05-05-2009

Frustration, frustration, frustration! Duece & I drove 3 miles to set out some scent for us and a friend to work. Duece was in the front seat and threw up about 2 miles into the ride. We set out some scent and then Duece & Ziva were let out to run around for awhile. Duece wasn't enthused about getting back in the suburban but did come to me so I didn't have to chase him around. Then he threw up about 1/2 mile from home. At least I had a bucket to catch it all, even though it's hard to drive while holding the bucket.
About 2 hours later, Duece & I headed back to the area and this time Duece made it to within 1/2 mile from the location before throwing up and it was bucket time again. When Bob and his dog arrived Duece had to be told to settle down as he was growling and started to bark at them. We put a quick stop to that and we stayed away while Bob worked his dog on the two scent hides. It gave us a chance to sit and watch someone else work while we were away from home.
When they were done, Duece & I worked the scent hides. I worked Duece on a long lead since this was the first time we worked away from home. Duece did a good job of searching as there wasn't muchof a breeze in the area we were working. He stuck his nose right into the hole where the scent was but neglected to sit, even after being told to sit. He then moved on and searched more of the same area and then went back to the scent source. He got his reward and praise even though it wasn't a picture perfect find.
After we moved on a ways I gave Duece his search command again and he searched pretty good and headed almost directly to the tree where the scent was hiding. This was a new scent source for Duece and the first high hide he has worked. He didn't do his sit at the tree but looked almost directly at it and then moved around but ended up back at the tree and when told to sit he did so and was given a reward and praise. He was there when I took it down and teased him with it a little and was given more treats and praise so I hope he remembers it. For the first large area search Duece did a great job so we need to do more of them. A good search sure helps with the frustration.
Oh yeah, Duece made it all the way home without throwing up although I glad it wasn't another 1/2 mile - it was pretty dark when we drove home so I wonder if that made a difference.