The Spaniel Annals

We came, we saw and we failed the last tracking test of the spring in Sprague, Washington, with Reardon starting beautifully, and then hitting a critter mound.  He never quite recovered after that first glorious drowning in critter scent (mice? bunnies?).  His expression veered back and forth from “Bunnies! Whee!!” to a somewhat confused “oops, we’re supposed to be tracking..” and back again.  In retrospect it was rather comical, but at the time I don’t remember laughing.  I think I was too busy pleading. And he was very busy having fun.   I’m sure the tracking community will breathe a sign of relief that we will be entering no more tests until fall, so we can spend the next several months working on Reardon’s focus.

In the meantime, I joined my friend Lisa Kaufman for some “easy” tracking this last Sunday, on grounds very familiar to Reardon.  Of course Reardon was close to perfect.   And just to lift my spirits, Lisa caught some magical photos of him.  Here he is on the track, bunny-less and all business:

Afterwards Lisa caught him in a lovely headstudy.  I need to get this one blown up and framed, I think.

Thanks for these beautiful photos of my guy, Lisa!