River's Urban Tracking progress in Alberta

This picture was taken three years ago when Susan Highton came to Thunder Bay to spend a weekend with us talking about urban tracking. She worked with a group to plot a track for River, and my friend Karen (I believe) took this photo. I remember it like it was yesterday - the feeling of following River down a forest path, along a roadside curb, through this parking lot, over another road and into the last parking lot.

My handling and understanding has improved dramatically since then. I remember in this photo above "pushing" River along past the hard surface turn. I think people saw her give a subtle indication but I missed it!

Urban handling is a delicate dance. I now track with a loose line as River is so motivated to do the work. She loves non-veg better than tracking on veg. During our learning curve (MY learning curve) I made some mistakes with River - one of the biggest being letting her search too far beyond the track. I know that scent works in mysterious ways and was initially willing to let River surf around, following her as she sorted it out.

Most of the time, the limits we place on our dogs are based on our puny understanding of scent! I now believe that dogs are quite capable of staying on or very close to the primary track on hard surfaces. So my newest notion of this is to ensure that when I train a new dog (e.g., Caden) I know where I walked and ask for him to stay ON track. Sure I was developing this notion after bringing Steve Ripley in to Thunder Bay, as he says the same thing. And he showed it with his Champion Tracker Zoe (VST Golden, doing a demo track for us, below).

However, I also found that I have trained my dogs that it is OK to parallel the track and I am busy undoing that. Also - I knew I wanted them to stay on the track, but how to achieve it has been the next step in my understanding.

It is typical when we learn anything new, to have a poor understanding and set the bar low - Steve said we needed to raise our expectations! I asked him to critique my handling of Jet my Border Collie and very clearly I would take a step and 'give' to her when I felt she was going the right way, even if she was not RIGHT ON THE TRACK. Steve felt I could let her search to some extent, but NOT FOLLOW unless she was put back on track. When I tried this, Jet became a bit stressed as I was changing the rules. But we know dogs are forgiving and they will adapt if we are clear and fair. Jet is ON track in this photo taken by Randy Frietag at the seminar.
My other new technique is to use soft corrections when either of them go off track, and praise for being on track. This sounds like common sense but for many years a lot of us believed that we should never correct. However, holding your ground or slight line tension is also a correction. My friend Dan who is a SCH trainer has suggested to me that I use my voice and not my line as it is clearer to the dog what you want or don't want. He also reaches over and calmly strokes Caden when Caden is doing a solid job. I have never done that before! I love tracking as we always learn new ideas and each dog is different. It certainly is a journey.

Back to River. When I moved to Alberta last fall I continued my tracking on nice days throughout the winter and River did great! But when the snow melted and the dry, warm days began to suck moisture out of the air, I began to see confusion and regression on her part. I don't mind saying it caused a few tears to see her lose her confidence. I even wondered if she was simply aging. Well, thank heavens for good friends and new friends who alternately smacked me upside the head, or told me about new ways they are training.

After thinking this all through (those long days at work are good for 'thinking' about tracking when you aren't actually tracking...) I have a plan. I have been continuing to lay baby urban tracks for River in mornings and evenings. I even run out if I think it looks like it will rain! I have been saying gentle "No" commands to River if she gets 'hectic' (in SCH they say 'stormy') and she is responding very well to this. Being overly busy drains energy too, and she needs to focus her energy on the track and not on charging about (my mistake from our early training to let her cast too widely).

I know that River is acclimatizing to the different conditions in Alberta...land of dry grass (crunch, crunch...). The altitude is also higher here - 3,700 ft above sea level, compared with 400 ft where we used to live. This means at her age, River needs more endurance and supplements - and she is getting both - walks and omega oils and liver.

Next on my list of new / old tools is to use a water spray on her hard surfaces. We did this - and I have even taught it in my urban clinics for starting dogs - but somehow between moving and other things cramming my brain with trivia, I forgot about it.

DUH!!

A very enthusiastic group of trackers attended a Steve White clinic in Edmonton two weeks ago. I was not able to attend for a variety of reasons, much to my chagrin. However I am very happy to hear some of the ideas he uses for Hydration Intensified Tracking Training (HITT) on hard surfaces. River, Caden and Jet are already doing hard surfaces, but I think that getting out my pump and spray will be a great way to reintroduce the confidence to River. Like anything it is faded out in time but I have been casting about for ideas and this is a fantastic one.

River is (was) UTDX - ready and this was just the boost I needed for my confidence in training too. It is a helpless feeling to want to encourage a dog that seems lost. Being a tracker, possibly one of the worst. And when a handler starts to feel down or negative, it is not a good time to train. I feel excited and motivated! No doubt thanks too, to the recent great news of my friend Julie's exciting new urban title.

Hey this is another "trinity" - verbal correction/praise; HITT; and King Austen! (see my post on the trinity of tracking http://spiritdancedogs.blogspot.com/2009/02/trinity-of-tracking.html )

Stay tuned for River's progress. I will add some links about Steve White and HITT to the Handy Links section in the sidebar menu. He has a great reputation and this method is well worth looking into for starting and for problem solving.

This was taken at the end of that very first urban track on the weekend with Susan Highton - who by the way has Canada's FIRST Tracking Champion, her Golden Murphy. Susan set a lot of us on this journey when she came to Thunder Bay...and now a lot of us have our urban titles! Thanks, Susan!

THE GLOVE - our UTD moment in May 2008...

All in the Little Meadow Family - the Giggle Ball, and more pics with my Dad!

Klienen Wiese means Little Meadow in German. Caden is my first GSD from a different kennel as I wanted to add a GSD from working lines to my family and broaden my experience. Getting a GSD from a new kennel means learning the new idiosyncracies of that bloodline. Yesterday, Sandy his breeder sent me this picture of his brother Aiko. That is Aiko and Caden's mom Hera on the left. I want you to notice what is in Aiko's mouth...then scroll down...
I took this picture of Caden - YESTERDAY - the day I got the picture above from Pennsylvania. They both have GIGGLE BALLS! These balls are great. You can get them out of their mouths using the little feet. Caden runs around squeaking his and he sounds like an alien speaking some space language - WEEP, beepup, beebubupup weep weep beep baddabadda beep!

There are many things you can do with a Giggle Ball...like drop it in your water tub and pull it out again before the evil Border Collie gets it... It is an exercise in speed...hence my blurred photo
Then you can "out" the ball to your owner...
And sit back like a good boy...
And SIT until she throws it back for you...
Or Platz, which is what the Schutzhund trainers use for "lie down." It is a stronger phrase to say than lie down, and I am finding that Jet and Ted are downing very quickly for it - maybe I will use it on the field! Try saying PLATZ and then LIE DOWN! They do come out differently...
And another speed exercise - is to catch the ball before the evil Border Collie (Jet, again, sigh - I guess she is the self-appointed assistant trainer)... I suppose you have noticed my grass - it is so dry in Alberta this spring everything is suffering...
And if you want to get away from the evil Border Collie you can take your Giggle Ball to the other side of the 30 inch gate - turned on its side supposedly to keep dogs from the side of the house...I've been noticing that Caden uses this area as his private retreat in the backyard...(yes the hose is there from filling up the tub, I need to put it away)...
And when you are ready for more, you can jump back - to the waiting, evil, Border Collie...(Jet, again! I am starting to call her my little Wolverine)...And by the way, that hole is one of Jet's prize holes, too. Ted, by comparison, is just such an angel... while my dad is here, this is how Ted is spending most of his time...
Earlier in my dad's visit it snowed (on May 18). There he is on the deck with Caden. River spends a lot of time trying to persuade Jet to mend her evil ways. As you can see, River is 'talking' to Jet (dog language) here...River is my top dog and everyone respects her. I call her "the Princess..." but she calls herself The Punither (OK, I mean the Punisher but River has a little lisping thing)...I love all my dogs (geez is that obvious) and am really enjoying discovering the new things Caden brings to our little family. First of all, he is a German Shepherd so of course he has all of those wonderful qualities that make us love this breed. But, he is very high drive and more busy and active like the Border Collies. He just WANTS to be given a job and do anything for me. But he is also very balanced with a nice even temperament. He loves people and is so good with other dogs. When he comes into the house, he takes over his favourite chair and sleeps on the bed beside me at night.

All that play can tire you out!

All in the Lindau family - new TD for Sigrid and Shea

Ch Lindau's Schiehallion HIC, "SHEA" with judge Dawn Sanderson
New TD after the tracking test last weekend in Thunder Bay

See the post below (May 25) for the complete test report. Congratulations to Sigrid and Shea! Sigrid's website link can be found in the lefthand menu on this blog. If you visit, you can click on tracking to see the titles she and her "puppy owners" have accumulated.

I started to track shortly after Sigrid and was at the test in Winnipeg in 1990 when Heide passed to earn her TD. A year later my Hawk, Heide's son, also earned his TD! That was the beginning of a great journey for me and I owe Sigrid a thank you for her encouragement and for all the times we shared on the fields, like two crazy people in the rain, sun, wind and snow.

I have had four GSDs from Sigrid - Hawk TDX, BIS Robin TDX (in the days before urban), Thorn TD and River TDX UTD and still tracking! All wonderful trackers and unbeatable companions. Through them I learned to love GSDs and could never be without one. I know, some people just don't get shepherd people - you have to have one!

Thanks Sigrid! You have passed your love for tracking and the working GSD on to many people like me. Thanks to Karen Boyes (test secretary) for passing this photo on to me for the blog.

Caden, my dad, and finding my man voice

News Flash: Caden's breeder has updated her blog with some great shots of her past three litters, and the countdown is on to the "D" litter...check out http://www.kleinenwiese.com/Blog/


My father has been visiting from Thunder Bay for the past few weeks, working on my new house for me (I finally have a walk-in closet - yay dad!). Caden loves my Dad. Or, maybe he is becoming addicted to cigarette smoke. I took this shot of them on my back deck last night.

My father came to Schutzhund Club with us last week and has been giving Caden some great lessons on sit and stay, out, and here! I think men are more natural at giving these commands with the kind of intent and tone dogs respect.

I was told by the SchH judge at the recent trial (Doug Deacon) that I have to find my MAN VOICE! Caden loves me, but with a dog like him, it is important to also be his master.

NEW UTD Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - King Austen UTD! Thunder Bay Tracking Test Day Two Urban Results

New UTD Austen with proud owner / handler Julie and judge JoAnne McLeod. Austen is the first UTD Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in Canada to my knowledge. Note his crown and robe - Julie says you never know when you may need formal wear! Good boy Austen! Yay for Julie!

This is part two of a test report from Karen Boyes, Test Secretary for the Thunder Bay Kennel & Training Club. Karen is the proud mom of two TCh Aussies, Jasper and Penny. Jasper and Penny are the first two TCh Aussies in Canada and Karen is the first person to have two TCh passes in a row - both on her first try... (that is my editorial content because I am so proud of them)...

Here is Karen's report (complete with a few comments of my own in green)...

Many thanks to our TWO excellent judges: Dawn Sanderson (of Thunder Bay) for judging 6 TDs and 4 TDXs on Saturday; and JoAnne McLeod of Courtenay, BC, who judged 5 UTDs and 3 UTDX tracks on Sunday. Both spent many hours plotting ahead of time and gave us an excellent set of test tracks.

DAY TWO - URBAN

JoAnne will submit a more detailed write-up of the Urban tracks to the list when she gets home in a couple of days. Thanks, JoAnne! (I know she will do a better job that I can!)

For UTD entries we had three GSDs, a Cairn Terrier, and a Cavalier. For the UTDXs we had a GSD, a Belgian Tervuren, and a Golden Retriever. Despite some excellent work by many teams, we only had one pass for the day.

That was UTD Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Winrob's SleepyHollow TDX UTD RN PCD CGN "AUSTEN", owned and handled by Julie Hutka.

Austen is such a happy little tracker and it was great to watch him diligently sort out his track - he was very focused. And his accomplishment is all the greater as the poor gaffer was (is) recovering from surgery on some parts we won't mention.. suffice to say we were calling him Baboon-Butt (make that Baboon Butt, UTD ….!!), but he ignored his troubles and did a great job!
To make up for the name-calling we have pics of him at the end of the day wearing a royal robe and a crown, as a King should. He also had to cope with Julie crying over the first article while he impatiently tried to continuewith the track !! We are so proud of Julie and Austen !! Donna, he did it !!!

Editorial note: I have known Julie and Austen since they first came out to a beginner's class, and watched them go through TD and TDX. I have always felt Austen has the makings of a TCh! For his size and weight, he is a determined dog who pulls Julie along when he is sure he is correct, and very motivated too. I am so thrilled!

I also had a fantastic group of Tracklayers all show up promptly as assigned. Good help sure makes the test run nicely!! Thanks so much to Diana Crago, Carolyn Homonko, Sandy Wright, Michele Martin, RandyFrietag, Susan Takahashi and Bob McGonigal (Field T-L's and X-T's); and to Alda Flett, Katie Jaremey, Kathryn Loftus, Leeann MacIntosh, and Linda Hogan (Urban T-L's)... Many of these folks volunteer trial after trial and we could not have the test without them.

Finally thanks to Donna Brinkworth who (when she was in Thunder Bay) coached and encouraged many of us in tracking and tracklaying, and who also showed me how to run a trial !!

My note - thank you for the nice compliment - but as I say to all my students - I can show you something or tell you something, but YOU are the one who does the work! Congratulations to everyone. I know Karen has taken test organization to a new level, it is her forte!

Karen Boyes, Thunder Bay (Test Secretary)

Thunder Bay Tracking Test Day One Field Results

This is the Thunder Bay Kennel & Training Club report sent to the CKC chat group by Test Secretary Karen Boyes (who has two TCh Aussies Jasper and Penny)...

Hi All, We have just completed the Thunder Bay Kennel and Training Club spring tests, with one new TD title, and one new UTD title. We had lovely weather: a welcome break after an extended winter and very cold,wet spring.

Many thanks to our TWO excellent judges: Dawn Sanderson (of Thunder Bay) for judging 6 TDs and 4 TDXs on Saturday; and JoAnne McLeod of Courtenay, BC, who judged 5 UTDs and 3 UTDX tracks on Sunday. Both spent many hours plotting ahead of time and gave us an excellent set of test tracks.

Saturday started out fairly calm (cool and sunny) as the first tracks were being laid, but as we got started, the wind picked up quite a bit,and dark clouds lurked in the distance… sending variable gusts across the fields.

TD#1 was a boxer who got off to a wobbly start and quit working almost immediately: her handler decided to call it a day and try another time.

TD#2 (an adorable Maltese) also had a hesitant start and spent much ofthe first leg energetically checking options on both sides of the track. She made some progress but was whistled off after a turn off the firstleg took her too far off to recover….

TD #3 was a young Golden Retriever boy and by now the wind gusts were picking up. He worked his way up the first two legs and turns, but then got disoriented and back tracked to corner two. He could not get past that area, eventually not working any more and even offering up lovely obedience fronts to his handler, so she decided to call it a day. With a little more problem-solving experience, he'll do great another time!

TD #4 was another Golden Retriever (female) and despite a nice start,this dog also began to quit after working up the first leg in the wind gusts. The handler called the run.

TD #5 was a young Cairn Terrier in a slightly more sheltered field and this cheery fellow galloped down his first leg, made his first turn and then second (open angle) turn nicelybut then got off track and headed the wrong way just before the next turn … he went towards an opening in the trees and the wind may have been pushing the track scent through it, pulling him off the track. He will do great another time!

TD #6 is our NEW TD titled dog: Ch Lindau's Schiehallion HIC, "SHEA"owned and handled by Sigrid Appelt.
(picture coming)

Shea did a beautiful track right from the start, showing excellent focus and pulling Sigrid strongly along, nose deep into her track. Approaching turn #3 she pulled Sigrid off track first right and then left, and then cut that corner headed off at a slight angle diverging from leg#3. She disappeared down a slight gully (the wind may have been pushing the scent down into it) but then soon enough we saw them reappear and re-connect with leg 3 to make another lovely corner and pull directly to the final glove. Yay, A PASS !!!! And a show of excellent handling by Sigrid !!

We then moved onto the TDXs. The winds were now variable, with calm spells alternating with strong breezes and gusts.

TDX #1 was a male Golden Retriever. His start and first leg involved a fair amount of casting back and forth to find the track and he seemed a bit distracted, but once he made the first turn he seemed to be settling quite nicely into the track. Unfortunately he then took the cross track in a convincing manner and his handler followed, to hear the whistle. When put back on he did a very nice job.

TDX #2 was a very energetic Cocker Spaniel male and he was another dog not quite "on" his first leg, somewhat paralleling it in the strong breezes and searching around a lot as he made progress forward. He cut the first corner, finding leg #2, and paralleling it, then the same for leg #3, searching enthusiastically but criss-crossing the track. Unfortunately he passed by turn #3 and proceeded straight ahead, taking him off track and away from the first article, and away from legs 4 and 5 of the track. A very motivated tracker and handler - they'll beback!!

TDX #3 was a German Shepherd female and again we had shaky first leg that did not seem to quite lock onto the actual track. She worked the area until she made turn #1, and then looked like she was settling in well on the second leg, but this dog also took a cross track quite convincingly!! When put back on she completed the track nicely.

TDX #4 was a male Beagle who was quite unfocused at the start, and along the first two legs wanting to be 'a Beagle' and check out all kinds of interesting stuff. His handler knew things were 'not going well' when he let out a few "beagle bays" at some other strong scents he discovered and he eventually pulled her off the track. He did have a good time ! They are a fairly new team and with some more experience should do well!

Too bad such a low pass rate ... with the late spring the ground is only now letting loose with all that 'spring' scent and new growth. I think that (and the wind) was a overwhelming for some of the dogs to handle, with such little time to train in this spring.

Karen Boyes, Test Secretary

Edmonton Tracking Test results

Pictures added! See below...

I had the pleasure of attending a test today in Edmonton put on by the Competitive Service Dog Club of Alberta, with Erich Kunzel as judge. What a great group of hard working trackers! Unbelievable food laid out the whole time on top of putting on a big test.

It was hot and dry with no wind and this had an impact on many dogs today. Even at the first track at 7:45 AM the grass was crunching underfoot. There has been a fire ban here and numerous dangerous grass fires causing evacuations, so that gives you apicture of the conditions.

This link shows you what a grassfire can look like. This was a few weeks ago, but today we saw smoke on the horizon shortly before we heard the sirens in the afternoon - http://mynews.ctv.ca/mediadetail/1108813?collection=588&q=+&offset=2&siteT=edmonton

Despite this, the dogs and handlers did great andmany got further than you would expect. Today TDXs ran first, tomorrow's test will see TDs run first (yes, that means the tracklayers were out at 4:30 in the morning).

There were some passes too! Two new TDs and one new TDX...

New TD - and on his 8th birthday - male GREYHOUND 'Windwood Distant Orion FCH' handled by very proud owner Vicki Averill of Maple Ridge BC. He had track 2 at about 10:50 AM. This dark grey boy was dead on track from start to finish. She had a loose line and he was entirely self-motivated. What a joy to watch him - the heat didn't seem to bother him while on track (it was a good day to be a Greyhound). Erich Kunzel commented on the great job this team did.

I have never seen a Greyhound track - I understand there is one other Greyhound with a TD - "Rosie" of Sudbury - and a couple others working on it! Awesome job.

New TD - 3 year old Golden Retriever male Goldcker 1drdogs Next Pushover RNAGN JH WC handled by owner Kathy Miner of Calgary AB. This boy had the last track of the day at 12:45 and he literally tore up the track to the glove. Nice job! By the way the dog's kennel name 1drdogs is also on her licenceplate - I asked and it means "wonder dogs" - neat!

New TDX - 5 year old Golden Retriever female 'MOTCH Wynwood's Come Dancewith Me WC, JH, TD, SHDX, RE, CGN' handled by owner Linda Zacowski of Sherwood Park AB. This was another Golden who tore up the track and was deadon at a steady pace from start to finish. Her article indication is to roll on the articles and kick her paws in the air. I think I may have captured a photo of this. Dancer loves tracking!

Her field was a beautiful location with Lac Ste. Anne in the background, as the test is held near Alberta Beachand Wabumin Provincial Park west of Edmonton (on the way to Jasper). Lovelyrolling hills and woods.

All of the other dogs entered had little glitches like crosstracks, turnsthe wrong way, and few just quit working in the heat. The heartbreak of theday was a 14 year old Weimerainer male who did a fantastic job on a TDX butwho ran out of steam on the last leg, literally 30 meters from the lastglove. We wanted him to pass so badly but after giving him time to get backto work, his own handler/breeder decided he had worked hard enough and theheat was not worth the effort.

Everyone CHEERED for this team and I figure at 14, he is an honourary TDX dog today. Boy, old dogs and tracking - chokeme up every time. This boy was also dead on with tiny loops at the corners. He is also incredibly titled and in great shape! And, he loved the attentionafter his track and he deserved it.

This was my first apprentice judging assignment. I was very grateful for the hospitality and to Erich for being such a nice man, as always. I have to say- judging is HARD work! And there were times Erich was outpacing me! And he has been judging for 30 years. It is a great perspective to be out on thefield - love the view.

Here is my River TDX UTD posed in front of the tracking camp and headquarters for the test. River thought she was going to be IN a test, but she enjoyed the big party after, complete with treats!

Can't wait to hear about the test in Thunder Bay...two days of field and urban...

Announcing the new Klienen Wiese German Shepherd Herding Blog

Above: Caden's mother Hera working the boundary at the Wilson's Little Meadow sheep farm in Pennsylvania. I stole this picture from their website (which is currently being updated with all the news!) There is a link to the website in my sidebar menu on the left under handy links.

Caden's breeders Bill and Sandy Wilson have a new blog to announce her upcoming litter! Here is the link:

http://www.kleinenwiese.com/Blog/

Caden has a full sister named Arla from the A litter (he is a repeat breeding). Arla was just bred to Hawk von Eichenluft SchH III. You can read about Arla on the blog, and find out more about Hawk here: http://www.rokanhaus.com/hawk.html

As you can see, his full name is Hawk vom Eichenluft (12X)SchH3, IPO3, CGC, TDI, KKL2 for Life (whew!) and I understand he is an amazing dog with a beautiful temperament. Should be a nice match! I keep telling myself - Donna, you have enough dogs to keep you busy for years...

I've told Sandy that if anyone is interested in one of her dogs, I am more than happy to recommend her dogs for anything - so far Caden, at age 15 months, has showed great potential at everything we have worked on together. He is a wonderful companion.

For Jolene - Happy Friday!

This is my foot.

Happy Friday!

Regards,

Ted
(I snuck onto the computer because Donna is busy visiting with her Dad!)

PS - If you want to know why this is here, you have to visit http://onecollie.blogspot.com/2009/05/happy-friday.html

Caden is growing up!

I took the picture above a few weeks ago. He is a little powerhouse. I learned at a Schutzhund seminar this weekend that I need to work more on keeping him calm as he comes with a lot of drive built-in, and a great desire to work.

The photo below was taken last weekend by a woman named Corinne Griffith who comes out to Schutzhund every weekend, just because she loves to take pictures of the dogs in action. .

He just turned 15 months old. I love his build and his temperament. Caden means Little Warrior or Warrior Spirit in Gaelic (the translation depends on if you are looking at the Scottish or Irish version of the name). That name could not be more perfect. He gets a lot of attention everywhere I go, and makes me very proud

New places, new toys, new scent conditions

Now that winter has passed, I am discovering some fun stuff about Red Deer. It has great walking trails and bike paths. I take Jet and Ted to Three Mile Bend dog park, which is huge and open. They LOVE it there and can run to their heart's content. They posed for me at the dogpark on the weekend.

I have another plan for Caden... which will be great for me, too!

After some research I have bought a mountain bike! The Devinci Cameleon 3. I am so excited. I took it for a test ride and just loved it. I tried the Cameleon 2 but the "3" felt really good. Red Deer has fantastic bike trails from north to south, through the entire town. I plan to bike with Caden who really needs more than the walks we are doing. I walk Caden and River for 30 minutes, drop River off, and walk Caden for another 30-45 minutes with Jet and Ted.
I will try Jet and Ted with the bike too but they are also getting to run at the dog park, and we need to come up with a new schedule for herding, now that I am feeling more settled in.

Jet and Ted could live in the water at Three Mile Bend (which is on the Red Deer River). But Jet is getting a reputation for being a bitch. I wonder why? Here she is stealing yet another dog's toy - she swims faster than a sporting dog! That's Jet with the orange dummy, and poor Ludo the English Springer swimming along worrying about it. Ted is a bit kinder, but he can be a bit possessive too. I had to talk to them about this...
In fairness to Ted, this Golden tried to take Ted's best stick.

As for River, we know her favourite spot is to lie on the bed. I am building up her endurance a little as she is finding the dryness and altitude here more difficult for tracking. I have taken her back to shorter motivation tracks. We went out two nights ago with great excitement because it was raining! I know - what a strange hobby. River pulled and was more confident than I have seen her since the snow melted. The photo below is a few weeks ago.

This grass is DRY!
My friend Dan's (Schutzhund Club) dogs track with no trouble on it. But they are used to it, and they have had a different kind of training. I am trying a few new things with River to build her up here.

CKC Tracking loses Terry Smith, CKC judge, mentor and friend

Me with Terry and my GSD Robin - my second TD in 1992.

Today we received news that Terry Smith passed away from Cancer. Terry was a long-time CKC judge. His wife Sharon is also a judge. They breed German Shepherds under the prefix Tersha German Shepherds in London Ontario.

I wrote this note to the CKC tracking list tonight:

I am so sorry to hear about Terry and would like to share my condolences with you Sharon. You know how many times Terry came to Thunder Bay in the early years when we first started putting on tests. I think he set the tone for a lot of the tracking to come because of our early good experiences. My second TD with my GSD Robin was earned under Terry. I still remember the pattern and my tracklayer was Clint Venn. Robin was always a very strong tracker and we had to boogie to keep up. The last corner took us around a small bushy tree to end at the glove. I remember looking up to see Terry and Clint come around the tree to find me waving it and Terry had this huge smile on his face. He told Clint to give me the tracklayer’s map, too. And I still have it! I would love to send a photo of us – I will send it to Marie.

Gee whiz, reading the posts I wonder how many people Terry encouraged to judge? He was always encouraging me too, with little nagging emails to get on it. I am so sad that I moved to Alberta in August, a few months before Terry was going to judge for the last time in Thunder Bay. “Our” plan (mine and Terry’s) was that I would write my test and apprentice with him at that time. Life gets in the way of the best laid plans and it didn’t happen. I am going to write it and apprentice and I will know in my heart that somehow he will know. Maybe he will even whisper a few answers to me when I write the test!

I really appreciated that Terry never hesitated to jump on the chat list with an opinion or an answer. Reading what others say – others who knew him better – I imagine he couldn’t help himself when he saw people who had good questions or problems. He was always ready to go to the CKC with problems on our behalf, too, formally and informally. I ran a little Google tracking chat group for awhile that petered out when I moved last year. Terry was a “guest” on the list and answered questions from members – mostly US trackers – about CKC tracking regulations. During that week, I moderated the questions and enjoyed a week-long private conversation with Terry at the same time. It was so nice.

There is a Buddhist monk I love, named Thich Nhat Han. In one of his books called the Art of Mindfulness, he writes that life is impermanent. We deeply appreciate flowers in a vase, knowing we only have a short time to enjoy their beauty. In the same way, we have to remember to always be grateful for the people who are with us now, because people are like flowers. We forget that they won’t always be with us. I just came back from tracking and ended up finishing the second track in a downpour with pitch black skies. I loved every minute of it, and while I was out I thought about Terry on and off. He has been part of our journey and will live on in spirit with those whose lives he touched in so many positive ways.

Cancer can seem so random and unfair but it can’t steal our memories. I am really enjoying reading people’s memories of Terry. It is wonderful to remember someone who has been a big part of the sport. Terry is an example of how our sport of tracking brings out the best in people. There are no judges or participants as great as trackers, as far as I am concerned!

Major Upset! Canadian Horse Mine That Bird wins the Kentucky Derby!

Photo Credit - Mark Zerof, US Presswire

I am so thrilled about this - I love these kinds of stories. If you missed the Kentucky Derby, here it is from YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjY-rrAoTl8

The horse, Mine the Bird, has a great pedigree but was purchased for $9,500 and rode in a trailer for 3 days, being hauled by a pick-up truck by its owner, to get to the race. They are saying this is the biggest upset in derby history! The jocky was Calvin Borel. Way to go Calvin, smooth moves! The announcers are so busy talking about the horses in the lead that they completely missed this horse threading his way up to the front as if the other horses were standing still.

I am sure everyone is Googling Mine That Bird. I found this news story online - http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/triple/derby/2009-05-02-race-final_N.htm

In another news story I read that his training jockey described this horse as "very intelligent."

Way to go!

Last day and next morning photos

I think it is my Estonian - European heritage, but I snapped a lot of photos of him that last day. I remember posing with my whole family in front of my mother's coffin at the funeral home, to send the picture to the relatives in the Old Country. Some things are just in the blood, that's my only explanation.

I took this picture of me with Shaman on Thursday while we were watching the hours tick by. He was pretty peaceful, just lying in his favourite spot on the couch. I call this a face kiss.

Our last photo together. I got very philosophical while sitting with Shaman. There is something about honouring a good death and rituals at this time that many people deny or fear in today's culture where we want everything to be neat and tidy and fast. I feel that Shaman was working really hard that day. I kept hugging him and saying "I know, it's hard." Death is hard. The body wants to live, and the heart wants to keep beating. When I held him at the vet's office, I could sense that moment when the "essence" that was Shaman had left his body. The body was still there, but everything that was SHAMAN, a unique and special dog, was gone. It really makes you think.

I am so greedy and selfish though, I keep wishing I could have ONE more day, just one more. It is a good reminder that all life is impermanent and we must treasure our loved ones, dogs and people, when we have them - every day.

Here is Shaman's little buddy Caden, who also watched over his friend on that last day. Shaman would sleep, but if I moved around, he would lift his head and keep an eye on me. I kept letting him know I was there so he wouldn't worry.

That night was very weird in that it was so "normal." I thought - maybe Jet would appreciate the big crate I had set up for Shaman by the French Doors, so put her little dog beds in it. Jet thought I was losing my marbles. She carried her red bed (very torn up, she's had it since she was a puppy) back to her own big crate. When she went back for the green bed, I had my camera ready. She has her own mind, that girl! It sure makes it easier to have more than one dog, because life goes on and they make us laugh and we have to look after them and carry on.

Caden waits every night for me to come to bed, and often sleeps with his head on my arm, which is exactly what Thorn used to do! Even though Shaman was gone, the routines were followed, which brings a lot of comfort.
And the next morning - the gang was up to their regular "I have a toy! I have a GLOVE!" routine...

...see how River makes sure to catch my eye, below, with a glove at her feet in her special cave under the table...But for the past two days I keep forgetting how many dogs I have and keep making more dinner than I need for them!

This is the last photo I took of Shaman. He was watching me get ready to go, and I was telling him we were going for a car ride! It was hard, but I saved all of my sobbing for later that evening and was strong for him all day just like he had been strong for me through my tough times in the past couple of years. I just wanted him to have a peaceful day, and we did. I had to carry him to the car, and from the car, into the vet. THAT was hard, to see him so helpless.

A friend wrote to me yesterday that she thinks he lasted this long so he could make this transition with me, our last journey together. Thanks little buddy.