Tracking Seminar with Donna Brinkworth of Spiritdance

Last weekend I hosted a Beginners CKC tracking seminar. Once again, I learned a lot, about how important foundation training is.
The breaking down of the little pieces of each component and then putting it all together once the behaviors are strong individually.
I am excited about tracking with Cavall, as his agility career may be over. His injuries may be too chronic.
Donna was very thorough in breaking down the pieces on how to start out with your dog.
She covered how the different levels would work, the levels from TD to TDX and Urban tracking.
there was how to do your scent pad lay a track, do your journal, what to except at a TD competition. She had us drawing maps and how to look for land marks.
She always stressed keep the joy in it for you and your dog. It was a great informative seminar and look forward to doing more tracking with her.
Thanks Donna!

Kelpie Country- Vancouver Island

We got home yesterday from the island. Went to visit my daughter and grandson and I went to a trial while I was there. It was outside and rained the first day and was great the next day.
I got to meet 5 other kelpies! One was a 6 month old little girl that belonged to one of the judges, mmmm a girlfriend for Luc?? This little girl was also straight from Australia. very nice little girl.
Cavall had to be pulled from the trial after his 1st run, he has pulled some muscles in his back which is affecting his groin muscles. Kinda like having sciatica pain in both legs.
Luc did fairly well, Saturday we belonged to the 5 fault club for the first 2 Master standard runs, one 5 fault was weaves, the other, I believe, was a bar. He got his Steeplechase run and was 1st, Master gamble was very close with 58 points in the opening, In the closing I said "thru" (tunnel) too soon and he went straight to the tunnel, missed a jump. Luc can be very literal and I had walked it with saying the 2 jump commands, but had a brain fart in the heat of the moment.
Sunday was a better day, he got his first Master Standard run, with 2nd place, a kelpie came first! He was .4 of a second behind.
He got his first advance jumpers and another advance snooker.
My dogs travel so well they are a pleasure to go places with.
Cavall did his other job very well, guarding the van. I am sure he was keeping score to see how high he could get them to jump!

"Two Wolves"

TWO WOLVES

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Snookered-59pts

TT trial in March last run for the weekend. Walking the snooker course for Luc. Could I do 4 sevens? Could I get this dog past jumps to the red jump? My gut was in a knot. Privatley I deceided to go for it. What could happen? A non Q run.. So I said try it, The biggest thing that happened in this run was how it made me stay focused on my dog to get the course done. I need to run each course, standard,jumpers, gamblers, steeplechase with this kind of focus. I will learn how to get to that place for every run I do with this dog.

Thoughts

I read a quote from one of our Olympians, a skier,
'to be comfortable with feeling uncomfortable'
wow! that is so true. I say many times to my clients, if you are comfortable you are only practicing, uncomfortable you are learning.

A few years ago (4yrs) I was told I may have to stop agility. I laughed at them, said I think not! This time in my life was very uncomfortable, I pushed thru it.

I still get a knot in my gut every time I am learning new things. When this happens it makes me work harder to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.This is why I love AAC so much, it makes me push the envelope. I have physical limitations and I just say I will learn a way that makes it works for me.

I was with Kathy Keats just recently. She is one of the best instructors I have been too. It was 7 yrs ago when I attended my first seminar with her. She not only teaches the technical side of it, but gets into the dog / handler relationship and what you can bring out in your dog. This quote sums Kathy up for me!

"Before you teach skills & fundamentals, make people feel good about their abilities. Make them believe they can perform." Rick Pitino

Thanks Kathy, a teacher and a friend

Eagle Totem

He then watched us walk around the path before flying to the east.
Was this my animal totem? my protector?

EAGLE
Spirit, Healing, Creation

The eagle is symbol of the zenith.
A great reminder of your own ability to soar to great heights.

Eagles are messengers from heaven and are the embodiment of the spirit of the sun.

Those with an Eagle totem need to have an involvement with creation;
a willingness to experience extremes;
a willingness to use your ability
even if it means getting "scorched" a little as you fly high;
a willingness to seek out your true emotions.

A demanding totem, but one that offers so much reward at the end of the journey.

Its four-toed feet remind you to stay grounded even went soaring high;
Its talons remind you to grasp the things of the earth;
Its sharp beak shows you when to speak, how much, and how strongly.

This totem will show you opportunities and how to ride the winds to your benefit.
Eagle people can live in the realm of the spirit
yet still remain connected and balanced within the realm of the Earth.

You must become much more than you ever dreamed possible.

Animal Totem, Eagle

About a month ago, early in the morning I came out on my deck for a walk this is what greeted me.
He was high in the tree, just above the dogs' runs, facing the east watching the sun .