Logan Utah VSwP, June 1st 2013
This test was unbelievably challenging! 1000 meters (about 2/3 of a mile) is a long way to track with only 250 ml (8 oz) of blood! This was without a doubt the hardest single test I have completed in the VDD testing program. Akira was barely 2 months out from whelping her second litter, and needless to say wasn't in prime shape! We hit the track hard and persevered to the prize. We had our challenges during the track, including a point and chase of flushing grouse. I am very happy we did this test, but it was no gravy train. We completed the test in about 1hr and 40 minutes with a Prize II. This is the pinnacle of blood tracking, and like any challenging mountain summit, takes a lot of hard work. This test is not for the faint of heart, nor for a young dog. The mental prowess needed to complete this test is brought about by time and experience in the field. It was a very rewarding experience, and I hope to be able to do this again with other dogs in the future. I have a nice writeup about the VSwP if you would like a copy.