The right side was not hard problem but left was something different. Somewhere before that right turn, started hard uphill. At some spots, figurants must be aware that they could slide down. The vegetation wasn't also easy. New growned-up hard grass partially mixed with thorns at many spots didn't allowed to dogs to get through. Dogs must put all the energy and intelligence to find a figurant. Right side hadn't so hard inclination but there were some high grass with holes which couldn't see by handler and which was hard to get through.
The hardest problem were first two figurants - the handlers should set the time very smart so they could reach the end of terrain. The time is counting from the moment of releasing the dog into the search and it stops, and only in that moment, when the dog finds the last. At every finding, the handler must run to figurant, pick the dog and come back at spot from where he reported that finding. That means that during first two findings, handler must run with full speed so that he has the time for the last figurant. On this type of terrain whith pretty inclination, hard bushes on the ground, thorns and ground which slipes all the time between the legs, you can only imagine that every handler whose dog had find someone, "struggled for his life in running". Also, the fact that noone dog didn't finish searching less than 20 minutes.
Gunna and me searched first day (Thursday) at 11, 8th by turn. Till that time, noone didn't pass so it resulted with more stress.
Gunna worked very fast, showing her directibality, excelent motivation and full speed. Her independence (sometimes to big because she can go to far) and wilingess to go deep in terrain, here were crucial. First figurant was somewhere at 50th metre at right. I stayed a lot of time at start and got some point off here. But, it is the result of some lost exams and competitions where I walked to fast and missed figurants at beggings. But, I lerned the lecture.
Few minutes after releasing her, Gunna barked for second figurant who was on left side in that big inclination et the end at 50th metre. Just before releasing third time, Gunna was pretty exhausted, some because of long barkings, some of fast constant runnings downhill-uphill.
Moments like this - when she ran like a rocket uphill, in spite of trembling knees, are the moments which we remember the most with dogs and which are the biggest reward for all efforts. I would understand her if she couldn't run, because it was really hard. But, she ran to meet all of that uphill and bushes again, eventually earned my deepest respect and gratitude...
In last seconds, I saw her uphill to the left near knocked down stump. And saw her wagging tail... I just heard her panting trying to catch some air. I knew that she found the figurant but she isn't able to bark because she is too tired. As the second were clocking down, I
reported that. When I got to her, I saw that I had right - the figurant was there lying and waiting. After that third figurant, Gunna just knocked down and lied. Because of that no barking moment, I lost some points and got 177/200. The judge was satisfied with her, and said pretty good words about her. I was very proud of her because she showed all her qualities and temperament.
Next day, the judge at obedience were strickter in giving points then the day before. Gunshots were in excercise stay with recall (the dog stays, handler go for few metres and then gunshot), the hardest moment for that. We got no so good 36/50: Gunna sit down during gunshot, in aport she came in front of me no so in straight position, few times she curled from me in heeling, crawling wasn't so good and that's it.
The day after, situation was more good: 48/50 points. Part of points went down by my mistake: I forgot, again, that in carrying and handing over the dog, the dog must come directly in heeling position (I called Gunna
first in front of me and then in heeling position). But, total score of 261 ment qualification!
Ana with Mona was very succesful too. In searching she also showed all her qualities and became excelent. At last figurant she had the same situation as Gunna: she couldn't bark. But, luckily, she had more time to rest and finally she marked with few barkings (191/200 points).
Obedience was 43/50 points and dexterity 48/50.
It was very uncommonly at this year WCh: only 5 dogs from 45 got qualification! Personally, I think that there were more very good dogs but here judged the physical preparation of the dog. Probably, on the flat ground there would be more passings. |
This year, WCh, which was held from 30th of June till 6th of July 2008, was different from others by some things. IRO (Internationale Rettungshunde Organisation), between all, choose Croatia, Samobor exactly. The organizer was CRDA (Croatian Rescue Dog Association). 
