Flyer Day!

Just before we left to come home we had one last Flyer Day. I handed Meg over to Sandie and told her to "have at her" while I helped Pete with the flyers. This was Meg's very first flyer. She was extremely excited and had a great time. She also learned that she couldn't be pulling people all over the place and that "sit" means "sit". Meg had a wonderful time in Alabama.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

We spent our first weekend in Alabama attending the Montgomery Field Trial which is held annually in Greensboro, Alabama at the State Cattle Ranch.

The Cattle Ranch is a very interesting place. It is, in fact, a prison and the inmates take on the job of gunners at all the stakes. The Cattle Ranch used to be a fully functioning self sufficient enterprise. Catfish ponds, farming and cattle were the mainstays of the workings of the ranch. The size of this place is unbelievable.

The inmates here are pretty much "lifers". These are not petty thieves. They got to the cattle ranch because of good behaviour and are model prisoners.

There are no fences, no guards that you can see and cars and people drive through the property at will. Nothing holds the inmates in. If they wanted to go, they could. Interestingly, they don't.

The former Warden of the Cattle Ranch is a dog person and trials his dogs. You could book time to train your dogs on the property, pay the inmates to throw for you, and invite the warden to come along and train. It all worked out very well.

About a year ago, the Cattle Ranch was sold to Forever Wild, a conservation group. Their mandate is to return the property to its former state and create a large scale habitat to support wildlife conservation. The Cattle Ranch as it was no longer exists however, the actual "prison" is still intact and inmates do live here. There is no more farming but you can hire the inmates to work for you.

During a break in the action we took Jett and Meg and let them have a swim in one of the ponds on the property. They certainly had a blast. Meg loves the water and so does Jett. I love watching them play and have fun. They really get along very well together.

Not only did the girls have fun, but our Canadian contigent did extremely well in the Qual on this particular weekend. Lorne Langevin won, Dan Devos got 2nd, Peg Willibond got 3rd (honorary Canadian), Connie Swanson got 4th. Pretty much a clean sweep.

We're Baaaaacccckkkk!

Well, our Alabama training trip is over for yet another year. This year I took 2 dogs with me. Meg and Jett made the trip while Logan spent the 2 1/2 weeks with my sister.

This was a big trip and primarily my goal was to acclimatize Meg to life with the pack at Sandie and Allan's because when they get home from Alabama it will be time for Meg to go in for training.

Jett is an old veteran but Meg is totally "green" to the whole atmosphere and I must say the experience didn't faze her one little bit.

She learned to swim, made friends with the pack leaders, Annie and Millie, cuddled up with Sandie and Allan, learned what real birds were all about, experienced the tie-out and riding in the "big truck". Meg is a trooper and did just fine.

The pictures below are of Meg's first time in the water. She loved it. She is now an accomplished "water dog". She just dove right in and couldn't get enough!

Once Meg, got in I couldn't get her out. It was the best fun she's ever had. This picture was taken as I was attempting to get her out. If she could speak I guarantee she'd be saying "Come on, throw me another!!!"

Not to be forgotten, Jett worked really well while we south. I was really happy with her.

I have lot's more pictures and stories to share in subsequent posts. Suffice to say, we had a great time and I can't wait to go back next year.