When 1 + 1 = Community

This is my happy blog place — celebrating accomplishments and community.

Zeus

Wildflower Zeus and one of his humans, Penny, were in their first ever dog competition — Scentwork — and it went well, obviously! That is so wonderful but even more — Zeus is doing this because he teamed with his sister, Buttercup, to bring their humans together.

Zeus and Buttercup

Penny shares, “Georgia's mentoring has made all the difference in my life. With her help, I'm continuing to grow and learn and find new ways to engage with Zeus that I never dreamed I was capable of.”

Zeus

There are many ways for a dog to have an interesting life and to develop a close bond with a human but I am partial — I think a positive training relationship offers incredible benefits to dogs and humans, and Penny’s words capture that for me.

Zeus and Raymond

We need to acknowledge and honor Team Buttercup, who welcomed Team Zeus into the Berner Community. Georgia is a trainer, and her skills with people and dogs are bringing out the best in this Wildflower team. I am so very grateful to Patty and Georgia for the kind support and friendship they have offered to Team Zeus.

Zeus and Ada — I love this photo so much!

Team Buttercup also participated in the Scentwork trial…

Well done, Team Buttercup!

Team Zeus and Team Buttercup — you all ROCK. Thank you.

How Much Fun Can Be Had in One Boise Weekend?!

Dear Daughter is having a campout with me in Lucky (the RV) as we attempt to cram maximum activity into one brief Boise weekend. Yesterday was frenetic.

See Barb — Capella DOES have a unicorn horn!

See Barb — Capella DOES have a unicorn horn!

A certain small human is turning FIVE this month and so the birthday party started at 7 a.m.

Yes, we had cake and ice cream at 7 a.m.

Yes, we had cake and ice cream at 7 a.m.

And then it was Trader Joe’s before going back to the dog show and then a quick visit with the Heintzbergers before going back on Grandma/Auntie Duty — Dear Daughter and I were asleep by 8 pm!

This is Dear Daughter with Sparkle and three of Sparkle’s grandchildren: Capella, Atlas, and Dallas Nova Jr.

Popcorn was very popular!

Popcorn was very popular!

Sparkle and her three grands…

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It is hard to get photos of big puppies who are so happy to see each other — this is Dallas Nova Jr. posing well while the other two decided it was a good time to wrestle…

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Atlas with a stick…

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Atlas…

Atlas 8 months.jpg

Dallas Nova Jr…

We also got to see newly ten-year-old Heidi Heidi!

The show is going well. Sparkle — at 8+ years old — finished her AXP (an excellent-level agility title) and Bright Star Capella was Reserve on Friday and this was yesterday…

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Sparkle was entered in agility on other days but we came for that title and one less thing to do seemed like a good plan so we are skipping the other runs. Capella shows again this morning (plus more Grandma/Aunt stuff and Spa Day for Daisy) and then we scatter.

I hope you are cramming maximum fun into your weekend! — or maybe just taking a nap?!