Honoring dogs we have lost is a part of The Great Minnesota Sniffover each year. 2019 is the fifth year of the Sniffover, and sadly, this year Emma is one of the five dogs being honored. Each year the campers get a t-shirt with the names of the honored dogs on it. I thought I would model it for you.
Emma and I attended the first two Sniffover camps in 2015 and 2016. She absolutely loved camp, being in the woods, seeing our friends, and doing nose work – the sport she so loved.
There is not a lot of free time at camp. The humans have their meals, and we have all morning and all afternoon sniffing sessions with some optional searching in the evenings. It is a busy three days, but so much fun! The human campers wear a lanyard with the names of their dogs, and the schedule for the weekend.
Despite being pretty structured, there is always time here and there from some walks and photos. Naturally, Emma enjoyed doing some modeling by Half Moon Lake.
Mornings we always get up early and go for a nice walk to start the day. No one is around, and it is so peaceful. We do it each morning, no matter what the weather.
Each camper gets a some goodies in their cabin when they arrive. This year, everything has the names of the five dogs we lost on it. Mom will probably save the items and add them to Emma’s memory box.
This year, they also had a table with a photo of each of the dogs. Honoring the dogs we have lost is hard for every camper, but it is important to do. Emma just keeps cropping up in our lives. Mom is glad she is around, but it also makes her so sad. She will never be forgotten!
At dinner one of the nights, our instructor, who also is the one who puts on the camp, gives a speech about each of the dogs we lost. He talks about what made them special, memories of things they did, a touching speech. There is never a dry eye in the house, but this year was really tough for Mom to listen to. After the speech, each handler is given a special t-shirt signed by all the campers that year and their dogs’ names. Mom thought a photo of the picture and signed shirt with the sunset and lake in the background would be ideal for the end of Emma’s sniffing career.
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Oh my word! Wow! What a kind and thoughtful part of your weekend. Mom is impressed with all of the details. Someone worked very hard to make all of that come together. She bets it was hard for your mom not to be sad. Great post Madison. Your friend Lilly
As you probably know, the sad thing comes and goes during the day anyway, but it was still hard. Emma would love it.
That made our whiskers a bit weepy too and it was such a nice tribute to those who have departed.
The nose work community is awesome!
that is a very sweet idea… Hugs to you and to your mom… and hugs to the families of Lily Bella Grommit and Brio
Lots of sadness, but also lots of new dogs. They don’t replace the ones we lost, but they bring smiles and hope.
Well, now I’m crying too. That is such a special thing they do, but I know it must have been hard for your Mom to hold it together. ♥
The good thing is that it is not a surprise, so Mom could try her best to mentally prepare.
Beautiful tribute to a beautiful dog. We all miss her!
Thank you. Her paw prints can’t ever be filled.
What a beautiful way to honor old friends. Hugs.
Our nose work community is wonderful.
Oh Wow! That is SO incredibly nice! Honoring campers who have gone ahead. Emma will never be forgotten! We all love her, as we do you, Madison, and Olivia. And of course your Mom! I can well imagine how difficult it must have been for your Mom. Sending you all lots of hugs and cuddles.
We knew it would happen, but that doesn’t help much. It still is special, and something Emma would love.
You had a great weekend and your peeps are so good to make sure you are involved in important things. Good for you.
That last paragraph reminded me of our precious Little Bit that went to the bridge in 2015. I still cry all the time.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. My best to your peeps. ♥
We are starting to think Mom will never stop crying over Emma, even though she loves us so much, Emma is something she can’t seem to get over.
It was my first sniff over. I loved watching your dogs work and the beautiful relationship you have with them. As we all stood in the horse barn yesterday morning as John answered questions, I was mesmerized by your dog laying next to you. She never stopped thinking. She was always “considering” something and was ever watchful (and patient) for that mouse to return again. She completely drew me in. What a beautiful soul she has.
I have no doubts that Emma had the same depth of soul and her departure has been challenging. Saturday evening was hard – hearing about each dog, including Boo’s “sister” Lily. But it was so profoundly touching to hear the stories and how each of these beautiful dogs not only touched their guardians, but many others as well.
It was an honor to see you and your beautiful hounds work together! Thank you.
Anne and Boo
Thank you so much. We are happy Boo has found the right place in life for her to be. So glad you were at the Sniffover and enjoyed it. We have been to them all, and hope to never miss one. Emma was something special. I got her when I lived in Europe, brought her back here with me, she was my first sports dog at age 7 1/2, love nose work. She was also my business partner and my inspiration to do what I love to do. Losing her has been so very hard, but my other three GBGV’s help me get through it every day. Thank you for finding our blog and stopping by. Bailie, I’m sure was waiting for that critter to come back! LOL! Both she and Madison sniffed that track it was running in and knew it was there I’m sure.
Oh, Emma, at the Rainbow Bridge you are gone too soon. You are missed by so many, but more than anything you are missed by your mommy. What a beautiful tribute to Emma and the other 4 fur babies. XOXO, Sparkle and her Mommy
Emma just keeps appearing and keeping herself out front and center. She did an amazing job of it in her time on Earth, and now she manages to keep it up from heaven. Mom really misses her, but she loves us dearly too.
Such a lovely way to remember Emma’s time at Sniffover!
Hugs!
It means a lot because Emma loved nose work so much.
What a SuperNice thing to do. Hugs to your mom♥
We love the nose work community, they are amazing!
It looks like a fun event, although a little bittersweet.
The “hard” part is only a tiny portion of the whole weekend. Camp is so much fun.
this is both heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. I love that this event takes place but am heartbroken that Emma had to leave …(((hugs))))) and love
Every year we hear about dogs who have left us, but we never imagined our turn would come so soon.
It seems like they did a good job honoring Emma and the other pups. She wuz a speshul pup.
She was truly a special girl.
I’m crying just reading about his so I know your mom was bawling during the speech. It is wonderful that they remember those who have left us.
It was tough. We were back at the cabin since we can’t be in the dining room. Hard as it was, it would really make Emma happy.
What a lovely tribute to Emma! May she never be forgotten by her vast audience to whom she brought such joy! (Such JOY??LOL)
She was a one of a kind, special girl.
I’m so glad Emma keeps cropping up. What a nice weekend.
She didn’t want to leave this earth, so she keeps getting herself back somehow!