Mountain Climbing

In tracking on Saturday Eric, Louie, and Laika and I went on a great, but scary adventure. All of the handlers and their dogs went deep into the woods for this tracking exercise. It was kind of a "handler lost" scenario with a twist.

Louie and I went first. With a rope tied to a tree I repelled down a steep, almost vertical, ravine. Then I called Louie. He didn't give the assistant trainers too much trouble at the top...he started to sniff me out and traverse the ravine immediately. He took his time and seemed to be scared. But he kept on coming, making wise footing choices. He could smell me and knew that he would be okay because I wouldn't let any harm come to him. He spotted me and came right to me. Boy, was he glad that was over with! But I could tell he was proud of himself and that he gained 23,302 pounds of confidence. Most dogs would just turn away, fight, or do whatever it took to not go down that steep, muddy cliff. But not my Louie (or Laika either, as you will see). Stress agility has really taught him to swallow his fear and take care of himself. All he needed was his Mommy at the bottom telling him he was doing a great job! I was so proud!

Laika and Eric went right after us. Eric repelled down the ravine then called Laika to come find him. Laika was more hesitant at first. She still gets nervous when neither Eric and I are around. She put up a tad of a fight with the assistant trainers, but when she picked up Eric's scent she was OFF! She took her time but came right to Eric. She was so proud of herself...her face said it all. "I found you Daddy!" she said. "I braved the odds and succeeded!" I love her so much.

Other accomplishments in training this weekend: Laika completed the 14 foot A frame for the first time and Louie is now transitioning off the need for a collar! Seems like just yesterday he pulled and pulled on his collar to go chase squirrels. Now he'll listen to me and Eric with nothing around his neck at all. Amazing!

Well, have a nice day everyone!