As you know if you follow me, I earned my NW1 Title (Nose Work Level 1 Title) July 18th. Since a title is earned by finding hidden odor, no photography is allowed except by NACSW photographers during the trial. The photos are now available and I wanted to share some of them with you. Note, Mom and I are a team, and since I always wear red, Mom always dresses to match. I’m very particular about how we look, not just how we work!
The Nose Work Trial was held at Afton Alps Ski Resort at the Meadows Chalet. I have marked the four search areas with arrows. There were forty dogs entered, I was dog two in group B which means I was the sixteenth dog to run in the morning two searches and the second dog to run in the afternoon two searches. To earn a NW1 title, a team must find the hide in all four searches in the allotted time.
We started off the day with the exterior search. We had three minutes for our search. The start line is marked by a tape and two cones. Time starts when my nose crosses the line.
I was searching the asphalt pretty well! It was very hot, humid, and sunny out. The extra cones you see here mark the search area boundaries.
“Alert” is what I’m telling Mom here. I found the hide in the wheel of the cart you see on the right side here.
Time to “get paid” for my work. My search time for this exterior search was 0:24.14 which placed me as the sixteenth fastest dog. The three fastest dogs in each element get a ribbon and the three fastest overall get a ribbon. Speed is not my thing, I prefer to be slower and methodical.
Off to our next search which was vehicles. We had to walk up the hill to the back of the chalet in the heat. I was excited to search more and was pulling Mom along.
Mom was pretty nervous, so I stopped to smell the flowers along the way. It was my way of saying “relax, I’ve got this”.
On this day, there were two vehicles to search. I searched one and found nothing and moved on to the second vehicle.
I had three minutes once again to find the hide. In Nose Work Level 1, all the hides are the birch odor.
“Alert” Mom! I found it right here on the back of the car! My time here was slow, 0:49.65 and I placed twentieth. I was getting slow because of the heat.
Time to get paid once again for my work. See how happy Mom is. We now have two of four, half way to our title.
Our third search was in the afternoon and was containers in the A-Frame part of the chalet. There was no a/c, so it was rather warm and stuffy. See my tongue? I’m thinking about my reward and my nose hasn’t even crossed the start line yet!
Time to sniff these boxes. I find boxes soooo very boring. I try to fool Mom a lot when I work boxes because I don’t like them.
Mom has learned to read me and tell if I am fibbing or if it is the real thing when I seem interested.
Going down the second row, I’m finding some odor and it is getting interesting.
Here it is, “alert”. I placed twenty fifth here with a time of 0:29.84.
There are no photos of the interior search as the room was really tiny and rather dark, it was the final search. I found the interior hide fairly quickly with a time of 0:21.13 which was ninth place. Once I heard the yes, the fourth one of the day, I had my NW1 Title. I placed sixteenth overall for time with 2:04.76. Mom and I were both so very happy!
Photographer Vahneesa Norberg took the exterior search photos, and Photographer Caprise Adams took all the rest. I purchased these photos for my own personal use. Please do not use or copy them without permission.
I’m co hosting the FitDog Friday Blog Hop with SlimDoggy, and To Dog With Love! Please join us on Fridays to share your fitness stories with others, find new ways to have fun, and new fitness ideas too! Tell your friends to stop by as well – fit dogs are healthier, happier dogs!
Kari Neumeyer says
August 7, 2015 at 00:07Congratulations! You look great! Speed is overrated anyway. Better to be thorough. 🙂
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 06:13Bailie tends to be the speed one, I’m always serious and methodical when I work.
M. K. Clinton says
August 7, 2015 at 01:07We are so proud of you both! Of course, y’all look adorable in your matching red. Slow and steady always wins the race. ♥
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 06:14I bet you would be just like me, Bentley! I just want to make sure I get it right.
Whitley Westie says
August 7, 2015 at 01:44A big congrats!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 06:14Thank you.
Sparkle the PBGV says
August 7, 2015 at 05:05We absolutely love the expression on your face when you “alert!” Then you look so smug with your ribbon. Finally, being the very first GBGV to earn that title….ATTAGIRL! XOXO Sparkle the PBGV and the mom
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 06:15Getting the title is so awesome, and to be the first one representing my breed makes it even more special. Mom said I had some “attitude” going on for a few days because I was very proud.
Sparkle the PBGV with the CGC says
August 7, 2015 at 06:24You earned that “attitude!” 🙂 The mom and I are so thrilled I have CGC after my name! Sparkle the PBGV with the CGC
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 09:26It is pretty cool isn’t it! Bailie and I have our CGC certificates on the wall in our office 😉 Titles are made to be proud of as they represent hard work. If everyone had titles, they wouldn’t be worth anything.
Earl Lover says
August 7, 2015 at 05:58Go Emma, you’re fab!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 06:16My sports aren’t quite like yours where there are events all the time, but when here is an event and I can title, it is pretty special. Thanks for your support.
Brian says
August 7, 2015 at 06:53You are so amazing and we’re so very proud of you! That takes a lot of work and you handled it like a real pro!!!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 09:26Thank you. Mom tells me I’m amazing and hard working all the time. I do my best and I love to sniff.
2 Brown Dawgs says
August 7, 2015 at 06:58Very nice. Congrats again.
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 09:27Thank you.
Sue says
August 7, 2015 at 07:28Congrats! Love the photos and explanation of how this works. Good job, Emma!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 09:27Thank you. It looks pretty easy, but it is a lot of work narrowing down where that tiny hide is located and then getting Mom to read me correctly.
Golden Daily Scoop says
August 7, 2015 at 07:28Congrats, how cool!!! Slow and steady always wins, great job!!!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 09:28That is me, the dog with a plan and no rush.
Dogs N Pawz says
August 7, 2015 at 07:40Congratulations Emma! Great job!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 09:28Thank you. I’m quite proud of myself and so is Mom.
SlimDoggy (@MySlimDoggy) says
August 7, 2015 at 08:07Thanks for sharing the photos Emma, It’s fun to see you at work. Congrats again on your title!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 09:29I could work forever, even though it really wears me out. I love it.
Dolly the Doxie says
August 7, 2015 at 08:37Very impressive Emma! And good work on your mom’s part too, you guys are a great team! Love Dolly
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 09:29Mom is learning more and more, so we are getting to be a better team. We work well together, Bailie is a bit more difficult. She has her own style.
dorysbackyard says
August 7, 2015 at 08:46We just love watching you Emma, you are so very professional!
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 09:30Thank you. I do take my searching very seriously, and nothing really distracts me. I love doing a good job and making my mom happy with a correct alert.
kimberlygauthier says
August 7, 2015 at 09:11I am so excited to see this post. I’ll have to go through this site to find all of the posts on nose work. As soon as my life settles down, I want to start a series and it’ll be helpful to link back to your posts here. Zoey is going to get started on nose work and to start, a trainer in our area gave me some tips and my neighbors up the road do nose work with their pack so they offered to help get me started too. I’ll be working with Zoey slowly until we can find a trainer or a class. I think she’ll be great with it and it’ll boost her confidence too.
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 09:34That is awesome! We started posting way back in the beginning classes, so we can see how things have changed, fun places we have searched and our trials. We hear from many humans that their dogs have gained a lot of confidence through nose work. It is an awesome sport for so many reasons. You can do it almost anywhere, you don’t need lots of space or equipment, and any aged dogs and humans can do it. It definitely helps dogs and humans work together and learn to read each other too. We just love it. I would love to see how it goes for you, so we will be looking for your posts!
FitPAWS says
August 7, 2015 at 10:06Congratulations Emma! Way to go!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 10:12Thank you!
Ellen Shedlarz says
August 7, 2015 at 10:42So proud f you Emma. Well done.
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 12:47Thank you. I am quite proud and so is Mom.
Talent Hounds says
August 7, 2015 at 11:04You guys make the best team! Congrats both of you 🙂
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 12:48Thank you. Mom seems to finally be getting her act together which I appreciate. A dog can only help a human out so much!
Jenna,Mark “HuskyCrazed” Drady says
August 7, 2015 at 11:53Oh wow, that is SO SO very cool!!!!! Way to go!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 12:49Thanks! We love doing nose work. I enjoy the work and Mom enjoys being amazed at my talents.
Jan K says
August 7, 2015 at 14:24Awesome job, Emma! You and your Mom are quite the team, and I love how you wear matching colors. You look so proud with your big ribbon there, and you deserve to be. It doesn’t look like you let the heat get to you, and I think your finishing place was very respectable!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 14:41Mom was surprised I was in the top half for time as she says I’m slow, but I like to be methodical and make sure I get it all right. I am still real proud of myself!
karen Meldrum says
August 7, 2015 at 14:26Congrats Emma, you made your mom proud!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 14:41She was so proud of me and of our team work! I love nose work!
Barbara Rivers says
August 7, 2015 at 15:08Nice work, Emma & Joy! The heat would have slowed me down, too ~ pretty pawsome of you to pull Mom up hill 😉
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 15:36I am always in a big rush to get to a search, but when I am done, Mom has to pull me as I want to keep working!
De Hufford says
August 7, 2015 at 15:46Great job, Emma! Congrats to you and your mom!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 16:05Thank you. We are still real proud and excited about it!
meghan says
August 7, 2015 at 16:14Congratulations! I love how good you are at communicating with your mom–from your sweet “alert!” face to telling her to chill out, you’ve totally got this. 😀
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 17:31Thank you. I let her think we go to classes to train me, but it is really Mom who needs the training. She is finally starting to get the hang of it 😉
Tenacious Little Terrier says
August 7, 2015 at 16:15Congrats, Emma! Awesome job and I love your matching outfits. I’ll have to coordinate our outfits at the next trial ha!
Emmadog says
August 7, 2015 at 17:32Always remember, Mr. N., it is not just what you do, but how you look doing it!
The Island Cats says
August 7, 2015 at 18:03That’s pawsome, Emma. Congrats!
Emmadog says
August 8, 2015 at 06:00Thanks. I work hard at my sport and Mom says I deserve a title.
Groovy Goldendoodles says
August 7, 2015 at 18:22A-Mazing, you did doodle*tastic. Congratulations again.
Emmadog says
August 8, 2015 at 05:59Thank you. I love to sniff!
Diane Silver (@ToDogWithLove) says
August 7, 2015 at 22:50Awesome to see the photos! And, there’s always time to stop and smell the flowers!! Congrats on a job well done!
Emmadog says
August 8, 2015 at 06:03I’m a dog who doesn’t like to be rushed along, so for me there really is always time to stop and smell the flowers.
Hawk aka BrownDog says
August 8, 2015 at 19:43Hi Y’all!
Congratulations! I say methodical means no mistakes! That was the important thing. You and your Mom are quite a team!
Y’all come on back,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Emmadog says
August 9, 2015 at 05:24That is exactly how I feel, and now that Mom is starting to get the hang of things, we are going to be super good!
somethingwagging says
August 10, 2015 at 07:14Congratulations, Emma. Great job for both of you.
Honey moves very quickly when she’s searching for something. But it doesn’t necessarily translate into a faster find.
Sometimes all that movement is just a distraction.
Glad to see you took the cool approach.
Emmadog says
August 10, 2015 at 08:05Bailie is the speed demon, but she often blows by stuff in her rush, I tend to go slow and let it smack me in the nose!
sughra says
August 11, 2015 at 04:01You are so amazing and we’re so very proud of you! That takes a lot of work and you handled it like a real pro!!!Dogs
Emmadog says
August 11, 2015 at 05:48Thank you. I love doing nose work and I really work hard at it.
Sand Spring Chesapeakes says
August 16, 2015 at 11:34What a great day and some really nice photos to show us how you did. Congrats again.
Emmadog says
August 16, 2015 at 12:09Thank you. Now I’m working on my getting ready to try for the next level, probably not until next year since it is hard to find a trial around here, and then to get a spot.