February 19, 2023 TD Tracking Test
At Mather Regional Park, Sacramento CA.
Click HERE for premium.
Judges Roy Fair & Lizanne Kaiser
Day-of Secretary/Host Cathy Beam
Chief Tracklayer Colton Meyer
The TRACS annual TD tracking test was held on Sunday Feb 19, at Mather Regional Park in Rancho Cordova. Beautiful weather, but marginal ground conditions still recovering from the sheep overgrazing approved by the county in January. The sheep have been gone for three weeks but the cover is being slow to recover. The test offered six tracks plus a possible alternate, and exactly six dogs entered, but two withdrew after closing. So we laid a total of four tracks, and had 3 out of 4 pass!
Track 1 was run by Dee Dee Anderson and her golden Trace Of Perfect Picture, successfully completed in 4 minutes with only a little messing around at the start. This was a cherry on the top of this dog’s tracking season, having been the ONLY dog to pass the SacDTC TD test the weekend before.
Track 2 was run by Janet Catalano and her aussie Chances R She Blue By Ewe, successfully completed in 15 minutes. Excellent patience, Janet! I understand Janet was particularly hungry for this pass, so this was sweet.
Track 3 was run by Patty Nicolas and her Malinois Cabernet Du Loops Du Soleil, successfully completed in 5 minutes. I understand this was beautiful to watch because the dog’s nose never left the track even at the corners.
Track 4 was run by a golden who got to the final turn before the last leg to the end, but just couldn’t find the direction after the turn – so close!
Our judges were Roy Fair (OR) and our own Lizanne Kaiser, with Jenny Cuccinello shadowing as part of her tracking judge apprenticeship. I’d like to give a HUGE shout out to day-of secretary and hostess-with-the-mostest Cathy Beam, and to chief track layer for life Colton Meyer. Colton recruited some of our most dedicated tracking volunteers ever: Meg Azevedo, Debi Best, Nancy Bougher. THANK YOU all for supporting tracking and keeping the rest of us enthusiastic about it!