The weather may have been nice for the dogs but it sure wasn't for us people. It started off cold and drizzling. This is summer? Even the birds weren't stupid enough to come north this year.
For Boogie's first brace he was matched up with a one year old, very happy Border Terrier. This little guy is one happy fella. Notice the clothes being worn. Heavy coats, knee high rubber boots. I'm telling you it was cold, rainy and wet. Okay, I guess you know my feelings about the weather this year.
It was this little guys first time in Master so really didn't know what was going on. He was so excited to be off leash in a big field that he had no way to know he was supposed to be hunting for rats. So he was just running around happy and ready to play with this other cute Border Terrier running around....Boogie.
However, Boogie new exactly what they were supposed to be doing. Boogie loves to play with any dog, any time except when he's hunting rats. This cute little guy kept running up to Boogie wanting to wrestle. Boogie would turn away and continue on his hunt.
Finally Boogie got tired of this nonsense when the little guy jumped on Boogie's back. Boogie told him "knock it off"! After that they had a great hunt up and the little guy was very respectful of Boogie.
Any other time, Boogie would have been more than happy to romp and play. But in the hunt up, Boogie is on a mission. He has to find those rats!
And find them he did. In fact, he was so happy to find them that he wasn't going to leave them for anything. He knows when you pick him up out of the tunnel the game is over. So the second you open the lid to get him out, he backs up into the tunnel so there is no way to get him out. The only way is to get a rat and show it to him. Then, and only then, he flies out of the tunnel to get the rat. Oh Boogie, you've outsmarted us all.
Next he got to do Senior. As you can see, he already has rats on his mind...not sure what's on Mike's mind.
If you look closely you can see just see Boogie as he disappears down into the tunnel.
After finding the rats, and working them for 90 seconds, Boogie is suppose to come out. Here's Mike peering into the entrance eagerly waiting for Boogie to come out.
Ninety seconds has come and gone....it's now been over three minutes. Mike is now hanging his head in recognition that Boogie just isn't going to come out.
Yup, they had to resort to getting a rat before Boogie would come out. The entire time he is in the tunnel he is trying so hard to get to the rats that he is eating at the dowels. In doing so, he moves his head up and down so hard that the lid (which is latched shut) is banging up and down. The judge today said she had to stand on the lid to keep it from breaking open.
A friend said it is amazing Boogie doesn't get brain damage from all that extremely hard head banging he does.
Let me try to show you what I'm talking about. The three "bars" are the dowels. As you can see they are of good size - pretty big around. The opening you see is where they put the rat cage. On the other side of the dowels (where it is very dark) is where the dogs make their way to the rats. The idea is that they are then separated from the rats. Most dogs bark like crazy only biting the dowels a time or two. This is what the dowels typically look like after a day of earthdog.....
....except when Boogie and his dad are involved! They can chew all three dowels in half in less than 90 seconds. Oh, and see the latch....this is what I was telling you about. It is latched while the dogs are "working", then is unlatched and the lid opened so you can get the dogs out (in Master).
During Boogie's second Master run, he was matched up with a dog named Bob Barker. (Think about it.)
Same drill, great hunt up...found the rats in record time, great working....but wouldn't come out. Fifteen seconds after Boogie found the rat, the judge yelled out..."Boogie's completely through the first dowel". You've got to be kidding! It would take me that long to saw through it. No wonder his nickname is Chainsaw.
First day, four events....four times Boogie didn't come out.
The second day I was unable to go along. But the report was the same, until his last Senior run.
This time Weezie's (Boogie's sweethart) mom, Nya, was the rat wrangler. Boogie was in the tunnel and after 60 seconds had shown no signs of coming out...nothing unusual. Suddenly, seeing Nya there, Mike had an idea.
Mike said excitedly, "Boogie, Weezie's here". Mike had barely taken a breath before Boogie had shot out of the tunnel and was standing very erect and alert, looking around for Weezie. Mike grabbed him and Voila! They passed!
I'm thinking there is no way this will ever work again. But Mike immediately ran over to Weezie so Boogie could see her. Hopefully this was a good thing and it will work again sometime. Gosh, now we just have to make sure Weezie comes to every Earthdog test we attend.
The puppies were being handed over to the breeder weekend so it was my very last chance to visit and take pictures. I have gotten more request for puppy pictures than anything else! So here we go....for the last time.
They had a lot of toys in their little set-up. As true Boogie puppies, their favorite toy was a tunnel. And just like Boogie...they weren't in any hurry to come out.
And instead of working rats, the puppies were working a teddy bear...with great gusto!
Junior didn't quite have the idea of going in the tunnel. He must think he's a lumber jack as he kept trying to do the log roll.
The earthdog test this weekend was put on by the Cascade Dachshund Club. Looks like the little border terrier puppy turned into a loooong dachshund.
Mike played a game of tickle with one of the little girls.
She was having a great time....
...just too darn cute.
Doesn't it look like they are doing a conga line? Actually they are just trying to beat up on their brother...like always. Little Junior (aka Norman) is going to be so glad to get away from his sisters.
Poor Junior is getting tackled once again.
No use exerting yourself....just play on a nice hammock.
So many toys to choose from.
She's looking for someone to attack!
Boogie really wanted in the pen to see the puppies so we let him see them one last time. Like usual, they all rushed over to see him. Looks like they are giving him kisses.
Or are they telling him secrets?
The puppies each had their very first experience at being stacked to prepare for their lives at show dogs. I'm certainly no expert but they looked pretty good to me.
They each had their first lesson on walking on leash with mommy Weezie while Boogie looked after the others.
Boogie didn't want to leave...but it was time for us to say goodbye to the puppies forever. Looks to me like the puppies didn't want him to leave either as they chased him over to the fence.
This little puppy looks so sad now that daddy is gone.
Poor Boogie is watching as we pull away from his girlfriend and his puppies. What a good daddy he has been.
Debbie
9/4-5/10
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