09/29/2026
This post is long over due. The last summer update!
This is going to be long winded and I apologize but it explains my summer training/trialing journey.
As some already know, it's been a rough year for me personally and professionally. I lost several of my dogs this past year, including my training and trial buddy. I never really understood when people talked about how hard it was to loose their working dogs. Its hard when you loose one dog but to loose multiples its devastating. I now truly understand!
My lack of motivation to train, including client dogs was very noticeable, I felt like I didn't have a purpose anymore.
This post isn't to look for sympathy, it is to thank the people and organizations that helped me get through this past year. To all my friends (you know who you are) thank you from the bottom of my heart, I truly am not sure what I would have done. I do have one group of people that I want to thank, if it wasn't for this organization I do not think I would be training again.
Irondog Canada was there gently pushing me to get through, even though they didn't know it at the time. I attended the spring trial and helped steward some of the titles. This was the last trial that I attended with one of my own dogs. I got to meet lots of new people and talk all things dog.
Irondog had 3 mock trial, and I attended everyone of them. I got to steward/judge and help handlers and their dogs work through some of their problem areas. This is what truly helped me get over the hump of lack of purpose I was feeling.
So a personal THANK YOU goes out to every single person that attended each of those mock trials!!
A little over two weeks ago Irondog Canada put on the final trial of the year. I am glad to say that they trusted my ability to critic and judge fairly that I got to judge the entire weekend and what a weekend. So many great teams showed up and put the work in.
Thank you Dankroftk9 Services Dan, Nathan & Carly for trusting me and showing me how to train again ❤
So needless to say I am open for clients again. Only 7 more months until Trial season starts!!
