National Tracking and Shed Dog Registry

02/15/2023

Jeremy Zickefoose of Fairmont, WV brought Ruby the Redbone hound out today to challenge the NTSD Shed Dog 1 field course at Longspur headquarters. They found their 6/10 at the 10:34 mark of the 15:00 clock. They ended the test at 8/10 at the 15 minute mark. This makes Ruby our first non-bird dog breed to pass a Shed Dog test! Congrats team!

09/19/2022

Congratulations to Josh Wray and his Bluetick hound Marada for going to Longspur headquarters and passing WGT1! This team is stationed in Fairmont, WV.

09/04/2022

Our Testing patches are in production! Those of you that have passed WGT1, WGT2 and Shed Dog 1 can expect your patches very soon!

08/30/2022

Congrats to Clinton and Lincoln Pack and their Bllodhounds, Harper and Boomer. Harper passed WGT 1 and Boomer passed WGT 2. These were our first dogs down for testing from Pennsylvania.
Rick Hyde of Virginia brought his bloodhound Reba down and ran her on WGT1 and WGT2 and passed both!
Congrats to all 3 tracking teams!
Testing was conducted at Longspur Tracking and Outfitting headquarters in Buckhannon, WV.

08/23/2022

Currently booking NTSD WGT testing at the Longspur facility in Buckhannon, WV. Message today!

08/15/2022

We are in testing season here at Longspur! Testing dogs for NTSD WGT 1,2 and 3 the next few weeks. We are also fitting in Shed Dog 1, 2 and 3 testing.
Yesterday we had Drew Cannon and his GWP Max pass WGT 1, his brother Cody Cannon and his black lab, Bear also passed WGT 1. These two dogs will be tracking southern Ohio this fall!
Then we had John Davis amd his wife Steph down with their Jagdterriers. They are from the eastern Panhandle of WV. Both dogs passed. They will be tracking WV, MD and VA this fall.
All four dogs did well considering we had two good rain showers on the tracks prior to running them.
If your interested in testing whether you have an on lead dog or off lead dog, send us a message! We test weekends and weekdays!

06/06/2022

Congratulations to Spot the GSP owned by Logan Cooper of Charleston, WV. Spot is the first dog to pass the NTSD Shed Dog 1 test. It was a warm evening and tough but he nailed and picked up the required 6 of 10 shed finds. He then put his nose on two others but did not qualify as a find because his shed reaction is “shed pick up and possible retrieve”. He did this in the 15 minute time limit.
Congrats Spot!

06/01/2022

Join owner and founder of Longspur and the National Tracking and Shed Dog Registry, Shon Butler as he explains how the registry works!

https://youtu.be/GMwtwcOxxtU

On this episode I sit down with Shon Butler, owner and founder of Longspur, to talk about basic puppy training and registering dogs for shed hunting.

05/27/2022

Wounded Game Tracking 1 and Shed Dog 1 field days are being planned now in:
Texas
Illinois
Indiana
Ohio
West Virginia
Michigan

Interested in being a Coordinating Judge and hosting a test day? Reach out today!
Interested in testing your dog? Comment below with your state. We are trying hard to get rolling here for those of you wanting a quality testing experience for your dog!

05/25/2022

Love our working dogs!

05/25/2022

Here is our purebred registration paperwork. Please feel free to print it from the photo or PM for a link.

05/24/2022

05/24/2022

West Virginia Based National Registry
1.) Register your purebred dog
2.) NTSD Wounded Game Testing levels 1-3 will be excepted and added on dog’s pedigree
3.)UBT 1-3 will be accepted and added in the dogs pedigree
4.) NTSD Shed Dog testing levels 1-3, will be accepted and added to the dogs pedigree.
5.) Trackers will be able to register all species recoveries that will appear on their dogs pedigree and follow them for eternity
6.) shed hunters will be able to register amount of shed finds per year that will appear on their dogs pedigree and follow them for eternity.
These options will allow the owner/ breeder to show lines of accomplished trackers/shed hunters. This will allow pup buyers to study pedigrees and make informed purchasing decisions on trained and accomplished breedings.
The NTSD registry will be hosting judge trainings. This will be a great way for trainers and trackers to host field events and become ambassadors.
Having trouble registering your rare breed tracking dog in a registry? Provide heritage lines and we will register them!
Hybrid registry available!
Stay tuned!

05/23/2022

Shed Recovery Registry
$50 for a calendar year.
Shed Recoveries will appear on a dogs NTSD pedigree.
Shed Recovery Affidavit must filled out with accompanied picture.
Certificate will be issued if your dog is not NTSD registered. You have one year from issuance of certificate to register your dog in the NTSD for the shed recoveries to go on the dogs pedigree.
Please message and we will send you an affidavit!

05/23/2022

Here is our registration form for a purebred dog. We will be posting other forms here until we can get a website built.

https://www.facebook.com/messenger_file/?attachment_id=440480234469401&message_id=mid.%24cAAA9U2FKjDGHJAZVh2A8sD9l__cG&thread_id=113938057988666

05/23/2022

Shed Dog Testing parameters and costs

NTSD Shed Dog Testing
Shed Dog 1 (Easiest)
Cost $50.00

Field Size – 1 acre (200 feet x 200 feet)
Shed Medium – approved shed paste
Number of Sheds – 10
Time Limit – 15 minutes
Number of finds to pass - 6

10 clean sheds or approved synthetic antler will be cleaned then treated with an approved shed paste, the judge will then place the antlers and mark them with GPS.
The boundaries of the shed field will be shown to the handler. The handler will inform the judge how the dog indicates a find, for example, “dog retrieves antler to hand”, “dog points antler”, “dog sits by antler”, “dog barks or bays antler”. This must be written on the scoresheet before the test begins, an antler find will only be scored if the indication matches the scoresheet. The dog must find 6 of 10 antlers in the allotted time to pass. The dog must show willingness and interest in shed hunting, the handler may not direct the dog to a shed with voice command, body language or hand signals.
If the dog is registered the result will be listed on the pedigree. If the dog is not NTSD registered a certificate will be issued. Owner/handler will have 1 year from test date to register dog to NTSD to register the results on the pedigree.

NTSD Shed Dog Testing
Shed Dog 2 (Midlevel)
Cost $50.00

Field Size – minimum of 2 acres (400 feet x 400 feet)
Shed Medium – approved shed paste
Number of Sheds – 14
Time Limit – 20 minutes
Number of finds to pass - 11

14 clean sheds or approved synthetic antler will be cleaned then treated with an approved shed paste, the judge will then place the antlers and mark them with GPS.
The boundaries of the shed field will be shown to the handler. The handler will inform the judge how the dog indicates a find, for example, “dog retrieves antler to hand”, “dog points antler”, “dog sits by antler”, “dog barks or bays antler”. This must be written on the scoresheet before the test begins, an antler find will only be scored if the indication matches the scoresheet. The dog must find 11 of 14 antlers in the allotted time to pass. The dog must show willingness and interest in shed hunting, the handler may not direct the dog to a shed with voice command, body language or hand signals.

The shed field shall consist of field and forest.
If the dog is registered the result will be listed on the pedigree. If the dog is not NTSD registered, a certificate will be issued. Owner/handler will have 1 year from test date to register dog to NKC to register the results on the pedigree.

NTSD Shed Dog Testing
Shed Dog 3 (Hardest)
Cost $50.00

Field Size – minimum of 2 acres (400 feet x 400 feet)
Shed Medium – approved shed paste
Number of Sheds – 14
Time Limit – 20 minutes
Number of finds to pass – 11 (1 of 2 wetland placed antlers)

14 clean sheds or approved synthetic antler, of which 7 will be cleaned then treated with an approved shed paste, the judge will then place the antlers and mark them with GPS, 2 antler paste treated antlers will be placed partially submerged in water. 7 non treated and 5 treated antlers will be evenly dispersed between field and forest.
The boundaries of the shed field will be shown to the handler. The handler will inform the judge how the dog indicates a find, for example, “dog retrieves antler to hand”, “dog points antler”, “dog sits by antler”, “dog barks or bays antler”. This must be written on the scoresheet before the test begins, an antler find will only be scored if the indication matches the scoresheet. The dog must find 11 of 14 antlers, of which 1 must be a partially submerged wetland shed in the allotted time to pass. The dog must show willingness and interest in shed hunting, the handler may not direct the dog to a shed with voice command, body language or hand signals.

The shed field shall consist of field, forest and wetland.
If the dog is registered the result will be listed on the pedigree. If the dog is not NTSD registered a certificate will be issued. Owner/handler will have 1 year from test date to register dog to NTSD to register the results on the pedigree.

05/23/2022

Here are the Wounded Game Tracking levels and information, also cost of testing

NTSD Wounded Game Tracking
Level 1 (easiest)
Cost $50.00

Distance – minimum of 400 yards
Tracking Medium – minimum of 1 ounce of real blood
Drag – deer leg or 4” x 8” piece of deer hide (optional)
Delay – minimum of 4 hours but cannot exceed 6 hours

The track should be laid with a field and woodland component. The track will have 2, 90 degree turns. The handler will not physically direct the dog, minimum commands should be given. A deer leg or part of a deer hide will be used as a target.
If the dog passes the test and is Registered in the NTSD, the results will be on the dog’s pedigree. If the dog is not registered in the NTSD or is not eligible for registration a certificate of completion will be issued. The owner has one year from test date to register the dog into the NTSD to have the results show on the pedigree.

NTSD Wounded Game Tracking
Level 2 (mid level)
Cost $50.00
Distance – minimum of 600 yards
Tracking Medium – minimum of 1 ounce of real blood
A hoofstick or hoof shoes or an approved synthetic interdigital scent will be used.
Delay – minimum of 6 hours but cannot exceed 12 hours, handler may request delay time

A deer leg or part of a deer hide will be used as a target. The track must have a minimum of 3, 90 degree turns. The track will have one double back, being within 10 feet of the original trail. The track shall include field, woodland, pavement or gravel and one stream or wetland crossing not to exceed 24 inches in depth.
If the dog passes the test and is Registered in the NTSD, the results will be on the dog’s pedigree. If the dog is not registered in the NTSD or is not eligible for registration a certificate of completion will be issued. The owner has one year from test date to register the dog into the NTSD to have the results show on the pedigree.

NTSD Wounded Game Tracking
Level 3 (hardest)
Cost $50.00

Distance – minimum of 600 yards
Tracking Medium – minimum of 1/2 ounce of real blood and ½ ounce of water.
A hoofstick or hoof shoes or an approved synthetic interdigital scent will be used.
Delay – minimum of 24 hours but cannot exceed 36 hours

The track should be laid with a field, woodland and wetland component. The track will have 3, 90 degree turns. The handler will not physically direct the dog, minimum commands should be given. A four inch segment of deer leg or 3”x3” segment of a deer hide will be used as a target. The track must include two injury beds with deer hair. The track must include a double back from one injury bed. The double back egress will be laid directly on the ingress trail. The double back will be a minimum of 50 yards.
The track shall include field, woodland, pavement or gravel and a minimum of two wetland crossings not to exceed 24 inches in depth.
If the dog passes the test and is Registered in the NTSD, the results will be on the dog’s pedigree. If the dog is not registered in the NTSD or is not eligible for registration a certificate of completion will be issued. The owner has one year from test date to register the dog into the NTSD to have the results show on the pedigree.

Recovery Database
Cost - $50.00
A tracker/owner may register all recoveries in a calendar year for $50.00, the tracker must complete the NTSD affidavit for each recovery. The tracker must provide a clear picture of each recovery that includes the recovered animal, the dog, the tracker and the hunter. The affidavit must be signed by the tracker, hunter and by one witness.
If the tracking dog is NTSD registered the recoveries will be listed on the dog’s pedigree.
If the dog is not NTSD registered or is not purebred and eligible for the NTSD Hybrid Registry, the owner/tracker will be issued a certificate recording the recoveries. The owner will have 1 year from the certificate date to register the dog with the NTSD and have the recoveries placed on the pedigree.

05/23/2022

05/23/2022

05/23/2022