This blog was a labour of love. Please visit the new blog http://blackthornworkingdogs.blogspot.com

My name is Donna Brinkworth. Four years ago I moved to Alberta from Northwestern Ontario. I recently completed the requirements to be a CKC tracking judge for TD and TDX and will now work on becoming an urban tracking judge, as it is one of my passions. I've also become involved in the sport of Schutzhund as a member of the Calgary Schutzhund Club, and my boy Caden is showing a lot of promise in this exciting sport. All I need is some land and sheep for the Border Collies to be completely happy in Alberta, and we are working on that! This blog honours tracking, herding and life with the dogs who are my teachers and who bring so much joy into my life. It started out as a training blog for my tracking students. You can check those archives, back in 2005. Over time I have used this blog to journal my own training, share information, and most recently discuss my personal journey since moving here.

All content and photos are copyright Donna Brinkworth (Smith), 2005 - 2012 unless otherwise noted. Please use the private comment function after each post to contact me with questions or comments.

To find the Spiritdance Tracking - Your Tracking Coach, my other blog, click the photo in the left menu bar.

This blog may have come to an end, but I hope you will still find good information in the posts from over many years. Thank you for visiting, and enjoy your journey!

12 November, 2010

Peace is the Way, even for dogs. A Dog Fable.

I am the witness of the events below, capturing it on my camera. I never interfere, or set things up. These are just the way things happen, and my interpretation!


This started out as a funny story about how the girls rule over the boys. Jet agrees! River loves to lie and guard a ball. I have the power, she says.


It all started when I wondered why Ted looked so dejected, and what River was up to around the corner. I grabbed my camera.


It turns out she has a ball. You can see Teddy's ear just over the edge of the bed.


Ted pops up to have a look. Nope, he says, I'll just let her enjoy it and bide my time.


He knows better than to mess with River. He's such a sweetie. But, he has his ways, keep reading...


In the meantime, as I was paying attention to River and Ted, Jet and Caden started to get silly. Jet gives Caden 'the eye' over her favourite ball


Caden makes a grab for it. He is young and brash, unlike Ted.


Caden tries to twist it out of her grip.


TUG! He weighs twice as much, but she will not let go. She is so tough. I call her a Wolverine. Or maybe a badger.

And look who wins. Don't mess with me, says Jet. Caden looks to see if Ted is having better luck


Ted smiles at me. I don't need no stinkin' ball, says Ted.

But as I was working on this album, I looked over, and there was Ted with the ball! I guess River got bored, and he simply moved in peacefully.

Nice dogs win, says Ted. My hero! Says Caden.


Jet thinks they are all idiots, but that is a story for another day.

Post Script

As I was finishing this up, I heard a thump from the bedroom. Ted had nudged the ball off the bed, and it landed beside River's nose. She is fast asleep, snoring away. He is just too much, my Teddy. Such a kind dog, he gave the ball back!


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