Enthusiastic Tracking Seminar
Three days of canine fun, comradeship and learning on the Kenai Peninsula
featuring national speaker, author and AKC Tracking Judge – Sil Sanders!
Soldotna, Alaska
July 2, July 3, & July 4, 2011
Attend all or choose from three focused seminars, one for the beginner and TD-
level dog, another focused on the TDX-level dogs and a third on urban training
for the AKC VST. You may participate as a working team or audit (without dog).
Day 1 introduces the beginning trainer to the fundamentals of tracking training
and gets the novice dog started. It also teaches each of the important training
techniques needed to get a dog and handler ready for his TD.
Day 2 builds on the TD fundamentals to develop the dog and handler’s skill for a
TDX. Learn track designs to teach each TDX skill combined with lots of
individual problem solving.
Day 3 focuses on the complex scenting conditions found in urban tracking and
develops training techniques and handling skills needed to succeed in an urban
test. There will be consideration given to the issues of transitioning a TD or TDX
dog to urban work as well as how to start a new puppy with the aim to be
successful in both urban and field tracking.
In addition, on Friday (July 1) prior to the start of the seminar, Sil Sanders will be
available for private lessons and/or TD certification testing. There is limited
spaces available…register early to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!
An optional Friday evening dinner will provide additional opportunity to socialize
with your new tracking friends.
Come to one or more seminar days, your dog will be glad you did!
A curriculum overview, logistics, prices, FAQ, and a registration form follow.
For more information contact: Faith Hays at (907) 262-2619 or fhays@gci.net and Jan
Johnson at (907) 262-8879 or shibalvr@alaska.com
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Enthusiastic Tracking Seminar – Curriculum Overview
Friday, 7/1 Private Lessons and TD Certification Testing
Saturday, 7/2 Beginning Enthusiastic Tracking Training
Envisioning the ideal tracking dog
Tracklayer training
Handler training – techniques to train the enthusiastic
tracking dog
Starting the beginning dog – work beginning
dog/handler teams (up to 6 working teams)
Demo – Demonstration of a TD-like track
Introducing Corners – presentation, discussion and
work intermediate dog/handler teams (up to 2 working
teams)
Reading your dog
Dog/Handler communication on corners – work all
teams
Problem Solving and Putting it all together – work
dog/handler teams preparing for TD (up to 2 working
teams)
Sunday, 7/3 Advanced Enthusiastic Tracking for TDX
Skills development for a TDX – age, obstacles, cross
tracks
Tracks for age, obstacle introduction, and cross track
training (up to 2 working teams)
Overview of adaptable training steps and adapting
them to your dog
Demonstration of a TDX-like track
Diagnosing your dog’s performance and designing
training tracks
Specific TDX problem solving track segments – work
dog/handler teams in training for a TDX (up to 3
working teams)
Peaking a dog for a test
Monday, 7/4 Urban Tracking for the VST
Smooth-surface tracking – contamination, curbs and
serpentines
The VST Strand – how to organize your VST training
Choices, So Many Choices or mastering what makes
VST difficult
Demonstration of a VST-like track
Scent flow around buildings
VST-like track segments for dogs with some VST
experience (up to 4 working teams)
For more information contact: Faith Hays at (907) 262-2619 or fhays@gci.net and Jan
Johnson at (907) 262-8879 or shibalvr@alaska.com
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Logistics
Healthy morning snacks, lunch and a mid-afternoon snack will be provided as
well as coffee, tea and water. People with other dietary needs should bring their
own (e.g. bring your own donuts ).
An optional Friday evening dinner will be hosted by Mike and Jan Johnson. This
will give you a great opportunity to socialize with your new tracking friends. They
will provide a Cuban roasted pig. Participants to bring a side dish or desert.
All participants and auditors will receive a complimentary signed copy of
Enthusiastic Tracking, a set of Field Maps, and a full set of class notes. Anyone
unfamiliar with the book may request their copy to be mailed to them at the time
of their reservation. If this will be your second copy of the book, consider giving it
as a gift to another dog friend.
Working Dogs
Working dogs will have the opportunity to track every day if you register as a
working team each day. Working dog teams will track in front of Sil and seminar
participants.
Please understand that space and time for working dogs are limited at a seminar.
When you sign up to work a dog, you will inform Sil of the dog’s current level of
tracking training as well as where you realistically hope they will be in their
training in July.
Every person with a working dog will be expected to lay tracks for others
(according to their ability) as well as be out in the field following the working team
to learn from others.
Auditors
Auditors will do line handling and track-laying exercises. Auditors should plan to
fully engage in all the learning activities in both the classroom and the field.
Auditors will be welcome to lay track for others and to be out in the field with the
working participants.
Private Lessons
Private lessons with Sil Sanders will be offered on Friday, July 1 before the
seminar weekend. This opportunity is limited to seminar participants.
Private lessons for beginner or TD-level dogs will be 45 minutes in length.
Private lessons for TDX and VST-level dogs will be 60 minutes in length.
TD Certification Testing
TD certification testing will be offered on Friday, July 1 before the seminar
weekend. This opportunity is limited to seminar participants. Other seminar
participants are invited to observe certification testing.
To participate in a tracking trial, a written statement must accompany each entry
for a tracking test for any dog that has not previously passed an AKC TD test.
For more information contact: Faith Hays at (907) 262-2619 or fhays@gci.net and Jan
Johnson at (907) 262-8879 or shibalvr@alaska.com
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The certification test is of a complexity equivalent to the TD test and will take
place under conditions similar to such a test.
Motels & Camping
Soldotna Inn - Spur Hwy. 907-262-9169
Riverside House - Sterling Hwy, Soldotna. Toll free: 1-877-262-0500
River View Lodge - Funny River Rd, Soldotna. 907-262-9038
Best Western King Salmon Motel - Kenai Spur, Soldotna - 907-262-5857
Duck Inn - K-Beach Rd, Soldotna. 907-262-1849.
Kenai Merit Inn - S. Willow, Kenai. 907-283-6131.
Bed & Breakfast Cottages – East Poppy Lane, Soldotna. 800-582-7879
Kenai Peninsula Condos - Kpcondos@alaska.com. 907-262-1383.
Lou’s Kenai River Cabins - Mile 21 Funny River Rd, Soldotna. 907-262-2564
Lou says, “I enjoy your members coming here, as I appreciate well behaved dogs.” This
is a perfect location for the dogs as you have wilderness to walk and exercise.
Diamond M Ranch Mile 16.5 K-Beach, Soldotna. 907-283-9424.
Centennial Camp Group – Centennial Park Rd, Soldotna. 262-5299
Edgewater Lodge & RV Park – Funny River Rd, Soldotna. 262-7733
Price Structure
Choose to attend day one, two or all three days as a working dog team or as an
auditor (without a dog). Discounts are made for those attending multiple classes
(see pricing table below). Add together the seminar days you plan to attend and
private lesson fees (if applicable) and total that amount on the registration form.
Total Days Attending With 1 Working Dog With 2 Working Without Working
Dogs (on same day) Dog - Audit
Private Lesson $70 - Beginner dog N/A N/A
or TD-level dog
$100 - TDX or VST-
level dog
TD Certification Test No charge N/A N/A
One Day $100.00 $135.00 $40.00
Two Days $175.00 $210.00 $70.00
Three Days $250.00 $285.00 $100.00
The balance in full is required at the time the reservation is made or within 10-
days of email or fax reservations.
Refunds:
For auditors, full refunds will be made provided cancellations are received
more than two weeks in advance of the seminar. For cancellation less
than 2 weeks prior to the seminar, a 50% refund will be provided.
All working spots are non-refundable unless the seminar fills and someone
on the waiting list fills your spot.
One-half of the net proceeds from this seminar will go to groups putting on AKC
tracking tests held on the Kenai Peninsula.
For more information contact: Faith Hays at (907) 262-2619 or fhays@gci.net and Jan
Johnson at (907) 262-8879 or shibalvr@alaska.com
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FAQ
My dog and I have never tracked. Should I sign-up as a participant?
Yes, sign-up to work your dog at the TD seminar day. Work your dog
additional days or audit as you see fit.
Will the weather be suitable for tracking my dog?
Weather should be fine for tracking dogs of all breeds. Conditions should
be good for scenting. Dress appropriate to Alaska weather (may be cool,
may be raining, etc).
How much will it cost?
The cost varies depending on how many days you attend, how many dogs
you work, and how many days you work your dog(s). The cost includes
light morning and evening snacks and lunch. Accommodations are
available separately at several nearby campgrounds and motels.
When couples attend, unless both persons are participating as auditors,
the person handling the dog will pay for a working dog team and the other
will pay as an auditor.
What equipment do I need to bring with me?
You will need a tracking harness, 40 foot tracking lead, water and treats
for your dog. You may want sunscreen and mosquito repellant for
yourself.
Coming from a distance?
Plan to spend extra days visiting the wonderful central Kenai Peninsula
while you are here. Make it a vacation you and your dog will cherish!
Is this suitable for Schutzhund Tracking training?
Schutzhund is a more precise style of tracking than AKC or CKC tracking.
While there are some techniques in common, the compulsion typical of
Schutzhund training is not part of Enthusiastic Tracking so I (Sil) cannot
recommend this method for people whose main goal are Shutzhund titles.
More questions:
Contact Sil Sanders at Sil@WestiesNW.com or Faith Hays at
fhays@gci.net or Jan Johnson at shibalvr@alaska.com.
Directions:
Directions to the class site will be included in the welcome packet sent on
receipt of registration and fees.
For more information contact: Faith Hays at (907) 262-2619 or fhays@gci.net and Jan
Johnson at (907) 262-8879 or shibalvr@alaska.com
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Sil Sanders and Enthusiastic Tracking
Sil Sanders is a national speaker and author who has trained dogs in tracking
since 1980. His own dogs are Westies. Four of them earned their TDX and one
also earned his VST and CT.
Sil Sanders has had Westies since 1960. In 1984, his Alicia became the first
Westie to earn a TDX.
He once had the privilege of handling a Golden to her TD while her owner and
trainer recuperated from surgery. He has coached to a TDX, dogs from five of
the AKC groups, the first Bernese Mountain Dog, and several dogs that everyone
had given up on but their owner.
In 1998 he published Enthusiastic Tracking, the Step-by-Step Training
Handbook, 2nd Edition, which collected together the training wisdom of numerous
tracking trainers into a coherent training process, which is widely used in the
tracking community today.
He has been active in Obedience with four Westies since 1976 with his Mr. Q
earning the UDX in 1996. He has been active in AWTA Working Terrier Trials
since 1976 and AKC Earthdog trials since their inception in 1993.
He and his wife Anne have shown and bred Westies since 1972. They have put
Championships on over 30 owner-bred dogs, mostly owner-handled from the
bred-by class.
He is active in the national Westie Club Performance Committee. Over the past
30 years he created annual obedience awards, created and sponsored the
Versatile Dog Awards, and licensed the club for Obedience, Tracking, Agility and
Earthdog. He helped form three other local clubs in breed, Earthdog and
Tracking.
Sil Sanders is an AKC Tracking Judge (TD since 1994, TDX since 1996, VST
since 2005) and Earthdog Judge (since 1999).
For more information contact: Faith Hays at (907) 262-2619 or fhays@gci.net and Jan
Johnson at (907) 262-8879 or shibalvr@alaska.com
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Enthusiastic Tracking Seminar Registration Form
Name________________________________________ Dog’s Call Name__________________
Street_________________________________________ Breed__________________________
City__________________________________ State__________ Zip/Postal Code____________
Email___________________________________________ Phone Number_________________
Attendance Plan Friday, 7/1 Friday, 7/1 Saturday, 7/2 Sunday, 7/3 Monday, 7/4
Private Lessons TD Certification Beginner TDX VST
(TD, TDX, VST) Test (no charge)
With a dog
(working team)
Without a dog
(audit)
Full amount enclosed: _________ (see pricing structure on page 4).
□ Sign the Hold Harmless agreement and return with your reservation.
□ I understand that I am responsible to keep my dog under control at all times. All dogs are to
be on leash at all times. No aggressive dogs will be tolerated. You and your dog may be asked
to leave if uncontrolled aggression to another dog or person occurs (no refund will be given). You
are expected to clean up after your dog.
□ I plan to attend the Friday night dinner (no cost…just bring a side dish or desert)
Signature: ____________________________________________________________________
Make checks payable to PenDOG and mail to Faith Hays, PenDOG, P.O. Box 2556, Soldotna,
AK., 99669
***Email forms will hold a working-dog spot for 10 days pending receipt of check and hold
harmless agreement.
If you are bringing a dog, please fill out the following additional information:
Training background of Handler with this dog or other dogs:
Tracking Titles Earned: ___TD, ___TDX, ___VST, ___Schutzhund, ___Search & Rescue
Other Titles Earned: ___CD/RN/NA, ___CDX/RA/OA, ___UD/RE/AX, ___UDX/RE/MX
Other Activities: ___Trained or rode horses, ___Small craft sailing, ___Orienteering
Training background of this Dog:
Previous tracking training:________________________________________________________
Any tracking training techniques which have been quite successful or unsuccessful with this dog?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Any recent tracking training issues:_________________________________________________
How often do you train this dog for tracking in a typical month?____________________________
At what training stage will your dog be at the start of the seminar?
___Beginner, ___Intermediate TD, ___Begin TDX, ___Intermediate TDX, ___Begin VST,
___Intermediate VST
For more information contact: Faith Hays at (907) 262-2619 or fhays@gci.net and Jan
Johnson at (907) 262-8879 or shibalvr@alaska.com
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Enthusiastic Tracking Hold Harmless Agreement
I understand that this seminar, as well as related classes, lessons and activities
held by William R. (Sil) Sanders and sponsored by Peninsula Dog Obedience
Group will be held in a variety of sites, many of which are undeveloped or
primarily used for other purposes.
I agree to hold William R. (Sil) Sanders, his family, agents and employees, site
owners, and Peninsula Dog Obedience Group harmless from any claim for loss
or injury (including legal fees) which may be alleged to have been caused directly
or indirectly to any person or thing by the act of this dog, my other dogs or
animals (if any) or myself while participating in this seminar and related classes,
lessons or activities held by William R. (Sil) Sanders and sponsored by Peninsula
Dog Obedience Group and I personally assume all responsibility and liability for
any such claim.
I further agree to hold the aforementioned parties harmless from any claim for
loss of this dog by disappearance, theft, or otherwise, and from any claim for
damage or injury to this dog, whether such loss, damage or injury be caused or
alleged to be caused by the negligence of any of the aforementioned parties, or
the negligence of any other person, or any other cause or causes.
I hereby assume the sole responsibility for and agree to indemnify and save the
aforementioned parties harmless from any and all loss and expense (including
legal fees) by reason of the liability imposed by law upon any of the
aforementioned parties for damage because of bodily injuries, including death at
any time resulting there from, sustained by any person or persons, including
myself, or on account of damage to property, arising out of or in consequence of
my participation in seminars, classes, lessons or activities held by William R. (Sil)
Sanders and sponsored by Peninsula Dog Obedience Group, however such
injuries, death or damage to property may be caused by the aforementioned
parties, their dogs or animals, any other persons, or their dogs or animals, or
Alaska wildlife (i.e. bears, moose).
I certify that I am the actual owner of this dog, or that I am the duly authorized
agent of the actual owner, whose name I have entered on this Registration Form
and this Agreement. I understand that this release will apply to any future
Enthusiastic Tracking training class or activity I may attend, in addition to this
specific seminar unless and until revoked in writing by me.
Signed: ____________________________________________ Date: _______
Print Name: ______________________________________________________
For more information contact: Faith Hays at (907) 262-2619 or fhays@gci.net and Jan
Johnson at (907) 262-8879 or shibalvr@alaska.com
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