What a day!!!!! I kind of kept this to myself before the trial, but Trust was entered in the UTDX on Sunday in Whitby. I am a member of the Cross Country Tracking Club who put on the UTD/UTDX Test. Trust has been working like a happy puppy this spring...which only consisted of 6 times out since the snow began to leave the parking lots. The green grass down south was amazing to see, we actually still have snow in some areas up here. With our impassable driveway, we ventured out with flashlights and two dogs on leashes to avoid the water/mud on our walk down at 3:30 a.m. to reach the draw at 8:30. Hardly any sleep the night before, but otherwise felt relaxed and calm and positive! I thought when I reached the van, I had forgotten my shoes and would have to wear my mudboots all day! Luckily, I found them.The trial had 2 UTD tracks then 4 UTDX. We drew X#3. A great group of people there, congratulations to Jersey and Candace Rennie who earned their UTD. The other dogs were great and just had a blip that prevented their passes on Sunday. All did really well on their tracks.
The picture above shows us just starting out and a nice beginning it was. Judge Marie Babin and our tracklayer Joseph Weir behind us.
Second leg, just before out second corner, a left turn, a cloth article. Trust is working well. I thought the amazing green grass might be a bit overwhelming, but it was lovely to work on.
We've made our third turn beside a building and are moving well - over towards a drop down to a driveway. 
This hill felt steeper than it looks here, I remember leaning back slightly going down. On the other side of the driveway was collected water that I had to jump over, and luckily didn't fall short and land in it. Trust just plowed through and was working soooo well. I felt she was dead on here, I was watching for that last footstep off the grass and she never wavered.
She is checking out a right turn here, actually did a little circle to the left first, there was a sewer grate there she checked, and then moved on to the right.
She committed quickly to the right turn, and now is just about to find her second article, a square of wood. Yay, we're feeling good.
Moving across another driveway and then into a parking lot. I'm feeling very confident out here, she's been doing great on hard surface in practice and actually seems to enjoy it more now than grass. I never thought I'd be saying that a couple of years ago!!! We went about 2/3 of the way out and she made a left turn further into the parking area.
She's moving along with confidence, I felt so good behind her. I think we both were willing confidence & trust to each other. But we had a little bobble after this, she continued straight, there was a left turn just ahead of her here and she continued past it. She wanted to go ahead and then seemed a little uncertain, but I let her go, I wanted her to check it out, we circled back around a bushy landscaped spot, and back into the parking lot, moving over toward the end of the building and scooting along toward the sidewalk. She was working it out. I told she could do it...and what a good girl she was.
This is the longer distance view, she had turned onto the sidewalk and worked right down the centre of it. I had forgotten...earlier I saw a parked van at this corner, as we entered the far side of the parking lot; he had stopped there and collected some round rocks. I remembered at that time thinking I hope he isn't letting a dog out. But when we reached this spot, it had totally left my mind as I was concentrating on Trust making a commitment...or not...at this spot.
This is when she just turned on to the sidewalk and I was "pretty sure" but watching for her 'lower' body postion to show she was on it as we moved on.
And she did commit, moving dead centre down the sidewalk to the end of the grass area....I also thought, hmmm, wonder why the track isn't down the roadway....
Well, it was!!! All of a sudden, she zoomed out to the final article. When I saw her moving right and saw 'something' out there, from my perspective, it was NO article, but some tiny piece of something...as I followed her there, she stopped dead, and I saw YES! IT WAS THE PIECE OF LEATHER. OMG! WE DID IT!
Second leg, just before out second corner, a left turn, a cloth article. Trust is working well. I thought the amazing green grass might be a bit overwhelming, but it was lovely to work on.
We've made our third turn beside a building and are moving well - over towards a drop down to a driveway. 
This hill felt steeper than it looks here, I remember leaning back slightly going down. On the other side of the driveway was collected water that I had to jump over, and luckily didn't fall short and land in it. Trust just plowed through and was working soooo well. I felt she was dead on here, I was watching for that last footstep off the grass and she never wavered.
She is checking out a right turn here, actually did a little circle to the left first, there was a sewer grate there she checked, and then moved on to the right.
She committed quickly to the right turn, and now is just about to find her second article, a square of wood. Yay, we're feeling good.
Moving across another driveway and then into a parking lot. I'm feeling very confident out here, she's been doing great on hard surface in practice and actually seems to enjoy it more now than grass. I never thought I'd be saying that a couple of years ago!!! We went about 2/3 of the way out and she made a left turn further into the parking area.
She's moving along with confidence, I felt so good behind her. I think we both were willing confidence & trust to each other. But we had a little bobble after this, she continued straight, there was a left turn just ahead of her here and she continued past it. She wanted to go ahead and then seemed a little uncertain, but I let her go, I wanted her to check it out, we circled back around a bushy landscaped spot, and back into the parking lot, moving over toward the end of the building and scooting along toward the sidewalk. She was working it out. I told she could do it...and what a good girl she was.
This is the longer distance view, she had turned onto the sidewalk and worked right down the centre of it. I had forgotten...earlier I saw a parked van at this corner, as we entered the far side of the parking lot; he had stopped there and collected some round rocks. I remembered at that time thinking I hope he isn't letting a dog out. But when we reached this spot, it had totally left my mind as I was concentrating on Trust making a commitment...or not...at this spot.
This is when she just turned on to the sidewalk and I was "pretty sure" but watching for her 'lower' body postion to show she was on it as we moved on.
And she did commit, moving dead centre down the sidewalk to the end of the grass area....I also thought, hmmm, wonder why the track isn't down the roadway....
Well, it was!!! All of a sudden, she zoomed out to the final article. When I saw her moving right and saw 'something' out there, from my perspective, it was NO article, but some tiny piece of something...as I followed her there, she stopped dead, and I saw YES! IT WAS THE PIECE OF LEATHER. OMG! WE DID IT!Of course, I turned into a blubbering fool, hugging her and telling her how wonderful she was, while Marie and Joseph gave us a few minutes to calm down.
Then Trust ran out to see them, Tascha ran up to see Trust (not me, ha.ha.) and we all hugged each other...a new Tracking Champion! Amazing. It was almost too impossible to believe...we finally did it! Best of all was how Trust worked, with enthusiasm and obviously happy and confident. What a wonderful day. The "trial" to get here was forgotten.
Marie and Tascha took a few pictures here. They were going to drive us back to where we were parked, but who could sit still?! Tascha and Trust and I walked back, reliving the track in reverse, playing with Trust, and probably looking and sounding like silly fools.
After the final track, we did the required photos and speeches and thank you's with the presentations of the rosettes and maps. Trust will also be receiving a medallion from the Club when it is ready.
My tracklayer, Joseph, who must have smelled very special to Trust, and judge Marie. Where do I begin with "thank you's"?!An official introduction: TCh Carmspack Trust CD RN who is also a therapy dog.
Carmen Duggan (Carmspack German Shepherds) who bred this wonder girl, nine years ago.
Darlene and John Barnard who gave the seminar we attended before Urban was accepted by CKC.
Encouragement by so many people along the way. I had "retired" Trust last fall, and
a couple of months ago, just felt we had to try again. Many people were pleased that we had, probably most of all...ME!
Tascha for helping us in our training...laying tracks, always ready to help in any way, not the least...bringing Timmies' french vanilla and often taking pictures. I know Tascha feels like a protective auntie to Trust. Thanks, Tascha.
Marie who plotted a very nice track (for everyone on Sunday) and Joseph, our tracklayer. Everyone else involved in this test also, just so many helpful souls and those who came to watch and cheer everyone on.
Thank you everyone. This is a day I will never forget. Trust is happy to be home and going for a nice walk through the forest today...after all...she's "just" a dog! ha.ha. (But a VERY special one!)
