OTHER BLOG POSTS

OTHER BLOG POSTS

This link will take you to my other website - joyridek9.com - for several other blog posts I've made over the years. That website is dedicated to my IN-PERSON TRAINING. This is a companion site but separate. ENJOY! --> www.joyridek9.com - Blog Posts
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Zen – Elite Champion!

Zen – Elite Champion!

I'm not sure if I can adequately put into words how bittersweet this moment is. It's a wonderful honor to have achieved this level of competition with my dog! But it means our journey is nearing the end. There are possible Summit Trials and Element Trials but after 12 years of training and traveling and competing in multiple sports, more is behind us than in front of us. And I'm really sad about that. Zen has not been an easy dog. But he was exactly what I needed at the time and the adventures have been incredible. I wasn't looking…
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You have the BEST dog!

You have the BEST dog!

This is something I wrote long ago, when I first started teaching, so probably around 2009 or 2010. A friend surprised me with this in 2014 when I was at the NACSW Nationals with Emmy, competing in the Finals in Santa Rosa, CA. I keep it on my desk to remember that this is only a game and the dogs don't care about ribbons or awards, just being able to play. :-)
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NOSEWORK: A SPORT FOR EVERY DOG

NOSEWORK: A SPORT FOR EVERY DOG

Here is a webinar I did for my local breed club back in February of 2021. In it, I give some basic information about nosework, how it got started and where it is today. Feel free to email me if you would like to participate in an online NW101: INTRO TO K9 NOSE WORK course or check the ENROLLMENT page to see if I have one already on the calendar. I offer them occasionally when I have enough interest. Enjoy!
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Life is always an adventure

Life is always an adventure

(Appreciating the kindness of friends & strangers) I'm a pretty independent person. I do many things for myself from fixing the refrigerator, the dryer, minor plumbing, etc. There are times, however when it's really nice to have the help of others when it's really needed. I was luckily blessed this weekend in ways that remind me of the goodness in people. This was a big weekend of teaching for me. Every month for the past several years I have rented a facility to teach a weekend of K9 Nose Work clinics. It's a juggle as to what levels are offered…
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Finding Success with Failure

Finding Success with Failure

This post is not about nosework but I think one can extrapolate something from it for all dog sports venues. ~~~~~ See this pretty trophy? It’s ours but we didn’t “earn” it, we failed to receive the required points but got it by default by being the only dog in the class. I debated whether to take it but I decided I would keep it as a reminder for this event and as a goal and motivation to do better for the next event. A symbol of aspiration, if you will. This French Ring trial was probably in the top…
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Chasing Ribbons

Chasing Ribbons

I've been thinking a lot about the quest for titles and ribbons. I've always had a love-hate relationship with dog competitions but felt it my obligation to my dogs to take them to the places they could go and achieve the things they could do. With me along as the weak link at times, of course! :-) I chose "working" dogs for a reason and so it's my job to do something with them. I've been criticized for not reaching the heights I could have or spreading ourselves too thin so our training is lacking in one area or another.…
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Emmy

I made a special section for Emmy, as a tribute to the dog who really brought me to this place and time in my life. It's still difficult to talk about, the impact she had on me and how hard it was (is) to have lost her but she lived a good and full life. Tears are always at the surface and my heart is broken but it is healing with the kind words and thoughts from friends all over the globe. She had a lasting impact on so many people and it's lovely to know she will be remembered.…
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“K9 Nose Work®: An Activity Where Our Tervuren Excel!”

(First published in the American Belgian Tervuren Club's national magazine "TNT" - Tervuren News Tales, July 2016 - updated 6/11/2018) “K9 Nose Work®: An Activity Where Our Tervuren Excel!” ~ Kimberly Buchanan CNWI Nose work games like K9 Nose Work® seem to be cropping up around every corner lately. It’s a relatively easy activity for a wide variety of dogs and their people. But where did it start and why has it become so popular? Working dogs have been used in a number of roles for our benefit since ancient times, including acting as messengers during wartime. Certainly their keen…
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“Old Dogs Rule!”

Having an old dog has inherent challenges. Having your driven, high level working/sport dog age comes along with additional emotions and decisions; what activities do you still let them do? Do you just play at home, go to regular classes or enter competitions? Is your dog still enjoying him/herself? Do they like going to new places or are they happier when their environment remains more constant? Can you honestly evaluate whether you’re doing things for your dog or are you doing it for you? Pretty ribbons are cool! I appreciate the dog-handler teamwork when it goes well and strive to…
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