Tracking techniques can vary widely from dog to dog, even within the same breed. Bailie and I are both GBGV’s, but while we have may similar traits, we are often extremely different. You can get an idea of our differences today if you follow along on our tracking outing the other day.
Mom had the brilliant idea to go tracking on Memorial Day morning for fun. I’m just not very interested in tracking…wandering through a mess of grass and weeds to find some stupid article somewhere to get treats. Silly sport, but I do it because Mom wants me to. I got my certification in February, I may as well use it. I ran slowly walked my track first. This was me at the start with my start article so I know what scent to track.
And I’m off at the speed of a turtle, lumbering along. I see no reason to rush, so I take my time. The colored clips you see in some photos on the photos today are markers for Mom. The plain orange are turns, and the orange with colored flags just show where the track was laid in case we get lost. My mom has no sense of direction, so she needs the markers.
I made my turns pretty well. We haven’t had time to track for about seven weeks with the rainy weather and so many other things going on. Mom was happy I remembered about the turns.
Tracking is weird to watch as you pretty much just see the behind of a dog wandering along. Mom says I’m so slow, she could read a book while tracking with me, but it’s my way of tracking. She has plenty of time to take photos of me going along too.
Thank dog I finally found the end article so I can get out of this field! My track was only about 300 yards long. Normally, I do longer tracks, but since we hadn’t practiced in a while, Mom wanted to start out slow.
Talk about different tracking techniques! Mom says tracking with Bailie is like bull riding, the gate opens and all you can do is hold on and hope for the best. It’s no wonder there are rarely photos of Bailie tracking! Mom can’t possible hold still long enough to focus! There is no start photo for Bailie as she just started on her own and was off!
Mom has to keep holding Bailie back because she is way too fast to keep up with. Despite her speed, she makes the turns and stops at articles. Look at that smile. She truly loves to track!
And nose dive…incoming tracking dog. She bound through the tall grass like a deer! Amazingly, Bailie has only tracked twice since she got her TD Title back in October, but she is not rusty at all!
I think she can smell the end article is near…just ahead at the clip with the yellow flag. She is ramping up her speed for the finish!
Bailie is at the end article and is happy as a clam! The only thing she finds sad is that her track is done. She wants to keep going. Now do you see what I mean about totally different tracking techniques!
I need to get my TD Title this fall, and Bailie will be working on either TDX (Tracking Dog Excellent) or VST (Variable Surface Tracking) which are both longer tracks with more than one article. Bailie is also attending a tracking seminar later this month with Mom. More power to the wild and crazy tracking team Bailie. I just want to get my TD Title and quit the sport!
Have a great weekend! I have a nose work element trial. I’ll be competing in Level 1 Interiors, and Level 2 Containers. I plan to do well, hope Mom is on the same page!
Everyone has their own thing. That’s what makes you each so special.
We definitely have our differences in many areas.
I’m a rocket-tracker, seems I would be the pawfect partner for your Bailie :O) and I’m very loud when I work on a track… probably I have too much St Hubertus Dog genes LOL
Mom gets mad when we walk really early in the morning because Bailie tracks when we walk sometimes and she is so loud!
Bailey looks like she’s going to be a superstar when it comes to tracking! It’s okay with your Doodle friends Emma if you pass the baton to your sister.
I want to get that one title and then I will give it up. Bailie can have all the fields! She is a tracking nut!
individuality is what makes us special. be your own dog; you don’t need to do everything ballie does.
No, we each have different things we do, but I do want to get that one tracking title now that I put in all the effort to get to this point.
Yes, that is sure a difference, but you both are very good at tracking!
The end result is the same, but it takes me like three to four times as long to do the same track. It’s okay, I work well at my slow speed.
Yes, you two girls are definitely different! You remind me of the two beagles we’ve had….Kobi was slow and serious and Cricket is enthusiastic and jumps into everything she does with gusto!
I wish I’d known about this sport when they were both young, I think they would have liked it and it would have been fun to watch the differences in them like you and Bailie.
Beagles are excellent at tracking! Mom says the way we do things so different makes our sports all the more fun and challenging for her. She loves it.
Believe it or not I track despite my flat nose I always smell where Edward has been
Lily (&Edward)
I believe it! I know boys are always smelly…easy to track, but don’t tell them that!
Lucky for you these aren’t timed tests Emma!
Tracking you can take all the time you need, and I definitely will. Nose work I love, but I’m not real fast there either and that is timed! Mom says I need to work on my speed a bit.
Good job guys! You two could be the tortoise and the hare probably. I guess it doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you get it done!
With tracking speed isn’t so important, so I take my sweet time.
What a fun day, bailie really looks like she is having too much fun.
Bailie would track 24/7 if she could. It’s her favorite sport I think.
I’m sure that Bentley would be slow and methodical too. Bailie is having a blast! Do you stay in the car while your Mom hides your articles?
Being scent hounds it really doesn’t matter. In the very beginning we were often placed to watch her lay the track to help build our excitement. We really follow scent and don’t use our eyes which means we can watch her lay the track and it isn’t cheating. We even go off track in the snow sometimes where there are footprints. Some dogs do follow what they see, not us.
We older gals just like to relax, smell the flowers along the way, and enjoy the journey.
I guess that must be it with me!
You guys are pawtastic! Well done.
Same end result, just a different way to get there!
WooHoooo Guy’z, flying in’z quick too’z see’z what’z ya up too’z .. xxoxxxxx
We’ve been so busy the past two months with our dog sports and stuff. After June is over, things will get back to normal. Miss you guys!
I wonder if the difference in excitement level is because Bailie was much younger than Emma when they started tracking.
It might be. I was more wild as a young one, but I turned much more serious and proper when I was a few years old.