Back in the mother land

I'm back in Canada for a little while and enjoying seeing friends and family.

On the way up I spent a few days training in the "middle of nowhere" (AKA Wyoming).

Miss Libby is still a star, at least in my eyes.  She is going through Basics with tail wagging and a great attitude.  She thinks everything is funny and for her benefit, just like her mother.

While in Wyoming I took a few pictures with my zoom lens of Libby marking a bird I threw.  I run her 99% of the time, but once in a while it is nice to get out in the field and watch my dogs from a different vantage point.

This past week-end I ran a field trial in Alberta.  I had three dogs entered; Darbi, Miikka and Ollie.  Ollie is FC Mr. Oliver D. Place and I brought him up with me in the hopes of qualifying him for the Canadian National in September.  Ollie and I got SECOND place in the Open, which qualified him!!  Nice to get that out of the way early.

We ran two opens on the week-end.  Darbi was having a great trial up until the last bird of the last series in the first open...that's how trials go sometimes.  And she had two hunts in the first series of the second Open, which was not good enough to play.  She sure is fun right now and I'm having a great time running and training her.

Miikka went out in the first series both days.  Still not herself of course, but I did see a big improvement...I think we're on the right path.

And a BIG congrats to "Matti" (Elmingo's With One Twist - Shaq x Miikka 2007) who was second in the qualifying this past week-end!!

I had two goals when I came up here to run the trials.  One was to qualify Ollie, which I did.  The other is to finish Darbi's titles.  We have three more Opens to run in the coming week, so I still have time.

Fingers crossed.

Yeah Meg!

Congrats to "Meg" (Elmingo's Prime Suspect - Prime x Darbi 2008) for not only finishing her FIRST qualifying, but getting THIRD place!!

Meg is not yet two years old and also has some Canadian Derby points.

This was also the first time that owner Jill ran her in a field trial.

Way to go Meg & Jill!!

Coming around...

So...about Peanut.

I've been writing about what a frustrating spring we've had with her.  She hasn't been herself since she had her puppies.

We've tried playing nicey nice with her and we've tried digging into her too.  Nothing was working.

Well...it seems we've turned the corner.  She has been training gang busters the last couple weeks.

Fingers crossed, but it seems Miikka is back.

Happy Campers

All smiles today.

FIRST and third

Darbi WON the Open at the trial in Colorado this week-end!!!!  Her first US Open placement is a win and I'm over the moon.

Darbi and I have had a lot of bad luck this year and I asked Kenny run her hoping to change her luck.

It worked!

Big thanks to Kenny as usual.  He is behind all our successes in the past couple years.  When he got Darbi he told me "she's a nice dog, just not very well trained".  A blow to my ego, yes, as I had done most her training myself, but it opened my eyes.

And Pedro was THIRD in another stakes race this week-end.  He ran hard, but was battling on the front end in fractions that were too fast for him and he tired at the end.

Three goals for Darbi this year now:
Qualify for US National
Finish her Canadian titles
Have a good showing at the Canadian National

I have a full waiting list for Darbi's fall litter, but it looks like the litter will have to wait until we see if Darbi qualifies for the US National or not.

Pictures to come...

Another fourth!

I got to run Turq in the Derby this week-end in Colorado and we had a blast.  He was such a good boy.

We received a 4th place and I am very proud of his efforts.  There was more than one occasion that he reminded me of running his mother in Derbies many moons ago.

I ran Darbi FIRST of 80-plus dogs in the Open and we didn't do the test.  She was a bit wild with me on line and that is a first for her.  It did make me giggle, but it also showed me that she needs to be nailed down.  Kenny is going to run her all week and in the trial next week-end.  That will burst her bubble a bit I think.

Miikka is still acting weird.  She is also nesting here at home and showing signs of false pregnancy from her heat cycle a couple months ago.  I'm hoping she comes out of it soon and we're nursing her along as best as we can right now while her brain seems to be on vacation.

My training group had another great week-end!  First, 3rd and Reserve JAM in the Open!
Arson (the dog I won with in Canada) WON and this titled him in the US.

Miss Libby continues to be a star and she's starting to run the Open marks as singles now and doing great!  She still makes me laugh every single day and I love her personality.

Fourth and Fourth

Congrats to "Turq" (Backwater's Smokin Turq - Prime x Darbi 2008) who got a Derby fourth this past week-end!  He is 3 for 4 in finishing US derbies so far!
It was a great week-end for my training group.  Kenny and "Ollie" WON the Open and Joe and "Rosie" WON the Amateur.  There were smiles all around on Sunday.

And my racehorse "Pedro" was fourth in his Stakes debut.  He ran against stiff competition in the Graduation Stakes in Manitoba.  Horses shipped in from the US and Canada to run the race. He was in the lead until the final few jumps and was only a length behind the winner at the wire!  I really thought we had it...and he ran so well.

Pedro is being shipped to Alberta to run in the Alberta Sales Stakes for his next start August 14!

Ping's first ribbon

Congrats to Ping (Shaq x Miikka 2009) and owner/handler Peter for passing their first NAHRA started test!!

And also congrats to Pie (Ping's older "sister") for completed their MHR with Peter's daughter Morgan!

Way to go!!

Lazy days of summer

HOT here in Colorado.  Annoyingly hot.

We're still getting in lots of good training though, gearing up for a stretch of trials starting this week-end.

But, it's not all work and no play for the girls.  They seem to be enjoying the heat more then I am.

From left to right:

Libby, Miz (FC AFC Mizpah Miss), Miikka and Darbi.

Sadly, Miz was retired this spring due to a cruciate tear at 9 years old.  Being the 3 time US National Finalist that she is, she deserves her days in the sun.  Miz is also the "cranky" dog that bit Libby on the tongue...they get along famously now.  I guess Libby is less of a pain, but if you asked me I'd say the jury is still out.

Pedro in the paper

Pedro made the news!

What a fun article about him.

I'm sure it's not  stretch for you guys to figure out Elmingo Stables is me.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/horseracing/what-a-bunch-of-babies-98586199.html

Pretty In Pink

Miss Libby got a new pink bumper from Auntie Barb (Prime's momma).

And Libbs wanted to show off how good she is at "hold".  She is working through force fetch now.

Pedro Wins!

I know it's a lame photo, but it is a picture of a video off the computer.

Pedro made his FIRST start at Assiniboia Downs tonight and he WON!!

His "real" name is Cactus Cut and it was so much fun to watch the race and cheer him on.

I don't know when his next start will be, but he's looking good for two year old stakes races.  It was a Maiden Special Weight race for Open company...meaning any two year old on the track could enter.

Go Pedro Go!!

You and I

Ping's (Shaq x Miikka 2009) owner sent me this great shot of her and her big "sister" Pie.

Pinch Hitter

I'm back home in Alberta.

And exhausted.  

10 days on the road with 19 dogs can wear a gal out.  Feed, air, water, train, rinse and repeat.

I'm having a jammie night tonight and will probably be in bed by 8.

Had a fun, but not very successful week-end with my girls.  Darbi went out after a weak water blind on the first day and in the opening series the second day.  Darbi has been getting looser on her water blinds each week, so it's time to address it.

Miikka went out in the first series the first day and after the land blind the second day.  She still is not back to where she should be, so back to square one with her again.  We have some ideas...we will see if they work.

Fun part of the week-end is that I ran a different dog on the second day.  Kenny asked me to run his very nice dog Arson, as he was already qualified for the Canadian National.  Kenny, in turn, ran my two girls on day two, as well as his other dogs.

Well, the "plan" to give Arson a handicap by having me run him back fired.  Arson and I WON the Open on the second day.  He was so much fun to run.  The win titled Arson in Canada and he is now a Field Trial Champion.

Thanks for the ride Arson...it was an honor to stand beside you.

Saskatoon

Went to a trial in Saskatchewan last week.

Ran the girls the first day and judged the Open the second day.

I thought I was having a decent day after the water blind with Darbi.  Nothing spectacular, but decent.  We got dropped.  I never mind getting dropped (for the most part), I just hate not knowing why.  Obviously the judges saw something they didn't like...I just wish I knew what it was.

Miikka, as usual, was the drama queen.  I had to make my first "walk of shame" running her.

The birds were shot middle, right and then left.  When the middle bird was shot, Miikka head swung over to the left hand bird and missed the right bird being thrown entirely.
After pinning the first two birds, she was a bit clueless on the long retired obviously.  I sent her and she went out to never, never land and got lost.  She ended up back in the middle bird.  I tried to handle, but she didn't stop and then I tried to pick her up (bring her in) to no avail.  So after much whistling and many "no heres" from line, I had to walk ALL the way out into the field to get her.

What a brat.  It made me giggle a bit though, as only Miikka can do.

Sick of her yet?

Anyone sick of Libby yet?

Tough.

I'm not.

People who have yet to meet her ask if her previous leg fracture slows her down at all.

Let this picture be the answer.

Libby was mad that she was done after only 4 marks, so she ran around with her little lead in her mouth afterwards.

Kenny is the little dot to the left of his dog truck.  This is where I was throwing the puppy marks from and he ran the 5 puppies we have right now.  I wanted to throw so I could take a couple pictures of the cuteness that is Libby.

Another picture of the ranch near my house.  It is sure beautiful country here at home!

New QAA!!

Congrats to Matti and owner Tim on Matti becoming Qualified All-Age this past week-end in Lethbridge!

Matti is Elmingo's With One Twist (Shaq x Miikka 2007) and she got a second place in the Qualifying.

I had a great time at the Lethbridge trial.  I caught up with friends I hadn't seen in some time and was proud of my girls' efforts.  I judged the Junior the second day and I always have fun when I judge.  I am judging the Open next week-end in Saskatoon and I am looking forward to that assignment.  

Libby caught up with an "old" friend too.  This is Libby (right) with her litter sister Ping (blue dot) and they had a great time re-connecting.

Of course, most of the pictures I took looked something like this.

Reunion

Libby (in the blue collar) had a special reunion with her sister Teah today.  Teah was "Yellow" from the same litter.  These girls had not seen each other since Teah left here at 8 weeks old.

They had a lot of fun playing and picked up right where they left off.

These two made me laugh and laugh.

Had a great day training on a beautiful property.  We did a pretty set of land marks on this land.

And ran this water blind.  Bumpers were at the picnic table up from the shore a little ways.

BUT...this is where we ran it from.  Dogs did very well, and then we turned around and ran a set of water marks.  Overall, a very productive day.

God's Country

I swear I live in one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.  

Gorgeous hills and valleys with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop.

Today, while training, two moose walked through the middle of our test!

Here is another pond on the ranch I train on.

And one of the tests we did today.  Water blind past the white coat, onto the dike and into another piece of water.  The line was to the left of the coat.  The coat either pushed them fat into the water or pushed them away from the water.

After training we cut loose all 19 dogs and they had a ball swimming and playing.  These dogs all get along really well.  Here is Kenny with most of the herd down by the water.  It was a beautiful day today!

Sorry again for the iPhone pics...I keep forgetting my camera!

Libby Marking

Libby is marked most every day and she sure loves it!

Here she is training today...

Dedicated

Full day training in the rain today.  Yucky.

It wasn't as miserable as it was yesterday, but it still wasn't exactly balmy.

First off, we did this water blind.  BIG entry into the water and then over the point and across the pond.  Dogs then had to punch the hill quite a ways to the bumper.

A closer view of the blind.  My iPhone pictures are not quite as spectacular as my Canon.

Then a double and a blind in this field below.  

It is so pretty here.

This is just a couple miles down the road from where I live in Alberta.  This particular ranch has TWENTY sections of land I can train on.

Of course, with Kenny being up here, running these tests does take almost a full day when one throws in young dog marks for 5 puppies, yard work and 14 dogs to run on the "big dog" stuff.

Darbi WINS!

Darbi WON the Open at the Red Deer Retriever Club yesterday.

It was pretty fun.  She ran her guts out.

Pretty emotional for me, as any win is.  Darbi is my first trial dog and we have had many ups and downs together.  She has suffered for my many mistakes as a rookie handler and trainer over the years.

Kenny has made a big difference for both of us.  After I told him that Darbi won yesterday he said that when he met me over a year ago I wasn't ready to win an Open, and neither was Darbi.  He pushed both of us hard, and we are a better team for it.  Darbi is now running better than she ever has and I am hopefully becoming a better handler.

I think this picture is fitting for Darbi's win.  Here she is resting at the hotel after her long hard day.  We ask so much of these dogs and they give us their hearts and their guts.  A sleep on the hotel room bed was the least I could do for her.

Darbi is a pretty nice trial dog, but she is my buddy, my house dog and my bed hog first.

A congrats goes out to Darbi's son "Turq" who has now finished both Derbies he has run with a JAM at the Montana Retriever Club this week-end.  He is sure a fun young dog and he shows lots of promise in training.

As for Miikka, she ran kind of poopy all week-end.  She just came out of season, so not sure if that is the cause, as it sometimes can be with females.  Oh well, she still made me laugh and that's all that matters.

We'll miss you Fanny

This is devastating.

"Fanny" passed away last week.

She was only 5 months old (Libby's littermate) and there are many pictures of her on my blog recently.

I got permission from her owner to post her story and it is my wish that everyone can learn from what happened to Fanny.

Fanny went into distress immediately after swimming in a pond in Ontario and died shortly thereafter at the vet clinic.

In her owner's words:

"When Fanny went into stress I took her to my vet less than 10 minutes away.  The three vets on duty dropped every thing and tried to save her; they x-rayed her, gave her an ekg, went on line to an expert, but there was no saving her. She died once and they revived her but warned against doing it again as there would be brain damage for sure.  She was breathing very shallow and being aided with oxygen when it became apparent that she wasn't going to recover I let them euthanize her.  She died in my arms. I brought her home and buried her in my wood lot with my other dogs that have passed over the years.

She was a wonderful pup and I had high hopes for her.  I think there will always be an empty spot in my heart now that she is gone."

It is our belief that Fanny died from Blue Green Algae poisoning.  Blue Green algae is a very poisonous toxin that grows in some water in hot and dry conditions.  I had heard of it, but never knew a dog that died from this personally.  It is early in the year for Blue Green Algae, but Ontario had experienced some soaring temperatures just prior to Fanny's death.

Another puppy died shortly after swimming in the same pond a week before Fanny did and the vets are now guessing it was Blue Green Algae that killed them.

An autopsy is being done on the first pup and Environment Canada is doing water testing on the pond the puppies were in.

Please, if you have never heard of Blue Green Algae, look it up and educate yourself.  There is lots of information on the internet.

Little Fanny has crossed the Rainbow Bridge, but we will never forget her.

My heart breaks for her owner and everyone that loved her.  My heart just breaks.

Congrats

Congrats to Meg (Elmingo's Prime Suspect, Prime x Darbi 2008) for the 4th place in the Junior in Ontario this week-end!!
And congrats to Matti (Elmingo's With One Twist, Shaq x Miikka 2007) for the Qualifying JAM in Colorado!
Way to go!!

Miikka's Dad

I received a picture of Miikka's dad the other day.

FTCH AFTCH Revilo Spirit of Independence lives a wonderful retirement with his golden retriever buddies.

His owner told me "Satch" was actually moving to Arizona in the coming weeks, and that sounds like exactly what retired dogs should do.

Satch was owned by Gunther Rahnefeld.  Gunther taught me so much about dogs and dog breeding.  He had a PhD in genetics and not only owned NFC AFC FTCH AFTCH Yankee Independence, but bred her once and that breeding produced TWO additional National Champions, one of which was owned by Gunther.  (NFTCH AFTCH Call Me Mister Independence)

Gunther sadly passed away a year or so ago, and Satch now lives with his son Karl.

Satch was also a product of a breeding that Gunther arranged and I am proud to own one of his FEW daughters.

Lookin' good at 12 years old Satch!  That mischievous twinkle in your eye sure looks familiar.