July 16th, 2018. Some new letters

        We did it! No pictures, because I was running around like a mad woman, but Caoimhe got her Herding Instinct, AND all three Target Odours over the weekend. 

        It’s about more than letters. Caoimhe and I have been working on Performance Scenting since January. I hadn’t originally planned to go after our TOTs at K9 Sport Fest because I volunteer at a booth and it keeps me very busy, but once I got there I thought “what the heck!” and put my name on the list. Same with herding. 

        Anything you do with your dog is about the relationship and the journey. The titles, ribbons, and bling are just the fancy prizes. I had to take a step back and trust my dog; that she knew what she was doing. I couldn’t have done that in January. But there I was, giving her the cue and letting her cross the starting line away from me. I’m proud of her! Not only because of how she performed, but how she handled the weekend. We haven’t camped since last year, and it was brutally hot this year. I sometimes forget that she’s still just a puppy at 15 months old, but she works her heart out for me. 

        Now, off to get some more sleep. The heat and a summer cold have me drained, and it’s back to a full work schedule starting this afternoon. 

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© Shari Joanisse 2023