Lovely Training in Nosework
at Craftco Metalworks’ storage yard
6-28-26

Lovely got to go do nosework one last time on Sunday, at our favorite training place, and was in heaven – but it was hard watching her crouch as she searched happily. In March she developed bulging discs in her neck and lower back.  It wasn’t supposed to be painful, but it soon became obvious that the neck began to hurt as it tried to control her rear.  I quit having her wear the nosework harness when it seemed painful to put it on; and she was happy to play tug, but I sure hated to see her go downhill.  We do 5 hides per search, and the dogs get treats for each find, and then the ball after the find.

Denise, my training partner, confirmed that by watching her she could tell that Lovely was much more painful than just a couple of weeks ago when we trained.  It was obvious to us, as I edited today’s photos, that she was in pain.  I made the decision that it was time for me to do the last loving thing I could for her, to release her from her pain. I did that on July 1st.