There is no greater honor than searching behind your best friend. Dogs let us into their secret world with every Change of Behavior and every “Sniff and Dismiss”. They float along the rapidly changing and unstable air currents, tasting and sampling, looking for something that we have requested. Every step they take and each curve of their body tells a story. Only those who have studied and observed have learned how to interpret the masterpiece unfolding in front of them. It’s an intimate experience where whispers and clues comes together in something that is truly beautiful and hard to express. Fellow handlers, you are in a secret club with a secret handshake.
Carpe Diem
The very sad truth is that our dogs live fleeting lives. I am confronted with this reality daily right now as Judd fights the good fight. Cancer will win this one. Just not today. But don’t be sad for him. He is out there searching and the look in his eyes when it’s “His Turn” confirms to me that I am absolutely doing the right thing for him. Every time I see that look, my heart explodes.
It’s important to focus on the right things. If you are searching with your dog, you are enriching his life in ways that most dogs don’t get. You are making every moment count. This also means that it’s so important to keep things in perspective.
Keeping things in perspective
It’s not about the title, it’s about the experience. I will be honest, I’m seeing a troubling trend in this sport towards titling or Q’ing at all costs. I see stressed dogs and handlers that are hoping for “just one more leg” without looking at the emotional creature at the other end of the leash. It’s so important to realize that you are EVERYTHING to that animal. The sun rises and sets through you in their eyes. And one day, they won’t be here anymore.
This past weekend, I got the go ahead from Judd’s Oncologist to trial. He went up to Canada and had a blast. We didn’t kill it the way he’s done in the past. I credit the Metronidazole for that one! But it’s ok because it’s about time spent with him. It’s about the look in his eyes and the enthusiasm as he still, even now, pulls me to the start line.
Photo graciously taken by Tina Sawicki. Thank you Tina for capturing this moment!
This coming weekend, I get to trial with my 12 year old Standard Poodle, Joey, in NW3. We have been in NW3 for a few years with lots (and lots!) of tries. Joey does have one NW3 title, but honestly there is sadness in the prospects of getting two more. I truly don’t care about the title. What I care about is the way his ears tip back as he prances to the start line. I call them his “Happy Ears” and seeing them touches me like no ribbon or title ever will, and I can’t wait to step to the line with him on Sunday.
Trialing and training ARE different
I know a few of you are there thinking, “your dog doesn’t know if it’s a trial”. This is a sentiment I hear often, however I CAN tell you that you aren’t totally correct if that’s what you are thinking. Our dogs DO love practice, but if you have a dog who has been conditioned to love and enjoy trialing with you, there is something special for them too on that competition day. (There is a BIG IF there. Competition is only fun IF you have made it fun. Your dog will tell you if you have done that.)
That said, I am super happy that Judd will get to search in a local class tonight. I would like to give a huge shout out to Karin Damon of Washington, NJ and Shamrock Pot of Gold. She’s a fabulous trainer with a huge heart, and someone I very much respect for her knowledge and capability.
There is nothing wrong with being Competitive as long as you are there as a TEAM
I have zero issues with being competitive. Honestly, I’m probably one of the more competitive people out there. My point is that this isn’t about the two camps: #1 “I Want to win” and #2 “I am not in it for the ribbons”. That is an argument I see often on Facebook where #2 tries to take a higher moral ground and make others feel bad for wanting to do well or for being proud of an accomplishment. To me, that attitude is all about sour grapes and jealousy, because the fact of the matter is, it’s ok to be competitive as long as your team member has been prepared properly and wants to be there as much as you do. (That caveat is actually a really big one though, and is probably more important than anything else when it comes to trialing.)
Go ahead and be competitive, but just keep your best friend in mind. And if you aren’t “competitive” but you and your best friend love the experience… well… you are well ahead of the game and keep on doing what you’re doing! There is magic there!
The trialing experience is Sacred
The trialing experience is Sacred… what do I mean by that? It means that you need to enjoy the experience for what it is and embrace every chance to step to the line. Sure, come to title, but treasure each moment. For some trials, the prospect of titling may be obscure, and that’s ok! It’s important to keep things in perspective and focus on your dog and your dog’s emotions throughout the event. Sure, you will remember the ribbon, but years from now, when your dog is no longer with you, you will remember the look in his eyes and the joy you had when you held the leash.
So Judges, I turn this back on you
So far I’ve talked about the experience between dog and handler. I want to shift the focus briefly now onto the Judges and Certifying Officials. YOU have the power to make or break a weekend. This means that you need to prioritize odor hygiene and good calls. It’s an immense responsibility because if you touch odor and you accidentally touch something else (maybe in trying out a hide location?) you can wreck a team’s chances of being successful. Good calls are paramount. Remember that the dog is the authority on odor, not you. Learn from the dog and give the dog the benefit of the doubt when you aren’t sure. Shelve the ego and trust what a confident dog gives you.
(** As info, I’m partially responsible for educating judges in AKC and have played a role in judge education overseas in some circumstances. Judges are human… but remember the dogs and continually educate yourselves.)
But ultimately this is about a celebration with your dog
Just this very moment, I received a Facebook message from a friend who said that she loves that I focus on all of my dogs and not just the Labs. That message is so true to who I am as a competitor and the message that I really want to get out there. Competition is an extension of your relationship with that very special creature who shares his life with you. It doesn’t matter whether you have a dog who struggles to find a hide in a new place or if you have a dog who is killing it at Summit League. Your journey is sacred and unique. Embrace that and honor the experience.
Happy Sniffing!
Oh Stacy you made my heart sing with this post! I just kept saying “yes, yes, yes!” as I continued reading the post.
I have yet to earn an NW2 with any of my dogs and that’s OK. NW2s are FUN! I love them and I’m pretty sure my dogs do too. I’m going to be paying closer attention to that after reading this post.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
It will happen! It took Why 8 times to pass NW2… but that is HIS journey… and when he did it, he did it with Overall Pronounced and was truly JOYFUL the entire day. Each journey is so specific to the dog… think of NW2 tries as positive and educational experiences that build memories and prepare you for the next level. You will do it! And love it when you don’t!
I really needed to see this tonight. Coco and I just got in our first NW2. And suddenly I dont feel ready. (Mostly because she is still so nervous in unfamiliar places and can take a full minute just to get her bearing.) I’ll try to remember it as an educational experience for us. 🙂
Beka, Coco is A LOT like Why… The important thing with dogs like these is to pay attention to their emotional stamina and to try to keep them feeling upbeat. Then if they aren’t successful, chock it up to an off day rather than compare to other teams. Remember that it’s the journey… yours will be different than other teams… but it’s no less special. go for JOYFUL searches.
I just started training my newest sheltie in Scent dog at Keystone Dog Training…what a great time. Fabulous piece…thank you!
This – years from now, when your dog is no longer with you, you will remember the look in his eyes and the joy you had when you held the leash.
Reading this with tears in my eyes. So beautifully expressed. It makes me think of a recent trial that I totally messed up! My dog found the hides and had a huge smile on her face as she pranced back to the car munching on her cookies. She had done her job beautifully. I was the failure. Her joyous spirit made my misery totally disappear. It turned disaster into success! Love my girl.
Francine, there is never a “failure”… there is misinterpretation, there is misunderstanding, there are mistakes… but those only impact the judge’s call (and sometimes that’s actually where the “mistake” happens! They aren’t infallible)… but there is never a Failure. Love to Cookie and Cupcake!
Truly wonderful setiments ,excellant observations and advice. We can’t be reminded enough that this sport was created for and meant to be all about the dog and enriching his life.
God Bless Stacy. When Pickle died suddenly I was shattered because I loved him so much. He was my heart dog first and foremost but also my star Nosework dog. We had such a blast! I cherish cherish cherish the times we had together. They are Highlights of my life!
The journey has been very different with Figgy because he has SARDS, a disease that has affected his whole system and made him almost blind. There have been challenges (more on my part than his) but we trial because he still loves to hunt and search as well as spend the whole day one on one with me.
Cricket is retired from trials due to his kidney disease which limits the number of treats he can have but he still loves Nosework at home where his treats are rationed from his daily food . Not high value for serious training purposes but enough to keep it fun.
I too feel the pressure to title. It definitely gets to me sometimes but after losing Pickle (and last week Olive) what matters most to me is to live in the moment and celebrate the days my dogs are still alive and around.
Thank you for putting in words what is in my heart.
Wonderful essay. I was afraid nosework was becoming like obedience and agility – focused on the win. It’s the journey that’s important, and if I never get to the win, that’s great because there is more journey ahead.
Excellent blog, Stacey. Your comment on the judge’s ability to make or break a weekend is oh so true, but for a different reason too. My last SDDA trial, my dog was having an off day and seemed concerned about the location. On our container search, he left a box before I called it, found another hide then went back to the one he left and I called it. He was right and we got our yes. Then the judge proceeded to tell my dog that he needs a new handler. I was not impressed and left the search area feeling bad and doubting my skills instead of feeling happy and lifted.
I love working with my dog and LOVE how he lights up when I get his harness. That is why we do this! This trial was over a year ago but it definitely changed how I feel about trialing, which is unfortunate.
Thanks again for reminding us all why we are involved in this amazing sport.
Remember that judges are not infallible. Always trust your dog over another human, regardless of whether or not they are in the position to judge you. Always do the right thing for your dog in the moment and trust that it’s your bond and trust that is more important than scores.
Yes, it was after our search that the comment was made. I was taken aback because I thought the search went well, he didnt like that I didnt call the hide immediately.
The only thing that matters is my dog’s feeling as we leave the search area 🙂
As someone who will probably be doing her last Elite trial with my older girl soon, I hope people notice my huge smile at the start line and the tears of joy we have as we are literally running back to the car. She has been my ‘A’ dog in every sport we have done, and I am the luckiest dog mom out there. We are going to rock that JOY. Oh – and then we are going to go back to novice in other organizations and have the most fun ever. Bring it on!
Treasure it Donna… treasure every minute!!! And buy the videos!!! OMG… if I didn’t have videos and pictures of Judd searching… it’s painful and joyful all at the same time. These dogs give us their heart and soul in this sport. That connection will always be with you. Sending love.
As always beautifully said. Having competed and coached in sports for a good portion of my life I have finally decided that NW is going to be a relax and enjoy the sport. Quinn loves this game – he would happily search 24 hours a day. It is a game to him. So I am approaching every trial with the attitude that Quinn is going to be in charge – search as he chooses – lead the way. play the game. I know we will blow by hides and miss hides or time out, .but the joy he has doing what comes naturally to him is so fun to watch and be a part of. I will not shorten his leash and take him to an area I think he has missed or force him to pattern containers. He will figure it out – as you say they are the experts – I’m sure he will eventually get very efficient the more we play the game, but he can do it at his pace and in his time. He loves playing the game – has no idea that he did or did not title – and doesn’t care as he got to do what is his favorite thing and gets to do it in a way that he chooses to use. We will set hides in practice that cover skills he needs to have to be successful in trials, but when we get to a trial he can choose how to use those skills becasue believe me – he is the star – not me.
Love, love, love this post. I did not do as well as I would have liked at the NCC. After a first time ever 5 hour flight my boy was not himself on Saturday but still gave it his best. I called a few searches early when his energy and enthusiasm seemed to flag. I would not trade the experience for anything and I treasure every moment with him whether it be competing, training, walking the beach, or hanging out in a hotel room sharing pizza.
Love this, Stacy! Losing my heart dog suddenly at only 10 yrs old taught me that in the end, the ribbons and titles mean nothing once they’re gone. Since then, I’ve always said, “It’s a privilege to step to the start line with your dog.” I now treasure each moment of anything I do with my girls. If it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing.
Thank you for this beautiuflly written and heart felt article. This type of reminder helps us all put things in perspective. Having “fun”” with your dog does not just mean winning ribbons and titles. It means being able to spend a fun day & quality time with your best friend. The ribbons and Titles are really just “eye candy” for human egos alone! Nice, but not the main objective one hopes. <3.
My little girl turned 13 this year and I can tell she is slowing. She is still having fun, we title quite frequently at PSD (loving it), and having so so much fun. NACSW was too stressful on me and thus on my SugarBear; but things are much calmer now and we are having more fun. This blog really hit close to home. I know I don’t have many more years with my dog, but we are going to make the best of it each and every time we are at each end of the leash from each other. We are closer now than ever before and she lets me know how much she enjoys things as she trots back to her crate after each search with joy in her eyes and a kick to her step. Thanks Stacy for this blog. It really puts things into prospective
It’s really amazing the impact on our relationship, isn’t? Keep having fun… 🙂
As a newbie, I will definitely keep your words of wisdom in my head. Gunnar is the first dog I have owned that I have competed with in anything. He is amazing at nose work and is doing very well. Nose work has definitely strengthened our bond and we are having so much fun. I definitely want to focus on the FUN!
Thanks, this is timely for us. My six year old basset bitch, Star, and I, have been doing nosework and enjoying the journey together for around five years now. Although we have done well, I honestly mostly step to the start line with the mindset that it is about enjoying the search with my dog, whether it is trial or training. Lately, tho, evil demons are whispering in my ear as we try to get our final Elite leg in UKC. I have managed to screw up half a dozen runs this past few months. I hope you have helped me reset my brain, so that at our next trial I remember that what I love about searching with Star is that special moment at the start line. She leans into her harness before I let her go, and she almost always flicks an ear back or looks over her shoulder at me, asking, “Are you ready?” That’s really what it’s about for us, that partnership.
Thank you Stacy, a great read. I am competing at a NW1 Trial this weekend and have taken away some great messages from your post.
Thank you Stacy! This is a great reminder for me. I will carry every. single. word. of this with me.
Great post and I’m sorry to hear about Judd. I also have a dog who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and while I’ve always enjoyed training and trialing with her, each time we get to play is more special. I’m so thankful that nose work is an activity that has very few limitations and we will continue enjoying the game for as long as we can.
Excellent post, Stacy. My standard poodle’s last sniffing experience was at her training class. She was slow, didn’t take treats, but truly enjoyed the challenges that day. She had competed at four NW3 trials (we entered 26 and got into 4) and she did enjoy the trialing days. Thanks again and I am sorry to hear about Judd.