Why I Quit Posting

Long Time, No See!

So, you may be wondering why I haven't posted in quite awhile. The honest truth is, I haven't entered an agility trial in almost a full year now. Competing in dog sports was starting to feel less like fun to me and more like a chore. My heart would race at trials, and I would leave feeling completely exhausted and empty. A lot of the people at trials also have a tendency to be negative, and it can be a really toxic environment. Last year at a trial in September, I made the decision it would be my last. Ironically, Stoke earned his SSB (Speedstakes Beginner) title at that same event and I couldn't be more proud. That being said, I sill had made up my mind. While competition agility may be fun for some, it just wasn't for me anymore.  I left the trial with the intention of moving on to bigger and better things with my pups.

Although I no longer take my dogs to compete in Agility Trials, I still do fun stuff with them! I now work as a part-time dog trainer for Courteous Canine in Lutz, and also perform both agility and trick demonstrations for all different kinds of events in Florida. We have even performed at minor league baseball games including the Tampa Tarpons' "Bark At The Ballpark" and the Clearwater Threshers' "Dog Days Of Summer". The dogs seem to love performing more than they ever did competing, and so do I. Instead of fearing being judged...I am able to perform a set of skills for an audience that appreciates the routine even if we do make a mistake. Even with crowds of people watching us on the field, it somehow feels less intimidating than the trials ever did. In my heart, I know that I was destined to be a performer.

And so are my dogs. It is in our nature. As Border Collies, they need a job to do. And I think I've finally found one that will stick. I am extremely excited to see where this journey will take us. It may be a hard and long road, but it is definitely going to be more than worth it. I will try to post as many updates as I can, but it will probably not be on this blog anymore. If you would like to stay updated with us, check out our website www.ohanadogshow.com or check out our new YouTube channel with the video below!

Warmest Regards,

Cassie & Stoke

The Road To Recovery

Friends, it has been far too long since my last blog post! That means it's time for a long overdue update on my my best friend and dream dog, Stoke The Fire. So get ready for a long and mushy one.

 Over the past few months this summer, I decided to let my sweet boy take a break from competitive agility after receiving a minor injury that was causing him to knock bars. Although we attended a trial in May, it didn't go as well as I planned and my buddy just couldn't seem to keep his bars up. However, I decided to start giving him 1-TDC to help aid in his recovery, and the results so far have been absolutely remarkable! I started jumping with him again today, and he looked great and seemed incredibly happy. It felt good to see my boy running around carefree like a young pup again, and I hope that we'll be able to hit the ring again in just a couple of months. In addition to that, I also want to take him back to the massage therapist before we resume classes next month. He works so hard when we're outside training or just playing frisbee, and I feel like he deserves it. This picture was taken last year the last time he got a massage from the nice lady at K9 Bodyworks! He absolutely loved it, and I'm hoping that the use of both massage and supplements like 1-TDC will help prevent future injuries.

Warmest Regards,

Cassie & Stoke

My Brilliant Dog

Stoke, enjoying a night on the farm. 

Hello everyone! I'm new to this, so, uh...I'm not really sure where to start. But the reason I created this blog is  to help chronicle the adventures of my five year old Border Collie boy named Stoke. He's very smart, and loves to compete in both agility and frisbee competitions. We also have tried dabbling in a few other sports here and there. I absolutely love my dog to death (well, not literally but..) I wouldn't trade him for anything in this entire world. He is the greatest friend ever. However, Stoke is not my only dog. Since I live with my parents, I also live with our five dogs and one cat. Along with training dogs, my other hobbies include working out and listening to music. I'm currently dual-enrolled and currently attend school at Hillsborough Community College in Plant City and have recently started Animal Behavior College. One day, I hope to train dogs professionally and compete in the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge. 

Well, this weekend we competed in an agility trial at Florida Classic Park in Brooksville. It was sponsored by Brilliant Dogs (hence the name of this post, tehe) and we had a great time. This was our first trial since October. Stoke had a few awesome runs and we even got second place in Beginners Novice Gamblers. I literally could not be any more proud of my special boy. I'm looking forward to see what the future holds for him, Here's a video featuring the highlights from our exciting weekend!

Warmest Regards,

Cassie & Stoke