Djinn the "Bloodhound"

The wheather conditions are excellent and we have trained some 8 months for this test. They brought us to a dirt road between the woods and a meadow. Jorge has prepared me with harness and lead. With us are the judge, our trainer, an assistant with the map and an invited instructor.

Just behind us are some pigs behind a fence. I'm sure that is not the starting direction, he-he! Not that the smell of pigs would bother me, I am (fortunately) not a human being. But possibly "those behind me" believe that... And why are now those stupid pigs laughing? I look very elegant in my harness!

The judge gives Jorge an air-tight plastic bag, which contains an article that has previously been in contact with the track runner (a piece of gauze).

He opens the bag and puts it around my nose - I can distinguish human odor, tobacco and aftershave lotion... Aaaghhh! - and commands "Such!". I circle shortly around, we act this way a little to impress the public, I signal that I have found the scent and then start on the road along the edge of the woods.

Left and right it smells of competitors. How many males have already put here their markings? Uh-oh! Could it be, that those the markings belong to my neighbour, that idiot "Jasso"? Mmmmh! I don't like him... From sheer "Jasso" I wandered away from the real scent. "Those behind" have noticed and Jorge doesn't follow any more. I come back with a quick pace and a BIG embarrassed smile.

Jorge puts me on "sit" and strokes me. HE needs calming down, not me! I know where the odor is, I was just a little distracted... Here we go again. From the point where the road leads to the left and detaches himself from the woods edge I go on straight ahead.

The scent leads now into the woods. I investigate it but I realize then that it goes no further. Therefore, after some meters walk I lead the company again out of the trees and go along the road again. No joking now, Djinn, after the blamage just before I can feel their eyes on my neck.

We continue walking and then I think it goes again into the woods. Yes, here it is stronger! But it is eqally strong left...and right... A scentpool! I have to solve this problem by myself. I go around the young trees, Jorge shortens the lead. Probably he scratches his tender, furless face. Hi-hi, er shaves every morning! Those humans!

Now the scent leads straight ahead. I speed up. We cross the woods and arrive to a road. I hear fast steps somewhere far behind us and I think, they are following us, this will calm Jorge down. Shame on him, he has no faith! It's ME who has the nose!

Crossings must be taken with care and here I take my time. I cross the road. Jorge stays on the other side and gives me lead. There are some bicycles but no cars around. I sniff investigating well into the woods but there is nothing here. Right or left then? I circle prudently but it is clearly to the left. Okay, vamos! After the curve there is a person leaning to a tree, it is Albert, I knew it!

He acts as if he didn't knew me. Oh, yeah, let's act up a little... "Hello Mr. Stranger, I am doing some mantrailing, may I sniff at you a little?"

No reaction.

Behind me I hear a heart beating. Imagine who that could be...Poor faith indeed...
OK, let's finish this business. I sniff around Albert...not even THIS does he notice !

In his pocket I smell a sausage! Hop Djinn! I make "sit", this is how one gets it!!

And from behind, the "master" jumps on me, deafens me with "Bravo" shouts, breaks my bones with his hugging and moistens me with his tears of joy.

And the sausage comes out at least.

On the 10. Oktober 1999 Djinn-Dorian von der Mühlestetten passed the Mantrailing Instinct Test. His handler survived.