Camp Dogwood - A dog person's heaven

I spent the weekend at Camp Dogwood. For those of us with dogs, we are used to being second-class citizens. We have to leave our best friends in the car (or at home) when we go out to eat, we are subject to huge "fines" when we bring our canine friends to a hotel (never mind the fact that our dogs are better behaved than the kids running up and down the hall at all hours) and we are always searching for things to do with our furry pals that we would both enjoy (not just throwing a slimy ball across the yard). Well, look no further. Camp Dogwood is the place to be if you are in to anything doggy.

Three weekends out of the year, this secluded camp in northern Illinois has gone to the dogs. You can spend the weekend in a cabin setting with your canine pal all the while participating in activities that are all about dogs. No need to find a dog-sitter, your dog is welcome if not required in all the classes, workshops and training sessions. Activities range from scrap booking for dogs to aromatherapy for dogs (taught by yours truly) to agility, flyball, frisbee, dock dog diving, lure coursing, rally, herding, doggy dancing and group nature walks through the woods. One of my favorites - is the Whine and Cheese meeting :) Camp Dogwood is a dog persons heaven on earth. You and your canine pal are welcomed on equal terms right down to your camp name tag. Both your names are listed so everyone can get to know you and your dog on a first name basis.

My personal experience might be a little different since I teach classes at Camp Dogwood and bring along my trusty side-kick, Fleck to keep me company (pictured above). He loves the camp atmosphere and absolutely adores swimming. But none the less, I love spending time with the campers there as we are all on a similar journey with our canine pals.

Camp attendees range from first time attendees to people who have been coming for 10 years. If you have a "grumpy pup", you can put an orange bandanna on them to signify to other campers you need a little extra room when maneuvering through the day's activities.

If you are a dog person and have been searching for a place where you "fit in" with all your doggy talk, breed specific clothing and goofy puppy-talk, look no further. Come to Camp Dogwood: Where a Dog can be a Dog and a human obsessed with their dog(s) is not odd but among kindred spirits.

Thanks Camp Dogwood!
www.campdogwood.com

Positively Positive

I recently spent some time in Kentucky with my family and in particular, my 9 year old niece. She had broken her thumb while playing softball and had a cast put on. During my visit, she was scheduled to have her cast removed and she asked if I could go with her to the doctor. She was pretty nervous so was in "talking" mode. She kept saying "I can't wait to get this cast off. I hate having it on!" After a while, I noticed that she kept using negative statements with just about everything she talked about. She is a very happy kid so this just didn't fit her. I told her that we'd play a little game. I told her "let's make every statement we say a positive one." For the "I don't like pop (yes, she actually said this)" we said "I like water better." For "One of my class mates is mean and I don't like him" to "I would rather spend time with a nice friend." Her big moment came when we switched her "I can't wait to get this cast off. I hate having it on" to "I'm glad I only have to experience this once." When she said this she just lit up and exclaimed "I love this game. I feel so much better when I'm positive. I'm going to talk this way all the time!"

To realize that your words have a direct effect on how you feel is a powerful realization no matter what the age.

Take time to carefully word your statements and be sure they have a positive nature to them. The people around you will feel better and so will you!

Satchmo turns 10!

Today, my buddy, Satchmo turns 10 years old. Some of you have seen him performing flyball, agility or herding but you may not know much about him. So I thought it would be fun - today - to talk about the unsung hero, Satchie or officially known as "Satchmo Hits A High Note".

We don’t know too much about Satchmo’s former life but he originated somewhere in Florida and was bought by an “over the road” truck driver to serve as his traveling partner. The first 6 months of his life was spent with this driver as they traveled throughout the United States in their big rig. He had “vet” stops in the Dakota’s, Iowa and Florida, so who really knows where he’s been. His owner lost his rig and money luckily here in Wisconsin and Satchmo was turned over to the Humane Society as his owner had no place to live. Herding Rescue was contacted and he was placed in foster care.

It took us about 6 months to finally get him and he was welcomed home by his new brother and sister, Duncan & Meg. Meg is a pretty hard judge of character and she took to Satchmo right away - long lost pals.

In the 9 years he has shared our lives, he has learned flyball, herding, swimming, agility and the art of shaking a toy till it goes flying off into the distant field. In flyball, Satchmo has earned his Onyx Title, which is 20,000 points and has been a consistent team member for years. In agility - he was a late bloomer as it wasn't until about 2 years ago did he "decide" to weave. Since then he has earned multiple titles including:

NADAC: NAC, TG-O, TN-O, NCC, NJC
AKC: NAP, NJP, NFP, OAP
USDAA: PS1 & 2, PJ1, PK1, PD1, qualified for Grand Prix and Team Performance

Now on to the real part of the story… His first exposure to stock came at Merrily Steffan’s where we were going for herding lessons. All of the coaxing and happy voices I could make was not going to get him to look at those sheep or even fake an interest. When I had given up and was standing around chatting, Merrily’s guard donkey came strolling by. After it had passed us, Satchmo ran up to it and bit it in the, uh, behind… Such a brave boy, ha, ha!

I clipped him to the fence to watch as I brought out Duncan to work for his lesson. I’m out in the field working and Merrily called to me. Apparently, Satchmo need an example to follow. He had a big, herding, light bulb turn on in his head and he has been awesome ever since. It wasn’t until we moved from our small, city lot in Des Plaines, IL to our 8 acres in Wisconsin that we decided to get some ducks for herding. They were actually a “present” for Meg since she wasn’t too mobile and we thought she would like to push the duckies around. After several months or even a year, we thought to try Satch on them. He had a history of gripping when under pressure, so we weren’t too keen on putting him on fragile little ducks. To our amazement, he is an awesome duck dog. Working ducks took the pressure away of the larger stock and he has done very, very well working his feathered friends. He has even earned a High In Trial score on ducks. We don’t trial much but he has earned the following titles in herding.

AKC: HSa-SD, HIb-D, High in Trial in his first trial on B-course ducks and recently got Reserve High in Trial in Intermediate B-course ducks
AHBA: JHD-S/G, HTD I/II-D, HTD I-S, HTAD I-D

Satchmo is such a wonderful companion and addition to our family. He is very loving and enjoys his massages every morning. He is always doing something goofy to make us laugh. His agility class members chuckle as he's in his crate just banging around with his Frisbee "Satchmo, party of 1" they say. He looks out for his ailing friend Meg and sorely misses his good old pal, Duncan. He continues to amaze me with his young at heart attitude as we enter event after event and the common question people always ask is “How old is your puppy?” Truly confused when I say, “He’s 10.”

Satchmo has hit a high note for sure.

Why does she DO that?!?!

Most of us with performance animals have run into the standard issue "he's just not listening." This is usually followed by feelings of frustration, confusion and sometimes, down right anger. I was recently at a trial where the judge said something very quietly in his briefing. It has stuck with me and has had a profound effect on my approach to training so I need to share. He said "We are all here to further our relationship with our dogs. They wouldn't be here without us and we wouldn't be there without them. When you ask your dog to do something out there and he doesn't comply, don't immediately turn to shouting. Take a moment to realize that he simply doesn't understand. You are asking him to do something that is beyond his capability - at least in this setting."

This statement holds true in so many situations. Some of you might still say, well, he knows how to hold his contacts (agility), he CAN lie down (herding) and he knows better than to chase the other dog (flyball). But, not necessarily in THAT setting and at THAT moment. You very well may be asking your animal to do something that is beyond his ability, especially in such a heighten situation as a performance.

So what are we to do? Step back and "Speak to the Earth." Ask for patience and to be shown another way. Break things down to their most basic elements. If you approach the problem from a loving and compassionate place - you'll be amazed at what you will be shown. So the next time you are frustrated at what your dog just did on the trial field, look at them with the loving, compassionate eyes they look at you with and you will see the answer staring back at you.

Clean your house - improve your health

Cleaning your home should not be hazardous to your health! One of the most significant changes in your life to improve your health and the health of your indoor pets is to rid your home of toxic household cleaners. Wouldn't you prefer your kitchen to smell like fresh lemons, grapefruits and rosemary? How about inviting visitors into your family room with the uplifting scent of peppermint? Here are some recipes to get you started:

Floor Cleaner
1/4 cup white vinegar to a bucket of water
10 drops lemon essential oil
4 drops oregano essential oil
Both lemon and oregano essential oils have powerful antiseptic properties!


Homemade Soft Scrub
1/2 cup baking soda
Liquid Castile Soap
5 drops Lavender essential oil and/or 5 drops Tea Tree essential oil (my favorite is geranium oil)

Place the baking soda in a bowl. Slowly pour in liquid soap stirring constantly, add liquid soap until the consistency resembles frosting. Add the essential oils. Scoop the creamy mixture onto a sponge, scrub the surface, and then rinse. If you add a little pure vegetable glycerin to the baking soda, the mixture will stay moist for a long time in a jar with a tight lid.

I love adding lemon essential oil to my dish water. It makes the whole kitchen smell like lemons plus the lemon oil is a fabulous de-greaser and it has anti-septic properties.

Don't forget to spritz your sofa with a mix of water and peppermint oil. It has a very refreshing scent and is a natural insect repellent.

For your pet bedding, mix 5 drops of lavender and peppermint oil in a small spray bottle and occasionally mist the bedding. Both lavender and peppermint are flea repellents and the scent "refreshes" the bed in between washing.

Dust Mites? It is time to open up the camper and unroll the sleeping bags. Sometimes these bring out dust mites and bed bugs. Mix 10-15 drops of lemongrass essential oil and water. Misting the area after a good shake will discourage these little bug from sticking around.

One of the best things I've ever purchased is the Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living. I have replaced ALL of my other household cleaners with this one. I use it to steam clean my carpets, wash the floors, clean kitty litter boxes, wash walls, disinfect bathrooms, wash dog dishes, scrub out outside water bins for the large animals, upholstery cleaning and just about everything! It is also excellent at cleaning up the occasional dog accident or kitty puke. And- it fills the air with the wonderful scents of cinnamon, clove and lemon - yum!

Most of our indoor pets spend a lot of time on the floors and will often walk across the freshly cleaned surface. Cleaning with pure therapeutic-grade essential oils improves their health one sniff at a time. Plus, makes your home smell wonderful!

To purchase any of these essential oils or the Thieves cleaner, click here. www.youngliving.org/tresalaferty

Nothing personal - I just don't like dentists!

I recently had some dental work done. It included the extraction of a wisdom tooth and a "root canal gone bad" tooth that had fallen apart. I haven't been to the dentist in a while but I searched until I found one that approaches things from a holistic point of view. I found a fabulous dentist - only an hour from my house :) They do wonderful things like muscle testing for the appropriate tooth filling or procedure that is right for you. They also provide a detox liquid prior to the procedure.

I survived the 3 hour appointment by taking my essential oils with me. When I was sitting in the chair - Dr. Mahn said "I can always tell the serious aromatherapy people - they always smell like Thieves."

I have had some very bad experiences at the dentist starting way back to a little girl (very deep seated issues...) So, the oils I used were the Stress Away and Valor roll-ons - just to get me in the chair. I was applying them throughout the procedure(s) too. After all was said and done, they offered me the standard prescriptions of pain-killers and anti-biotics (just as SOP) but I used these oils: Idaho Balsam Fir for post surgical pain management, PanAway to reduce the swelling and bruising, Wintergreen for the deep bone pain, Thieves for the management of infection and pain and Ocotea to also help with the possible infection. I topically applied Clove to the gum-line and used the rest externally on my jaw-line, around the surgical site. I had very minimal swelling, no bruising and only some throbbing in between applications. The deep nerve pain was managed by Peppermint oil and I took InnerDefense (a capsule blend of essential oils) to help with the infection.

The wisdom tooth area healed in about 3 days and the other site was nice and healthy pink throughout the healing. After 10 days, I returned to the dentist so they could remove the stitches and they were amazed at the healing that had already taken place. They also commented on the lack of swelling and bruising.

It has been about 2 weeks since the procedure and only after running in the yard with the dogs do I feel the throbbing pain. I grab my peppermint and clove and in a matter of seconds, no more pain.

Essential Oils are made from plants of the Earth and if we search, we can find these naturally derived substances to help us with our issues in life. Even in times of pain - you can find excellent sources of relief. If you are considering using essential oils for your own health, be sure they are of the highest quality and marked "therapeutic-grade" otherwise, you may be getting a bottle of perfume oil.

Why this blog?

By connecting to the land and sharing my life with animals, I find there are messages for us all if we learn to "Speak to the Earth." Follow along as I share my journey with these amazing energies. Sometimes the lessons are profound, and other times, they are just simple observances.