I had entered LVGSDC Obedience Trial at Barto, PA, for Open A class on Sunday, March 15th, and
also had entered Burlington County Kennel Club's tracking trial in Allentown, New Jersey at the Horse Park of NJ for that same date. As wonders would have it, I got into the Tracking Trial, 1 of 4 tracks plus an alternate, so I decided that unless I got done the track early, the Open Class was a no go.
At 6 a.m., I started for NJ for a 1-1/2 hour drive to the tracking trial. What a beautiful place - acres & acres of very nice grassy fields, horse trailers and horses everywhere, an abundance of rings and huge buildings. At the Club's Headquarters, I drew Track #4, and around 9 a.m., we started for Track #1. A tiny black Dachshund started out and except for searching the first turn, nailed the whole rest of the track and found the glove. Track #2 was drawn by a young, very people-friendly female GSD. She started at the start flag, got to the direction flag, and started to dance around, came back to the start flag, got her handler tangled in the lead, socialized with the judges, and never got past the direction flag after many tries. Of course after she N/Q'd, she proceeded to do an excellent track to the glove. Our third track was also an N/Q by an Australian Cattle Dog who couldn't find the first turn.
Then it was Ruger's turn, and I was thinking, "maybe I can get to the Obedience Trial after all." At that, the Show Chair came over to me and instead of asking if I was ready, she said that everybody was to go back to Headquarters!! We then found out that the fourth and fifth tracks had been deliberately fouled by some people with their dogs. Apparently this is the second year this has happened. They have a residence attached to the Horse Park, and think this is "fun". One member had tried to tell them what we were doing, but they got nasty with her. Our Judges then said that they were going to lay another fourth and alternate track at this time and would come back for us. Well, there goes the Open Class!!!
When we got to Ruger's track, I had no idea how this would go because his first tracking trial last year was a disaster! Like the female GSD on #2, but with lackluster, Ruger never got past the direction flag and had to stop and scratch himself numerous times. That was because he had been suffering from a Thyroid condition I was unaware of. He has been on medication since we discovered his problem, and his attitude has much improved, but still I was worried. Well, much to my relief, he put his nose to the track and off we went. His first turn was a bit confusing, as he started left, circled a few times, looked at me, (but I didn't know), and then decided he was right the first time. Up an embankment, past a cannon with a pile of cannon balls that he had to inspect, then another left, beside a hedgerow that he also had to take a whiff of, continued straight, then a right for a long stretch, another very deliberate right for another decent stretch, and stopped to sniff the ground and "sat", his signal that he thought he found the glove. AND, sure enough, there it was!!!
I was so proud of my Ruger. I then looked at my watch and thought, "if I leave now, I have just enough time to make the Obedience Trial." After kudos from the "Gallery" I drove the 1-1/2 hours to Barto with less than a 1/2 hour to spare. We made it in time! This would be our 3rd try in Open A, and like last year's tracking trial, last year's two Open trials were a disaster. At one point after I made an about turn, I met Ruger still coming from the other direction, his health was so down. Well, when we went into the ring, Ruger came through again. 1st leg in OPEN A with a 184 and first place!!! Well, the Q & 184 are fair, but the first place ... we were the only entry in Open A. But, we'll take it!!
Cris Courduff & EZBROOK's Hot Shot Ruger, VCD1, RAE, RM, BN, CD, CGC, TKA, OAJ, OA, NAF, TD, BCAT
Kudos to our two judges: Dawn Martin, and Gina DeAlmeida
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