Out and About and "Pupdates"
March/April 2004

Whatever the Weather, Pretty as a Picture, Cute as a Button, "Mini Me", Harmony, Across the Pond, Easter and Nova Scotia Border Bash
(Click on photos for enlargement)



S'no use complaining... Anna and gang after "white Juan"

Rhapsody in Blue ....Tinker on point

It's down here somewhere - Bumble digging for snow bunnies (or possibly Australia and sunshine)

Maggie and Roger - Spruced up for Spring

Hazel - as cute as ever

"What on earth is that?"

It's Bumble's very own "mini me"
Explanation from Deenie:
"Hate to have you update the web pages again- always so much fun to SEE them....but we (stupidly) have an addition here..... Her name is "Bria" short for, I think Shelburne's Brieleigh Blue and she was born on 1.10.04 Bumble is totally smitten with her- the Labs FEAR HER!"

There were three in the bed and the little one said....

Roger and Tripper kids
(Hazel - left, Sophie - right)
Yep - Tripper has two kids called Sophie!
Remember that camera that JJ folks and CBTW bought Jacqueline?
Well it looks as though it is finally getting a work out! Received some neat photos today - a couple are featured here.

Bring on the orange sauce, Jacqueline and the gang - lakeside

Mmmmmm - tasty! Do it yourself kelp supplement

Midge - Getting a head start on the Easter bunny

Henry wouldn't dream of touching the duck!

So much for the duck, now for the lamb!
The Border Bash in Nova Scotia was a great success, well supported by local BTs and a few "Honorary" BTs. How did it come about.....
In November , standing in my booth at a couple of craft shows I was amazed how many people recognized (from photos) my dogs as being Border Terriers, and mentioned either they had one, or someone they knew had one . It was time to shake some Maritime Borders out of the woodwork. Using the Northeast Border Terrier Club Maine Picnic and Saratoga weekend as inspiration and motivation Anna Fraser and I started plotting. On April 25th the first Maritime Border Bash was held at Pawplex, in Dartmouth. Pawplex is a huge dog facility where they regularly hold agility, flyball, confirmation, obedience and other events as well as a full menu of classes and day-care.
The day consisted of a variety of fun events for the dogs primarily centered on critters and earthwork. We also invited members of the Atlantic Terrier Association to come with their dogs - they were our "Honorary" Borders.
Not including my and Fraser's dogs(4) there were 16 Borders and about 5-6 Honorary Borders present.
First was a terrific talk and demo of clicker training by Heather Logan and her BT Miss Dash. Heather is a talented and much respected trainer who among other things runs a nationally known program at the women's prison in Truro, in which the inmates train dogs for companions. Dash is the model dog, put all the rest to shame , however they were an inspiration to all and what can be accomplished.
Then we got to the critters. Each dog was given the opportunity to go face to face with a rat, and encouraged to express an opinion. There was a variety of responses but the vast majority of the Borders had no hesitation in speaking their mind. Next each dog was encouraged to go through a short straight tunnel with the cage at the end. This was followed by a longer tunnel with one turn. Some went through, some not, but all looked like they eventually would.
We closed the afternoon with an inside version of Joann Frier Murza's "Ratting for Ratings". 6 "rat capsules", 3 scented, 3 occupied were concealed in a variety of things. We used piles of blankets, old tires, pine boughs, I even found a hollowed out log I brought. Most of the dogs found at least some of the capsules and identified them correctly. One little dog nailed each one perfectly (as well as the tunnels previously) making her owner ecstatic. She had never done this before, but showed true BT instincts when the situation presented itself. For me this was the best part of the whole event, and made all the work worth it. To see a dog "get it" and the owner to get the dog "getting it"....WOW. It brought back all the feelings I experienced in Truro almost 3 years ago when Roger showed me what it's all about.
From the feedback I have received since, everyone enjoyed the experience and we have the groundwork for real earthdog events here. As well, I hope, the emergence of a Maritime Border Terrier group. Anna R.

A little imagination and a lot of enthusiasm and "Voila!" - a tunnel and quarry

This Blue and Tan did not need much of an "Intro to Quarry"

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