Turq's New Adventure

Turq flew to Colorado today and arrived safe and sound. After a few days getting used to his new environment, he'll start serious training.

I'm going to Colorado in two weeks and will see him soon.

"Mark"

Harper (Prime x Darbi 2008) getting ready to run a mark in Alaska.

Saturday Morning Walk

Snapped some photos with my iPhone on our walk this morning. Beautiful day!

Turq met my friend's dog on the way home from the walk. He is certainly a big boy!

No Miikka, I'm not throwing that for you. And people wonder why my shins are bruised.

The girls teaching Turq the fine art of the river patrol.

Another ribbon

Congrats Matti!

Two trials, two placements.

I was informed by her owner that the first double she ever ran in her life was the week before!!

I asked him if I could have my dog back.

He said no.

Re-Visiting Dottie

I love getting e-mails hearing about how the "puppies" are doing. Hard to believe they are all grown up now.

Dottie dropped a line the other day to say she's doing great!

Holy smokes, does she ever look like her mother. Spitting image. I wonder if she snores as bad as her mother does too.

Dottie is from the Shaq x Miikka litter of 2007.

Lethbridge Trial

Man oh man, it was a HOT one in Lethbridge this week-end. Gross hot. "This ain't fun anymore" hot.

The "girls" did not have the best showing this week-end.

Miikka tried her guts out on the first series both days, but struggled with the short retired both times. Poor Peanut. It has always been a weakness of hers. Funny enough that the short retireds were her strongest birds when she won two weeks ago.

Darbi went out after the water blind on the first day and finished with a Certificate of Merit the second day. Her blinds were good, but her marking was not up to her usual standards. Not sure if she is lacking confidence, not feeling well or she was just suffering in the heat, but it is something I am going to pay particular attention to in the coming days and weeks. Her blinds have always been her weak point, so maybe she is just out of balance right now as we've worked so hard getting her blinds to a higher standard.

My new dog Turq (Prime x Darbi 2008) was the star of the truck oddly enough. He finished SECOND in the puppy stake. He was an orangutan to run and he made me laugh out loud. I felt like I was taking a snorting bull to the line. Time to get the boy going on obedience work.

Pictured here is Matti, who finished SECOND in the Junior this week-end. She is the Shaq x Miikka pup who finished third last week-end. I got a chance to see her run the last series and was impressed with her focus, drive and tractibility. She was fun to watch!!

Also congrats to Meg (Prime x Darbi 2008) who finished FOURTH in the puppy stake this week-end in Ontario.

I get the same amount of pride when the pups I've bred do well, as when my own dogs do.

Emma

Meet Elmingo's Second Chance, "Emma".  She is from the Tiger x Darbi litter of 2006.

Emma was named Second Chance for a reason and she taught me a lot as a breeder.  I sold her as "pick" female at 8 weeks old to a guy in the U.S.  The guy talked a good game and I fell for his lies.  Emma was flown to her destination and low and behold, the cheque bounced.

After some persuasion involving law enforcement, the pup was delivered by the guy to a local field trial pro who offered to take in the pup for a short time until I could get her back to me.  Emma was full of worms and did not look well.  Turns out she was purchased by said guy to be used as a brood bitch, and not be trained as a field trial dog as he had told me.

Enter Todd.  Todd is friends with Yankee's owners and said he would be willing to buy Emma after a 30 day trial period to be sure she was not sick or injured after her brief sojourn in hell.  Todd met the field trial pro half way and took her into his home.

And the rest, they say, is history.

Emma has Master Hunter passes in VERY limited tests (2 a year) and Todd wrote in a recent e-mail that he is "proud to be her partner".  

I learned many lessons from the sale of Emma.

Indeed she has had a "Second Chance" and I think she's a pretty lucky dog.

My New Dog

A friend and I went for a walk with the dogs in Bragg Creek and it was a beautiful day.  

Darbi is seen here enjoying the crystal clear waters.

I bought a new dog this week.  His name is "Turq" and he is 7 months old.  Turq is from the Prime x Darbi litter of 2008.  Turq will be headed to Horsetooth Retrievers in Colorado in 2 weeks to begin his training.

I don't know much about him yet, but so far he is friendly, happy and fun to be around.

Here is the dog walking gang.  From left to right: Miikka (picturesque as usual), Darbi ("she beats me, I swear she does"), Maiya (the cousin from a previous blog owned by my friend Mike) and Turq.

Maiya had a fun time chasing Turq with his stick...around and around and around.

My new family.  Darbi, Turq and Miikka

He's a handsome dude isn't he??  I'll keep everyone posted on his progress.

Way to go Matti!

Congrats to Elmingo's With One Twist!

Matti got a 3rd place in the Junior this past week-end in her very first field trial!!

Matti

Miikka's daughter Matti (Shaq x Miikka 2007) sent a congratulatory e-mail and this updated photo.

She is a real looker!!

Peanut and her ribbon

So proud of my Peanut...

Back in their spot

Darbs and Miikks are happy to be home.  I'm happy to have them home.

They are now back surveying the Highwood River on a daily basis.