Tarot's NW2 Trial

  May 7, 2016

 Nosework has grown in popularity and getting selected to participate in a trial is becoming harder. As long as a trial is offered within a five hour or two state radius, you enter.  Traveling that much means when a trial is hosted within thirty miles, you get excited and enter.  When that happened, and despite my heavy schedule, I entered Tarot in the NW2 and three dogs in the Level 1 Container and Interior trials.  After the random drawings for entry, Tarot was entered in the NW2 and L1 Interiors, with everyone wait-listed for Containers.

 I would have preferred to have a different dog entered in each trial, but if any of my guys could survive two days of searching it was Tarot.  Her hunting dog pedigree has produced dogs that 'go all day' and I would have to relay on that coming through.  Sports like Agility, Obedience, and Breed showing will result in exhausted dog by the end of the weekend, but Nosework is different.  In one session, a dog can process more than in a weekend of other sports.

 The trial weekend was being held at Camp Nockamixon, located not far from the state park.  I decided to leave a bit early and take Tarot for a longer walk to bleed out the morning excitement and help with focus.  I used to throw a bumper in hope of achieving the same, but found I created a dog still scanning the horizon hoping for something to bring back.  The quarter mile walk gave her something to explore while I enjoyed part of the park I had not been too before.

  Camp Nockamixon is located off the beaten path and is spread out over acres of forested and cleared hills.  This made the weekend physical, especially since we were parked in a valley and all activity was at the top of a steep hill.  There was no skipping "leg day" and Ibuprofen was part of the snack pack.  If this sport did not tire out Tarot, the walk up and down the hill would.

  The running order showed we were dog/handler number 21, but the judges decided to split the group for the morning searches.  While dogs 1-19 would work Interiors, dogs 20-38 would work Vehicles and Exteriors.  When completed the groups would swap until all three searches were complete.  This meant for two of the four searches, Tarot would be working as the second dog.  I was a bit disappointed because for the NW1, we were the first team to work.  The great thing is the areas are pure, but there comes challenge from working after twenty other dogs that we keep missing out on.

  My goal for the weekend was to continue the handler confidence both Niven and Torch gave me during their last trials.  I was also going for as many pronounced searches as possible, not necessarily placements.  Having Chaos Creator as a teammate would be the challenge of that achievement.

 The morning started and we started the leap frog pattern up the hill to begin our searching.



Vehicle Search

  Our first search of the weekend started with the warm up boxes and making our way to the top of the hill.  We reached the staging area and had to wait under a tarped EZUp tent.  The longer we waited the more Tarot air scented and sniffed the nearby landscaping.  All I could do is watch as my Lab's head would whip up and toward the corner of the building.  It did not take long for me to realize we were waiting in pooled odor trailing from the hide's location out of sight a few hundred feet away.  If Niven is awesome about catching odor from a distance, her daughter is ten times more amazing.  I was glad when we were finally called to the search areas and Tarot started to pull me in the direction we were to go.  I could almost guarantee she knew where the hides were long before we even started.

  As soon as we cleared the corner of the building, I started the normal prep for the threshold/start line so I could concentrate on the dog.  Although this was not my intention, I created a two step threshold; first stop was for lead shift and Gate Stewart direction and the second stop was threshold/start line for dog focus and nose information.

  On the left, there was large pickup truck, in the back a van, and to the right a golf cart to sniff.  All three were parked on asphalt in a tight area between two buildings.  The only thing that stood out for me was the incline of the ground all three were parked on and how would that play out for moving odor on a wet surface.  At this point, the only way to know was to work it.

  I gave serious thought about holding the harness and walking the fifteen feet to the bumper of the F-150, but decided against it.  In the past, I had tried that technique with what I feel was an ill-result and I was not keen to retry it.  Also based from that experience, I elected to use a ten foot lead.  The option I chose was to pause on the threshold and send her off to let it be whatever it was.

 We paused and when released Tarot pulled toward the truck.  I was not sure if she was heading to the bumper or the nearby landscaping, but before I could complete the thought, she started to pick up pace towards the van.  This is typical behavior and I was not happy we were heading to the back of the search area to chase odor.  This new thought was not completed when she stopped on the van's right bumper and seemed to be nosing toward a trailer hitch in the center.

  I waited a second or two until I was certain this was the hide and called the alert.  We got a "yes" and I remembered to call "finish" to stop time.




Exterior Search

While the judges re-positioned themselves for the next search, Tarot and I waited downwind.  This was not fun because she was air scenting while waiting.  Finally everyone was ready and we walked between parked cars and along a row of summer camp dorm rooms to a covered porch.

  There was so much stuff in this location that I could not log it all when we did the morning walk through.  There were a lot of factors that would cause issues, such as a concrete floor and stockade fence posing as a wall on the right.  There was a one foot gap between the floor and fence that odor could quickly travel down and under creating a problem in a tight space with lots of large objects.  The main concern I did have was Tarot's fast movement in a tight space and the ten foot lead I had to make sure did not get caught on anything.  Ironically, none of theses factors came into play.

  We did the slow walk to the threshold, waited a few seconds, and then gave release.  As is normal, Tarot bolted forward and toward the inverted building corner straight ahead.  Almost out of ten foot lead, I had just started to trot when Tarot abruptly stopped and became focused on the park bench to her left.  I  sidestepped to the right not to impede her curiosity and watched the dog nose trail along the bench seat to the spot under it.  I called the alert, got the "yes", and gave the "finish".







Interior Search

  The first group ran a few dogs behind and we waited for our group to start.  Even though we were second in the running order, nineteen dogs had already worked the area.  I was glad for this experience as it would be interesting to see how she handles the lingering odor effects of twenty-one other dogs.

  The building was a stand alone, elevated, bunk house with two rooms.  For the main room, bunk beds were moved to create a narrow area, but this can create challenge if odor drifted between the open spaces.  The second room was wall-lined with cubbyholes and contained a bank of cubbies which jutted out to divide the room.  Along the back wall was a doorway to a bathroom which was blocked off, but nose accessible.

  Both searches were to be on-lead as there was no way to close a door between the two rooms.  We needed to search each room in order and had to maintain a physical restriction.  I would have liked to have Tarot work off-lead to cover ground faster, but all worked out.

Room One
  We had three minutes to find two hides, which gauging the room square footage seemed short.  Tarot came through the door already nose twitching and pulled off to the left once released.  I figured we were making our way to the back of the room where she would get serious, so I was surprised when her head flipped down and to the left.  Once I was certain this was a hide, I called the alert and received the "yes".

  I did not want to waste time with a reward, but also did not want to skimp out on what I normally give out.  What surprised me was Tarot herself.  She snagged the large hot dog piece from my hand and immediately darted off toward her original destination.  I have never seen this from her before and thought it was a really cool indicator for the next level where we have no idea how many hides are in the room.

  Trailing behind again, Tarot wanted to work the out-of-bounds area between rooms, but I knew better than to waste time.  I did let her arc out and over to the wall, where immediately her movement screamed she caught something.  While walking the entire length of room I kept thinking we were running out of places to search.  Near the threshold she suddenly stopped to sniff a bookcase and sure enough, there was a strong indication.  I called the alert, got the "yes", and called "finish".

Room Two
  I was not sure how this search would go because we have had limited exposure to cubby areas, but not on the scale this room posed.  The building had an elevated foundation and there were gaps in the floor boards with a clear view of the ground a few feet below.  Early morning rain added complexity with wet ground and heavy wet wood smell hanging even heavier in this room.

  Like the other searches, I held Tarot for a few seconds and released her.  Almost immediately she went to a floor level, end cubby.  I stood patiently waiting for her to stick her nose in the surrounding ones; the second cubby seemed promising for an alert, but she did not stick long enough for certainty.  Tarot moved from that area, to the the object blocking the bathroom, and around the room.  At one point I did let her go through the door, but she immediately returned to the room for a type of re-start.  Eventually she went back to the first cubby and finally stuck her head in the one next to it long enough for me to call an alert.  I was beyond relieved when "yes" was the response and I called the finish while delving out a large hot dog.



Containers

 Unlike the Interior Room Two search, I was most worried about the added distractions that come with Containers.  I had done something dumb a few days before the trial and set up boxes that contained a huge piece of hot dog and a tennis ball.  Since Niven's NW2 the month previous contained both, I was worried Tarot would not do as well.  In that practice session, I was proven right, but not because of the ball, but because of the hot dog.  Great way to break confidence in yourself just before a trial.

 The search was inside of a gym-type room where access was through two double doors and a long carpeted lobby.  I knew we were to wait outside and when those doors opened, Tarot would immediately go into odor.  The official came to get us, we geared up, doors were opened, and I wasted no time in getting to the start line.  We paused and off she went.

  Tarot moved very quickly down the center line of boxes, luggage, and bags making a left at the end.  She went one box in and abruptly turned to stop at the corner of a large wheeled bag.  This was the easy one to call and I was relieved to get the "yes".

  Taking the normal time to chew through the reward, Tarot finally moved onward toward the bottom right box where she showed interest.  To be honest, I thought her body language said this was a distractor and when I moved she came off the box and into me.  I put my hands up to show there was more to search and she went back to to working, going over the middle row and towards the left line of boxes.

  With each step, speed was gained as the nose hovered over each object.  I was shocked she ignored the first found hide and finally stopped on the same box on the bottom right.  I called the alert, got the "yes", and called finish before someone could change their mind.



  As we left the Container room, someone congratulated me on the NW2 title. Just like the other trials, I realized we were suddenly done.  It was time for Level 3.  When did that ever happen???

 At the end of the day, my personal goal of maintaining confidence was achieved.  Tarot is a fast dog where problems develop from speed, but she stayed true to the job.  I felt we were connected as a team, only once breaking that during the Vehicle search.  I feel that is pretty awesome, but was disappointed to miss the Pronounced title by one search.  I am proud that pretzels and tennis balls did not pose an issue during testing.  Tarot never indicated on either one.


 At the end of the day, Tarot was still looking for stuff to sniff.  So much for hills.


  Nosework Level 2

  Tarot was awarded her Title and placed.
  NW2
  Three Pronounced Searches - Exteriors, Interiors, Containers
  First Place Vehicles
  First Place Exteriors
  5th Place Overall Searches

Tarot's NW2 Trial, May 7, 2016
Photographer: Mike Rickenback

  Joyce Smuda
  www.foxglen.net

Tarot's L1I Trial

May 8, 2016

 Instead of one day of testing on Interior, Vehicle, Exterior, and Container searches, an Element Specialty Trial is a half day of one type of search.  Often a hosting club will offer two element trials and a dog must enter for each and be randomly drawn to participate.  For this weekend, Niven, Torch, and Tarot were wait listed for the Container Element Trial, but only Tarot got selected for the Interior Search Trial.

  I was not sure what to expect because this type of trial is still new and I have not had the opportunity to enter any.  Interiors were scheduled to start at noon, so it was weird to sleep in and get a late start.  I did not stop anywhere for a walk because I was not sure how Tarot would handle a second day and wanted energy.  In hindsight I should have because the walk really does help when the trial parking lot is restricted.

 The briefing was held in the parking lot to minimize the number of times we all needed to walk up the hill.  By now, everyone was exhausted so it was welcomed.  There was to be no walk through of the search areas, so it was a challenge to remember everything about the search area from working it.  There was also no debriefing to gain insight into hide placements and outcomes, but it was nice to finish the last round of searches and leave.

  We were running 18th in order and there were two rounds of searches.  Rooms 1 and 2 ran first with an immediate start of Rooms 3 and 4.



Room 1 Search
It took a while to hop through the staging areas until finally we were hidden behind one of the buildings.  The first search was being held in a lower level room we had been passed a few times the day before. While approaching the doorway I had to make the fast decision to work on or off lead by simply looking through metal wire meshed windows.  From what I could tell, the room was about 20 x 10, had large Coke Bottles in each corner and a table in the center.  Tarot could cover more ground without a lead.

  We walked to the threshold, waited while her nose twitched, and I released her into the room.  Immediately, she went to the Coke bottle in the upper left corner and nose trailed to the floor underneath.  I figured this was the hide and was about to call it when Tarot pulled off and started to circle that side of the room.  Eventually she went back to the spot, backed up and turned to me with the silliest look on her face as if to say, "hey look what I found way over there".  I could not make the call with from three feet away and put my hands up while asking her to "do better than that".  Still pleased with herself, but seemingly annoyed, she went back to the spot and stuck her nose to the spot.  I called the alert and got a laughing "yes" from the judge.

Room 2 Search
  We had one staging area to wait in before being lead into the Ladies Room of the trial's main building.  The entry way was a walled corridor without a door so this search was to be conducted on lead.  We walked down the bricked hallway to the end where the threshold line was marked on the floor.
  Tarot was drawn toward the sink area, where she started to work the plumbing underneath.  I thought it was a strong possibility it could be there and when the nose stopped for a second, I almost called the alert.  Instead, I kept my mouth shut and was relieved when Tarot pulled away and stuck her head in a short trash can placed against the wall.  Not sticking to anything in indication, she moved around the area, but tight to the open area.  We went back the sink area, beneath and above and suddenly the trash can became the focus.
  Once again, Tarot stuck her head in the trashcan and backed up to stick her nose on the left side rim.  I called the alert and got a "yes".

  Back at the van, both of us comfortable, I looked up.  Tarot was content in her crate, front legs stretched out and her head laying on top, totally asleep.
  All I could think was, "it is recharging".


Room 3 Search
  I had to wait for the door to open to make the decision to go off lead.  Smaller than the first room, I elected to let Tarot go and stay close to the doorway to not crowd the room.  Standing there for an extra minute or two, Tarot's nose twitched and when released, was off to the back of the small room where she took interest under the bunk bed on the left.
  Breaking away, she quickly sniffed around the other bed and circled around to air trail to the computer chair set between the two beds. When she paused, it dawned on me this was the hide and I called alert for another "yes".

Room 4 Search
  Identical to Room 3, I decided to repeat my handling.  We stood outside in what was the previous day's Exterior Search area, which seemed less ominous and cluttered.  When the judge was set for us to start, we moved to the threshold, paused a second or two, and I let Tarot go.
  To be expected, she moved straight to the table placed in the same spot as the computer chair in the previous room.  She figured out pretty quickly this was not the same search and began to focus on the bunk bed on the right side of the room.  There was a lot of sniffing along the frame until finally her nose dropped to floor level and stopped on the bunk foot.
  After two days of searching and countless times of walking up the hill, I was fried.  Trying to watch Tarot's nose as her body covered two rooms did me in.  I hoped that what I was about to do was right and called the alert.  I was more than relieved to hear the "yes".

  I enjoyed the Interior Element trial, especially for the challenge.  These trials are more intense and need quick decisions not required for the 'standard' trial.  Also, there are no pronounce designations or placements awarded in specialty trials, so the results from the day were pulled from the NACSW's website when they were later posted. We did fairly well.


  Level 1 Interiors

  Tarot was awarded her L1I Title
  Placed 4th in Overall Searches

Tarot's Level 1 Interior Trial - May 8, 2016