TCoW - The Tracking Club of Wisconsin

	Home
	About TCoW
	Our Members
	Events
	Tracking Info
	Training Info
	Resources
	Wall of Fame
	Contact Us
	Blog

The Tracking Club of Wisconsin is a Licensed Club of the American Kennel Club

Need a dog book ?
TCoW is an authorized affiliate of Dogwise where All Things Dog! and over 3,000 books are available for you. Dogwise is the #1 Recommended Dog Book Site! by dog people, friends, trainers, and veterinarians. Just click on the Dogwise logo and start shopping! Dogwise donates a small commission from your purchase to TCoW for your patronage.

Trainer Proven
Products
For Your Pets ^TM
Pawmark donates a small commission from your purchase to TCoW for your patronage.

© 2007 Terri Everwine

Brewine's Obsidian Mitzva, CD, VST earns her VST

I've just returned from the Weimaraner Club of Northern IL VST test in Elgin, IL. This time, I'm reporting from the other side of the coin, and pleased to announce that my dog was the only pass today!

We drew track 4, and started about 10 minutes to 12, noon. It was sunny and warm, maybe close to 80, and the winds were from the south, strong and gusty. Looking at the weather at home here on the computer, the wind is currently reported as 22mph with gusts to 28. My copy of the chart says "light" wind, but while not the worst we've encountered on a track, I'd put it at about a 7 out of 10. Enough to blow my tracking line in a nice arc as we worked our way through the track.

Sid started nicely on top of a berm between two parking lots. She was distracted by a person walking a dog and some people walking into a building which pulled her a bit beyond the first turn. As she is capable of, she worked back and headed across a parking lot (my map says 41 yards) to the grass on the far side. She then turned right and headed into another large parking lot. Just beyond a light post (map says 70 yards out) she made a sharp left and headed to the metal article at the far side on the asphalt. I was told afterwards that she was exactly right on the moment of truth turn. Back on the grass, another right paralleled the parking lot and went toward a large open field next to a building. She indicated another right, but then worked back and took a line closer to the edge of the parking lot. After a bit, she picked up her head and worked back again, then toward the building some where she started a line parallel to the first, only this time found another (plastic) article along the way. At the far end of the field she had a rough time figuring out which way the track went. She crossed the road ahead of her, possibly due to a car having pulled up there and 2 people milling around before getting back in the car and leaving. After searching the area across the street, she cam back across the road, indicated a right on the grass but did not commit. Checked some more tried going left, and then back to the right again. She was drawn up a berm, and crossed the road again. After once more checking and finding no scent she worked back to the field and this time turned right into the parking lot. This time she seemed quite positive and kept going. The dog walker reappeared at this point right in front of her but this time she didn't seem bothered. She got to a lamp post and once more indicated that there was no scent there, so we backed up again. Again she took the same line onto the pavement, only this time veered off left and onto the grass, right to the final article!! As I later saw looking at the map, this last leg angled left for 80 yards on pavement, and then onto the grass. The first time she took a straight line and missed the angle. Her second attempt brought her back to the actual track and on to the lovely article marked with a #4.

What a thrill to pass!! Thanks to Mary, my tracklayer, and to judges Ted Hoesel and Jerry Lewis, and to all the lovely folks at the Weim club for hosting this event. Most special thanks to my dog, a black miniature poodle, now Brewine's Obsidian Mitzva, CD, VST, for her wonderful attitude, phenomenal scenting ability and persistence. She's been a delight to work with all along. Sid is owned and loved by two of us - my long time partner in poodles, Lois Breslow, and myself. Sid lives with Lois, but tracks for me. She loves the game, and now it's on to TDX...