On February 5th, I got certified to track! I’ve been working on my tracking skills on and off since I started tracking last April, and I really hope to get my TD (Tracking Dog) Title this spring! Bailie passed her certification test on her first try in January 2015, but she didn’t get her title until last fall.
We had some bad weather for about two months, so I wasn’t able to work on my tracking. First it was constantly raining, and then it got super cold. Luckily the end of January got a bit warmer so Mom and I could get out and practice. Mom thought I was ready to take my certification test, but she wasn’t sure. We found a tracking judge to test us, and set the test up for February 5th. My track was laid in a field of snow up in Arden Hills. We totally forgot to ask for the map after we were done, but it has to be between 440 and 500 yards with 3 – 5 turns.
Mom wasn’t really nervous, for a change! She felt I had a 50/50 chance of passing because of our lack of practice, and the deep snow, but she has a lot of confidence in me. As you can see from my expression back in the car after the test, I was giving one of my silly expressions because I knew I had it all along! I’m a pretty reliable dog. The trudging through the snow and sticking my head in it for the scent trail was tedious, but I knew I needed to get my job done, and find the glove at the end of the track.
Now I’m certified to track which means I have four chances in the next year to take a pass a TD test. I’ve entered tests in Iowa for March, paws crossed I get a spot, can pass the test, and be done with tracking. I really prefer nose work, but Mom wants me to get my TD title, and then she says I can quit tracking and let Bailie focus on more tracking titles. I’ll keep you all posted, and hopefully it will be with a new title very soon.
Iβm co hosting the FitDog Friday Blog Hop with SlimDoggy, and To Dog With Love!Β 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 β fit dogs are healthier, happier dogs!
Very exciting! Congratulations and good luck π
Thank you. I’m pretty pleased.
Congratulations! That’s so awesome!
Thank you. I’m happy, and Mom is thrilled.
Congratulations Emma!
Thank you. Now I just need to get a test spot and pass.
Congrats, how awsome is that!!!
Thank you. I’m real proud of myself.
I am so proud of my sweetie! Not that I doubted you for a second. β₯ I’m keeping my paws crossed for you in March. Love and kisses, Bentley
With all our sports getting a spot to even try a test is so hard, I really hope I get a test spot and I can nail it. March weather can always be challenging too, so we shall see.
Way to go!
Thank you.
YIPPIE! Congratulations, Emma π Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend π <3
Thanks! I’ll be out in the field practicing this weekend for sure!
Hurrah for you! Good sniffing in March
Thank you. First I need to get a spot in a test. Paws crossed.
Good job, Emma! Congratulations from Fanny and Rooney in Florida!
Thank you. I’m real happy.
Congratulations and as ever your personality shines through in your photos. My favorite is your supreme nonchalance in the back of the car.
Thanks. Mom and I are team Emma, but she is the worry wart and I am the one who knows I’ve got it. She is starting to learn she can trust me, but it is hard for her.
You have this one in the bag! Good luck. We are rooting for you!
I sure hope so as I don’t want to be trudging through prairie grass fields all spring. I want to be done! Tracking is alright, but I prefer to leave it to Bailie who really loves it.
Congratulations Emma – now it will be easier to track those wabbits, right?
I know if the tracklayer put wabbit scent on their shoes, I would be at the end article in record time every time!
WOOHOO!!! Good job!!!
Thank you. Mom was over the moon thrilled too. For me it was not as big of a deal since I know my nose.
Well done Emma! Good luck in March!
We should know in about a week if we get a spot in the first March test or not. Paws crossed.
WOW!! We are naturals at using our noses. Knew you could do it, Emma! You are so pawsome. XOXO Sparkle
My nose and my ears are my most valuable assets, although my paws for hugging are a close third.
Congratulations! We’ll keep our fingers crossed for you.
Thank you. I hope I get a spot in a test!
Good job!!
Thank you. Now to get that title so I can show Bailie I’m a tracking dog too.
Well done and congratulations – that is a wonderful achievement π
Thank you. I sure hope I can get a title soon too.
Congrats on your certification, Emma!!! We hope they fit you in to get your title!
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
I will try my best, but getting a spot in a test is almost harder than passing a test!
Yay Congratulations Emma. Well done. Good luck with your title. So talented.
I’m pretty good with my nose!
Congrats! Criminals and treat-hiders beware!
Nothing is safely hidden with a scent hound! Even things that are inaccessible I can find and point out!
that is awesome, go show them how it’s done!
I think I can do it. I sure hope so at least!
Whahoo!!! Emma you rock!
I’m pretty good with my nose!
Way to go Emma! You made us all so proud!!! π
Sure hope I can get a test spot and get my title.
Congrats on being certified. Do you only need one pass for a TD title?
Yes. I have four shots but only need to pass one test. I’m hoping for my first try, but who knows.
Well done Emma! Brilliant result!
Thank you. Our sports are a bit different from agility. The tests are few and far between and very hard to get into. I’ll never have as many awards as you.
Fantastic friend
Lily & Edward
Thank you.
Good job! That’s awesome!! What do you do with a tracking title? Do you help find lost people? Are you trained to find many different scents? I’d love to hear more about it!
I will hang the title on my wall and add TD to my official name π It’s a sport for fun. I can track anything really, but for test purposes, I follow the track layer’s scent to the end article.
Congrats from all of us! Hopefully I will never get lost but if I do then you will get a call to track me down!
I might send Bailie as she is really into tracking and will most likely be at a higher level than me in no time.
Congratulations, Emma, and good luck with getting that title next month!! We’re pretty sure you and your Mom can accomplish anything you set your minds to!
Mom and I are pretty determined and make a real good team. We both are real serious about competition which helps. We shall see what happens if we even get a test spot.
Go Emma! I hope you get a spot. I hear about how tracking tests are hard to enter!
A normal TD test usually has 4 – 8 spots and in the five state area around here there are only maybe four tests in the spring and another four in the fall. I really hope to get in to the one we want in March. Nose work is super hard to get into too, but at least there are like 30+ spots!
Well done! You must have a good nose!
I am a scent hound and I do use my nose a lot.
Congratulations on getting your Certification title, especially under more difficult conditions!
I love winter and the snow, but we trample a nice path around our yard, on my tracking certification, I had to trudge through the deep stuff. I did it, though.
Congratulations, Emma! I know how hard you and your Mom have been working on this and it is quite an accomplishment! You and your sister sure do put us boys to shame with all of your nose skills!
Well, being scent hounds we really should be working with our noses. You boys could do it too, but may be better at swimming or agility stuff I would guess. We do spend a lot of time on our sports, but since it is so much fun, we don’t mind.
I know we talked about it last year, but I still haven’t signed Harley up for a nose work class π
I need to get going on that because I think he would really enjoy it! Charlie has done some agility (and enjoyed it) but was still a bit wild in class! We might give it another go this year.
You really should get Harley started in nose work. He would love it and it is ideal for a senior dog.
Congrats Emma! I can’t wait to call you Miss Emma TD! Here’s hoping for sunny skies, and dry land, along with that test spot! We know you’ll pass the easy peasy test!
First I have to get a test spot, hopefully in a week I will get a notification about the first test I’m trying to enter. As long as it isn’t pouring rain, we will be happy with the weather.
Big time congrats, Emma! Well done…but then we knew you were a pawsome pooch! α¦
Thank you. Now I have to pass the test when I get a spot.
Mowzers, Emma! That’s awesome – congratulations!!!
Thank you. Now I have to pass a test to get that title.
Great job Emma, congrats. We are hoping you get a spot to earn your TD title in March. We know you can pass; )
I sure hope I get a spot and pass. I don’t want to have to trek through the tall prairie grass all spring, not so much my thing, but I will have to if I don’t get my title early.
You can do this Emma – I know you can, you rock! Congratulations
I got a test track on the 13th, so we will soon know if I’m up to the challenge or not!