Dogs of Today

"Tristan"  TraJam Legend of the Fall

Tristan is a live wire!  Always on the go, he's easily excited about life.  I am looking forward to a fun competitive career with him once we survive his adolescence!  We are currently working on developing a relationship, learning house manners and foundation competition skills while he enjoys being a puppy.

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"Tilly"  Ch. TG Mi Vida Loca RN, SD-S(SP), TEAM1, CRNMCL

Tilly joined us in the summer of 2014 at 4 years of age.    She is a really sweet girl who loves sleeping in the sun.  We really started competing in 2018 and so far she has earned her CKC Rally Novice title, her Started title in SDDA scent detection, her TEAM 1 title and her CARO Rally Novice title.  We are working on our teamwork for the agility ring.

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Dogs of Days Past

"Reese"  TraJam Longhorn Legally Blonde CGN, CD, RE, CRVMCL, CRS, AgXJ, AgI, SGDC, AADC, TD                                                                                                        (July 26, 2003-October 25, 2016)

Reese was my sport dog and lap warmer.  She allowed me to explore several different sports, titling in obedience, rally obedience, agility and tracking.  But more than that, she taught me the importance of listening to what my dog is telling me and to teach her what she needs to learn.  Reese and I found our niche in Rally Obedience where she finished her CKC Excellent title and was the #1 Rally Obedience Beagle & #4 Hound in Canada for 2010.  She then moved to CARO completing her Novice, Advanced and Excellent Titles with scores over 190 out of a possible 200.  She finished her Bronze title in 2013 , her Silver and Versatility in 2014 and was one qualifying score away from her Master Champion.  Even with all of her titles, one of my proudest moments occurred when she spat out half a pizza slice that she had found on a walk because I asked her to.  Reese's favourite thing was getting to use her nose outdoors, whether it be tracking or exploring on walks.  When not playing, she could be found curled up, sleeping in the softest, warmest spot she could find. 

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"Hunter"  CGN, CRNMCL                                     (1998? - 2014)

I met Hunter while I was at college training to be a veterinary technician.  Dogs and cats from the local pound would come and stay with us for a few weeks so we could practise caring for them, taking their vital signs, bandaging them and assisting our veterinarian in surgery when they were spayed or neutered.  Hunter was so sweet he melted my heart right away.  Then we found out that he was blind.  That sealed it - he came home with me.  He was my marshmallow dog, so soft and easy going.  Hunter was an inspiration every day as he coped so well with his disability.  He memorized the layout inside buildings and then didn't walk into walls.  He functioned so well outside it was hard to tell he couldn't see as he followed an interesting scent.  Hunter also completed his Canine Good Neighbour and CARO Rally Novice.  He started nosework and played with some tracking which was right up his alley.

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"Destiny"   U-CD Rodlin's Destination Unknown CGN, CD, CRNCL                                                               (1998-2010)

Destiny was my introduction to dog sports.  Her breeders Rod and Linda Norris of Rodlin Kennels took me under their wing and co-owned Destiny with me for the first few years of her life.  Starting when she was 8 weeks old I went to their place to train her 3 times a week.  We entered and qualified at her first obedience trial at 6 months of age, and when she earned her final qualifying score at 9 months of age she finished her CKC Companion Dog Title.  Destiny had been born with the umbilical cord wrapped tightly around one of her hind legs, causing her to lose the toes on that foot.  Although her disability didn't slow her down at all, it did affect her eligibility to compete in certain dog sports.  She did complete her Rally Novice title through CARO and her Canine Good Neighbour with the CKC.  At 9 years young she finished her United Kennel Club Companion Dog title with a reserve high in trial.  Destiny was with me through several life changes including college and moving out on my own.  A real snuggler, she was always ready to defend against imminent attack from the boogeyman.

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What do all the letters mean?

CGN - Canine Good Neighbour (Canadian Kennel Club)
CD - Companion Dog (Canadian Kennel Club)
RE - Rally Excellent (Canadian Kennel Club) Earned after completing Rally Novice (RN) and Rally Advanced (RA)
CRVMCL - CARO Rally Versatility - Earned after completing Rally Novice (CRN), Advanced (CRA) and Excellent (CRX) this level requires that the dog work on the handler's right as well as the left.
CRB - CARO Rally Bronze  (Canadian Association of Rally Obedience)  Earned after completing Rally Novice (CRN), Advanced (CRA) and Excellent (CRX)  CARO also adds letters CL for scores over 180 and MCL for scores over 190.  Thus Destiny's CRNCL and Reese's CRNMCL.
AgXJ - Agility Excellent Jumper (Canadian Kennel Club) Earned after completing Novice Jumper (AgNJ) and Intermediate Jumper (AgIJ)
AgI - Agility Intermediate (Canadian Kennel Club)  Earned after completing Agility Novice (AgN)
SGDC - Starter Games Dog of Canada (Agility Association of Canada) 
AADC - Advanced Agility Dog of Canada (Agility Association of Canada) Earned after completing Agility Dog of Canada (ADC)
TD - Tracking Dog (Canadian Kennel Club)
U-CD Companion Dog (United Kennel Club)

In short, the letters reflect a lot of training time working on skills, weaning off of food rewards, and a whole lot of fun with my dogs.