2013 JRTCA Nationals

[Sabine]

I'm a bit short on time right now since my mom is here to visit, so I just wanted to post this real quick. We had a wonderful time and even won ribbons, which I honestly didn't expect at such a competitive event.

2013 Nationals

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Dax worked this opossum, which earned him his first natural Hunting Certificate

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[SherriA]

Sounds like a great trip!!

[Jen]

Look at the look on his face in the second one!

[Sabine]

He was very proud of his work. One of the criteria for the Natural Hunting Certificate is that the terrier either bolts the quarry from its den, holds it at bay until the person digs to them, or draws it out. Dax came backing out of the hole with the possum by the scruff not terribly long after he went in. I was surprised!

[UpwardDog]

Congrats!

[OhDaniGirl]

Way to go, Dax! What a little hunter you are!

Isn't it wonderful watching dogs do what they were bred to do? I just love it!

[Sabine]

It's a great thing, I love it too. No matter if it's a herding dog, retriever, livestock guardian, etc.

When Dax went into that hole and moments later started to bay, I was so excited!

[Bari]

I'm so happy you didn't come home empty handed.

[maxs_mommy]

What a good trip! He still wants at that opossum, it seems!

[QBert]

hooray!

[Sweetgrass Farm]

Here are some more photos of our hunting trip. To say Sabine had a good nationals is an understatement. For her to get a ribbon, much less a first place at her first nationals, speaks volumes of how hard she's worked. Although for me, the best part of our whole trip was going hunting afterwards. We took two terriers that have never seen field work, much less a natural den, dropped them in the field, and away they went. Dax and Mac had a slight altercation (too much testosterone), so they were hunted by themselves. We had an experienced terrier along "Bisley" who just happened to be the JRTCA's National's Working Terrier Champion for 2013. The first day we were only out for about 4 hours, but the terriers got to stick their heads in holes and you could see the light was beginning to dawn on them. The second day we dropped Dax on the ground first along a row of tree's, but that's a story for Sabine to tell.
I had Mac on the ground after we put Dax up and he was very nonchalant about checking the holes. I've been working my dogs since 1996 and I always have to remind myself that "the nose knows". It's very tempting to keep calling your dog over to check holes that you think look active, but your terrier say's "Nope, nobody home". You also have to be able to read your dog's body language and know when he's interested and when he's not. Mac appeared very interested in a hole that had two tunnels branching off of it. He went in the left side, which narrowed down to a pretty small opening. Mac was definitely interested and pushed, twisted, and dug his way in. I located him at 3'+. He opened up baying and I could hear him sparring with something down there. He kept digging and I would pull the dirt out behind him. Once he settled in, I started digging to him as it was very apparent he wasn't coming out. About 45 minutes later, I broke through to the tube. A lot of young dogs don't like the shovel or PHD's (post hole diggers) working around them, but Mac didn't mind at all. Once I opened the hole up, I could see Mac, but couldn't see what he was working. He was sparring with something and as I opened the hole up further, he pushed forward and grabbed it, drawing it out. It was a really good sized opossum. We pulled both of them out and could see Mac had about three bites along his muzzle from doing battle and the opossum was a little worse for wear, too. Photos were taken and the opossum was released.
The fact that we took two green dogs out in the field and they did so well made me incredibly proud. This is about seven generations of working dogs (4 of them my breeding). My buttons are POPPING!!

[Sweetgrass Farm]

Gratuitous butt shot (my favorite view).

[OhDaniGirl]

Oh, now I want to know what happened on the second day with Dax by the trees!

Please do tell, Sabine!

[Sweetgrass Farm]

Oh, now I want to know what happened on the second day with Dax by the trees!

Please do tell, Sabine!

Why did I even bother...

[Sabine]

Thanks for chiming in with the expert view, Sherri - I do appreciate it! I'll be along shortly to tell more about our adventure, but since my mom is here to visit I don't have all that much computer time right now.

[Jen]

Oh, now I want to know what happened on the second day with Dax by the trees!

Please do tell, Sabine!

Why did I even bother...

Why even bother what? I'm curious what happened by the trees as well.

[maxs_mommy]

Enjoy the visit with your mom! Then back to more stories, please!
Sherri, it sounds like you had quite the accomplishments with your dogs!

[Amanda]

Looks like a great trip with some ribbon icing on the cake! Great work everyone. Can't wait to hear the Dax story.

[SherriA]

that butt shot is adorable, Sherri! Sounds like a great weekend for your dogs.

[JudyL]

Very interesting story. Congrats to both of you!

[whiteboxerboy]

Congratulations to the Sweetgrass Crew!!

[Jill-Marie]

Sherri, it sounds like you and Mac had a WONDERFUL hunt! I am jealous. I cannot imagine the absolute thrill you had seeing Mac and Dax work so well in the field, such a credit to your breeding.

I think you need to send that story in to the JRTCA for True Grit. And the pictures, including gratuitous butt shot are great.