Gail Our Champion

This past weekend in Southern California was wonderful for all of us. We spent Friday thru Sunday, May 16-18, at the trial held by the San Gabriel Foothills Scent Work Club in Burbank.

Both Gail and Sally competed at their levels on Friday-Sunday. Sally qualified in 2 out of 3 Master Events, and Gail qualified in 2 Detective Events. However, Gail didn’t just qualify, she achieved her Detective Title, which is the pinnacle of all AKC Nosework events.

The Detective Search is the most difficult and challenging of all the scent work events. The dog and handler must succeed in 10 different searches, in ten different events, in order to achieve this title. It is very difficult and frustrating, and it has taken Gail and Nancy, over 3 years, and numerous attempts to achieve success in 10 different Nosework Detective searches. However, this weekend we made it!

The Detective scent work search involves a team searching for 5 to10 hides in the outside and inside of a structure or building. The target search may be a Birch, Clove, Anise, or Cypress scent. It can be on, in, or under anything and at any height. The number of hides is unknown, and false alerts, or missing hides will disqualify the team. There is also a time limit to the search.

It was a wonderful thing watching Gail during her searches this past weekend. She didn’t break a sweat and made it look easy. It was her opportunity to shine this past weekend, and she certainly did.

We are so proud of Gail, not only for her success, but for the wonderful friend, and competitor that she is. Thank you Gail.

Note - This post was written by my wife, Nancy, who happens to be Gail's trainer and handler.