NACSW Elite exterior-Crack hide 5-15-21

This search was set with two threshold hides and a ground hide deep in the search area. Using the Sternberg-Zinn method of “membrane theory” Winnie quickly sources both threshold hides then goes to work on the third hide, an odor source in the concrete. Winnie works the swirling odor around the area with the railing on one side and the trash receptacles on the other as the only surfaces to gather info. This is when the handler literally stands in the way, (I’m standing on the very crevice Winnie would like to use to source this hide!). Making a very difficult odor picture, Winnie continues to work and her behavior says she’s in odor, but I’m reading that it is possibly elevated or somewhere behind her. At one point Winnie stalls and looks up at the beam above the ground hide. Fascinating 🧐
We hang in there, Winnie gets a favorable swish of breeze when I’m out of the way and goes to source. We find three of a pissible four total hides and Winnie does a great job covering an unproductive area before catching odor from a previously found hide. She sources it and I pay as I call finish. This search felt really good in spite of my unintentional sabotage 😆