Tracking
is a bonding, non-competitive, and stress-free activity that is
suitable for ALL dogs and most of all...it's fun!!! This is my
most favorite dog activity of all! Dogs develop confidence and
self-esteem through tracking. You will learn to read and
understand what your dog is telling you as he moves along the
track. Dogs use their nose as we use our eyes. You and
your dog will become a team, as in no other sport. Why?
As your dog learns to follow the tracklayers' scent, your dog becomes
the leader of the team! This is the only dog activity where
your dog is telling you what to do. You work together as a
team, with your dog sending a message to you through the long line
attached to his harness. His body language is equally important
for you to learn to read. This close and trusting relationship
will only help you in any other dogsport in which you choose to participate.
When
people ask me WHAT IS tracking, I will often suggest it is somewhat
similar to what police dogs do, following human scent left in
footsteps to find the bad guy or the lost person. Sometimes
people think "tracking" is the same as Search and
Rescue. There are some similarities but with S&R a
human life may be at risk and working quickly is
important. CKC tracking is a sport and it is preferred
that the dog work at a slower pace.
Having
said this, my dogs have assisted me to find something I've lost in a
field, on one occasion to help search for a lost blind dog, and there
are stories from others losing their car keys or eye glass case, and
their dog found them in the field they had been working in.
Tracking
is a perfect sport to begin with a puppy or to start with an older
dog. Beginner tracking is not physically demanding on the dog
or owner. In more advanced tracking you may have obstacles or
difficult terrain to cross.
In
beginner tracking, your dog will learn to follow a human track using
only his nose, discriminating against any scents other than the scent
left by the tracklayer. He will follow this scent to the end of
the track where he will find and indicate a leather article.
That is his reward along with your praise and playing with him; and
you will act like this is a miracle, because it is! There must
be something in it for the dog...fun!
The
only requirements to start tracking, are that you and your dog enjoy
working outdoors in ALL weather, and have the interest and the time
to train. There IS a lot of work involved in training. No
obedience work is required or desired. No corrections are allowed.
To
earn a title in tracking, you need pass only once, at one trial.
That definitely doesn't mean that it is easy to earn a title.
So many factors come into play at a trial, perhaps the most
significant one being the weather. There is always good
luck...or bad luck...at a tracking trial. I attended one
tracking trial where we were "wiped out" by such severe
weather that some dogs couldn't even get started. That doesn't
occur very often...but it can.
The
average pass rate at Tracking Dog Trials is 50%. The average
pass rate at Tracking Dog Excellent Trials is 33%.
Approximately 30 to 35 dogs in all of Canada earn a TDX title each
year. With UTD AND UTDX being so new, there are no reliable
averages as yet.
For
any dog earning all four titles, they will be designated a Champion
Tracking Dog. The introduction of these new trials and titles
with CKC are great for those of us that have finished a dog with a
TDX and then say...now what?! CKC rules state that a dog must
have earned at least a TD title as a pre-requisite before entering
any other tracking test.
A
registry (NAMBR) for mixed breeds, or unregistered single-breed dogs,
is available for dog owners that would like to enter a tracking
trial. You may also look into the Performance Event Number
requirements with the CKC to find out if your (single breed) dog may
be eligible to apply for this.
Many
of my students, with mixed breeds, and even some with purebred dogs,
just enjoy the sport and the special relationship that they develop
with their dog, and do not have the interest in putting titles on
their dogs. People that are excited to spend quality time with
their dogs are always welcome in my classes or seminars.
I
really enjoy teaching tracking classes, which I offer every spring
beginning in April. Early spring is the best time of year to
start a new dog tracking, before it becomes too hot. Heat
and high humidity in the summer make it too tough to start an
inexperienced dog. Most trials are held in the autumn with
cooler conditions.
I
also love to give workshops to groups or clubs that may be interested
in holding a Beginner Tracking Seminar. These are usually a
full one day workshop with a limited number of dogs. I always
stress that those attending without their dog learn just as much by
watching the others. Two days can also be arranged;
occasionally a day of private work is of interest to people who have
already started tracking, and perhaps have a few snags to work on.
Unfortunately,
Maggie developed a serious health issue, Anal Furunculosis, in her
sixth year. We were able to overcome this after months of
treatment, and with help from so many wonderful people. Another
unrelated medical problem followed which we were not able to conquer.
Maggie left us at only seven years of age. She was an amazing,
brave, and very special girl who will be with us in spirit forever.
For
anyone with a dog (most often german shepherds) diagnosed with Anal
Furunculosis, please feel free to contact me if you think 'our story'
will help you.
I
thank Ginny Neher, who started Spook and I back in April, 1995.
I drove over 2 hr. (one way) while living near Orillia to take 8
classes, which changed my life. Spook and I continued to train
on our own, and she earned her TD that autumn. There was little
information available back then, few books, and I did all my own
tracks and cross-tracks for Spook while training for TDX.
After Spook earned her TDX in 2000, I decided to teach classes.
We were already back in northern Ontario, and I hoped that there
would be people in this area interested in tracking. I have had
the opportunity to attend some great tracking seminars since that
time, and learned much from them. Every dog I work with also
teaches me something new. Spook taught me trust and was a
once-in-a-lifetime dog.
There
are other bonuses when you begin to track. I have made some
wonderful friends through the sport of tracking. Members in the
tracking club I belong to, in Southern Ontario (CCTC) have become
like family to me. Generally, tracking folk are friendly and
supportive. Most are as happy when your dog earns a title as
they are when their own dog earns a title. At a trial, there's
usually a "gallery" of other entrants and observers
watching and cheering when you return...even if you're not successful
in passing that day!!!
I
believe that most of us who truly love the sport of tracking would
continue to do so regardless of ever earning a title. I learn
something new with each dog I work with. The thrill of tracking
is in the journey, and in the special times you share with your
dog. While out training, we've seen a bear, a moose,
watched sandhill cranes walking on our tracks, and been watched by
motionless deer. How can you beat this?
|
"If
a dog is not performing in the manner I expect him to perform, then
I am doing something that has to be wrong.
In
scent work, the dog is the one that knows what he is doing and is
always right, while the handler, unable to determine just what, or
how he is doing it, can only set up the situation and hope that it
will be conducive to the dogs' learning if designed and implemented correctly."
~ Glen R. Johnson, 1938 to 1991 |
Carmspack
Trust CD TDX RNCL Pet Therapy Dog HIT |
TRACKING
CLASSES: Class is held beginning in April each year. A
maximum of eight are accepted into the session, consisting of eight
classes. Pre-registration only. This is usually the only
tracking class offered each year. For more information, or to
register, please email me.
I am
pleased to say that most of my students have earned their Tracking
Dog Titles in their first attempt, and am very proud of them.
Two students who began their dogs with me, have worked hard, and
recently earned TDX titles.
TRACKING
SEMINARS:
I am
available for seminars and workshops for clubs, or groups, that would
like to learn more about tracking and how to begin. These
seminars/workshops normally are one day and will give you all the
information you need to get started and take you up to
trial-ready. One day workshops normally consist of a morning
class session, and an afternoon demo. with one of my dogs, followed
by starting the dogs registered in the workshop. I always
stress that auditors learn as much from these seminars, as those with
dogs. There are lots of visuals, and handouts, including a
booklet form of everything we do in the class session.
Two
day workshops are also available, as are workshops developing the
skills of dogs and handlers, including problem solving. This is
benefical to those working towards a trial.
Please
contact me to discuss this further or for more information.
SCHEDULED
SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS:
Please
check the photo page for pictures of dogs in 2007 workshops.
You might be surprised to see some 'unusual' breeds.
Please
have a look at pictures of our dogs tracking, and friends' and
students' dogs tracking on the photo page.
As
the Jr. Tracking Rep. for Zone 4, please contact me if I can assist
you in answering any questions regarding tracking trials, or
promoting the sport of tracking in Northern Ontario.
