11/10/2026
Today was hot. The dogs had their challenges, the handlers had their moments (some more memorable than others 😂), and I'm pretty sure there wasn't a single person who didn't have something they'd do differently.
But you know what I loved most about today?
The laughter.
The sitting around together, laughing at ourselves, laughing with each other, and occasionally laughing at each other. 🤣
A bunch of women, competing against one another, all wanting to do well, all invested in our dogs, and yet able to sit together and have an absolute ball when things don't quite go to plan.
Because that's the thing about this sport. We can care deeply about our performances and still remember to enjoy the experience. We can be disappointed, make mistakes, learn lessons, and still find reasons to laugh.
Today reminded me that sometimes the best part of a trial isn't what happens out in the search area. It's what happens when we come together afterwards.
Good dogs. Good people. A whole lot of laughter.
And honestly? We could all use a little more of that.