Gimme did very well, finding all her hides with good solid times. Her focus was very nice and even though one of the hides was a bit on the hard side for NW1, she still found them all. The only downside was that she marked in the exterior element. Marking is an elimination fault and would keep us from titling that day, no matter how well she does otherwise.
We started with the warm-up boxes and I was very happy to see that she didn't whack all the boxes. She sniffed the first two, went right past the next and straight to the fourth box and indicated it. That was certainly promising.
Our first element was exterior and as I said, she marked in the grass. We'll continue working on that and in the meantime will pray that our exterior and vehicle searches are on concrete at the trial. It didn't help that where this was set up, is a spot where everyone potty walks their dogs before classes. I'm going to take my camera with me next time we walk Capitol lake and video her and see if I can find other precursors. Sometimes she does a little sidestep into position, but didn't this time. I have to confess a sharp "No" and a reflex jerk on the line happened - the look she gave me was priceless.
The hide was in a hard spot and while she went by it the first time with just a nod, she was one of the few NW1 dogs that found it. As a tribute to her scenting abilities, I noticed she also paid attention to the two places where I'd set odor for Mick on Thursday. So that's pretty impressive that she caught that residual, especially since the odor we'd set was in tiny plastic containers, so none of it actually touched the area. It took her 1:42, including the naughty-potty and restarting her.
Our next element was the container drill. I was thrilled that she did this in very nice time. She actually indicated the correct box early, but didn't stick it. She indicated two other wrong boxes and whacked two more in passing. So that is already a bit of improvement from our little exercises, even though there isn't that much showing in actually doing them. The second time she stuck the odor box and was very insistent. She did this in 25 seconds... probably would have been 5 seconds if she'd stuck it the first time.
Then she had a nice long break in the car - about an hour and a half before our second set.
Next was the vehicle element. There were three cars/trucks set in a triangle. We lost some time because we started up the wrong side... it was just in front of us. She was tending to be drawn away from the vehicles as we walked around those two, but in hindsight I think that was because she clearly knew there was no odor there. When we got around to the third one, she was right on business and very close to the exact spot rather quickly. It was up under the edge of the truck, but behind the running board/step. So she had a little trouble deciding exactly where it was, but when she did, she paw whacked right on the step in line with where it was hidden. All that in 58 seconds.
We followed that with the interior search. Gimme quickly scanned the entire room and then was all over/under/around one table, finally settling on the chair. When she persisted in one corner of the chair, I called alert and she was right again. That took 32 seconds.
All of those are very solid times. I was pleased that she was very focused and determined. Even though I've been trying to teach her a nose touch indication, it doesn't seem to be progressing. She paw whacked all these hides. There is the possibility of being faulted if she paw whacks a vehicle abusively, but as time goes on she is moderating the forcefulness of her whacks (except on boxes). I'll keep working on the nose touch indication, but am prepared to accept the paw if need be.
Gimme and Meaggi are both very tired (as am I). They were stuck hanging out in the car in their crates all afternoon after our part of the match, because I was volunteering for NW2.
We had a preponderance of small terriers (Border, Westie and Cairn) for NW2 and I have to admit I was surprised to see what great little scenting dogs they are. I hadn't expected that, but, of course, it makes sense, since they are bred to locate and exterminate vermin.
All in all a fun day and I feel very positive about Gimme's abilities for the trial in three weeks. Do cross every body part you can spare that she does as well as she did today AND that our exterior element and vehicles are on concrete.
BTW I should have the video for the match in a few days and when I do will get it all on line for your viewing pleasure.
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