Trialing With Grace

By Judy Bonner

Me and Gracie recently competed in the first east coast and the second in the country fully sanctioned NACSW^TM  K9 Nose Work® Level 1 Element Specialty trials hosted by Sarah Woodruff of Paws N’ Sniff in Stroudsburg PA.

The Level 1 Interior Element Specialty trial was in the morning and the Level 1 Container Element Specialty trial was set to run in the afternoon.  I registered both dogs, Gracie and Banner, in both trials.  Gracie and Banner were both selected by lottery for a trial spot in the Level 1 Container Element Specialty trial, making it necessary to pick one dog for the trial.  I selected Gracie as this is her strongest element.  Neither dog won a running spot in the morning interior trial, both being wait-listed, with Gracie lower ranked on the wait list than Banner.

A few days before the trial…