Team Two - Linda Swanson
Linda Swanson resides in Northwest Indiana with three Weimaraners; her 10 yr old rescue "Jobe" MWR's Patience of Jobe, her CT in training "Kya" PewterRun's Diamond In The Sky TD, JH, NAVHDA/NA-II, and her Tracking Champion, "Gabi" CT Cc's Amaz'n Rainy's Gabriele CD, RA, CGC, NSD, V. For Gabi and Linda, tracking became a part of their life when, at just 9 weeks, Gabi was following scent on hard surfaces at Linda's building supply store to find out just exactly where her mom went with customers. From there the game began; Linda would hide items and between customers she and Gabi would track them. Gabi still prefers playing "hide and seek" to fetch, unless it's a retrieving game from the lake or swimming laps in the pool with Linda.
Gabi passed both TD and TDX by 14 months, and then the challenge of VST began. Gabi's tracking style changed and Linda needed to learn to read her all over again. With the experience and encouragement of their breeder, trainer and friend Chris Conklin, Linda expanded her knowledge of handling and scent. All the hard work and training paid off and on November 6, 2005 Gabi became the first AKC Champion Tracker Weimaraner at the age of 3-1/2.
Gabi and Linda have gone on to pursue other titles such as CD, RA, and just recently earned the WCA Novice Shooting Dog, giving Gabi her first versatile title. This team is currently working on two more JH legs, as well as getting started on CDX and agility. While always busy, their main joy now and always is scent work. Linda is forever thankful to Gabi for having the patience to teach her what using your nose is all about.
