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Sandhill Farm Walworth, WI Judges - Ed Presnall & Theresa keenan November Tracking Test by Ed Presnall Theresa Keenan flew in from Missoula, MT to join me in plotting eleven challenging tracks in the lush farmland near our farm near Walworth, WI. After my last VST workshop in Missoula, Theresa and I promised to someday judge together and it was fun to finally get the chance. Our neighbors generously offered their organic farm fields consisting of winter wheat, hay and clover for us to plot the track in. it was very nice to see many of the landowners come out Sunday morning to watch the event and cheer on the working teams. Exhibitors drove through the morning fog from Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and throughout Wisconsin to participate in the 3rd Tracking Club of Wisconsin (TCoW) Tracking Dog Test. Test Secretary Jona Decker and Chairman Lois Ballard put together a great test for the ten exhibitors and six alternates. Tracklayers for the event were Lisa Schaitberger (head tracklayer), Judy Shornborn, Pat Woodworth, Cindy Pischke (who brought the awesome Pecan Pie Bars!), Lois Ballard, Ellen McCredie, Sue Aldene and Barb Grishabler. The fog and damp conditions lingered all day to the delight of the exhibitors. First up was a Collie (dog) who had a nice start, overshot the first corner, recovered down the 200 yard second leg, made the second corner and sadly overshot the third corner and led his handler from the clover to a nearby corn field. Next was a feisty Parson Russell Terrier (bitch) who made the trek from Kentucky. After a nice start she indicated but did not take the first corner. Recovering, she paralleled the second leg for 150 yards but did not indicate or take the second corner. Next up was a very well prepared 8 month old Rottweiler (dog). Donna Wielert and Esmonds Bottoms Up TD made short work of their 475 track This team was a joy to watch as they worked through whispy fog in the recently cut winter wheat. Certified by Pam German. Not to be outdone, Rhonda Woody drove in from Indiana with Gadget von Woody TD her 9 month old Rottweiler (dog). They started the next track at a pace that made all of us jog up the hill to keep up. This team worked quickly on their 485 yard top hat track, up hills and through foggy bottoms until fifty yards from the glove when Gadget slammed on the brakes and froze. Rhonda worked her magic, re-scenting and calmly talking to her puppy, and Gadget restarted and almost flew to the glove. As we approached the spot that Gadget had stopped, we flushed an adult pheasant a yard off the track and understood why Gadget stopped. Certified by Stephen Ripley. Track five was Judy Shortino who drove up from Illinois with Van Beard Great Expectations TD her 14 month old Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier (dog). This dog bounced, jumped, hopped and skipped his way down the first leg, turned the corner and then went to work, confidently pulling Judy through the 445 yard track to the glove. Certified by Pam German. Next up was a Bernese Mountain Dog (dog) who started strongly, worked down the 150 yard start leg, paused at the corner and then continued on, sadly to the whistle. This dog is ready but may have been distracted by the cows in a nearby field. One of the heartbreakers of the day was the next team from Indiana. A 6 month and 10 day old Bernese Mountain Dog (dog) puppy who was all business. He worked strongly through the first three legs and sadly lost his focus at the corner and decided to tug on his lead and play with his owner. This team will pass soon! One of the favorites of the day was on track eight. Deb Zorn drove in from Illinois with her Portuguese Water Dog CH Encanto Chances Safe Mooring CD, RE, AX, AXJ, TD (bitch). This nine year old gal motored down the 240 yard start leg leaving Deb gasping for breath as she took the first corner as if she was on rails. A slight bobble at the second corner and this team motored to the glove. Certified by Ed Presnall. Next up was a Norwegian Elkhound (dog) who put on a tracking performance for the crowd. Strongly starting down the 140 yard start leg the dog made a perfect corner and motored down the 180 yard second leg. We watched as he made a perfect and convincing corner to the left. We looked again and then double checked our maps to assure ourselves that we did indeed make a right turn. Anyone would have followed this dog wherever he went. They will pass soon. We had a déjà vu moment as we watched Judy Shortino bring Van Beard’s Mr. Irresistible TD to the start flag. Without the bounciness of his littermate, this dog was all business, pausing only at the last corner before proceeding through the 480 yard chair track promptly to the glove. Walking out of the field we were notified that Judy’s sister Cathy Thrasher has also passed with her Golden at the Lincolnwood test earlier in the morning. Certified by Pam German. Having the alternate track ready a very happy first alternate Rhonda Woody brought the littermate to her earlier pass, Glitter von Woody TD, Rottweiler (bitch), to the line. A very prompt working style, this little girl was not going to be outdone by her brother and step tracked through the clover on the 465 yard lightning bolt track to the glove. Certified by Debra Huff. Everyone adjourned back to our house for two kinds of chili (Lisa’s mild Midwest version and my favorite a Two Alarm Texas style that packs a little heat), smoked brisket and ribs, kielbasa sausage, Beth Renee’s awesome pasta salad, Ellen’s “to die for” brownies (these are so good I always place a “toxic” sign on the container to save a few for me) and the aforementioned Pecan Pie Bars Cindy smuggled in from Oshkosh. After eating, photos and glove signing the exhibitors returned home and Theresa and I returned to the field to put a track in for the “old man”, 12 year old CT Race. The opportunity for him to show off his talents made his day, and ours. by Theresa Keenan I met Ed Presnall for the first time when he came out to Montana to teach members of our club about VST tracking. After a great time was had by all he made the comment that we would judge together someday. At the time I thought that would be fun; but didn’t think much of it since I hadn’t even taken my judges test yet. Well on the weekend after Thanksgiving he was able to say I told you so. I had the pleasure of joining the members of TCoW in putting on a very successful tracking test. This was my first opportunity to participate in tracking east of the Mississippi. Actually it’s the first time I’ve been tracking east of W108° 27' longitude. When I told my friends I was excited about judging in Wisconsin, their reply was “Wear warm cloths!” So I crammed all my storm gear in my carry on and boarded the plane; leaving a very snowy Missoula behind to be greeted in Wisconsin with semi-sunny skies and mild temperatures. Saturday’s plotting went very smoothly thanks to abundant land with lush cover of winter wheat, hay and clover generously offered by local farmers; and the well organized and hard working volunteers from TCoW. Sunday morning greeted exhibitors and their dogs with foggy conditions. The fog lifted just enough to make visibility easy but the moisture stuck around most of the day creating perfect conditions for a tracking test. The first dog to run was a Collie who started nicely. He overshot the first corner, recovered, but unfortunately overshot the third corner convincing his owner that the track must go to a nearby cornfield. Second to run was a little Parson Russell Terrier who also overshot the first corner before recovering and paralleling the track. She continued straight on past the second corner as if it wasn’t even there. A bummer to the handler and everyone watching; this dog definitely showed potential and will pass someday soon. Next to run was a Rottweiler dog who, at 8 months old, made his track look easy. He put his nose down and didn’t stop until he reached the glove 475 yards later. Immediately followed by another young Rottweiler who breezed through 90% of the track making us step lively to keep up. About 50 yards from the glove the dog stopped and didn’t want to continue. The handler patiently worked with her dog until it finally worked its way around whatever it was that was hiding in the grass. Once past this point she flew to the glove and a new TD title. As we approached the problem spot a huge pheasant came flying out of the grass. No wonder they had a bit of trouble in that spot! The fifth dog to run was a Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier who bounced his way through the entire track. He sure had fun finding his glove and earning the title of TD. A Bernese Mountain Dog was next. This guy started strongly, paused at the first corner but then decided to continue on straight ahead to hear the whistle. This guy was followed by a young six month old Bernese Mountain Dog who tracked really well through three quarters of his track. By the time he got to the fourth corner he lost his focus and decided it would be more fun to play tug with the tracking line instead. This puppy showed great promise and will easily pass a test in the future; this day unfortunately she just decided to be a puppy. The eighth dog to run was a nine year old Portuguese Water Dog who never wavered on bit on their long (240 yard) first leg. She continued on with little trouble to find the glove and earn a well deserved title. Next up was a Norwegian Elkhound, who looked like he was working on rails. He started strongly made a perfect corner then at the second corner he made a very decisive and perfect looking turn to the left. Both Ed and I double checked our maps to make sure we remembered correctly that we had turned right. Following the Elkhound was another Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier handled by the same person as track number five. Unlike his bouncy brother this guy was all business slowing down only at the last corner before motoring on to the glove and his title. The alternate track was run by another young Rottweiler, a littermate to the passing dog on track number 4. This little girl gave us a fine example of what a working dog can do step tracking through the clover to find her glove in short order. Following the test everyone returned to the farm for excellent food, glove signing and photo sessions for the passing dogs. Since this was my first judging assignment away from “home” I had the opportunity to see some of the differences and similarities of tracking in other parts of the country. Like every other tracking test I’ve been to the people were wonderful. Club members and volunteers knew what they were doing and happily worked very hard to put on a very well run test. The hospitality was top notch and the food was outstanding. Nervous handlers and excited dogs came from a variety of places. Some passed and some didn’t; but they all exhibited great sportsmanship and camaraderie to one another. The dogs were working happily and while some made mistakes along the way, they all showed promising moments and will earn a TD in the near future. I was happy to see the landowners out watching the dogs work and asking questions about the sport. I do believe they had as much fun out in the fields as we did. I found it interesting to note the differences in expectations and desires in ground cover conditions. When I was shown the fields for the first time (some where what and some were clover) I was instinctively drawn to the clover while Ed voiced his concern hat he didn’t have enough of the wheat for everyone. To me the clover looked perfect! It was nice and thick, green, moist and about ankle high. Easy for any size dog to move through move great for holding track scent. As it turned out half of the tracks were in wheat and half where in the clover. While many of the handlers appeared to prefer the wheat to the clover the dogs did well in both conditions. My initial response to prefer clover while those around me preferred wheat reminded me that it is important to practice in as many different types of cover as possible; especially if you travel to tests outside your area. I hope I have another opportunity to visit the Midwest. If so I will find a way to bring my dog so we can experience tracking in all these wonderful and different fields full of wheat, hay, clover, and corn. Though I expect tracking through a corn field would challenge my line handling skills. The other big difference that I noticed was that several of the handlers raised their hand above their head as they approached the glove. When they reached the glove they simply picked it up and began celebrating with their dogs. I had to ask Ed about this behavior as I had never seen it before. Evidently some handlers have been taught to “anticipate” the glove and inform the judges they feel they are close to the end instead of waiting for their dog to indicate the glove. I have to admit that the first time I saw a handler do this I thought perhaps they had a problem and were trying to get our attention. Of course there is nothing in the rules that says how the dog should indicate the articles and it’s always good practice for the handler to do something to make it obvious to the judges that the article has been found but it would be better if the handlers waited for the dog to actually indicate the article. So if any of you find yourselves in a tracking test don’t be surprised if the judges wait until they actually see the dog indicate the article before beginning their celebration of your pass. Again I want to thank the members of TCoW for inviting me. I experienced new places, learned some things (including the recipe for some awesome pecan bars) and had a great time. If any of you find yourselves visiting Montana, drop on by and we’ll go tracking.     Photos by Kathy Champine |
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