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2011 review, 2012 goals

2011 was definately a pretty big year for the dogs at and the lady in charge of Hurricane Deck! In non-sequential order, we moved to a small house in town, but the yard is actually the same size than the one we had out in the country. In town there are squirrels to bark out, neighbors to annoy, and sidewalks to walk on even when the rest of the world is a mudpit. The dogs seem to like it here, and maybe it is because their mama is quit a bit more relaxed out on her own - oh, and they get LOTS of attention now that I am not engaged in other pursuits.

Looking back:

Sniper Dog turned 3 this year and is as spoiled as ever. His UKC show career is pretty much over as we turn to other pursuits. We will be hitting select AKC rings, but only the close and big shows until Rat Terriers get put in the Terrier group - then we will be hitting AKC heavily. He's got the type and a headpiece that is so outstanding that they used it for drawing the illustrated standard.

Rodear earned her Grand Champion title, and I was so ever proud of her! She won her last leg in style by winning the Champions class over 8 very nice dogs at the 2011 Premier with her Other Mama Barbie in attendence - I was just tickled pink that she could be there with us! I love showing her - she always gives me her all in everything that I ask. Rodear is my goofball and mama dog, forever making sure I am smiling and taken care of. Rodear proved herself to be an invaluable skunk alarm when we were out hunting raccoons this past fall - any dog in my book who alarm barks at skunks and gives them wide berth is, in my book, A GOOD DOG. Oh, and earning the first Best in Multi-Breed Show in UKC by a Rat Terrier in Colorado? Icing, baby, icing.

Jada Pinkett Pocket Puppy, slayer of nonsense, master of the look of distain, and climber of trees took the ring by storm in the latter part of this year. We had limited showing because her breeder was also a judge at several shows that we were attending, an attitude while she is in heat, and a late start to showing anyway because of her birthday... well, it took us a few shows to get her Champion title. Once she got that, though, she figured it out and her first weekend out as a Champion Jada earned her Grand Champion title by nabbing 5 out of 6 Champion class wins and 4 of the 6 Best of Breeds. I was thrilled with her! She also earned a Reserve Best in Multi-Breed Show - I was so excited that I couldn't quit smiling all weekend!

Rooster, the Red Menace, the dog who can melt my heart in one second and then make me want to kill him the next! Structure wise there are very few things I would change about him - he really is that pretty. I wish like everything though he would show for me, but he hates the show ring. He will do everything I ask, but he acts like I am torturing him! I took him to agility foundation classes this year and he excelled at them. He does try hard for me has become a master of the sit stay - the down still eludes us!

Fritz the Tiffit - the tiniest dog I have ever owned! I love love love this tiny terror. He doesn't take any shit off of the dogs that are many times his size, and he is so quick to learn that I am constantly amazed by him. I've always loved his sire and have had the pleasure of showing him several times over the past year, and I was so honored when I was able to take one of his offspring home with me.

Looking forward:

In 2012 my goal is that every dog in my house will have at least one Rally title in UKC and AKC. My Rat Terriers will all have Jumpers with Weaves titles in one venue or another. Jada will be campaigned in UKC for 2012, and Fritz will be hitting the show ring as well. I have no idea if I am going to show Rooster beyond performance events, but I think that he could grand this year if I give him some time off to concentrate on performance events and boost his confidence a bit.

We will also be participating in AWTA trials and AKC Earthdog events as those come our way - and YES, Fritz will be participating in AWTA trials!

Wishing you clean runs and abundent game for 2012! We will see you at the show, the trial, and in the field.

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