Congratulations in order

A BIG congrats going out to Tubby Miller. 

 He and his wonderful Newfoundland dogs, Cagney (4yrs old) and Lexi, (11 years old!!!!) achieved their American Team Draft Dog Title today at the Newf National in Frankenmuth!!!

This is huge because Lexi is 11 years old which is ancient for any Newfoundland dog and an age where most of these dogs have not only ceased to work, but have ceased to be!

A title that Tubby will remember for the rest of his life.

The Prez 

Demo Team Practices Begin At Shadowbar

Just a reminder that starting this Tuesday, April 30th at 6:30 p.m. all dogs that take part in our community dog entertainment group, Due South, are invited to come out to Shadowbar and practice the following:

• Weaves
• Relay sprints
• Team and individual jumps & tunnels
• Barrel racing
• Old-fashioned flyball
• Slalom 

We are set to put on a show at Crestview Lodge on June 22nd beginning at 11:00 a.m.

on the grass.

We have picked up two 20 ft. tunnels and six jumps for our club and Shar and I picked up

6 more jump sets so we have more than enough to keep us hopping!

Please pass the word to others who you think may have dogs that are a good fit for our teams.

The Prez

Dedicated or Plain Stupid? Do not reply.

Saturday morning, Sharlet and I set out in gale-force winds up Highway 22 north to Okotoks for some sheep work with Hunter and Drummer.

We followed the Lundbreck Fire and Rescue unit and about 10 kms. north of our place we saw a motorhome flipped in the ditch.  Helpers were already on site caring for the injured.... (no hope for the motorhome) so we continued past the following carnage....

Photos courtesy of Chris Davies

In total, three holiday trailers/motorhome, three semi's. 

The wind was blowing so hard that Drummer had quite a time staying on course 

with the sheep.... lol.

We took Highway 2 to Fort Macleod on the way home and that was dumb.

The wind was actually worse from Claresholme to Fort Macleod than it was on Highway 22. 

I was especially happy to get home.

Springtime in the Foothills

Well, anybody who knows southern Alberta weather knows that things can change around here in a heartbeat.  Twice in the past two weeks, Spring has been overturned here in the Porcupines and snow has covered the crocuses.  

No worries.  The gophers and the bluebirds continue their work whether there is snow or no.
And the west wind has managed to scare most of the snow away over the past few days.  Every time I get the urge to put out the tunnels and new agility equipment, it snows.  I am starting to feel like a bad omen already.  And I've had enough of winter.  ENOUGH!

We haven't booked any SAWHDA days at the Cowley Hall because the Lions are hosting their annual pancake breakfast and garage sale this Saturday/

This is to be followed by a week of practice in the hall by the Windy Hollow Players Theatre Group as they ready themselves for their dinner theatre performance of Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow, a robust comedy of an inheritance gone wrong.  The play will take place May 10, 11, and 12th at the hall.

Beginning first week of May, SAWHDA Due South Demo teams will meet at Shadowbar at 6:30 on Tuesday evenings to practice for their summer performances, the first of which will take place at Crestview Lodge in Pincher Creek on June 15th at 11:00 a.m. 

A reminder that Lethbridge Kennel and Obedience Club has posted their premium list for the performance events in June and July.  

Right now,  Saturdays, May 25and June 1 are available for club days at Shadowbar for those who wish to meet to work a mock DD run-through, obedience or rally obedience outdoors.  Simply get in touch with us at shadowbr@telusplanet.net and let us know if you want to play.

Now go outside and rake your lawns and paint your fences.

The Prez 

                                                      Training is exhausting.

White weekend

Wow!  Whoda thunk that the weatherman would be sooooo right about this weekend.  Not fair. We had the great idea of pulling out our new bar jumps and setting up some jumps and tunnels for fun this weekend,  and a couple of us had convinced our instructors to come south and herd with us in our area, and Denise was leaving for agility in Oregon today, so we were hoping it was a hoax about the snow.
Wrong.  Oh, boy there is snow.  The ski hill in Blairmore will be able to stay open for the week at least.  

Hope everyone has safe travels and happy trails!

Stay warm, and get out the gumboots.  

I do mean snow when I say snow.

                                                    Live entertainment..... enjoy yours.

The Prez 

Friday night practice super

  Last night's scent hurdle practice at the Cowley Hall was super!  All dogs finding their bells with ease and putting on the speed.  Just what we need.  Add Max and we will be in good stead.
  Spanx is running to the box and picking up a dumbbell as is Castle so we should have some back up dogs by next Fall.
  Shar will start Justice picking up his dumbbell as well.  He was packing it around last night happily.

 We did a bit of conformation last night and Justice, Teddy, and Beckett did pretty well.  Justice is starting to pull out with me on the end of the lead and he is relaxing into his stride.  He looks like a statue when he is stacked and we are working on lengthening the time that he can remain in position.

 Lore's dogs worked Rally and did very well.  Denise, Donnie and I did some obedience with our dogs.
Drummer was fine until the corgis came out and then he turned into Mr. Distracted.  Studly.

Good luck to Denise and Jagged as they go to Oregon to train and compete in AKC agility next week.

How beautiful is this?  Just a little special effects and wow!  Gorgeous or what?
Miss Beckett, ring ready.

Magic.  Isn't it wonderful?

The  Prez

Springtime in the Rockies and Porcupine Hills

This is the most frustrating weather.  Even the gophers are complaining.  We are simply itching to put out the agility tunnels and jumps and get our Tuesday Due South  teams in practice for our summer demos and for the Fall Heritage Fair Performances at Pincher Creek.

If you have a dog that loves to run and jump and will come when it is called, and you have the time and desire to do some 'fun' activities with a like-minded group of people, get in touch with our president at shadowbr@telusplanet.net  and find out what we do. 

The Prez