Devon passed her TDX test on November 13, 2007, in Frederick, Maryland, at the Potomac Valley Golden Retriever Club test! This is the same test where she passed her TD last year. It was her second attempt at a TDX. The week before she got 70% of the way through her track when her mother didn't read her turn signal (she pulled me so hard left my right foot came off the ground according to the judge but I don't remember it), and I didn't follow her. My motto for our second test was TRUST YOUR DOG!!
Devon ran an 860-yard track with 5 turns in 28 minutes. She drew the first track of four. We had beautiful sunny weather with temperatures in the mid-30s and little to no wind. Our obstacles were woods, going across a dam on a pond and a hedgerow. Her start article was a pair of red and green plaid boxer shorts -- a very fun start article! She briefly checked the first set of cross tracks but didn't blink at the second set. She didn't hesitate at the woods but didn't like tracking across the dam along the pond at all. Twice she followed the scent down toward the water and in the far end of the pond near the track was some type of filtration system. Devon was sure it was a swamp monster that just might eat Golden Retrievers! But our biggest challenge was yet to come.
The hedgerow we ended up having to track through was quite a barrier. We got into a pocket of grass between the trees and she didn't know which way the scent went. There was open space to the right and left, but a wall of twigs and trees in front of us blocked the scent (the track went straight, but we didn't know that at the time). We must have spent a total of 10-15 minutes searching in the area. She went every direction in 360 degrees and some of them twice. She went at least 6 different ways and tracked for 20-30 yards and then said that wasn't right and came back to where she lost the scent. Finally she headed out and was fairly confident. I followed. About 30 yards later she turned right and pulled hard for about 20-30 yards and found her third article, a sock. She had actually been angling off the line of the track, but then caught the scent of the article which drew her back to the track. I have never been so thankful to see an article! We had a great big party with that article, and it gave her confidence to go 180 yards and one more turn to her final glove.
Our track layer was the first to race down the hill to give us a huge hug, followed by judges Phil Gallagher and Allison Platt. My first words were, "Thank you for that sock! Great article placement!" The judges said it was a pleasure to watch us track to our TDX. Devon was complimented for her perseverance, and I was complimented on my handling and patience with my dog as she struggled in that hedgerow.
We had a gallery of about 20 following us, so Devon was able to have a big party and show her glove to everyone! That was when people started asking, "How old is this dog?" There were many stunned looks when I said 20 months old!
I have been blessed with a wonderful dog from Gayle Watkins and Carvel Gold, and I have had so much encouragement and help in tracking from those at Camp Jigsaw, the Gaylan's family, White River Golden Retriever Club and Steve and Janet Ripley, who have become good friends and great supporters. Devon just knows she loves to play this fun game with her mom where she finds things someone lost.
Now, on to VST!
Devon ran an 860-yard track with 5 turns in 28 minutes. She drew the first track of four. We had beautiful sunny weather with temperatures in the mid-30s and little to no wind. Our obstacles were woods, going across a dam on a pond and a hedgerow. Her start article was a pair of red and green plaid boxer shorts -- a very fun start article! She briefly checked the first set of cross tracks but didn't blink at the second set. She didn't hesitate at the woods but didn't like tracking across the dam along the pond at all. Twice she followed the scent down toward the water and in the far end of the pond near the track was some type of filtration system. Devon was sure it was a swamp monster that just might eat Golden Retrievers! But our biggest challenge was yet to come.
The hedgerow we ended up having to track through was quite a barrier. We got into a pocket of grass between the trees and she didn't know which way the scent went. There was open space to the right and left, but a wall of twigs and trees in front of us blocked the scent (the track went straight, but we didn't know that at the time). We must have spent a total of 10-15 minutes searching in the area. She went every direction in 360 degrees and some of them twice. She went at least 6 different ways and tracked for 20-30 yards and then said that wasn't right and came back to where she lost the scent. Finally she headed out and was fairly confident. I followed. About 30 yards later she turned right and pulled hard for about 20-30 yards and found her third article, a sock. She had actually been angling off the line of the track, but then caught the scent of the article which drew her back to the track. I have never been so thankful to see an article! We had a great big party with that article, and it gave her confidence to go 180 yards and one more turn to her final glove.
Our track layer was the first to race down the hill to give us a huge hug, followed by judges Phil Gallagher and Allison Platt. My first words were, "Thank you for that sock! Great article placement!" The judges said it was a pleasure to watch us track to our TDX. Devon was complimented for her perseverance, and I was complimented on my handling and patience with my dog as she struggled in that hedgerow.
We had a gallery of about 20 following us, so Devon was able to have a big party and show her glove to everyone! That was when people started asking, "How old is this dog?" There were many stunned looks when I said 20 months old!
I have been blessed with a wonderful dog from Gayle Watkins and Carvel Gold, and I have had so much encouragement and help in tracking from those at Camp Jigsaw, the Gaylan's family, White River Golden Retriever Club and Steve and Janet Ripley, who have become good friends and great supporters. Devon just knows she loves to play this fun game with her mom where she finds things someone lost.
Now, on to VST!
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