I’m super excited about my nose work turning point this past weekend! I haven’t done many nose work trials this year, partly because Madison gets in to trials, and I don’t, and partly because team purple was out of motivation. Even our awesome instructor was starting to hit a brick wall with ideas. On a whim Mom tried something with me last week, and it seemed to help, so she implemented it in my trials on the weekend. I earned my L2I Title which I’m super proud of. Emma earned the same title a year ago at the same location. It was her last title, making it a bittersweet one yesterday.
Saturday was an awful weather day, only about fifty degrees, windy, and pouring rain. Nevertheless, sniffing goes on! My first trial was a Level 3 Container Element Trial. Mom hoped I might pass one search, but she really thought it would be a flop. We executed our new plan. No stopping at the start line. Starting a few feet before the start line and running through the search area, stopping, and then Mom told me to get to work. I love it because I always run through the search area anyway, but having her run with me is really fun.
This type of container trial has four searches, and in each one we have to figure out how many hides there are and call finished when we think we found them all. Usually it is a range of 1 – 3 or 1 – 4 hides per search. I did awesome! I found all the hides there were to find, but sadly my teammate, Mom, found one that didn’t exist, which cost us the title. She didn’t listen to her gut and blurted out alert and got a no. No matter, really, we still earned a leg scoring 91.6% for the trial, the best dog after the four who titled.
Even better was all the comments people were giving Mom about how great I looked searching, how happy I was, something that hasn’t happened in eons. It was then lunchtime, so Mom left her wet dog in the car for about forty five minutes while she ate lunch. When she returned she found me shivering and cold. She felt terrible! We let the car run for a while to heat it up, and I got wrapped up in a blanket. I felt much better in no time, but I was not happy about the situation as you can see!
The afternoon trial was a Level 2 Vehicle Element Trial. I only needed a leg to get my title, but I was not in the mood to search vehicles. I was happy, and sniffing, but more the floor, not what I was supposed to search. The trial was at the ice arena, and I got to search a Zamboni. Mom has always wanted to do that, so it was a real highlight for her. We started…running to the Zamboni per our new search method, I hit the front, moved slightly back to the wheel, and alerted all in just fifteen seconds. Mom called it, and we were right. I placed first of twenty five dogs in that search! I never place in these trials, so it was super amazing, and Mom is so very proud of me!
Sunday was a beautiful day out. It was cool and windy, but dry, and sitting in the car was very comfortable in that kind of weather. I had a Level 2 Interior Element Trial. I was sporting my new harness once again, and thinking it may be my lucky harness.
We used our new technique again, and guess what? I found all the hides and earned my new title, L2I! Mom was over the moon proud of me! Overall, the weekend was a huge success. Hopefully we can keep our teamwork rolling and be successful next time I trial. Our searches were super fun, and successful for the most part, which is a huge win! Team Purple is back!
We are joining Comedy Plus for the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Well done Bailie โค I’m so proud of you.
I’m super happy about my weekend!
Congratulations Bailie! The photos are wonderful.
Thank you.
On mom! How could you leave me in the car like that and to top it off you called alert when there was none We need to work on your technique.
Well, we each had our issues. I didn’t feel like searching vehicles, so I guess it all balances out.
Go Team Purple!!! Wow!! Job well done. Congratulations !! put your paws up today! your friend Lilly
I have to go to sniff class and brag about my great weekend!
Oh my dog! What a pawsome weekend for Team Purple! My mom is finally home and letting me have my computer back. XOXO, Sparkle
Hurry and order up some good stuff while she is recovering from her trip! Glad you are back together.
Way to go, Bailie. I’m proud of you too. I was sad you were cold and shivering for 45 minutes while mom had lunch, but she fixed that pronto. You’re a huge Awww.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. My best to your siblings and your mom. โฅ
Since I’m outside a lot in the winter in the snow and super cold, she never thought I would be cold this time of year, but I was wet, and that was the problem. She felt terrible about it, and I milked the situation.
What a great weekend you had – except for the part about being left alone, wet and cold.
The parking lot is full of dogs in their cars because that is what you do at trials, but Mom didn’t realize how wet I was and my furs are thinner than some others. She felt bad.
Concats sweet Bailie๐You have such a sweet face, even if you were not amused in the last picture…so adorably purriceless๐Pawkisses for a Happy Week ahead๐พ๐ฝ๐
I’m a pretty sweet girl most of the time ๐
Congratulations, Bailie! No, you do not look happy in your red blankie but I bet it feels good to you as you warm up.
I love to cuddle up, but I was not happy about being left when I was cold. Mom never thought I would be cold, so it was not really her fault. She warmed me up quickly.
Hip hooray, yahoo, and congratulations!!!
Thank you. We sure had a fun weekend!
Oh my goodness Bailie, we are so proud of you too sweet girl, bravo!!!
It was a really great weekend for Purple.
Congratulations, that is most impressive. So glad you were patient with your human teammate. Sometimes they are a real drag.
Humans would be totally lost without us at this sport!
Congratulations, Bailie and Mom! We understand just how much this means to your Mom, Bailie, great job by both of you to get your mojo back! โฅ
It was so fun, and we had success to boot!
Way to go, big congrats.
Thank you.
Hands clapping and paws waving for Bailie!
My success got me loads of attention which I really loved!
We are so very happy that you have your mojo back!! Congratulations!
It was a truly pawsome weekend for purple!
Congratulations. Great job!
Thank you.