Dogs A' Flying

Dani’s Story

Dani, Flashfire's Diamond Dancer MX MXJ OF RN NCC OAC EJC WV-O TN-O TG-N CGC, was born on April 16, 2004. She was the third of 8 puppies born to I.C., CH Snowflower Winter Rushette AX AXJ, owned by Mike and Lisa Kretner in Sacramento California. The sire, Raider, CH Snowflower Desert Raider AX OAJ, is owned by Dave Musikoff. I was looking for another performance dog like Katie, and I.C. was that kind of dog. Dani was a leader in her pack as a pup. She was one of

the first to try everything and she especially loved the baby teeter Lisa and Mike had for them. She would bang it back and forth for the sport of it.

She had a very strong bond with Lisa and Mike but didn’t care so much for the visitors that came around. But when I drove down to pick her up, she came to me and greeted me. She trotted off but then came right back and sat down next to me, and stayed. Lisa was most impressed as she never acted that way with others. And so it was that Dani was about to enhance my enjoyment of dogs and my knowledge of dog training.

All dogs have special gifts and special issues. Dani loves doing anything with me. She loves tracking, obedience, freestyle, herding, and of course agility. I had been spoiled by Katie who aggressed the course as long as I pointed the way. But Dani thought it was more of a team sport. So I have learned how much fun it is to aggress the course together with her.

Dani started her agility career just one month short of 2 years in March 2006. By September, she completed her AKC Excellent Agility title and was beginning to earn MACH points. She completed her Excellent Agility Jumpers title in March 2007 and has begun earning

Double Q’s. She also earned her Canine Good Citizen Certificate in September 2007. By May 2008, Dani completed her Masters Agility and Masters Agility Jumpers titles. By December 2008, Dani had accumulated 894 MACH points and 6 Double Q's toward her MACH title. She was also ranked #12 Belgian Tervuren in AKC agility in 2008. In 2009, Dani qualified for AKC Nationals.

My goal for 2009 was to complete her MACH title but it won't happen because my real job is taking up so much of my energy. But we have been doing a lot of different things this year. We did some herding in the spring. She also helps me teach my reactive dog/focus class although Rosie is the best helper dog I have. Dani has also had the opportunity to earn her Rally-O Novice title at the Idaho Capital City Kennel Club Dog Show in Oct, 2009. It was fun so we will be working on the advanced rally titles.

One of the highlights of this year was presenting to teachers about how positive reinforcement and other techniques used to help reactive dogs deal with their environments could also be helpful with troubled children. Dani and I helped Dr Meredith St Clair with these presentations. Dani also was able to do a canine freestyle routine to Pretty Woman as part of this effort.

We also are working on obedience, rally, herding with Kelly Orr, and canine freestyle. Please scroll down for some pictures.

Here's a bit of freestyle to our favorite song, Pretty Woman.

We have lots to learn but have fun in the meantime.

And now on to herding where we are just learning the ropes with the assistance of Kelly Orr. Dani has lots of drive for herding and she finds it very exciting, maybe a little too exciting. I think the sheep will like it when she calms down a bit.

For questions or suggestions, Contact Mary Hunter at dogsaflying@msn.com.