Cantata Summer 2021 Update

Things have picked up at Cantata as everything has begun opening up. Most notably we have  been busy getting the dogs back into their regular activities. Hemingway has competed in a fun agility event with two more slated for this summer. We are hopeful to achieve an agility title with our littlest feller in the future. 

Zara and Cami are also in their agility classes and having lots of fun! While all our dogs like to laze around on the couch, we feel lucky that they also love to work and have a job.  Many people will label the CKCS as a couch potato and while they do love to snuggle, they are spaniels and can be as active as any other dog (and should be encouraged to be active). 

On July 9-11th we competed with Indy, Lexi and Zara at the Newfoundland All Breed Kennel Club dog show in Flatrock. We did well there with Lexi achieving four additional points to her Grand Championship and Zara achieving 7 of the ten points needed for her Canadian championship in just one weekend! We are now looking forward to competing again later this summer. 

So why are these events so important to us? Titles show our dogs are worthy of being in a breeding program, that they meet breed standard and more. However, this, for us, is just a small part of the reason we do it. Classes and dog sports build relationships and these are valued by us immensely.

In the words of one Conformation judge, Patricia Trotter "We love all dogs as dog lovers. Mixed breeds and purebreds. They're all pets. Now, every pet may not be a show dog, but be assured, every show dog is a pet." Our dogs lead the same lives, rest assured, as most other pets save for these competitions. They get dirty, roll in dirt, go for walks and hikes, swimming etc with no restrictions at all. There is simply the added fun of an event together.  While we both enjoy these dog sports and the titles they bring, we are most happy with the relationships these events foster with our dogs. 

I've said it a hundred times that there's nothing like the relationship between oneself and a dog when you are working as a team. I think its my favorite part of having them with us at all. I know I've never been more proud to walk in a ring with one of our dogs and know we are a team - pre-competition pep talk and all! We know we both have a job to do and nothing is more satisfying knowing they want to do their part and even  more importantly, have fun.

---