Sunday I had my first Elite Nose Work Trial of 2024. Mom and I struggled in 2023, losing all our points in two of our four trials. We got some help and set some goals for our first trial of the year. I’m thrilled to say we achieved all our goals and had a wonderful time sniffing. The trial was held at a Middle School in Bloomington. It was snowing and sleeting all day long but that didn’t hinder us one bit!
We had four searches, all inside because of the weather. Mom was operating with one arm, but I am a good girl, so no worries there. Our goals were:
- Keep our points which means we have to earn over forty three out of one hundred points.
- Earn at least fifty five points to get my Elite 1 Title.
- Have fun, and I should be working hard and telling Mom about hides all day.
Mom used to not understand how people could not earn forty three points. Olivia almost always had eighty to one hundred points. My sister and I are very different when it comes to sports. Mom got a crash course in that last summer. Now we are building our own path through Elite and having fun doing it.
At the end of the day, I had fifty eight points. That is the most I have earned in all five trials and three more than I needed. I earned this nice big and fancy Elite 1 ribbon, and had so much fun sniffing and working hard all day with my mom.
Also exciting for our family, is that I am only the second GBGV to earn an Elite 1 Title. Olivia, of course, was the first and she did it in two tries. Our names will forever be on the top of this list, and we are sure Nelson will join us very soon. Mom never thought I would even make it into Elite, so to be there and get the first title is huge. There are three more Elite titles to earn, but it will be a while. The Elite Champion is one thousand points, so I have a way to go. Mom and I will go at our own speed and enjoy the time we have to play this sport.
Now I get another frame on our office wall with my new certificate and my big ribbon hanging on it. Ribbons sure do make nice wall decorations in the home office!
Last but not least, I have this photo of me at the school with my new ribbon. It is way to long for me to wear. I didn’t want it to be in the snow, so we hung it from the sign. It sure was a fun day for Team Pink in Elite Nose Work. I hope Mom and I can continue to grow as a team and reach more goals as we continue on our nose work journey. For now, we are just super thankful for what we accomplished.
I’m joining Brian’s Home Blog in the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
Congratulations, Madison! You look right at home sitting in that snow pile☺
We all love snow here, and I had such a fun mommy and me day doing nose work. It was a wonderful day.
Congratulations Madison! Persistence eventually pays off!
Elite is a level where teams really build a bond and start becoming a real team. Mom and Olivia were good when they started elite, but through those twelve trials they did, they became almost mind readers, one in the same. Mom says she felt like something is starting to click with us and with more trials, it will get better and be even more fun.
Way to go Madison! Elite!!! So cool and well earned — you set your goals and focused on them! Wahoo! Congratulations. your friend Chester. (PS We loved the post from Olivia’s birthday party, we couldn’t post that day, but we did read it and we loved it! Great work GBGVs–way to party!!! )
You can just call us the party hounds, LOL! We always love our parties. I’m super happy to have my Elite 1 Title. Mom and I never thought we would finish NW3 and be able to compete in Elite and now she is talking about me having my Elite Champion one day. I love my sniffing but we all have our own way of doing things. Olivia has extra talent that no one else has but we set our own paths in life and are happy with what we can do. Everyone is their own hound.
WOW MADISON…yay you!! I know Mom was proud.
Brrrr I hope your tushie didn’t freeze sitting there.
Hugs Cecilia
Oh no, I love being out in the snow. We are hearty hounds at our house.
Congrats ~ Madison ~ you are not only adorable but smart ~ hugs,
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
carol l mckenna
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Mom and I are working hard to be a better team.
Snow AND titles, all in one day??? Now that is something to be thankful for!
We are happy to see you and your Mom reaching toward your goals!
xoxo,
Sunny & Rosy
Now we have to make a new set for my next trial and we will.
WOW! You and your Mom had a really super day and congratulations on the nice ELT1 title, bravo!!! Thanks for joining Angel Brian’s Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
Thank you. We had a lot of fun and we are starting to build on our teamwork and hope to achieve new goals next trial.
Congratulations!!!
Thank you.
Way to go, Madison! Congratulations. 🎉
Thank you. We have been working on a lot of things and hopefully out team will start to really build and we will do better each trial and have lots of fun.