New Ball - Dog(s) Approved!!!

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

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...

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...

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..

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!!!

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

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!