Positive Connections

29/01/2025

What an amazing venue for the 2024 Detection Dog Trials Championships. Such a variety of stunning search areas and for the Championships, the handlers had not walked the areas prior to searching, adding another level of real life operational type search situation to the competition. Huge congratulations to all competitors who had qualified, you were all winners for just being there.
I have been part of some of these teams journeys throughout the year, and although I did not see any of the searches, the feedback from the judges who were either current operational handlers or have been was amazing, and I am so very proud of you all. It was an incredibly strong level of competition throughout all three levels which is truly amazing as these are your PET DOGS working in an operational type search. A special well done to all but especially the following teams.
Karen with Kylo, Jinx and Elka. To qualify 3 completely different dogs, with 3 different search styles, and 3 different odours - one in each odour tier - Pyro, Kong and Clove, to get placed in the Championships with all dogs and win the UK Championship and International Championship with Jinx is a truly outstanding achievement. I have been part of all these journeys and the work, dedication, patience Karen has put into her dogs has really shone through. 🎉🎉
Karen and Edith have been the most beautiful team since we started their Scentwork journey and have excelled in all the different areas and types of Scentwork competition. Huge congratulations for winning the Intermediate Championship and Reserve UK Championships. 🎉🎉

Steph and Olive, Andrea and Tilly, Liz and Gus, Penny and Lexi, Mary and Robbie, Liz and Bodie, Sally and Pipkin, Debra and Buddy huge well done, you have all worked incredibly hard this year, massive congratulations to you all for your achievements. Super results and for some teams who only started Scentwork 9 months ago, some who have completely transformed the way they work their dogs, some teams having to learn high and inaccessible hides as they have only ever worked at one height level, so many different journeys and hard work. Well done, very proud of each and every one of you. 🎉🎉

28/01/2025

All ready for the final day at the wonderful Castle Combe Race Circuit today.
More workshops added to the booking system including a fun Valentines Day workshop at a one off new venue for you and your 4 legged loved one to have some special time together 💕🐕💕🐕💕🐕

24/01/2025

A space has become available for tomorrow - Sat 25th Jan for a workshop at North Bradley Village Hall. 11.15am. This will suit any level as dogs will work individually.
There is also the opportunity for either a Private lesson, or space on Indication workshop on Sunday 26th Jan morning at Godshill Village Hall in the New Forest. Please message if interested in either.

22/01/2025

Another wonderful day of training for me and Oak today, I am just loving this journey. As with any training, you will always come across challenges, it is not a linear upward progression, but challenges make you a stronger team. For a dog who excelled on sport odour for 11 months, working 7 different harder odours has pushed us as a team, but having a fantastic trainer who you trust is so important. Thank you Michelle at K9 Prosearch for the journey, the encouragement and support. Ultimately Oak is a pet dog and very sensitive. I have had to work hard on my emotion while working him, and have learnt a lot on how to deal with this with thanks to Jenny at Deliverance Dogs. Oak will sleep well tonight!!! 💤 🐕 💕

20/01/2025

Detection Dog Trials at Bridgewater College in February. 💪 🐕 🏵️

Detection Dog Trials

19/01/2025

Due to bi***es being in season there is the opportunity to join a workshop with Jenny Richards at Deliverance Dogs on either 25th/26th January. Although this is an obedience workshop Jenny is always to willing to adapt to handlers needs so this is an ideal opportunity for anyone to work on or develop their play, motivation and relationship which is Jenny’s specialty area in all dog sports. Held in Castle Combe, Nr Chippenham. £60 for the day. To book message Jenny directly or I can pass on any interest.
Here are some pictures taken from a seminar I attended with Jenny with my boy Oak!

18/01/2025

Another great day training super dog and handler teams at Castle Combe Race Circuit yesterday.
Only one more session to go until next winter on 28th January. A space is available on the morning workshop. 🏎️ 🏎️

17/01/2025

Thank you so much Rebecca Reed Photography for these wonderful photos capturing a great day training at Castle Combe Race Circuit. Another great day training in conjunction with Jenny at Deliverance Dogs. We are both back again on 28th January. Click on the link in the post below to view and purchase photos from the day. Wonderful memories 😍

My first workshop of 2025 was on Tuesday at the wonderful venue of with Positive Connections. This was another workshop which offered instruction from both Jo and Jenny of Dogs. This is such a complimentary training offering from these two instructors.

A super group of dogs and handlers all really varied in experience ranging from some dogs who were experiencing their first time searching such an unusual venue away from their usual training environment, to some experienced dogs getting some training before the DDT championships in just over a weeks time.

Photos from Tuesday can be viewed here:

https://rebeccareedphotography1.shootproof.com/gallery/Positive_connections/home

Next up for me is back to agility tomorrow with Moonlight dog agility club winter league show.

10/01/2025

Apologies for being quiet, I have had a super busy time using my brain on a 6 day security course to go towards the operational licence! One more day to go! 💪💪

03/01/2025

January dates are the final dates for the opportunity to search at the wonderful Castle Combe Race Circuit. There will be no more dates until next Winter!
2 spaces available on Tues 14th 2 hour workshop
2 spaces available on Friday 17th 3 hour workshop
Tuesday 28th I have opened up a morning and afternoon 3hour workshop but if you would prefer all day, let me know and I can reduce the cost.
These are the only dates - don’t miss out! 🏎️ 🏎️ 🏎️

31/12/2024

As 2024 comes to a close, just a recap of some of the dogs I have trained this year. Apologies if your dog is not on here, I don’t have a photo of them to add. Thank you for all your support in 2024 and wishing you all and your special dogs a very Happy and Healthy 2025 🥂🐕😍 x

30/12/2024

And that’s a wrap for Detection Dog Trials for 2024! Two trials today, a Novice and an Intermediate. Thank you so much to all competitors, many travelling a long distance to support the trials. Some really fantastic searching today around the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection.
5 different odours used today - To***co, clove, kong, Gun Oil and Pyro. You chose what odour you want to use and we will sort the logistics!
I can’t thank Cheryl, Penny and Jo enough for helping judge today, and Kate who made the trial run like clockwork, what an amazing team, we can’t run these trials without you. THANK YOU!

Congratulations all, there were some challenging hides today!

NOVICE ELEMENT 1
1st Liz and Bodie with 90 points
2nd Pauline and Jack with 89.5 points
3rd Debra and Buddy with 87.5 points
4th Jo and Cuba with 87 points

NOVICE ELEMENT 2
1st Liz and Bodie with 88.5 points
2nd Jo and Cuba with 87 points
3rd Flis and Jofra with 84 points
4th Sally and Pipkin with 83 points

INTERMEDIATE ELEMENT 1
1st Kate and Rafiki with 92 points
2nd Jenny and Alfred with 91.5 points
3rd Karen and Edith with 73 points
4th Karen and Kylo with 58 points

INTERMEDIATE ELEMENT 2
1st Karen and Kylo with 85.8 points
2nd Kate and Rafiki with 73.8 points
3rd Jenny and Alfred with 70.4 points
4th Karen and Edith with 51.8 points

The HIGH TRIAL winner today with the highest combined score was Liz and Bodie 🎉

Well done to those who went NFC in order to be able to enjoy training their dog in a competition environment, I love your decision making.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the DETECTION DOG TRIALS in 2024, I have loved watching your journey and look forward to seeing some of you at Blenheim Palace in January for the International Championship. 🎉🎉

Very HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all and your wonderful dogs. 🥂

28/12/2024

Selling a space on the Novice Detection Dog trial on Monday morning 30th December at Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, Salisbury, SP4 6DZ. Due to running orders having been sent out the dog must be searching for clove. NFC entry accepted if anyone working in Prelim wants to have a go at a Novice. Please message me if interested.

28/12/2024

Emails have been sent out for the Novice and Intermediate Detection Dog Trial at Boscombe Aviation on Monday. Please check junk if you have not received it 🤶

17/12/2024

Such a beautiful gift from a special team. Thank you so much 💕💕, makes all the hard work involved in sorting venues, running trials and helping each individual team achieve their goals worth it. x

15/12/2024

Running orders have been emailed for the Prelim Detection Dog Trial at Boscombe Aviation Collection. Please also check junk! 🤶 🎄

15/12/2024

Yesterday was a day down in the New Forest running an Indication workshop and then an afternoon of Xmas games and cake! As I would have judged 5 trials in 12 days I let the competitors put the judges hat on yesterday as it is so important that they can see what I see, and it was only fun after all.
Well done everyone, it was great fun 🤶, thank you for your support down in the Forest this year and thank you so much to Penny for helping keep me upright yesterday and taking these photos. Couldn’t have done it without you 🤗