Cindi Todd and CH Laci's Seamus Harper MW OA OAJ AXP AJP TD

Tracklayer Deb Lyons, Cindi Todd, Harper, Judge Sally Elkins and Judge Sharon Jolly

WHO (were the judges, tracklayer and who were the contestants)?

Sally Elkins and Sharon Jolly were the judges.
Deb Lyons was the tracklayer.
Cindi Todd and Harper (CH Laci's Seamus Harper MW OA OAJ AXP AJP) - red miniature wirehair Dachshund

WHAT (I suppose this means the length of the track)?

The track was officially 445 yards with 4 right angle (90 degree) turns (R, L, R, L) in a zig-zag pattern.  The first leg was 105 yards, the second 75 yards, the third was 75 yards, the fourth was 95 yards, and the fifth was 95 yards.  The cover was short, mowed grass and the official report stated there was no wind (hmmm, I think I beg to differ but lord knows my mind wasn't really there!) and it took 10 minutes to run the track.  (And I swear he spent at least 3-5 minutes making me go insane before even taking off from the flag in the correct direction!!!)

WHEN/WHERE?

Dachshund National - January 22, 2008 at Erwin Park, McKinney, TX

WHY?

Oh I asked myself that many times the weekend before and that day with the weather we had to experience.  I initially started tracking to improve his work ethic for field trialing (that didn't work by the way - his work ethic IS better but he just feels he can be a tad more creative now about finding bunnies since it is done off leash) but I really enjoy seeing him enjoy HIMSELF so much when he is tracking.  He LOVES it!

HOW?

Oh my gawd!  I hate the cold!  And I really hate being wet....so of course what is it on the day of my tracking test??? Freezing cold, windy and WET!  Oh boy, this bodes well.  I *think* I drew the 3rd track <G>  Hey, I'm old and it's been over two months now.....I do know the time went by very quickly and yet....it dragged if that makes any sense.  OK, they are telling me to get my dog ready.  NOW my hands are shaking and the harness is all tangled (and it wasn't when I laid it out the night before.  How DOES that happen??)....he is finally dressed and we go to the area.   The judges are smiling, beneath all their cold rain gear and ask if I have any questions... through my mind is going the inevitable question only I would ask - can I get back in my car now??? but I don't ask it....

Deep breath...I hear Charlene in the back of my head - odd to be hearing her, huh? - "Take your time, don't move until he commits..."  OK, Harper, see this? (show him the bandanna) Find Me Another (that's our command).  All said in a happy voice.  And off he goes ... behind me (the little bugger) to the stand of trees that are about 10 feet back.  Well SHOOT (not the word that is going through my mind but you get the drift.).  NOW WHAT?  Charlene hasn't run THIS scenario on me before because Harper has never done THIS before.  OK, deep breath.  *Harper, come here and ...find me another* and back to the woods.  OH THIS IS GOING WELL.  Deep  breath.  One more time....*Harper, find me another*.  And in his happy little way he says to me *OH, THAT'S what you want!* and he tears off for the 30 yard flag and darn near pulls me off my feet and away we go.  He reaches the 30 yard flag and promptly *touches* the pole and looks at me as if to say *where's my cookie?*.  I tell him *find me another Harp* and he proceeds to wrap the line around the pole and takes off again.  GRRRR!  My hands are freezing because I was afraid to wear gloves since I truly couldn't feel the line and it takes me several moments to get the line unwrapped and Harper is still trying to run :).  We go a ways and up pops his head, he circles to the left and then beelines to the right for the first turn, puts his head down and pulls, no questions asked.  Every single turn was like that...he would circle the opposite way from the turn and then just pull correctly in to it and pull me along like there was no uncertainty in his mind.  The 2nd leg headed towards a road (can't cross a road in a TD level runs through my mind), 3rd leg went through a bare patch between a tiny line of trees without any hesitation and our last leg headed towards a playground and there was the glove....laying out in the open.  He is pulling me towards it, he does an about turn and downs on it.  HIS INDICATION!!!!  WE DID IT!  NO ... HARPER DID IT <G>

I know it seems as if I didn't put in any hesitations in his track and truly.....although it states it took 10 minutes....I do not remember him searching at all on the straight sections and very little at the turns.  It was truly a (hopefully not) once in a lifetime experience of hang on and follow your dog <G>  I know...how many times have we heard that phrase in some form expressed by the instructors?

As a bonus on this day, Harper's son at 6 months of age also titled.