Page 49 - 2018 WT Almanac

keep chasing. 2 dogs obtained full marks for tles containing pea shingle, and various balls
this exercise. on it. The handler was expected to keep their
The second exercise was the quarter, where dog under some control but was allowed to
the dogs were directed to and around the first hold the collar gently so as not to spoil the
hide, then on to the second hide, and then timing of the test. The handler challenged
away from the handler on to the hedge line the PS and the centre PS challenged back to
behind the second hide. They were then re- focus and draw the dog. The dog was sent
quired to follow the hedge line left into the in and when the dog was within the structure
corner, left again along the adjacent hedge the 2 PS’s on the edges tipped the table over.
line, and then right at the next corner to fol- The dog was expected to jump the table in
low the boundary hedge line until reaching order to apprehend the centre PS. The other
the protected steward, standing against a tree 2 PS’s then crowded the dog. The handler
a little way off the boundary into the field. then called the dog out and the test was over.
After the dog had established his bark a ball The recall was the last exercise and the dog
was thrown to test the dog’s commitment to was sent from the same start pole as the
his job and the sleeve. chase, but the PS ran a slightly different path,
The quartering was marked out of 25 - the in- so that both the dog and PS remained in sight
itial bark in the hide out of 10, and the second throughout. No dog failed the Recall.
part after the ball was thrown was marked out At the end of the test I had 2 qualifiers.
of the remaining 15 marks. Only one dog –
Diane Ling’s Tom, the eventual winner - was 1st Diane Ling and WTCh DEBEN
committed to the patrol steward and not the LITTLE TOM, BC x GSD, 281, Q PDEx,
ball and obtained full marks for the bark in and winning the Ticket. A very worthy win-
the hide. ner. Tom is a committed and well-controlled
The search came next, with the handlers dog who scored well in every patrol exercise
being required to search the PS and then to and was never distracted by a ball. Best Pa-
leave their dog guarding the PS while they trol round. N/w 103, C/A 29.5 + 19, Patrol
checked the nearby tent for a weapon. The 129.5.
PS turned and attempted to walk quite briskly 2nd Lauren Marlow and JOTUNHEIM
away whilst the handler was in the tent. Un- ELI, Mali, 270, Q PDEx, and Reserve Ticket.
fortunately, not all the dogs detained him as Aka is a well-controlled dog who deserved
required. the Reserve. Best nosework and Best C/A.
The escort of the same PS followed the N/w 105.5, C/A 32.5 + 20, Patrol 112.
search, heading back up the field where 2 3rd Vic Snook and LITTLE MICA, BC
other PS’s joined in the escort without the x GSD, 242.5, Q PD. Mica showed weakness
need to be searched. During the escort, the on the TOC but otherwise worked well and
PS on the left turned and bounced a ball to- unfortunately, although she qualified in all
wards the side of the dog, the centre PS then sections, she ended up 1 mark short overall
attacked the handler, leaving the ball thrower of gaining another PDEx. N/W 100, C/A 28
to wander off and the PS on the right marched + 20, Patrol 107.
towards the handler. All 3 PS’s were then 4th Ruth Cahill and RASSAU LERA
brought back under control and the escort re- OF VOMKYNA, GSD, NQ.
sumed. Unfortunately, some dogs were more
interested in the ball than in defending their * * * * * *
handlers.
The next exercise was the test of courage.
There were 3 PS’s standing inside a horse-
shoe shaped set of windbreakers and behind
a trestle table which had a variety of tin trays,
small cardboard boxes, drinks cans and bot-
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