Tracking

In tracking, dogs demonstrate their ability to follow a trail of human scent. At the basic Tracking Dog level, the dog leads the handler along the unseen trail a person has walked and finds an item dropped at the end of the track. The more advanced Tracking Dog Excellent level adds the difficulties of several hours "aging" of the track, terrain changes, cross tracks, and multiple dropped articles. In the new Variable Surface test dogs contend with the foot traffic, distractions and concrete etc. of urban areas. Several MRSSA members have successfully earned Tracking titles with their spaniels, and the club is planning a Tracking Certification Match for March 14, 1999. (See club events calendar). English Springer Spaniel "Smokey" tracking -->

Clumber Spaniels are known for good noses and tracking ability, as "Trueman" demonstrates. The dogs really put their noses to the trail and pull their handlers hard when they are on the track.

Joyce Kolkmann and her Cocker Spaniel "Molly" (at age 13 years young!) were the only one of 6 dog-handler teams to qualify at MRSSA's first tracking match in March 1999. Also shown are judges Sil Sanders and Franna Gillespie, and tracklayer Lisa Peters.

Club members, participants, and dogs alike were all enthusiastic at MRSSA's first Tracking Match. A bit of wet and cold weather didn't dampen spirits at all. MRSSA held its first AKC Sanctioned Tracking Match on March 19, 2000 and plans are underway for hosting our first AKC Licensed Tracking Test in 2001.

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