The Trickster Shibes

Oh hey there. I know we’ve been quiet for awhile but rest assured, we haven’t disappeared. We’ve been busy embarking on new adventures, brushing up on our training, and just generally doing life. Now that we’ve gotten a moment to catch our breath, I wanted to share what we’ve been up to and our hopes for the year ahead!

Last Year’s Highlights

One of our primary goals this past year was to step into the world of Nose Work competitions. This turned out to be more challenging than we anticipated but was a valuable learning experience. Having done our foundational training online (and therefore at home), Raven struggled with confidence in a public setting. We were lucky to pick up a pass at the Instinct level but, to put it lightly, fell on our faces during our attempt at the Novice components. I’ll be honest, it was a tough day! But everyone was very kind and it’s given us the motivation to do more confidence building work with her and proof her training in new settings. I’m excited to say we’re enrolled in an in-person Nose Work class starting later this month! 

We also celebrated some fantastic achievements in the Sprinters program: Raven picked up her Advanced Sprinter title and Loki competed for his very first time to earn his Novice Sprinter title. We honestly had no idea if Loki would chase the lure or not. But not only did he shock us with his enthusiasm, he won fastest in handicap for his height on his first ever run!

In a tail-wagging twist, one of our unanticipated highlights of 2024 was Loki’s mayoral campaign. Calgary’s Culture and Entertainment hosted an election for their first ever dog mayor and we decided to enter. It was a close race and we were up against some serious competition, but thanks to all our amazing family, friends, and followers, he came out as top dog with +1000 votes! He’s been lapping up the attention ever since as he fulfills his mayoral duties and we look forward to continuing his pawlitical career in 2025. Who knows where he might end up? I hear we’ll be looking for a new Prime Minister soon…

Of course our highlights would not be complete without mentioning the adventure of a lifetime: our epic road trip across the Midwest USA!

Road Trip

Our journey took us over 6000km and through six incredible states, each offering its own unique beauty and experiences. Some of the highlights included:

• Yellowstone National Park: The Tricksters were unimpressed by the bison and Old Faithful.
• The Grand Canyon: Standing on the edge of this natural wonder was a humbling experience. This was my vision for the whole trip and it was surreal to be able to bring the dogs there.
• Bonneville Salt Flats: The surreal, otherworldly landscape of the salt flats made for some amazing photo opportunities and a perfect place for the Shibes to rock their booties.
• Slot Canyons and Arches: We enjoyed some amazing hikes in Utah exploring these geological marvels. The Tricksters were happiest when hitting the trails!
• Las Vegas Lights: We rested up, resort style, by the pool at our Air BnB in Vegas venturing out only for some In N Out Burger, a quick hike in the Valley of Fire, and to see the Vegas lights. How many pups can claim to have put paws on the Vegas strip?

Looking Ahead

As we turn the page to a new year, our goals remain ambitious and filled with fun. First up is re-attempting Nose Work competitions. We’ve been hard at work practicing our skills and building confidence-we’ll soon be putting it to the test.

We’re also planning to dive into something new: Barn Hunt! This sport seems like a perfect fit for the pack, tapping into their natural hunting instincts and providing an exciting new challenge.

On the travel front, our plans are currently a bit uncertain due to some recent health challenges. While this has put a pause on our road trip dreams, we remain optimistic and are looking forward to many more adventures, both big and small. Whether it’s a local hike, a weekend getaway, or gallivanting with the Alberta Shiba Squad, we’re excited to see where this year takes us.

Stay Tuned

We’re so glad to be back sharing our journey with you all. Thank you for your patience during our hiatus and for continuing to follow along. Stay tuned for more updates, adventures, and (of course) plenty of Shiba antics!