Olds tracking seminar-May 14-15, 2011

This was my first introduction to tracking, and of course Duffy's too!  We LOVED it!!!! He's such a smart dog and Donna Brinkworth, the instructor had some really nice things to say about him. We were a group of 14 on the 1st day and 12 the 2nd.  The first day we were at the Prescott farm NW of Olds for the  TD and TDX section and Pam was a a wonderful hostess, plus she and her dogs Sting and Trixie participated too.  The 2nd day we were in town at Olds College for the urban tracking portion. We all did a whole lot of walking those 2 days!! The weather was a real challenge--true it didn't rain or snow and the fields were dry, but the wind was just awful, gusting up to 80 km/hour and it felt pretty cold. People wore hats and gloves and multiple layers of clothing both days. And plotting maps of the tracks, was a real treat in that wind!! The sun beat down the first day and partly on the second, so most of us got a wind and sun burn--me especially.  My poor nose took quite a beating!! But the dogs dealt with the wind just fine!!

There was a variety of dogs, but more German Shepherds than any other group. We also had a yellow Lab, a Weim, a Viszla, a Dalmation, an Aussie girl named Mike--she was just the sweetest dog, Duffy fell in love with her, Donna's 2 border collies as demo dogs, and of course Duffy the Collie.

The more experienced trackers did some demo work--like Sue and her Dal Potter. He just about drags her down the field, he has so much go, go go!! Some of the attendees are dog trainers too and had some good ideas to add to the seminar.

Duffy and I had the opportunity to do a scent circle and L track on Saturday and a serpentine track, a transition track, and clicker train on indicating an article on Sunday. After the seminar was over on Sunday, we also the chance to have portraits done of our dogs by Kathy Holowaychuk. She also had taken pictures during the 2 days. Check out her website to see some of the pictures and portraits--including 2 of Duffy.  It's a work in progress, so more will be added. http://www.exposedpawsphotography.com/ Look under  Gallery--Olds Seminar.

Dave fed me steak on Friday night, got in a pizza for Saturday, and did a lamb roast on veggies Sunday night!! What a guy!! It pretty much made me forgive his lack of cleaning skills!! Hahahahahahaha!! There was a BBQ Saturday night at Prescotts--but after 9 hours in the sun and wind I had such a bad headache, I was feeling sick to my stomach.  I didn't have any Motrin or Advil with me, so I excused myself from the BBQ and went home to dose up on Advil.  Thus the pizza supper!

I came back to Edmonton yesterday, stopped at the EG to see my dad, and discovered Duffy had a loose poop situation in his crate. I knew things had gone too smoothly!!!!So the first thing I had to do was hose down the crate, wash the mat, tear up and throw out the piece of carpet on the bottom of the truck bed. The joys of dog ownership!! Then I went next door to visit for a couple of hours, play with Winnie the dachshund, and have an amaretto on ice!!

Donna and Chris and Cooper

Tracking is tiring work! Owen and his mom were there on Saturday, but he had a cold and wasn't feeling too well, so they went home early and didn't come back on Sunday. His dog was a border collie cross named Daisy--she was a cute, friendly girl!

Kathleen and Mojito--I love that name, I love mojitos!!

Some of the group--backs to the wind, trying to stay warm!

Donna and Jet doing an UTDX demo at Olds College

There's Potter the Dalmation--look at him pull!

Susan and Potter

I can't wait to start in on practising with Duffy and eventually laying some tracks.  Some of the ladies are from Edmonton, so it would be great to get together and do some tracking. It was a great weekend and such a welcome change from my burdens here in Edmonton.  I need more of this!!