he does veer off I will control the distance this way, not allowing him much leeway off the track. He knows darn well where it is.Very interesting, he tracked right to the van, on the track (see little crack leading up to it in front of rear tire) and almost stuck his head underneath. I let him work it out, saying nothing, and he moved around the back, checking, then turned and went around the other side of the van, picking up the track.Shortly after passing the van, we turn right into grass, and a wood article is just ahead. You can see it past the cut tree stump he is at, between that and the pole.We did a leg on the grass towards the back, and Blast just found a sock here. I'm having trouble sticking it in my article bag. He wasn't happy waiting. Before we hit the brick walkway at the back, we will make a left turn, taking us to the end of the track.Before we reached it, I saw the article was gone, which I had worried about when I left it near the far edge of the walkway/bike path. I had also seen a couple of dogs being walked over here when I left, and wondered if they would go over here. Well, I guess they did. It is actually way, way out ahead in the grass, a white pc. of leather. Blast is about 2' from where it shoud have been, so I'm ready to rush up and throw out something else for him to end the track.There you go, Blast. Much to my surprise, he actually was "looking" for something in this area. I always have found it hard to believe that the dog would "actively search the area" as described in the CKC rules when an article was missing. However, he seemed to be. So was he, or other dogs in these instances, actually searching for some miniscule scent remaining, or was it a lot of fresher scent from a person, and like a dog in this case, that had found the article, spending time in this spot and leaving mucho scent????! Regardless, he did a great track, with two unexpected 'happenings' along the way, the van, then the missing article. We did go out and get it, and it was an extra bonus for him when he picked it up and tried to tear it apart!!!

Blast Track Today

2011-10-18T16:57:00.002-04:00

It's been quite a while since I've posted anyones' track, have been concentrating on the dog, rather than the camera. I wanted a fun track for Blast today, and thought in case I could handle the camera, I would give it a go...turned out pretty good. Pics. a bit blurry, was a funny, damp morning. Blast did a really nice job.

First leg alongside full length of this building. Track aged one hour, four articles, a few obstacles along the way. On some pictures, I've "painted" the track in red, where he veered off/back on, in broken yellow.This is a wide driveway with a wider section for a few vehicles to park. A good place for a corner. The skateboard area said 'closed' but the garbage didn't seem to be changed recently! He veered to the fence, I verbally pulled him away from the garbage and he went back on the track.First article, folded cloth sock, just before we move onto a paved area from the gravel. The paved area is under a roofed over structure.He had no trouble moving through this area.At the end of the rinkboards was another 'old' garbage can, I quickly got him out of there, you never know what might be in there. He then goes off the paved part onto gravel again, close to grass and he will soon turn onto the grass.Wind was shooting throught the "alleyway" and he just went a little past turn and back to his track again. Long stretch of grass, he's right on the track, just aproaching another turn.Crossing a gravel driveway onto grass again. After another left turn, we are heading toward a sandy gravel area but there's a wood article before we leave the grass.There it is! I'm getting at least more of an indication from him now. He at least "usually" stops briefly so it can be seen.In this case, for whatever reason, he was trying to pick up the wood article.We had quite a stretch out onto the sand/gravel area and headed right on over to the final article, a white piece of leather. Blast did a very good track.His final articles, he has taken to try and rip them apart... I had a great toy in my bag so quickly exchanged the leather piece for some play time with the toy. He was happy!

Autumn on the South River

2011-10-09T16:18:00.003-04:00

We took a little break today, and drove out to Nipissing Village and Chapmans' Landing. The South River winds all through the area. This weekend couldn't have been more perfect for temperatures and colours. An active water system, the river was as calm as could be, beautiful and serene.Looking the other way, on the left is an ancient homestead. I cut out the home from the picture, to make sure not to offend anyone in case they were looking. Such a lovely and isolated spot. It felt like going back in time out there.Walking around the little point we were on above, another view where the river winds around another bend. I just loved it there.And this was kind of 'in the middle' on the river bank. There are some enormous old pines out in this area as well; possibly too difficult an area to have ever been cut. I love the coloured reflections on the water from the autumn trees.

Storm in the Leaves

2011-10-09T16:06:00.003-04:00

Storm is just short of 16 yr. 9 mon. now. I wanted to take pictures of him in the autumn leaves, but as he doesn't walk terribly well now, he got bogged down in the leaves. Poor little guy, I just plunked him where I wanted and let him pose.

He still has the most amazing amount of coat on him. I decided on the spot to do this, so did not spend time grooming him for the pictures. He's just au naturel..Ah...the attitude. He's always had that. Was very funny (although often not at the precise time - for me) in the obedience ring as a young guy. Very good giving the evil eye!He is standing, that's how deep the leaves are, and they're stuck on his coat all underneath...he really is stuck in there. But he saw the camera, and all his life has loved to pose for pictures. It was nice to get him out into the edge of the forest for a little while.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-10-05T21:19:00.002-04:00

We all have so much to be thankful for. I hope everyone enjoys this special time of year, which is so beautiful.

Dogs in the Fall Forest

2011-10-03T07:12:00.004-04:00

Autumn is my most favorite time of year. Sunny, cool, crisp and the beautiful colours. Unfortunately, it lasts such a short while. This year, we've lost most of the leaves already, the reds went first and there's just some orange left with the yellows.

I wish it would last for three months, but have to accept it won't be long before winter sets in. So any nice day we can get into the forest is special.

Yesterday, we went in for three separate walks in different areas. Above, we are on the recently cut survey line at the back of our property.Tank and Trust are just loving it...racing back along a trail. You can just see the joy on their faces."I'm lovin' it" Tank seems to be saying...so happy to be out here.Trust waits for us to catch up, just chilling out.And the typical pose on the rock on the way back home.Blast takes possession of "the rock". He may be looking for the coyotes we've had bothering us regularly for a few weeks. I do wish they would go elsewhere, it's a concern to take the dogs for walks these days.Kira, as usual, with a ball in her mouth. I have to remember to take "something" with us, or...............she starts grabbing big tree limbs to haul around and bash into my legs running past. Has to have "something" to carry in her mouth.

A momentary pause. She dropped her stick, don't remember what she watching, but it must have been good to stop dead and drop her tree branch!This was just a pretty spot, with sun shining through the trees in the background, and moss on downed tree trunks. Just a calming area. Sure wish it would last....

Amazing NEW Dog "Toys"...

2011-09-29T19:11:00.003-04:00

Wow! Beat these toys to inspect and play with (and on!)...our driveway is being worked on, so there are three different "toys" here for a couple of days.

Kira is interested in 'something' on this tire; behind her is the step up into the cab.A little high and small for landing for her to jump up, but she had a good sniff around.She had no qualms jumping up on the trailer used to hall the machines and checks it out thoroughly.Blending in with the weeds, she is inspecting underneath the trailer in this picture.And let's go back up on top again!I found an old ball in the weeds and tossed it up for her. Decided I didn't have a lot of time for two more walks before the fellow returned, so decided to bring Blast, Trust and Tank out together after putting Kira back in the house.Same machine as above, other side. Blast is 'thinking' about getting up there once he saw the open door. An even smaller step up on this side, I wasn't going to ask him to, and a very big jump up. Trust seems to be looking and saying "are you nuts, Blast"?!Perhaps...it was an awfully high jump straight up and I moved in to help him if he faltered...he was fine. He checked it all out, and then I put the ball up in the door to slow him on his exit. Didn't want him to jump from that height, but to go down slower.Not to be outdone, Tank decided to jump up and see what Blast was up to on the other side.When Blast saw Tank up there, he hopped up again, and Tank (barely see his bum in corner) jumped off. Just as well, didn't need them acting goofy up there and one coming off sideways. They sure all had a lot of fun though.

"Recovery Day" Monday...

2011-09-29T06:59:00.002-04:00

So pooped after the weekend trial, mainly due to my van quitting after everything was over, Monday was "for my dogs" and walks. This is the "two faces of Kira" and one shot of Blast.

When I want to just go for a walk and not take any toy along, Kira just HAS to dig a rock out of the driveway to carry along. I don't know how she can even carry some she has found, heavy and awkward. This is the devil dog look, that she has no intention of leaving it behind.And you'd think this was an entirely different dog, back at the house, ready to go in...all sweet as you please.Blast often carries three things at once, just can't let anyone else have a toy! On his walk, I had taken the ball only to play with him, but then he found a rubber hose that had been left out there by "someone" on a previous outing. Possession is important, after all.....

Lovely day again on Monday, but a change is coming...

Yesterday, I went into N.Bay with Blast and Kira. Blast did a good track in a busy spot. We met three men exiting a building just as we were approaching a turn on hard surface. As they approached, they were admiring Blast and asked if they could "pat" him...why not?! Always good PR! even if disruptive for us working. Blast was very accomodating, finally said we had to get back to work and they walked on. Told Blast to "find" and after a bit of searching, turned in the right direction out onto the parking lot. I was very happy with him. When we eventually got around to the front of this building, the security people came out to watch him finish his track. They knew we were there, and again, wanted to see him after we played with his final article. So we walked over the them, he is such a winner for the breed.

While his track aged, Kira and I went to Cdn. Tire and all through the store, visiting with people, a couple of small kids, inspecting shelves, items, climbing a ladder, and jumping up on top of some piled boxes so overall, we had a good outing.

So Proud of Tank - EPS Weekend

2011-09-26T11:40:00.003-04:00

Busy weekend at EPS UTD/UTDX on Saturday, and TD/TDX on Sunday. Colour change has just started, and weird weather for us in Northern Ontario. Saturday started out cool and damp, pictures fuzzy with mist. Unfortunately, was not able to get many pictures on the Saturday, mainly due to distance/misty. By late morning, it was very hot.

This is Tank on his second veg. leg just reaching the cloth article. Marge Schultz was the "judge of the day" and very nice to work with. This was the first track of the day, UTD #1. Tank was a "good boy" and passed, I also had a "bad boy" in who did not....too alert to things going on around him...Saturday had 4 UTD tracks, and 5 UTDX tracks. There were two UTD passes, Tank and Dawns' lovely sheltie and one UTDX pass, Sandy and her yellow lab; this gave him the coveted Tracking Champion title! An english cocker was so close, we were certain it would pass, a real heartbreaker.Crossing from the west side of town over to the east side, we couldn't help but stop to watch! This fellow had two dogs on the wagon, one sitting beside him, and a small black pug was behind him. Just 'cruising on through town', some cars were just annoyed...can't just slow down for a minute, I guess.He told us these were young horses "just learning the ropes". They were very calm, even when cars would zip out around them.It sure is nice to live in an area where you still see horses going through the main streets of the local town.Back at the presentations after the lunch, Tank has his eye on a "bumper" and was just dying to have a throw into the water.I don't remember what we were doing here; I think setting up for the group photo and probably Tank knocked over the duckies. Looks like Dawn set them up again, and is trying to convince Tank to leave them or his glove alone.The three passing dogs from Saturday with judge Marge Schultz. All three dogs born in 2005. Sandy Briggs with NEW! Tracking Champion - CH Wimberway's Helzapopin CD, WC, RE; Dawn MacDonald with CH Redpine's Cost A Grand TD, CDX, RE, AGI and new UTD; Susan Coutts with Autumwynd Storm Tracker CD, WC, RE, TDX (also therapy dog) and new UTD.

* * * * *

Sunday was the TD/TDX day, with judge Sandy Briggs and Mary-Anne Boulet apprenticing. The day began cold (5.3 C) and foggy, but quickly heated up feeling like the middle of summer. Beautiful clear blue skies, no wind. I was laying two TDX tracks and my friend, Tascha, a TD and my cross tracks. We were well away from the draw site, and unfortunately had to miss that. I missed seeing some old acquaintances from previous trials, but timing/distance prevented us from seeing any of the TD's and the other two TDX's.

So we spent almost 4hr. alone in one of the most beautiful places I know of up here.

This is the view from the end of my first TDX. It looks over my most favorite field and over the hill and field beyond, the Wasi River runs through. Almost always see deer here, but not this day...sometimes bear...glad we didn't. We saw a couple of lovely hawks, geese in the grainfield, sometimes sandhill cranes. I brought Trust along for the ride and thought we may get a track in for her if Tascha's ended up not being used. Since Trust got her TCh this spring, she just does the occasional track for fun now, as I've been concentrating on the other two with their UTD work. So the day started out 'nice'....until....We drove out ahead from where we were parked to let him through onto this township road. The road we are 'using' is a narrow road, two cars can't pass unless one can pull off to the side. Turned out this farmer was planning to go up and down all day taking his bales off a field on the next concession.

Had a little chat and he said he'd take "the long way around" for the next few, but as we began to run late, we had to arrange for the vehicles coming in to the TDX's to park off the road, and walk down. The first dog/handler were driven down to their start. This was an 'older' dog and didn't 'need' the extra long walk in the heat.This was a 'perfect' field. Lush, thick and wet earlier on. The 'tracks' you see above were from the tractor that had picked up his bales of hay two days previous. Some areas of the 'real' track were criss-crossed with these. They did not cause the dog any problem. Above they have found their first article, after the third corner. This little english cocker just motored on through at a steady pace and it was a joy to watch this team working.

And that's the final article!!! I was so happy to be the tracklayer for this one. Since they already had their UTDX, passing this TDX meant another new TRACKING CHAMPION! (That's Mary-Anne with her back to me) This dog will be twelve in January, 2012, and as Karen said, is now officially retired! TCh Carfrae Me and My Shadow, CDX, AGN.And this was the time for hugs and kisses and tears and whatever else comes along with this wonderful accomplishment! Very nice. I so love to see the older dogs do it.

And then the day went downhill for me. Van was dead, couldn't get back to the lunch and presentations, so no pictures from that. Too long a story, but finally got Trust and I home, with help from Mary-Anne, Tascha, my husband, our friendly garage fellow sent from CAA, couldn't put Trust on her long awaited track. I'm so sorry I missed the presentations, but glad I had help that didn't leave us stranded.

And we met the tractor fellow again, who wasn't too happy a van was completely blocking the road for another few trips!!!! A good weekend.

Tanks' Sixth Birthday

2011-09-21T19:42:00.003-04:00

It's so hard to believe that Tank turned six years old on Monday. As we always do, we had a birthday party with iced carrot muffins, however, a smaller than normal party. Blast and Kira were not invited (poor dogs!) as we were pressed for time and also couldn't do it the following day. Trust wore her own princess hat, Storm was just dying for 'extra' food, and Tank was as excited as always.

Tank is saying, "Come on, come on, blow out the candles!!!"Tank receives a new tugga-wubba while he waits for his muffin.We decided to move to the kitchen for the goodies, and Tank is getting very anxious, watching a piece being broken off and given to Storm. He is saying "I can almost taste it now!"What a good boy! A piece dropped right in front of him, I told him to "Leave It" and he's just dying...mentally 'willing' it to wiggle over to him. I told him he could have it and they each got their own little birthday muffin. We got two each!!!

It's All Fun for Kira

2011-09-21T18:45:00.001-04:00

Foolish me wondered if Kira would hesitate to take a running jump up into the truck for her favorite ball....the ball barely 'beat' her up!This was one I "planted" and it was buried behind and under a hefty log. When she first discovered it, she looked at me, then dug right in to move the log out far enough to grab the ball.Out we come...did a few ball throws into the truck, then moved on to the barn.Ball is wedged back in behind and under things; she's just pushed her way in between bike tire and snow blower and now has to find it.It is under the side of the generator, and she's pawing at it to move it enough to get her head in to grab it...and she does. Then she squeezed out on the other side of the blower to come back with it.Off we went for some throws into the bush with a couple of new balls. Great fun!

Two Carmspack Dogs...

2011-09-12T20:34:00.003-04:00

Good looking dogs with good working ability. Did short forest walks this afternoon, have bears and wolves around, so didn't want to go in too far. Kira (above) at just over 10 months now. Blast (below) at 2 yr. 4 mon.

Blasts' Track Sunday

2011-09-12T14:35:00.004-04:00

Blasts' start is shown by the red arrow, a tiny white spot marks it. It was between bushes, and I should have known better in this location as hotel guests walk their dogs over here. So it's obvious what pulled him off the track just after he started.Verbally bought him back on and we head out again. Don't know what's wrong with people, there was poop further along, but by this time, he wasn't bothering.Blast has just made his left turn and I'm starting to follow. This leg takes us up a little hill, over the top, with an article before we hit the asphalt.Working nicely over the hill, he will soon find his plastic article.He briefly pulled to the left of the track here, wind was 'coming' from the left, so not sure what he scenting. He did come back on the track and stayed close the rest of the way across the parking area.The wood article was near the curb to make sure it wasn't an issue for cars driving through this driveway, and Blast stopped and indicated clearly, before moving over the narrow grass island, across another driveway and then we will head up the hill in front of him.Once over the top, he goes out onto another driveway in a very wide section where there is the MOT turn to the right. He did this very well.And after he turns, goes up another short hill onto grass, towards his last corner.Over the crest of the hill, he is just approaching the corner, a left turn.And at the end of the last leg, he just reached the leather article. Good Boy!!!I think he was trying to 'help' me get into my bag here for his toy, while I tried to undo his harness.

Found a New (BOO!) Spot for Tank

2011-09-12T14:02:00.004-04:00

Heading out on scrubby veg. into a very quiet area....a cemetery on the other side of the road.A very, very old cemetery, death dates on some grave markers are in the late 1800's.

I plan to go back one day and wander through and read them, it was most interesting. Above we are under giant pine trees, walking on crunchy pine cones and twigs and branches.Tank just indicated his first article, a small plastic lid, and I'm fishing out a reward for him. We will cross a narrow gravel road and head into an unused part of the cemetery.Tank had taken the correct turn, but suddenly turned and ran around in a large circle before coming back to the track again. I'm standing near the corner.And off he goes. I'm really biting my tongue about what may have 'moved' him...

And this was odd, also. He totally missed the wood article, circling around it, but not 'touching' it. I waited, verbally encouraged him to keep looking, and after two circles, he did indicate it with a foot touch, then down.Off we go again, leaving the cemetery, climbing up a little bank, across the road, and nto a loose gravel area.Tank made his turn and headed over to the final article, but again was slow to indicate. I've wondered this past week if he was showing signs of allergies, and hope this isn't the case, but will have to watch closely this week. He just wasn't his 'normal' self and seemed pretty hot or pooped before the end of the track.

Emma & Tascha Tracking Today

2011-09-11T20:44:00.003-04:00

A great day today, we got out to do three tracks. Cool, damp morning, but by the time we were on the third dog, it was HOT again.

Tascha brought Emma in from the side and Emma quickly found the right direction and was off.I love this picture. Emma had checked both ways and then took off in the right direction at this corner and didn't hesitate a second heading out across the cinder running track.This was her first article, a cloth glass case, in the centre of the running track.I got waylaid by a fellow wondering what we were doing, and by this picture, they had made two more hard surface turns, found a second article, plastic on this walkway and were heading towards the end of the track.The track left the sidewalk, crossing onto the asphalt right at the corner of the building...a very tricky spot as the wind blows around the corner of this building. No problem, Emma just moved off and over to the grass, and has just turned her last corner above.She found her glove, and Tascha is running up praising her.Time for fun and games with Emma and the glove!

August 28th; Blast,Emma,Tank pics.

2011-09-09T19:57:00.015-04:00

A few pics. from each of the three tracks, just too much to put on here otherwise. Still have Sept. 5th tracks to get to - too much going on these days trying to get ready for trials. We've also done some 'search and hide' games for motivation, and that sure works!!! No pics. of them, the dogs are running and one of us is hiding!

This is a nice place, very assorted ground covers and busy, but this was an early Sunday morning, so fairly quiet. There had been dog walkers through here. Blast has just left his start which was on top of the rise, just behind me. He's working nicely here.We've gone through a garden and made a turn out here. This is actually a circular drive-through to the left and right. He is picking up a small piece of food, you can see it right through his legs (double click to enlarge picture) and further up ahead is a cotton glove. Past this is a right turn down a walkway, left over grass and into driveway, up over a 2' curb onto pavement.He's been working through here nicely, above is checking a folded paper which had blown off from beside the track. He comes back to the track and makes an open left turn on the pavement.We head up onto the walkway, make a right and he's dead on the first step onto the grass.The couple walking towards us, pretty much met us right on the first walkway, and paid no attention to Blast, and he paid no attention to them. A good "non" meeting. An article ahead, then a left back to his final article in cedar trees. A good track.Tascha and Emma down at the lakefront, crossing a tricky area where wind comes through a "tunnel" out of the picture on the left, and off the lake on the right. This is a 'raised' area they are crossing.Having completed that, and very nicely, they move onto mainly dead, brown grass and dirt patches. This is a very long leg and then it will cross the wide roadway towards the lake.After crossing the road, they move between two garden areas and Emma has just found her first article. They have three more legs, crossing the road again, and on to the final article.Still down at the lakefront, Tank is on his first leg. He will be crossing this road further up ahead. By this time, there was a fair bit of traffic building up at times.A couple of vehicles stopped to let us go, and we run across the road. I've taught all my dogs to run across roads when I say "Go, go, go!" as sometimes it's necessary.One aim with this location for Tank was to see how he handled "more" distractions.

We had people approaching us and I had to explain what we were doing, lots going on, didn't notice until seeing this picture, the two dogs with people sitting in the gazebo. Sometimes there are loose dogs, which is always a worry. Tank paid absolutely no attention to anything but his track, I was very pleased with him. He's about to make a left turn here.We gone through a parking lot, grass and cross the road once again...this made 3 crossings. A right turn above takes us along a stretch of grass to his final article.What a good boy, playing tug and throwing the glove for him to catch. A happy dog!!!

Ball Work - Just Play for Kira

2011-09-09T17:22:00.002-04:00

This picture is from a week or so ago, out on a walk. Found a ball...had to play! Kira is braced for a jump to catch the ball.I keep cutting off ears!!! We did a little "two ball work" today, she was bringing this one back from the bush.The two orange balls are her favorites, something is getting "the evil eye" on her way back to me.Just a little play after the ball "work"...

Too cute not to share!

2011-09-06T07:48:00.002-04:00

Well, I'm now two weeks behind on putting tracking pictures on here and a number of others I planned...just too much to do, too little time.

However, this picture is from yesterday, after finishing tracks. Just thought it was so cute.

Tank and Emma, Sunday, September 6, 2011. Urban Tracking buddies.

Sunday - Track 7/7 Blasts'

2011-08-26T07:25:00.005-04:00

Nice spot, new place for us. Two little girls seemed to follow us through this track, which was good for Blast. He paid no attention to them, which actually surprised me. Green grass for his scent pad, taking him in from an angle. The track heads out through all the pine trees, over pine needles and crunchy pine cones. He zoomed through this area.We are nearly at the first corner, a left turn, working well.I really can't remember what got his attention here. There were a few times people were walking through on the path in front of us, perhaps that's what it was. The little girls were off to the side, climbing trees, and he wasn't watching them. Distractions are still a problem at times with Blast, my problem not proofing enough.Back working on the track, heading into a gravel parking area, there will be another left turn out there.Another distraction. However, much as I want that nose down all the time and focus, he IS a 'proper' GSD and he is alert and protective. I imagine, if he ignored everything else, I would think he wasn't really 'alert' enough!?!And the other issue is a quick glance at some articles, and moving on by. Yes, I saw the glance, and was moving up closer. Would the judge 'see the glance'? Or would it just look like I was picking it up?I held the line tight, and made a fuss over the article to 'bring him back'. It was a block of wood, he really just wanted to continue on the track, so I made it brief.Little girls were closing in on us from the left side, he still shows no interest in them.

Good! At least he can discriminate that they are not any threat and he continues to work nicely. They ended up following us closely through this area.A small veg. area and then into another gravel parking area. This was a short, but interesting track compared to his previous one this day. This one had a few more distractions, which I know is something we need more work on. He works well on both asphalt and gravel, nose down, usually right on the track or darn close. I don't want to de-motivate him with insisting on better indications at articles, but that does need some 'careful' work.Same at the final article, he "knew" it was there, and looked at it, but turned left. I believe that was "I'd rather follow the direction you went"....so I stood my ground and had him lie down on the article and gave him a treat. Each time he went to get up, gave him a treat on the article again, and did that about 4 times. This article has to be important! Then I pulled the hidden pull toy out of my pocket and we played with that. It's a fine line, but he must indicate the articles even a tiny bit better, and partly a big reward in doing this will hopefully improve it.

Sunday - Track 6/7 Tanks'

2011-08-26T06:26:00.004-04:00

This is Tanks' second track from last weekend, a shortish one, aged only 20 mins. Hard surface mainly in one section on this track, mainly dry old grass. A lot of what we did last Sunday had veg. surfaces that I consider darn near as tough for the dogs as the hard surfaces. Plus we find most dogs in trials are failing on veg. even before they get to hard surfaces.

Put his start under trees in a bit of green on purpose. I had seen the dead grass further on when we drove by. This was done before the big storms on Monday, with all the tornado warnings. Grass should have greened up this week.Moving along a good pace, he's very focused on the track. This is his longest leg.We've crossed a walkway and into the dead stuff now; after passing the tree on the left, there is a left turn taking us across the road. Something got his attention momentarily above.Tank looks like he's right on the track crossing the road. He's tracking...but he's moving across the road about 15 to 20 feet "right" of the track.The red line shows the actual track across the road, and red arrow points out an article on the other side. As soon as he reached the "veg" he scooted back down along the edge, through and up the ditch to his article.This was a wood article.Again, after starting and into the pavement, Tank was really determined to head to the right of the track. He lunged twice in that direction, I let him go a ways the second time, until he realized he had lost the scent, and I encouraged him back to the left. Once he began to move in the correct direction, although not 'on' the track, I praised him and he continued on, picking it up. (Training - I knew where it was!) Moving through the parking area toward more dead grass on this leg.Nearing the end of this leg with a corner coming up. He worked well along here, with another article found.Once again, Tank tried three times to lunge to the right. Curious, though, as we had changed our direction, but perhaps the breeze was coming across a large open field and around the hedge in front. Bad me, did not have this written down in my notes. We had seen a fellow biking with his dog loose running along with him and perhaps he had run up here...you just don't know.Tank crossed the driveway and scooted around the edge of the bush to find his leather article. It was folded to make it smaller; that's what he has in his mouth. I'm changing the clip from the harness to collar before we play and then will remove the harness and play again!Yay, Tank! What a good boy.

Ecstatic Trust on Sunday

2011-08-25T07:54:00.005-04:00

Trust was so happy to be coming along tracking on Sunday. Her location had one of the nicest areas of green grass, (sprinklers) across the road it was totally dead. We had a long stretch of grass and she had a great start.Crossing a driveway onto another short grass area. She is tracking so well and with such joy, it's wonderful to work with her. I remember last year, before she got her TCH, I was getting worried about age and health, for no reason, just that she was 9 1/2. She's tracked better in this past year than ever before. And now, it's just pure fun when we do go out...semi-retirement agrees with her!I had to gather my line and move up, so we could run across this road. The lights at the intersection had just turned, and the cars were coming around the corner. I guess waiting would have been more prudent...Onto the dead grass again, the red arrow points to her article, she had veered over towards the road. This is a busy traffic spot at times, wind was coming straight at us, and cars whirling the scent around from the side.She came back around the hydro pole right to the article. You can see an upcoming turn, I used the rock to the right as my turn point and we will go out into paved parking lot.Trust is exactly on her corner here, I left a piece of treat there. We will head to the right, towards the narrow grass island and make a left turn on that.She quickly made the turn and we head towards the end of this stip. It's kind of fun doing any type of track with any conditions for her now, just to see how she handles it. I always felt that Trust enjoyed the "tough" tracks more than the easy ones.This is the end of the grass strip, the red shows my path off, across the driveway, onto grass again. It then turns and goes along a narrow grass strip. The broken yellow line shows her direction off the grass and she is now coming onto the track again. Cars had driven in and out here, it is a shortcut to a Shoppers' Drug Mart for some.We will cross a rock island here before moving onto asphalt, another left turn coming up and a metal article before going over a drop-off into grass. She slightly cut the corner and headed right to the article.This turn was left on the grass before reaching the entrance to the fire hall. She has just realized she's gone too far, and paused to figure out the scenting conditions here.Didn't take long, she's headed up a narrow and low area beside the building. A big scent collecter area this would be.She heads right along at a good pace, towards the end article shown by the red arrow. There was a lot of garbage scattered around out there, and she totally ignored that. She's such a good girl...and a happy one, too!!!

Back to Sunday..Track 4, Emma

2011-08-25T06:51:00.002-04:00

Lovely brown dead grass at her start and most of first leg. Emma worked hard to find her start in this location and did a great job (in spite of her handler!) funny story....This was a very short track, just different ground cover for her and aged longer, one hour. Above, she has just taken her first corner.She checked both sides on the entrance to paved lot, then headed straight out on the track. Here she has found an article; will go on to a left turn, short leg, right turn and up onto grass.Nice work here, now headed toward her article on the grass. I did the work, I found it, let me have it back!!!! Very nice little track.

The Woodpile

2011-08-24T20:36:00.002-04:00

Last week we had most of our winter wood delivered. It is still in a large pile where it was dumped inside the fenced in area that was our horses' enclosure. We didn't want the dogs "playing" around it, as it is unstable.

However....I've been thinking about it and decided to see if Blast would think he was tough enough to climb up for a toy. Figured, if I saw any problem, would immediately remove him.

The favorite pull toy was in the top area. Blast ran around it twice first, looking for the best way up. He tried a couple of places and a few logs moved, so he moved on until he found the "best" place. Up he went. He dislodged a couple on his way, but had a firm grip. No problem.There it is! It had become somewhat stuck up there and he had to pull it a few times to dislodge it while balancing on a few logs.Pulled it out and then picked his way carefull down...very thoughtful and careful.Wasn't sure about trying Kira, but really wanted to see how tenacious she would be, or if she was too worried to go up. Ha. ha. ha. She scrambled up so quickly I was telling her to slow down. Sending logs flying behind her, she wasn't concerned.So we tried it from a couple of other places, she was up in a flash, even taking leap up on her last one, when I decided to stop. I certainly didn't want her hurt in a 'slide' and she had just become a little too exuberant.This was her last one up, she was pulling the toy out from between a couple of logs on top.This time I clearly told her to be careful, she was coming down a different side, and actually was picking her way carefully. I expected Blast would be keen, but wasn't so sure about Kira. If anything, she was even more tenacious than Blast was!

Sunday - Track 3/7, Tanks' first

2011-08-23T21:07:00.005-04:00

This is really going to take time...on the third of seven tracks from Sunday. So this is Tanks' track, fun mix of veg. and non-veg., three articles, aged 45 mins. had gotten much warmer than expected by now.

As usual, he's off to the races when I release him at the scent pad. I brought him in from the side like I did with Blasts' start. Heading out towards the road, right on the track; I spent most of this at a fast trot behind him. He has a right turn up near the road, which he paused, checked left and turned right back fast along the next leg.I just noticed the fellow in the red shirt hadn't gotten too far on the other side of the road! We're catching up to him!! We've crossed a driveway and he's just reached his first article, a small yellow plastic lid. He had actually run past a bit, circled back around to it. He's not great with plastic, to tell the truth.Through the tree area, down and up a little ditch and heading to the next driveway.

His track is just to the right of the tree in front of him, before the pavement.Tanks' right turn was on the paved driveway and he's heading along pretty good about 2' to the left of the actual track. You can "just" see a red cloth article further up on the darker spot. Tank still likes to check out any grassed area near to the track, I have to keep firm tension on his line in these areas. He darts over quickly and nearly drags me with him.If he "likes" the article, like a cloth one, he will pick it up. If he doesn't "like" it, as in plastic, he tries to ignore it. A bit of a problem! We have a turn shortly after this area. When training, unlike in a test, I will often leave articles closer to corners, or in tricky spots, sometimes just because I'm trying to avoid them being picked up as well.We've moved off the drive/park area and this is a very short leg over to the building. I'm walking between two sewer covers here, he ignored as he went through. After crossing a walkway, his turn will take us on to his last leg. He hugged the building along this leg, 4' from his track, and turned the corner around it to check it out....found a big bird feather there. Then immediately curved back to the track, still on grass.Off the grass, onto another paved area, and you can see, and now he has, the final article. I placed it so it was not too obvioius, he probably tracked about 1/2 way out then lifted his head and saw it. That's fine, he was right on the track. This was a big bonus for him, a leather baby shoe to play with.Thank you, thank you, he says. I love the baby shoe, and haven't seen it in a long time! I really would like to keep it...

Sunday - Track 1/7, Emmas'

2011-08-23T08:23:00.003-04:00

Nice place with green grass for Emmas' first track. They have a sprinkler system as we've been 'surprised' and wet in the past! Emma has just pulled Tascha around the first turn, heading onto the cement walkway to cross paved driveway.Heading along walkway in front of building and just reaching first article. They will shortly leave walkway and turn onto paved parking area.Sure seems to be an advantage to having your nose sit 2" off the ground! Off they go, full of confidence having made a perfect left turn.Emma made a large circle in this area but was clearly working the scent. She picked it up, crossing the track on her circle back and straight over to the curb.Now, if you really look at this, or double click and enlarge the photo....the curb is taller than Emma! She either has to climb, or jump up. No problem for Emma.They have crossed the small island, a driveway, turned out onto paved drive again, before making another turn on that and up over another curb onto this last island and just about to reach the glove. Nice work for Emma. Tascha laid the track, aged about 30 mins., 3 articles. Idea was short/fun/motivational, which it was.Kill that glove!!!

Sunday - Track 2/7 Blasts' first

2011-08-23T07:43:00.007-04:00

Taking Blast to scent pad from an angle. This area had very dry brown grass, patches of green, and hard surfaces were paved parking areas. Aged 50 mins., three articles, cloth, plastic, leather.Working on first leg, headed toward parking area, we are crossing a newly filled in construction area here.We completed the first leg on pavement, and just made a left turn. Working nice!This was Blasts' longest leg on the pavement, he veered off here well ahead of the corner. This was one of those "what the heck is he doing times" (I laid the track so knew he was off) and with continued pressure, and not following, he turned back onto the track and along to make the corner.The third leg took us behind the building and onto grass where he shortly found a cloth article, between his legs. He nosed it, I said down and he did right away...making progress on this. There will be a right turn before the building and along to another article on grass. I have been making a point of leaving articles either close together or long stretches without one. I don't want the dogs to have any idea where they may be...just in case.Perspective is often so off in these pictures, I couldn't figure out where this was for a minute. There is actually a driveway just ahead, the building is way further back. This is Blasts' second article, plastic, which he stopped at, and pushed a bit...good enough.Last leg over brown grass again, heading to a wide paved driveway and last article.

He found it, used a grey glove to try and make it hard to "see" and he indicated clearly enough, just by rushing and grabbing it. I ran up, tugged and we played for a while. Was a very decent track.

Two-Ball Search - Kira

2011-08-22T11:15:00.003-04:00

First, I want to mention...yesterday we did 7 urban tracks with 4 dogs, all different locations; and have sooo many pics. won't get to them until tonight or tomorrow. So check back later for those!

This morning, I did some ball games and searches with Kira, so just a few quick pics.

This ball was back over the hill, in the goldenrod, in front of the pine trees.Coming out from the forest with the ball. I use two balls, and that way, I'm always sure she brings one back. I always have one with me. She's very possessive, so this works.Another return out of the forest.The ball was in under the brush pile, she tried first from the other side, got stuck, and came around this side to dig in and get it.Mean me, put the ball back in behind rocks with raspberry canes growing over and through them. Doesn't seem to give her pause, she just digs in.

Wore her out, a rest for me...

Kira - 2 little searches

2011-08-17T14:48:00.001-04:00

Pretty hot again today, decided to just do two short searches for Kira outside. One with 6 pots and ball in last one (arrow); on leash. Second one had 8 cones with two balls; 1 part way on serpentine and other at end (arrows). Leash off. The blue arrow was a little leopard frog jumping through. She paused and looked but went back to searching. After playing a little with the favorite ball, I threw it three times into weeds and tall grass. No problems, except she was getting pretty hot, me too!

Kira flips over pot 1.Knocking over pot 3.

Last one, getting the ball!She's up to flipping (or checking) cone five here. Cone six, to her left has a ball, she's watching the frog right here.She just got the ball from cone 8.She's somewhere in here. I was hoping she would get it, as I wasn't really sure where it landed, and really didn't want to go hunting!Lucky me! She found it!!! Too hot, back inside, big clouds building up too...

Blasts' "Make-Up" Track Sunday

2011-08-17T07:12:00.002-04:00

I'm glad I decided to do a tiny track in another location, with decent grass on the start and see what the difference 'might' be...still can't be certain what the problem was the other location.

Blast was very enthused, dragging me up to the scent pad.I stopped him at the scent pad on a quick down, and set him off. And did he go!

Now this track was also barely aged, but the idea was to motivate him at the start and continue on the first leg totally ON the track and enthused. So that worked well.

The grass leg was short, then crossed a busy driveway, onto brick walkway and back onto grass. Very quick changes, not what would be in a test, but all part of seeing how he worked it.This was an open turn, more of a big curve in the grass, to the right, and he was bounding off here.Speedily on the track, between the bushes. A completely different start and first leg, than the previous track was. So glad I did this. I had given Tascha a ball on a rope for his end article, she laid both tracks so this comparison was the same.

The battery went dead on the camera after this picture above. The short track went across a wide driveway, into grass with a turn, cloth article, and a man and his son walking across it in front and also on the next leg over the driveway and into the grass. No issue with them or their tracks. Blast just took a good look at them and dismissed them. He did great on the last leg under and through large pines, sparse veg. covered with pine needles and his ball at the end. Leaving him with this little excellent track was a good plan.

Blast on Sunday

2011-08-17T06:26:00.005-04:00

Although Blast looks good at the scent pad, he had a very wobbly start for the first 1/3 of the first leg. The "veg" surface is pretty sparse, but no idea what was really happening. Emmas' in the same location was the same, sparse and not a good beginning on her first leg. Of course, we've no idea if anything had happened ahead of us arriving at this location to cause any problems. Just odd how they both struggled for a while, and then did well.Blast is just starting to really work along the track on the first leg here. I feel starts and getting past that first corner are so important to the dogs. Certainly in a test, a poor beginning doesn't help with the confidence.Ah, here we go. I've let out the line as he's working well along the second leg.And that must be an article! Obvious in the picture, but Blast is still not "wanting" to pause long at articles. I have to walk up quickly, shortening up on line as I go, to make sure he doesn't continue before I reach the article.Ok, so let's just get going, is his attitude.And again, in this area of the next two turns and two legs, I swear he knew exactly where the next article was and following the actual track was not his priority. If he was loose, I am sure he would have headed to the next article. This is how he works at home on walks, taking off and finding lost things in the field or forest. So as amazing as I find it when he does this, it has certainly created some issues for us in training for CKC tracks.He is now working along about 2' left of the laid track and approaching a left turn out on the veg. surface.A brief pause at the wood article and I rushed up to him on shortened line digging a treat out of my pocket. I asked for a "down" and he did, much to my surprise, with his paw on the article. I feel I'm walking a thin line here. He wants to keep going, I'm asking, but not insisting if it doesn't happen quickly, for a better indication. I don't want to de-motivate him and am trying to do this quickly, so he can get moving again.He popped back up quickly, and took the treat. Tascha did a good job in getting these pictures quickly so I could see this. Immediately, he turned back to the track.

Onto the gravel and nearing a right turn.

Blast seems to like hard surfaces better than veg. Perhaps with his "style" he just finds it more interesting, having to actually 'work' it. He was 'dead on' along this last leg. I really love to see him working this way.And this is certainly a confidence booster for the handler...me! Nose down all the way. Final article, nice work. I'm very happy with any hard surface work he's been doing.

Now if I can just convince him to work like this on the vegetated surfaces!!!

The first part of this track was truly awful, with me having no idea what he was doing, what was going on, only that he was not appearing to work on the track at all.

After we finished this track, I decided to go to another location and do another very short track with a good vegetative beginning to see what the outcome of that might be.

Emma on Sunday

2011-08-15T20:15:00.003-04:00

Emma had a difficult start, we're not sure what the exact problem was, but did a re-start with her and she did much better. Here she is well out on her first leg.Emma has completed two corners by this picture, found one article, and is just about to find another one above. This was the only "nice" grass portion of her track and she was right on it, moving well.Shortly after the article, she made a nice left turn and is moving out onto a wide gravel drive to her next corner, a right turn. Her track was aged about 40 mins., four turns, three articles.She moved past her turn a very short distance, came back to find it, and is now very confidently pulling Tascha along behind her.She had quite a long stretch on the gravel and her small, black glove was left on the asphalt so it wasn't obvious for her. Nice work!

Best Tracking Dog in the World!!!!

2011-08-15T18:49:00.004-04:00

A little joke, really, but you'll see why later...

And he's off! Tracked Tank (above), Blast and Emma yesterday. Tanks' was actually the last of the day, and aged no more than 1/2 hr. due to a little glitch. He worked really nicely.Straight down the grass with a left turn just before the gravel driveway. Tank actually yanked me down to the ditch a couple of times along here and it took all my strength to stop him from going in!The left turn went across the driveway and between two two buildings. After reaching the end of this short grass area, to the left was one of those domed sand storage buildings. As we approached the open door, a ton of pigeons flew out in front of us...how exciting for Tank! But he just continued on, into sand/gravel area and made a right turn.He was drawn down to these culverts, who knows why, he had been working along the track nicely up to then. So, he missed a wood article in the sand, which I also didn't notice. The next turn is to the right, before the asphalt and onto another grass strip.We move up here, pretty much dead on, according to my tracklayer and photographer, Tascha. A left turn is ahead.He turned exactly on the track, left, over the driveway, and above is exactly on the track back over the curb onto grass again. Not sure why my line is so askew here. I think he zipped to the right, and then quickly back to the left and the track, so I hadn't had a chance to gather it up at all???It's probably obvious "where" we are now, leading up to the title of this post....Again, he was right on the track on this grass section.He found and flipped a blue plastic lid, lay down, and I stopped to give him a treat. We will turn left just before the "out" sign.Again, told he was right on the turn and out onto the pavement. Really happy with this, even if only 1/2 hr. old.About this time, someone drove in to the front of the store and yelled over to us, saying: "That must be the best tracking dog in the world". I didn't clearly hear him, and he yelled again, "no doubt about it, that's the best tracking dog in the world"!

He then said that any dog taking you to the Beer Store must be the best tracking dog of all. Well....it was a man talking! ha.ha. Tank was on the last leg of his track here, heading towards the leather article on the grass.What a good boy! He's just stopped at the article and is looking back, wondering what all the fuss is about. I really did have to laugh.So, we play a bit. Who cares about beer, when there's an article to play with?

Birds on the Move???

2011-08-13T10:04:00.002-04:00

Quite a change in weather for us the last couple of days...has given us hope to get out regularly again to track. Yay! A lot of birds are already "on the move" here. We had a huge flock of robins come in, and spend two days eating berries, before taking off with our 'resident' robins. So many warblers this year, their musical voices have been lovely to hear. But they also seem to be gradually leaving us...mid-August?!

The house is barely visible from the front fields now, and the weeds are nearly five feet in parts of the field. As much as I miss having our hayfields, the goldenrod and other veg. certainly provides food and safety for the birds that are migrating, and is often full of butterflies.This little cutie hit a deckside window this morning and was stunned but unharmed.

She is a black and white warbler, and the second this week on the deck. Contacting our expert local bird person, he said they are not uncommon here, but are "deep woods" birds and surprised they were in the open and on the deck. After a rest in our "bird box" she was fine and ready to take off again. She happily and quickly flew out of the box when I lifted the lid, and took off into the forest.

Finally..Tanks' Track!

2011-08-11T07:29:00.004-04:00

A busy day on Tuesday, tracking 3 dogs, all in different locations, and also work with Kira! Another thing I discovered, much to my surprise, was that North Bay even has traffic jams at times...

Then, working on the multi pics. for this has taken a couple of days. So this is it!

And this is a typical Tank 'start style' which is why I wear gloves with him! He crawls to his start when I switch the clip from collar to harness and then is off like a shot.Short, brittle brownish grass again, but he was on a mission! After the hydro pole, we make an open left turn toward a parking lot.Perspective again...we are still on grass surface and he is down on his first article, a plastic light switch. We continue on grass on an angle and then out on the asphalt in front of this van, where he will make a right turn.Pause to scent the air here. When you don't know, with urban situations, you tend to "guess" what's happening. So in this situation, I know the blue van was not there when the track was laid (1 hr. 20 min.) and there IS a door on the end of the building where he is "looking"....so who knows?! Shortly after Tasha took this picture, Tank did turn and move up in the track direction.Now, if they could use their eyes, like their noses....there are yellow arrows painted on the lot which actually point out the direction of the track!!!! He moved steadily up here, but was working along the front of the vehicles. That's ok, as I knew he was working it.At the row end of vehicles, a small grassy island to cross, then a driveway and up over a curb onto a sidewalk. The track turns right on the sidewalk.

I have said in the past, I often train some more difficult areas or combinations than you would normally find in a test. Knowing where the track is, helps me to help the dog work out problems when necessary.And Tank had no problem with this area, he took the turn right away and is heading off across another driveway. What a good guy! We go up on another little grass area, down in a ditch and then another road crossing.Lots of cars had been going up and down this road. He is crossing to the left of the track which comes out about 6' to the right of the post.

A cloth article on the grass past the sidewalk and we actually move up the edge for quite a ways here. There were two different doggiedoos along here, I just hate these ignorant people that don't pick up after their dogs. I actually pulled him off and around these areas to avoid them.This is the front area, near an entrance to a large school...manicured area, but look at the brown grass. It's been just so horrid with the dry, hot weather here.Tank has made another corner and will move along, over a walkway, and finally reach his last article.

A workers' truck had been parked here when I lay the track, probably he walked around here also..I had walked behind the truck. Tank was checking the area of non-veg. and then headed to the corner of grass, and back on the walkway curving to the left, which is where I went. I wanted to hide the article from view...it was a rather largish work glove.Here it is. Good boy, Tank! Funny thing with him today, though. He is usually a freak with articles, picking them up and turning back to me. Today he seemed to have no interest in them, and especially the last one, he didn't even pick it up. Normally, he would "wave" it at me. I still have no real idea what this was about...wish they could tell you...Here, I was trying to interest him in playing with it, with no real luck. I tossed it for him to catch, which he did, but without his usual gusto. Very strange for him. Otherwise, he did a very decent track, aged longer than desired, due to travelling from one location to another. He did a couple of tough areas and worked well on the track so I was certainly very pleased with him. Will make a definite point of giving him a very desirable, happy and motivational short-aged track next time.

Blasts' Track from Tuesday

2011-08-10T22:31:00.006-04:00

I discovered a new location recently and Blast "christened" it on Tuesday. We used more veg. areas than hard surface, but will go again utilizing more of the non-veg.

Great conditions, just ahead of rain coming in, and not too hot. We actually had 'real' grass for the early track before running into the old, dead stuff at the end. His track was aged about an hour, with three articles. It would have been approx. 3/4 track length.

I just love his starts at the scent pad. Look at the rear legs just ready to "push off"! No doubt what direction this one goes!!! This location is a small campus with people and cars coming and going and we pass the main route travelled from the front door to the bus shelter so there is lots of foot traffic.Blast just made his first turn which was under the 2 trees in the first photo on a little shady rise.Didn't see what 'stopped' him here. We're heading to the first article (wood) pointed out by the red arrow. The bus shelter is just up ahead, with the road in front of it, the other side of the weeds.Found the article, which I just picked up. Blast just realized Tascha was back there taking pictures. She turned away and tried to hide, which piqued his interest!About to cross the cement walkway route to the bus shelter on a diagonal. It actually is a fairly large area, the perspective is off here.Back out onto grass, I was actually surprised (and really pleased!) how Blast was right on the track going through this area.We have moved along and made two more corners at this point. This one, I've just turned. Blast cut this one quite a bit, I believe he was already picking up the scent from the next article, even with one more turn before we reach it.And here he just reached a small cotton glove. The track had gone in a "U" shape in this area, and with the close building and conditions, I felt he knew exactly where this article was a long ways back. This is a dog that takes off on walks having caught scent of something left behind in the field or forest from days or weeks previously. As amazing as this is to me, it also (to me) interferes with a solid tracking style (for trials).He worked beautifully right up the centre of this sidewalk, solidly on the track.We're reaching the front area of the main doors and will make a open turn right in the middle of this area and cross closely in front of the entrance. He's working so nicely here, I'm so pleased with him. Tascha said later, there was a lady waiting in the car closest to us, and was watching. When Tascha went past, the lady asked her if this was a wolf. Sure thing...I'm tracking a wolf on a harness and line...! She said a small bear came out of the bush yesterday when she was there.We've crossed the entrance area with no problems and he was moving at a good pace towards a bicycle resting area we go through on a change to veg. surface.On the last leg now towards the end of the building on brittle, brown grass.Is that it?!!! I have the small pc. of leather in my hand. Blast did really well, so pleased with him with so little work in urban settings. All 'smiley boy' wants here is to go and see Tascha! Blasts' article indications are not solid enough for my liking and we really need to work more on this. And distractions can still be a big issue for him. This is something I need to work on separate from tracking...more exposure to busy areas.

I'm hoping the weather has changed so we can really focus on a program. Fall is coming quickly, and preparing for autumn trials has been almost impossible this summer. But after his work today, I certainly have hope!

One Stop, Two Visits for Kira

2011-08-10T11:04:00.006-04:00

What a bonus yesterday for Kira! After Emmas' track we were headed to Home Depot with Kira. Haven't been there in long time, well before their dog ban. Location fit in with our track locations, so off we went. While parking I saw a school bus in front of the doors, and they were just loading up kids coming out of the store.

I hurried over to talk to the driver, and then the lady in charge of the kids.

They were most receptive to "meeting" Kira, so on we got! I quickly discovered that small children of a very young age were the most attentive and could easily follow directions. There were actually four ladies looking after the kids, and was asked to speak a little first about what Kira was doing and I also took the opportunity to teach him to ask permission first to touch the dog, then let the dog smell their closed fist, and to never reach over the top, but go under the chin or on the chest to pat the dog. The kids were great!! We went down the isle and met every little person and Kira even gave about three of them a face kiss. They were ecstatic!!!

Kira was wonderful with them. She doesn't look for attention but receives it well.The kids all stayed in their seats, waiting for us to pass through. It was so worthwhile.Even the bus drive was impressed! Kira handles these situations like an old pro. I was very grateful they allowed us to do this, and so lucky to just stumble upon them.Spoke to someone when we went in, and they said she was fine to come in. So just casually walked down some isles, past some people, and checked out a few areas.Always fun to climb up a ladder! She reached the top, turned around and came down, no problem.Ooooh, how exciting is this!? A garbage pail to look inside. I take a quick look first to make sure there's nothing that would cause a problem in there. I borrowed this cart from a fellow that was checking some product, and once she got up, we just pushed it around a bit, banged it, and she balances on it.Ah, a man in uniform! We chatted a bit, nice fellow, says he has a weim. pup that is very active. I didn't notice she was sort of sitting up here until I saw the picture.I dropped her toy inside here, we had done a couple of tugs for rewards after some places; she couldn't reach it so I ended up taking it out, as I didn't want her jumping up and pulling these over. Don't want any disturbance that may keep us from being welcome next time I want to go there.This young lady appeared to want to see Kira, so I went over to her to meet her.

Shaking hands is always a cute thing that people like...having her sit calmly and doing this always wins points, especially for those a little concerned about a dog perhaps jumping up on them. I always explain to people that because she is young and in training, I actually want people to meet her, whereas if she was working, you do not touch them. A good day for Kira doing some "meet and greet" and inspectons too!!!

Emma/Tascha UTD Track Tuesday

2011-08-10T09:03:00.009-04:00

Emma had a very nice start and worked well on this first leg on very sparse and dead grass and at a very busy intersection.She just made her first turn, and Tascha will stand still, not turning her body direction, or moving, until Emma has fully indicated she is on the track.This was the "surprise" when I laid the track. Just beginning to cross the brick walkway, there was a sprinkler to the right watering the plants. I was able to pause when laying the track so I could scoot through without getting wet. When Emma reached this spot, she did not want to continue at first. After circling to the left and trying to go through there, she came back and they both went through this area, dead on the track. But...slowly...and getting wet. I apologized to Tascha, but there was nowhere else I could go at that time, and of course, I had a good laugh about it, so did Tascha....I think....Once Emma started moving, she certanly had no problem with the sprinkler raining down on them.The hose had been moved after I laid the track and the young fellow had walked over the area just before this picture. Emma had taken "his" track for a while, and we helped her back to "her" track where she continued on to this article. Tascha took some time here to play/reward Emma which helped her confidence and she was very enthused to continue on with the track.Up another leg, working really well.Again, Emma just made a right turn. There had been people milling around here previously, and she worked it out very well.Reaching another brick walkway, the young fellow had also walked up here to gather and remove the hose to the sprinkler. She took a little detour up the path while Tascha waited, and Emma came back to the track and turn across the walkway.I had dropped a few treats on the walkway and she was right on the track over to grass. Her next turn is under the trees and to the left leading to a large sandy area.Off she goes, no food on sand and she had no trouble in here.

I had wondered how she would do passing the picnic table and a piece of garbage left on the ground. She very briefly checked towards the picnic table, and back to the track. As you can see, she ignored the paper garbage and moves out toward the paved driveway. This driveway had traffic on it in each direction the whole time we were there.She did a nice corner, moving along a little to the right. There was a strong wind coming from the left and the purple broken lines show where 3 vehicles with people walking around had just left before they reached this spot. Little arrow points to a place they dumped "something"??Just before reaching this area, with me walking behind, a lady stopped directly behind me and honked her horn, scaring the bejezus out of me. She had been parked on the other side, and seemed to be watching us, turned around, coming up behind. How very nice of her. We moved slightly so she could go past as I waved at her....Emma turns and reaches the article.

A lot going on with this track, so I think they did great. It wasn't aged long, as the wind was strong, it was such short, dry grass and the location was busy with traffic, both foot and vehicles.

I had 3 artcles, but ended up just placing two. Also had a storm moving in and two more dogs to track and one for other work.

I was very pleased with Emma and Tascha and again, we've had so little opportunity to do urban work for a few weeks with the extreme hot and humid conditions.

Favorite pics. today Working Dogs!

2011-08-09T22:02:00.004-04:00

Tascha and Emma, and Tank, Blast, and I went out today in superb conditions to track. There are so many pictures that I won't get to them until tomorrow. However, I decided to put just these four on for now, three being Kira who also came with us, and we had a really good and worthwhile time with her. My most favorite picture of the day is the last one on here!

Kira on the short ladder in Home Depot. We had a good time in there, checking out "everything" in the store.Kira can be very sweet when she wants to be. This young lady showed an interest in her, so went over to say hello and shake hands.An unexpected bonus when we arrived at Home Depot, a shoolbus was just picking up a load of small kids from the "Y" program and about to leave. I quickly walked up and spoke to the driver and the lady in charge, and they welcomed us into the bus. I quickly gave the kids a lesson in letting ANY dog sniff their closed fist and not reaching over their head to pat them (note the little girls' fist outstretched). These kids were wonderful in listening and doing what I suggested, obviously the 'right age'! A few even got kisses from Kira, she is very cool and calm with kids.

My favorite picture, another unplanned 'adventure'...poor Tascha and Emma, I couldn't help but laugh! When I made the first turn and began walking through this area, all of a sudden, I saw the sprinkler....the water was just about to reach me. I stopped, decided I had to continue as planned here, so timed it so I could quickly walk through without getting "rained on". I didn't warn Tascha! So it was a surprise and Emma wasn't too keen at first so when they started through, the sprinkler was just coming back this way and they got it full blast walking through. If you can't see it in this picture, double click for enlargement. Too funny! You can't plan things like this, ha.ha.ha.

Walks with Little Search Work

2011-08-08T21:03:00.006-04:00

Almost didn't get finished the 3 walks before dark tonight. Lovely at this time, though, you can feel the coolness coming up from the ground in the pathways, then groundfog begins to form. Tank and Trust on first walk, nothing eventful happened, so took Kira on second walk....

Before we went, I grabbed a metal tracking article, never had her search for metal before, and thought we'd "visit" the rockpile on the way back. I had carried it in my pocket on the walk, and just tossed it up into the centre when we walked by. She actually heard it 'hit' and so I told her to find and up she went. In this picture, above, she's just scenting into the 'hole'.She backed up, and walked around the edge to the other side.She scented it and then ducked in for it.I really wondered if she would pick it up, it was a flat electrical metal plate, and she did. Such a good girl. Above she is carefully picking her way down the rocks.Near the bottom, she dropped it and it fell between rocks, so she then had to dig it out. After lots of praise at the bottom, I picked up a rock and tossed it into the top. I haven't done this in some time. Up she went!She didn't find it immediately, but searched and there it is! She's just about to pick it up.I let her carry it a bit, and then diverted her attention. I really don't like her to 'play' with rocks. Had to rush back with her to get Blast, it was getting darker.By the time we began our walk, the sun was setting. On the way out, I remembered the metal article was still in my pocket, so I dropped it in the driveway. Nearing the end of Blasts' walk, we came out of the last path through the field, and turned up towards the house on the driveway. I "suggested" ha.ha. to Blast that he "find" and he perked up and went on ahead straight to the metal article. Good dog!

BBH Agility Frog!

2011-08-07T14:32:00.002-04:00

We've had so very few frogs or toads here this year with so much, and such a long stretch of terribly hot weather. There are no wet areas where we usually have some.

Really miss them. However, this afternoon, I could hardly believe it when I discovered, quite by accident, not one, but two little leopard frogs. One was beside the house and I took a little bowl of water out to leave it in case he spends his time nearby.

Then walking down to the dogs' gravesite, there was another, around the same size, sitting on the agility teeter-totter....and on the 'contact' area as well. What a smart little frog. It had been moved off into some high grass and weeds while David was cutting grass down there yesterday. I went back up to the house and got two water bowls to take down there. Last year I kept a large one in the grave area as I knew there were frogs there. This guy, above, was in the same place when I got back.

I figured he could be a BBH agility frog (BirchBarkHill)!!!