Once again, I find myself in the car heading down the mountains in the dark to Scottsdale, Drogo in his kennel and more “stuff” in the back with him than I want to think about. Why am I doing this yet again? Well, the Fiesta Cluster is a great series of shows….with Conformation, Rally, Obedience and Agility…four days plus of dogs and more dogs. Still, with my insane corporate work schedule and training other dogs at 3 places….mine get way less time than I want to give them. Life on the Farm is a lot less the bucolic paradise promised and more like “A Stranger in a Strange Land” than imaginable. Yet, here we go….another trip to “town”!
This time a different purpose, training at the trial. Drogo has become so used to working on his own equipment or the kennels/facilities we train at that the noise and frenetic action of people and dogs at trials has become foreign to him. So on my one weekend off in months, I gladly “donate this to the cause”, the greater good….my dog! How did we do…about what expected, I trained in the ring and gladly paid the price for it. One of the local trainers asked “What was I doing”???? ………….so I explained.
Hard for someone to understand unless they live in the very quiet atmosphere of the Quad Cities…..and quiet it is. You can hear the occasional plane or helicopter loudly roaring through the skies and hear the sounds of a familiar owl or cow clearly in the still night air and protected dark skies.
Shot dozens of photos and tossing just a few into this post for “flavor”. Next year…make this show a “GO” decision…you will enjoy it as much as our guests the next day. Loved the fun, food, friendly people and hundreds of smiling dogs! Just click on any of the thumbnails below to see the happy dogs and their people in detail!
A great weekend away from the stress of jobs, back-stabbing local business owners, over-commitment, visitors, deadlines, and yes, the joy of life on the farm. Now heading back up the hill to all that we escaped…..it seems welcoming once more with sunset around a warm fire just a short 1.5 hours away………..and it does seem so much faster going home these days.
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Tags: agility, AKC, Art Towns, AZ, Belgian Sheepdogs, Dewey, Dogs, lifestyle, Prescott, Prescott Valley, relocation lifestyle, rural, rural life, Tourism, USDAA, Whisky Row Marathon
