May 6th was another tracking disaster for my sister Bailie. She has been so good about applying herself in her sports since last fall, but for her TDX test, the old Bailie was back.
It was a beautiful morning for tracking. The tracks were damp from the rain on the previous night, it wasn’t too warm, but Bailie had other ideas. Mom was worried she would start in the wrong direction as that is the biggest issue she has in practice. In a TDX test, the track direction is unknown to the handler, meaning the dog needs to sniff it out. Bailie started great, did the first leg like a champ, took the first turn, but then made a U-turn back to the first leg, flopped down and proceeded to roll in something disgusting.
There was no stopping her. Mom said Bailie was just having a blast being so naughty, and decided not to track anymore. After she went off in the wrong direction looking for more stinky stuff, the whistle blew and the test was failed. Mom was so mad, she did not even let Bailie run the track with the track layer.
What does one do at this point? I’m sure everyone is different, but my mom was really angry and didn’t want to take it out on my sister, and she did not want to be around other people. They hopped into the car, and drove to the parking lot where there was a trail down to the river. Walking and photography always relax my mom.
The two of them spent about half an hour wandering down to the river, and through the woods. Bailie was super happy. Mom had some time to process what happened, and clear her head. It was good practice for Bailie to do some modeling, and balancing out in nature.
Being fairly early in the morning, there was no one else around which is just what my mom was hoping for. It was so quiet, they didn’t even see a squirrel!
You may remember, Bailie failed her first two TD tests, pretty much for doing similar nonsense. Mom has realized that Bailie is a girl who puts priority on enjoying life over a good work ethic. You can’t really fault her for that, but it is hard when Mom wants a good work ethic. Thankfully Madison and I have that.
After walking and taking photos, the stress of it all had dissipated, and the two of the headed back home. There will be more tracking practice in the future, and more tests. In the end, the goal is to have fun training and testing with your dog. It’s more than just earning a title, but an honest mistake is easier to forgive than rolling in something disgusting. The question at any test for Mom will always be, which Bailie will show up…the fun one, or the working one?
OH My GOSH! That Bailie is a piece of work, Emma! What a silly girl. Rolling in something disgusting! That’s just what my sister Lilly likes to do!! But the walk in the woods and the pictures seem to have made for a wonderful day. And who could really be mad at a face like Bailie’s!! Thanks for a great Monday morning post! your doodle friend Dash
Mom just gets very disappointed because she knows what Bailie is capable of, but chooses not to do sometimes. A good walk and some photos always relaxes my mom and helps her reset her mind. She doesn’t want to be mad at Bailie which is why she redirects to something fun and positive for them both.
A girl after my own heart. Rolling in mud sounds like fun. Smelling things not so much.
She is a girl who knows how to live a carefree life!
Well, sometimes you got to follow the fun!
And she has no problem with that!
Girls just want to have FUN! My mom was offered another PBGV from my breeder. She is a cutie and we would have loved to get her…but my mom’s back is just not at a good point at this time. XOXO, Sparkle
Oh man, what a bummer. Sorry about your mom. On the other paw, you can remain the queen bee of the house. Maybe another time.
I like the way you found back to your inner pawlance… the mama picked the easy way she ate belgian wafers and cotton candy to heal her ego… but now her stomach is sick, so we better prefer your way to find back to the starting place and to tray it again…
My mom only lets herself eat like that if we do a good job. Then she gets ice cream until she feels ill! Moms can be so weird.
Ballie is a free spirit.
She really is.
Bailie reminds me of my youngest. sometimes she will just not listen, no matter how many times you tell her or go over something, which is why her name is Harlequin Hullabaloo. (Harley). sometimes we have time out and other times i just ignore her when she acts this way, b/c i get madder and i dont want to take it out on her even though she knows better. just like someday she will eat her food and then decide 10 hrs later, she does not like it but then will eat it the next day. i think i spoiled her too much.Bailie does make a good model and your mom takes great pictures
Mom gave up disciplining her and getting angry with her because it is just who she is. She means no harm and is just doing what she feels like doing at the moment.
Nice post!! I had some similar experiences with my Newf, doing Rally, and it took a while to get her titles, to put it mildly. But a sense of humor really does help, and the dog has to be having fun at it all, or why bother? So that was great the way you handled it! Scout once jumped OUT of the ring when I gave the jump command, and landed on top of the laps of two spectators. Even the judge was laughing , and for some crazy reason let her get back in the ring and finish , to get the leg. Scout did the rest of the trial perfectly. But I will never forget that episode, and can still laugh. I yelled JUMP, and she JUMPED, lol
She is a tracking ace, but for some reason, not on that day. One just has to sit back and enjoy her happiness, because we don’t think she will ever change.
Bailie is a lover of life. She enjoys it all, and is a fun loving girl. Some dogs are better at working stuff than others.
She is so good at her sports, but only when she applies herself. She is getting better about taking sports seriously, but she still has days like the tracking test recently where she just didn’t feel like it. Madison and I are pretty much all business with our sports.
Your poor Mom! She needs to talk to Bailey about financial responsibilities! Or realize that Bailie is Bailie, and she will bail when the opportunity presents itself. Wait til Madison passed her up!!! Guess we moms get what the kids we need – not the kids that we want all the time.
Bailie has wasted a lot of money with her nonsense over the years, but she is such a happy girl, once can’t really be too angry about it. She is also the type who doesn’t care if everyone else passes. As long as she has fun failing, it is what counts for her.
That Bailie is a free spirit who doesn’t seem to want to be tamed! There are times Luke is sniffing at something when we’re walking, and just ignores me completely when I tell him it’s time to move on – it’s so frustrating when they just don’t listen!
We’re glad your Mom found a way to cool down and enjoy some time with Bailie taking some photos – and they are wonderful photos!
Once Bailie has something in her head, it is impossible to get her do do something else. We are a stubborn breed, mom is stubborn, and sometimes things get tough because of that. At this point, Mom is pretty used to Bails and her antics, but it doesn’t make it much easier.
Your mom is a very wise woman. Sorry the trial was so frustrating.
A fail is fine with Mom if we work and try, but with Bailie, she often forgets about that and just opts to quit and have some fun. It is life with Bailie.
Bailie is such a silly girl. Rolling in stinky stuff should be considered scent work too! BOL! I’m sorry that it didn’t work out but you’ve found a great way to decompress and that’s important.
My sisters will just keep practicing and hope to get a spot in another trial down the road in the fall. There are no tests in the summer because of the heat.
Sounds like your Mama has a great way of decompressing with your cute and free spirited sister!
xoxo,
Jakey, Arty & Rosy
She is definitely a free spirit, but with her zest for life it is hard to be too upset about her poor decisions.
She had her naughty pants on! Those are some great photos thou.
Bailie always does what she wants to do and you can’t change her mind. It is the challenge of Bailie.
Great article with awesome pictures. A muddy walk sounds like fun!
Thank you. It was a good way to clear the head after a bad tracking fail.
That’s exactly how I feel when Rye goes for cones after one or two jumps–mistakes are ok when they’re something that happens because you’re really trying and communication just fails, but the free for all, party girl attitude gets old fast 😉 I’m glad that your mom and Bailie were able to regroup with a nice walk afterwards.
Bailie has gotten better, and Mom was not at all prepared for what happened. Hopefully she will get a test spot again down the road and use it more wisely. Life with the life of the party is not always easy!
I can see why Mom was so mad. I’d have been steaming! I’m just guessing here, but I’m wondering if some exercise before the trial might settle her down? You know they say a tired dog is a good dog. Maybe she’s too refreshed from sleeping and has too much energy to spend.
Actually, it may have been the opposite problem. They were by Green Bay for a nose work trial the day before and got home late after a 5 hour drive, got up early for the tracking test. Mom was exhausted, and Bailie doesn’t sleep much in the car. Who knows. It is Bailie life!