Store Search for Blast.

I wish I had pictures for this, but I left my camera in the van and it all happened so fast, I would have needed someone else to take shots.
Something different for Blast, just so desperatre to keep 'working that nose' (still snowing)...I did a directed article search in a pet food store this morning.
I left 5 articles in various places, stuck between dog food bags, up on a treat shelf, etc. There was a plastic light switch, two very small pcs. leather, a small folded sock, plastic jar lid; I put no fresh scent on them, and took them into the store in a plastic bag.
Figured this was going to be tough in there with all the interesting and yummy (to a dog!) scents.
Very neat to watch him work his way through the store. He was distracted at the smoked bones hanging on a display, but one command put him on track again.
Have to admit, I was pretty impressed, the store clerks couldn't believe how fast he found them all!
What a good boy!!!

Days like this...

This afternoon was so gorgeous, if only every winter day could be like this. I would like to snowshoe every day, if that were possible. Went on two walks out back, first with Tank and Trust, second with Blast. Same route, trying to work on snowshoe trails.
Perfectly quiet out there, all the morning birds were gone, but were deer tracks everywhere. We're heading back in the picture above, Trust and Tank look worn out.

It was up to -16C, no wind in here, and sunny. Just lovely. I had bare feet inside my super -30C boots.

The dogs love this rock, Tank and Blast both always jump on top.

Blast had a deer apple that he had carried a long ways with him, and decided to lay down and chew off a piece of it here, while he waited for me. We're almost back at the house here. Both walks were wonderful, and in total took just over an hour. I just love our forest walks.

Another Rubber Hose/Walk

Lovely afternoon today for a walk down the driveway. Yesterday, the drifting was so bad, I couldn't get out the driveway, and my snowshoe trails are gone again...frustrating.
But, dogs didn't care, another old rubber hose was found!
Since David was coming with us, we decided to take all three at once and thought Blast and Tank could have a good tug session. You can see they did! The snow is from chasing the hose multi times out in the deep snow in the field and plunging through the 'banks' at the sides.
David can throw much further than I can, so I put him to work! Trust is intently watching and wishing she could jump like Blast does. Blast almost got the hose before David threw it.

Trust is getting very excited and trying to figure out how Blast goes straight up...let's see, is it this leg first?

And the final result! Got the hose...got the hose...run back...got the hose...get another throw...

Fun for all!

"Leaping Lizards, Batman!"

For those not as 'ancient' as me....that blurb was from the old Batman movies...in "our" case, Batman should be replaced with Blast!
And here he comes, through the snow, bringing the ball over to the snowpiles to play.

We've never had a dog that just loved to jump so high, often straight up, and catch anything. I was throwing snowballs, more than the ball, actually. This day it was snowing like crazy. Hence the blurry pictures, even though you don't really see the snow coming down, plus he is too fast for clear shots.

He has very solid landings as well, but we do this on the deep snow and only a few at a time.

He LOVES to jump!

If you feed them...they will come...

The birds are pretty amazing this winter; we seem to keep getting more all the time. I'm afraid we must be spending nearly as much feeding them, as we are on dog food...that's scary...
I was just heading out for the third time today when I saw this "assortment" cleaning up the remaining seed on one of the ground areas. We probably have more ground feeders than those that use the hanging feeders, although a lot feed in both areas. Above assortment: redpolls, male and female evening grosbeaks and pine grosbeaks.

At the back of the house at one feeder station, one withy nyger and other with oilseed...redpolls and mourning doves.

A male hairy woodpecker flits back and forth from pole to feeders.

This female downy woodpecker was continually chasing the male away...

Out On Snowshoes This Afternoon

Well, I was, the dogs had a hard time getting through the deep snow, and even on snowshoes, I did also. Blowing like crazy here today, but temp. way up, and sunny.
This was the amount of snow we had yesterday (above). One of the few remaining piles on a tree branch that hasn't yet blown off. It blows off "in blocks" and almost got one on the head. We were NOT supposed to get any snow yesterday, it was S.Ont. that was supposed to be hit, and instead, most of the storm moved up this way.

Trust is having a hard time pushing through the snow. I will have nice tired dogs for a few hours!

Tank takes leaps ahead of me, and then turns around and comes back. I don't have a shovel, buddy, having enough trouble of my own...I lost one snowshoe and almost took a header, but managed to get it back on, without falling down.

And here's Blast taking leaps and bounds as well. He's loving it. He had gone way ahead before coming back to see what was keeping me. There was not a track of a single wild animal out there.

Pristine, deep snow, nothing else. That was very strange. I imagine by tomorrow, there will be tracks all over where we've gone today.

Carmspack German Shepherds

How cute is this?! I believe this pup is around 6 1/2 wk. old in this photo. This litter was born on November 3/2010.
Both Trust and Blast are Carmspack breeding. My first tracking dog, Spook, who will always be my "best dog ever" was sired by Carmspack Kilo. I've always loved this dog. He is also in the background of both Trust and Blast.
They are sound in mind and body, wonderful loyal companions and great versatile working dogs.
If you are looking for a good German Shepherd, you might like to contact Carmen Duggan, who is in the Whitby area: www.carmspack.com carmspack@can.rogers.com