The Entertainers - More Visitors Meet “The Crew”

April continues to be a busy month for visitors coming to meet the crew. Today Janessa and Shawn from Red Deer, Alberta (our closest city to our ranch in Raven) came out to meet their first Canaan Dogs in person. They have been researching this rare breed and were excited to finally meet the ancient biblical dog from Israel that has brought so much to my life.

We could not have asked for better weather. Sunny and warm with a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius! It was a great day and the crew enjoyed entertaining their guests on their land.

Below are some pics from today with the crew and their Red Deer visitors.

Miss Ash gives some Canaan kisses to Janessa

Master Rook enjoys some pats from Shawn

Miss Cybelle shows off her "salute" trick for her guests

Janessa and Shawn with crew members Rook & Ash - yes, Rook decided he would capitalize on his goofball antics today:-)

Rook and Janessa

Ash decided that Janessa needed a little window wiping on her shades

Rook tries to garner any opportunity he can get for a bit more attention:-)

Rook tells Janessa a  joke:-) He can be such a ham!

Janessa gives some treats to the desert dogs of Raven

Ash And Janessa 

The inspector - Rook asks Janessa if he can inspect their truck

And at the end of the day, this is what the crew decided to do while I continued my never-ending clean-up of bones in the yard. 

To view "The Crew" with more April visitors Click Here

A Hot Day of "Tracking" With Ash & Her Comrades

The sport of Tracking continues to pump through my veins and “Ash’s" nostrils. Today some of Ash’s tracking classmates came out to our field to lay blind tracks for each other and work our dogs as they continue to strengthen their endurance on longer tracks.


Over the past several months, our wonderful instructor, Donna Brinkworth has given us a toolbox full of tips and laid out the foundation for training our dogs. Now it is up to us to put everything into full practice and keep on tracking! 


Today Ash and her comrades ("Shimar" the Afghan, "Quila" the Retriever, and "Zevah" the German Shepherd) tracked in dry and hot conditions instead of their usual wet,cold, and often snowy terrain that we are accustomed to living in Alberta. Yes - spring was definitely here today, and  the dogs worked their sniffers on extra drive in quest for the stranger's missing article. First, we worked on some short motivational tracks then went for the full TD length (450 metres) as their final destination. Another great day well-spent, learning from each other and our dogs - and enjoying the camaraderie of like minded people who LOVE to foster and channel the working instincts of their breed. 


Below are a few pics from today and a video of Ash. 


Thanks to our comrades Lorrie and Lynn for the snapshots and video! I wish I could of uploaded the entire video but it was too big. She had to scent and find four turns on the track (corners seem to be her strength) while keeping her focus for the entire distance. She definitely started to show signs of feeling a bit thirsty near the end so next time I will remember to bring my water bottle since we are allowed to give them a water break on the track if needed. 

Ash picks up the blind track laid by Lorrie

Ash picks up one of the four trurns

A happy day tracking with my gal Ash

A short video clip of Ash nearing the end of her full length blind track

Lorrie and Shimar her Afghan boy working the blind track laid by me

Lorrie and her GS girl Zevah working the blind track laid by Lynn

Lynn and her retriever girl Quila working the blind track laid by me

To view previous posts of our adventures in Tracking Click Here