Back to the PawMark Article MenuAn Overview Of the Houston, Texas
VST Workshop With John Barnard
© 2003-1996 By Ed Presnall
All Rights Reserved
Published As A Informational Brochure For STA
The conversion was almost complete. The office furniture had been removed, copiers and computers relocated, and office staff moved into adjoining spaces, when the rental car pulled up into the parking lot.
John Barnard, Field Representative and a member of the American Kennel Club Executive Staff, stretched his lanky six foot frame, gazed at the facility and surrounding landscape, and started to work.With volunteers from a local tracking class, he proceeded to plot four unique training tracks for the dogs to follow, and the handlers to learn on, later in the weekend.
Variable Surface Tracking (VST) had come of age in Houston. A new type of tracking, VST became an official AKC event in 1995. The sport, considered by John Barnard, the AKC and many local trackers, as the future of tracking is catching on in this area.
This was not John's first trip to Houston to discuss VST. Two years ago he held a seminar to discuss whether a test like VST was feasible. Last December he returned to watch the San Jacinto Kennel Club hold their first VST test, a combined TD&VST event.
Unlike the normal TD (Tracking Dog) or TDX (Tracking Dog Excellent) tests, a VST track is plotted, as the name implies, on variable surfaces.
With the continued reduction of available space to hold tracking events, this new test involves the use of urban areas such as colleges, industrial parks, business areas and other typical non-tracking sites. In an average TD test, each track may require as much as five acres of land, an average TDX track may require 25 to 30 acres, where in VST, with its special requirements, multiple tracks can be plotted in the same area as a single TD track. For this reason alone, we will see more VST in urban areas.Interested, but somewhat skeptical, attendants started arriving early on a hot, humid Saturday morning. Many professed their interest in the sport, while expounding their opinions on whether dogs could really track on cement. As each arrived, they received a "care package" created by the workshop committee. The package consisted of a plastic clipboard with a nifty pen or pencil holder, several sheets of plotting paper, a notebook complete with over 50 pages of tracking information and related scent articles, a new copy of the AKC Tracking and Match Regulations; and last but not least, a custom designed VST tee-shirt.
All were there to question, learn and make their personal decision on whether their own dogs could do this.
The site. An office and warehouse facility in far west Houston, where Workshop Chairman, Ed Presnall, maintains his health care consulting business. The complex consists of three buildings, their related parking lots, city streets and vacant fields; was, as stated by John Barnard, as "the type of site envisioned by AKC for such an event".After several hours of introductory overview of the requirements, the questioning crowd, four hesitant handlers and their dogs headed for the tracks. Some of the handlers expressed their concern in attempting to work their dogs on tracks which ranged from three to four hours old. Many of these dogs had never worked on a track much older than one hour, and then only in a nice grass-covered tracking field.
The temperature was in the mid eighties, with high humidity and a strong south wind. John explained to the handlers and spectators that with the current conditions and the changing barometric pressure from the cold front expected later that day, that we should not expect the dogs to track extremely well.
The first dog, Merlin, a Clumber Spaniel with a show championship and a TD, along with his handler, Ed Presnall, ambled towards the start flag. After a shaky start, Merlin got down to business and followed the track through a field, across a parking lot and along a building. Re-entering the grass, the team tracked to another parking lot where they were faced with "the moment of truth".
This is the point in VST where the dog and handler must negotiate a turn on a non-vegetated surface. Like most of the dogs practicing this weekend, Merlin pushed past the turn, across the parking lot to the grass area where he started searching for the scent. With Ed backing up, Merlin found the turn and continued along the concrete surface. After locating an article, they negotiated the last turn and tracked on to the end.
The spectators and other exhibitors clapped and cheered and move on to the next track to watch Ed Morrow and Jax make their attempt. Jax, a Golden Retriever with a TDX title, had a great start on a long grassy area adjacent to a building. They continued on, crossing through a flower bed and around the corner of the building onto a cement sidewalk.
With a concrete wall to their left, and a concrete parking lot to their right they faced a turn in the parking lot next to a garbage dumpster. Even with these distractions and such an unusual tracking environment facing them, the team, with a little encouragement from John Barnard, pushed through their moment of truth and onto the next article. A long stretch of concrete beside truck loading docks lay ahead of them, around another wall and back onto the grass. Jax picked up speed and after a trip through a flower bed to negotiate another turn, located another article. Pushing on along the grass, up a flight of stairs and down another and on to the end to a hearty round of praise.As each handler and dog ran their track, John followed closely. He was both the teacher, giving an ongoing commentary to the crowd while helping and directing the handlers, and as the gallery guide, leading the gallery along the track. For those of you who have not worked with a gallery following your track, it does not cause problems for the handler or the dog. Each handler was nervous at the start, but rapidly ignored the gallery and listened to the comments of John as they worked their dog. When asked later if the gallery affected their handling, many could not even remember the gallery being following along. As spectators, we can only hope that more judges will promote the gallery following on a track in the future. It is a great view and a wonderful learning tool to watch other dogs work.
Carol Hebert and Carl, her Rottweiler, were now ready for their attempt. Carl received his TD in December and has only recently begun his TDX training with beginning starts and single turns.
At the start, Carl seemed a little confused. After ten or so feet, he looked back at Carol as if to say, "but mom, the scent is here, we can do this, come on ..." and off they went. After a stretch under tall trees in the grass, they turned and crossed a parking lot. A car had pulled into the lot and parked on Carl's track. He nosed under the rear of the car, walked around it and picked up the track. Crossing the parking lot, then re-entered a grassy area next to a building. On through a mulch covered flower garden and up a small rise to a concrete and pea-gravel entranceway to the building marched the duo.
As they reached the entrance, two men walked out of the building. Somewhat startled, the men started to back off. Carol took control of the situation and quickly informed them what she and Carl were doing. After petting Carl, the men proceeded into the parking lot to their car. Carl, immediately resumed tracking. Down the steps, a small turn to a bicycle rack and on to his moment of truth. he also had difficulty with his non-vegetated turn, however with a little pointing and urging from Carol, resumed tracking and quickly found his next article.
The track was ended at this point. The local Sheriff was sponsoring an auto safety rodeo and the remainder of this track was covered with police cars and uniformed officers.
In a normal VST test, this track would have continued through the crowd, with special efforts made by the test committee to assure the safety of the dog and handler. Pursuant to the VST regulations, "Should an animal, pedestrian or vehicular traffic appear or move across the track, the dog and handler will continue to work the track, as incidents such as these are considered a normal occurrence for this test".
The attendants then moved towards the next track. Pat Jones harnessed her Golden Retriever, Brio another TDX dog, and moved towards the start flag. After two turns, the team tracked down a dirt path to an article. Continuing along the path, the team turned right onto another path and then left into the grass and across a street.
Through a parking lot, across a sidewalk, the team turned onto a small grass area next to a building. Following the building to the curb at a parking lot they turned to follow the concrete walkway next to the building. Off the sidewalk and onto a concrete apron between two warehouses, the team faced their moment of truth. This was an open turn to the right, around a car and into one of the four open doors of the warehouse. The crowd held their breath as Brio selected the proper door and entered the warehouse.
The tracklayer had walked a 45 degree angle through the open warehouse to the only exit door. Brio tracked on and located an article the tracklayer had dropped. Following the track, Brio and Pat exited the warehouse and finished their track about 45 yards later.
After a catered lunch, the workshop continued with an afternoon of information on scenting, tracking regulations, and questions and answers.In discussions with John, the participants reviewed that the dogs seemed to want to work on the grass areas between the building and the sidewalk or parking lot. It was explained that the buildings drew in the scent. Similar to that of a magnet. Part of this function may be explained as the grass and surrounding plants in the flower beds has more texture and surface in which the swirling winds could place the scent.
We discussed the importance of the placement of the articles in relation to the position of the track and any surrounding structures. We had watched several dogs and handlers walk past an article, only two or three feet from their position, while their dog was fringe tracking on the edge of the grass and hard surface.
Further discussions were held concerning the confidence and poise of the handlers in training sessions. Several handlers stated that they enjoyed having John or another instructor "look over their shoulder" and encourage them along the track. Many nodded their heads in agreement when comments were made concerning normal training classes and the disappointment of the individual handler when they practice alone. We expect to glean the expertise and experience of our trainers in workshops and classes and we expect our dogs to give us the same commitments and indications when we work alone.
It was readily evident that the dogs, whether beginners, TD or TDX dogs did not give the same indication or commitment from our dogs in VST as we were used to seeing in our normal tracking. Handlers who were used to being "pulled out of their boots" or "hanging on for dear life" found that in VST the handling was much looser and the commitment much slower than in other forms of tracking.Instead of being "dragged down the track", most found that they could work in VST as a slow, almost leisurely, pace while allowing the dog to intently follow the track.
During the night, a cold front reached Houston. We started early Sunday morning with clear blue skies and a temperature in the high 50s. Nice tracking weather for Houston.
With the earlier days tracks laid and aged, George Anna Bobo and Robin, her German Shorthaired Pointer, took their turn. Robin and George Anna have worked for their show championship, obedience CD, agility OA, and tracking TD titles. They are now working on their tracking TDX title. The team gave everyone a pleasant view of a good sporting dogs ability to adjust to variable surface.
Charlene Dunaway and King, her young German Shepard came next. Charlene and King recently received their certification to enter a TD test. A standing ovation was given to this team after their almost flawless demonstration.
Chuck McCollum and his Golden Retriever, Comet were the next team up. Chuck had drawn the track which passed through the open warehouse. Comet, a TDX dog, took to variable surface very quickly and negotiated the turn into and through the warehouse with minimal assistance.
Judith Bowers, a local tracking judge, and her Papillon Ripper, started the next track. Judith and Ripper have been working on VST for about a year. Although Judith was hesitant about Ripper performing on a VST track over a half hour old the team gave an excellent demonstration.
With a strong start, the Pap rushed through the grassy start area and executed the turn to and through a parking lot. Next to the building, Ripper virtually step tracked across the lawn and through the mulch covered flower beds. The step up to the building entrance, about a foot, was bigger than Ripper could handle, but with Judith's assistance, the team continued across the entranceway, down the steps and into the parking lot. As a show dog will "strut their stuff" in the ring, Ripper confidently executed his moment of truth and rushed on to the next article.
Skirting a flower bed, the team cut across the asphalt between a flower bed and a dumpster and executed a turn onto a grass island. Through the grass, across a driveway and down a long esplanade to the next article. Again, the team executed a perfect turn, crossed a large asphalt parking lot to the final article and a rousing round of applause.
Judith's modesty prevailed as she stated that she had to help her dog through the track. In fact, Ripper led Judith and the gallery on an enjoyable example of how well a dog could perform on variable surface. John's running commentary along the track was a real learning experience. Obviously, Judith has expended many hours in working Ripper on VST. It was a fine show, the best performance of the weekend, and it proved, beyond a doubt, that VST is viable on a track over three hours old.
With a full stomach, Ed Presnall, and JJ his TD Springer, waddled to their start. JJ, at six, is a show champion with a CD and TD title. Ed and JJ have been working on VST for about four months and showed that with work, VST was an achievable goal for most dogs.
Pat Jones handling her husband Charles' dog, Apollo, then negotiated a long track behind a building and beside loading docks. Apollo is a young dog who received his TD in October and recently entered his first TDX test; an outstanding showing for another young tracking dog.
After the long tracks, it was time for John Barnard to demonstrate techniques for beginning VST training with puppies and other non-tracking dogs. In a form of hide-and-seek, a person held the dog while the owner walked down a track and hid behind a car or building. With the dog excited and wondering just where mom or dad went, the holder, turned handler, led the dog down the track to find its owner. After a few tries, the dogs and handlers both understood that dogs could track on non-vegetated surfaces.
More demonstrations continued showing how to teach a dog to start on a non-vegetated surface. A tracklayer was selected and an article of clothing, in this case a hat, was dropped at the start and the tracklayer walked down a concrete street, turned and hid behind a building. The dogs were brought up to the article, just as in the start of a test. The dog inhaled the scent of the tracklayer from the hat and were helped and guided down the track, through the turn and on to the tracklayer. Although this technique is not required for a test, we learned that practicing this is an easy way to get your dog "thinking" about working on hard surfaces.
Lots of applause and congratulations followed for the handlers and an immense amount of praise and petting for the dogs to show our appreciation for a wonderful teaching session.
We then introduced the dogs to scent discrimination and getting the dogs used to metal articles. John's vast knowledge in unusual but quite effective "training games" was a real enjoyment.
Back in the building, the next several hours were spent with John Barnard fielding questions. His down-to-earth answers combined with his 35 years experience in extensive and unique projects working with dogs and scent was evident. He increased the participants understanding of scent by relating real-life experiences in training dogs for law enforcement and other various government agencies throughout the world.
Many of the participants related how they felt that integrating VST into their TDX program would help them. Several stories were related where people were convinced that VST was helping them with their TDX work. Teaching better starts and helping our dogs learn to search for the scent and not just "jump" the road are things which will help all of us work on that elusive TDX title.
More than a few minds were changed about VST and its viability as a sport. We were convinced that as VST is promoted in this and other areas, more and more VST titles will be forthcoming. Each of the participants left with an awe of John's in-depth knowledge of the sport, and an inner belief that our dogs could do this type of tracking; which just may be the future of tracking.
Many of us also left with a silent prayer to AKC. Thanking them for someone as knowledgable as John, who cares enough about the sport to give up his weekend and fly to Texas to help others learn.
Each of us has our own way of giving something back for all the sport has given to us. It is evident from his dedication and continued support of tracking that this is just one of John's many methods.
Thanks John, you're always welcome here, and our Texas hospitality will be waiting for your next visit.
© 2003-1996 - Ed Presnall - All Rights Reserved