Click the link below for more tracking information. http://www.akc.org/events/tracking/index.cfm ~~ RESULTS FOR THE DECEMBER 2007 TRIAL ARE BELOW THE LINKS IN THIS SECTION. ~~ Links that may be helpful are listed below: http://mirasol.org/YGRC/YGRCTracking.htm http://www.basset.net/track.html http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/4425/ http://www.doglinks.co.nz/clubs/tracking_resource.htm http://www.canismajor.com/dog/nose.html http://bstcm.tripod.com/ The Indian Nations Tracking Club in Oklahoma held their fall AKC Tracking Test today. We offered 4 TD tracks and 4 TDX tracks. We only got 1 TD entry and 5 TDX entries, one of which had to pull. The judges for the TD were Charlene Dunn and Jerry Lewis. The judges for the TDX's were Jerry Lewis and Bob Brown. The weather was damp and extremely windy with gusts over 40 mph. The temps during plotting were in the 50s and 60s. The temps during the test started in the 60s, but the wind shifted to the north and it was in the 40s with a wind chill in the 20s. The TD went to a Belgian Tervuren dog who was only 9 months old. The track started with a 200 yd. first leg, a left turn, right turn and then another left turn. All turns were at 90 degrees. The dog started well and passed the directional flag dead on track. Then some dogs in a backyard across the street started barking which greatly distracted the Terv, but the handler was very patient and he persevered to the first turn and made it. The dog stayed right on the track to the second turn and he and the handler went a little passed it, but the dog recovered nicely and found the rest of the track to the glove with no more difficulties. This was a very nice example of the handler being able to read her dog and having the patience to allow the dog to work through any problems he encountered. A great big CONGRATULATIONS to Deborah Davis and Darboshea Something To Believe In. TDX 1 went to a Rottweiler dog. The track had 6 turns, the last 2 being open turns. The dog started well and made the 1st turn, but shortly after making the turn, went off track missing an article to the whistle. TDX 2 went to a Great Pyrenees dog. This was the heartbreaker of the day. The track also had 6 turns, only the 1st turn being open. The dog started well and got all the way to the last turn before turning around and back tracking leaving the remaining 110 yd. leg and glove behind and got the whistle. This dog worked very slowly and methodically, checking out every inch of the track. The handler had taught this dog to move slowly because she had trouble keeping up with his usually quick strides. Both of the judges and the entire gallery were disappointed that this dog did not finish because he was working so well and was so close! TDX 3 went to a German Shepherd dog. The track had 6 turns with only the 3rd turn open. The dog did not get a really good start and wandered a lot down the first leg. He went passed the 1st turn and continued on to the whistle. TDX 4 went to another Belgian Tervuren dog. The track had 5 turns with the last one open. This dog started well and moved at an even pace throughout the entire track to the glove. He was a wonder to watch. The handler just had to stay behind him and believe in the dog and she did exactly that. CONGRATULATIONS again to Deborah Davis and her awesome tracking dog, Darboshea Dark Plains Thriller, TD, RN. We all went to the base camp for some much needed warmth and food. We had hot homemade vegetable beef soup, submarine sandwiches with all the fixin's, cake, cookies, brownies, and a variety of other goodies. Then we presented the awards, gave out the judges' gifts, and had the drawing for our Multiple Winner Raffle. A great big THANK YOU to the judges who worked so hard to plot and judge some very nice tracks under such windy and chilly/damp conditions. Thanks also to everyone who helped make this test so enjoyable and fun. There were several newcomers to tracking who attended this test and they all seemed to learn a lot and were eager to learn more, which can only be a good thing for tracking. Our next AKC tracking test will be held May 4, 2008. The closing date will be April 15, 2008. If you would like a premium, please contact me: Jeanne Markland INTC Test Secretary janimls@tds.net