I am on vacation this week (sans-dogs, very sad) so I figured it was a good time to reflect on the busy but enjoyable summer we have had so far. The dogs are doing great, they stay somewhere that they absolutely love and have way too much fun. I miss them terribly, but I try to tell myself time apart is good for all of us! I don’t know who is more dependent on the other, me or the dogs. They truly are my family and I feel like a part of myself is missing when they aren’t with me. What a beautiful relationship we get to share with these amazing animals.
Let’s jump back to May. Chickie attended her first pack walk and puppy class at My Dog’s Mind! I was very nervous because she was only 3 months old at the time, but she did incredibly well at both. It was very fun to see her little personality start to show as we built our relationship together through play, training, and new experiences. Chief ran his first Fast CAT in May at American K-9 Country. I haven’t shared about this yet, but it was unforgettable in a comedic way. They first run I had my husband release him, and I called him to the end. He didn’t seem to notice the lure so it was more of a 100 yard recall. The second run, I released him and my husband waited to catch… but Chief decided he wasn’t interested in running without me! So naturally the two of us ran down the track as I laughed the entire way. We learned our lesson for if we ever decide to trial him again! Other notable events were a freestyle disc seminar that Chief and I participated in, and Chickie’s first time at the Dock Dogs pool. I love cattle dogs because once you gain their trust, they are willing to try almost anything with you.
she has come so far this summer!
June brought Chief’s first Dock Dogs event of the season. He did extremely well- achieving a huge personal best of 24’3” and wowing the crowd with every high flying dive. It is funny to see the reactions he gets- very few people expect my little cattle dog to launch more than halfway across the pool with such ease! Of course this event brought its own challenges with Chief’s reactivity (as I detailed in a previous post) but we worked through it and I learned more about what Chief needs from me to feel confident and supported in these situations.
We met an Instagram friend in real life, @Happylittlewinnie! She is an absolutely wonderful person who I cannot wait to spend time with again someday. We talked for hours and Chief and Chickie loved her. Instagram can offer you an incredible community if you remain authentic and approach new connections with an open mind.
Chickie went on her first vacation with us to The Adirondacks! We stayed at The Good Chalet and it was a weekend of relaxation and enjoyment for all dogs and humans included. We hiked a beautiful trail at Stag Brook Falls so the dogs could swim, visited downtown Lake Placid, and spent quality time at the gorgeous A-Frame cabin. Chickie was a perfect angel the whole trip, even though she made me carry her the entire two mile walk around Mirror Lake. That’s what I get for leaving her stroller at home, but we made it work and she loved the attention. Chief loves exploring new places and did fantastic in the busy environments we visited.
In July, we spent a lot of time at the family pool where the dogs love to dive for their bumpers and make everyone laugh at their antics. Chickie learned the ropes of trail walking and followed the excellent example set by Chief who is my perfect hiking buddy. We hosted our extended family for the annual “beer olympics”. The dogs were on their best behavior even with the bustle of 20 people in our typically quiet house. The dogs learned to paddle board and seem to really like it! After a disastrous first attempt back in June, they settled in and enjoyed the ride with us. Chickie learned to love diving off the ramp at the Dock Dogs pool, and even had the chance to experience the big dock for the first time. I believe this little girl is going to love dock diving just as much as Chief does.
August started with a bang as Chief and I travelled to Wizard of Paws in Connecticut for a live seminar portion of my Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer program. Chief was a very good boy, even while participating in an assessment portion of the course. In typical cattle dog fashion, he can exhibit some stranger danger. He quickly settled in and seemed to realize he was in the company of “dog people”. I was very proud of him for trusting me and being open to the experience. The chance to learn more about something you love in person is invaluable. I cannot recommend these types of experiences enough.
CPCFT Live seminar
I feel such a sense of purpose when I am able to provide my dogs with experiences that enrich their lives. Whether we are exploring a new trail, trying a new sport, or learning a new skill, the memories I make with these cattle dogs are some of the best of my lifetime thus far. I love the idea that this blog will memorialize our experiences together, cementing my memories and emotions surrounding these events into perpetuity. We hope you have had a healthy, memorable, and above all FUN summer!
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