Variable Surface Tracking

We've been very busy here so I am sorry that it has taken so long to post about the Variable Surface Tracking Workshop. I worked very hard and learned a lot.

This is Ed Presnall, the tracking expert who taught the workshop. VST tracking is the hardest type of tracking and he set up lots of great exercises to help us dogs (and our scent handicapped people) succeed.



I met lots of nice dogs at the workshop. It was interesting to see the different ways each dog approaches tracking. As you know, I am pretty intense about my tracking but some dogs are more deliberate or relaxed about it. I actually have to learn to slow down!



We began with easy starter tracks and article games. I know them but Ed said it is very important to practice them often. I am not very good at article indication so we are going to be doing a lot more of that.

In VST we don't just track on grass but on pavement, sidewalks, near buildings, near cars, across roads, up and down stairs and such. Each track that Ed laid had a problem for us to solve and each track got progressively harder.



Here you can see that I've made the turn. Barbara has to read my body language to see when I've gotten to the turn. She also has to learn to trust me, that I know more about scent than she does!



I've found the plastic article on this leg of the track. I also had to find leather, cloth and metal articles.



Even though this is the fourth track on Sunday, you can see that I am still going strong. It was a lot of work but so exciting. The only time I stopped tracking and got a bit silly was when one of the tracks went near goose poop! I just couldn't resist and grabbed some before Barbara saw it and told me to leave it!



We were all very tired after two days of intense learning and tracking. My brain and my nose needed a rest from all the work.



If you are interested in seeing more pictures of us tracking go here. Grady's person took lots of great photos of us working. Maybe you and your person would like to do some tracking. You can go to Ed's website to find out more about next year's seminars. You will learn a lot.

I had a great time and of course we are trying to put into practice all that we learned at the workshop. It is too hot here in NC to do much tracking right now. Ambrose has stopped itching so much thank goodness and no longer has to wear his satellite dish. I am glad because I was getting sick of getting bashed with it. Tomorrow I will be practicing my freestyle routine because that competition is in 3 weeks! Yikes! I better get down to work.

Home Again

I had no idea that I was going on an adventure meant that I would have to get up at 4:30 AM! Way to early for me but Barbara was the one driving so I didn't have much choice! The dog-crate-on-wheels was crammed full of stuff for our trip - food, toys, treats, my tracking gear, presents, water and Barbara's suitcase. Ambrose is in his crate in the front of the car but you can't see him behind all the stuff!



I was a bit worried about spending 9 hours in a car with him in case he had one of his fart explosions. Fortunately Barbara has been adding digestive enzymes to his food so that problem has been taken care of thank goodness!

It was a very long trip and Ambrose and I slept most of the way although Barbara did make lots of rest stops so we could get out and stretch our legs. I was very glad to get to Aunt Debby's house and survey her big fenced yard and garden.



Ambrose particularly liked the petunias and ate many of them.



My cousin Coby is a very nice guy but I don't think he was too thrilled that we invaded his home. We were a bit rambunctious for him but he did get used to us, I think think he got jealous when Aunt Debby and Uncle Stan made a fuss over us.





I enjoyed roaching in the grass. It felt so good. We don't have grass in our yard, only ground cover which does not lend itself to roaching the way this nice, soft grass does.







While we were there, Ambrose got some kind of allergic reaction to something (we are still not sure to what) and was itching like crazy. He woke us up at night with his scratching. My aunt and uncle took him to the vet so that Barbara and I could go to our workshop. Ambrose had to get a shot and pills and have a bath in special shampoo and conditioner (Ha!) and wear the dreaded satellite dish on his head!



I think he looks even goofier that he usually does. He kept crashing into everyone's legs with the cone and it was hard for him to go up and down the stairs.



I'm exhausted from all the travel, the workshop and the visiting with the family. We had a great time but I am glad to be home. I'll post about the tracking workshop tomorrow and catch up with all your blogs soon.

An Adventure

Well her excuse for not helping me blog more lately is that she has been preparing for an adventure with us. It has involved making lots of lists, washing dog beds, drowning stuffies, packing and other frantic activities. Barbara assured me this adventure would be lots of fun. How can it be fun if it means that I have to spend time on the dog grooming torture table and have a bath?



Ambrose had to have a bath too. He cried like a baby!



The dog crate on wheels is finally packed and tomorrow morning we are getting up very early so that we can drive to New Jersey to see my Aunt Debby and her family and my cousin Cobi. He is a cock-a-poo that they adopted from a local shelter a year and a half ago.



While we are there, Barbara and I will be attending and 'Introduction to Variable Surface Tracking workshop'! I am so excited because it is being given by Ed Presnall who is an expert!! I hope to learn many new tracking skills (and I can only hope that Barbara manages to learn something too. I am sure that we will post all about it when we get back.

On another topic, please keep your paws crossed for my boyfriend Riley. You can see us having a great time in the dog park.



Unfortunately Riley injured his hip very badly and and had to have a big operation last week. The operation was a success but he will have to undergo a long and painful rehabilitation. He is such a sweet guy and I feel so bad for him.



If you haven't signed up for Tank's Whack-a-Squirrel campaign, please do so.



Because of my tracking abilities I have been named Southeast Regional Commander. We need to make a big effort to do something about those annoying tree rats. And watch out! They are getting stronger every day!

K9 Kindercare and Rally

On Saturday Barbara drove us to K9 Kindercare. I always stay there when she has to go away. This was Ambrose's first time there. Barbara thinks it is important for puppies to learn that the kennel is a good place to stay by having a short, happy first visit. Then when they have to stay for a longer time, it isn't a problem for them. Little does he know that when Barbara and I go off to my freestyle competition in July, he will have to stay there by himself. HAH!



Ambrose did very well and played with lots of nice dogs. When he started farting, I pretended that I didn't know him.

Today he got to play with his friend Scout. She really likes the pool and keeps trying to encourage him to come in.



Of course they had to play a lot of bitey face. Now I always like a good game of bitey face but they are obsessed with chewing on each other.






I got to go practice Rally this evening. Here I am waiting my turn while my BFF Ayla got to practice on the course.





I'm doing a sit stay. Very boring. I much prefer the active exercises like the serpentines around the cones or doing the jumps.



We had a good practice though. Rally is good for building teamwork.



You may notice the fur on my left ear is much shorter than the fur on my right ear.



I blame it on Ambrose. He is always chewing on my ear! I look a little lopsided. I hope my fur grows back soon so I look good when we go to the freestyle trial. If it doesn't maybe I can get some hair extensions.

I am Four!

Today is my birthday and I turned four! The day started out as usual but when Barbara came home from her lessons she had a bag from Phydeaux, my favorite store.

I got two new stuffies for my birthday! The yellow one is a great tug toy.



You may wonder why I don't look terribly excited about my new stuffies. It is because Barbara is singing "Happy Birthday" to me and it sounds ghastly. I tried to hide my head and pretend I didn't hear it.



These are great stuffies though (even if I did have to endure her singing to get them). Now I just have to keep Ambrose from getting his puppy cooties on them or farting anywhere near them.

After I got my presents Barbara took me to the park for a walk and then a drive out in the country to a most wonderful place.



The cows at Maple View Farm make delicious ice cream and the store is filled with it.



Of course I couldn't go inside but Barbara went in and bought me a dish of Butter Pecan ice cream!



She fed it to me on the spoon because she was afraid if she gave me the dish I would eat the whole thing in one gulp!



It was delicious and when I was almost through she let me lick the cup to get every creamy, yummy drop.





What a great birthday treat! More please?



I am one lucky Gordon Setter.

Excuses, Excuses!

Usually I get to post about twice a week but it has been 11 days since my last post. This is disgraceful. Barbara has lots of excuses - problems with the internet connection, work, meetings, conference calls -blah! Blah! BLAH! It is not as if I haven't been doing anything, it is just that she says that she has been too busy to upload my pictures and help me visit all my friends' blogs. What could be more important than helping me blog?



Ambrose and I met a new friend at the dog park. Her name is Jazzy and she is a young Standard Poodle.



We had a good time running around the park. Jazzy is a fast runner. I hope we meet up with her again.



I've been doing a lot of training recently because I have a freestyle competition coming up in July. Barbara is pleased with how our routine is coming. My boyfriend Trotter comes out to the training center to practice too. We always have some playtime as well. We had a good game of tug with this duck.



Ambrose has been very annoying lately. I have had to correct him quite severely as he has tried to muzzle in on my morning ear rubs! This is my special time with Barbara and I will not have it interrupted. He is also developing into a serious thief. He stole a roll of paper towels and chewed it up. He got a jar of peanut butter off the counter and ate half of it! You can imagine that many HBO words were said around here.



But the worst part is that Ambrose has turned out to be a terrible farter! I hate to be indelicate but I cannot bear it. We were in the dog-crate-on-wheels and the stench was unbelievable. Barbara opened the windows but it was not enough. Ambrose and I are in crates in the dog-crate-on-wheels (I try to do the driving if I am loose) and I could not escape. You can see from this picture that I am about ready to expire from the smell.



I really don't know what I am going to do with him. All I can say is that he better get me a really good birthday present (my birthday is Wednesday) to make up for all I have to put up with from him.



We will catch up with all your blogs in the next couple of days. Hope you all had a fun Memorial Day weekend.

Social Secretary Wanted

I think that I need to hire a social secretary. Ambrose is constantly going on play dates and socialization outings. I have been severely neglected. I don't get to blog, or visit my friends' blogs, as often as I want. Barbara takes pictures of Ambrose but forgets to take pictures of me! A social secretary could keep our lives organized and make sure that I get all the attention and training that I need.

Ambrose had another playdate today with his little girfriend Scout.



They love to race around the yard and run through the tunnel.



After they get tired of running they play a lot of bitey face. They play in a very reciprocal way so it is all in fun even if it looks pretty rough.



It is a wonder that either of them have any ears left since they chew on them so much.



Ambrose is usually very tired after his playdates with Scout. This is a good thing because it means I won't have to play with him so much and can get my beauty sleep.



I know that you all like to see pictures of Ambrose since he is supposedly such a cute puppy. Well I was pretty cute when I was a puppy too. My mom Misty sent me this photo of me when I was 3 weeks and 2 days old.