About Blaze

Blaze was adopted from Australian Shepherd rescue in September of 2004. His past abuse and lack of socialization made him extremely fearful of new people and situations. But something about the look in his eyes drew us to him as he very tentatively investigated us while we visited him at his foster home in Manhattan. We took the plunge and a week later picked him up and brought him to live with us in Vermont. While it took a long time to get him to come out of his shell, a sweeter, more devoted, intelligent dog we couldn't ask for. After having Blaze for a year or so, we decided to try an agility class to build his confidence. He (and I) loved it so much we decided to take another class a few months later. Eventually we joined the local agility club and even competed in a couple of trials this past summer. Blaze just loves to figure out what I want him to do, and what he can do to earn treats, which is why agility and any clicker training gets him about as excited as this dog gets.

Likes: Being as close to Katrin as possible, liverwurst, agility training (especially the teeter-toter), the things that come after the words "dinner" and "treats," clicker training new tricks, hiking, ambushing Tazzy when she is trying to fetch the ball

Dislikes: When Katrin leaves, swimming, meeting new people (though I am trying to get better)

Words I know: Sit, Down, Wait, Through (tunnels), Weave (through poles or legs), Come, Down, Roll, Go lay down, High five, Beg, Up, Spin, Twirl, Walk it (teeter-toter, dog-walk), Over (jump), Dinner, Treats, Walk, Go say hi

Pictures:

Coming down off the dog walk

Photo credit: Cindy Telley (http://www.petartnh.net/)

Going over a jump

Blaze and Corina, our ex-neighbor and his best friend before Tazzy came along


Fall foliage hike in Vermont


Studying while I was working on my Masters degree

Canoeing on Green River Reservoir