When Mary Martin, owner of Goldfield Kennels in Arizona, put baby Quest in my arms I could scarcely see him for the happy tears. He promptly squirmed and wanted down. He had places to go and things to see. He had so much to learn, experiences to live, and he had to grow into the great dog that he was destined to become. No wonder he was always in a hurry.
To say Quest was a handful would be putting it mildly. The only one who had no trouble managing him was Spirit. Quest adored Spirit and he still does. I believe in the beginning Spirit may not have adored Quest, however he apparently saw something he figured was worth working on. Either that .... or he was just training him for me.
He was born on the 22 of October 2002. I named him "Goldfield Question Authority". That may have been part of the problem. He was a wild boy with a lot of drive and he was very smart. He did not actually question authority, it was more a case of "too busy to listen to authority". He was never defiant, he just lost interest after he had done it once or twice. That included: obedience, manners and obeying me. The first time we went through obedience classes he was really quite good at it. He placed second in the class. I decided he needed a little more, so I enrolled him in the second series of classes. I guess he just thought "been there, done that" and his score for the second test was much lower. When the instructor was explaining things, Quest would back up to the end of his leash and then throw himself over backwards. If that did not get enough attention, he stayed on his back and yodeled, which effectively upstaged the instructors lecture.
If I made him sit beside me, he first leaned on me, then he gradually slid down my leg into a heap of cute puppyness. The long, down-stay was the long, down crawl for Quest as he went down the line visiting all the other dogs. We did not take a third series of classes. Our class members and I thought he was funny but the instructor did not.
Quest loved agility classes. He sometimes got the zoomies and raced around the course on his own. He eventually came back though and he was very good at agility, when he listened. We went to one of the best agility schools in Southern California. He was nearly two by the time I felt that he was ready to compete. I entered him in a trial at the Equestrian Center in City of Industry. He was a dream. He did well for his first trial and he earned two "Qs" (Qualifying scores) , with a 2nd place and a 3rd place.
Quest with his first ribbons, at his first agility trial.
I was so proud of Quest. His very first trial and he could not have been better! He listened to me and he was just great. His second trial was just as good, He Q'd with a 3rd and 4th position. It was good that I enjoyed his accomplishments and got a chance to really feel proud of him, because that was the last time for almost two years. From this point on he adopted his attitude that was familiar to me (from obedience class) "been there, done that". Quest made up his own courses. He left the ring and went visiting at times, leaving me alone on the course. Once he found himself at the wrong end of the teeter, so instead of going around, he reached up with one foot and pulled the teeter down to he could do it. Another time we ran into the ring together and he jumped up and hit me behind my knees. I went down and he proceeded to kiss me frantically.
We continued with our lessons, though at times it seemed hopeless. Occasionally he would run an absolutely perfect course, in record times. Just to give me hope, I guess. The instructor shook her head. I shook my head and Quest smiled (with a gleam in his eyes). Sometimes we drove hours to get to a trial, only to have him disqualify himself by leaving the ring or doing something equally silly. He did not really stabilize until after we moved to Washington, when he was 4 years old. It seemed like he had a light bulb moment.
He started taking agility seriously and so did I. We entered trials in all venues, USDAA, NADAC, CPE, and AKC. He began collecting ribbons at a very impressive rate. It was unusual for Quest to come home without numerous "Q" ribbons and blue ribbons were the predominant color.
AKC: 12 First Place ribbons; 8 Second Place; 3 Third Place and 1 Fourth place. Quest has his Agility Excellent Preferred Title and his Excellent Agility Jumper Preferred Title. He has several legs toward his Masters.
CPE: 56 First Place ribbons; 8 Second Place; 1 Third Place
NADAC: 13 First Place ribbons; 14 Second Place; 3 Third Place; 1 Fourth Place.
UKC: Quest was only in one UKC trial but he got 2 "Qs" and a Second Place ribbon.
USDAA: I cannot recall how many ribbons he received in USDAA. We stopped doing that venue a couple years ago because I do not believe the equipment regulations are safe.
Within a few months of what seemed to be Quest's "light bulb moment", he really began to turn on in competition. He picked up speed and suddenly he obviously knew right from left. He had a "rock solid" stay at the starting line as I led out - sometimes the entire length of the arena. He followed hand signals and didn't miss a beat. I can direct him through 5 or more obstacles at great distances. I can send him out layers of obstacles from me. He was always good at the weave poles, but now I can send him from any angle, away from me or coming toward me. We just smile at each other and the communication is there. What a joy he is!
Quest puts the same enthusiasm into everything he does. Lure coursing was one of his favorites and his first try at it was a memorable performance. He drug me about 20 feet, as I was trying to get his leash off and then he was gone. He was scary fast! My friend and I just gasped as he flew around the track and down the backside. toward the finish.
That was the problem though. He was not ready to finish. The set up at the end was that the lure was pulled under some hay bales out of sight. Then it reappeared at the start, after going under the Timers tables. None of that was visible to Quest, it was behind a wall of hay bales. The point was, it was gone and theoretically the dog maybe sniffed around a little, but then determined the lure was gone and gave up. That is what the other dogs did.
Not my boy! He saw where it went under the hay bales and simply jumped them. He then went under the timing tables between the legs of the Judge and timers. He ignored all the yelling. He was headed after the lure, no matter what and it did not look as if anything was going to stop him. He finally heard me and I got a hold on him and talked him down. What a guy!
Quest thought herding was just about the best thing he had ever tried. He got the hang of it immediately. Well, his version of the meaning of it. He got his Certificate (HIC) in no time, but he was not finished. It was difficult to get him out of the arena.
Dock diving is his passion. We were in line to try it for the first time and as he watched the other dogs do it he just wailed. I had to wrap his leash around poles as we moved up in line, just to hold him. This is a dog that will sit and stay where I put him for long periods of time. However, all this goes by the wayside when he sees dock diving going on....
In case anyone has not seen dock diving ..... well, this is not really what it should look like. I know Quest sort of resembles a giant white frog, but this was his first time and many dogs would not even jump off the dock. Anyway, his form left a little to be desired, but his enthusiasm was as usual with him - full speed ahead!
This wonderful boy of mine knows no fear. He is a total macho dog. Show him a sport and he will do it. He is not much for waiting in lines, or waiting for his turn though.
At agility trials we need to line up, about 3 dogs before our turn. Quest gets bored. He really tries to contain himself, but if the dog running ahead of him is particularly exciting - say, if it barks while it is running, I sometimes have to get out of the line of sight with Quest. Normally though he just thinks of something funny to do, to amuse the crowd. Once we were standing - next up - and I noticed several of the spectators in the stands were pointing our way and laughing. (Not usually something I want to see.) I looked at Quest and he was on his back with all four feet in the air - just waiting for someone to notice and find it amusing. If no one looks at him he usually yodels a little to get their attention. As soon as the starter says we are up, my sweet clown leaps to his feet and we head out to the course. As he waits at the starting line he is all business.
While recovering from a TPLO and waiting to go back to agility, Quest has taken up K9Nosework. Guess what! He is good at that too.
Thank you Mary Martin for breeding such a wonderful dog, and Rhonda McMahon for Quest's sire, Surefire Adan'ti Goldfield.
