Days and weeks speed by quickly when you are in a work crunch. One day it is the beginning of September and the next it is near Halloween. Going from one holiday to the next meant it was Tarot's turn to sniff stuff in trial.
Up until now Niven has been the Nosework trail blazing dog for me. Together we weathered the ORT, NW1 and NW2, allowing me to handle Torch and Tarot through those same levels. It felt weird to be leaving her behind because Tarot was randomly selected to step up and play the part for the third level. If losing a security blanket is hard, try replacing it with Tarot.
There are a lot of 'horror' stories about the NW3 and Elite trials, centered on the behaviors of the uncertain dog, inexperienced handler, and the increased search challenge. I was not sure how well Tarot and I would do, but figured the experience would help direct winter training. I told myself not to panic, relax, stand back to let the dog work, have a blast watching, and learn. It is not like we are searching for bomb parts and tomorrow will be another day if we miss something.
We left the night before and enjoyed a warm night while exploring Hawley, Pennsylvania in the dark. It was not until the next morning that I was able to pull over and view Lake Wallenpaupack from the roadside. Perhaps it was the autumn calm that helped set my mood, but I really did feel relaxed. I honestly thought this day would yield experience and direction only, I rarely thought about completing the title.
Parking and check in were the normal organized chaos, so were the briefing and walk through. I thought the search areas were large and would offer every challenge Tarot could think of, but my biggest concern was how much linoleum there was. The trial was being held at the Wallenpaupack Area Middle School and every search began with traversing slick hallways. I decided my biggest accomplishment of the day would be to get Tarot to walk instead of trying to scramble leg down every hallway because we have to get there, like now! People laughed when I announced my goal, but they had no clue I was being serious.
Tarot and I were listed as team number 2 and our group was to start with the Interior Search. The other group would start with the Vehicle and Exterior search combination. Once both groups completed the three searches, we were to work Containers in numeric order. The hope was to get through the outdoor searches before a predicted storm rolled in.
The great thing about being the second dog "on the line" is you do not have to wait for long. This is good on the nerves when the walk to the ladies room is long.
Interior Search
With each new level the Interior Search becomes more challenging. For the first level you have to search only one room, the second level is two rooms, and the third level is three. If duration is not taxing enough, each level requires a different number of hides to find. The first level only has one hide, the second level can have up to two known number hides per room, and the third and Elite levels can have an unknown number of hides from zero to three or unlimited.
Up until now, I have had the luxury of knowing how many hides we were searching for and have been able to confidently call the finish. The NW3 and Elite levels require the handler to know the dog and identify when the search is complete. Sometimes a hide is located in a place where the dog never alerts and the day is lost. For the first time, I would be handling my first dog through this situation and I had Tarot to do it with.
We have worked these situations in class to high success, but trials offer a different excitement that can never be replicated for training. I was not sure if on a first try we would be able to efficiently pull off successful searches. This would be a real test for how well I could read Chaos Creator as she tried to locate a potential next hide.
Waiting in one of the school's vestibules, the door at the top of the short flight of steps suddenly opened. Tarot immediately caught scent pooling in the hallway and nearly ripped me off my feet by bolting off. The goal was to walk to the first door on the right in organized fashion, but this was a near complete failure. If not for the handle on the harness, Tarot would have leg scrambled on her stomach to the first search.
Room One
The first of three middle school classrooms to be searched, only three quarters of it was in play. There were two groupings of student chairs to the right and a teacher's desk to the left. I already had removed the lead from the harness and Tarot was a bit more compliant approaching the threshold line. We waited for a few seconds and I tried to slowly let go, but she was waiting for this moment and attempted to tear off at speed. Instead of focusing on odor, she had to get her 'linoleum legs' before starting to short step around the room.
Still standing in place, I watched Tarot navigate around the two groups of chairs. Normally she will head straight to a hide, but this time it seemed it was elusive or I had missed the signs. Instead, she spent time cataloging the environment, never moving out to the far wall. I wanted to step forward over the tape line and suddenly realized I was not running AKC FAST. I was allowed to move any where in the room. Feeling pretty dumb, I took a few steps and Tarot immediately went around the teacher's desk to alert on the lower right drawer. I called the alert and was relieved to get a 'yes. Tarot was off again to keep searching.
Having broken my mental block, I wandered to the right side of the room. Tarot was doing a fantastic job of covering the room on her own, but my hope was not to have to put her on lead. My movement worked and Tarot started to work one grouping of chairs to a second hide. I called the alert and got another 'yes'.
We continued to search, but the longer Tarot circled, I realized there was nothing left to cover. I finally called the 'finish' and without fanfare everyone geared up to work the next room.
Room Two
Our hallway navigation went better and Tarot seemed slightly zoned as we walked into the second room. The approach to the start line went much better and we were able to pause a bit longer. This room was laid out in similar fashion as the room before. The teacher's desk was now in a corner on the left and there was a sink on the right wall. Both areas were out of bounds, but could be used for information gathering. In the center were two row groups of student chairs separated by an aisle.
Two steps into her cast off, Tarot's head snapped quickly to the left and I knew something of interest caught her attention. Whatever it was, it was not strong enough to make her turn back. There was another head flick to the left as she moved down the aisle between the two sets of student chairs. It was not enough of a pull and she continued to circle the room.
I watched from near the start line as Tarot moved back and forth along the far wall with no indication of odor source. I slow walked across the room and she started to work the teacher's desk area and along the side wall. Following from near the chairs, Tarot suddenly whipped back to a chart and to started to nose trail down and underneath, stopping. I called the alert, got a 'yes', and we continued on.
Now back at the start line, I tried to get Tarot to go down the center aisle, but she would not follow me. Instead she chose to focus on the side wall to make her way to the back wall with the blackboard. She reared upward appearing to search at the top of the blackboard, but eventually caught source odor on a stool and nose trailed underneath. I called the alert and got another 'yes'.
From this point, Tarot paid more attention to the non-live area around the teacher's desk and I knew we were burning time. If not focused there, she was trying to get odor from above the black board and I wondered if there was truly a third high hide.
I decided to leave that potential high hide and check the center aisle, which meant I had to put her on lead. Once done I had Tarot check the walls and center aisle where there was no interest appearance. If I was leaving a hide behind, it was a good problem to work in class and not in trial. At this time, we also received the thirty second warning on the three minute limit. I continued for a few seconds and called the finish.
Again, there was no fanfare as we got ready to complete our last search. I was worried for Tarot as she was working hard and panting. Navigating the slippery flooring was getting easier.
Room Three
While the first two rooms were identical in layout and content, this third room was different. Long computer tables cut the room into small areas and there was need to get the dog to go deep to the side walls.
I could tell by the way Tarot stiffened as we walked to the threshold line there was odor in the room. She was panting which meant she was not breathing efficiently and this search would be more difficult. I wasted no time in getting to the line and once released she began to fast wander around the bench tables to find the first hide on the edge of the table frame. I called the alert, got a 'yes', and we were off again.
Like the second room, Tarot started to rear up along the back wall and near the black board. I pondered another high hide again, but all I could do is give opportunity to catching whatever may be up there. She stopped at the first hide and I put my hands up, which is a cue to keep going because you found that one. She was off searching with me now following. I was able to get her down each narrow aisle with no indications and I thought there may be a hide in one of the closed laptops on top of the tables. Eventually Tarot went out of the search area and behind the search crew, again showing no indication.
When she returned to the first hide for a second time, I called the 'finish'. If there was a second hide in this room, it was another hide placement to work in training and not at a trial with a time constraint of two and a half minutes.
The only thing that frustrated me about working these hides is not having feedback for how we did. How could I highly praise a dog if there were hides left behind? What does that do for the next trial and a dog's willingness to continue searching? I tried my best to quietly praised and on our way back to the van, party praise as we went.
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| We had survived our first NW3 Interior search. I had no idea if we missed a hide, but I was thankful to have no "No" |
A dog like Tarot is high drive work ethic and starting a long morning with a three room search helped immensely. The morning jitters were removed with back to back searches and pent up dog energy was greatly depleted. It was time to get the Lab back into the crate for thought processing and water for cool down. The rest of the day would be broken into shorter working time frames that would only enhance our performance.
While our group started Interiors at dog number one, the Vehicle and Exterior searches were started at dog number eight. It would be a long wait before we were up again and there was a storm expected to hit the area in the afternoon.
There was supposed to be a lunch break after dog number thirty ran and at last minute this was changed. I went from sitting down to have lunch to having to gear Tarot up for two searches before the storm rolled in.
Both the Vehicle and Exterior searches were to run back to back and were located on the opposite side of the school building. We had to traverse the school hallways to each of four stations before getting to the door that led us outside. This gave us of practice with walking on slippery flooring, which I have to say was marginally respectable. Waiting at each station needs work, though.
Vehicle Search
When we reached the final station, the Steward kept me posted about the weather, as in it was starting to rain. She disappeared and returned a few long minutes later to tell me they were going to continue on with our searches. Walking to the Vehicle search I discovered the wind had picked up and it was blipping rain, but not enough to call a pause to the trial.
There were three vehicles parked nose to rear in a tight driveway. The first was a small pickup truck with two cars parked in front to form a turning line. One the right were two buildings where the walls were a few feet away. At the base were wood pallets and other debris that I knew would be attractive to a dog like Tarot. On the left was a grass area that ended in a corner of the school building. Beyond the last car and along the school building were a set of trash dumpsters and loading dock area.
I was bound and determined Tarot would perform a real Vehicle search and not pass on what we have been known for. Approaching the threshold, it was a short distance to the rear of the truck and I planned to crowd her onto frame body. Once released, that immediately fell apart when Tarot pulled from the vehicle and wanted to sniff the grass and security poles lining the driveway.
There was a long time spent trying to get Tarot to even acknowledge there were cars parked bumper to bumper. Instead there was total interest in getting to the building walls, grass, poles, dumpsters, debris, or anything not resembling a car. The only car part searched was the bumper of the third vehicle and its license plate where the first hide was alerted on.
Completely frustrated, I decided to put Tarot on a vehicle and fast walk to crowd her to sticking to it. Once we completed the perimeter, I called the finish.
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Tarot did not make the Vehicle Search easy |
My head still swimming from what I called a failed Vehicle Search, we were directed to stand under some trees to take cover from increasing rain. For the moment it was not too bad and I had a Labrador who likes adverse weather conditions. We waited while the search crew got into position for the Exterior search and finally we were called.
Exterior Search
In less than a minute, the rain was now streaming down. I watched the falling leaves get blown sideways while I grabbed the harness handle. Stronger wind gusts were blowing through and rain was falling harder. I sighed. This search was going to be whatever it was going to be. If all those years of sitting through school soaked or running Agility with Crumpet during downpours did not provide for this moment, nothing would help.
In May for our NW2 was predicted to rain and I had spent time driving to five different locations with Tarot to work in heavy rains. I knew Tarot speeds up in wet conditions and was not worried rain would slow her down. We would have to survive the wind gusts.
We slow walked to the threshold line and paused for a moment before I let go of the harness. We were searching a landscaped area in front of the main doors of the middle school. Both sides of the island were concrete sidewalks with a grass center. There was a boulder, a few young trees, a light post, and stop sign, plus a bench. Limited in possibilities it would seem until crevices and ground hides are factored in.
Tarot moved forward, stopping quickly to sniff the fire hydrant and continuing to the sidewalk. Almost immediately she turned to work the bench area and finally settled on a spot under it. I had to yell the alert and strain to hear the answer, which was a 'yes'. We continued downwind to work to a light post where she stopped again. I was fairly certain this was a hide, but I wondered if it might be crittering; male dog scent made more pungent by being wet. Tarot looked at me for a second time and I yelled another alert. I could barely hear the return 'yes' and after a fast reward, I headed toward the starting point.
If it was possible, the wind was now blowing harder and Tarot seemed to be unfocused. Either the weather was starting to affect the focus or she was not picking up another hide? I figured there were only the two hides, but decided to check the hydrant and left side of the search area before calling the finish. Tarot stopped at the hydrant and stuck her nose to the cap. I delayed the alert again for the same reason as the pole and finally called it. When there was a 'yes', I knew we had three hides with no more and called the finished.
I did not realize it was now a complete downpour and that I could barely hear anyone. I just knew everyone was smiling while taking cover and we bolted off to the car.
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| I love Exterior Searches, just not during driving rain and high winds |
I am very thankful someone had thrown a tarp over my open car window and closed my tailgate when the storm hit. I was lucky to have clean towels in the van to dry Tarot off and at least clean socks and dry shoes to put on. So much for that new raincoat I just bought that was in the van dry.
The hand warmer packs John, the Gate Steward gave me were perfect. The longer we waited for the Container search, the warmer my jacket pockets became.
Container Search
We only needed to wait at one station before being being called in. Our search was in the back right corner of a large gymnasium and it consisted of three rows of four boxes or luggage. I was not sure what I was expecting from a level three search, but again the horror stories did not match what I had in front of me. I was glad for the familiar pattern, but knew better to think this simple.
By now, Tarot was negotiating the slippery flooring well and the super shiny laminated wood posed no problems. If anything, she was short stepping and dragging me to the line where we paused. Like her mother, Tarot surveyed the boxes and homed in on the box to the immediate left. When released, she went straight to it, sniffed, and alerted. I called the alert and received a 'yes'. For the first time ever, Tarot nailed a threshold box and I had to continue on.
We wandered around and over the other boxes and luggage, while changing direction and patterns a few times. There was a head flick here and there, but nothing definitive. When Tarot hit the first hide box a second time, I gave her the hand cue to keep going, but on the third alert, I called the finish.
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Container Searches were never our strong point, they were this day |
I had time to think through the day's events while the rest of the trial continued on. All I could say to anyone was that I was happy with the way we worked together and with the end result of our performance. We received no "no"s from the judges, so we were at least in running to qualify. The big factor would be if we left any hides behind or if we ran over time. We would need to wait until the Awards Ceremony to find that out.
Having now run my first NW3, there were a few things different from the other level trials that I found I liked.
The parking lot experience was different in that no one was trying to quietly over analyze their search performance. Instead the conversations centered on the psychology of the trial environment and the humans that put themselves through this challenge.
Since none of us know how well our dogs are doing, no one is down on themselves or on their dogs. I am sure there are the exceptions to that observation, but it was nice to experience.
One aspect I did not like is the silence and "thank you" issued by the judge after every search. There is no excitement for the dog or the moan for the handler. I think the dog benefits from the cheering crowd and now have to shift how I reinforce the search.
The last dog was finally called and shortly afterward everyone made their way to the cafeteria. The CO (Certifying Official) had posted the hide results on the wall and everyone was gathered around. Without wearing my glasses, I had to strain to see that Interiors and Vehicles had the number of hides Tarot found. I took a fast photo and sat down to read.
There was a nice overview diagram of each search area and an X where each hide was placed. There were also quick notes to go with each. So far, Tarot found all of the hides and I know I called the finish to end time. I had one search where I got the thirty second warning, but did I call finish before the three minute mark?
Interior
Room #1 = 2 hides
Room #2 = 2 hides
Room #3 = 1 hide
Vehicles = 1 hide
Exterior = 3 hides
Containers = 1 hide
The CO and each Judge stood up to talk about their observations of the hide placements and what they saw from each of the teams. The judge for the Exterior gave Tarot and me the "Maple Syrup Award" for not giving up despite the adverse conditions. We are supposed to go home and enjoy a hot breakfast. I had to hold back the tears for the compliments and cheers.
Element Search placements were announced next and Tarot won second place in Containers, which I find hysterically funny.
I was fairly certain Tarot had titled and it was confirmed when our names were called. There were no pronounced titles for anyone, but we did get three pronounced searches in Vehicles, Exteriors, and Containers.
Over the course of the week I had to share the maple syrup with everyone. Mike and the dogs got pancakes and eggs for lunch and the Wednesday night crew got homemade salted caramel sauce with a syrup base. We all survive Tarot so everyone was sharing.
Tarot
NW3 Title
3 Pronounced Searches - Vehicles, Exteriors, and Containers
2nd Place Containers
5th Place Overall Searches
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Tarot had a fantastic day of NW3 Searches Photographer: Michael Rickenback |
Tarot got her NW3 and first leg toward the Elite title. We need to qualify twice more before that happens and I look forward to the challenge. For now, we go into the winter break where I can apply what I observed. This was such a wild experience.
Hope you all had a great weekend!
Joyce Smuda
www.foxglen.net
