In the early 1980s, my husband Don and myself sat at the kitchen table at Mike McDonald’s home. Mike was heavily involved with the Halifax Kennel Club for many years.  He was telling us about a drill team that he had seen in Newfoundland at one of the dog shows he had attended.  He got the bright idea to form a drill team for the Halifax Kennel Club. 

A lot of the Obedience people in the HKC at time took part and we performed a musical drill with our dogs and visited nursing homes, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides and anyone who would like to see it.

After Mike’s passing we had a number of Drill Team Captions; Paul Mueller, Hubert Fiander, and for the last number of years, Lynne MacLellan.

Multi BIS Ch. Kendol’s Chinook of Gates, CD (a.k.a. Chinook) was my first furry partner. We paired up with Mike’s daughter Michelle and her Pomeranian, Holly.  Don’s furry partner was Ch. Kendol’s Dutch Courage Buddy, CDX.(Buddy). 

Other Keeshonden from Seawind who became Drill Team members over the years were Multi BIS Ch. Seawind’s Lit’l Bit O’Wrock, CD (a.k.a. Ruffin) and Ch. & OTCH Ch. Car-Ron’s Baroness of Seawind (Becki). 

Because of personal reasons, I had to give up the Drill Team for a number of years but I came back in 2009 with Ch. Seawinds Commotion On Da Ocean, RN (a.k.a. Decker) Chinook, Buddy, Ruffin and Becki were also members of Therapy Dogs International. 

I have always enjoyed visiting the Seniors’ Homes as it brings many smiles and happy faces to the residents.

Glady Gates