Last weekend we took a real winter scent work road trip to Sioux Falls, SD. When you enter a trial from mid November to mid April, you know there the risk of snow storms or below zero weather is real. I can truly say we hit the weather jackpot on this one! We went to Sioux Falls in November for a trial and it was cold, but this was crazy…in a good way!
Five days before we left on our adventure both major highways we took were closed for two days because of a blizzard. Now they were open, but it was snowing again, and the wind was causing partial white out conditions. Most of the route goes through nowhere, so it only takes a small amount of snow to start blowing and things get white fast. We stopped along the way twice for breaks. All the white wears on the eyes after a while, and Mom just needed a rest.
We stayed at the same hotel this time because it was so nice. With all the snow, there wasn’t much room for walking, but we were alright with short walks to do our business. Saturday morning we were up early and headed out to the trial site. A big thank you to the Sioux Empire Kennel Club for hosting such wonderful trials!
The event took place in a warehouse type building that was real new. It was a lot of fun to search in. Because of the extreme cold, we were allowed to crate in the building to help us all stay warm. Boy was that nice!
The first day, Bailie had eight searches, and I had four. I passed all of mine, and even got a third place in one of my Excellent Interiors searches. Bailie was being Bailie, but she did pass five of her eight searches. We went back to the hotel with a 75% overall pass rate, some pretty qualifying ribbons, Bailie’s Advanced Container Title, and my third place ribbon. After the trial, we went shopping at Scheels, and both Bailie and I were exhausted when we got back to our hotel.
Sunday was so darn cold! It was -16 actual temperature with a -37 wind chill. Brrr… We would both be searching exteriors again in the morning, but we have never practiced in such cold conditions. Because of the cold, we wore our boots to search, and we both did just fine. Bailie was a hot number on Sunday! She passed all six of her searches and got placements in each search as well. Mom and I were not connecting like we normally do, so I only passed three of my six searches. I earned my overall Novice Title which was most important for the weekend. Our overall pass rate was 75% for the entire weekend, and we received placements in eight searches which is amazing for us!
Bailie earned her Advanced Container, Interior, and Exterior Titles. She needs one more Advanced Buried Hide Q for her overall Advanced Title. Mom is so proud of her for how well she worked on Sunday. It really made the trial so much more fun! As you can see, she was pretty exhausted!
I earned my Novice Exterior Title, Overall Novice Title, a third place in Excellent Interiors, and a fourth place in Advanced Containers. The drive home was blowing snow again, and the below zero temperatures. Thankfully, it was not nearly as bad as the trip going to Sioux Falls. Overall, it was a perfect weekend of winter scent work for the three of us! Now for another big snowstorm this weekend for us to travel in!
WOW, that was very impressive girls, we are all very proud of you!
We are proud of ourselves too!
with driving and competing and everything, we don’t know how your mom does it all! We are really impressed with her! Good work on your part Madison and Bailie, but super good work on your mom’s part!! We loved this post! Have a good day, your friend Lilly
Thank you. Driving in these winter storms is not a lot of fun, but we love to do our sports and we love being together. This weekend will be real tough for driving, but we hope we can make it. TGIF
So proud of the three of you. It for someone who does not do scent tracking or competition I have no idea what you are talking about. I am still so proud of you.
It’s something you learn as you learn the sports. We have no idea about obedience or dock diving competitions. One can’t know it all, but we do know we love our ribbons and titles.
All 3 of you worked so very hard, and you did PAWSOME! Alright, alright, alright! Your weather is so fierce. When my mom flew into Duluth to get me we were very fortunate because right after our plane left Duluth they had to close the airport because of the snow and ice. Have a wonderful weekend! XOXO, Sparkle
This weekend it going to be nasty, probably some rain, then a foot of snow. We are hoping to avoid the worst of it. Have a fun weekend!
Even in adverse conditions, you guys did awesome. You’re going to need to get a bigger house for all the ribbons.
Mom is constantly figuring out better ways to manage our ribbons and certificates.
You gals are on a hot roll! Congrats on such a fabulous weekend.
the photo of you 3 with the snowflakes in your hair is beautiful, it has something so special… Congrats for having the best noses of da universe!
It’s hard to take a selfie with three, two with big noses, but we try our best.
Mom worked hard and so did you. Look at all those ribbons.
Have a woof woof day and weekend. My best to your mom. ♥
Mom is always the weak link in our team, but most of the time she got it right. Happy Friday!
Wow – you girls are amazing! We can’t even imagine what -37 degree windchills feels like!
Well, I can tell you for sure, it is cold! We don’t mind for short periods of time.
Congratulations and i hope you have another great weekend in store!
This weekend it is all me. I hope I can do a real good job.
Good luck this weekend girls and safe driving!
With all the snow in the forecast, we may need to rent a sled dog team to get us out of town! Hopefully we can leave early enough to avoid trouble.
Impressive Weekend for you two!
It was amazing. We really had a great time.
Wow. I don’t know how you can take that cold. It may be dry, but cold is cold. Does anything even have scent in -37? Your mom is a trooper. She does all of these trips no matter what the conditions because she loves you so much and wants you to have fun. She’s not a weak link, she just shows her strength in other areas. You and Ballie should make mom a BIG ribbon to hang with yours.
Actually, Mom loves the Arctic cold and that feeling of her face freezing. I know, she is odd, but she has told us her dad loved it too. We don’t mind it if we have our paws covered. It was a super fun weekend!
Doggone you girls have the fun and adventures – as well as the ribbons to show for it! Great job!
We sure have quite the collection, and hope to keep on collecting!
You gals totally rock!! So does your Mama for driving in such snowy conditions! Congrats!!!
xoxo,
Rosy, Jakey & Arty
We don’t have much of a choice if we want to enter trials at this time of year.
Nice haul, girls!
It was cold, but a real fun and successful trip.
Congratulations on such a successful weekend, and all those beautiful ribbons! Your Mom is so much braver than I am, out driving in all that crazy weather! We’re glad you had safe travels in spite of the blowing snow.
If we want to do anything in the winter, we have to drive. She’s been doing it her whole life, so it is normal.
Well done ladies!!! I wonder what you do with all those ribbons.
We hang them up with our certificates when we get them. My calls our office our motivation room.
Congrats! That is a boatload of ribbons. You girls rocked the event!
It was a super successful weekend for both of us!
Wagnificent!,,
Pawfect work my furiends!
3 bum swings! 3 more!💜
Thank you. We are proud of ourselves.
Wow! We are so proud of y’all! I am in awe of your mom’s driving skills. Keep up the pawsome work.
Mom doesn’t like to drive in good or bad weather, but if we want to do things we don’t have a choice, so we all go together.