Welcome 2010!

Another year gone, and what a whirl wind it was. I'm amazed at how quickly the time passes. I did make my deadline of updating the blog while still in 2009. Check the December 31st post which has a few entries that encompass Sept.- Nov. 2009!
Sorry about that, we were so busy traveling and competing that it was difficult to keep on top of all the things we were doing, much less write about them!

In a February 2009 post, I listed my "title" goals which I hoped Hazel could earn for the year (CH, CD, JH, RN, RA, TD, and TDI). As I reflect back, I can't help but be amazed at how successful we were in reaching those goals. Although we didn't have time to train for a TD (tracking) title, Hazel managed to earn all the rest, as well as an RE title! The highlight was earning our CH title out of the Bred By Exhibitor classes and then receiving a certificate and medallion from AKC for the achievement!
I am so proud of my girl! She continues to amaze me with her talent and her shear joy for life, which always seems to make me smile (even when I catch her doing naughty things like chewing on my cell phone)!

2010 Goals
So now onto 2010, I do believe that everyone should have goals and here's mine:
Obedience - CDX and UD titles
Hunting - Senior hunter title

We have a lot of work and training ahead of us, and I'll be forging into new territory as I try to train her for senior and master level hunt tests. I'm sure there will be trying times and hopefully some victories along the way, thankfully Hazel is an extremely forgiving soul, as I'm sure I'll make some mistakes too.
But at the end of the day, when the training bumpers and obedience equipment is put away, the best part of all is wrapping my arms around and burying my face in the neck of a dog that I love, cherish and respect and who loves me back just as much, even if we don't earn any titles at all in 2010!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Hazel with her 2009 ribbons and trophies

Christmas present from OFA

I received Hazel's OFA results on December 23rd.
Elbows - Normal
Hips - Excellent
WHOO HOO!!!!!

Hazel's "excellent" rated hips!

Last Titles of 2009

The show year has come to an end, and the last shows we competed in were in Syracuse, NY and Springfield, MA. Between those two shows, Hazel earned her Rally Advanced and Rally Excellent titles. Whoo Hoo!!
The Springfield, MA show was a tough one for me to attend as it was on opening day of our Southern zone deer season in NY. But I left my hubby at home to sit in the woods and like Hazel, he too was successful!
A nice 8 point buck!

Way to go honey!

ACC National Specialty Show

At the tail end of September, we headed off to Wilmington, Ohio for the American Chesapeake Clubs National Show Specialty. The weather was decent, seeing old friends and meeting new ones was fun, the food was great and the dogs were wonderful!! Hazel was entered in a few different competitions and overall did very well. Thursday, Oct.1st was Obedience day. Hazel competed for the first time in the Open A class and decided (among other things) that she was not going to allow me out of her sight for the stay exercises! Non-qualifying score for that one.
Next was Rally Advanced B where she was much happier to have me by her side and we qualified with a 94.
Our last endeavor for the day (and certainly the most fun) was the team obedience. We had an awesome team comprised of Jess Seebohm with Hazard, myself and Hazel, Jill Conroy with Abby and Chris Beste with Brin. Decked out in snow flake covered shirts and bandanna's (for the dogs) and labeled as the Nor'easters, we strutted our stuff and, despite a few "opps" moments, did quite well taking second place out of the six teams competing!

Oh, what fun this was!!!
I can't wait until 2011 in Gettysburg, PA!

On Friday, Oct. 2nd Hazel competed in the Hunting dog class and amongst the stiff competition came out with a 2nd place! I was thrilled! She didn't seem to care!

C'mon........
Stop taking pictures and THROW this bumper!!!

The rest of the weekend was spent enjoying the show, watching the other dogs that were competing, shopping, and chowing down at the dinners! Unfortunatly we won't be going to next years national as it will be in California, but we're looking forward to 2011 when it will be back east in Gettysburg, PA!

After our busy spring, summer and early fall, it was nice to be back home and do a little duck hunting. The season wasn't very productive, but we had fun anyway!

You watch that way Dad, and I'll watch this way!

Waiting is the hardest part,
and we seem to do an awful lot of it when duck hunting!
I think I like the hunt tests better!

Update from Sept.

Mid-September we headed off to Maine for the American Chesapeake clubs national field trial specialty.
Although Hazel was not competing, as it's way above her level of training, the plan was to see new places, meet new people and have lots of fun. And that we did!
We started our trip with our usual stop in Salem, MA for a night, then headed north to Gloucester, MA before heading to our Maine destination.

While reading our adventure, you can learn more about some of our stops if you'd like, by clicking on the places printed in bold white lettering, to visit informative links about them.

First stop, Gloucester, MA

Hmmm......
I remember watching a movie about this with mom and dad.
"The Perfect Storm"

Making a new friend.... smile Hazel and Laine!

After reading the history and meeting new friends, it was time to go down to the beach and play!

Now this is fun!

Just me and my shadow.....

Mmmm.....salty water!

Hazel believes in keeping our beaches clean of pollution!

Look what I found mom!
A whole roll of plastic wrap!

Then it was onto Maine where we would spend the next three days watching wonderful dogs, enjoying great food and sharing stories with old and new friends alike at
The ACC National Field Trial Specialty in Pittsfield/Burnham Maine

September 14 - 17, 2009



Watching a dog run a mark

While there, I was observing and taking notes on dogs of extreme natural talent, trainabilty and looks, because it's never too soon to start the search for future potential boyfriends for Hazel! Here's a few that caught my eye!

Johnson's Kidd Crackshot MH

And another potential boyfriend....

WW Button's "Sly" MacGregor

Mac flyin'

And yet another.....

CH Sugartree's Moose Pond Gunner MH

Gunner flyin'

But it wasn't all about the boys,

Mine and Hazel's heroines,
and the winners of the Open class and Best Bitch in Trial,
Linda Harger and Yakity

Seeing an old friend from The Netherlands was great,
as well as meeting new friends from England

and new friends from Denmark

What beautiful trophies,
maybe someday.........

After leaving the field trial on Wednesday, we headed off to spend Thursday touring around Acadia National Park. The weather was overcast and cool with a little drizzle now and then. But we still had a GREAT time!

Yipee!!
Another National Park visit!

First stop, Sand Beach

This looks like a fun place!!
Let's go!

Water for as far as I can see!

Look at me, catching a wave!

Then it was off to Wildwood stables for a scenic carriage ride!

A carriage ride?
I don't know about this one Mom!

Hmmmmmm.....
Don't you think the horse should be keeping his eyes on the road?

Well that was cool!
I felt like the Budweiser dog!

Then the climb to Cadillac Mountain

My goodness,
it's WINDY up here!

Our last stop in the park was to see Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Tremont.

Checking out the view
on the way to the lighthouse

OOOOO..... there it is!!
How pretty.... I could live there!

Then it was time to start back to NY, but first, one last stop in Maine at a fresh water lake to rinse off the salt water and sand from the ocean.

Whoooooo-Hoooooo
A bumper and fresh water!!

AHHHHHH...............
Perfect end to a perfect day!

New Champion!

I can't believe how fast the days have flown by and that summer is coming to an end already!

Hazel and I have had a whirl-wind of a summer and have some great news to post! The last weekend of August we traveled up to Cumberland, Maine for a three day dog show. The weather was beautiful on Friday, but alas, we didn't do too well in the show, we got third place. Oh well, ya can't win them all! So then we headed into nearby Boothbay Harbor for some sight seeing and good food and drink, making sure that the day wasn't a total loss!

The show on Saturday was a supported entry by the American Chesapeake Club, and the judge was Nat Horn, a longtime breeder/exhibitor of Chesapeakes himself. Saturday's weather was cold and rainy, but Hazel loved it! She strutted her stuff around the ring in the rain and won the class along with a 4 point major, which finished up her points needed for a Championship title!
I was (and am) SO proud of my little girl!!!
Then there was a dinner that evening at Safe Harbor Chesapeake Rescue which was absolutely fabulous! Lobster, steak, clams, corn on the cob....all you could eat.....thank you to Jane and Ron Peabody for being such gracious hosts and having all us wet folks in your beautiful home! It was the perfect end to a perfect day!

On Sunday Hazel competed in the Best of Breed class with the other Champions, and although she had fun, the class was won by a lovely bitch (CH. Poisett's Following Sea) and her very talented Jr. Handler - Annie Henshaw. Congrats to the both of them!
On the way home we stopped in Wells Beach for some clam chowder and to take some photos of the ocean! All in all it was a wonderful weekend!

Whoo -hoo!! New Champion!!!
With a very damp (but happy) Mom!

Mom and me practicing our synchronized trotting!

Dad and me in Boothbay Harbor

The Tugboat Inn in Boothbay Harbor

Getting ready for Dinner (and a good one it was!)

I can smell the ocean from here!!!
Hurry, lets go!!

Ohhhhh.....That looks like fun down there!

Please can I go down there????
Pretty please????

Showing off my Maine "bling"!

Ahhhhhhhh...........

Champion Hazel!!!
CH Blucollars Hocus Pocus CD, JH, RN

And a couple of weeks before our Maine trip, we were in Fitchburg , MA where Hazel and I competed for the first time ever in a Rally Advanced obedience class. Not only did she get 1st place out of the 33 dogs in the class, but she was the only dog to score a perfect 100!

Mom says I'm pretty AND smart!
Really all I want to do is get the ball
that dad is taunting me with while taking this picture!


Our next adventure starts this weekend (Sept. 13) when we head off once again to Maine to watch the American Chesapeake Clubs National Field Trial Specialty. No competing this time, just watching, learning and keeping an eye out for handsome young Chesapeake boys!!! ;-)

Summer Fun

Last weekend I went to Syracuse and met up with my Mom and the two of us, and Hazel of course, participated in a wine tour event on Cayuga Lake!
It was geared towards dog lovers and the dogs were welcome to join in the fun!
Visit: Greyhound Wine Tour & Friends
We could only attend Thursday night and Friday, but had a great time and can't wait for next years event!

Our first stop on the trail!

This is my new friend, Miles.
She was serving the wine at Long Point winery.
And dog cookies too! I like her!

What a pretty day!

Another new friend!
Being greeted by the resident winery dog, Ruby.

I think Ruby's had enough wine!

Last stop of the day. We only got to visit four of the wineries, but still had a lot of fun! Looking forward to doing it again next year!

Sunday was spent having a cookout with my husbands family, including his five grandchildren, all girls,
ranging in ages from 1 1/2 - 5 years old!
What fun for a energetic pooch!

Cool sticks! Can I play?



Catch me if you can!

Ummm....excuse me, but I get yelled at
if I try to eat the frisbee!

Is it my turn yet?
Please, please, pretty please?

I LOVE pool time!

Who gave her the hose?

Yikes! Everyone outta the pool!

Dutch also enjoyed the family party.........

Stealing kisses from all the girls

Hope everyone is having a great summer!