Begging for carrots

Sunday Morning Walk

I have been taking Truffle to a group walk on Sundays at 7:30 am. It is on a ridge overlooking the Blue Ridge where the Appalachian Trail is. Always lovely at that hour, and especially so this week with the snow. I don't give Truffie any treats on the walk anymore, because it makes her guard me more. So she goes and begs from everyone else. Remember you can enlarge the pictures by clicking on them.

First Snow

Here are a few pictures from the first snow of the season. Of course the dogs were in seventh heaven.

Stonecrop News Update

Since my last update, we attended the Atlantshaf (East Coast) Chapter Icelandic Gathering in Maryland (some photos by Jenifer Brimmer), and the first ISAA National Specialty in Wauseon, OH. At the Specialty, Truffle took First in American Bred in two of the three shows:

Show 1, Oct. 2, 2009, Judge Diane Anderson

American Bred Female
1st Runestone Truffle – Merton Kilpatrick
2nd Heimskauts Eydis – Leticia Watts
3rd Valhalla’s Heart of Gold – Penny Kelley
4th Sand Creek Maeja – Bill Shelton

Show 2, Oct 2, 2009, Judge Pat Putman

American Bred Female
1st Runestone Truffle – Merton Kilpatrick
2nd Heimskauts Eydis – Leticia Watts
3rd Sand Creek Maeja – Bill Shelton
4th Valhalla’s Heart of Gold – Penny Kelley

Show 3, Oct3, 2009 Judge Gudrun Gudjohnsen

American Bred Female
1st Heimskauts Eydis – Leticia Watts
2nd Valhalla’s Heart of Gold – Penny Kelley
3rd Runestone Truffle – Merton Kilpatrick
4th Sand Creek Maeja – Bill Shelton

Truffie passed a herding instinct test at Raspberry Ridge Sheep Farm and since she seemed to like it so much, I took her to a one-day herding introduction. We had a great time, and I would like to continue in the spring, although it will be limited by my budget.

I have also taken her to several agility practice matches, where we did a mixture of agility and rally during our run-throughs, because my main goal in attending was to accustom her to the environment of dog events. She is getting much better in her ability to stay calm and not react to the other dogs, although certain dogs at certain times still press her hot button. She will be getting her hips xrayed next week.

Not to ignore Sammy, he is my prize free-shaper, he never gives up trying to please, and also makes me laugh. Today we were practicing running into a soft-crate from a distance, and re-orienting to me when released out of it. After a few times sending him into the crate, he decided it was more fun to jump on top of it. It was too cute. He is in a Control Unleashed class now at my training facility Let's Speak Dog. He is very attached to Viva, our GSD.