Today I’m once again handing over the blog to Bailie so she can report on her tracking certification test. Take it away, Bailie! Thanks, Emma! I’m so excited to do this post. Mom scheduled my tracking certification test for January 24 at 11 am. I wasn’t the least bit worried as I can track in my sleep, Mom was pretty confident too, until…we pulled into the Washington County Fairgrounds and she saw the tracking judge waiting for us. She told me she felt like she was going to be sick. I crossed my paws she would not be sick as it would be so embarrassing for me to have my own mom get sick from nerves. She did not get sick, in case you were wondering.
I’m thrilled to tell you all, we ran the track, and I passed with flying fur! Yep, I’m certified and can now enter a TD test to get my first tracking title. Mom and I can’t wait! The top photo is me with the end article, a leather glove, and behind me is the area my track was in. My certification form is four parts as I have four chances to pass my TD test. The hard part is getting into a test. Most tests only have six to eight track spots because of the space needed to lay a track and there could be many more dogs wanting to test. Spots are drawn in a lottery system, so we are hoping we are lucky and can get a spot in March. The judge said I did a wonderful job, but I may want to slow down a bit. I don’t have to slow down, but it might be a bit nicer for Mom.
Our track was 480 yards long with four turns. It must be laid following the same rules as a TD test track. Each leg has to be at least fifty yards long, there must be three to five turns, it must be aged for at least thirty minutes but not more than two hours, as well as many other stipulations. You may think it would be easy on a snow covered field, but it is not. For one thing, I don’t go by sight at all. Mom has tested this out with me and I go way off track even when there is only one set of footprints to follow and then I sniff my way back. I use my nose only. This particular field was also covered in footprints from people walking around on it making it impossible for even Mom to know which prints were from our track.
Finally, I wanted to bark a bit about my tracking line. Many people use cords or ropes, but we use a Biothane line which is a synthetic material that is superior to leather in strength and durability. Mom loves it because it can be dragged behind us through mud, dirt, snow, water, whatever and simply wiped off when we are done. It is immediately supple, doesn’t need to be worked in, and needs no special care like oiling. It is also super lightweight and doesn’t get knotted. My line is forty feet long, has no handle (see arrow) and has a brass rivet at twenty feet (see arrow). All tests for tracking except for one require the handler to be at least twenty feet behind the dog at all times. The rivet is something Mom feels slide through her hands so she knows we are at twenty feet. The lines aren’t cheap, but are great to work with. These lines can be ordered with handles to be used as a leash but for tracking a handle is only a distraction. Emma and I both use a shorter version of these lines for our nose work.
Emma wanted me to mention her guest post. You all may know my sisters and I love to run with Mom. Katie has retired now, Emma runs occasionally, but I run with Mom all the time. Mom says running with a dog is the best way to run in the world! Emma wrote a guest post for 4 The Love of Animals titled “10 Reasons To Run With Your Dog“. Stop by and take a look, I think you will like it and perhaps be more motivated to run with your dog. I know I sure love our morning runs!
I’m co hosting the FitDog Friday Blog Hop with SlimDoggy, and To Dog With Love! Please join us on Fridays to share your fitness stories with others, find new ways to have fun, and new fitness ideas too! Tell your friends to stop by as well – fit dogs are healthier, happier dogs!
OMD Baillie….you did such a marvelous job on your Tracking Certification Test and we just know you will do great on your TD test too!!!
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey Arty and Bilbo
We are really proud of our little Bailie. Hopefully she will get a spot for a test in March. Getting a spot is harder than the test itself.
Congratulations Bailie you passed everything we are all proud of the terrific job you did. Paws and fingers crossed that you can get in the early TD test:))
We have the first application in and will find out in late February. Such a bummer waiting to get in.
Congrats!
Bailie is real proud of herself and we are proud of her too.
ARRROOOOO!! Way to be awesome Bailie! Huggles ♥ Pierre , Bentley & the Mom
Little Bailie has a real nose for tracking, that is for sure!
Well done Bailie, great tracking
Loves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
Thank you. We are proud of our family tracker!
Congrats on passing with flying colours! And we LOVE that pic of you in your running shoes. Are you gonna wear them to BlogPaws this year?
I don’t think I will wear the running shoes at BlogPaws, more likely a real pretty collar 😉
Congrats Bailie! The best noses they ever invented in France ! YAY! We use a horse lunge for my “field work”, but if that thingy gets wet and dirty, you need 87 hours to clean that beast. Think your tracking line is a better choice :o) I’ve read the running post and I agree, there is no excuse, running is good for both ends of the leash :o)
I myself don’t care for running as much as I used to, but Bailie and Mom are really into it now. I watch the house while they are out running.
Congratulation Bailie, well done. We’re all so proud of you. Can’t wait till you get your other awards, I know you work really hard at them.
Bailie and I have big plans for 2015, the bigger challenge is getting a spot to get our titles, so few spots, so many dogs!
So proud of you and Mom. Well done!
Mom and Bailie, aka Team Bailie, are pretty happy. They really hope to get a spot in March to try for a title.
Great job, Bailie! Congrats!!!
Her little ego is enjoying a proud week right now. But she has to keep her nose to the ground to prepare for the next event.
Pawsome tracking, Bailie!! Your friends in Florida are proud of you. CONGRATULATIONS! I think I saw a squirrel today in my backyard. XOXO Sparkle the PBGV.
Uh oh, that opens up a whole new can of worms for you! Enjoy the live reality show called squirrels.
Way to go, Bailie!!!!! We are so proud of you! We knew you could do it! You definitely deserve some celebrating this weekend. Enjoy.
Oz
She partied it up pretty well, but she can’t relax for long as she needs to keep working to get ready for a TD test hopefully soon.
Congrats Bailie! That is super awesome, I knew you would do it.
Now she needs to get the title!
Great news for Bailie, Great look for Emma and one great big question. You have two pairs of the same running shoes?
You should never wear the same pair two days in a row as they need time to rest. Sometimes Mom has different brands to alternate with, but she loves these shoes, so she has a couple pairs of them. Shoe rotation is big in her plan…always 2-3 pairs in the rotation, newer pairs go on longer runs, older pairs shorter runs, then they are rotated out after six months to be walking shoes. It is most important if she is training for a marathon or something but she can’t stop doing it even if it is only 15 or so miles a week.
Great job Bailie!! Love your shoes, too! hehe! That’s interesting about rotating shoes… I wondered the same about the four matching shoes! That makes sense!
Mom learned the shoe rotation years ago and has been told it several times since, so she believes it is true.
Wooooohooooooo beauwoowooootiful Bailie! <3
She is a beauty, and has a great nose on her too!
WAY TO GO BAILEY….. CONGRATULATIONS…
We love that tracking Cord thingy… it sounds PAWFECT..
OMD Emma… you are truly outfitted fur a Walk in the snow… Love those track shoes…
AND the SHADES are grrrrand fur pawtecting your eyes from the Snow Glare…
Remember my motto boys…it’s not so much what a dog does as how she looks 😉 We love the tracking leash and our nose work ones too.
Congratulations, Bailie and Mom!! I really enjoyed learning how it all works and about that special line you use. We will keep our fingers crossed that your name gets drawn for a spot in March.
We sure hope so. We are on a lucky streak now and hope it brings us luck in the draw on the 23rd of Feb.
Way to go Bailey!!! Wow Emma , you are truly remarkable in your outfit – prepared for every hazard. Love those shoes and shade! Gotta talk to mom about getting me some BLUE ones ( purple is ok for a boy too isn’t it?)
Your Compadre,
Chablis
Purple is alright for a boy, but don’t be seen in pink like I am wearing!
Congrats Bailie, we are all so proud of you!!!!!
She has a serious nose for tracking, no doubt about it.
we done Bailey – we are all so proud of your achievements
We think Bailie will go far if she can get into tests.
I think the Biothane line is definitely the way to go! We got our first in a leash and it is great when the weather is bad!
For regular walking it can be a bit slippery to hold onto, but for our sports it is perfect.
Congratulations, Balie!! I hope you’ll get a spot for a TD test soon! I was very interested in reading about the tracking line you mentioned ~ I love our leather leashes, but they really aren’t practical in inclement weather, so we may have to take a closer look at those Biothane Lines!
They are awesome! We order ours online at http://palominelines.com/ They have tons of colors and lengths to choose from and we usually have them at our door within a few days. They aren’t always the least expensive leashes, but they are durable.
Congratulations! Do you like the texture of the biothane? I’ve been thinking about getting one.
For our sports is it awesome since it slides easily through Mom’s hands and fingers. For regular walking it may be a bit slippery when wet. We only use ours for sports but more and more folks are using them for walking too. We get ours from http://palominelines.com/ They have tons of colors, lengths and options and ship fast too. They are definitely durable.
Hooray for Bailie!!!! Congratulations!!! Hooray!!!
We are all proud of her tracking work ethic and can’t wait for her to get her first title.
Congratulations, Bailie!
Thank you!
Congrats Bailie! What a great idea mom had for your leash! Will you come and find me? I think there are probably more than 5 turns between our houses, but I bet that we could have lots of fun! Emma and Katie can come too, they are super fun too! -Yours truly, Charlie
You know, if you send her an article and walk back to your house, she is the kind of dog who would find you. Bailie tracks where Katie and I walk if we go out without her all the time. We are all amazed by her nose for tracking.
Congrats on earning your certificate! Hope you will be able to get into your tests.
It is pretty frustrating one can’t just get into a test, but we will try until Bailie gets a spot.
We are having the same issues with getting into Master tests. 180 spots fill in seconds.
It is frustrating. We are still too new to it all, but it seems like there should be a way to get a spot within a reasonable amount of time. Nose work is the same way.
Way to go Bailie, that is wonderful. Good luck on your title.
We are all proud of her and looking forward to her first title.
Oh dog…how pawesome! Congratulations, Bailie!! Best of luck getting into your tests. Much love, The Scottie Mom.
Thank you. We are hoping for lots of luck and getting a spot next month.
Well done you!!
We are real proud of my little sis.
How exciting! You go Bailie. Paws up for you!
We are all proud, but not at all surprised at her performance. Now we need to get her to a title test.
Congratulations Bailie on your Tracking Certification!
Thank you. We are real proud of her!