19th Annual Lakeside Winter Garden Party

Another year of Fun! at the 19th Annual Ron Kolbus Lakeside Community Centre's Winter Garden Party. This is the Community Centre where I've taught dog obedience since 1994. There are various booths representing the classes offered, games for the kids, face painting, scavenger hunt, demonstrations, music, outside activities and prizes to be won.

It was a beautiful sunny day for it - windy to start & cold but that let up and the temperature improved. We'd had little snow up until the weekend, but with the snow storm the outdoor activities were able to go on. The horse drawn sleigh rides were there, a fire pit for roasting marshmallows, and a taffy pull area. The event was very well attended, keeping us busy. I realized when I went through my pictures I'd taken very few this year.

Mary Lou, Mary-Anne & Andrea (student work volunteer experience) were there with me. We took Harley (Mary Lou's boy), Chinook, Moxi, our 4+month old girl Gem, and 10 wk old boy Journey.

Our booth with Andrea & Mary-Anne with Chinook on the table

The stuffed sheltie, Chinook & Moxi on the table greeting visitors. Which ones are real kids?
Andrea is holding Journey who by this time was tiring out.
Chinook with the Mascot this yr.Chinook as a puppy with the Mascot in 2009!
Journey's turn with the Mascot

The Ottawa City Councillor was in attendance, Mark Taylor - a little cuddle time with Journey

We put on a short obedience demonstration with Harley keeping in mind our goal with dogs are to have them be good canine citizens. It was then the kids turn to learn how to properly greet a dog with its owner.

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Show Training & Off To Practice

Feb 20th was a Family Day Holiday for us, so Mary-lou & Mary Anne & I rented a community hall and took the 3 Tyme girls, the 2 Trixie pups that are being grown out, and Trixie's older bi-black girl Moxi to get some leash & show training accomplished.

Here's the 1st easy way!!! Take the leash trained girl and get the other 3 to follow doing down & backs.

Little Journey decided he'd help his 1/2 sister walk on a lead! Like yah, she's the one trained!

Gem hanging out at the end.

Then we went to put it into practice at the Ottawa Kennel Club Sanction Match. Mary Lou & student Andrea were with me to handle the 3 dogs we took. This was part of Andrea's volunteer work experience and her 1st time ever at a dog show. Wonder if she might think of getting into Junior Handling ??

Couldn't have asked Moxi to handle her 1st ever showing experience any better than she did. She won Group 1st. Gem made it around the ring, not too badly :)

Moxi, steady on the table in the Best In (Match) Show Ring

still showing her heart out after a long day

The Best In (Match) Show Line Up.

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Teaching Brownies Responsible Dog Ownership

I am a bit behind in updating our Blog ... time has just gotten away on us these past few weeks with various events.

On Feb 8/12 we took several adults, 14 wk old girls & 2 8 wk old puppies to visit a Brownie group to give a talk on dogs, their care & how to properly approach them. Hopefully they will all be able to get their Pet Badge.

The two Trixie pups, Journey (l) & Disco (r) were immediately scooped up by two of the leaders.

The Brownies were taught how to properly approach puppies. Here's one girl with our Mocha.

Our two adults, Harley & Chinook giving the girls experience greeting older dogs.

Time for the pups to join a circle. We taught especially quite feet, quiet voices and to allow pups to come to them. Journey eventually took it into his paws to work at pulling on shoe laces!At the end Gem & Mocha spent more time socializing. All the girls left with a gift of a Proplan picture booklet. Something to remember their evening.

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Come Take A Peek

Shelamo is proud to be the Feature Breeder for the month of February on Sheltie Strut, helping to contribute to the fund raising efforts of Pennylynn Woodruff, who has been doing an amazing job for our CSSA National event.

Thank-you to Jan & Tim Secord & Mary-Anne Yolkowskie for also contributing.

Our newest AOAC hopeful pictured @ 6wks of age.
We're calling him "Journey"
(Am/Cdn Ch Apple Acres Expedition ROM ROMC x Gralochs Blueberry Tart)

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