"PR" BrownStone Iditarod Koyuk, CGC, TT, WSD, CGCA

I am please to announce that "PR" BrownStone Iditarod Koyuk, CGC, TT, WSD now has a new title: CGCA.  Koyuk hasn't been in a formal obedience class for a couple of years but when the exam was offered, I figured she was ready to ace it. She is the first Chinook to earn the Canine Good Citizen Advanced title.

At one point, she had to wait while I walked away 20 feet, back and away 20' again past a slab of Red Barn beef pate' on the floor. Then she had to do a recall to me right past the pate', ignoring it as she went by.  (When Trask's CGC class had practiced this exercise, he got the whole 1/2 loaf of pate' in his mouth and spit out the plastic wrapper before anyone could get to him.  He also had two bully sticks in his mouth that were also on the floor as "distractions".  To him, Recall had never been so great.)  Fortunately his mom, Koyuk had better voice control for her exam. 

The hardest (worst) part of the exam proved to be taking a group picture of the dogs that passed with their owners. Not only is the photography unflattering but in the group shot, no two humans or dogs were looking forward at the same time.

Tails From the Trail

Our "Crazy Ka'i," the "jump on everyone, chase everything, mark/pee every second, pup" proved to us that somewhere in that stubborn teen brain he was listening to every gee, haw, and leave it we'd taught him. Something really clicked today. Going up the peak there was a bevy of unmarked routes leading straight up the mountain, many of which were failed trailblazing attempts by past hikers. We found that given the opportunity, time and time again he chose the best path up. Not only did he stay close and on trail, but he stayed on trail even when we couldn't find it! We watched in amazement as he intelligently sniffed out and led us back onto trails that had been washed out or were hidden. Other hikers realized this and started following him/us too! We were the envy of the mountain! He is such a brave and instinctively talented trail dog we couldn't ask for a better hiking companion. He greeted and passed everyone so politely, I thought I might be dreaming. His bounding, joyful, tail wagging attitude the entire hike, constantly turning around to check on us, was so motivating; he received many cheers of delight from weary hikers we passed. I think we're ready to start working towards a COA WDP Pack Dog certification! Gosh, I am so proud that he is our pup and at the same time I can't believe how lucky we are that he is a part of our family. How did we end up with the most perfect dog, the most perfect dog for us? Well of course I know I have you three to thank! From our family to yours, Happy Easter!!

Love, Nari, Justin, and Alaka'i

BrownStone Cascade Mt. Shasta (Alaka'i)