Wildlife abounds...

I'm finally able to drive up our driveway after over 4 wks. of having to park down at the road...what a joy, not hauling everything up and down, especially with all the rain we've had. So now it's wildlife haven around here.

Trying to go out on walks with the dogs is tricky...checking all around the house for deer.They couldn't care less if a dog barks, they just continue on their way...or not...grazing as they go. Last weekend we found a dead moose on our walking trail into the forest. Very sad. No idea what happened, but we now cannot go back there until nature takes its course...bugs, birds, wolves...if a bear shows up it will guard and we don't want to risk taking the dogs out there. So this means about 3 wk. of not going out on the trails. Such a nice time of the year, also.The trees are budding out, so now a porcupine is in the birch beside the house. Another problem! At least when it's up the tree, we know it's there. Otherwise, who knows where it might be if a dog is off-leash or outside the fence. It too, couldn't care less if I stand there and watch it. This one is sound asleep, early morning.

Shed Search Today

Still stuck in here due to driveway problems, set up a search for Kira in the 'former barn', now storage shed. Found some neat things in there and lots of interest for her to work in. This was a directed search, on lead, we had a porcupine in there recently, so didn't want to meet anything 'that' interesting! Picture above, we had just gone inside.

She has just scented an article under the pot and pushed at it with her nose before flipping it over.Here, she carefully pulls out a cloth glove that was back in between the bike tires.A small plastic lid was back in here. She had to squeeze in and back out. I had handled all the items about a 1/2 hr. before placing them.This one was the last of five, a small leather piece stuck up in a plant trellis; she is just pulling it out.We then went out to play! Had a tug and and a throw and off she goes, shaking it to its 'death'...More tugging, you can see how she is braced to win, I had just let her have this one. She has an amazing grip for a young pup...6 months old today.

Rosemary & Reese prepare for a TD

Reese had a very long first leg with a couple of long stretches well under water. I did not plan this, not having seeing the field first, but we looked at it as an opportunity to see how she would handle it....no problem at all. Unfortunately we had a wounded frog near the start and had to dispatch it, but she also showed only curiousity about this and Rosemary got her past it just fine.

When I laid the track, it was lovely. Part way through the humidity was unbelievable. When R & R went on the track, there was a steady breeze and it was cooler. Talk about changes..this was all in a 45 minute time frame.This area was like a rice paddy! Rosemary had said Reese was not very fond of water...well, you should have seen her plow through it without a second thought! Rosemary is pulling up her wet line here.This flag did not mark a corner, but I put it in to mark a number of bones to make sure Reese didn't try to eat anything. She didn't. The left turn is a little ahead.Reese made the turn, found an article, and her indication - as it turns out even in wet conditions - is to lie on it until Rosemary comes up and rewards her. So cute!Reese has just found her final article here, she stopped and was about to lie down on it. She had four corners, five legs, some very, very wet, and 3 articles. Reese worked great on her track, very keen. They will do great in their tracking career!

Ringnecked Ducks

I don't think these are common in our area, I am contacting our local "bird people".

Saw these going over the bridge today on way to a tracking field. There were two pair. Very distinctive markings, especially on the bill of the male. Both male and female have the white ring at the back of the bill, the male another white marking on the front part. Pretty birds.

Sooo proud of Trust - a new TCh

What a day!!!!! I kind of kept this to myself before the trial, but Trust was entered in the UTDX on Sunday in Whitby. I am a member of the Cross Country Tracking Club who put on the UTD/UTDX Test. Trust has been working like a happy puppy this spring...which only consisted of 6 times out since the snow began to leave the parking lots. The green grass down south was amazing to see, we actually still have snow in some areas up here. With our impassable driveway, we ventured out with flashlights and two dogs on leashes to avoid the water/mud on our walk down at 3:30 a.m. to reach the draw at 8:30. Hardly any sleep the night before, but otherwise felt relaxed and calm and positive! I thought when I reached the van, I had forgotten my shoes and would have to wear my mudboots all day! Luckily, I found them.

The trial had 2 UTD tracks then 4 UTDX. We drew X#3. A great group of people there, congratulations to Jersey and Candace Rennie who earned their UTD. The other dogs were great and just had a blip that prevented their passes on Sunday. All did really well on their tracks.

The picture above shows us just starting out and a nice beginning it was. Judge Marie Babin and our tracklayer Joseph Weir behind us.Second leg, just before out second corner, a left turn, a cloth article. Trust is working well. I thought the amazing green grass might be a bit overwhelming, but it was lovely to work on.We've made our third turn beside a building and are moving well - over towards a drop down to a driveway. This hill felt steeper than it looks here, I remember leaning back slightly going down. On the other side of the driveway was collected water that I had to jump over, and luckily didn't fall short and land in it. Trust just plowed through and was working soooo well. I felt she was dead on here, I was watching for that last footstep off the grass and she never wavered.She is checking out a right turn here, actually did a little circle to the left first, there was a sewer grate there she checked, and then moved on to the right.She committed quickly to the right turn, and now is just about to find her second article, a square of wood. Yay, we're feeling good.Moving across another driveway and then into a parking lot. I'm feeling very confident out here, she's been doing great on hard surface in practice and actually seems to enjoy it more now than grass. I never thought I'd be saying that a couple of years ago!!! We went about 2/3 of the way out and she made a left turn further into the parking area.She's moving along with confidence, I felt so good behind her. I think we both were willing confidence & trust to each other. But we had a little bobble after this, she continued straight, there was a left turn just ahead of her here and she continued past it. She wanted to go ahead and then seemed a little uncertain, but I let her go, I wanted her to check it out, we circled back around a bushy landscaped spot, and back into the parking lot, moving over toward the end of the building and scooting along toward the sidewalk. She was working it out. I told she could do it...and what a good girl she was.This is the longer distance view, she had turned onto the sidewalk and worked right down the centre of it. I had forgotten...earlier I saw a parked van at this corner, as we entered the far side of the parking lot; he had stopped there and collected some round rocks. I remembered at that time thinking I hope he isn't letting a dog out. But when we reached this spot, it had totally left my mind as I was concentrating on Trust making a commitment...or not...at this spot.This is when she just turned on to the sidewalk and I was "pretty sure" but watching for her 'lower' body postion to show she was on it as we moved on.And she did commit, moving dead centre down the sidewalk to the end of the grass area....I also thought, hmmm, wonder why the track isn't down the roadway....Well, it was!!! All of a sudden, she zoomed out to the final article. When I saw her moving right and saw 'something' out there, from my perspective, it was NO article, but some tiny piece of something...as I followed her there, she stopped dead, and I saw YES! IT WAS THE PIECE OF LEATHER. OMG! WE DID IT!

Of course, I turned into a blubbering fool, hugging her and telling her how wonderful she was, while Marie and Joseph gave us a few minutes to calm down.

Then Trust ran out to see them, Tascha ran up to see Trust (not me, ha.ha.) and we all hugged each other...a new Tracking Champion! Amazing. It was almost too impossible to believe...we finally did it! Best of all was how Trust worked, with enthusiasm and obviously happy and confident. What a wonderful day. The "trial" to get here was forgotten.

Marie and Tascha took a few pictures here. They were going to drive us back to where we were parked, but who could sit still?! Tascha and Trust and I walked back, reliving the track in reverse, playing with Trust, and probably looking and sounding like silly fools.

After the final track, we did the required photos and speeches and thank you's with the presentations of the rosettes and maps. Trust will also be receiving a medallion from the Club when it is ready.My tracklayer, Joseph, who must have smelled very special to Trust, and judge Marie. Where do I begin with "thank you's"?!

An official introduction: TCh Carmspack Trust CD RN who is also a therapy dog.

Carmen Duggan (Carmspack German Shepherds) who bred this wonder girl, nine years ago.

Darlene and John Barnard who gave the seminar we attended before Urban was accepted by CKC.

Encouragement by so many people along the way. I had "retired" Trust last fall, and

a couple of months ago, just felt we had to try again. Many people were pleased that we had, probably most of all...ME!

Tascha for helping us in our training...laying tracks, always ready to help in any way, not the least...bringing Timmies' french vanilla and often taking pictures. I know Tascha feels like a protective auntie to Trust. Thanks, Tascha.

Marie who plotted a very nice track (for everyone on Sunday) and Joseph, our tracklayer. Everyone else involved in this test also, just so many helpful souls and those who came to watch and cheer everyone on.

Thank you everyone. This is a day I will never forget. Trust is happy to be home and going for a nice walk through the forest today...after all...she's "just" a dog! ha.ha. (But a VERY special one!)

CKC CANINE GOOD NEIGHBOUR TEST

The above picture was from a CGN test last October in North Bay

On June 12th, Sunday...there will be a Canadian Kennel Club CANINE GOOD NEIGHBOUR test in North Bay.

Location is Global Pet Foods, 406 Lakeshore Drive, North Bay. It will be outdoors, in the parking lot just across from the store. The cost is $25. and there are wonderful goodie baskets for each entrant. Passing dogs receive a CKC title and a certificate suitable for framing.

This is such a great program initiated a few years ago by CKC and I really support it as it is FOR ALL DOGS, not only registered purebred dogs.

Let's face it, the majority of pets are mixed breeds or not registered single breeds and are the mainstay of most dog training classes.

A friendly, well mannered dog with some basic obedience skills, should be recognized and supported in all our communities along with the responsible owner who brings the dog to this level.

I hope to have our wonderful OPP K9 officer for a demonstration once again, if he is available. Always a hit!

George, at Global, has posters (should anyone have a place to put one) and registration forms, and the CKC brochure outlining the 12 exercises required. Space is limited in this event, so early registration is a must.

The public is encouraged to come and watch and learn at this event as well. It is fun, it is not competitive, and all will have a good time!

Further to April 21st Spring!

Two days can make such a difference! We could get part way up the driveway before this storm, but meant either backing in or backing out. David backed off the edge, and went into a newly formed pond! Actually, this picture is below. The tow truck came, wasn't sure he could get him out, finally did. The tow truck got stuck! This whole process last 4 hrs. I took these from the living window, they are 1500' down the driveway. Today we are back to solid muck and water over the driveway further up. Both the truck and van are parked at the road for a long time. We were lucky yesterday to have frozen ground early morning, so we could get the van down. What a spring this has turned out to be. It's a long walk, in and out, especially with groceries or dogs and now can't even use the garden cart to carry things. Pouring rain today!