The re-entry to normal life has been rough — Claire and now Harper have Kennel Cough, picked up from the Specialty — and I have had the human equivalent. But I have turned the wellness corner and so today I got my dog training arena mowed and set up.
Daisy!
What is Daisy meant to do? Agility. The good weather means we can get started — she seems happy about that.
Smile!
Dear Husband and I heard a Big Crash yesterday. Uh oh. It is that time of year again.
Baby birds, although made for flying, are not very good at it yet and have a tendency to crash into our house during Spring. That small friend knocked herself out on a window.
We provided moral support and protection from cats as she slowly came back around.
She attempted to fly again, crashed once more and then attached herself to my leg!
YIKES!
It was quite the adventure but eventually she was off, doing that thing birds are meant to do: Fly.
It is easy to know what a bird is meant to do but not always so easy to know that about ourselves - or a dog.
I almost pulled Claire from Novice B obedience at the Specialty because — like the baby bird — she was not actually ready for full flight.
I mean it! (Dianne is rolling her eyes!).
She could have just as easily jumped on the stewards or grabbed her leash and raced around the ring with it trailing behind like a black leather banner.
Instead, Claire flew and it was awesome. Beautiful. Fun.
But like that baby bird, I know her soaring performance does not mean she is anywhere near ready for migration into Novice B.
Nope — we had a lucky day without any obvious places to crash, and that is how her very novice skill set earned us a lovely score and second place in a class of over 50. It was, in fact, the Lucky Socks.
But the experience was revealing — I learned what Claire is meant to do: Obedience.
She will still do other things, of course, but Claire declared her Super Power — and it isn’t just swimming.
Do you watch for messages from your dog about what she is meant to do — or just assume that what you want to do is what your dog should do?
And do you ever consider what you are meant to do — and be? I think we get messages about that as well — if we listen.
I hesitate to make a list of Specialty Accomplishments because I am bound to get something wrong. However, I am going to give it a shot, hoping that nobody will take offense if I leave something out — just add the things I miss in the Comments!
How about this for an accomplishment — five Sparkler Sisters!
Pat Long Photo.
Tika, Claire, and Ruthie all blew up at the Farm Dog test — they blame the chickens and goats, of course.
Tika
Jordan had a GREAT Specialty — she earned her Draft Dog title and the Novice Brace Draft Dog title and the Tracking Dog title and won the Novice A Rally class! All that made her a Specialty Triathlete.
New TD!
Kiri was in Best of Breed — no placements but she showed amazingly well. Kiri is LOVELY.
Ruthie had a great time and although she did not pick up any ribbons, I know that ribbons and fun are in her future.
Ruthie and Jordan
Claire earned her Novice Draft Dog title, making her a Versatility Dog — YIPPEE! She also earned an amazing score in Novice B obedience and was second to her High in Trial Uncle Tristan in that class. Having never even seen a Rally ring before, Claire won the huge class with a perfect score — go figure.
Tristan (iPups) earned a 199 in obedience — that is amazing. It was a lovely run. He also got some agility Q’s.
His littermate, Kidd, was also there — so fun to see him!! Marti’s girl, Lili, did well — earning the Triathlete Award.
Holden and Harper represented the H Moon Litter.
Holden
My mind is blanking on what Holden did but his son, Clark, had an awesome Specialty and earned the Triathlete Award!
It was absolutely Harper’s Specialty. She ran her TD track in six minutes. She qualified in Novice B obedience — her first time in an obedience ring. Same with Rally — qualified in that as a first timer. She passed the Novice Draft Dog test!!!! Harper is no longer a Draft Dodger. And Farm Dog? Piece of cake for her.
TD — again. She earned that title as a puppy and so this was for fun, and we had it!
Five events and five qualifying runs equals a Specialty Triathlete and a super fun Specialty for Harper B for Best Specialty EVER.
We got to see Jumar…
Jumar and Dianne
And Sundance nailed his TD track!
Sundance and Suzanne
The lake…
The view of dawn from the deck of the cabin. Seriously.
…and friends…
I took this from the deck of my cabin.
It was a SPECTACULAR SPECIALTY in every way.
Start planning for next year — click HERE for the 2020 info.