The BH1 is reality!
Yes, it is actually true … Willow and I have passed the “Begleithund1” assessment according to national examination regulations. In a line-up of purebred Shepherd dogs, we were complete newcomers and definitely the odd couple at this Dog Sporting event in the town of Schmitten on January 8th. Such an exam is nerve wrecking and the conditions on site are often not according to our wishes and ideas. At the tracking assessment site the entire crow population of Schmitten must have had their early morning meeting and according to the many fresh deer tracks in the snow, the deer must have gathered there just before. Well, such things simply have an influence on a dog’s performance. I was lucky that Willow did not pay any attention to that all day.
The most amusing moments, especially for the numerous spectators, was Willow’s “Fetch Test”.
Motivated and ambitious she rushed to my command to retrieve an object, picked it up and started back towards me when all of a sudden she changed her mind. She decided to run in a really big circle around me, full of energy and unbridled joy with a certain joke and charm. After another severe appeal, she finally brought it back and delivered it in the correct front sitting position. All the other commands she performed to perfection and full of dynamics. The judge said that even if the dog made a detour, which was obviously triggered by the excessive enthusiasm in snow, Willow had not dropped the object and ended the task correctly. In exactly that moment my heart skipped a beat and I was so proud of her. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that the two of us would one day participate in such an event and that in best behaviour. Willow’s fun personality and spunk did not affect the test results at all.
That day she taught me a lesson: NEVER GIVE UP & SHOW YOUR ZEST FOR LIFE, even under the eye of a judge! .
