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!

Tracking was a bust...

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!

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!