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.