...and a little humour...

This was Trusts' and Storms' Birthday Party a couple of weeks ago. Trust turned eight and Storm was fifteen. Just a few weeks previously, we celebrated Jess' fifteenth birthday. Tank seems to be upset that his hat is on backwards! Blast wasn't quite ready to join the group photo...

Our Visitor is Back!

Our Barred Owl appears to be back hunting behind the house. However, we've found out that this is a male, which is smaller than the female. He is spotted at various times almost daily this week, keeping a watch on one of the bird feeders, for tasty little morsels of rodents that come out from under the snow now and again.

The "Baby" in the Family..

This is Carmspack Blast at approximately 3 months of age. Blast was a very brave puppy, trying out everything he came across. He came "hard-wired" to track, and has been doing mainly "free tracking" through the winter. We are now beginning to start seriously, on hard surface ahead of vegetation, and in harness and long line.

Blast at 9 months in our front fields (free tracking) taking a left turn corner. I was walking the other dogs out here previously, before laying the track in the snow for him, with three articles. He's on his way to the final article at the end of the track. There were a few new and old tracks out here for him to ignore and choose the correct one.

Blast is sitting up on a round hay bale here, after a walk through the forest and fields. He is nine months in this photo. I have to keep reminding myself that he is still a puppy!

Pet Therapy Dogs

Keepers' Jess RN TD, wearing the bell wreath, and CH Fairisles Whitegates Powerline "Storm" CD CGC St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog - posing for their 2009 Christmas Card picture. Storm has also been my main demo. dog to teach children about dog safety & responsibility.

I can't imagine a day without our dogs. Dogs provide us with so much joy, comfort, and humour. They can protect us, assist us, and even 'force' us to be more physically active! Years ago, when we lived away from this area for a few years, I got involved with St. John Ambulance Therapy dogs with three of our dogs; Spook, a German Shepherd, and two shelties, Diva and Storm. Storm is still with us, and still active as a therapy dog. We visited different nursing homes in Orillia for three years.

To see the joy on elderly faces, to see a hand reach out, to hear stories from those able to recount them, about their childhood dog, is truly amazing. And it's our dogs that bring this out.

I believe for those that have a dog suitable for this calling, it is truly rewarding for everyone involved.

Four of our dogs are presently therapy dogs; Trust, a german shepherd; Tank, a labrador; Storm, a sheltie; Jess, a sheltie.

Jess and Storm are the favorites, both blue merle in colour, and small and cute. Each is fifteen years of age, and may be retiring this year. That will be tough. They have been visiting the same nearby nursing home for nearly six years.

There are never enough well-mannered dogs and owners with the interest, and some time available, to visit the homes and hospitals that would so love to see them.

They make such a difference!

The BEST Dog Toy Ever !!!

Tank, Blast and Trust play with the Rubber Hose.

This is a (new) rubber heater cable for a vehicle, purchased at Cdn. Tire. I bought it for a specific training exercise for Blast, in which I needed two pieces of rubber hose about 10" long.

The cost was about $8. for approximately 6' of hose. I cut off 4 sections for the training articles and the rest has become the most favorite outside toy for all 3. Being rubber, it does not get hard in well below freezing temps. and being black, it is easy to spot in the snow. We use this for retrieving, tugging, and Blast just likes to carry it when we are out on walks. It will probably last forever and is a great sturdy toy. Air it out before using, it does smell like rubber.

Trusts' Urban/Snow Track Feb.16

Trust sits at first article (sock). After 2 1/2 days of Winter Carnival, area is very contaminated; new scents today from curling group. Purple line shows track, red arrow points to article. Green to the left was a man going to fitness centre, yelling "mush" "mush" to Trust. She gave him a "dirty look" and took her corner to the right. What a good girl.

Turn just past block of snow, and she's right on it. This leg had an exhaust fan going from the arena which was to the right.

Shortly after turn, a white plastic article - see arrow. Trust dislikes plastic, yet sat right down for this one. Meanwhile, a zambonie had come out of the arena further up, drove right past us - see broken green line - after dumping the load behind us, had come back up again while we waited.

Further up this leg, there was a small building to the left with garbage from the carnival weekend. She veered off track to take a whiff, then back onto track. When she came back on, she was past her article (wood), which is why she is turned looking at me, as she circled back for it.

We're now on 5th leg, crossing in front of arena building. Just ahead and around the corner is the entrance to the post office and arena. She briefly checked this area out before continuing on the track across the driveway.

Here she is moving along the driveway on the track and towards the largest entranceway and the parking lot. Her actual track start (purple X) is way over at the other side, near 2 trucks, where it went out to the right behind the cars (in purple).

Trust crosses the entranceway and parking area with no problems. Many cars, trucks, sander had been across here from the time the track was laid. This was a long stretch from her third article to her final one (red arrow).

And there it is!!!! What a good girl, Trust!!!

Views from the window

We've had a number of raptors around our home recently - no doubt hunting for rodents that occasionally show themselves under our bird feeders.