Plainfield, IL was our road trip destination the last weekend in January. Mom, me, a six and a half hour drive, and some nose work. We had high hopes coming off a great trial in December, but with the first search those hopes were dashed. It turned out to be a bad weekend for most competitors with only two of sixty dogs earning a title. One of the two titles was a friend of ours, which was the only real bright spot.
The Candlelight Suites
We decided to stay at a Candlelight Suites for the first time ever. It was actually a really nice, dog friendly place! The room was spic and span, and had everything we needed for a night. The front desk staff was super friendly, and even remembered my name. They said “hi” to me every time I cruised through the lobby. We will definitely stay at one again if it is an option.
The Trial Location
The next morning we had a half hour drive to Plainfield, IL, where the trial was being held at a school. It was January, so it was a bit chilly, but not too bad. It was really windy, though, and that made it feel colder than it was. We got really lucky with the weather for traveling, and the trial itself.
As I said, we had high hopes of doing well, but when Mom went on the walkthrough to see the search areas, she got a bit nervous. You see, I’m a very good sniffer, but I am slow, and cannot be rushed. I cover every inch of the search space with my sniffing machine, and then go back and locate the odor very precisely. This kind of detailed work takes time, and at the NW3 level, time is short. There were four vehicles with a three minute search time, the interior rooms were big and full of stuff with only two and a half minutes for the first two. Remember at the NW3 level, the number of hides to find is also unknown. Mom remained positive and said to me, “We got this, right, Emma?”
My Vehicle Search
My number was in the middle, so I was the fifth dog of thirty to do vehicles as my first search. I was off to a great start. A fast or faster dog, like Bailie, would go right to that first hide as it was super windy, blowing odor at me. For me, I needed to find the edge, and track back to the actual hide on the license plate. Yahoo!
There could be one or two more hides out there, so we needed to keep moving. I wasn’t really working much except for the passenger side of the van but I didn’t seem to want to commit to anything. Mom forced dragged me around the other three vehicles. She really felt there was odor on the van, but I wouldn’t say where. Mom called finish, and we, of course, missed the one in the front driver wheel well of the van. In Mom’s brain, she was certain we left a hide which meant no title. Such a nice start with the first hide, but then things went downhill.
My Exterior Search
My best search of the day was my exterior search. You can see how I have no sense of urgency once again. I’m enjoying wandering and sniffing. Even when I catch the odor on the table, I take my time to get to it. This search was amazing, as I started to run and hop at the end. I have never done that during a search before! Clearly I was having fun, and I was telling Mom we are done searching this area.
Our Revised Strategy Going Forward
The conclusion from this trial is that Mom cannot keep doing this with me the way it is. She feels we are locked in a rut with a downward spiral. Bailie is now at the NW3 level, and searches very differently from me, and Madison is a sniffing speed machine chomping at the bit to get into some beginner trials at the NW1 level.
- Going forward, only Bailie will enter any NW3 trials that come up out of town. She has her first one in Wisconsin next month. We can always rethink things in a few months depending on how this strategy works.
- Because I am slow and thorough, Mom will try to find venues with smaller room spaces for interior searches. I do well in busy small rooms, but run out of time in busy large rooms.
- If Bailie and I both get into local trials, she will choose which one of us gets to compete by the venue.
- The plan is, by trialing with Bailie, Mom will get a fresh perspective, hopefully some success, and be pulled out of this rut we are in.
- Madison will also be competing at the NW1 level when she can get a trial spot. NW1 is so easy compared to NW3, it is a relief and morale booster for Mom.
- Both my sisters are fast and don’t waste time like I do. Mom knows I love the sport, so I will continue to compete, but for now, my sisters may have more opportunities.
- Mom is very sad because she wants me to earn at least one NW3 title but it is not happening. The long drive home, she talked to me about all kinds of nose work things, and I’m okay with the plan. Sometimes a break of some kind is helpful in rekindling the spark we need to get that title.
The main thing is I had a blast! For me the two days of mommy and me time, the road trip, and the trial were a lot of fun. Mom is the one who has the problem with not getting a title. Thankfully, my sisters may be able to step up, and do some great things this year to help Mom and I work better together in the future.
You sniffed out plenty of wonderful Mom time and that’s always the best!
Yep, for me that is all that matters. Mom wants to get titles too, but it doesn’t matter much to me.
I can see how different search styles would have such an impact. You are just thorough, and very sure. That takes time.
Mom loves to work with me, because we understand each other really well, and she trusts me, but we don’t have enough time. We will see how things progress with my sisters.
yes, the main thing is you have fun! … does it distract you and the other pups to smell other doggies around and at the vehicle ? is there one car for all or is there always a new car for every dog?
Same searches for all thirty dogs. I am only bothered if I smell my sisters. That makes me made because it means I didn’t get to sniff first.
Sounds like you & your mom had a pawsome time travelling & having an adventure all to yourselves; that’s wooftastic!
What’s that saying the huMans use, ‘It’s how you play the game that matters.’
Nose nudges,
CEO Olivia
True. Mom is just frustrated and she says we can’t keep giving away the green paper stuff and getting nothing. Not sure why that green paper is so important to humans.
I can only imagine how difficult it is to not know how many hides there are, that must be so stressful for your Mom! We think the important thing is that you have fun, but also understand your Mom’s reasoning. It takes money and time to do all that traveling, and we can see wanting to have some success for all that effort. We think you’ll figure it out. We love watching your slow and steady pace, Emma, so that little run at the end was really surprising! 🙂
I’ve just been super happy the last couple weeks and that showed it. In four years of nose work, I’ve never done that in a trial.
You weren’t very far from me! I sometimes drive rescue transports dropping off or picking up in and around Plainfield. When I had my hound rescue, one of my best fosters lived just outside of Plainfield. Glad you had a positive experience at the event there!
Bailie is hoping to get into a trial in Joliet at the Speedway in April. We will find that out in a week or so. Nice area around there. IL has a lot of trials as does eastern WI, so we get out there a couple times a year.
The impawtent thing for you is the Mom and Me fun time, just like for Shadow. That’s why I try to give her at least 15 minutes with just me every morning, before hubby and Ducky horn in on us. ❤️
You’ll get a NW3 title at some point, I’m sure. But I can understand your Mom’s point of view, too.
I always get my own walks which Mom and I love. I’m so easy to walk these days, but I love spending time with her whenever I can.
It are probably a good plan. And da most important thing are dat ya had fun.
I had a really great time. For Mom it was more stressful.
You two obviously had a blast! I like how your mom thought it all through and made a plan after the trial. I have only one suggestion – and that is to consider a Fenzi course. Stacy Barnett teaches their higher level courses, and I bet that she might help teach you to search with more urgency (if you took a course at Gold so that she could observe you). Just an idea… Obviously, your mom knows exactly what she is doing (far more than I do!) and does such an awesome job with all three of you. Having fun is most important, and she knows that!
Every trial is a learning experience whether you title or not. Mom did order a Fenzi class last year because Madison was finding all the hides and never alerting. We got some great tips to get her to stick on the odor and finally start to tell Mom about it as well. We have a friend in WY who has trained with Fenzi and loves it. Here we have classes with some amazing instructors and have attended some seminars and nose work camp. I’m a tough problem because I have been slower and thorough from day one. I was faster four years ago, but with age have slowed. Some days I’m faster than others too. Mom is competitive and determined, so I’m sure we will figure it out. Fenzi is a great option to have for tough issues, we agree totally with that.
Y’all make a great team. The judges need to realize that perfection takes time! #AmIRight? You have the prettiest nose there too. Just sayin’
Mom wishes they gave out awards for slowest search time because I would have a chance. They only award the top three fastest times!
You said it Emma, the most important thing is that you had a blast!
xoxo,
Rosy, Arty & Jakey
I will continue to have a blast whenever I do nose work, but for a while, I may not be traveling.
Thanks for the tip on the hotel! We are looking for a good place to stay on our trip south…sans motorhome 🙁 Haven’t had to look at hotels in a LONG time! We are sure that you and your mom both had a blast going on your road trip…and that is worth a lot! We are very confident that your mom will figure it all out! In the meantime…have fun!
I am a tough puzzle to solve. The Candlelight Suites also have kitchenettes in the rooms which you might like. We didn’t need out kitchen, but it was there.
Emma – you’re a trailblazer! You set the path for your two sisters, so now it might be time for you to take a nose break and chart a new journey! Whether you decide to take a break – or set your sights for unchartered water – whatever it is and whatever you do, I know you will give it your best, and you can count on the boys and I following right along!
Thank you. It’s a tough thing for Mom and me to figure out, but we are all in this sniffing together and will find our way.
I’m sorry you didn’t get your search but glad you had a safe trip and time. I think you were at the same place as my Facebook friend who lives in IL I remember her saying she went to a trial and only a couple dogs did well. I thought wow. Next time you’ll get it.
Who is your friend? We might know her as the same people tend to attend the same trials all the time.
I think that is a marvelous strategy for going forward! Good luck to all three of you
We’ll give it a try and see what happens.