Spoon River NAVHDA Chapter

A BIG THANKS TO THE SPOON RIVER CHAPTER FOR HOSTING A WONDERFUL TEST (AGAIN). ALTHOUGH THE WEATHER DID NOT COOPERATE WELL FOR US, THE MEMBERS WORKED HARD AND FLAWLESSLY TO PUT ON AN OUTSTANDING TEST. BILL, D.J. SHAE, DAVE, ADAM, JON, NICK, PAT, TERRY, AND RANDY- YOU ALL PLAYED VERY IMPORTANT ROLES AND IT WOULDNT HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU, OR WHAT YOU DO.

THE TEST RAN SMOOTHLY (MINUS THE SWANS ON THE DUCK SEARCH WATER), AND THE TEST GROUNDS WERE AWESOME. THE TEST SCORES ARE PROOF THAT WE HOLD A SUPERIOR TEST ON SUPERIOR GROUNDS. EVERY DOG PRIZED. ALL 3 PUPS HAD MAX SCORE PRIZE 1s. A UTILITY MAX SCORE OF 204, AND ANOTHER UTILITY PRIZE 3. AND SAT. HELD YET ANOTHER PRIZE 1, AND A PRIZE 3. THE VISITING TESTERS RESPONDED THAT THEY ENJOYED AND WANT TO COME BACK AND TRAIN WITH US. PROOF ENOUGH FOR ME THAT WE HOLD A GOOD TEST WITH GOOD PEOPLE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ANYONE THAT HAS TAKEN THE TIME, MADE THE EFFORT TO HELP, ENCOURAGE, AND BE A PART OF MY JOURNEY TWORDS THE 2011 INVITATIONAL IN OHIO THIS YEAR. I LIKE TO SAY THAT I DIDNT QAULIFY MY DOG, BUT RATHER MY DOG QAULIFIED ME. SHE HAS BEEN A BLESSING, AND WITHOUT THE HELP AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF A FEW PEOPLE I WOULD HAVE BEEN CONFUSED AND THREW THE TOWEL IN A YEAR AGO. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND YOU CAN BE PROUD TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE MAKING NAVHDA WHAT IT TRULY IS MEANT TO BE.

WITH THAT BEING SAID..... I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN THE NAVHDA CHAPTERS TO TRY TO GET TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TRAINING AND TESTING THAT YOU CAN MANAGE. AND WHEN YOU CANT MANAGE ANYMORE, SHOW UP FOR TRAINING ACTIVITIES AND LEARN HOW TO OVERCOME YOUR TRAINING PROBLEM. THE FUN AND PRIDE ACHIEVED MAKE IT ALL WORTH IT!

It was a great test, other than swans and wet birds-both of which we had no control over.  No matter how critical we are of ourselves, we do a pretty fair job and have good grounds.  And we have great help.  Without the people to plant, gun, coordinate, organize, and just help, we would fall flat on our face.   

John-Don't sell yourself short.  You have worked very hard to accomplish all you have with your dogs.  It's been a lot of fun to watch your success.  And I'm looking forward to the Invitational training and your continued success. 

You're right--it's all your dog!  J/K of course--big congrats, buddy.  You deserve it.  No doubt you have a VC dog on your hands.  I hope I'm able to get out there and support you along with some other guys from our chapter this year.  Make it easy on us and get a Saturday test.