Pocketpack Miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds
What is Tracking?
Tracking is a non-competitive outdoor sport where the dog and handler team follow the scent trail made by someone walking earlier in the day. The dog detects an unique combination of smells - the person's body scent, traces of soap or other toiletries, the scent of their clothes, and the smell of the vegetation crushed underfoot. Dogs have a natural ability to follow scent trails. Refining this instinct for Tracking takes time, training and patience, but is a very rewarding experience, where dog and handler work as a close team. A close bond develops between a dog and handler when Tracking. A good handler will have endless patience, since you cannot force your dog to track, the dog must want to do it. Motivation can be with food, a favorite toy, or sometimes simply the enjoyment of following the scent trail. Food and toy rewards are not allowed during a Tracking test, but are invaluable in training.
Tracking is an AKC-recognized sport, with three suffix tracking titles of increasing difficulty - Tracking Dog (TD), Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX), and Variable Surface Tracker (VST) - and one prefix title, Champion Tracker (CT). The start of a track is indicated by a flag, as is the direction of the track in a TD test. The freshness and length will vary according to the level of difficulty of the test. A Tracking Dog (TD) test is 440-500 yards in length, has three to five turns, and is laid half an hour to two hours before the dog is introduced to it. The tracklayer drops one article (usually a glove or wallet) at the end of the track that must be found by the dog/handler team. The TDX and VST tests are considerably more difficult. They are longer in length (up to 1,000 yards for TDX, and up to 800 yards for VST), they use an older scent age (up to five hours old), have more turns (maximum of seven for TDX, and up to eight for VST). They have only one start flag so the dog must determine the direction of the track, and the dog is expected to find articles left along the track by the tracklayer. The tracks also include obstacles and will be crossed by people other than the main tracklayer. With VST tracks, the tracks include non-vegetated surfaces, such as concrete, gravel, sidewalks, and parking lots. The Champion Tracker (CT) prefix is given to dogs that have earned all three Tracking titles.
Want to learn how to track with your dog? A new book has been written just for you!
Working with an experienced trainer is an ideal way to learn, but is not always a viable possiblity. The trainer’s availability, your time and theirs, location and costs often place constraints on a beginner’s resources. This, by no means, should stop you and your dog from learning the sport of tracking.
Click Here for more information on this book.
DACHSHUNDS THAT HAVE EARNED THE TDX TITLE
Gretel von Bupp Murr TDX UD - George Richards
FC Mayrhofen Sassafras L TDX UD - Maxine Brinker
Victoria's Frulein Schatzie UD TDX - Judy Andreas
Ivic Cevan's Forest Fire CD TDX - Sally Robben
CH Ivic Cevan's Forever Ember CD TDX - Robert & June Kelly
CH Karakel Jason L von Weimar CD TDX - Penny Wimer & Joyce Osburn
FC Robinwoods Marvelous Maggi TDX ME - Larry Gohlke
FC Pocketpack Redhead MW TDX - Lois Ballard
DC The Seja of Hathor Farm SW CD RN TDX NAJ ME - Jean Dieden & Mary Waterman
McKenzie Heidi Lady TDX - Christina McClory
CH The Eiger of Hathor Farm SW CD TDX SE - Jean Dieden & Mary Waterman
Cardinaldachs Little Tiger TDX - Carol Salzetti
DC Pocketpack Voice Mail MW VCD1 RN TDX OA OAJ ME - Lois Ballard
DC Burgenstock of Hathor Farm SW VCD2 RN TDX MX AXP AXJ OJP ME - Jean M.Dieden
D'Kreiger WYSIWYG W TDX - Penny Wimer
CT FC Owl Farms Rising Star ML VCD3 RE MX MXJ ME - Betsy Fortman
DC M'I Spy of Hathor Farm SW VCD1 RN TDX OA AXJ NJP - Jean M. Dieden
CT DC Sadsack The Cupid Clone MW ME - Lois Ballard
DC I Spy the Carrot at Ni-Kel SW TDX OA NAP AXJ NJP - Nikki King & Selma McNamara
Beemer VCD1 RE TDX AXP OJP - Carla McAlister
FC I Spy Marconi Mariner CDX TDX SE - Nancy Field
DC Greenhills Sweet Simone TDX - Roberta Stimac
Piccolos Bluegrass Windsong VCD1 MX AXJ - James Jenkins
CT DC Pocketpack Flutter By MW CD RN OA OAJ JE - Lois Ballard
CH Bardales Daves Favorite Whine TDX - David and Karen Nauer
CT Obi-Wan Kenobi - Mary Mackin
DACHSHUNDS THAT HAVE EARNED THE VST TITLE
CT DC Sadsack The Cupid Clone MW ME - Lois Ballard
CT FC Owl Farms Rising Star ML VCD3 RE MX MXJ MJP ME - Betsy Fortman
CT DC Pocketpack Flutter By MW CD RN OA OAJ JE - Lois Ballard
CT Obi-Wan Kenobi - Mary Mackin
The photo at the top is of Toad. The photo below is of my daughter, Emily, tracking with Twig. Under that are photos of Toad, Gary (who I don't have any longer), Owen and Hazel. To see photos of my tracking class students, click on STUDENTS.
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