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