The Festival of WAG

At this year's Wagfest, Lottie Moon and her sis Kimba did double-duty. Long-time representatives of Speak!For the Unspoken Special Needs Rescue, Lottie and Kimba also were representing our new family venture, Sky Dogs. Since August 1, we have been the new owners of an agility and training facility. The former Buckeye Region Agility Group (BRAG), which has been my training club for almost 20 years, recently decided to close its doors. It was an opportunity for me and Joe to step up and take on the fun, and burden, of a wonderful club and facility. We are calling it Sky Dogs, named after my 14 year old agility Pomeranian, Skye.




So Lottie and Kimba represented Speak, and all the wonderful that is a part of rescuing these beautiful special-needs souls, and they also represented Sky Dogs, to show how training and fun can enrich all dogs, even those with special needs. I'm teaching a Deaf Dog Basics class this session at Sky Dogs, and we have 2 deaf dogs enrolled in Agility Level 1 this session. Next session I have a Deaf Dogs Agility on the calendar, and also a Special Needs Basic class, expanding to include both deaf and blind dogs. There was so much interest at Wagfest, partnering with Speak and offering special needs classes at Sky Dogs worked very well for both of our groups' interests.

Lottie and DM puppy Othello

Lottie and DM puppy Hazel Grace

And as usual, Lottie and Kimba were rock stars. It was super hot, it was Africa hot, but luckily there was lots of water, and ice, and ponds available for doggy cool-downs. Lottie is not much on swimming, but Kimba decided she wasn't a bit afraid, and she swam and swam and swam! It was her first time in the water, so we'll have to make sure she has plenty more opportunity to practice her doggy-paddle. 

It was hot.  It was Africa-hot.

Kimba also went to the Brilliant K-9 booth, and was fitted with her new harness. Joe chose the tie-dye pattern for her, which fits the little flower-child nicely. Lottie wore her zebra stripes harness, as usual. We love the Brilliant K-9s for our blind/deaf dogs, because they are so comfortable and allow us to guide our blind girls through crowds so easily. Terry was so wonderful when we met her last year at the Columbus Pet Expo and she fitted our Speak  dogs with harnesses, I always like to give a shout-out to this wonderful company. Check them out at www.brilliantk9.com.