September 1999 Earthdog Trial

Saturday, September 25 turned out to be a beautiful,warm and sunny fall day. I was all pysched up for the trial. Mom had decided that I would have a warm-up run in the Intro to Quarry class before the Junior class. Mom was really confident that I was going to do great. As soon as we got to the test site, I knew it was "Rat Time!" and got very excited. Mom waited patiently for the Intro to Quarry class started, while I bounced up and down in excitement. Finally, our turn came.

So off came the collar.

Mom placed me at the starting stakes.

When she let me go,

... I went straight to the judge and started digging at the rats. Oh no, Mom thought, and she went and picked me up and placed me by the tunnel entrance and I went right in and worked the rats wonderfully. When Mom came to get me out through the trapdoor, I had almost been able to get my head half way under the bars separating me from the rats.

It was so much fun!

I was very excited for the Junior test and really pulled to get to the test. Mom picked me up and took me to the starting stakes. I really struggled to get down and get the rats. Mom let me go at the starting stakes without saying a word. I shot like a bullet, straight into the tunnel. I raced through the tunnel to get to the rats. I dug and bit and even whined a little at the rats. Yeah!!! I made it. I qualified. My first Junior leg. Mom was so proud. Three other dogs qualified along with me on Saturday. It was a good day.

My first Junior leg ribbon.

Luckily for the us, Sunday was much cooler but still beautiful. I did the same as the day before. Like a bullet into the tunnel and worked the quarry like a demon. It was hard to believe that I had just earned my first title, Junior earthdog. It was a wonderful weekend, and a lot of fun.

My 2nd Junior leg, giving me the Junior Earthdog title.

Copyright © 1999 Anne Macmillan All Rights Reserved
last updated 10/16/99 [an error occurred while processing this directive]