​They say it takes a village to raise a child.  I would say the same goes for dogs especially if you're a pet enthusiast dipping your toes into the dog sports world!  Like many of you, my journey into dog sports started many years ago with my Java.  She was a very shy/underconfident dog and sports was what helped her gain her confidence.  Over the years, I have been lucky enough to learn from many trainers and many of them are now my friends, my support team and my cheerleaders.  My very first trainer gave me the confidence to continue and that eventually lead to Camp Doggin' It.  

I am pleased and honoured to have Carina Annis join our team of superb trainers!  She, like all Camp Doggin' It instructors, comes with a wealth of knowledge and loves to see people and their dog's bond flourish.  It doesn't matter what skills Carina teaches, she always finds a way of injecting fun and humour into the lesson plan.  Her keen eye and creativity help to steer you in the right direction should you hit some roadblocks.  She recognizes when you're ready to take the next step and more importantly, when you're not.  After all, the key to mastering new skills is not getting frustrated.  

Carina is coming to teach Engagement Games.  Whether you just want to have fun with Rover or if trialing is on the horizon, these games are with you in mind.  Not only will this session be fun, it will also enhance your connection with Sparky.  Having a strong relationship has many practical applications including building a solid recall, increased focus and attention (great when you're trying to maneuver through crowds) and having an engaged dog makes training and trialing so much more fun!

Find out more about Carina at Imagine Dog Training.

​One of the many joys of camp is seeing dogs and their people having fun trying out new sports and learning new skills.  Sometimes, I’m blessed with meeting a dog and handler team that inspires me to continue on with my own journey.  Leah and Ashton are one such team.  Here is their story:
 
“Ashton found his way to my home through Beaver Creek Farm Sanctuary. I was a little hesitant to foster a special needs dog as I was worried about how my other three dogs would react to him. I worried our Chihuahua would be a bully and my two large breed dogs would be grumpy if he bumped into them or got in the way. Once he showed up and I saw his amazing upbeat attitude and his willingness to learn I started to fall for him! Ashton was saved from a puppy mill in Ohio by Erie County SPCA. He was adopted but sadly his owner passed away which is how he ended up with BCFS which is an amazing rescue here in the Niagara Region. I was a foster home for them when they took him in and that’s how he ended up with us!
 
I knew within that first week that Ashton was an amazing, resilient pup. He had gone through so many big changes in his short life but was still so trusting and loving. A few applications came in for him and I felt sad and on edge every time which is something I’m normally excited about for our other fosters. As fate would have it every single person dropped out of adopting him so I knew he was meant to stay with us. He had finally found his forever home and we had found a diamond of a pup!
 
He is honestly our smartest pup. He figures out everything. He is the only one of our four dogs to figure out how to get around the baby gate separating the kitchen to the dog free zone (also know as our living and dining room lol). He has learned to navigate our farm like a champ which is no small feat for a blind dog as we have lots of stairs, fencing, outbuildings and obstacles. He knows where everything is - it is amazing to watch him walk, run and play like our other 3 dogs. My husband told me soon after he arrived that if Ashton could figure out how to use our doggie door we would consider adopting him. He started using it by day 3 and was completely comfortable with it around the 2-3 week mark.