Two MT Trips in Short Order

I was in Butte, Montana for work, and each of the two mornings I was there, my son and I walked Capella and Starry in a cemetery.

On the first morning, we walked in the Catholic cemetery where the names reflected the deep Irish roots of Butte.

On the second morning, we walked in a cemetery down the street. We were looking for this grave — how random that Evel Knievel is from Butte.

Cemeteries hold so much emotion. I think that is why they seem so sacred and quiet — because there are just no words to capture all the feelings and experiences that are contained there.

Because life with dogs is never simple, Capella needed a progesterone run on Monday and the amazing team at Idaho Veterinary Hospital helped make that happen — in Deer Lodge, Montana.

We arrived back in Boise last night and were at our clinic bright and early this morning for another blood draw to see where we are today on this progesterone journey.

🍀

Happy Wednesday, Friends ❤️

Starry's Excellent Adventure

Starry and I (plus Capella) headed up to Montana for the Big Sky Tracking Dog Club of Montana’s annual VST/TDU test.

Starry

It is held in the wee hours of the morning at the University of Montana.

The bears took the day off but there were so many deer!

Starry drew the first track, which meant her track was off campus at the family student housing complex. Not the option I would have chosen as it is a tough place to track. Starry said, “Hold my Egg McMuffin” and went to work on this track.

Four articles, three hours old, four different surfaces, six deer, one giant red ball.

She did it. At 14 months. On her first attempt.

The pass rate for AKC VST tests is less than 10% 🤯

Starry’s great-great aunt Asia was my first VST dog (and Champion Tracker) so I have trained to this level before — but the value of experience is knowing there is always so much to learn. Being unteachable is where and why people hit failure — and stay there.

Early in Starry’s training I reached out to Phil Atkinson to pick his brain for new ideas to add to my training toolkit. He has been generous and supportive in Starry’s tracking journey, and I am so grateful for his contributions to her success and skills. Much credit goes to Phil for Starry’s early start on non-vegetative surfaces. Thanks to him, and to Starry’s dedicated tracking friends — you know who you are ❤️

And then the dogs and I floated home.

Wow.

⭐️