Summer Draft

I have written before about how I tend to train some events in “seasons” — for example, I track with my dogs beginning with the first snow and continue only until early June. Draft is another seasonal event for me.

Because of the fall draft tests, August 1 is the official start of our Draft Season and things are going well. Claire and Sundance (with Suzanne, of course) practiced yesterday on the local bike path…

They are both doing great.

I am hoping to have Claire conditioned enough to do Open — that would be quite the feat given her past almost two years but I think she can do it.

Claire’s reward for yesterday’s freight haul? See for yourself…

Stay Cool!

EXTRA! EXTRA!

Capella was Bred-by Best of Breed yesterday and that meant she needed to stay for the Bred-by Working Group — and that meant I needed to run home and let dogs out in the middle of the day.

And so I did — and I picked up the mail as well. I bet you can imagine my delight when I opened a package from Eden and found these…

Eden was just in Ireland — those are REAL Lucky Irish Socks. I kept them in the car with me as I headed back to the show and darned if their mere presence at the show wasn’t powerfully lucky!

Bred-by Working Group One! (that means she was first in the Bred-by Working Group — a big deal). Those are some seriously Lucky Socks.

It has been four weeks and two days since Claire’s seventh surgery in a period of about 17 months…

I entered her in just one day of obedience — today.

I put on the Lucky Irish Socks…

And look what happened!!!

Claire’s score was 198/200 under one of my most favorite judges.

Yes, I should have trimmed her feet! It has been a wee bit hectic…

That dog has so much heart. In spite of everything — she is so so happy and cheerful. #belikeclaire

That finished her CD — and that gives Claire the BMDCA Working Dog Award.

And check out the prize…

Lucky Irish Socks, indeed. Thank you, Eden!

Dog Show Weekend Report: So Much to Say

As usual, the weekend was filled with interesting experiences that will take a few days to process.

I want to begin by thanking Almighty Heidi, Expert Dog/Cat/House Sitter and Snake Wrangler Extraordinaire. Yes, there was a snake in the house — twice!

Rosebud says, “NOT ME!”

Because of Almighty Heidi, I got to hug my little grandchildren for the first time in six months.

Because of her, I had one of the best dog show days ever on Friday.

First up was Capella — she was Winners Bitch and Best of Winners for two more points towards her championship.

She repeated that on Saturday — Capella is just a natural at this dog show stuff.

But the Big News was Claire. If you have followed this blog, you know some of what that dog has been through with her complicated pregnancy, multiple surgeries, and no appetite for months from the same hormone issue that resulted in her blown knees.

September 2021

Did I ever share that this 105-pound girl got down to the high-70’s because of the nausea?

All that context matters. It speaks of how far back our starting line fell — and how very hard we worked to get back.

Claire has a spot on her right side that is just not growing back fur. The vet says this sometimes happens — but does it randomly happen like this?

I noticed the heart last week and so went into obedience with Claire on Friday — for the first time in three years — feeling like maybe the Universe was reminding me that everything is going to be okay.

It was.

In the background — the High in Trial wood carved trophy that Claire’s great-great grandma, Abra, won at the 2001 National Specialty.

Claire scored a 199/200 in Novice B obedience — that is an amazing score and it earned her High in Trial. I am so proud of that dog — she has so much heart.

And BOUNCE! In spite of everything. #belikeclaire

Back to Capella. Her Superpower is about temperament.

Capella and Logan — Bright Star Atlas (fka Sun) in the background

Capella is 14-months-old — still a puppy — and yet she was the one I picked for Berkeley’s dog show debut.

When I asked Berkeley a few weeks ago if she wanted to show a dog, she was so excited and told me: “I have waited for years to be on stage.”

Berkeley is five.

When the time came for her big moment, she was a little nervous and asked me to hold her hand.

Thanks to Dear Daughter for the videos and photos.

I am reminded that hard things are a bit less hard when people who care hold our hands. Thanks to everyone who has been taking turns holding mine for these past few months.

Berkeley and I held hands, and see for yourself — it was wonderful.