Saber Jet, RN

Hi everyone! Saber here. I have been so busy dealing with the sick cat, or rather, just knowing there is a cat constantly in my house, that I have neglected to update you on my latest adventures! But don't worry. I am a dog of great diligence and reliability, and will always do my duty to inform the public of my affairs.

Mom says I did something really wonderful earlier this month! She took me to a 3-day AKC Rally obedience trial in Moses Lake, WA, where I stunned and amazed everyone by not only getting my last two legs in Rally Novice, but also earning a leg in Rally Advanced! Let me tell you about it.

The trial on Friday was in a nice, big, open building with a lot of Collies around it. Apparently this was a Collie Specialty show. I assume I was invited because I am so much like the famous Lassie, who was very intelligent and did many great things for her family. I also have a long pointy nose, so I fit right in with the Collies. Anyway, when I got into the ring I paid very close attention to Mom's commands, except when I was distracted. There were a lot of Collie smells, and because I am a great tracking dog I had to sniff the new, never-before-seen-by-me mats which were connected together with duct tape. I had to redo one exercise, the Halt-Sit-Down, because just as I approached the station there was some very interesting and exciting obedience with jumps going on in the next ring and I forgot to sit. But I did the exercise perfectly the second time, and I qualified and got a pretty green ribbon!

The next day, we were in a different building without a lot of Collies. We had a different judge and a new course, and even though I did a bit of sniffing again, I got an even better score! Funny thing though. The judge had a Halt-Sit-Down sign in this course, too! So I did it exactly the same way I did that station yesterday: walked past it a bit, didn't sit, and made my Mom redo the whole station. I figured it got me a ribbon last time, so I just repeated my perfect behavior and YES! We got another ribbon, and my first Rally title! Now I am Saber Jet, RN. I suppose they would like me to start working in a hospital or nursing home like all the other RN's I know, but that's really not my thing. Besides, I don't even have a nurses' hat yet. But if it makes them feel better calling me an RN, I will allow it.

The night before I got my final leg in Rally Novice, Mom started looking at the Advanced Rally signs and trying to figure out how to do them all, just in case I surprised her and got to move up. And so she was ready when on the third day of the trial, we moved up to Rally Advanced. However I personally was not accustomed to working completely off leash, and a few of the exercises were new to me. But imagine my delight when we walked into the ring, she took off my leash, and there were two shiny silver FOOD BOWLS in the middle of the floor just ahead! I could not believe my good fortune! No leash AND food bowls left on the course? Oh, you can bet I was "ready" when the judge asked, "Are you ready?" Because when we got over near those food bowls, I went right over for my mid-day snack! Alas, not only did Mom tell me to Leave It, but there were also plastic grates on top of the bowls. And instead of food, they were full of toys. What a disappointed shepherd was I. Anyway, when Mom redid that station I paid better attention to her and did my figure 8 nicely. But in the back of my mind I was thinking what a mean joke it was for someone to put those food bowls out like that, with no food in them. Anyway, since we were off leash in a new place, I was a bit distracted and Mom was talking to me and calling me a lot to keep my attention. I was doing some sniffing, I knocked a sign over with my tail, and Mom had to redo a 360 left turn. But there was also a jump, and I LOVE doing jumps! It reminds me of agility, and I was looking for a tunnel to get sucked into after the jump but there was no tunnel at all. I guess they forgot it. Someone should look into the person who set this course up with no food and no tunnel.

Mom said she worked really hard for that Q. Yes, that's right, I qualified and got my first Rally Advanced leg! I truly am a wonderdog, says Mom. Sadly, no one got any pictures of me in the ring, but here I am afterwards with my ribbons:

But the best is yet to come! Because I did such a great job, after the trials Mom took me to do some of my favorite things! Frisbee:

And fetching sticks in the water!

Oh it was great fun! Apparently this is Moses' Lake. I don't know who Moses is, but he sure has a lot of sticks.

Then, Mom took me to Woody's Drive In for a bone sundae! I love bone sundaes. Doesn't everyone?

So you see, it is hard work being a German Shepherd, but my Mom makes it worth it. I am looking forward to another fun trip this weekend, when we go to Walla Walla for Obedience and Rally! Smell you there!

The Saber Jet Has Landed! Flying to CAX, Part 2

Hello again from your favorite shepherd, Saber! When we last chatted, I was telling you about all my adventures chasing wild bunnies and wildebeests on a string, flying towards my CAX title. Well it's about to get quite dramatic, so grab some bacon and sit back for the grande finale to this flying shepherd's coursing story!

Last August, my mother took me far away to Enumclaw, Washington to run four times at the Cascade Coursing Club's "AKC Coursing Fest." I was super excited because there are usually hot dogs at "fests", but I was to be disappointed. However there were very fast slabs of raw short ribs darting around on a string, or at least, that's what I imagined them to be as I was chasing them.

The grass was green and the sky was blue as this shepherd ran the course three times in record time and was met with great applause and admiration, or so I seem to recall. But tragedy struck on the fourth run. You will not believe what happened to me.

My run started out just fine as I took off after the short ribs and accelerated to mach speed! The crowds were in awe of my intensity as I made my way around the field.

Flying like the wind, I was quickly closing the gap between my teeth and my prey:

I almost have it! Just a few more strides and dinner will be mine!

But it was not to be. Somehow, somewhere between closing in and cornering, something went terribly wrong.

Was it a divot in the field? A paw laid down at the wrong angle? An invisible monster grabbing at my legs, intent to destroy me and take the short ribs for itself?

The world will never know. But this gallant, brave shepherd ran until she could run no more, then watched in great agony of soul as the prey raced off without her.

I could do nothing but lie down, motionless, in the field, preparing for my horrible fate at the hands of the short-ribs-stealing monster.

Of course, my mother and everyone else was terribly worried about me because I had never done anything like this before. In fact, I had never even slowed down on any coursing run in my life, much less stopped. They knew something was wrong. My mother called to me from across the field, and I valiantly raised myself up from near death and limped over to her. I wondered if I would ever run again. Luckily, mom and the vet said I was too magnificent to be taken down by any monster. I took my medicine, rested, and saw a ridiculous woman at an agility trial who gave me an "adjustment" (excuse me? I was already quite perfect the way I was) and I was all better within a week or so.

I was not too hurt to visit this amazing bridge on the drive home from the Coursing Fest, though. Hmmm, would this not make the most wonderful dock jump ever? If only there was a river underneath it.

After I was all healed up, mom was worried that I might not like to lure course anymore. She thought I might get inured again or maybe I would remember what happened with the monster and be too afraid to run again. Pffft!! Too afraid?? Oh, how she underestimates my braveness. I am not afraid of anything. Do not ask the cat if I am telling the truth about that. Cats are vicious monsters, and liars.

Mom waited two months before entering me in another coursing event, and she only entered me in one race to see how I would do. We went to Spokane in October, which I already told you about since I won so many ribbons impressing judges with my obedience and Rally skills. Of course, I also got a lure coursing ribbon and got to spend the night in luxury accommodations that are generally reserved for famous, highly skilled shepherds like myself. I prefer extra pillows.

Four months went by and mom finally decided it was time for me to try for the last two runs I needed for my AKC Coursing Ability Excellent title. I knew this would be successful and couldn't wait to chase the raw meat, bunnies, or wildebeests, as the case may be. So in February we drove up to Argus Ranch in Auburn, Washington for my final thrilling performance.

Well, actually, I was not too thrilled. It was pouring rain. I am not a fan of rain. It gets in my ears, and that is no way to welcome a dignified shepherd to an event, now, is it?

I had to sit in the car. A lot. I did not like it very much. But I did it for the good of the breed, because I am noble and wanted to show everyone, once again, that German Shepherds can fly. And fly I did!

Mom only got one picture of my last run because it was so rainy out. She also got a few pictures of us covered in mud, but she declined to share those here. However I was very proud when the judge awarded me my CAX rosette!

Yes, I am now officially, on-the-books excellent, but Mom says I was excellent all along. I am, in fact, the fifth German Shepherd in the whole world to earn this title. I think they can stop having Coursing Fests now.

Here is a picture of me with all of my coursing ribbons. You are free to print this picture out to frame and hang on your wall. You're welcome.

Mom says I am now retired from coursing, but I don't know what she is talking about. I NEVER get tired. And I am just as fast as ever!

Many thanks to the clubs we coursed with: Inland Gazehound Fanciers, Willamette Valley Basenji Club, Chintimini Kennel Club, and our favorite, Cascade Coursing Club. Tally ho!

The Saber Jet has Landed! Flying to CAX, Part 1

When my breeder named me Jette, she was not kidding. I am the Jet of all jets. When my mother named me Saber, perhaps she had in mind the amazing F-86 Sabre Jet, a U.S. combat fighter jet during the Korean war that could go 670 miles per hour... almost as fast as me!

Sabre Jet:

Saber Jet:

See? So alike. So fast. So flawless.

By the way, that photo of me was taken in Redmond, Oregon last June when I was lure coursing. And boy, do I have a lot of lure coursing updates for you!

I have been doing a lot of running lately. Where did I leave off? Oh yes. I told you about my three successful runs in Walla Walla in April 2013. Well, our next trip was to Spokane in June, where I earned two more ribbons. Mom forgot to take pictures of my ribbons, but she did take pictures of the magnificent shepherd having fun in Spokane! Here I am at Riverfront Park:

My favorite fountain! Nomming all the noms and entertaining the crowds:

We also got to stay in a hotel and of course, I got my own bed so I could rest after all my hard work:

Back to lure coursing. As I mentioned, our next runs were in Redmond, Oregon with the Chintimini Kennel Club, and I had three amazing, qualifying runs. We got some great pictures here, thanks to a very nice couple of photographers. Run 1:

Flying with all feet off the ground!

 Look! I've got those bunnies in my sights!

Got it! Nom nom nom. Tastes like chicken.

Hmmm. I think I broke it. Oh well.

Run 2: off I go!

Look at those turns! Even a Sabre Jet could not compete!

Such form! Such grace and beauty!

Channeling my inner wolf, about to take down the prey:

Success! The pack shall eat well tonight.

I tried very hard to bring the bunnies to my mom, but someone tied them together, complicating things.

And Run 3:

Look at that focus!

Taking off down the runway...

...and coming in for a landing:

And once again Saber Jet takes down the bunnies! They almost never win these races!

Must. Shred. Rabbits.

I never get tired of catching bunnies.

On the way to Redmond, mom took me to visit a ghost town called Shaniko. Here I am in the Shaniko jail wagon. I am obviously a police dog:

I actually have a dog friend named Shaniko. I think he needs to come here and get his picture taken in his wagon. Someday we will find the towns named after me, and go there. I am sure there are several.

We also visited the museum (no one was in there but the ghosts, but I protected my mom and my girl)

As a reward, mom got me some ice cream. I love sharing ice cream with my mom. I always let her have the first licks because I am a very considerate shepherd:

We had so much fun on our trip, and mom got some wonderful photographs of me with these giant metal wheels that aren't going anywhere. I like to bite lawn mower wheels, but not these dead metal ones. Too hard on the teeth.

After our Redmond trip, I had a total of 19 runs toward my Coursing Ability Excellent (CAX) AKC title. Stay tuned for part 2... a dramatic story about my lure coursing injury, how I healed, and the awe-inspiring landing of the Saber Jet at CAX!