The Endangered Species “TRACKLAYERS”

by Jacquie Humphrey

The very special and important species is remarkably rare ask anyone who is training or competing with a tracking dog. These endangered treasures have a wide range of body odour much favoured by our furry canines they carry smelly socks which they drop along the tracks they tread the scent from which permeates into surrounding vegetation luring and inviting the tracking dog forever onwards in the search for this special creatures hide.

This special creature is often coaxed, bribed and pleaded with by dog owners who need someone smelly to walk the walk scattering their body cells and smelly socks as they go not only must they trudge sandy tracks putting in or pulling out flags and markers, pushing through prickly scrub, stumble over stumps and swatting flies but then they are required to sit even lay in, under or behind tick infested bush sometimes for a very long time!

Who are these special creatures you ask? They are other doggy people who train tracking dogs and know that one day they may need a tracklayer for their furry friend to follow. They are family members like good old Mum or Dad, partners, sometimes even the kids and some kids are no longer kids but they still turn out, then there are the friends who are dog-less they may even be cat owners….they put on a brave face force out a smile and grit their teeth all because they are a friend.

What do these valuable TRACKLAYERS get out of such a responsible task? Perhaps a hug, a smile maybe a pat on the back, a Thank You and a simple BBQ lunch – not much really when you think about it! Without TRACKLAYERS our sport would be very difficult to do in fact it would be impossible!

It’s time to think about our special people and find ways to make it rewarding for them too. We need to make Tracklaying worthwhile for those who turn out simply to help us enjoy our sport. Mike and I have come up with an idea this year Gangell Transport (Michael) and Dog Logics (Jacquie) will be donating a raffle prize of $25 at each official TrackWest Tracking Trial to be awarded to a TRACKLAYER.

Everyone who is a TRACKLAYER at an official trial will have their name entered for the draw on that day. During lunch one name will be pulled out and that Tracklayer will be presented with $25 cash as a Thank You from the club.

Tracking is a wonderful sport and we need to consider those that make it all possible so please consider what you the handler can do to show appreciation, to help make these special peoples job easier after all they all offer their time at “No Charge”….

To all our JUDGES – STEWARDS – TRACKLAYERS – FLAG BEARERS and INSTRUCTORS.