Alice & Tristan!
by Doranna
CH Luvbug Copper Rose More Than Feeling RN CGC
Alice joined us almost three years ago–already a champion with two litters under her belt, and ready to have her own pack. She’s a shy, giggly, soft girl by nature, which means training her is a gentle dance. I gave her lots of time to understand that the training game is a game and she ultimately earned her novice rally title with high scores and placements.
That single rally title (after her CGC, ie Canine Good Citizen) was all we intended for her to earn, although now she hip checks the boys out of training space to take over, so you never know. Still, her primary job here is to be just what she is by nature–a sweet loving girl who fills the Pack Princess hole in our household. And did it pretty much from the moment she arrived.
CH MACH Albedo’s Song Of Self VCD2 BN RE TDX MXB MJB XF T2B BCAT CGC
Tristan has had some life interruptus, between an ultimately unnecessary obstruction surgery* and some illness/injury on my part, each of which encompassed one of our active seasons.** Oh, the agility trials we’ve had to cancel! Wahhh!
*(Long story)
** (Some areas, handlers can trial every weekend without driving too far. Ours is not one of them. Our opportunities are highly seasonal.)
Nonetheless, at four years old he’s going gangbusters on the Fun Front. He’s crazy to DO things, and to learn, and to be with his people. He had his VCD2 while he was still 2yo, and is at this point well toward his second MACH as he trains for utility (this is slow going, due to aforementioned human illness) and works toward his VST/tracking championship. He has plenty of time left for both of those endeavors, human health willing, so I’m not pushing it.
His motto is “Do all the things, all the time, and do them with quivering excitement!”
Tristan also qualified for AKC Nationals even before Dart did. Since Nationals is one (heroic) day of driving away this year and the chance of having two dogs qualified again on a year when it’s that close and I can manage health and work concerns is in the realm of infinitesimal, we’ve decided to take the hermit (me) out of her hidey hole and go for it. A trip of a lifetime sort of thing for us for which our goal is to enjoy the camaraderie, the dogs, and the bigness of it all.
This, as it happens, occurs soon! But the story installments are already scheduled and will go on, and surely that’s the most important thing…
