Faith was in a tracking match today, and earned her certification to enter a Tracking Dog test! We weren’t sure how she would do, as Faith has been trained in air scenting for urban and wilderness SAR, as well as trailing (similar to tracking, but with a person at the end instead of a glove), and has had limited exposure to AKC style tracking. Well, Faith showed us just how good her nose is by plowing right through the track to the glove. Now we just have to find a test to enter her in!
Last year my mom, Doree, attended a leadership retreat for Dog Scouts of America, where Faith became a dog scout, and got the opportunity to earn badges in Steeplechase, Dog Care, and Search and Rescue. Later that year we started to form our Dog Scout troop here in Colorado. Over Memorial Day weekend, we took a 24 hour car trip with four people (Doree, my younger sister Kelsey, me, and our friend Cathi) and four dogs (Gyp, Faith, Pirate, and Little – Cathi’s adorable long haired chihuahua mix, who I say looks like a toy sized Australian red Border Collie) in a Ford Expedition to attend this year’s leadership retreat in St. Helen, Michigan. I am proud to say that Gyp, Pirate, and Little all became dog scouts, and each earned extra badges in various activities. To learn more about why we got involved in Dog Scouts, read our new page in the Training section.
We came back from the Plum Creek/Colorado Kennel Club dog shows with four new titles and a major! Sadie won Winners Bitch on Saturday for a 3 point major. Shadow, Gyp, and Faith all earned their Rally Advanced (RA) titles, and Faith also got her Companion Dog (CD) title.
The BCSA Nationals were a blast! I scribed for the herding trial, and learned a ton. Then Faith competed in agility for the first time, and while she didn’t Q, she is pretty close to being ready. In obedience and rally, Faith got a second leg toward her Rally Advanced title, but didn’t Q in obedience. On Friday was the Puppy Sweepstakes, where Sadie won 4th place in the 15-18 month bitches. On Saturday, Sadie won 3rd place in the 12-18 month bitch class, and Pirate took 4th place in the Bred-By Exhibitor’s Dog class. Sadie finished the week up by taking 2nd in her class on Sunday. We met a lot of great people, and had a lot of fun!
We took Faith, Pirate, Tori, and Sadie to the AHBA (American Herding Breeds Association) Herding Capability Test. Each of them got their first leg toward their HCT title. We will be going to another test in July to get their second legs (which earns the title).
Faith qualified in Novice Obedience on Saturday of the Hobbs, NM Dog Show for her first CD leg, and then on Sunday in Advanced for her first RA leg. I am mostly proud of my mom Doree for getting over her fear of the ring and helping Faith to these two new legs!
Faith was bred to Joey yesterday. We are expecting the puppies to be born around June 12, 2005. Find out more information on the Summer 2005 Litter page.
The Denver show went very well for Omegan Border Collies! We came back with lots of ribbons, experience, and two new titles! Pirate did very well for his first show, and even got to go to Bred-By Exhibitor Groups. Shadow got two legs toward his Rally Novice title, and Faith finished her Rally Novice title. Shadow surprised all of us and got his CD! I am so proud of everyone.
If you are interested in a puppy out of Faith, we have a wonderful breeding planned for next Spring. She will be bred to her uncle DC Lydeardlea in Disguise. We are still taking deposits for this litter, so if you are interested email me . More information can be seen about this litter on our Spring 2005 Litter page.
Megan is taking Faith out in the conformation ring for the first time since the puppies were born. Faith went to the Colorado Springs show with Kelsey handling her, but she was very out of coat. Kelsey was told by a bystander that Faith was the nicest moving dog in the ring! Megan is very excited to be handling Faith again. Stay tuned for news of how that show goes.
