Laura Ward

Level 3

I thoroughly enjoyed judging this level 3 trial. I was very impressed with the good spirits of all involved, and thought everybody dealt with the heat extremely well. Thank you so much to Sue and Geoff for bringing a gazebo and paddling pool for the dogs (and sandwiches and brownies for the judges!). Geoff and Marianne did amazing jobs in organising everybody and making sure the day ran smoothly, and thank you to Denise and Sue for scribing. It was also lovely to judge alongside Nikki Inglis and having two judges certainly made the day run nice and smoothly.

Now for the competitors – I felt you all did so well. Level 3 really is a step up from level 2 with an extra scent to content with, and the dogs being required to ‘search on’ past the item they had already alerted on. I saw some lovely handling, and where it did go a little bit wrong (as it always does at times) you took my tips board and I can’t wait to see you at future trials. The dogs were all gorgeous, and it was lovely to see their various styles of working and the relationship that is developing between you and your dog.  

Level 4

I thoroughly enjoyed judging this level 4 trial. I was very impressed with the good spirits of all involved, and thought everybody dealt with the heat extremely well. Thank you so much to Sue and Geoff for bringing a gazebo and paddling pool for the dogs (and sandwiches and brownies for the judges!). Geoff and Marianne did amazing jobs in organising everybody and making sure the day ran smoothly, and thank you to Denise and Sue for scribing. It was also lovely to judge alongside Nikki Inglis and having two judges certainly made the day run nice and smoothly.

Now for the competitors – It was lovely to see the dogs working so well. At this stage they really understand the task and I saw some lovely passive indications. By this time of the day the heat really had picked up and this did effect some of the dogs working ability, but did not stop them from being successful. Having just judged the level 3, it really hit home for me how the quality of the indications and teamwork element of scentwork is improved as you work up the levels, emphasising that the structure of the levels is working well. I cannot wait to see some of these dogs in level 5 soon.

Nikki Ingliss

A hot and sunny Sunday for the trial at Brogborough, I was greeted by Sue and Geoff fully equipped with 2 pop up Gazebos, a couple of paddling pools, a battery fan and buckets galore ready for the heat of the day.  I met up with Laura and Marianne to organise the day, we decided that as the day promised to be hot we would do the car search first and the boxes and luggage inside, followed by the exterior search and the tables and chairs inside.  Laura and I decided I would start inside for the morning and Laura would start outside and we would swap in the afternoon. I definitely had the cooler morning.

The Level 3 boxes and luggage started promptly with Annette and Disney, 2 quick solid finds although Annette didn’t believe Disney to start she wasn’t sure if he was looking for something to dance on! Disney carried on the Tables and Chairs with the same positive attitude. Caroline and Mr Wilson were next with some really lovely handling, very methodical in both indoor search sessions.  Chris had 2 dogs to run, so came in with BaileyBoo first and he made you work quite hard for the 2^nd scent. Queeva {Chris’s 2^nd dog} showed really good searching on the Table and chairs. I met Dolores and Gypsy next who did quick accurate finds on both searches. Lu with Bo coped admirably considering her very sore and uncomfortable back, working on lead to keep Bo on track. I was impressed with the sweet Betty a rescue who has obviously found the right home for her nose skills with Julie. Peter came in with Dolly and she worked really well off lead for the boxes and luggage although she needs some help with direction on the table and chairs, but she has come on in leaps and bounds since I last met her.  Janice was also running with 2 dogs Tally and Gem both have similar habit of mouthing the boxes but Janice is working hard to rectify this. The remaining teams of Rob and Gem and Jamie and Bear showed that it is teamwork that makes the dreamwork! With both handlers reading their dogs in a sympathetic and harmonious way.

Level 4 started after a quick lunch provided by Sue {Thank you – lovely Brownies} and a swap of roles for Laura and I, Laura into the cool and me out in the sunshine. It was interesting to see how far in advance the Level 4 candidates were from the Level 3’s.  The distraction on the exterior search was a cat carrier which caused a few interested sniffings.  It is interesting how as the dogs go further up the levels they learn the words we use with a couple leaving the scent source when the alert was called. There was some lovely handling by all the competitors.  Lisa and Gibbs searched methodically in the exterior but unfortunately an interruption during the vehicle search gave them such a disadvantage in the heat we allowed them to run again after a rest in the shade.  Geoff and Bug L4ex ran with a Go-Pro camera in the exterior search to gain a dog’s eye view.  Jennie and Reo who has had a break after a scent induced health issues came back with a strong indications and pleasure in his work. Some of the dogs made their owners work very hard, Tracey showed incredible patience with Billy who knows his job but doesn’t always help by telling Tracey where the scent is, and Trek made Helen hold her alert to the very last moment on the vehicle search.  Hazel was running her 2^nd dog of the day with Gem in Level 4, who worked well in the exterior but struggled with the vehicle, as did Roxanne and Arlee, how much the heat at the end of the day influenced these struggles would be interesting to research.  Zoe’s calm quiet handling of Dexter has paid off in a well deserved win.  

None of these trials can function without all the help in the background and Marianne has managed to enlist a group of solid well trained delightful helpers. Thank you to you all.