THE SCENTINEL
TRACKING CLUB OF VERMONT NEWSLETTER
Fall 2014
From our President!
Hi all,
TCV has been very active over the last few months, hosting a number of successful events. The
Annual Picnic morphed into a VST training day at Castleton, where teams got to try out urban
tracking. The Morgans were busy running the Line Handling Clinic and several certification days,
which were a big help to novice handlers preparing for the fall tracking season. The Fall Test was
well attended and had many passes. As always, our club member volunteers pulled together
to organize a fantastic test.
Although snow is falling, the tracking events aren't over yet! Please join us for pizza at the annual
meeting on November 20 and the VST test at Castleton State College on November 29.
Stay Warm,
Mie and the gang in Danby
Fall Test Report
We could not have had a better tracking day for our test! Sunday morning, October 12, brought
a frost, clear skies and light wind. Although the leaves were a bit past peak the mountains of
Danby at Smokey House were still incredibly beautiful.
On the TD side we had 7 passes out of 9 offered tracks. Our President, Mie Kingsley, led the
way, with Stella,an English Cocker, who motored around her track like the streetcar she's named
for, and is now Danby Pond Whitfield's Streetcar TD! Mie was soon joined by TCV Members, Bob
Giffen and his lab Hawk TD, Jane Klonsky and her All American, Charlie Chop Chop,
CD,BN,RN,TD! Cecelia Wojcuikiewicz and GSD Iris ran a beautiful track and now have their TD
Title. Non club members passing were Kathy Goodman and her Golden Kiwi, Debbie Grandquist
and Lab Piper, and finally a Duck Toller handled by Terry Miller.
For TDX 3 teams out of 6 passed! The first team was a Beagle, nicely handled by Steve Mingus.
Mikey Mingus RA,NA,NJP and now TDX!
Mickey was followed by myself and Willoughby. We had a challenging track. After negotiating two
obstacles, our cross tracks and finding the 3rd article, we got stuck in a low part of the field
where there was a corner. Willow wanted to go into the woods, but the track wasn't there, back
she came. We backed up. She was frustrated and resorted to eating grass and some deer poo.
Somehow I managed to get her going again and 2 turns and 200 yds. later we found the glove.
 Kee-Pin Willoughby on Track TDX :))
The last TDX pass was Laura Maliconico and Lab Sam Adams. They started nicely
and once they disappeared into the woods, we lost track of them. After what seemed to be an
eternity, I heard a distant shout....HE FOUND IT!! Did they pass....YES they did and Sam is now
Samuel Adams Mineo Malinconico TDX!!
Our members should be very proud of the success of this test! So many members took on more
than one job to make the test happen. Hospitality Chair was shared by many this year, Charlene
Lundeen, Joan Bradley, Elaine Thomas and Mitzi Giffen. Mie did breakfast and lunch for the
Judges and Track Layers on Saturday.
Joan Bradley was our Gallery Manager with the help of Emily McDermott.
Trophies and prizes were abundant and some winners were amazed at the amount of goodies
they were awarded! Thank you Joan Sullivan for all you do to Chair and organize this! Also
thanks to Joyce Smith for her contributions to the trophy list, for her traditional TD-T's, cards and
artwork and for her help keeping us organized on Sunday!
Glenn and Mie hosted a lovely Pre-test dinner, with a gorgeous sunset!
Thanks to our Judges: TDX - Ray Desmarais and Lynda Morgan.
TD Judges- Ilene Morgan and Dorie Viguers ! Very nice tracks and it must be satisfying to see
such a high pass rate!!
TDX Chief Track layer was Dick Munson. His crew consisted of Roberta Barili and Glenn Williams.
Cross trackers were Veronica Metivier and Renee Traverse. They were driven to their appointed
spots by our Dairy Queen, Elaine Thomas, who also helped with hospitality, and brought her
famous coffee cake. :)
Mie drew up some very nice TDX maps of the tracks.
The TD crew was led by Chief Erica Cruden and track layers were Rene Bugnon, Charlotte Badger
and Charlene Lundeen. Rene once again made some beautiful maps!
Thanks to Emily McDermott for being Test Chair and Secretary!! She also helped
manage the large gallery that turned out to watch the tracking!!
The raffle was organized by Mitzy Giffen with the help of Veronica and Charlene. So many
members contributed items and we raised a very nice sum of money!!
For all of you that donated prizes, cooked dishes, donated raffle items...THANK YOU. Every
bit adds up and the end result is a test that handlers will remember for a long time!
Happy Tracking!!
Linda Shelvey, Sec.
ps... Being in the test this year, I have to express my great appreciation to the club and all it's
members for the vast amount of work and attention to detail that goes into putting on such a
wonderful test!! I couldn't believe the size of the gallery when Willow and I started our track!!!
The big crowd was nerve wracking at the start to have so many watching.. BUT,to find the glove
in front of so many friends and to share the warmth, happiness and hugs and pets....was the
best part of the day! PRICELESS! :) linda and willoughby
SIX TCV MEMBER TEAMS EARN NEW TTILES
At the Fall, 2014 Tracking Tests !
TCV Members with TD Titles…Mie and Stella, Bob and Hawk, Cecelia and Iris. Jane Klonsky and
Charlie Chop Chop are missing.
TCV Members earning TDX Titles: Laura Malinconico and Sam Adams, Linda Shelvey and
Willoughby. Cameo appearances by Roberta Barili, Dick Munson and Dorie Viguers.
CANINE CLASSIFIEDS
ADS FOR SERVICES, ITEMS FOR SALE BY TCV MEMBERS
Balderdash Dogwear, handmade in Vermont by TCV member, Sonja Blanchard, offers custom
ribbon collars for all sizes of dogs. Martingale leashes, Flat buckle collars and heavy duty leashes
as well as beaded show leads. Visit my website for more info at - www.balderdashdogwear.com
Dog Portraits by TCV Member Diane Richardson
CROWN POINT ALPACAS – TCV Member and Artist – Bob Wertz
The fibers, rugs, and gift items can be purchased directly from Bob by sending him an email at
[email protected] or by using his Etsy shop (see under website).
https://www.facebook.com/CrownPointAlpacas
FOR SALE
Made in a smoke free studio by Joyce Smith. [email protected]
Pet Portraits in Fabric. Send me a picture of your pet and I will make a 16 x16 pillow or a
18 x 20 wall hanging. I will do an appliqué and then thread sketching to bring it alive.
Made of cotton and batik fabrics with polyester and cotton batting. Your choice of
background fabric that I will quilt. $125.00. Postage is extra.
Var- Kennel Crates for Sale. Contact - Joyce Smith
Intermediate- blue-32L x 22W 23H………….good condition $20.00
Medium-green-27L x 20W 19H………………..good condition $15.00
Also from Joyce: My neighbor has many large black wire crates she would like to find
homes for….they 36L 24W and 27H . Think she would be happy with $20.00.
Susan Speranza 802-376-9012 castleriggpekes@ gmail.com
The Dogs Have Gone To The Birds.
By Kristine Hitchcock
Deep in the San Pedro River Valley in Arizona is a 75 acre disused Pecan Grove,
the home of the Oasis Bird Sanctuary, where I recently, had the privilege of
Volunteering.
It is the home of over 700 exotic wild birds of all ages, rescued from dire
situations, abuse, cruelty and neglect. Each one has a sad story to tell. Here
they are allowed to finish their days in huge outdoor aviaries where they can
flock and fly. They receive wonderful care and lots of TLC.
The staff is on duty all day, but when darkness falls on the desert, and the birds
settle for the night the dogs rule! After having spent the day in the shade of their
special day yard, which features a very roomy dog house with air conditioning
for summer, and heat for winter, and a paddling pool for general cooling off!
they know when it is time and they are anxious to go.
The aviaries are in a fenced compound of over 15 acres and the dogs are let out
to begin their guard duty over that whole area. They are aware of their
responsibility, and conscientiously patrol the grounds all night. All along the
fence they track the scent of the predators of the desert, the most dangerous
of them foxes and raccoon (which they send up a tree if they get a chance) and
we are not even talking of the rattle snakes! All night they are working to protect
their wonderful world of beautiful colors and songs. They roam relentlessly and
there is not an inch of fence left unchecked.
There is no glove at the end of their journey, but praise and love for a great job
well done., They too are tracking dogs!
A report of our Canadian adventures on Sept. 5. Hope you enjoy it.
Ilene Morgan
Mountain City Kennel Club, Brigham, Quebec, offers an early fall tracking test each
year. Since it is 1.5
hrs from my home, I have often used their test as a primer for my dogs, either entering
dogs in the test or laying track for the club. Canadian tracking regulations are different
from ours but its always interesting to participate to keep myself and the dogs on our
tracking game.
This year I entered the Sept. 5 test (testing takes place over a 3 day time frame), putting
Bentley in the TDX and Dixie Mae in the TD test. Our draw for tracks took place in
Cowansville, Quebec at 9:15 AM, a hot humid, dry day. Dixie Mae was the only TD dog
for that test day and I drew the last track of the day, Number 4, for Bentley’s TDX. We
caravanned to some beautiful farm fields from the draw site. The weather was a major
concern so I kept the air on in the car to keep the dogs cool until their turn to work. Dixie
Mae, being the only TD dog that day ran her track first. She started her track at 10:00
AM, did some trailing on the first leg, circled her first corner, then pulled me down her
420 meter track to finish in 6 minutes at her end article. A good pass in a hot field.
The first TDX was on the same property. The GSD who drew this track went the wrong
way at the start flag, finding tractor ruts more enticing than the track. Next we moved to
a different farm for TDX2 and TDX3. TDX2 was an English Springer Spanial who had a
great start, briskly completing 2/3 of the track before going the wrong way after
navigating a heavily vegetated ditch. TDX3 was another GSD. I was told this dog did
Search and Rescue work, but after working the start flag area for 35 minutes in the hot
sun, could not determine direction of the first leg, so the handler declared an end to the
effort . We then moved our vehicles to another farm about 5 miles away to run the last
track, which is Bentley’s.
Bentley went to his start flag at 12:10 PM, 87 degrees, hot and very dry in the fields.
Ben circled the start flag several times before committing to the track then dragged me
down the track, circling at the first corner to be sure he checked out all his options before
continuing. This leg followed a brush line that ends in a ditch. He does a lot of checking
along the way, but after going thru the ditch, found his first glove. He is no longer pulling
hard in the harness but is valiantly prodding on to find second, third, then fourth corners.
Another glove is found; I am exhausted so know Bentley is also. Another dip in the field
causes me to lose my footing, fall flat on my face in the field!! Good thing I have a good
“Wait” command!! After picking myself up and grabbing the lead, I command Ben to
move on, which he does, staying directly on the track. Another corner, going through a
patch of high swamp grass, another turn to the final glove.
Bentley worked this TDX track for 35 minutes (948 meters) in extreme weather
conditions for the only passing TDX dog of the day. I am very proud of my dogs’ work
ethics.
What I would like to share with readers of this article is one never knows what the
weather may be when you enter a tracking test or which track you may draw. Be
prepared! My dogs do not drink water (although offered several times) while working a
track, but water should be carried and offered to help avoid problems such as heat
exhaustion. It took Bentley approximately an hour to cool down in the car with the air
conditioner running, and small bits of water offered at regular intervals after he
completed his track. For me, it took 2 days to recover!!!
Thanks to Mountain City for another challenging tracking test. This club speaks English
for we non-Canadians who enjoy their efforts in the tracking fields.
Happy Tracking from Ilene Morgan and the Island Labs tracking dogs of Northern
Vermont.
Tracking Club of Vermont Calendar of Events 2014-2015
Thursday
11/20/14
TCV Annual Meeting - 6:00 PM – Sal’s South. Review the year’s events
and elect officers and directors for 2015.
VST CSC
Cancelled Due To Snow
11/29/14
Thursday
1/22/15
TCV Meeting - 6:30 PM - Rutland Municipal Offices, Rte 4 in Center
Rutland, VT. Receive Committee Reports, discuss 2015 Calendar and
select Judges for 2015-2016.
Sunday
2/1/15
TCV Annual Holiday Party. Location - Holiday Inn, Rutland, Vt. .11:00 to
2:00.
Could this be the start of a new tradition at TCV?
Watching the Beagle track while standing on log ends for a better view, seemed
to be lucky for this team!
Brags
Quincy placed first in Union, ME Fair for Novice Class Dock Dog! Papa is
sooooooooo proud!
Rene Bugnon and Quincy
Baad Bailey Bottoms of the Islands TD !! Congratulations Lynda Morgan for your
new TD Title at Pioneer Valley!
From Sonja Blanchard and Quincy!
Last week Quincy and I ventured off to pennsylvania for the bearded
collie specialty. Our adventure started in bidsboro with the herding
day. Quincy and I competed in two runs of started a course sheep and
two runs of intermediate a course ducks. This was the first time I
competed in intermediate and Quincy is my first herding partner. Quincy
did very well and we qualified in our two sheep runs with 4 th place in
each. In my duck runs I stepped over one of the boundary lines in each.
But Quincy did amazing and all our training paid off. Day two was
agility day and we got two qualifying runs in standard and fast. The
day ended with a fun tunnelers relay. Quincy and her two sisters. Team
wombmates ran their way to 2 nd place out of 23 teams. Then day three
led us to the host hotel in Gettysburg where we finished our
competition with a leg of excellent and advanced rally for our 1 st RAE
leg. We spent an extra day to enjoy the sites and good friends before
heading home. But on Friday we got the official news that Quincy won
the Chip Versatility perpetual trophy. A great honor and extra special
one seeing as chip was her great grandfather too. We are still flying
pretty high from our lovely successful week of great dog fun. Next
years specialty is too far away to attend but we can't wait to attend
2016 in Massachusetts. They are even considering hosting a tracking
venue. I sure hope they do!!
July Beardie Bulletin…features Quincy!!!
From Joan Bradley: Today Danby Pond Whitfield Lady Sophie earned her first Tracking
Dog title---how beautiful she was to watch!! She already has her Canine Good Citizen
title; has passed her Pet Partners eval to be a Therapy Dog and a R.E.A.D. dog; and was a
supermodel for the last In The Company of Dogs catalog. Not too bad for 1 year old!
Many thanks to the Pioneer Valley Kennel Club for a great test and their gracious
Hospitality.
Hi all,
Just wanted to send out a quick report about the successful obedience and rally trials this
weekend at Essex Junction.
Big congrats to Pam B and Phoebe for their new CD, Jane K and Charlie for their new RA. My
little Janey also finished her RN. There were many great performances, some of which yielded
legs toward titles and others that were so close.
A BIG THANK YOU to our own Kathy Murphy for taking on the (thankless) job of trial chair!
See you in class, stay warm –M
Belle’s Baxter Black,CGC,VCD1,RE,TDX,OAP,OJP,THDD
THDD (Distinguished Therapy Dog) is an AKC Title for Therapy Dogs completing and verifying
400 therapy visits. THDD is the highest level recognized by AKC. Baxter and Linda Shelvey are
members of Caring Canines and have been doing therapy visits since 2006!
Nancy Triou and Ella – Freestyle!
Cynthia Gilliland and Ivy – C-ATCH 3 !!
Beverly Lancaster and Cozy – RN !!
Congratulations to everyone on these wonderful achievements!
Adventure in Track Laying
How many new club members or long time members for that matter have thought about
being a track layer for a club test? Did you think about it, but didn't volunteer because
you thought it was too complicated or you didn't know how it all worked?
I had the same concerns; but I volunteered anyway. I am so glad I did. I learned so much
and had fun at the same time. I had help and guidance from the moment I arrived at
Smokey House.
That morning I was met by Erica Cruden, the Chief Track Layer and Rene Bugnon, who
had prepared all the paper work I'd need. The both explained and helped me along the
way. The Judges were so nice and tolerant of me learning the ropes. They explained
everything they were doing.
This experience has given me insight into what I need to do to prepare my own dogs and
myself for a TD Test.
Don't be afraid to become a track layer. Everyone will help you and you will have a really
fun and rewarding two days. Thank You to everyone that assisted me.
Respectfully submitted:
Charlene Lundeen
Now that Charlene has inspired you to lay tracks, here are some
details!!
'
TRACKLAYING GUIDELINES FOR TD/TDX
Thank you for your interest in becoming a tracklayer! This is an awesome responsibility and a two day
commitment. It is also a lot of fun and a unique learning opportunity. When else does one get to spend
two days with a tracking judge? You will find that all of our judges are very appreciative of your help and
eager to talk to you about tracking. This handout is written to give you an idea ahead of time as to what the
procedure will be for those two days. It is meant as a procedural guide rather than an explanation of the
philosophy of tracklaying. For the later there are books written on the subject . We do request that you
familiarize yourself with the basic requirements of a TD track by reading the AKC Rules and Regulations
on the AKC web site. Attached to this guide is a typical TD track as drawn by a judge.
Equipment:
Clipboard and pencil, plastic bag in case of rain
2 personal articles- usually a glove and a sock- for the beginning and end of the track. A spare start article
is also required. Please bring these on Saturday. Judges will look at your articles either before or after
plotting your track. Make sure you take them home and add your scent to them.
Be prepared for any kind of weather
DAY ONE: PLOTTING DAY
Plotting typically starts at 9:00AM You will be assigned a track number by the chief tracklayer and, if this
is your first time tracklaying, you will probably lay only one track. Be prepared to sit around while other
tracks are being laid. There are usually other tracklayers and officials doing the same. When it is your turn
the procedure will be something like this:
1. A judge will ask you to get flags from the trailer. Take the whole bunch of any color. (TDX tracklayers
will also take two red and white checked article flags) Also take with you a clipboard and paper on which
to draw your own map of the track. (Have a plastic cover of some sort in case it’s raining!)
2. You will give a judge a flag to place at the start. Then you will go out in single file in order not to
disperse scent all over the place. For a TD test a second flag will be placed 30 yards from the start. You
will walk behind the two judges and listen to what they say as they plot their own maps. Note on your map
the landmarks that they are using (stop sign, tree, telephone pole, wildflowers, clump of grass or hay, etc)
especially at turns. Don’t worry about the yardage as yours will be different from theirs- see below! Be
sure not to veer off the straight track that is being plotted. If you lack confidence in your ability as a
mapmaker peak over the judges’ shoulders to see the basic configuration! Scale is not important. Also feel
free to ask them questions.
3. The judges will ask you to give them a flag at each turn. There may be open turns as well as 90 degrees.
Note as many landmarks as possible at the turns, both near and distant. Do not use as a landmark anything
that might move or look totally different at a different time of day. The judges might also put out an
additional flag as an intermediate marker if the next flag cannot be easily seen because of distance or
terrain. Be sure to note this carefully on your map so that you won’t think later that it marks a turn.
4. When you come to the end of the track note where your article will be placed and then walk out straight
ahead for at least 30 yards.
5. NOW! You get to rewalk all that! Alone. Just be careful to stay exactly on the track but take your time
to modify or redraw your map. Most of us now also count our own paces and note the number of paces
between flags. This will probably be quite different from the judges’ yardage, but this is only for your own
purpose of knowing exactly where the track goes.
6. Lunch! This will be provided by the club. At this time the judges may ask to see your articles- usually
a glove, sock, hat- that you will place at the beginning and end of your track on Sunday. Tracks are
usually all plotted by early afternoon. The chief tracklayer will tell you what time your track will go in on
Sunday and what time to arrive.
DAY TWO
1. You arrive, hoping that it is not rainy or foggy or cold  A judge will go with you to your track at the
appointed time.
2. Survey your track. Off you go! The judge will watch you lay the track. You probably don’t need your
map at this time since you know where the flags are and will need your hands free to pick them up. Have
your map in your pocket just in case! Be sure to LEAVE your sock at the start, and to LEAVE the two
start flags in the ground!
3. Walk at a normal pace and try not to stop at the flags. Just hesitate and pull them out of the ground as
you keep walking. Be sure to leave your glove at the end and continue walking in the same direction 30
yards. Your articles should be well scented by your hands, but do not try to conceal them on the ground,
just drop them.
4. Pray that the exhibitor who draws your track passes!!!
5. When he/she doesn’t (Well, the national pass rate for a TD is only 50%, 20% for a TDX) be prepared to
immediately go out to the team when you hear the whistle. The judges will get the dog and handler back to
the track, make sure you and the team are ready to go on and will probably now leave for the next track, so
it is your responsibility to assist the team through the rest of the track.
6. You are not expected to give advice or any sort of interpretation. Your job is simply to know where the
track goes. Therefore, YOU need to stay exactly on the track, no matter what the handler does. Ask your
exhibitor how much help he/she wants. Some may want you to tell them exactly where the track goes.
Most will probably prefer coaching when needed. It’s also possible that a team might choose to not finish
the track, and the handler should be given that option. Be prepared to deal with the frustration of a
disappointed handler! Exhibitors do appreciate their tracklayers but don’t always show this in time of
failure 
7. Enjoy lunch, especially if your team passed!
CROSSTRACKLAYERS FOR TDX
One cross-track layer only will need to be at the site for Plotting Day. The start and end of the crosstracks
will be marked with white flags.
On Test Day two tracklayers will walk the crosstracks approximately 1 ½ hour after the tracklayer has
started laying the actual track. The chief tracklayer will give the exact time to the cross-track layers. The
cross-track layers will walk side by side at a normal pace, pick up the while flags, and go straight ahead at
the end for 50 yards before exiting the field.
We hope that you will find tracklaying fun, fascinating, and a great tracking education.
CLUB NEWS
TD Certifications: If you are ready to be certified for a TD Test. Contact Ilene Morgan [email protected] , Lynda Morgan - [email protected], Deb Brown [email protected] , Dorie Viguers - [email protected] or Ray Desmarais [email protected] All are AKC Tracking Judges and TCV Club Members!
New Members:
Ginny Wilson. Ginny attended our Beginner Clinic with her GSD Ruger. She is from Orwell, Vt.
She and Ruger have made great progress in learning to track in just a few months. It’s been fun
to watch them become a team!!
Charlene Lundeen. Charleen is from Shrewsbury, Vt. Charleen has already helped with hospitality
at our Test and Clinic this Spring!!! AND laid tracks for our Fall Test!! Thank you Charleen!
Welcome to new members Julie Browne and Rick Meier. They are from Butler, NJ and have
attended 2 of our clinics this year. They track with Olive, who happens to be my Willoughby’s
sister!!
Ben and Kathy Goodman had their first membership reading at our Nov. meeting. They track
with Goldens and earned a TD Title at our Fall Test.
Tracking Club of Vermont Officers and Board Members
President: Mie Kingsley, Vice President: Joan Bradley, Treasurer: Joanne Fratrich, Secretary:
Joyce Pedone
Board Members: Charlene Lundeen, Alan Shelvey, Elaine Thomas, Renee Traverse and Glenn
Williams
2015 AKC Tracking Seminar
The Tracking Club of Vermont will host an AKC Seminar with Diane Schultz on
Saturday, March 28, 2015.The location will be in the Rutland/Manchester, Vermont area.
For you organized trackers that already have your 2015 calendars....save the date! More
details to follow on our web page, trackingclubofvermont.org
Dana Avison Award
Dana Avison Award Winners
2013 - Glenn Williams
2012 - Ilene Morgan
2011 - Alan Shelvey & Noriko Tani
2010 - Linda Shelvey
2009 - Mie Kingsley
2006 - Rene Bugnon
2005 - Joan Bradley
2004 - Kat Rock
2003 - Joanne Fratrich and Gini Marconi
2002 - Elaine Thomas
2001 - Joyce Smith
2000 - Miles Garrod
1999 - Dick Munson
1998 - Carolyn Fuhrer
1997 - Mary Jane Russell
1996 - Dana Avison
Send your vote to Linda by Dec. 31st. We need 10 votes to make the award possible.
Please send your brags, news, items for sale, ads, pictures, etc….to Linda
Shelvey for the next Scentinel.
Happy Tracking!
Linda [email protected]
Ilene Morgan’s Island girls, Starr and Taz !