Click on all photo's to enlarge them.
The Nose Has It. End of Season, Start of Season
The Tracking season has come to an end because of the heat and dangers of snakes.
The Variable Terrain Tracking Group has begun working over the summer break and has had outstanding success. Those new to this type of tracking have been amazed at how well their dogs have gone and have really loved the experience.
Let us hope that the submissions WA has put forward to ANKC for 2009 rule changes will see us doing this type of tracking and being able to achieve new tracking titles.
Congratulations to all Tracking handlers on the titles gained this year.
Tracking Dog Title:
SONJA PFISTER FLATTERHAFT KAJSA BERGQVIST TRACKING DOG
LESLEY VAN RHYN HONEY TRACKING DOG
JODY AULD GUNCLIP FROG BRIGADE ADM JDX ADO2 CDX ET TD TRACKING DOG
EILEEN PHILLIPS BEAU JD SPD TD TRACKING DOG
SID HOPE JAYEMDEE ABRAHAM TRACKING DOG
MARA HOPE HINTERHAUS FRUTTI TUTTI TRACKING DOG
KIRSTEEN BLAKE MALCORG TOBIE AD JDX TRACKING DOG
LOUISE CRAWFORD BUUNDI TRACKING DOG
JACQUI HUMPHREY SHEP HIT TD TRACKING DOG
JETTE SIEGGERSTED CELLINA VON AACHEN CD AD JD TRACKING DOG
FAY GRETTON TIA CCD AD JD TRACKING DOG
LESLEY VAN RHYN SANDGRUBBER DREAM TRAKKA TRACKING DOG
HELEN BARTON HELSINGBORG WILLYS WON CD ET AD
Tracking Dog Excellent Title:
AUDREY BOON FIONAVAR HIELEN LADDIE TD TRACKING DOG EXCELLENT
SUE PRANCE ZAC TD TRACKING DOG EXCELLENT
LEONE HOLDSWORTH CH ALDAHOVEN HIGH FLYER UD ET TD TRACKING DOG EXCELLENT
MARILYN DAWSON *DANCINGATE BRONZE REBEL TRACKING DOG EXCELLENT
*[1st Flat Coat in WA to achieve a tracking title]
Tracking is something that comes naturally to each and every dog regardless of age, breed or size. Tracking is the perfect opportunity for you to build your relationship while you spend time together as it challenges both you and the dog mentally and physically.
Tracking can be taught to very young puppies before they start formal obedience training. Tracking is a wonderful way to get you and your puppy out for a walk and it is relatively easy to teach for the short distances that you will be working.
There is a saying ‘out of the whelping box into the harness’ with the puppy’s brain not being cluttered with any other learned behaviour, they learn very easily, more so than at any other time in their life. Besides being great fun, tracking develops confidence and temperamental stability. Shy dogs become confident, rowdy young dogs become calmer, and all dogs become super friendly with people.
One of the wonderful things about starting off your puppy in tracking is that it is so instinctive and so correction free. The tracking harness puts no pressure on even the tiniest of puppies and his physical endurance builds along with his concentration.
Puppies’ attention span is not great and they can be easily distracted, but by working through a carefully devised programme their concentration improves along with age and experience. Handlers are thrilled with the guaranteed immediate success that most people achieve with their puppies. Puppies get to be fed, they get to play with their toys, they get to be with you, what more could they want?
For those handlers who want to go on and work in any other types of training, take a break from tracking, and because the puppy has been ‘tracking imprinted’ you can always come back to it months or years later and the dog will still remember.
Using positive training methods, the adult and older dog who may have been retired from other disciplines but is still to able to work, can also start tracking. Fitness for both dog and handler is improved and the dogs just love it.
Tracking does not require a young body such as required for agility, jumping, endurance and other intense activities, but it does require some stamina. This stamina can be slowly and steadily built up even with old dogs. This year we had a 10 year old dog Buundi, handled by Louise Crawford, who in just this one season gained TQT, TD and 2 of the 3 tests required to gain TDX. Dogs can start at just about any time of their lives.
The connection with your dog as you begin to track gives your dog the rare opportunity to be in charge and it offers a window into the mind of a dog.
I read a quotation the other day which is so true “In order to really enjoy a dog one doesn’t merely train him to be semi-human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog”.
Tracking is so different from any other aspect of dog training. When your dog needs a break from other kinds of training, a tracking session can be a mental stimulant.
Tracking is great fun for both dog and handler alike, so around Easter it will be time to consider getting out in the great outdoors and trying this wonderful sport.
Lesley Watson
CAWA Tracking Committee
