What's That Smell?

Jedi works that nose

Last year's AKC Scent Work workshop went so well that my German shepherd dog club held another one this past weekend. I signed up both dogs. What a busy day that was!

Jedi hadn't done any scent work in a year. Fortunately, he remembered how the game is played:

* Find odor
* Tell Mom
* Get chicken

We were both a little rusty. I need to work on leash handling and remember to stay out of Jedi's way. Jedi needs to be more specific about where the odor is hiding. The instructor gave us exercises to help Jedi hold the alert longer and communicate the find more enthusiastically. Basically, we're trying to convince him that his dope-on-a-rope handler (me) needs a little extra help.

Trooper likes hot dogs

On the other hand, this was all brand new for Trooper. We started off just encouraging him to find bits of hot dog. To build drive, the instructor would throw the hot dog pieces and I would send him with the "go find" command. Then we moved to hiding hot dogs in places like open boxes and on chairs for him to find. We ended the day pairing the target odor (birch) with the hot dogs. Eventually, I will uncouple the two and just have him find the odor -- and when he does he will get lots o' hot dogs.

Instructor said that the workshop was about four weeks of class jammed into one day. We'll probably have to backtrack a couple steps to make sure Trooper's got it, then progress slowly. Instructor warned of stopping the pairing too soon, stating that we should realistically wait 3-4 weeks. (Note to self: look for a sale on hot dogs.)

A change from last year: The instructor alternated teaching the novice group and the advanced group, instead of doing one group before lunch and the other afterward. This new format worked really well. It gave dogs time to rest and process what they just learned. It also gave handlers a break in between exercises. However, I had a dog in each group so I was running all day. On a happy note, I reached my Fitbit step goal!

What's in the bag?

The club members hosting the workshop this year have multiple titles in NACSW Nose Work and AKC Scent Work. They wanted the workshop to mimic trial conditions. As such, there were designated parking and potty areas. Also, all dogs were crated in a centralized location. This created some mild stress for Trooper, but I think it'll be good for him in the long run.

The worst part of the day was the weather. It was cold by Florida standards. I wore heavy socks and leggings under my jeans. (I got to wear my 2018 Westminster sweatshirt, so that was cool.) The dogs were inside the garage where it was nice and warm. The handlers weren't so lucky. We bundled up and gathered around the fire pit in between runs. I'm not going to complain too much though, it was equally cold and raining the next day.

I'd really like to start competing with Jedi again. He enjoys the game, along with the hotel stays and on-the-road junk food. I also think scent work will help boost Trooper's confidence, even if he never formally competes. But it's not going to happen if I can't find time to train. I've got to find some way to make this work. Have I mentioned that this must-have-a-job thing really gets in the way of my dog sports? If only I could hit the right Lotto numbers . . . I'll keep you posted. -- K

Catch of the Day

I got a strange call just after lunch today. There was an owl stuck in the ditch and a crowd was forming. Great. My tools and training are for dogs and cats, so I was going to have to wing it (pun intended). I grabbed a box out of the recycle bin, a roll of packing tape, a pair of welding gloves and a net. I may or may not have sworn under my breath. (Just kidding! You know I swore like a sailor.)

I arrived on scene to find a group of Good Samaritans who wanted something done, but didn't want to do more than gawk and get in the way. I hate having an audience.

First thing I noticed: this was more than a ditch. It was the major stream that runs through the City. I saw an owl sitting in the water about five feet below me. I was able to climb down the bank and scoop the owl out of the water on my first try -- and without falling in! Seriously, it could have been ugly.

Barred owl

Getting the owl from the net into the box was more difficult than it could have been. The owl wrapped it's talons in the mesh and didn't want to let go. My welding gloves protect my fingers from the beak and talons but provide no dexterity. I ended up closing the box, leaving only a foot exposed. I had a cop work the box flaps while I slowing pried the talons out of the net one by one -- sans gloves! We taped the box shut tight and cut a few holes in the top. I loaded the box on my truck and took it to the ferry. The Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary (B.E.A.K.S.) picked the owl up from the other side of the river. Hopefully it'll be better soon.

My best guess is that it was a barred owl. I didn't take any pictures. So many things could have gone wrong that I was more worried about getting out as quickly as possible. However, a bystander took this (unflattering) picture and sent it to my boss, who promptly posted it on Facebook. I've shared my feeling about work putting me on Facebook before (recap: I hate it). But that doesn't stop me from stealing the pic to share with you.

So . . . how was your Monday? -- K

Trooper's Sleepover

Trooper and I cutting the corner in Savannah

Part of the Futurity/Maturity shows discussion with Trooper's breeder included me telling her of all the problems/shortcomings I saw:

• Trooper is very sensitive and stresses easily.
• Trooper doesn't like to be touched by strangers, especially men.
• I cannot get Trooper to hold his stack.
• I have not attended handling classes as regularly as I wanted.
• I cannot run fast enough to keep up with him.
• My work schedule won't allow me to go to North Carolina for the shows.

I told J-Lyn that before we made any decisions I wanted her to spend some time with Trooper and make an honest assessment. I took him to her kennels to spend four days with her. He was happy to be back to his birth home, playing with his sister and cousins. He genuinely loves J-Lyn and her family. The jerk barely even noticed I was gone. (Good for him, but it hurt my feelings.) I missed him so much. It reminded me of when my boys went to summer camp.

I got daily updates:

• Enjoyed playing in the yard with all the other dogs. No problem with other dogs.
• Ate his meals enthusiastically. No signs of stress being away from home.
• Did well meeting strangers. He was intentionally introduced to men, children and people of various ethnicities.
• He's not fond of pushy women or smokers. (LOL, neither am I.)
• Walked nicely through Home Depot. His threshold seems to be about 20 minutes.
• Doesn't appear to be overly sensitive to sound.
• Seems to prefer free stacking (self-stacking) versus hand stacking.
• Beautiful movement, needs room to open up. Would probably do better at larger, outdoor shows.

I also got homework:

• Practice free stacking.
• Get him out and around people as often as possible.
• Hand him off to trusted strangers.
• He'll be a year old next month. Should start road work (running alongside a bicycle) soon.

So what's next? I filled out the entry form for the Futurity/Maturity shows. Breeder and I are planning several more sleepovers so she can get Trooper ready for the show. Her granddaughter will be working with him as well. She's young, tall, confident -- and a much better handler than I am! She will be taking Trooper in the ring in North Carolina.

OMG, we're doing this!! I excited. And nervous. I'm also looking for a used Kelley-sized tricycle for road work. I'm not the most coordinated person. And I don't trust Trooper not to pull me. I think three wheels may be a safer option. Anyway, I'll let you know. -- K

Why ACO?

I was asked a strange question today: Why did I choose to become an ACO? Wow. That one threw me for a loop. I didn't have an answer.

Honestly, I became an animal control officer by accident. My husband retired from the Navy in 2005 and we quickly discovered that I could not remain a stay-at-home mom on his retirement pay. No matter, the boys were getting older and didn't need me around like they had before. Up until then I had worked with children as a room mother, den leader, camp counselor, a retail vendor of high-end children's books and an educational assistant for children with learning and behavioral issues. I was good at what I did, but kids weren't my passion. I really wanted to be a zookeeper. (L-O-N-G story for another time. Short version -- elephants are awesome!) Unfortunately, that never came to fruition.

I applied for 20+ jobs in a 2-month period, focusing on animal related positions -- veterinary offices, boarding kennels, pet stores, etc. I got a few callbacks but the employer always "went with someone else." It was disheartening. I saw an ad for Animal Control Officer online and filled out an application with no expectations. Surprise! The County called me back.

Me & my M-14 in Gaeta, Italy

The interview was like none I'd seen before. A panel of three people were firing questions at me, and some of them didn't make any sense. Why did they want to know the last book I'd read? (My answer was John Grisham's The Client. Dead people drama. Oops.) And when asked to describe a time I had to make a difficult decision under pressure I told them about how I nearly shot four Italian divers in a Zodiac raft because I thought they were terrorists trying to bomb the USS Yosemite. (It's a good story!) I finished with "840 American lives depended on my decision." They all looked at me in silence, wide-eyed and open mouthed. I knew I'd blown the interview.

Months later I was offered the job. I became friends with one of the guys on the panel. One day I asked why I was chosen when obviously I wasn't qualified. He laughed and said "We couldn't get over that story about the Italians." The director felt that qualities like problem-solving, courage and honor were paramount -- they could teach ACO skills.

I transferred to a small beach town 18 months later because they offered me better benefits, shorter commute, less euthanasia and a schedule flexible enough for me to finish my Bachelor's degree. Long time readers know I have a love/hate relationship with the job. I'm good at it -- I like rules, have a compassion for animals (and some people), think on my feet, multitask well, and have a thick skin and strong stomach.

Just another day on the job

On the other hand, this job is frustrating. I get tired of dealing with stupid people. Even worse are the cruel, callous people. I feel like I've done about all I can do in this small town. There is no room for advancement or professional growth. My "collateral duties" are unbelievable. I often wonder what else is out there. And I worry that I've been here too long. Is it even possible to switch careers at 50?

And then the big question: What then would you like to do? IDK. I love to learn and share what I know. (One of the reasons I continue to write this blog, even though only a dozen of you read it!) I've often thought that Humane Educator would nicely marry my work/volunteer experience with my degree in Workforce Education and Development but -- sigh -- neither the Zoo nor the Humane Society seem to want me. Any ideas from you guys?

So, while waiting for the next job to come around (hopefully soon) I'll continue to do my best at this one. And I'll continue to share those crazy, funny, frustrating stories. Later, -- K

Futurity/Maturity Shows

Young pup at the 2014 SE Futurity/Maturity shows

I've been talking to Trooper's breeder about entering him in the GSDCA Southeast Futurity/Maturity shows in March. This is a different type of dog show -- one that I'm still a bit confused about. I've been Googling my brains out and this the best I can figure.

The Futurity/Maturity program was designed to encourage and reward the breeding of dogs that most closely conform to the AKC breed standard. Each National Club (aka "parent club") runs it's own Futurity/Maturity program, so there are slight differences for each breed. The German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA) Futurity/Maturity program is (sorta) explained here.

If a breeder feels she's got a good pairing, she'll nominate (essentially place a bet on) the litter. This is usually done before or just after the litter is born. Puppies from a nominated litter are shown in the regional shows held each spring and summer (the GSDCA has nine separate regions). The competition is similar to a regular conformation show. However, winners earn a portion of the nomination fee. Then all regional winners compete against each other at the National shows in October. Apparently it's a big deal.

Plaques & rosettes from the 2016

SE Futurity/Maturity shows

The regional Futurity/Maturity shows are hosted by GSD specialty clubs (like mine). Since Futurity/Maturity shows are held in conjunction with a club's Specialty shows, they draw a bigger entry. The hosting clubs also get a small portion of the entry fees. However, hosting the Futurity/Maturity shows is a lot of additional work.

The regional club usually gets the nod from GSDCA 18-24 months out, giving them time to find a judge -- preferably one that will attract participants. The GSDCA contracts a show superintendent to manage the entries and catalogs. They also provide trophies. A local club member is designated regional chair to handle all the fine details -- and there are a lot of fine details!

So how does it work? Puppies from a nominated litter are eligible to be shown if one of the registered owners is a GSDCA member. (FYI: Trooper's Breeder/Co-Owner is.) The class a puppy is entered in depends on it's date of birth. The Futurity classes are:

• Junior Class
• Teenage Class
• Amateur Junior/Teen Class
• Intermediate Class
• Senior Class
• Amateur Intermediate/Senior Class

The Maturity involves the same dogs that competed in the Futurity, after they've had a year to grow up. Just like the Futurity, one of the dog's owners must be a GSDCA member, and a dog's class is dependent on the date of birth. The Maturity classes are:

• Junior Class
• Amateur Junior
• Class Senior Class
• Amateur Senior Class

Here's a kicker: If the litter was nominated, but the dog was not entered in a Futurity, an additional $150 fee is required above and beyond the fee to show in the Maturity classes. So, regardless of whether we go to the shows in March, I need to send in the $30 entry fee -- just in case. Ugh. I'll keep you posted. -- K

Trooper Takes it All

I finally got Trooper's win photo from the Savannah Kennel Club Match last November.

It appears that neither Trooper nor the judges were as excited about the win as I was. LOL. -- K

2019 Pet Blogger Challenge

Oh my, where did time go? I was finally getting the hang of 2018 then -- poof -- it's 2019. And it's already time for the Pet Blogger Challenge! This annual hop is a fun way for pet bloggers worldwide to share their thoughts on blogging:

• What works?
• What doesn't?
• What would you like to do better?
• What can others do help?

What a great community! With the answers to just a few questions I learn so much about blogging and other bloggers. Sometimes I even learn something about myself. A giant thank you to Amy at Go Pet Friendly (one of my favorite pet blogs) for hosting this every year. Without further ado, the questions:

Logan

1. For those who may be visiting your blog for the first time, how long have you been blogging and what is your main topic?

I started blogging in 2012 after I lost my heart dog, Logan, as a way to work through the grief. The blog was depressing, so I don't recommend you read it. Things got better with the arrival of new puppies, Jedi and more recently, Trooper. Kelley's Dog Blog is my story: A disorganized, uncoordinated woman who tries to enter the world of dog shows/dog sports. I’m waaay out of my league, but I'm having fun. Along the way I share some of my misadventures as an animal control officer in a small beach town. I drink too much wine, eat too many carbs and may or may not have homicidal fantasies. I blog because it's cheaper than therapy. I never expected anybody to read my blog. Apparently my sarcastic, slightly neurotic thoughts are entertaining. Or maybe people just want to look at pictures of beautiful dogs.

2. What was your proudest blogging moment of 2018?

I was able to blog from the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show! I've wanted to go for decades, but never found the time, money or ability. Every February I'd watch it on TV and say "Someday . . ." In 2016 a friend told me to "piss or get off the pot" and reminded me that we're not getting any younger. That was the kick in the pants that I needed. This Florida girl researched, planned, saved and made it to NYC to see the show.

3. What was the biggest blogging challenge you faced in 2018, and how did/will you tackle it?

Apathy. Somewhere along the way I became overwhelmed with life, work and some personal issues. Stress turned to depression and I shut down. I didn't care about anything. It sucked! A new puppy helped me snap out of it. (BTW, new puppy not recommended for everyone.)

4. Which of your 2018 blog posts was your favorite and why? (Please include a link.)

Saving Elsa was a good day on the job. They're not always good.

Missing for months and found in a ravine

5. Which of your 2018 posts was most popular with your audience? Why do you think it does so well?

The post that got the most hits last year was Sniffing Again. I guess people like to see dogs working. I know I do! I'm looking forward to sharing more dogs-in-action posts this year.

Trooper's cousin before the 2018 shows

6. Did you implement a new series, feature, or practice on your blog in 2018 that you’re enjoying?

I did! I have a series about putting together a dog show. In 2017 my German Shepherd Dog Club was thrown for a loop. The women who had organized our annual dog shows for the last 8 years quit. Just. Like. That. A friend and I decided that rather than losing our AKC sanction, we'd do it. Surprisingly, we pulled it off, albeit awkwardly and on the fly. The series didn't fare well with regular readers, but I like knowing it's out there for the person who needs it. I have a page full of links for the clueless Dog Show Newbie. Nothing thrills me more than when I get a message from a DSN saying thanks.

7. As the social media landscape changes, how are you promoting your blog posts and connecting with new readers?

LOL. I'm not. (See answer #1.) I really suck at this stuff. However, I did recently join Instagram and am having fun with that. Can I even link my blog to Instagram?

8. Looking forward to 2019, if you accomplish only one thing through your blog, what do you hope it is?

Humor. There's a fine line between sarcasm and surliness and I think I may have crossed it somewhere along the way. At my age I am way past brooding maiden and dangerously close to bitter old crone. Note to self: Mean ≠ funny.

9. What steps are you planning to take to ensure you reach your goal?

Booze? Brownies? Profanity? Seriously, I don't know.

10. Now it’s your turn! How can we help? Is there an area where you could use some advice, or an aspect of your blog that you’d like input on? Share it here, and we’ll answer you in comments!

My posts are irregular and the content is all over the place (much like my life) and I think I've lost many regular visitors because of it. How do those of you with successful blogs pull it off?

So there you go! Comments, questions and constructive criticisms are most welcome. I look forward to spending time with you all in 2019. But for now I'm off to see what others are sharing. Later, -- K

P.S. This is a blog hop. Click on the links below to discover some pretty cool blogs!