The trial went very smoothly, the judging was excellent as always, and the people were in attendance were some of the best you'll find in this crazy world we live in, LOL. I got to decoy some excellent dogs. I was in the level one as a competitor so I couldn't decoy in that level, but enjoyed working the entry level and level 2's. Congratulations to Kristina Senter for her Level 2 title with a 94% EX!! and her first place in level 2. Unfortunatly out of I think 7 dogs for entry level only two passed, but I hope two things came from that with the great people who came out and tried, 1. get to open field day and take advantage of the opportunity to work with the decoys and judges. 2. Gained even more motivation to get out there and start training harder, ASR judges give "NO SLACK!".
For those of you who remeber my little girl Fontaine d'Or Neeka, and the pictures and video's I had posted back when she was 2mo old and then video of her working at 5mo. old, well, she is now almost 2yrs old in a couple months and is now running with the big boyz in the ASR level 1. In VA this weekend, she earned her Level 1 title outright, because she got 95% EX over 90% (otherwise two legs of 80% or better). She earned 1st place in the Level 1's, She earned High in Trial, and She also earned the Decoy's choice award (as a decoy in the Level 2 I could only vote for other dogs, no not mine, LOL!). The building was a beast. It wasn't a big building at all, but it was set up inside like a maze and the dog was released at the entrance of the door and sent inside, but the decoy would really be outside hidden in a makeshift shed ajoined to a window. The makeshift shed was made from a dog kennel lined with a blue tarp, the engagement space was very small. The dog had to go inside, realize there was no decoy inside, see a window (handler cannot direct the dog), think whether or not to investigate, and then leap out the window at which time the dog would be attacked by the decoy in a 4ft X 4ft enclosed area. The level 2 building search and apprehension was set up much harder. Below is a link to some pictures from the trial. You'll see one with a decoy in a green suit and the caption says don't know if it is Hugo or Neeka, that is my girl Neeka after jumping into the tight area outside the window. I also finally got to meet Dennis Jones this weekend, and his very nice female GSD Erika the "destroyer". It was great meeting Dennis even if he is a Navy guy <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Link to recent ASR trial in VA pictures
~CHRIS DUHON

 Quote:

The dog had to go inside, realize there was no decoy inside, see a window (handler cannot direct the dog), think whether or not to investigate, and then leap out the window at which time the dog would be attacked by the decoy in a 4ft X 4ft enclosed area.

Wow! What a hard test - cool.
Enjoyed the pics and videos.