Monday, January 2, 2017

New Beginnings 2017

Golden Embers color is Green ... the color for 2017 is Green  "Optimism" and "New Beginnings"

The year has started with 6" snowstorms, leaving a picturesque landscape and snowblowing (no need for gym workouts for sure!) ... temps vary 0 to 50 degrees, back to sub-zero and back up to balmy 50's (snow, ice & bare ground) ... Emma continues with her bi-monthly Vermont Agility League ... Winter Camp is in session and there is never a dull moment with the first lil' 14 week old pup!!!!

Map of one of Emma's Agility courses - follow the numbered squares!
Bar jumps, tunnels, weave poles, elevated dogwalk, A-frame, see-saw
(she's had 4 runs with bars at 20" hgt ... only "time" faults for "visiting!")


Winter "camper" is under the watchful eye of her Counselors!
(always on a 15ft leadline)
She loves to help with the chores!
How 'bout outdoor tugging in the snow with "Jugs-on-a-Rope"!
Everyone goes to Agility Practice!
Evening bony chewing time by the cozy woodstove!
(Head counselor "Willow" keeps everything calm!)
4" jump!
Follow the teacher!!!
Teacher (Mya) and student ... learning to "WAIT"!
Just pick one at the "Tugging Station"!

Or pick one at the "Ball Retrieving" station!

Bedfull of toys ... one of several "Toy Stations"!
Joining in "Indoor play"!!!
Whose Recliner is it anyway???
3-way tug!
Start of "Wait" lesson for meals! 
Our lil' Camper girl is 16 weeks old!

Practice on the first "tippy board" ... Emma shows her how!
(Disc is on a ball that tips in different directions)
This lil' girl is growing both physically & mentally!

Graduating to low "tippy plank" with  just a little "bang"!
Learning the feel of walking up & jumping off the incline plank!
(start of learning the See-Saw & elevated Dog Walk)

Crew waiting for breakfast!
Faith is 18 weeks old and has learned her "WAIT" lesson well 👍

Friday, December 2, 2016

Holiday Season is Upon Us!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Photos for Christmas cards selected, cards ordered, addressed and sent ... shopping for girls done at the big Springfield Dog Show ... Christmas Caroling in area Nursing Homes ... 
Bring on December doings!

  •  Start of Emma's Agility League in Vermont
  •  Lunches with friends from Hospital and Dog Agility
  •  Annual Golden Retriever family Open House
  •  Church Cookie Fair (girls hope there are crumbs and drops!) 
  •  Christmas Eve when the girls get their toys after Christmas Eve Church Service!!!


Mya pulls sled to get wood from the woodshed!










Had such good helpers today ...
 but they need help pushing the load!!!
"We have our own lil' tree ... MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
(Thank you Aunty Cheryl & Uncle Bruce)
"We brought home discarded pumpkins and mom
cut holes for critters to munch on the seeds!"
"Hey look, they're eating the pumpkins!"
"Are they all for the Church Cookie Fair?"
(they did get a sample!)
Christmas visit with Grammie 91yrs
(we brought her a Boxwood tree and our 2017 calendar)
Christmas Eve "Wearing of the Scarves"
(Sutter's scarf on the bush)
"Hey Look ... toys!!!"
"Santa-Paws was good to us!"
The SILLY family on Christmas morning!
We have a lil' "Camper" for 3 weeks!

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gobble Gobble Gobble ... Mya watchs e-card from Aunty Cheryl!

"Aunty Kara & 'lil Faith take us for a Thanksgiving ride!"
(Willow, Emma, Mya)

























"We met Lyric & Emma's sister Sorbet and she jumped right
in the crate... guess she wants to come home to Camp!" 
"Is the pie ready yet?" ... Mya's a good helper!
"Yummm ... turkey leftovers on our supper ... bring it on!"
Sooo True!  (as seen on Facebook)

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Wrap-Up of Tracking Season till Spring!

Willow getting the scent fom article at the Start flag!



"Mom, look what I found!"

























Scent Tracking is a variable planned, flagged and plotted straight walking path of the tracklayer who drops articles along the way in a huge field or Park ... the straight paths vary from lenghts up to 100 yards with corners introduced (marked and unmarked) and the total track gradually works up to 1000 yards (14 of my strides = a yard) ... there maybe up to 4 corners as dog and handler gain experience, go into woods, cross roads and the dog learns to ignor other scents along the way (strangers, critter holes, deer, birds and strange dogs etc) ... the scent may be aged from a half hour up to 3 hours depending on teams experience!
Now that Willow has the Tracklayers scent, she's ready to go!

Emma at her Start flag!

Her track went thru a building and she found a sock!

Emma is so proud of her find!

Mya at her Start flag ... "get a good sniff of those articles girl!"

Mya Scent Tracking at the end of the 25ft leash ...
handler learns to "read" the dogs moves!

"I found it Mom!" ... this article on her path was plastic ... so proud!

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

November Brings Thanksgivings!

HAPPY NOVEMBER
(at Muddy Paws Training Center)

Emma, Mya, Willow












"Wow, guess we had a little rain ... we've got some
bailing-out to do before the boats come out for Winter!!!"























Warm and comfy by the woodstove!

Nothing like hot cocoa on a chilly day!



Drywall up and painting day at Habitat for Humanity House!

Yup, painting  ... girls in the car and would love to HELP!!!




























Mya (L) meets her sister Halley

















Willow, Mya & Emma visit with their Gramee Jean!
The girls got to snoop the Habitat house yard!!!