Jennifer Michelson

Today I had wilderness sar training with Griffin. I had a 1000ft x 1000ft area to search. It was fairly dense with undergrowth (in NJ that means pricker bushes!!). I have been in a habit lately with losing things. A few trainings ago I had lost my radio--a sapling took it and its holster right off my hip (I ended up walking through my search area 2x trying to find it!!!). I lost my maps out of my pocket 2 trainings ago.

The last couple of longer hikes I did with Griff I lost my keys and his prong. Both times I found what I lost. One with Griffin's help. I had done a small amount of article training with him--very little when he was about a year old. I had him down when he smelled something of mine. He helped me find the keys, not by downing, but by showing a lot of interest. So when I lost the prong, I worked him a little on downing on the object.

Today, I lost my radio early in the search, looked a little for it and decided to move on and go back later (I brought an extra radio with me just in case.....). On the way back for the radio, I remembered that Griff might be able to help. I dropped my 2nd radio and asked him to 'find my keys'. He got the idea quickly and downed next to it. I did that 2-3 times and rewarded with his ball. I told him to 'find my keys' as I got back to my flag line (so glad I flagged!!!). I decided to follow it instead of just trying to find the radio by sound (keying the radio I had and listening for it). As I was following one flag line, I saw Griffin seemingly tracking on another line, out of the corner of my eye I saw him look happy and goofy and down. I moved towards him and asked "what is it?" "show me" and he picked up my radio and tried to bring it to me!!!!

Not only am I glad that I got my radio back, I am so thrilled with his desire to learn and work. He is such a good guy!!!! With my proclivity for losing things lately, I am going to work more with him on his new command: "find my keys!"

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Jennifer