So it's been pretty busy really round here - and I cant beleive that it's been 2 weeks since I last posted something! Me and Kaz and Daryl (oh and the Angus and Dram dogs) went down to Dartmoor to go and do some of that trailing training for those two good for nothing puppy dogs!
It was a great weekend and we all got loads to do - even me. On the Friday I didnt do much but I did supervise Kaz and Angus and Daryl and Dram dog who were learning how to search for the start of their trails.
They both did pretty good really and found their bodies - although Kaz found out that wearing gloves is a good idea as Angus managed to pull the line so hard it burnt her hand!
We also watched Jamie and Diesel from Anglia work a trail which was really brilliant - they are definitely going to pass their exams soon.
On the Satuday we went to Wood House an old stately home which allowed the mountain air scenting dogs an opportunity to search inside for missing people - I did too and it was great fun.
I went in the front door and Kaz put her finger on the wall which I had to follow closely and eventually as we went into one of the big lounges, I realised that there was a smell of a person near a window behind soime curtains. Boy, did I make sure I barked loudly! Then we carried on a cleared the rest of the house. On the way out I smelt another persons smell coming from a cupboard and a cat flap - Kaz was dead pleased when I barked to say she was there.
Kaz and Angus then went onto do a search where Kaz didnt know where the body was. This time Kaz was given a hat belonging to the pretend missing person (Kate) and she was told that Kate had last been seen about an hour ago in the garden. Kaz gave Angus the smell of the hat and he shot off from the garden onto a track leading out of the grounds. He went in to the undergrowth next to the track and told Kaz that Kate had walked past there - to tell Kaz that Angus lays down. Kaz then clipped him onto his long line and told him to find her and he started pulling her up the track following the vegetation at the side. He even ignored a lady walking down the road towards him. Suddenly he took Kaz left at the end of the track - she was really surprised to see someone who wasnt Kate sitting there and she thought Angus had done it wrong, but he only sniffed at the first person and carried on another 20 ft and there was Kate who Angus greeted with a big lick and lay down. Kaz was dead pleased and so was I (but dont tell him that!)
Dram and Daryl also did a trail in the area and were dead good too....so all in all very pleased. Here we all are - yes we all managed to pose outside the stately home (you should have seen all the handlers panicking that we would all have a big fight!)
Then the next day we played in Helen's farm and watched Jamie and Diesel do another fantastic search!
This last 2 weeks me and Kaz have been manic. Last weekend Kaz was being trained on blue light driving by Daryl. (She said it was fun but it isn't always brilliant to be taught by your boyfriend). Here's Mike practicing
Kaz and I then have been on a load of callouts the first was in Grizedale forest looking for a missing man. I worked with searchdog Beck and her handler Chris - it was dead spooky, we didn't find him though. Then we searched for a missing man in Wetheral over a couple of days. Her I am managing the search strategy!
Luckily the man turned up.
That day Kaz and I were on the way to a search in Scotland when there was a crash on the M6. Kaz stopped to help an injured person and once shed done that continued to Hawick but before we got there the missing person was found.
I was getting a bit tired, but the next day we got called to look for a missing person near Keswick again we got stood down before getting there. That night we had 2 callouts over at Haweswater and we started looking g for them but they both turned up! The following night we drove down to Preston to help searchdogs Floss and Finn looking for a missing lady. We searched the woods and fields for about 4 hours - she turned up the next day which was good.
So we finished the week a bit tired really!
On Sunday Kaz and Angus did a training session - they did really excellent trail from Whinlatter visitor centre across the main road to Revellin. I was so impressed with him - here is a pic of where he started the search!
It was very busy with lots of cars people and dogs!
Anyway I will blog soon. Take care Dot fans!
