Sadie's Memorial

This past Thursday, January 29, 2009 we said goodbye to our eldest canine family member:
Shadkatz Sensational Sadie CDX, TDI.
Sadie passed quietly in her sleep shortly after I had said "good morning" to her.

Sadie was a rescue pup that was found on the city streets of Albany in 1996. I volunteered to foster her until a suitable home was found - you know the rest of that story. She was a very smart pup and took immediately to the obedience training I started with her, which led me to get her ILP number from the AKC so that I could compete with her in the obedience ring.
She did very well in competition, and was always a crowd pleaser as she had a way of being quite comical in the ring! One example of this was when I had her entered in the utility class at the 1999 American Staffordshire Terrier National in Chicago. When she ran out to the scent articles, she happily "play bowed" to the judge before commencing to get the right article!

She loved people and relished the visits to nursing homes and rehab centers (even when I dressed her up for the holidays) where we did frequent therapy dog visits.

She was always very tolerant of the new pups that were introduced into the household, although she was getting a bit more grumpy as she got older and slower. Hazel proved to be way too much energy and movement for Sadie's senior years, and she usually tried to avoid her as much as possible!

She loved to swim, play frisbee and destroy tennis balls!
She was a wonderful dog who made many friends and touched many lives.
She will always be remembered with great fondness as the goofy little AmStaff that stole our hearts.

Young Sadie - about 6 months old

A successful obedience day!

A tolerant Sadie with Dixie, and a very young Dutch

Tolerant of Mom's get-ups as well

The pack in 2006
Dutch - Sadie - Abby - Ranger

Forever Friends

Last Picture
January 2, 2009

Winter weather for Fitchburg, MA show

Fitchburg, MA - January 10 & 11
Hazel's first breed show of 2009.
It was a nice show with a large enough entry of dogs to make a major both days. And the lovely bitch that took winners both days, also took best of winners therefore earning two majors as well!
Sadly it was not Hazel, although she did get reserve winners on Sunday, so I was happy.
Sundays travel to the show was quite an adventure as the Northeast had been blanketed by a snowstorm overnight, making the roads a bit treacherous. Luckily the Chessies weren't on until late morning, so we were able to take our time getting to the show.
Hazel's next adventure will be a bit more local for us in Queensbury, NY on Jan. 25th and we should do quite well............. Hazel's the only Chessie entered! LOL!
In the meantime, we'll enjoy the cold and snow and try to stay warm!
Hope everyone else does the same.

Hazel (sporting her "winter" bling),
waiting patiently to go in the ring on Saturday with Mom.

This is what the ride was like Sunday morning on I-95!
At least there wasn't a lot of traffic!

This is really kinda boring Mom.
When do I get the cookie?

Hi there!
Do you have a cookie for me?

Hello again Mr. Judge!
Are you sure you don't have a cookie for me?
What do you mean I shouldn't jump on you?
UGHHHH...... so many rules!

All in all it was a fun weekend, and Hazel's "winter snowflake" party collar turned out to be quite appropriate!

I'm a snow princess!

First Rally-O show of 2009!

This past weekend (Jan 3 & 4, 2009), Hazel traveled to Syracuse, NY to attend the Bare Bones Winter Trial put on by the Syracuse Obedience Training Club.
The weekend started with some good old fashioned fun in the snow at home, before making the two hour drive to the show.
The show went well, and she earned two legs towards her Novice Rally title!
Although we really need to work on her "paying attention" in the ring (to me - not to all the other things that are going on), I was still pleased with her respectable scores of 95 and 96.
After two very long days, Hazel seemed quite happy to be back home relaxing with her chew bone and then dozing on the couch. While I was planning our venture next weekend to Fitchburg, MA for a breed confirmation show!

Frozen drool-cicles!
How cool!



The elusive frisbee, a rare species
only seen after I've gone potty!
(I think Mom has something to do with that!)

Hey, where'd it go, come back here!

I think I've got it!



Boy, it's putting up quite a fight!

Ahhhhhhhh, the thrill of victory!

I really like trying to catch the frisbee in mid-air, it makes me feel like I'm flying!

Frisbee cam



Frisbee cam - 2

Well, here we are at the show and it's almost
"show time"!
I thought it would be nice to pay attention to Mom
for a moment or two outside the ring.

Notice now how I'm not paying any attention to her!
(Hee Hee, that really bugs her)
I just can't help myself, there's SO many things to look at!

Moving down?
That seems kinda silly, don't you think?
Sometimes I think Mom is making these things up.

Yeah! We qualified!
(I'm pretty sure that means I get a treat now!)

Finally back at home!
While Mom relaxes with a glass of wine -
give me a bone or two (or five).

Sweet dreams