The Power of Time

Team Georges earned our NW3-Elite this weekend and boy, did it feel like it! We were ready! I have really enjoyed the NW3 journey with him, embracing each lesson it taught us, exposing each piece of our training that needed work, polishing, and confidence. It allowed the time and framework to create the "Team Georges" that I have today. It is so easy to get swept away with wanting to move up quickly and feeling the pressure that each time we step to the line, we should be "perfect". I thought I'd share a little about our journey to maybe give others a little perspective.

What is NW3 Elite? Maybe we can start there! In NACSW, there are 3 "levels" before you get to Elite. NW3 is the 3rd level of this series. If you're curious about what these levels involve, please check out our K9 Scent Fix podcast episode I did with Jill Kovacevich of Mountain Dogs, where we dig into the skills, expectations, and requirements of each level: https://k9scentfix.buzzsprout.com/

NW3 is acheived when the team has a perfect day (6 searches, no time outs, no "no's", no missed hides). OR it can be done when there is an almost perfect day with only 1 error and you are able to do that in two trials.

The NW3-Elite title is achieved when the team earns 3 NW3 titles. This additional requirement ensures teams are more prepared for the Elite level of competition. This requirement can feel LONG and is a barrier to some teams.

1. It's not unusual to take several tries to get your first NW3. What about us? For Georges, he earned his first title at his 4th trial.

2. It's also not unusual for teams to compete at this level for several trails in order to gain the experience to move up. And for Georges? We did this in 9 trials. I believe I read somewhere this is about average!

3. They aren't always "Perfect" days! You can earn a leg, then earn a title at a future trial with a "leg". This is ok! We earned one of our NW3 titles through legs, and 2 with perfect days.

4. Ask For Info - This is a tool that teams can decide to use if their day isn't going so great. You can ask for # of hides, or where they are. It essentially scores you as absent for that search, so no chances of earning any legs, but BOY can it be helpful and confidence-building! In George's NW3 journey, I asked for Info 2 times. And they were some of the most fun days!

5. Competing weekend after weekend shouldn't be the goal. In NW3, you should be collecting all that amazing information and feedback for things to work on. Learn the lessons and understand they are making you both better competitors, better teammates, and more skilled! Georges and I did our NW3 in just under 2 years, with many of our trials having 3-4 months between. It was actually during the longer times between trials that our results got better!

6. You don't have to stick with one organization. NACSW is only one version of the game, and they are a super fun organization that will push human and dog teams alike. BUT learning how to click in a search, possibly with less on the line, you might explore other options. Georges and I played AKC Scent Work a few times between each trial, building up my ability to read him confidently, and his ability to build a larger library of different types of hides and styles they may be set.

It is SOOOO easy to compare when you see someone post their highlights on social media. I just hoped that sharing our "average" journey, the highlight reel is a little less important. Embrace the journey and the teamwork YOU are developing with YOUR dog. Each time you step to the line is an opportunity to play the game. It's why your dog is here. Your dog really doesn't care about moving up or "looking for a new handler" or earning placements. Thats a human thing. Your dog is just happy they can play a game with you, spend the day with you, earn their cookies (or play with their toys!).

Georges & Aleks - NW3-Elite March 28, 2025 - Cross Orchards Museum, Grand Junction, CO