Fall time in Alaska has a tendency to sneak up on me. It seems to arrive each year on a day in August.. Some years it’s early, other years it’s a bit late. But one thing I know as an Alaskan; if I’m paying attention to the subtle signs, I’ll never miss the “unofficial,” but true, first day of Fall in Alaska.

COVID-19 has hit our collective reality pretty hard.
Some people were expecting this new form of normal. Some people were caught quite unprepared. Despite our varying levels of preparedness, something wonderful has been happening these last couple of weeks;
We have been pulling for each other.
There has been so many stories shared among us about love, patience, understanding for our fellow man. In the face of such a scary time for many, our humanity is shining a beacon of hope.
I love this about our species.

A lesson about stopping for a moment, taking everything in, and finding your true north.

Ben left for university and Jupiter is a little heartbroken. Our little junkyard dog has been by his side since the moment I brought her home to foster as a five-week-old homeless pup.

First, the heat! Alaska has experienced record breaking heat all summer long. And if the records were only barely broken. If the heat index had registered only a smidgen above what is normal for Alaska summers… maybe I wouldn’t be so worried. But the records that were broken were not gently tapped with the butt of a butter knife until cracks could be seen. Nope. Instead, these records were smashed. Demolished with a massive hammer that left nothing intact. What old heat index records? There are no old records here!

Sportsmanship in the sport of dogs is a hot topic. Too often, people are left ringside confused, offended and unsure. This article is based on true events I’ve witnessed at various dog shows through the years of my involvement.. A call to action and a gentle reminder to be kind. Be good. Be nice.

I’m still coming down from the high that is the Poodle Club of America’s National Specialty. I got to spend a great week with friends and fellow poodle enthusiasts.
I ate a lot of junk food. I stayed up really late. I saw, literally hundreds of gorgeous poodles. And I laughed with my friends until my sides hurt.

Take a moment to admire this stunning blue Standard Poodle puppy girl. She’s a looker and it’s clear she knows it!

It's hard to say goodbye to a promising show career. But, if the best interest of the Poodle is our focus, than paying attention to their signals is a vital part of knowing when enough is enough with dog shows.