Element Specialty Trials are a fun part of nose work. They are more fun based and relaxed than regular nose work trials, but are not always easy. On Labor Day I was entered in Level 1 Exteriors in Hudson, WI. I passed which gives me all four Level 1 Element Specialty Titles. This is also my first title of any sort ever earned outside Minnesota.
At level 1, most trials consist of four separate searches, each one having one birch hide. Times are much shorter than most regular trials. My searches were 1:30 or 1:00 in length which is not a lot of time to find a hide. It had rained all night and into the early morning, making things soaking wet too. Nevertheless, I got my paws into motion, nose to the grindstone, and found all the hides earning me my title! My mom did pretty well too. Remember, she is the one who is usually the problem team member!
I now have all my Level 1 Element Specialty Titles which means now I will start working on my Level 2 Titles. In case you don’t remember the other Level 1 Titles, I will recap for you:
- I got my very first every nose work title in May 2015, at an elementary school. It was my Level 1 Vehicle Title.
- My second element title, Level 1 Containers, was earned at Buckhill in October 2015 at Buckhill Ski Area.
- This June 2016, I earned my Level 1 Interior Title at the Hasse Arena.
- The Hudson Civic Ice Arena was the place for my title on Labor Day, my Level 1 Exterior Title.
I’m still busy, proudly making GBGV history being the only GBGV with all four element titles, as well as my NW1 and NW2 Titles. Bailie will now work hard to secure her spot as the second GBGV to get the titles too!
Because I know many of you like to see me in action, I put two of my four videos together for your viewing pleasure. The first search I found the hide in just 11 seconds which is lightning fast for me. Sometimes I get laughed at for being so slow but I don’t care. I am methodical and thorough. In the second video, there is a lot to see. Watch how right as I start I stop to sniff grass. I was not doing nose work, so Mom nudged me with her leg. For me it is best if she doesn’t talk much. I respond to movement much better. Next I go right to the hide, but as I’m about to signal alert, the barking dogs distract me. I lose my train of thought for a moment, but then get back on track and give Mom the alert. That second search had a lot going on in it, but I made it through.
Congrats Emma!!! and it is even purple, so it must be made for you!!!! it’s amazing how cool you worked without taking notice of that car and the loud engine (was it a motorbike?)… well done!!!!!
The search area was in a really busy spot, but Mom knows me. I am very serious once I start working, so it any dog had to work in that area, she was glad she was with me!
You are absolutely pawsome, Emma! You even ignored that other doggy walking her human as you searched. CONGRATULATIONS to both of you. XOXO, Sparkle
When the two dogs started to bark right as I was on the odor, Mom saw our title blow up, but I was only distracted for a few seconds and then got back to work.
Congrats from all of us! We sure are proud of you!!!
Thank you. I’m pretty proud of myself.
Horray..Congrats. You work so hard and all that pays off.
We do put a lot of time and effort into nose work at my house, but we all love it and we do pretty well at it.
Congratulations on a job well done! Your hard work has paid off. Good luck as you work on Level 2!
Still a lot of work to be done, and titles to be won, but we all enjoy it.
We are so doggone proud of you, Emma! You are rocking at nose work. ♥
Thank you. I’m pretty proud of myself too. Lots more hard work ahead, but it is fun work using my nose!
We’re so proud of you and your Mom, Emma! We love seeing you in action, and now that we’re just starting to learn about this ourselves, it’s even more interesting. We have such a long way to go and so much to learn but you definitely inspire us!
We still remember our first classes and it all sounded so difficult and like something we might never accomplish, but before you know it, you are on odor, passing your ORT, and entered in your first trial. It is truly addicting!
Way to go!
Thanks.
That second search looked very challenging. Congrats on your title.
The search itself was easy, but the distractions made it tough.
You totally rock, Emma!!!
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
Thank you. I think of myself as the nose work queen. Mom says I have a nose work attitude.
Mowsers, that’s pawesome! Concats to you AND your mom!
Thank you. Cat bro Bert sometimes trains with us, but he isn’t very good.
A job well done! Big congrats to you both!
Thank you.
Woof, woof! Canine congrats, Emma. Well done!
Your fur-iend,
Sam?
Thank you! I’m thrilled with myself!
I’m a little late Emma, but congratulations on your NW1, NW2 and Level 1 Elements Title. You really do a great job on your nose work searchs.
Thank you. I work hard at it, and it is a lot of fun.
Please post more of these!! I learned so much watching your exterior search. We have a similar “start” or mental mgmt. I also hold Walter’s harness at the start line. Then I like how much space you give and how you’re not on top of Emma. Were those barking dogs an intentional distractor?
Giving a dog space is so important. Mom likens it to trying to enter your pin number at an ATM and a stranger crowding you trying to see what you are doing, you stop entering it until you get some privacy/space…give the dog space to work so they feel comfortable and you don’t block odor. That particular search had tons of coincidental distractions with the cars, there were bikes, joggers, and the guy whose dogs barked right as I was on odor. The judge tried to motion to him to stop, you can see it real quick in the video, but he didn’t pick up on it. Luckily, I take my work seriously, or it would have been a disaster.