PatandNickReadingwatchingGoliard.

intothehighergrowthwhererabbitsmightbefound.
WhileI'dbeentohunttestsbefore,ithadalways
beentotakephotosandobservethetestsfromthe
perspectiveofaPBGVCAofficerandboardmember.
AsaparticipantIhadalottolearn,asdidSusie.
Initiallyshedidn'tventureintothehighergrowth,
stayingonthemowedpaths.YetwhenIwalkedinto
theovergrowthandcalledhertomeshecameover,
startedsniffingwithhernosetotheground,andshe
realizedtherewassomethingtobedoneotherthan
justrunwiththeotherdogsalongthepaths.She
seemedtobehavingfun,whichisgood.Iwantherto
enjoythehunttestexperience.Ourtimeinthefield
endedalltoosoon.Norabbitswerefound,butthere's
alwaystomorrow.

Westayedovernightinanearbymotelandarrived

atthebeagleclubaround7:30Sundaymorning.We'd
drawnthesecondhunttestslot.Whenourturncame
Iwentintothefieldwiththetwojudgesandtwo
otherownerswiththeirdogs.Boththeotherownershave
vasthuntingexperienceandindeedarejudgesthemselves.
SusieandIweretheonlycompletelynewbieteam.But
muchtomysurpriseanddelight,Susiequalified,getting
"pass"gradesonsixofthesevencriteria(Endurance,Useof
Nose,UseofVoice,SearchingAbility,CooperationWith
Handler,WillingnessToGoIntoCover).Shefailedonly
PursuingAbility.Norabbitswerefound,sotherewas
nothingtopursue.However,havingpassedsixofthe
sevencriteria,SusiehadpassedherHuntingInstinctTest.

Iwasreallypleasedwithmylittlegirl,enoughtolighten

mymoodintheafternoonwhenweagainhadtoendure
veryslowtrafficasweheadednorthontheNJTurnpike.

EarlierinthemonthSusiehadqualifiedforherCanine

GoodCitizenshiptitleandTherapyDogInternational

recognitionattheGlensFallsKennelClub.Iwanther

tobeawellroundeddog,andwillcontinuetrainingher
duringthewinterandearlyspringwithagoalofhaving
herparticipateinthehunttestatthePBGVCAnational
specialtyinMay,andhopefullycompeteinsomeobedience
andrallyevents.I'mlookingforwardtothat!

I

Susieusinghernose.