Our foster children.

Some of you know of Clive who was found in Portland. Betsy thought he was saying "I've got candy!" When in fact he was saying "I WANT CANDY!"

Sassy and Freaky were found in Dog Pound #3 at a travel plaza east of Chicago. Sassy is from the south and says to the GSMC (not the GSDs) "My, how nice. :)" Freaky came from Africa as he was ousted by the Lion King. They seem to keep the Cairns in line not to mention us. Here is Clive singing to all of us on the Ohio Turnpike. Sorry you don't get the whole song but the blog wouldn't take the full file.

A little history.

To help fund the trip (and to get rid of a bunch of stuff hanging around the last 15 years) we decided to have a garage sale at my house. Val (with dogs) and Dena (with Hunter) came down the Thursday night before. Betsy stayed Friday night on and Rachel came on Saturday and Pat came for the days. Thursday night we set up the 'sale' - 4 pop-ups plus my large Costco canopy was to shelter all our belongings. Here is Betsy blowing up a bowling pin. Her hat and scarf were designed and made by Dena.

Val slept in the baby room and Betsy and Dena slept on the hide-a-bed. Val woke up to Betsy and Dena calling her name only to find the couch trying to eat them. We made $455 for the trip.

The next weekend was Turner for KinLoch, Perrys, Rachel and Betsy while Dena went to Gig Harbor. "Kona" picked up his first Master Leg while "Happy" and "Zoe" earning their Junior Earthdog titles plus of qualifing Into legs. Poor "Hattie" was unable to play due to her LPS (lavender pillow situation.) This first photo is Greg and Rachel with Kona, Oliver, and Sammy off leash in the corn field wiht the sun setting. This was just prior to Oliver catching a scent and running off into the open field chasing birds. It is good to know that Rachel is young, fit and fast. And yes, even the great Oliver is not perfect off leash.

This next picture is Betsy watching Juniors on Sunday. 6 days to go.

Good Cornin Dena and the rest of the world. We are in Nebraska and all two and four foots are fine. This is Vicki typing under Vald-da-ree because I have forgotten my password again.
It is 0830 hours central time and the sun is coming up in our eyes. We are heading to Cabella's and hopefully they will be open. I'm so wanting brush pants. Val has the last two days in her computer and will post at the next Wi-Fi spot.

Last night was wonderful............we had heat! It was so cold the night before as we headed out yesterday morning, the sprinklers to the fields were on and there were icicles hanging from the fences and the dog's noses.

Luckily we had left on Saturday and missed the snow that surprised the Salt Lake and Wyoming area. Around Sweetzer Summit they had had to plow the roads. The mountains and landscape were beautiful. A trucker that I met last night had come from Salem, OR heading to Fort Wayne, Indiana with a load of plywood. He picked up his sister in Utah and had to stay the night because of the snow. But he did say that this route was the best way to get to PA.

The dogs have settled in and we are getting faster at unpacking and packing. Betsy took a shower last night (very good girl) and Val and I did wash our hair in the little sinks. We are much more refreshed. The KOAs are turning out to be really great. Twin Falls had a fenced dog yard so the youngsters got to run and play. "Jack" the Westie from Colorado looked on longing to join them. Between my Noni shots, Virus Val's Airborne, and Puff's with Vick's we will fight off the evil East Coast Virus that Karl Sterns talked about.

Dena - Val has a great marketing scheme when we get back. "Lavender travel pillows -- for that special time in your bitches life." and "Rosemary sachets -- for those hard times in your pre-stud's life. They seem to be working really well. Both the dogs and humans are getting along.

We are at milepost 314, shucks, not only did we miss Cabellas - Betsy was right again. Val did say there were more. :)

Well, by for now. Wish you were with us and we miss you all.

P.S. Greg - Val thanks you for letting her play. What size crate did you want?

Where, oh where, has my little dog gone?

I dropped her off last Friday. I don't think she noticed my leaving with all the activity at the KinLoch's Cairnland. Three of my closest friends began a journey on Saturday to the National Specialty in PA. It seemed like months ago that the planning began. In the beginning it was my hope to also go. In the end it wasn't in the cards and so I have sent Alex with them.

Every day, at least twice a day I look to this blogger account to see if there is a post. I think they travel so long during the day they are so tired when they reach their destination they tend to the dogs and jump into bed.

I have talked to them everyday since they left. Yesterday I received a message about a new mascot they have taken with them. They have promised to post a picture and a story behind it. I do know that it sings and wants candy? Don't we all. Their first nights accommodations at the Twin Falls KOA were fine with the exception of no heat in the cabin. Sounds like today they were traveling another 10 plus hours to reach the next KOA. They traveled through Utah and called from Wyoming. They miss trees. Spoiled by the Pacific Northwest. Welcome to Wyoming!

I, their faithful friend will continue to look for posts from the gang daily. I miss them and I miss Alex. I know that they are all having the best time! just without me.....next time.
Hurry up and blog girls!

Dena

Happy the Junior Earthdog

I love to brag about this tough, lovable "little Black Booger". He has a heart of gold, he's my buddy and life partner. When he figures something out he's on it like white on rice. He is truly a delightful dog, just ask his kitty, Tom.

He'd been to many a ED trial but never really understood. He knew it was fun, he knew there were rats involved but it wasn't quite clear what the big deal was until July 2007 at the trial at the Whalls in Washington.

Saturday he was entered in Intro and Junior but he just didn't understand what to do. He failed...not miserably but failed none the less. Saturday night, after the trial and dinner a few of us did a small "practice" session with some of the other Cairns that were confused about their jobs as Earthdogs. As Happy and I stood, watched and listened to some of the more experienced dogs barking, growling and, in general, making a fuss over their prey, the lightbulb went off over Happy's head!! He finally got it and boy, was he ready to "get those rats". Sunday in intro he Amazed even the judge, he worked like he was a pro and had been doing it for ever. In Junior he did the same and got his first leg with flying colors.

Turner, Oregon, September 2007. Happy is entered both Saturday and Sunday in Junior, no more intro for him!! Saturday he entered the tunnel immediately, to the quarry in 15 seconds and "worked" like a demon for 45 seconds... then, he thought, "Why isn't anyone telling me I'm doing well... I'm going to find Mom and see what's wrong..." and out the hole he came. He looked at me like I was an idiot then was going back in. I called him and told him it was over... I think he was disappointed.. poor thing. The good news is... HE CAME TO ME!! YAHOOOOOO Another barrier bridged!

Sunday the judge was known to be a stickler for detail. No room for error here so we had to be careful. No extra words as you let him go. So while we walked up to the the test sight, under my breath without moving my lips I told Hap that another dog was getting his rats, he needed to stop that. Before I even took his lead off he saw the opening and was ready to go. I removed his lead, put him on the ground and he shot into that hole like a bullet. To the quarry in 18 seconds and worked like he'd never worked before, THE ENTIRE 60 SECONDS!! The judge called me up to the end, she opened the door and he backed up then came forward, rolled his upper body to his side trying to get his muzzle at the rats... GOOD BOY HAPPY! Needless to say he passed with flying colors. We're looking forward to Pennsylvania now, Happy hears the rats are very active and more fun than the Prozac ones here on the west coast!! Thank you all for all your encouragement, We love you!!

Flyball Demo at Hazledale Dog Park

This is a bit late but the video is pretty awesome and so are the pictures. Betsy did a fundraiser for the dog park near her. It was a great day full of activities, demos, and vendors. "Mary" taught a Golden puppy to be more respectful of its elders. She had to tell him twice after giving a warning to get out of her face while the stupid owner watched. When he stepped back and sat I told him "Good dog, what a way to be respectful to other dogs." The lady was clueless.


This is where "Mary" and "Sammy" earned their Canine Good Citizen title. The Oregon Trails End Earthdog Club, OTEEC, had runs for dogs to see their instinct ability and Rachel did a flyball demo. Here is an awesome video and pictures that I took with the camera set on the box.

Marty and Elle's New Best Friend

The neighbor's grandson needed a place for his dog until he moved into his new place. "Trigger" came and stayed in a wonderfully very large fenced yard. "Trigger" is a large Pitbull mix puppy about the same age as "Marty" - 8 months.

The first that I realized that "Marty" and "Elle" had gone visiting was a couple of weeks ago. I heard "Marty" barking ferociously in the back and went out to tell him to stop. Odd thing is that he wasn't in the yard. He was in the neighbor's yard on the far side yelling at another neighbor's two dogs. I started to panic a bit as I am yelling his name but remembered that I had not heard any screams up to this point. As I yelled for "Marty" I saw a little blonde head peering through the hole that had been dug under the cyclone fence. OH, did I mention that "Elle" was in season?

I brought the two back home and plugged up the hole with a brick. "Elle" went to visit with "Tessa" and great grandma "Chrissy" for a week.

A few days went by and "Marty" dug under again. I went to retrieve him and they were chasing each other with "Marty" quite rough by my standards. He would grab a hold of a leg or "Trigger's" side and shake. Being a Pit, it probably tickled. The neighbor, Billy, and I watched them run and play for about 15 minutes. Both tongues were hanging out. "Marty" was slobbered on and another hole needed to be covered.

Another day later.... Some of you know the problem of "Marty" not coming in at night so I wasn't surprised when he didn't come in with the others. I went looking and of course, he is next door. Another hole to be filled. I'm sure all the places are filled now. Apparently NOT.

He's over there again the next day. Both running and chasing each other. That yard is almost twice as big as mine. This time I brought the camera. I go through the gate and blood is splattered on "Trigger's" neck and shoulder. His ear is bleeding. Luckily it was a scrape and I was able to wipe away the evidence. Great, I am now the dog owner that I give tickets to. "Marty" classified as a Potentially Dangerous Dog Level 2. But it was a scrape so it must have been the bottom of the cyclone fence that scraped him. RIGHT? I got some cute pictures of the two of them as they were pretty much done running.

It was interesting to watch the two play. "Trigger" learned to tuck his butt and tail and turn his side away and "Marty" would duck his head left and right when "Trigger" would try to paw at him. I moved some things around and put up an x-pen about three feet away as a second fence. With Val's dogs here, "Kona" and "Kula," it worked well. They thought maybe he shouldn't be next door.

That is until the next day. I called the dogs in for dinner and "Marty" is no where to be seen. How on earth did he get over there? Oh, he can also climb over three foot x-pens. Thanks to "Mary" and "Elle" teaching him. He was stuck between the x-pen and the fence, unable to stretch out to go under.

"Trigger" is now gone and I think "Marty" misses him.