The boys and I are heading into our super busy competition season now...plus Maverick and I will be going to Sussex Spaniel Nationals in San Fransisco, so the events will go well into October this year.
Just a quick 2014 brag: Both Toby and Ice earned ESSFTA Versatility Medallions this year and Toby (who is now 13+) was one of two springers in the entire US to earn a very special Versatile Springer award - I'll post pictures of the loot when the awards actually arrive. I have 3 more youngsters training in multi-events for next year, so as the old ones retire (practically everything I have left is old) , I definitely have my work cut out for me in the future. I have a few very NICE up and coming girls right now!
Maverick is also having great success and will be my first dog to earn RN RA and RE titles all in the same year! Plus he has done it with scores in the high 90's! He has also earned his CD and we hope to finish off his Championship soon. He is just so much fun to train and show! I'm basically doing with him, what I did with Toby, and going for the ultimate versatile Sussex. (If you think it's easy - try it.) Plus, I am doing the Amateur/Owner handler show series and the National Championship for that is at the Eukanuba shows in Florida in December. We won't go this year, but hopefully next. And I see a Westminster (or two) in his future as well.
Next year we will all head back to the field events- it will be a priority to me. I just had no idea how much WORK this obedience stuff was (especially the Utility level) until I was in up to my eyeballs and I'm just too stubborn to quit.
Hunting season starts October 11 - the youngsters are ready! Even Spanky will get to go again. It's a big deal considering we thought we would lose her this year.
Chica has been bred via AI - once. Not sure it worked (she is eating a lot though!) but the timing was very good, so who knows? I figured with no hunt tests this fall, this was the best time to do it. She won't stand for natural breedings so one litter will be it for her, although I may try again with multiple AI's next year, if it didn't work this time.
I'll try to keep the blog going through the end of the year, but it's not a priority to me so updates will be sporadic at best. Facebook really is the best way to get updates and stay in touch. I'd hate to delete it and give up 10 years of pictures, but all this social media is just too time consuming!