I called Vicki last night to let her know Nitro Tiny Tim will be making his way to Montana. All we know about him is that he is about 70 pounds dark brindle and was born Aug. 1, 2007. Well I guess we also have a pretty good idea of his temperament since we know his mother and half sister. When I told Vicki he was coming she let out a little squeal of joy. She assured me she would definitely be standing with me in the parking lot waiting for the truck to arrive!

We almost made it through the summer without a wildfire in our back yard. The main part of the fire lies north of us about 5 miles, up Kootenai Creek. It has been burning up there quietly since early July. Last Saturday the wind picked up and it spread significantly north into the Bass Creek drainage. Above is a picture we snapped from our backdoor as the fire took off...look close and you can see the orange flames. I have a friend, Pam, who owns a farm on the north end of the fire...which is the direction I believe the fire is likely to go (she believes I am in the fires likely route). They did a prescribed burn between me and the fire this May so I am thinking I have a bit of a fire break. Oh yeah they lost control of that one too which is why the fire break is there. And there was that weird little drive in the mountains Pam and I took. She wanted to go look around so we headed up the mountain. She started to worry that we might get near the fire. I kept saying "Oh for Pete's sake the fire is on the other ridge and they would put up a blockade if it wasn't safe up here!" One switchback later we realize the trees and logs are strangely smoking. Needless to say we tucked our tails and got the heck out of there. Pam was shooting accusing looks my direction and although she never said it I could tell she thought I was an idiot. Who knew they wouldn't at least post a sign? Any way back to now, so far neither of us are in any danger. This week there has been lots of smoke which is miserable. It gives me a screaming headache and zaps my energy...I can only imagine what it does to the animals. I make the dogs stay in as much as I dare. Pam and I have been calling each other a couple times a day to check in and scare each other to death with worry. The upshot of these frightening calls is we do have an evacuation plan figured out. It hinges a great deal on Tripps being willing to move Pam's big animals, which thankfully they are. In our talks yesterday we decided it might be prudent for her to move two of her five horses to Tripps for safe keeping. These two horses are the most likely to be difficult in a crisis. When it was almost dark Carol called and asked me to ride along and help. I was a little surprised we waited until dark but it turns out it took almost 3 hours to halter one of the boogery horses. With night falling thankfully both horses loaded well. On the road we saw several fire fighter rigs pulling into both the Kootenai and Bass Creek drainage's. It serves as a unsettling reminder of what could happen. This morning every few minutes a plane flies over to check the fire. They clearly are ready for battle. I am tempted to go run errands but I think I will opt for staying close to home in case wind picks up or Pam calls. Pam told me she is sleeping much better now that she has a plan mapped out. She fusses and thanks me and I assure her it isn't a big deal because she would do the same. I have been blessed with the best friends in the world. I don't think it is a coincidence that they also love dogs.

Before I get into the show news I will first tell you a bit of good news. As many of you know my greyhound girl, Tava's mother came to us and was placed with Vicki in Missoula. More of you have probably met Ducky than Tava. Their breeder contacted me and a boy pup from Ducky's last litter just graded off the track and is available. I have agreed to take him into the Run For Adoption program and he will be available for adoption this fall. Cool huh?

The Helena show got off to a bumpy start when my sister had surgery on her elbow scheduled the day before the show. I wanted to be with her and I considered not going to the show. So the day before the show we agreed that I would plan to go but if she had a hard time in surgery I would stay home. I was able to wait for her during her surgery and drive her home where my dad then took over her care. So crack of dawn...well before the crack of dawn...I was on my way to the show. My class started at 9 AM and I wanted to give my golden, Aim, time to adjust to the new show site. I hit the show grounds at about 7:30. I parked in the usual place and after a quick trip to see the new show venue I started to lug my crate and chair to ringside. After I had my gear set up I learned that I could drive my car almost to the building...which I then did. Helena just built a nice building for events and the show was being held here for the first time. It really is a nice location with lots of natural light and with central air and heat...always a good thing when you are showing dogs. The venue was large enough that the entire dog show was in one huge room. In the past obedience was in a different building entirely. I wasn't sure how Aim would deal with the commotion, but she seemed unfazed by it. We had about an hour to wait so I worked her for a few minutes and put her in her crate to rest. Finally it was close to our turn. I got Aim out and we warmed up and hit the ring. Her work on lead was pretty good and her off lead was fair. All of her stays were solid in the end we ended up with a score of 181 (out of 200). I was encouraged as it seemed we had finally discovered how to be a team together. We spent the night with a friend in Helena. The next day brought another decent run in the ring. Again Aim's on lead work was great and her off lead a little loose but we did score 188.5 points which is respectable. As soon as I was out of the ring I was on the road for home. So next week end we go to Spokane and with two of the three needed legs under our belt I am hopefully we can wrap up this title this fall. Spokane will be a little different as our ring will be outdoors. Not only am I not a fan of showing outdoors I have not worked Aim much outside. This week we have focused on working outside. So far Aim is doing well with the new twist. She is a interesting dog to train as she puts things together so much differently than my dogs. I am not tempted in the least to change breeds but I can see why they are popular with obedience people.

I snuck out under the velvety dark of last night and headed to the kennel to grab some extra dog time. It really is fun to be out there by myself playing with the pups. I worked Aim and she did better heeling than she ever has. At last her lessons are gelling in her little head. I heeled this way and that way with her off lead. She stuck to my side. Then I got creative and started to test her by trying to lose her. She mirrored my every move. Fingers crosses for the show on Thursday and Friday.

The show was fun and reasonably successful. The only disappointment was the performance of the golden, Aim. I showed her the first two days and pulled her the last day. Both days she got distracted during the off lead heeling. The first day she went to visit those less fortunate who don't have a golden in their life. I am all for her visiting but leaving me to do it cause us to get a big zero. The second day she stopped to stare at the activity in the ring next to ours again causing us to get a zero. Aim is a year old and knows the exercises but still immature. Usually I don't even really start to work dogs until they are two, we do puppy training but nothing serious. I really am a big believer in letting their minds mature. Also before I step in to a ring with a dog I have hours and hours poured into them. Taking them places and working them in all sorts of different conditions with some of the things that have gone on this summer she has not had many field trips and it shows. ..but we will get there. Her story is interesting.

Like all of my dogs she is a rescue. Her past owners gave her up when it became clear she was way too much dog for them. Through no fault of her own she was a bit of a monster. Her breeder failed her miserably when she placed Aim into a home with elderly folks at a mere 5 weeks. Pups weaned that young are set up for several problems. They have not yet learned bite inhibition, mamma dogs and litter mates normally teach this lesson. The number of band aids on her owners clearly proved her human family were not really able to teach her this. Next is they miss the lessons on how to read other dogs and often have dog aggression. I first met Aim at 4 months and she was already well down this road. She would growl or bark hysterically at other dogs. If given the chance run at them and grab at other dogs. Although her actions were those of a bully usually these reactions to other dogs are fear based. All the same the result is bad and left unchecked often leads to a lifetime of isolation from other dogs. Not only did the breeder place her too young she placed her with any warm body with a checkbook. Aim's folks were very nice but not able to keep up with a busy bossy puppy. When Aim wasn't chewing on them she was merrily tearing through the house like a wave of destruction. In one room I was shown some of her artistic changes to their home. Damage to the couch cushions, rug, furniture legs, remote, ruined bowls, books, blankets and too many things to count. So that was her bumpy start. I was fortunate to be fostering a pair of lab pups about the same time she arrived. They had been found by a friend at a trail head and she brought them here (might need to look for new friends). The labs were only slightly older and larger than Aim. Nearing her 5th month Aim got a crash course in how to speak dog. The three of them played for hours and in the process Aim lost much of her fear of other dogs and learned to control herself and her sharp little teeth. No one claimed the lab pups and homes were found for them but Aim had had the benefit of joining their litter for a month or so. Now she could mix with my adult dogs and not annoy them or be afraid of them. Now that she had learned to deal with dogs, she had to learn how people expect to be greeted and dealt with. We taught her a better gentler approach to people. No more charging at people, leaping wildly, clawing or chewing on them. It wasn't that she was trying to be bad she just thought that was OK....and it wasn't.

Many months were spent reshaping her ideas and then and as the fall show approached I worked her more seriously in formal obedience. I have often referred to goldens as the Forrest Gump of the dog world and Aim certainly fits into that. I enjoy training very bright and high drive dogs so Aim was a challenge for me. Still it has been a great experience to work with her and to get a new prospective. She is entered in Helena this week. I only entered her 2 of the 4 days and then 2 days in Spokane next month. I have a lifetime goal of training and earning a Companion Dog title with a dog from each of the 7 breed groups. If we can earn Aim's CD I will complete the Sporting Dog group and in doing so will complete my goal. Aim will soon be done with her schooling here and be ready to find a forever home. I have had several people express interest in her so finding the perfect place for her should be easy.

I really should be in bed. I leave for the show tomorrow and it is always the hardest night of the year to get my buns to bed. Things are mostly ready for me to leave...dogs are clean and everything that is proper to do to them is done...nails clipped, ear and feet hair trimmed, teeth brushed etc. The crates are packed and ready to receive the Hot Cha gang. Now that I have done this a while I have all the crap that is supposed to make my life easier. It used to be me, my dog, a collar and lead, a few treats for him and me and blanket we could share. Now I take many dogs and a whole van full of STUFF. This time for example 12 crates...yes you read right... 12 . I have the nice fabric crates which I can leave set up at the show site, I have the folding wire crates for the motel and then I have the hard sided traveling crates multiply that by four dogs and TA-DA 12 crates!! Each dog of course has their favorite treats so I travel with a cooler full of treats for them...string cheese, jerky, home made liver treats, roasted hot dogs, yogurt drops, salmon, roast beef, turkey, fig newtons, bacon if I take the time to make it in the morning and more store bought treats than I care to confess. Dry kibble, yogurt, canned dog food and supplements to keep their energy up. Each dog needs a leash and collar for relaxing and a show lead and collar, food dish, a bed for each crate and at least 1 bucket each plus 4 extra buckets (so I can leave two at the show site and two at the motel). There is shade cloth to cover the van, fans for the van crates, first aid kit, grooming kit, a couple gallons of water, towels, a fan to use at the motel, handi wipes, shot and show info for each, poop bags and more poop bags...All of this before I even pack anything for myself. Each show is a little different and each dog has different needs. This is the only show I pack 3 crates for each pup...and only because I am spending 3 nights in a motel and can leave things set up at the show grounds. This is a lot of stuff to take even by my standards...but when I am tired it is pretty darn nice to have everything set up. However it is a bit of a circus to orchestrate it all...Barnum and Bailey watch out the Hot Cha gang is about to roll.

I might be able to take a computer with me and if I do I will update as the show goes on...if not I will update when I get home.

As the summer clips along it seems to be going faster and faster. I can hardly believe that most of the kids are back in school and that the fall dog shows are right around the corner. I have been working my dogs but not nearly enough...still I entered my favorite Labor Day show and am preparing for that. I will attend with 4 of my dogs. 3 Aussies and 1 golden. It will be a lot of running around and showing but it is always nice to go into winter with some of those titles wrapped up and feeling ready to work through the winter to perhaps hit some of the spring shows. I have to decide tomorrow if I am also going to try to enter the Helena shows. I am kind of on the fence about it. It is fun to go but also might be good to sit it out and save some $$. I will work my dogs in the morning and decide then.

I just returned from a few days in Vegas. My hubby and I had a blast and never gambled so much as a dime. We did however catch a bunch of shows, go to a concert and visit the shark reef. Also I should brag that I survived 76 hours without a dog...not a pet, kiss, or even a sighting. Thankfully we were so busy I didn't have much time to pine away for them. The temperature in Vegas was HOT even for Vegas. The official report was 109 degrees two of the days but unofficial reports were as high as 116 degrees. Because of the heat we did make a little more use of taxis but believe me we walked our fair share. My theory is the reason slots are so popular is because it is too HOT and too FAR to go anywhere else.

Seems weird not to have a greyhound foster dog or two around. There is a load coming in Oct. however we are not sure if we will be taking any. If anyone is toying with the idea of adopting this fall the time is now to let us know so we can shop for the right dog for you.