When Blake and Kylee married in 2022, they looked forward to a lifetime of memories with Kylee’s childhood GSD, Harley. But life had other plans, and losing Harley left a hole in their hearts that only a German Shepherd could fill. Hoping for a new beginning, they made the five-hour trek to Northern Virginia to meet a litter of fluffy, long-coated puppies at Starry Night GSDs.
The connection was instant. They locked eyes with a puppy the breeder had named "Flint"—an ironic coincidence, given that their last name is Stone. Between the name and the striking resemblance to Harley, they knew he was meant to be theirs. They gave him the call name “Bear,” and at that moment, a great adventure began. While it may not have started with a bang — it was more of a siren. The "sweet little puppy" fantasy was briefly replaced by Bear’s five-hour impression of a fire engine in the backseat of the vehicle. It wasn't until Blake took the wheel and Kylee cradled the "ball of floof" that Bear finally settled, realizing that life as the Family Stone would be incredible.
As Bear grew, so did their bond. While an early attempt at agility showed Bear’s work ethic, it wasn't quite his passion. Taking advice from their breeder, Kathryn, and their trainers, they looked for ways to tap into Bear’s natural GSD instincts: tracking, obedience, and protection.
That’s when they discovered Scent Work.
The change was magic. Bear wasn't just good; he was a natural.
For Kylee, watching Bear find target odors like birch and cypress was about more than just winning—it was about "genetically fulfilling" him. She believes that owning a working breed means honoring their need to work, whether through scent work, barn hunts, or protection sports. Every encounter was another chance to work as a team…not about Bear finding the scent but confidently letting Kylee know that it was present.
A Decorated Champion: Bear and Kylee’s Achievements
The team earned more than 16 certifications from the American Kennel Club (AKC), National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW), and Canine Performance Events (CPE) in just two years. Bear and Kylee have worked as a seamless team to train together, bond with each other and then excel in a varied selection of dog sports and events. Each ribbon or title represents hours of dedication, training, and a deep mutual trust. Even more than that…it means a great deal of fun and exciting experiences for Bear, Kylee and Blake.
The following is a list of titles earned by Bear Starry Night and short explanations of what they entail:
Foundational & Lifestyle Titles
- CGC (Canine Good Citizen): The gold standard for dog behavior, requiring Bear to pass a 10-step test of basic manners and social skills around people and other dogs (AKC).
- VHMA (Virtual Home Manners Adult): A digital evaluation where Bear demonstrated 10 essential "home" skills, including politely greeting guests at the door and remaining calm during mealtime (AKC).
- TKN (Trick Dog Novice): Bear performed 10 different tricks, such as "spin" or "crawl," to prove his focus and willingness to learn new things (AKC).
- ATT (Temperament Test): A specialized test where Bear was evaluated on his reactions to various stimuli (noise, visual, tactile) to ensure a stable, confident GSD personality (AKC).
- FITB (Fit Dog Bronze): An achievement earned through a consistent, documented fitness and walking routine to maintain Bear’s health and stamina (AKC).
Scent Work & Performance Titles
- SWN (Scent Work Novice): An overall title awarded after Bear successfully identified target odors in all four "elements": SCN (Containers), SEN (Exteriors), SIN (Interiors), and SBN (Buried hides) (AKC).
- VSWB & VSWI (Virtual Scent Work Beginner/Intermediate): Stepping stones where Bear completed specific scent searches at home, submitted via video for judging by AKC officials (AKC).
- ORT (Odor Recognition Test): A "gatekeeper" test where Bear had to correctly identify a specific target odor hidden among identical distractors (NACSW).
- CCSS-L1 (Canine Scent Sport Level 1): A title requiring qualifying runs across multiple elements to show consistency in finding hidden odors (CPE).
- BCAT (Beginner Coursing Ability Test): A fun, high-speed title earned by Bear "chasing the lure" in a 100-yard dash to test his natural prey drive and athletic speed (AKC).
The journey hasn’t always been easy—the training is intense and the trials are nearly every weekend, hours from home —but for Kylee and Blake, it’s a labor of love. Even overnight trips are a regular sporting-dog occurrance. Bear isn’t just a pet; he’s a partner who reminds them every day what dedication and love can do to bring out the incredible potential within a well-bred dog.
Follow Bear’s journey:
In addition to working on their titles, Kylee has been filming her exploits with Blake and Bear. You can keep up with Kylee and Flint "Bear" Starry Night’s latest titles and adventures on TikTok: @kyleeandbear.gsd
Kathryn's Note: Be sure to look up the video of Bear at the Christmas lights display. It's extra special!
