TRUSTIN GOD & RUNNIN DOGS
10/12/23
Ever since I got Mo, he felt like home; like I could do anything. But, I also had this feeling that something was missing. Before I got him, I would just bounce from one thing to another, and my husband didn’t think I would stick with training and hunting my dog. But there was something different this time and with this “hobby.” So, I trained Mo and oh, did this dog and I butt heads, and still do to this day. He put me through the ringer and taught me so much. When he is on, he is on and is amazing. So, of course, we wanted another. Dogs are like potato chips, you can’t just have one. When I first got him, I didn’t know there was a world full of tests and trials you could do with your dog. Some tests had to be taken before he turned a certain age, and by this time Mo was aged out. So, in the spring of 2021, we bred Monroe to Briar and I had my first litter, which was the start of my breeding program. To get a puppy meant I could do the testing and start it off right. In August, the litter came and so did the decision on who the pick of the litter was going to be.
Also, later that month, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and got to pick my puppy; which the pick of the litter was Ramsey. It was clear it was going to be him. But I had such a hard time choosing between him and another puppy. That other puppy was… you guessed it, Archer. Two puppies at the same time is crazy, right? Well, all the pups had a home at the 6 week mark, except for Archer; he was my husband’s favorite. I then got asked the famous question, “do you think we can handle two puppies?” I originally said no because my husband would never agree to have two. He must have been on something or just plain crazy, right?
Then, I sat there and thought about it and asked God on it. Something told me we had to take him as well. So, we got the two boys, who are almost identical in their appearance. However, their personalities couldn’t be any more different. Archer is reserved, extremely smart, soft, and very biddable. Ramsey, well… he is outgoing, one-track mind, hard-headed, and very driven. 2022 came and I launched my training business and kennel. I entered the boys in the AKC tests to take their Junior Hunter Test in April and NAVDHA Natural Ability Test in June. If you don’t enter tests early, you don’t usually get in. So, when I entered them, I didn’t even know if we would be ready since we didn’t train in the winter due to them being four months old in December, or if I would even have the funds to go forth with it. Getting a business up and launched is a lot of money. Then tests cost a lot for one dog, let alone two at the same time. I prayed and talked to the Lord so much on this, and when the time came to send in the check, I just didn’t have the funds.
So, that was it if I couldn’t test them, grow my kennel, and do that part of the business, what was the point in even keeping it. I still had a week to mail the check in for the two tests. So, I thought, maybe I could make money some how, some way. I wasn’t cancelling until I absolutely had to. A couple of days later, I got a check in the mail for the amount I needed for the test, plus some. This extra was able to pay for my Seminar I had booked to go see Rick Smith and be able to learn from him. It was from my orthodontist, whom I had not seen in over 10 years, saying that they found my account over paid, so they were sending me a check for it. My prayers were answered. Archer went on to pass all of his tests in the spring and get his JH title and NA Prize II. Ramsey not so much - my problem child. Although, he did manage to get I JH Title pass. I then knew Ramsey had to take his NA test again in the fall, or else he would age out.
So, I entered him again and got on the wait lists. I was on seven lists and everyone was full, then finally, I got into a test in Ohio. I, being the dreamer I am, also entered him for a three day weekend AKC Hunt Test to get his JH Title; I also entered Mo. Like my husband always says, go big or go home. Again, closer to the time of the test I received another check in the mail for thirty dollars under what I needed to pay for everything. This was from the college that I graduated from in 2015. Mo passed his JH title and Ramsey got the rest of his scores with two fails and three passes that weekend to get his JH title and he went on to get a NA Prize III. After all this, I knew this is what God had in store for me.
I don’t think if I would have gotten over that first year fear of failing and not testing the boys, I would have not pursued my dream and be where I am now, knowing I can push forward and accomplish even bigger things with Him cheering me on. I need His strength to be able to face everything ahead of me. It’s hard and scary to take that leap of faith and pray you will come out on the other side. To start a company is terrifying enough, let alone to get my dogs out there and start my own kennel in a sea of amazing, talented trainers and dogs already. To feel so minute, like what you do doesn’t matter, but knowing in your heart that you were made to do this and having Him constantly reassure you in these moments that yes, this is what you were made for. Glimpses of that feeling of being whole and with Him is all worth it. Because of me putting everything in His hands, I am where I am today; and I know this is what I’m meant to do.
To top this all off I met a girl in Tractor Supply with a Shorthair puppy. I told her about our Gundog Club. Soon to find out she let her dad know and him and his friend came to check the club out. Soon after that they joined and we later found out, that girls dads friend was a Pastor. I guess the Lord knew what he was doing when he gave me a Pastor with Birddogs.
Nikki
