Harper is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Harper’s owner is a writer, so she is named after Harper Lee, who wrote the book To Kill A Mockingbird. Harper had open heart surgery when she was 9 years old. When she recovered from her operation she continued competing in her favorite sport, nose work (scent hunting) and won many ribbons, eventually earning her Elite 1 title.

Nose work dogs search for three different scents--anise, birch and clove--or combinations of those scents. Search areas are Interiors, Exteriors, Vehicles and Containers. Nose work is a team sport because the dog must find the hides and successfully communicate the find to the handler. Then the handler must call the alerts correctly and determine when the dog has found all the hides.

Harper wears a “snood,” a head scarf which protects her ears from getting covered with food when she eats.