Practicing for the Earthdog tests
The Tunnel of Joy, it seems...
So the earthdog trial is in two weeks, and I keep vaguely thinking to myself, I really need to figure out who to enter, and what they are capable of. You can't just show up and drop the dog on the ground, they do need some sense of what the gig is.
Beatrix is in the Senior class, and yesterday I finally looked up what she would have to do. O.k., a little harder than Junior: 30 feet of tunnel, three 90 degree turns, two openings, a false den, and they have to work the rats for 90 seconds. And if that works, then I actually have to call her off the tunnel (they remove the rats, and then you call the dog). I am not sure I will be capable of that, she is pretty obsessive when she gets going. I have this mental picture of me, standing there bellowing fruitlessly, while she shoots around like a blonde torpedo.
So I need to get to work. I built a four foot tunnel, and I have planned to build a couple more. I needed to practice, but I didn't know how to present the gerbils to the dogs in such a way they could work the gerbils without any possibility of harming them.
Then I woke up at 5:30 this a.m. and in the pale, early light of dawn, I remembered that I have scent tubes: strong hunks of pvc pipe, capped and duct taped at both ends, with tiny holes drilled through, so air can get in, scent can get out, and the critter is safe from harm.
By 7, it is still cool, and I am ready to go. Frank the gerbil gets the nod for the job, partly because he tends to nip me, and I don't like him as much as gentle Beans.
I select Peabody, Beatrix, and Gideon, my three best dogs, and put them in the garage. I show the dogs the tube, and let them realize there is actually something in there. Outside I set up the short tunnel so one end is flush against the side of the garage, and put the securely contained Frank at that end. I sprinkle a scent trail of fresh gerbil bedding, and I am ready.
At this point, all the dogs know something is up, and they are hysterically barking. They even get the neighbour's dogs hysterically barking.
I let out Beatrix first. She brilliantly searches the yard, tracks to the tunnel, shoots down it and starts working the tube. I pull her out after a few seconds. Frustration is the key. Then I let out Gideon to go with Beatrix, as she will help show him the job. Sure enough, after a bit of hesitation he figures out that he must go down the tunnel. I put Beatrix away, and give Gideon a couple of shots at it. He figures out pretty quick the tube is at the end of the tunnel. He has a couple of turns, each with a very short work session working the tube.
Then it is Peabody's turn. I am careful with her, she is quick as a snake and has lethal intent. I pull her out fast. I even give old Finnegan a turn, he takes a minute or two to figure out there is a gerbil in the tube (is his ancient nose failing him?), but is already pulling the duct tape off when I take him out of the tunnel.
And lastly, I let Hogan and Jezebel sniff the tube. They know something is Very Important about the tube, but a little dim on the whole concept. Jezebel definitely knows the point is to break into the tube. Why? She will figure that out when she gets in.
It's been about 20, 25 minutes since I started, and it's time for Frank to go home with some treats. Frank, the noble martyr, is unperturbed by his adventure, and gets quickly back to his digging.
The dogs are completely revved. Beatrix won't stop pacing, sees "gerbils" everywhere. I can't convince her they are gone, and not on my shelf. Jezebel made off with the empty tube, still not quite sure what is so special about it, but damn it, she is going to have it.
They sure had a great time.
I have to go make some more tunnels now.
