Tracking and Titling
One of the most difficult concepts for an owner to understand is that the dog is the only member of the team who really knows where the track is. Because of this, the only choice is to do in a test what the dog says you will do.
"No one would have laid the track over there" or "he must have overshot the turn" are just two thoughts that might pop into the handler’s head as she is being pulled into unfamiliar territory. This is one area where tracking is completely different from obedience or from hunt tests. The dog is in charge here. And listening to the thought popping into the handler’s head is a kiss of death!
What we strive to do is to practice situations that might come up. We have folks cross the tracks we have laid. We have people walk in groups, essentially laying parallel tracks to the one that counts. We have other dogs cross our practice tracks. All of these may happen at a test, so we try and help our dog learn what is expected of him or her, and we let go of the need to control what the dog is doing. We learn trust.
Our tracking training consists of daily tracks- starting small and working up in length and difficulty. We begin with short, straight tracks and make them fun to complete. We don’t hurry the dog into turns until we are sure that the dog knows what we are doing. We believe that a 4 month commitment is required to get a dog ready to take on the task of entering and completing an AKC tracking test, and we will work a track daily for the one dog we are working with. As soon as is feasible, and likely to be successful, we add in things like a turn or a track laid along a land mass, or a wall or briar patch. The goal in training is to come up with situations that might happen in a test and both teach the dog what we expect of him, and learn how the dog reacts to particular things, like cross tracks, scent pools, wind and rain. Because a tracking test might have any or all of the above, we need to have experienced any and all with that dog several times so that we know how that dog reacts to distractions and challenges. Every dog is different.
AKC Tracking and Titling
© 2008 Kim Trafton - Turtle Creek Sporting Dogs All rights reserved. WebDesignbyBob.com
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Each dog entering the tracking training and titling program will be required to own a correct tracking harness custom fit to him or her. This can be purchased anywhere, but J&J has a good harness for a reasonable price: http://www.jjdog.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Store
We accept only one dog every four months into the program, and as that clients anticipate their dog will be with us for four months, unless testing is an issue. There are limited tracks available at events, and once certified, a dog has 4 ‘tickets’ to enter tests with. A ‘ticket’ must be sent with each entry, and is returned if the dog’s entry is not drawn. So while it takes 3-4 months of training to pass the certifying track, which is essentially a TD track laid by a judge on his own time, it may take an undetermined amount to time to get into a test! It is to every dog’s advantage to have another activity to take some of his day up- so we offer tracking training, one dog every 4 months, at the rate of an additional $150 per month if already in for hunt test training and titling. If here for just the tracking training, the fee is $500 per month, with the usual additions- entries, expenses, Frontline for 4 months, heartworm protection for 4 months, and Drontal on both incoming and exiting our program. Each dog must come in and leave with health certificates, obtained at your vet on entry and at your expense, at our vet, on leaving. As in any activity taking place in fields, there is always the risk of snakebite, ticks, briars, metal or glass hazards to the feet.
Tracking Regulations
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RU9999.pdf is the link to the AKC rules for tracking events, and should be read by all whose dogs are entering this program.
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"It's not just a passion... It's an Obsession"
Kim Trafton
Visits are scheduled 24 hours in advance and preferably on Mondays
478-763-2053
478-299-3815
