Dear President-Elect Obama:
I hope you and your staff will indulge one of your volunteers for a moment in something that has been a deep passion in my life for the last four years. I know that you have promised your daughters a...
View ArticleMorning Reaction: Generation O
The New York Times looks at the young voters Obama has inspired and I wonder how Democrats can keep them engaged in politics. At the same time, MSNBC says young voters didn't matter.Also, coverage of...
View ArticleA cautionary tale for parents and dog lovers.
I don't know why I did it (well I do but really regret it) My husband and I left our 17 yr old home alone for 4 days to pick up our other child at college.Its probably an all too common story but...
View ArticleRally On.
After more than a year of intensive work with my Westie, I showed him in AKC Novice Obedience Trials. After 14 (or was it 17? maybe a million.) attempts, we completed 3 successful "Qualifications" and...
View ArticleAn Amazingly Good Time
I was lucky enough to spend nearly this entire weekend in the company of my rescue German Shepherd, Sasha. This was our schedule:Saturday7 am - hit road 8 am - check in for 2 APDT (Association of...
View ArticleTwo Down. One to Go.
Sasha is my rescue German Shepherd Dog. Since early this year, she and I have taken a bunch of "family dog" obedience classes, more classes geared toward Canine Good Citizen test preparation (which...
View ArticleThe Nose Knows
For a little under a year, I've been working on a variety of dog (woozle) related sports with my rescue Shepherd, Sasha. We started in 'Traditional' (though basic) Obedience in February 2010. She...
View ArticleAdoption Nerves
Tomorrow, I am travelling a couple hours away to try to adopt a rescue Shepherd. If I am successful, like Sasha, this dog will be co-owned by my boyfriend and myself. However, he's going to spend...
View ArticleClasses Start February 28
I heard from the lady who runs Family Dog Obedience and Rally classes a few weeks ago. I had taught 'traditional' obedience with her years ago; over the past year I took classes from her with Sasha...
View ArticleReport: Night One, Intro to Nose Work
Last night, I taught a dog class for the first time in 3 or 4 years. I used to teach traditional Obedience; between (unrelated) depression and dealing with the (ahead of his time) Teabagger co-teacher...
View ArticleNight Two: Introduction to Nose Work
Last Monday, I taught my second Canine Nose Work class. It's getting fun, and my co-teacher (Linda) and I have plans to take it up another notch!Our class contained nearly all the same dogs, who I'll...
View ArticleNight Three: Introduction to Nose Work
HOT DAMN, did we have fun!Yeah, I'm teaching my first session of Intro to Nose Work with my co-teacher, Linda. Two of eight teams have dropped out - one caused by a tear to the dog's ACL (didn't occur...
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A Game for you and your dog
If you own a dog, I'd like you to do something for me.If you don't all ready, I'd like you to take your dog to classes and interact with your dog during those classes and practicing in between. And...
View ArticleSasha Passes 2 ORT's
(ORT means Odor Recognition Test)Tonight Sasha, my rescue Shepherd (#1) passed two Odor Recognition Tests - one for Birch, and one for Anise. Before a dog can be shown in a Nose Work Trial, it must...
View ArticleSheddhead, ANWI
ANWI™ means Associate Nose Work Instructor, as recognized by the National Association of Canine Scent Work, LLC®, or NACSW™. This past weekend I attended days 2 - 4 of 7 days of seminars, to become a...
View ArticleNose Work Movies and Pictures
Because I've written several diaries about Canine Nose Work (and because I've spent the last week editing and uploading video clips), this diary will be mostly photos and videos. To learn more about...
View ArticleI'm a teacher, too. My students have four feet, though.
Or maybe my students have 6 feet, because they are always a team of a dog and a person. I used to teach family dog obedience. After many years off, I've started teaching K9 Nose Work® this year.My...
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The Search Dogs of 9-11, and beyond
Not a long missive on the politics or other retrospectives on the impacts and changes since 9-11. Just a simple diary from me to acknowledge the day and take a moment to recognize the often unsung...
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4 out of 4 Moo's agree, what's one more? (with poll)
So, 'woozle' number five...Here are the four 'Moo'sEverything was going along just fine... then I saw this photo on the 'Min Pin Rescue' Facebook page:
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Raced to Death: Recent Scandals Expose the Ugliest Side of an Ugly Sport
A possum, alive and struggling, her baby still clinging to her back, is tied to the lure arm along the rail. Behind the starting gate a dozen or so greyhounds wait, their eyes fixed straight ahead,...
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