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Zen and the Art of Tracking
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Zen and the Art of Tracking
© 2004 Ed Presnall
As Published in Canine Review (Canada)
Opening by Linda Siczkar
He is a teacher, trainer, author of many best-selling books including his latest “Mastering Variable Surface Tracking: The Component Training Approach” which is chocked full of photos of Canadian dogs and handlers and explains in detail the new form of urban tracking coming to Canada. He is also one of the most knowledgeable people I have met regarding tracking and becoming one with your dog or what he laughingly refers to in his workshops as “Zen and the Art of Tracking”. Over the last nine years he has garnered over of thirty tracking titles north and south of the border. I have known and trained with him for several years and am happy that Ed Presnall would consider contributing to this column.
Tracking in Canada. It is a lot like that first bite of the forbidden apple, you crave more and more. I write and track and judge and run a web site for tracking supplies and, well, my life revolves around tracking. Before I decided to take the plunge and head north to earn a title I did a little research. Several things are different and required this yank to rethink and re-read the CKC rulebook a few times.
The Draw (or lack thereof) - Is actually an opening date with entries accepted until the test fills. Most Clubs still operate on the first come first served basis thereby restricting those that the secretary does not like from participating
Entries – Strangely enough, the Test Secretary is allowed to both accept the entries and also enter the event
Judges - Only 1 judge instead of 2 in the US
Yardage – well, I call em yards and they call em meters but heck, they really are about the same give or take a few of those millimeter things
Tracks – 3 to 5 turns like in the US but all left or right turn tracks are acceptable
Plotting – Tracks may be plotted by track layers and then judged by a judge who may have never seen the actual track
Certification for TD – Not required in Canada. The pass ratio is still 50% like in the US proving either that Canadian dogs train harder or certification is really not needed or, the tests up north are simply easier
TDX Obstacles – no woods, fences, creeks, riverbeds or treks through the bush, just a straightforward road or path crossing and changes of cover
Registration – Any AKC registered dog can enter … but … you must register the dog with the CKC within 30 days of earning a title.
Friendship – Nothing new here. Every person pulls for each dog and cheers or consoles the team when the track is finished.
Language – Well I say y’all and y’all say eh? and I may ask y’all to slow down and let this country boy catch up, but we still manage to communicate when it comes to dogsports
I participated in my first tracking trial in the fall of 2001 in Thunder Bay and by the time the frost and dew had burned off the grass I was holding two lovely medallions as both Am/Can CH CT Calico’s Hot Pursuit Del Prado Can TD, my Field Spaniel, and CH Erinveine Herald At Arms Am/Can TD, my Clumber Spaniel, passed on their tracks! Like my first trial “north of the border” these passes were also firsts … as neither breed had earned a tracking title in Canada before that day.
Last fall, almost two years and after teaching a dozen or so tracking workshops across Canada, I returned to Canada to compete again. In September I drove almost 2,000 miles to the Montreal area where Beacon (Beaufields Shining Light TD, VST), my Irish Water Spaniel blazed through her track to earn her Canadian TD title. The next weekend I was in Thunder Bay and this time I brought Sterling (Sandhill’s Sterling Moss) a young puppy only nine months old and his Champion Tracker father Race (Am/Can CH CT Calico’s Hot Pursuit Del Prado Can TD) a seasoned veteran.
Handler stress and the dog reading the handler’s your stress and then becoming excited and un-focused is, I believe, the number one cause of failure in tracking. In my workshops I teach that this is a team sport and although the dog must lead, as a member of the team, it is the handler’s responsibility to both participate and help when needed. To this end I develop and teach specific routines and procedures, which calm the dog and hopefully dispense with the butterflies in your stomach as you approach the start flag and mental games to make you believe that today is the day it will happen.
Did I mention I am slightly compulsive? I check and recheck all of my tracking gear the night before a trial. Even so, my start routine begins with me sitting in the car rechecking my gear! I am the sixth and final dog to run in the TD test. I grin as I think to myself that we’ve saved the best performance for last. I take a few deep breaths, control my breathing and then get the dog out and exercise him. Once again, I make sure all of my tracking gear is in my bag. Like a mantra, I mumble “line, (spare line just in case), harness … good luck pieces …” as my fingers rummage through the bag and my pockets. And then off to the start flag we go. With the dog downing at the start, I take a few more calming breaths and issue the track! command. Like a flash, he’s off and following that faint thread of scent laid by the tracklayer.
Sterling followed the thread of scent through the long grass like a dark brown shark heading in for the kill. He slashed through the first corner eating up the yardage at a steady pace. Heading up a hill he motored through the next corner and tracked, almost sedately, along the ridgeline of the hill. Making a final open turn, he flew down the hill. He was not to be denied the enjoyment of “killing” his leather glove!
His dad Race had drawn the first TDX track. We moved down the road to his track. A light rain started to fall as we started our routine and headed into the field. Again, I started my start routine in the car. Going through the same process, over and over until it becomes second nature and I know that today is the day. We walked to the start flag and after downing Race, I took a few deep breaths to clear my head. I could see him edging in the proper direction and fidgeting. He was ready to track. Soft whispers could be heard from the crowd. Watch the yank! Go boy go! Give it a good go … and with a silent prayer, I issued the command and held on as he flew down the track, across obstacles and cross tracks, collecting articles along the way, and finally stood triumphantly over the final article.
Camaraderie abounds in Canada. Walking from the fields we were congratulated by one and all. Someone commented that this was the first TDX in the Field Spaniel breed and they thought it might be the first time a father and son both passed at the same test.
Three weeks later I was again in Thunder Bay on a cold, frosty morning for Beacon to earn her Canadian TDX in what was called a textbook display of footstep tracking. Even with a cow walking across her track, she intently followed the track, playfully downing at her articles and happily tossing the final glove into the air. In four weeks she had earned both her TD and TDX titles becoming the first Irish Water Spaniel to hold both titles.
I enjoy the friendship and sociability of the trackers in Canada. Everyone is interested in learning more about the sport and having fun with their dogs. I know that I am proud of the accomplishments of both my dogs and the dogs handled by my students and the rush of earning two TD and two TDX titles in a 30-day period is something I will always cherish.
Next year when urban tracking comes to fruition in Canada, I’ll be there to proudly watch my Canadian students demonstrate why Component Training Builds Champion Trackers and perhaps enter one or two of those tracking dogs from Wisconsin to continue our tracking journey in Canada.
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