East Texas Scentwork Fruitvale Trial

Trial Recap

East Texas Scentwork Club September 23-24th

Group photo of trial attendees in the Fruitvale High school hallway

Back to School, Back to Scentwork

Just as schools are starting classes back up after students' summer break, Scentwork is getting back into full swing from the pause clubs take during the hottest months of the year here in Texas. East Texas Scentwork Club hosted a trial held at Fruitvale High School, home of the bobcats on September 23rd (Saturday) and 24th (Sunday). A member of ETSWC worked at the high school and was able to secure them as a venue for the club's trial. Two Hundred and eighteen dogs were entered to participate in this trial.

A black Labrador stands at the entrance to Fruitvale High school.

Scentwork and School Supplies

East Texas Scent Work Club organized a school supply drive for the Fruitvale school district. Competitors were invited to bring items such as composition notebooks, Hand sanitizer, pens/pencils and cardstock. All items essential to running a classroom. People showed up with boxes and bags filled with supplies for the donation table. I’m thankful for the school allowing the club to use the campus for the trial.

School supply donations collected by ETSWC

Canines on campus

The unique school setting allowed for interesting challenges in runs. Classroom desks were surprisingly effective in testing my leash handling skills this weekend; after the novice briefing I strategized for a moment and opted for a longer leash that could reach over the tall desks rather than my typical leash getting stuck and pulling the desks around if it were to wrap around the sides. The long outdoor concrete corridors with grass fields running along them made for novel odor movement through the space. The location aided for all sorts of fun challenges like these.

Competitors and their dogs lined up in the school hallway waiting for their turn to run

How we did

This weekend I handled Raven, my 17 month old Labrador and Mayhem, my spouse Carter Miller's almost 2 year old Belgian Tervuren. My goal for Raven was to just have fun and (hopefully) finish our novice title which required two more interior qualifying runs. For Mayhem, my goal was to figure out how to best support her in a trial environment for her first ever scentwork trial. Raven qualified in both her interior runs with first place placements and received her Scent Work Novice title. We dipped our toes into advanced and while Raven was fantastic I lost her the Q’s with my miscalling alerts. Mayhem was entered in container and buried both days and Q’d twice. I have a better idea for what to prioritize in our training with her before our next trial.

Raven, a Labrador Retriever posing with her placement ribbons and new title SWN ribbon

Final remarks

I am thankful to East Texas Scentwork Club for putting on a fun trial, and to all the club planners, judges and volunteers who made it possible. Raven receiving her first scentwork title was a big goal of mine and I am proud of how both dogs did this weekend.

Mayhem, a Belgian Sheepdog standing next to her 4th place and qualifying score ribbons