Spring Lessons, Puppy Intro to Trailing Day & Mock Trailing Test!

Go straight to the Calendar of Events Page for details and to register

Spring is around the corner, and we are ready! Thanks to everyone who signed up for the April 3-day Trailing Seminar. Following that seminar, Spring Lessons will begin for all current participants and newcomers to help you hone your skills and progress with your dog.

There will be an Introduction to Trailing Day for puppies on May 3, and on June 14-15, we are going to put on a DOUBLE BLIND Mock Trailing test with Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced test levels. Come out to watch or volunteer if you don’t feel ready!

In my lessons and seminars, we welcome all breeds, large or small, including mixed breeds. We love to watch every dog show off their ability to follow scent.

Spring lessons will be a ‘new experiment!’ I follow trailing instructors around the World, and note that many of them travel on certain days to give lessons. They post their schedules publicly and people grab spots on the days they will be in their area.

I am going to try this out! Watch the K9 Windseekers Facebook page where I will post where I am going to be each week. Then email me to book a lesson. It’s best to coordinate with a partner so you can lay trails for each other. If you are coming on your own, the lesson will be tailored to your needs.

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The Puppy Day will be an introduction to trailing for those young, enthusiastic minds where pups can show off their natural talent to follow scent. The hardest thing about trailing or tracking is for us to learn to trust and follow our dogs. Pups will leave with a wonderful impression of following a trail and finding a person at the end! If you are a tracker, you know that we use food, toys and articles on the track.

You will be amazed to see the difference with a real person waiting for your pup – and the difference in the speed of learning, drive and motivation. It will be a low stress day, mentally and physically – with rest time for each pup. Trails will be short for success.

This is the first time I’ve offered a PUPPIES ONLY training day and I am excited to work with you. I am sure we will have more in the future. Everyone will get pictures and video to chronicle your pup’s first steps in this activity along with certificates of participation. And I am sure you will also leave knowing you’ve made new friends!

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I value the current circle of trackers and trailing enthusiasts working with me, and so they get perks which makes sense. This circle of people have helped me to learn more about trailing through trial and error over the past few years and they inspire me!

There will be a Fun Day for current lesson and seminar participants where we will play all day with blind and double blind trails as we practice for the real thing!

You can watch videos of our lessons and seminar on my YouTube channel, to see what we do, or follow the K9 Windseekers Facebook page where some are posted with links.

Here is a recent trail example for your enjoyment! This is a very talented Poodle and his handler Joanne. Visit the YouTube channel @Spiritdancedogs and go to ‘Playlists’ to browse other videos!

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A Mock Trailing Test – DOUBLE BLIND will be held early summer in Central Alberta. This will be our first attempt at the real thing as we continue to progress and learn about Trailing.

Participants will most likely be those working with me, however, other people with trailing or tracking experience are welcome to register. There will be Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels in Field/Rural and Suburban/Urban with a limit of 10 working teams per day.

We have a goal to bring in a Real Life trailing expert for a seminar, and to conduct certifications in trailing. Watch this page and the Facebook page for more as we keep taking steps on this journey. Another goal is to promote trailing as a fun activity to complement CKC or other styles of tracking with trailing. Stay tuned!

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Canada’s tracking enthusiasts can only benefit from more opportunities to learn, improve and have access to good testing opportunities and we believe trailing is the answer! The way we work, trailing enhances ‘tracking’ skills, with more motivated dogs who work nose down, efficiently – and handlers who trust their partners and support them through excellent line handling, scent knowledge and a keen observing eye.

If you want to be part of this journey, please join us. New people are welcome from all backgrounds! Our model is the Georgia K9 method led by Jeff Schettler. We are not saying we represent it – we are saying we admire and respect it.

We are truly beginners learning and finding our way. But I must add, we’re getting pretty good thanks to a lot of work and study! We are extremely grateful for the online resources and learning opportunities provided by GAK9 groups, Jeff Schettler and Christoph Rosenberger (GAK9 – Dogs @ Work) in Vienna, and other mantrailing groups around the world.

You can read about my credentials here.

Thank you for following our tracking and trailing journey and to those who are a part of our circle. Newcomers are welcome! Keep on Trailing! and Keep moving forward!

Questions? Contact Donna.