It is hard to believe, but it has been 6 ½ years since I picked up a little black ball of fur and took Jet home with me.  How can the time go so quickly?  Jet is now in his prime and he proved it with an unbelievably fantastic year of accomplishments and lasting memories.  Although Jet is not my first dog he has been my first dog to try and attain many goals, in part because of the dog he is and our bond and in part because circumstances have allowed new things.  This year was stellar in titles earned and training finally paying off with 13 new titles completed. 

     Jet became my first dog to earn a TDX title (Tracking Dog Excellent) and he did it by passing the very first test he entered which is NOT a common thing – many people try multiple times before their dog actually passes a TDX track.  Jet also became my first dog to earn a Herding title when he completed his PT and HSAs this year.  He became my third dog to earn the Performance Award of Merit from the German Shepherd Dog Club of America and only my second dog to earn his CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) obedience title with the AKC, UKC, and ASCA.  Some of the other titles he earned:  the new UKC Rally 1 title, Weight Pull Dog Level 2 (Gateway Sled Dog Club), Excellent Standard, Excellent Jumpers and Open FAST agility titles with AKC, VCD2 versatility title, and his Started Trial Dog herding title with ASCA.

     The year culminated in a week at the German Shepherd National Specialty in Ohio where Jet finished 5 of his titles in 6 days of showing as well as being in the Parade of Greats for finishing his PAM.  He earned his HSAs, AXJ, OF, CDX, and VCD2 titles all at the National.  This year will be hard to beat and one I’ll never forget, but we are training hard for Utility obedience, Advanced herding and VST tracking.  I know we’ll make many more wonderful memories to treasure – not because of all the titles – but because of the glorious journey we get to share with each other for many more years to come.