Ziva and I were entered in our 1st TDX test on September 20th at the Pioneer Valley Kennel Club. Conditions were perfect, 70 degrees, nice grassy haylot for our start and Lynda and Jamie there for moral support. I looked at the field and thought “this is my dream track”. We approached the start line and she took off like a shot. On the first leg a bird flew up out of the grass just before our 1st turn. It threw her off a bit and she overshot the turn, but quickly found it again. As we turned the corner, I could see where the track went into the woods-great! About 3/4 of the way there she started to veer off, then I saw why, her tail went up and she was starting to critter after mice-UGH!!!!! I tried to convince her she needed a drink of water, but no luck. She played mousy, mousy till the whistle blew letting us know that we officially failed.
The tracklayer wanted to know if we would like to finish the track for practice. Oh yeah we do-thanks. I pulled her off the critter corner and restarted her at the 1st turn. Zip, zip , zip she went, on the track, thru the woods, found the article, out of the woods, over the stone wall, nailed the road crossing into another haylot, found the 2nd article, made 2 more turns and then found the final article. All 850 yards in about 17 minutes, dragging me behind her!
REALLY ZIVA, YOU COULD NOT HAVE STARTED OUT LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!
Below is a video of how it should have looked on a motivational track.
It was good to see Lynda again and to meet Jamie in person. Aiden and Ziva would have liked to play, but we were not sure they could be off leash in that area.
Oh wow what a moaner! Damn she is such a good tracker and then that. Grrrrr. I am so sorry I know how hard you worked for this. Next time you two will blow it out of the water! Congratulations on the super training you have done she has the skills that is for sure.
Agree with Julie! You guys do an excellent job – Team Ziva is such a pleasure to watch. By the way, the cats said that they could use another mouser, so send her down.
Lisa, you are an EXCELLENT handler and Ziva is a GREAT tracker. This sucks, but I don’t think many dogs pass the TDX on the first attempt (the trial secretary told me that both TDXs that passed had been trying for many tests). I was honored to be part of Team Ziva and I know you’ll get that title before you know it.
Yes, it was the 9th try for the girl with the shepherd. The TDX pass rate is 15% according to my trainer. The tracking club was thrilled they had any TDX’s pass.
alas, been there, done that. My last tracker was a terrible mouser. on the test that she passed she found no less than three mouse nests! each time I watered her rather forcefully (kinda shoved water up her nose so she forgot all about the mice). it was a painful track. good luck- I hope you get it next time!
Lisa,
I LOVE the title of this post!! It is so important to maintain a sense of humor.
It was great to see you and Ziva and Jaime again.
After your unfortunate start Ziva got right back to business and did great on the rest of the track.
I never thought, you and Jamie could have come along with the track layer after we were DQ’d and were finishing up as a practice–too bad I did not think of that until I was on the ride home.