Dog Training Kindred Spirits Dog Training

by Stacey Kuhns

When I first thought about obtaining a service dog, I did a lot of research. After going through many organizations and talking to many people, I finally spoke with Petra Burke of Kindred Spirits Dog Training, in Vista. I am so thankful I touched base with Petra and the rest of the amazing women at Kindred Spirits.

I have had dogs since I was a little girl and have been through a myriad of different dog training programs, including just training my dogs on my own. I have never experienced anything like I have with Kindred Spirits. If you have a puppy, or if you have a dog in need of training, Kindred Spirits is the ONLY place I would recommend. Kindred Spirits Dog Training is located at 3343 E. Vista Way, Vista, CA, 92084. They can be reached by calling (760)630-4824 or they can be contacted through their website (www.kindredspiritsk9.com).

Henson and I started training at Kindred Spirits at the beginning of July 2016. I was so impressed with the classes and the training methods employed by Kindred Spirits. It was like nothing I had ever seen or experienced in dog training and most of all, it is very effective. The women who train us and our dogs are passionate about what they do. They are willing to help with any problem you can think of that would come up with your dog. They current on all dog-related topics, including the best foods and treats for your pet. 

Liz Palika is the founder of Kindred Spirits. She has been training dogs for over 30 years and she knows her stuff for sure! Petra Burke, co-owner of Kindred Spirits, has been training with Liz for 30 years. Combined, they are a force to be reckoned with in their combined knowledge of dog behavior. Kate Abbott is also a co-owner of Kindred Spirits. My boyfriend and I believe she is the true 'Dog Whisperer." I swear she works with a dog for two minutes and that dog does whatever she wants it to do. It is an amazing thing to watch. Dawn McMahon and Petra were the first people I met and who sat with me for an hour, answering all my questions about obtaining a service dog. I broke down in tears during our talk and Dawn's dog, who was training to be a therapy dog at the time, came right up to me and pressed himself against my face. It was amazing. Dawn has been wonderful in working with myself and Henson during the training classes. There are a number of other wonderful trainers and volunteers who work at Kindred Spirits. I have not had the pleasure of working with all of them but I know in time that Henson and I will most likely get to work with them and we look forward to that experience.

If you are working on skills at home, learned in a training class, and things are not going well, the trainers are there to help, through e-mail or over the phone. They also offer one-on-one training and training in the home. Their classes are fun, interesting, and never boring for you or your pet. They offer a variety of interesting classes, but I recommend that any dog owner should take their Puppy and Basic training courses. (You can thank me later for this amazing advice). 

The best thing about the Puppy training classes is the extra puppy play night offered during the week. If you take the Puppy classes, please, please go to every puppy play date. It will make a huge and positive impact on the socialization of your puppy. (I personally think it should be a requirement for graduation, but that is just my opinion). Oh, and just a word of caution, puppies can get messy at puppy play.

I plan to be in training with Kindred Spirits for at least another year or more and am looking forward to every future class and session we have coming up. Henson also enjoys the training and has picked up the positive behaviors I would expect from a well-trained dog, and in record time. I am so proud of the progress Henson and I have made and could not have done it without Kindred Spirits.

Related Posts

1. Henson Earns his "Service Dog in Training" Vest
2. Training a Service Dog....My Journey So Far
3. Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern & Grill
4. Dog Friendly Areas in North County San Diego
5. A Struggle with a Light at the End of the Tunnel
6. Slave to My Future Service Dog
7. Reflecting on this Mother's Day
8. A New Journey Begins

Henson Earns his "Service Dog in Training" Vest

For those of you who have been following the blogs about Henson and I, we have reached a new milestone. Henson just graduated his third class and in addition, earned his Service Dog in Training Vest. I had no idea he was going to get his vest that day and I was thrilled that our work together has been fruitful. Henson and I have been in training for five months straight now. He will continue classes after the holidays, but our training together continues daily. 

It has been an amazing experience to now have a service animal (in training) who can go anywhere with me. We have gone to the movies, restaurants, inside stores, and walked around the beach. Each experience is new for both of us, but for a puppy who just turned eight months old, Henson has impressed me beyond belief. He stays right by my side, helps pull me upstairs and helps me get down stairs, he does not react to other people or animals when working. He is calm and responsive to my commands. I am so lucky to have him. 

We are both learning how to work with each other and we have a long way to go, but it is a rewarding experience for sure. More to come on our training and adventures.

Related Posts

1. Training a Service Dog....My Journey So Far
2. Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern & Grill
3. Dog Friendly Areas in North County San Diego
4. A Struggle with a Light at the End of the Tunnel
5. Slave to My Future Service Dog
6. Reflecting on this Mother's Day
7. A New Journey Begins

Gem-O-Rama....Is it Worth It?

by Stacey Kuhns

 

For those interested in minerals and gems, this may be the trip for you. Just be forewarned, it is hot, physical, dirty work, but can be very rewarding if you plan accordingly.

Approximately a year ago, my boyfriend and I decided we wanted to attend the annual Gem-O-Rama in Trona, California; a place I had never heard of (population 18). We began planning the trip, which basically was just finding a place to stay (there is no place to stay in Trona.

The nearest town is Ridgecrest, approximately 30 minutes away), and gathering the necessary tools and clothing needed for the trip. No tickets are sold ahead of time for the Field Trips. We planned for four days in the area, as it is approximately a three-and-a-half-hour drive to Ridgecrest from San Diego.

We stayed at the China Lake Naval Base in their guest lodging as my boyfriend is retired Navy, but there are a few nice looking hotels in the nearby town of Ridgecrest. Or, if you have an RV, there seems to be a number of camping areas you can stay in.

Being disabled and not a fan of the heat, I was apprehensive about this trip. I figured since it was in October in the desert, it would be cool enough for me to enjoy the Field Trips. The Gem-O-Rama is put on annually by the Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society. The Field Trips take place in the mining town of Trona, which is a very depressed area. There are three Field Trips over the Saturday-Sunday program. Two on Saturday, a morning and afternoon dig, and one on Sunday, a morning dig.

You need to plan to do all three digs, as they are completely different from each other and different minerals are found at each dig. I recommend getting there very early to line your car up in the parking areas. You can then leave your vehicle to go purchase tickets for all three digs. They begin selling tickets at 7:30 a.m., but it is first come, first serve for spots at the dig sites and it goes by the order your vehicle is parked. They have a lead car who starts off and they then direct everyone else to follow in their vehicles. There is no cutting in line or anything like that. Cutting in line will get you banned from the digs.

I would recommend having very old clothing, that can be thrown away if necessary, tall rubber boots, gloves, a geologists pick (rock hammer), bottle brushes, toothbrushes, brine (which can be purchased at the General Store), boxes and buckets to carry your specimens, buckets to wash your specimens, First-Aid supplies, at least a case of water (in a cooler with ice is recommended), small trowel, small gardening shovel, steel tramping and digging bar, sunglasses, hat, and sunscreen. I would also recommend packing a picnic for Saturday as there is one restaurant in town and I would NOT recommend eating there. It was pretty awful.

There were quite a few families with young children on these digs and the kids loved it! They seemed to outlast the adults.

The first dig was a mud dig. I assumed (never assume) we would just find minerals in the mud (true) and wash them off easily in the brine troughs provided (false). The mud was extremely thick and tough to dig through, like clay. Minerals were easy to find but there were not enough troughs provided for the over 1000 people who showed up and they quickly became so muddy, it was not worth washing your minerals off there. (I recommend buying at least 4-5 bottles of brine the first morning at the General Store and washing the minerals off on your own, either by your car or at your campsite if you have one. The mud minerals need to stay in the wet mud until washed off. If the mud dries, it is like trying to scrub off cement from the minerals. Even with the wet mud, it was extremely difficult and physical trying to wash the minerals collected. (I still have a bucket of unwashed ones in my garage).

Some of our unwashed finds on the mud dig:

Saturday afternoon, was the Blow Hole "dig." There was not much digging necessary as they blow material out of a machine onto the salt flats. In that wet material are many, many crystals and minerals. They are very easy to locate and collect. But, it was approximately 115 degrees that afternoon with the sun beating down on the salt flats. Many people had brought easy-ups, chairs, and umbrellas. We were not in the know, so had none of these things.

Here is just a fraction of our uncleaned haul from the afternoon dig:

The most interesting dig for me, but the most physical for both of us, was the Sunday Halite dig. It was one of the most alien landscapes I had ever seen. It appeared we were digging in rivers of blood. Halite is a crystal formation, formed in brine lakes, that is normally pink in color (but can be white and dark rose). The best crystal formations to find are square ones. It takes a lot of strength and use of a heavy large pole with a blade on the end, to get down into the areas where the crystals are found. The best place to dig (we found out a little too late) is along the banks of the man-made brine lake.

Halite was my favorite mineral to find on the dig as I love the pink colors and the amazing crystal formations. This is also the dig where you may want to just toss your clothes in the trash. The salt dries quickly on clothing, causing it to stiffen and can lead to chafing if you continue to wear it.

These are not propped up by anything except themselves. Many people just leave their clothing propped up out there.

Me, after the dig. Just be prepared. Salt in the car, caked onto my sunglasses, all over my camera, in our skin, our hair, etc.

Would I do the Gem-O-Rama again, now that I know what to expect and what to bring? Nope, not a chance. Am I glad I did it once? Definitely. It was an experience I will never forget. Something I never thought I would do. It was exciting to find our own minerals instead of going to a show and purchasing them. I would recommend it for young families with children who love to be active and learn.

Fossil Falls - A Must Visit

Amazing Place for Adults and Children

by Stacey Kuhns

 

Have you ever heard of Fossil Falls?  I hadn't either, until a few weeks ago. Fossil Falls is located in Olancho, California, in the Coso Range. It is a place of alien landscapes that amazes the senses. It is free to enter the park and you are able to climb all over the lava structures. My boyfriend and I were there on a Monday morning, so we had the place to ourselves.

The drive is approximately 4 hours from San Diego, but there are campsites available and hotels/motels available in the nearby town of Ridgecrest.

The rugged and primitive landscape of Fossil Falls is the product of volcanic activity. As recent as 20,000 years ago, lava from the local volcanic eruptions poured into the Owens River channel. The erosional forces of the Owens River acted upon this volcanic rock, forming the polished and sculptured features you can see at Fossil Falls.

There is a large red cinder cone at the entrance to the park. It is the result of the violent eruption of trapped gasses and molten materials into the air from a vent in the Earth's crust. When exposed to the air, it cools quickly, forming a porous rock known as scoria, which built up around the original vent, forming a cone-shaped hill.

Many people think that Fossil Falls means there is a waterfall. This is not so. There was most likely one thousands of years ago, but it is a feature of lava, that resembles a waterfall and "spills" into an amazing canyon.

I was amazed at the scenery. Even as we drove towards Fossil Falls, it becomes very apparent you are entering a volcanic area. As an adult, I found the landscape thrilling and exciting. I can only imagine what kids would think.

As with all hiking, camping areas, bring plenty of water and some energy snacks. Also, hiking boots are recommended. The trail was fairly easy (as a disabled person, I was able to manage it without too much trouble and with help from my boyfriend), but if you plan to stay for a while and want to hike into the canyon, make sure you are well equipped to do so. (You may want to go to the Fossil Falls website or touch base with a ranger to find out what you will need if you plan to hike into the canyon). There are campgrounds in the Fossil Falls area, but we did not stop there.

There is a nice parking area with bathrooms as well as benches and BBQ areas for a picnic.

It is well worth a trip there. Also in the area are the Trona Pinnacles, located in Trona, California. We did not go into the park (as the road is unpaved and we were not sure about our vehicle), but I was able to get a few pictures from the road.

The Pinnacles average 140 feet in height. The area has over 500 tufa (calcium carbonate) pinnacles rising from the bed of the Searles Dry Lake Basin. These tufa spires were formed 10,000 to 100,000 years ago, underwater. There were declared a National Landmark in 1968. (Just an FYI: Trona is population of about 18. There is nothing in the small mining town as far as hotels. There is one restaurant, which I would definitely NOT recommend). The nearest town is Ridgecrest, about 30 minutes away.

We definitely plan to return to explore these areas more fully.

Insulated Water Bottle #amazing

100% Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle 

 

This seventeen-ounce water bottle is made from 304 18/8 quality double walled stainless steel. It keeps hot drinks warm for up to eight hours and your cold drinks chilled for about twenty-four hours. As a Southern California girl, I like to have my chilled water with me all day; this water bottle by Two Sisters NZ really does its job – it is so important to stay hydrated. Remember your body is about 60% water.

I appreciate that the bottle is vacuum sealed which prevents annoying spills. As a wonderful bonus, this product comes with two collapsible silicone ice trays whose cubes are the perfect size for this bottle.

Tip - if you enjoy lemon water – try freezing fresh squeezed lemon juice in the trays to freeze for later use.

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Product Description

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Fun Family Time at Bates Nut Farm

Post by Oma Loves U.

Over 90 years ago, Bates Nut Farm got its start in Valley Center growing walnuts. The walnut tress are now gone, but they still sell nuts from all over the world. Every year they provide a pumpkin patch - Over 50 years of fall traditions and memories have been created at the Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch. Family and friends enjoy the tractor hayrides, straw maze, petting corral and Snows Pony Rides.

Grab a wheelbarrow and pick from variety of pumpkins: Big Macs, Ghost, Cinderella, Jack O’ Lantern, minis, squash, gourds and other fall décor. In addition, weekends at Bates include live entertainment from 12:00 -3:00, BBQ, kettle corn, food trucks, rock climb, bounce, slide and other family friendly events. Check our calendar for details and schedule.

SkinCase - The World's Thinnest iPhone Case #SkinCase

Almost invisible

 

 

This unique phone case scales at only 0.01inch in thickness and is almost invisible to the eye. It allows your phone to look like your phone. It is completely brand free – Very Cool. 

The lightweight SkinCase also supplies protection with a seamless design for your iPhone. It is made from hard polycarbonate plastic that wraps around your phone snugly. It comes with two cases.

To Purchase or for more details
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Currently available for iPhone 5 / 5s / SE, iPhone 6 / 6s / 6 Plus / 6s Plus, and now available for the iPhone 7!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."