Happy 3rd Birthday Jim Beam!
Each birthday post for my dogs, I start off with "how can I even put into words how this dog has changed my life?!"
And Jim Beam is no different.
During his 2nd year of life, I really saw him mature as a dog and as an athlete. He is no longer a young dog that I need to hover and watch. I can trust him in the house, I can trust him with strange dogs and strange people, I can trust him as an intact boy dog, I can trust our communication in handling. He learned this year that kids are not to be herded, but can be sniffed. He immediately took his role as Uncle Beam very seriously and did a fantastic job socializing Mr. Lovebug. We still have growth to do in our trial behaviors, but I feel it coming and year 3 will be grand.
This year we got to experience a lot of high's (and just a few low's that we learned from) in our trialing career. He earned a lot of titles (NA, NAJ, NF, OA, OAJ, OF, AX, AXJ, AAD, GS-E, RS-E-OP, RS-E-SP, JS-E-OP and his RA). We got close to his ASCA ATCH (4 gambles), competed in 2 USDAA Regionals, 1 ASCA Agility Finals, and 1 USDAA Nationals.
I'm so excited where we will go together. And I am most grateful for the dog I get to come home with every night - a sweet, snuggable, goofy, and the most fun loving boy.
Happy Birthday Mr. Jim Beam. I adore you.
Showing off his gorgeous jumping form
And that he can drive through the weaves at a trial
Meeting Mr. Lovebug for the first time
And showing Mr. Lovebug how much fun it is to play together
Taking seriously how to relax
Flirting with the girls
Making the most out of every opportunity to play
This is the face that pops into my head everytime I think of this amazing boy, the boy who changed my life.
