08/15/06 Mealybug Trials

I have always marveled at the massive St. Bernards at the ski resorts. As I rubbed their velvety ears I was reminded that they were bred for a purpose with a history of snow rescues. The chasing antics of my son's border collie pup comes from generations of working ranch dogs. In the past Golden retrievers were hunting dogs, today they are predominately guide dogs, family pets, and& vineyard dogs. Yes, the jolly Golden you encounter touring wineries might be more than just a friendly greeter, you could be in the presence of a rare mealy-bug sniffer. In the Napa Valley Goldens are a valuable resource in fighting mealybug infestations. Being a typical golden they don't point the bug, or bark loudly at it , rather they sit patiently by the infected vine until they receive their reward; a kind word or doggie treat for a good bug hunt. Where there is a hunt there is competition, We have sheep and field trials, it's not a stretch to think that in the near future we could be sipping our wine and cheering on our favorite golden retriever at the mealybug dog trials