Back to the PawMark Article Menu© 2001-2000 by Ed Presnall
Photos courtesy of Ginny Conway
All Rights Reserved
As Published in the STA On-Track Newsletter
This day was different. I could feel it as I left the house. This would be one of those days. Exciting, memorable and enlightening. Of course, it is said that I may be a little biased and that I do enjoy watching a VST test ... anywhere and anytime, but I felt good about today.
We watched the first three dogs quietly come to the line and sadly watched as each made that fatal mistake.Comyn Around The Bend, UD, TDX
"Bender"
Working the Asphalt
Bender and Mary, after a 14 hour drive and a forty degree temperature change from their home in Tennessee, walked to the start flag. Bender displayed a strong start and steadily worked down the track in the brisk, shifting winds swirling through the campus.
Left across a patio, snatching up a metal article, down a breezeway, through an archway, negotiating a maze of hedges in a large common area and soon this teams working style was evident to even the first time VST spectator.
Bender would identify the track direction with a quick flick of his head and then test his selection. Not once, not twice but three times he would diligently work the direction before committing to the turn. On one occasion, while the team was negotiating a series of hedgerows, one of the judges walked back to the spectators to quietly state that this was one of the best teams she had ever seen.
On this day there could have been a sign posted. Caution, VST team at work! Watch and learn.
To those of us who have trained dogs in VST, the subtle teamwork brought a smile to our faces. We understood how many hours and how many tracks it took to be able to read and understand the subtle changes in the dog and respond with a soft and even hand. Knowing when the dog was tired and needed a refreshing drink or brief rest. Knowing when the dog was testing the wind currents, or following drifting scent and having the patience to wait out the dog while it problem solved its way through the track. Those that had not, simply stood in groups gawking and softly gasping, oohing and ahhing and learning that this sport is attainable! They watched as Bender and Mary presented an impromptu workshop, a demonstration for the crowd. But wait ... it was more than a demonstration, it was an eye opening training session for the judges and spectators alike.
They saw what can happen when a track crosses a street only to turn and parallel the street along the front of a building, only 36 yards away. They watched as Bender tried and tried again to cut off the leg by following the street and finally after eleven minutes of working the area, successfully pulled Mary into an alcove and to the article.
They saw the reaction to the heat, yes even 70 degrees is hot if you train in the 20s and 30s and the reaction to the dog as it overheated and tired and learned that rescenting and watering the dog refreshes them and allows the dog to start anew.
Nothing really new in these facts. Each have been discussed in detail at workshops, seminars, book and articles however they tend to become bigger than life when witnessed in person.We watched as the team continued down an alcove, across a lawn and back across a street. I think that each of us knew that we were watching what could be the first pass in our area and we silently pulled to the team to continue. Circumventing a turn, Bender somewhat paralleled the track for about 80 yards before finding the vicinity of the last corner. Working under trees the team entered an open grass area only 60 yards from the final article.
In the old adage of if it can go wrong ..., there was soccer game in progress in the field. Bender worked between the players, slowly attempting to pick out that one lone scent of the tracklayer from the area. With polite intervention by the judges, the game was postponed and the players gathered near the judges to watch.
Working the area the team worked back and forth near the final leg. Committing several times to push through a hedge and into an adjoining parking lot, the team kept the spectators hearts in their mouths. On three occasions, Bender followed the hedge to within yards of the final article only to break off. Knowing that Bender was overheating, Mary pleaded with the judges for additional water. I walked up to assist and handed her the remainder of the bottle I had. She looked into my eyes and said that she knew they were close. I bit my tongue and smiled, knowing just how close they really were.
Using the water like a magic potent, Mary refreshed Bender and started again. Returning again to the hedge, the team was slowly moving farther and farther off track. Finally the dreaded whistle and for the judges, spectators and exhibitor, the tears started to flow.
As Bender lay happily playing with the final article, we consoled Mary. Slowly the crowd drifted away and I was left almost alone with Mary. I spoke of the things I felt the team had done right and of the things that they had tought the crowd of spectators about the sport. Yes, as a team they had fallen short of their goal. As teachers they had shown people in this area a view of the sport not seen in a long time.
Later I heard several people say that they were so excitied from watching the team that they were going to start training in VST. Even more important, I heard someone, that had what I felt was an exceptional VST dog several years ago, say that she too might start working again. I smiled as I drove away knowing that performances by teams like Mary and Bender will keep this sport growing.
© 2003-1996 - Ed Presnall - All Rights Reserved