Wrap

That’s a Wrap. We are safely home from our four days of fun and friends in Blackfoot.

Claire and Capella

It was incredible. The fun is magnified when you can celebrate the successes of so many friends — and there was a lot of successes!

Thanks to Dear Son-in-law and his Bestie for staying here with the other dogs and to help with some house/yard stuff (Trusty Rusty has a new battery — yay!).

Capella completed her first Fast CAT title on Saturday (BCAT) and also tested successfully for Farm Dog Certification (FDC) that day. She is now Capella BCAT HIC FDC — how cool is that?!

It was so wonderful to see her working ability and she showed beautifully each day in conformation — but Capella’s Superpower was the real success story. This is yesterday — a young adult with developmental delays gets the Capella Star Treatment…

Her kindness is inspiring and so very touching.

And now — back to (new) normal life…

Blackfoot

Blackfoot — one of my most favorite shows. What makes this year even more amazing is that some of most favorite people are also here. This photo from an 18th birthday is a hint about two of those people (and their dogs)…

And yes — that was a DOG’s 18th birthday party!!!! How awesome is that?!

I showed Claire in obedience yesterday — just for fun. She did well and won her class — thanks to Jennifer G for the photo and for being here…

Capella is showing in breed and doing well, but no points. She looks young still — her time will come.

Beauty pageant is fun — no question. But other things matter to me even more. Capella’s Super Power keeps being revealed. Her kind approach and regard for the man in the wheelchair. Greeting a woman recovering from a stroke with such respect that the woman said, “she has such a gentle soul.” And this today…

She stepped carefully through the tangle of kid legs to be close to everyone. SO touching.

In addition to reminding me of her calling as a therapy dog, Capella did a Fast CAT run and then — what the heck — we tried hanging out with sheep. Capella earned her first title today — she is now Capella HIC (Herding Instinct Certified). It looked like this…

I hope you are having a wonderful Friday — we sure are.

This, That, and Tracking

One of the neighbor’s calves decided that the weeds are definitely better on the other side of the fence…

She ignored repeated instructions to come home…

…and sauntered around our yard, reminding me that cows have terrible reach and drive. You definitely do not want your Berner to look like this at a trot…

Besides contemplating the antics (and structure) of cows, we (the dogs and I — and the cats) recently entertained Moonshadow Merlin for a few days…

Isn’t he handsome?!

I have also been busy with the Montana Tracking Test. I was the Test Secretary and all the details were stressful but we did it. WHEW. The test was yesterday and it is held at the most glorious place.

Our test judges

The fields were perfect this year, and the weather was cool and cooperative.

One of the passing teams

Suzanne needed to be in two places at once and so I was very happy to step in and handle Sadie Rose at the test — that went well!

Sadie Rose did a great job — she is a wonderful tracking dog. SO fun.

It was not Pozy’s day — but that is okay because another day will be AMAZING for her.

I hope your week is on track to be awesomely great.