[Mojave's Mom]

Hey Lynn,

Well I still personally would recommend you hook up with a training club where you can work Novice work, but at a slower pace (if that's what you'd like to do.) Nine months is not too young, in my opinion. Both Kaiya and Mojave were in Novice by the time they were 6months old and they turned out ok :) ;)

If you still don't want to do that, how about you come out and meet up with us at the next match next month on April 6th (same place in Hayward) and watch me and Kaiya and Glenn and Diablo in the pre-novice ring. That way you can see exactly how the Novice pattern works (and watch the real Novice class perform as well) and start working on those patterns to help prepare you and Bella.

By the way, SF Training Club is putting on a match in Hayward in May we've signed up for as well. Perhaps then would be a good time for you to go talk to the club members in case you DO decide to join a club. I'm not sure where they train, facility-wise, but I'm sure if you ran a search online you might come up with something. I can give you the secretary's name and phone number if you wish.

Bottom line, don't stop ANY kind of training now and yes get out there with lots of distractions. Maybe add on some heeling work as she's getting bigger and stronger every day. And that one year mark is coming soon...so get a handle on her before the potential for anything to go wrong does (not saying it will, you guys are a great team! ) :D :D