Southwest Tracking Association

08/12/2024

Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 8, 2024 for the Annual Membership Meeting and elections for the Southwest Tracking Association of Metropolitan Houston.

We will be meeting at Rudy's Barbecue 21799 Katy Freeway in Katy at 11:30 a.m. On the agenda, plans for the upcoming year and elections for our officers and Board. Ed McCaddon is not able to continue on the Board. Self nominations for a position are welcome, and you can nominate someone else so long as they agree to the nomination. Ed is currently our President.

I have no confirmation of a workshop or seminar from Kathleen Milford. If those activities are going to take place, I expect she will inform us and organize the event.

Come and enjoy some good Texas barbecue and the chance to visit with our club members, guests also welcome. I hope to see you there.

Natalie Wiest
STA Secretary

04/19/2024

Just a few more tidbits from the TD/TDU test. Who says tracking isn't a contact sport? Just ask Kathy Daniel. As an addendum to the day, Kathleen Milford starts her puppy Donovan on his first tracking lesson.

04/19/2024

Here's a view to the results of our TD and TDU test on April 14. we had one TD entrant, and 3 TDUs. Two of the three TDUs passed, thanks to the heavy scent (??) of our chief tracklayer and sole tracklayer for those two tracks, Ed McCaddon. The successful entrants were Katie McCullough with her lab Morgan; and Charles Jones with golden retriever Tycho. Congratulations! Pat Sayles handling lab Parti did a great TD attempt to the very last turn; Sally Elkins and English cocker spaniel Blu had a lovely start, first turn, crossed the parking lot and then, uhoh, wrong way next turn.

02/23/2024

And there is more in April: we will host a certification workshop and mini-start-your-dog-tracking seminar at the conclusion of the TDU/TD test April 14. If you feel your dog is ready to get certified to compete in a TD or TDU test in the coming year, judges and qualified certification folk are available. Judge Kathleen Milford to present the mini-seminar/workshop.

02/23/2024

Premium list for our STA TD and TDU test April 14, 2024: now available on the AKC site. It will be up on our website in March, or please email me, Natalie Wiest, [email protected] if you'd like me to send you a copy. We look forward to seeing you on test day, or as workers the day before. Club meeting also at conclusion of the test.

02/11/2024

Congratulations to Katrine Voie and Basile passings VST and earning Champion Tracker!

02/03/2024

Registration has closed for our February 11 TDU/VST test. No TDU entries were received, so we will go with 4 VST tracks. If you are interested in coming to watch, the action will be at Bear Creek Park, Pavilion 1, with the drawing for tracks at 9:30 a.m. We look forward to seeing you then and there!

01/15/2024

For your long term planning calendar, two important dates. First, per our Board meeting on January 7, 2024, we have changed the date of our April event to April 14. It will be a 3 dog TD and 3 dog TDU test followed by a working seminar on getting your dog certified for TD or TDU tests. Pending AKC approval, our judges will be Virginia (Kathy) Daniel and Kathleen Milford.

Our Annual Meeting in September will feature a training seminar on VST (Variable Surface Tracking) presented by Kathleen Milford and Jeff Shaver.

12/22/2023

While you plan ahead for 2024, how about putting a TDU or VST on your list? We will be hosting VST and TDU tests on February 11, 2024. If you don't feel ready to enter, you know we could use your help. Premium list is here:

12/18/2023

January 7 is our next STA Tracking test. I hope you have that date marked on your calendar. There is still time to enter, the Premium List can be found at: http://www.statracking.org/pdf/statd-tdx-1-2024premium.pdf . The test will be followed by our club meeting. We'll look forward to seeing you then at George Bush Park.

11/05/2023

New TD title for Lori Issacson and her Dachshund, Loki, on a track laid by Katrine Voie under judges Kathleen Milford and Jeff Shaver.

01/08/2023

Seventy-five percent TD pass rate at today's test. Not so lucky with the TDXs. Pictures and details coming soon.

09/19/2022

Hello Southwest Tracking Association of Metropolitan Houston members and friends. We hope you may be able to attend our General Meeting and Workshop to be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022.

We will meet at the home of Jeff Shaver, Stagecoach, Texas. The workshop will start at 9 a.m. and finish before noon with the General Meeting to follow. Lunch will be provided - but you need to let us (me, Natalie Wiest, [email protected]) know you are coming. Because of the short time frame you will pay the $10 attendance fee at the door. Please contact Natalie ([email protected]) to register and for directions.

The workshop topic is designing, laying, and recording tracks. This is a handler-training workshop so dogs are not needed. Of course this is a dog-friendly event, so if you need to bring a dog please feel free. Bring your own chairs as well.

09/12/2022

Southwest Tracking Association TD/TDX Test
Sunday November 6, 2022

George Bush Park, Houston, TX
Judges: Jan Wesen & Kathleen Milford
Entries close Oct. 27, 2022

For Premium List:

04/24/2022

New TD title for Chanel von Gunbil and Janiece Newell who earned their title today on a track laid by Denise Carew.

02/09/2022

AKC Tracking Program Update
The Companion Events Department is happy to announce the return of Carol Ruthenberg as an Independent Contracted Representative for Tracking. Those who know Carol, know that she has been involved with tracking for over 30 years and started judging in 1986. She is a long-time dog fancier, dedicated local and national club member, and brings a wealth of knowledge back to this position with AKC. As an independent contractor Carol will be able to continue to enjoy her role as a judge and exhibitor, while assisting the department’s Tracking program, judges and clubs. You may reach her at [email protected].
Companion Events Department | February 8, 2022 11:34 am

Thanks & Regards,
AKC Companion Events Department

08/30/2021

Strengthening Components of Tracking
a tracking seminar presented by Southwest Tracking Association of Metropolitan Houston

When: Sunday, September 5, 2021, 7:00 am to 12:00 noonish
Where: George Bush Park Meeting Building across from the Millie Bush Dog Park

Cost: $25.00 - limited slots; You must pre-register
For more information visit STA's website at statracking.org or
email [email protected]

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04/24/2021

Getting ready to plot the last track for tomorrow's test. Thanks, tracklayers, for all your hard work today.
Good luck, tomorrow,
to all the entrants.

12/08/2020

The first tracking test (as part of the UD title) was held on September 13, 1937, as reported in “The Story of Dog Obedience” by Blanche Saunders. The first tracking test at which a dog could earn a TD title was October 7, 1947. Until that time, tracking was part of the Utility Dog title. The TD...

12/08/2020

You work hard to teach your dog good manners. There’s one area, though, where you probably won’t have much success: Asking him to “mind his own business and stop being so nosey!” It won’t work because his keen sense of smell – which is 100,000 times stronger than humans – makes him nat...

11/18/2020

Don't forget, entries for HOT's December 6th TD/TDX Test close on Tuesday, November 24th. You can download the premium at www.hotdogclub.org/events

02/29/2020

They can catch a whiff of human remains under 30 metres of water or buried in a mine shaft, and can tell the difference between, say, a dead raccoon and a dead hiker. And yet scientists still aren't 100 per cent sure how cadaver dogs manage to do this and the training community is still figuring out...

02/09/2020

02/08/2020

Your dog's sense of smell is thousands of times better than yours - he has about 50 smell receptors, while you have just one.

12/23/2019

While out for a late afternoon hike, Linda Smith and Billie, her 18-month-old American English Coonhound, found a missing 4-year-old girl.

09/10/2019

Fascinating.

More than 80% of the dogs' positive findings are in the general hospital environment.

09/07/2019

Don't rush the sniffing.

New research shows that allowing dogs to exercise their noses is good for them.

08/31/2019

Share with your friends in Florida.

08/14/2019

🔥🔥 We're hyper-aware about heat injuries today because us humans are also extremely uncomfortable, but our pets can become overheated when the "feels like" temperature is above 75oF. As Houstonians, 75oF is fall weather!

Keep your pets hydrated, limit playtime outside, and if they're not resting comfortably after 5 minutes of cool-down time they might need to be seen by a veterinarian.

07/14/2019

AWESOME!!!!

It seemed Beisswenger and Brodie were on a roll to achieve the AKC Champion Tracker Title in AKC Tracking until May 2017, when everything came to a halt.