Me and my girl

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Congratulations Laurie and Willy on their AKC TD Pass at TCV Oct 11th 2009!

Today in Vermont, Will and I got his AKC Tracking Dog title! It was 37 degrees this morning, warmed up a little at 9:30 when we were told "this is your track" by the 2 Judges.

 You have to wait until the dog is out 20 feet of your 40 foot tracking line to follow. Yikes, looks like a MILE away. I was so happy to see alfalfa and higher grass in the field, because it's what we practice most often on.

 It was so pretty, the leaves are gorgeous in the nearby mountains. The sun was shining, and Willy powered out! Then...he stopped to eat grass on the second "leg". Does he hate me?!! I understand when I get nervous he eats grass.. but still-just go Willy!

 So I took a very deep breath, waited a minute, then told him to "find it". And off we went again. It felt like forever, but I thought we were getting close when suddenly Willy dove down, grabbed the glove, and pranced up to me with it!! Oh my gosh, I cannot tell you what that felt like! All those practices in the snow, rain, mud..it was all good looking at him with that glove in his mouth.

 I promise you I could not have done it without all the tracks people have laid for me, and of course, my friend, Lisa Pattison, who has taught me everything I know about tracking, and always encouraged me.

450 yards, 4 turns, ahhhhhhh.

Laurie

Australian Shepherd Squeek takes off at the Start Flag while practicing for her ASCA Tracking Test. Here she is attending a Tracking Training Session at Hopewind Farm in Lafayette NJ where an ASCA test will be held in Nov 2009

Track and Swim Saturdays at Hopewind Farm

Check out the link on my web page for Open Swim and Tracking Training Session for the details!

Towing Task at Canine Water Sports Test

From Monrow CT CWS TEST 09

Canine Water Sports Test in Sept in NJ

Here is a gifted team practicing for the Team Swim task in Canine Water Sports. This photo by Laurie Shuren reflects a beautiful symbiotic relationship.  All shapes and sizes of dogs can learn water tasks and enter the Canine Water Sports Tests.