Tracking tests the ability of the dog to follow the footsteps of a person and find articles that the person has left on the course.
A dog can earn 3 titles:
TD means Tracking Dog. It is the first and simplest tracking title. It requires following a 440 to 500 foot course with 3 to 5 turns and finding a glove or a wallet. This test was first offered by AKC in 1947. Before that it was part of the Utility Dog title.
TDX means tracking dog excellent. This involves following an 800 to 100 yard course with 5 to 7 turns, finding 4 different articles only one of which can be glove or wallet, and may involve crossing 2 obstacles such as a road, stream, or fence. Other complications for the dog are that the course must be 3 to 5 hours old and someone other than the person who laid the course walks across the course. This test was added by AKC in 1980.
VST means Variable Surface Tracking. This is the hardest title. The 600 to 800 yard course is laid where part of the course can be in areas with no vegetation. The dog must find 4 small dissimilar items. The track must be 3 to 5 hours old. People practice for this in mall parking lots and other high traffic areas. This test was added by AKC in 1995.
The AKC has information and rules for tracking:
http://www.akc.org/events/tracking/index.cfm
Tracking requires a friend who will lay track for you. Each person lays track for the other person’s dog. Contact us if you need someone to lay track with you. thevyline@reachone.com
The Vy Line
School Daze
Welcome Puppies! Many of you are beginning trackers with beginning handlers. Under any other conditions I would be ready to sit with you and mourn your handler’s lack of experience. But never fear! She is here to teach you how to do something you already know how to do.
You may have looked with envy at puppies in the obedience, hunting, or agility class. However, we have the best one. The training involves grass that grows meat all over it. Go slow puppies! Learn ploddingly and the grass will grow meat for you for a long time!
At Tracker Training people do weird things. You may ask yourself,
‘Why is my handler far away from me, taking giant steps, carrying big sticks with flags, and counting?” She is laying the course so that you can “learn” to track for people. Of course we know that you all know how to track. However, the hard part is figuring out what your handler wants you to track. But today you won’t find it hard. Just follow your handler’s trail and eat all the chicken she puts down for you.
Once you are following the chicken dinner, then other people will follow your handler. They will say things in whispers and nod seriously. This doesn’t mean they are unhappy. They actually like talking like this and do it all the time. They won’t talk to you or your handler. This doesn’t mean that you have been bad. They don’t realize they are being rude. Your being a friendly bloke is irrelevant at this time.
Finally, you will find a glove or an “article.” People are very sloppy and leave things all over the place. I think this is why they enjoy tracking, so that you can find the things they lose. They get all excited finding something that they just lost a few minutes ago. Their behavior is really quite odd. However, like my friend Nicky says, “If it is outdoors and there is chicken in the grass, I’m down with that!”
Contacts
Dana Plonkey - President (425) 743-1601Â DP517@verizon.net
Christine Dallas – Sec. (360) 832-3747 Farthingpoodles@aol.com
Cathy Carruthers – Web (360) 791-8961 FreaPoodle@comcast.net
Credits: Picture 1 & 2: Tudorose Bold Reign, Ron Pernicka
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