FIELD TRACKING SEMINAR
WITH HUNTER'S HEART -
April 1, 2 & 3, 2022 (Calgary)

This weekend tracking seminar will help you to build a solid foundation for CKC Tracking Dog tests, AKC tests, and Search and Rescue. Rather than attending once a week for 6 weeks of classes, you can drive less and learn more.

Location: Barrett Dog Sports (18 acres of fields, located 2 km East of Calgary city limit). See the map below.

Instructor: Dr. Carla Simon, Hunter’s Heart Scent Detection Training

Dr. Carla Simon is a professional sniffer dog trainer and owner of Hunter's Heart Kennels. Since 1999, she’s trained dogs to find everything from bed bugs to human remains, from narcotics to nosework. Carla is the Working Dog Chair for CAPDT, and Sr. Rep. on the CKC Scent Detection Council. Her proven protocols have already worked for thousands of teams worldwide, and have been translated into Italian and Spanish. Her materials have been used by African K9 Solutions (South Africa), the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Response Rescue International England, Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of Canada and SDDA. Carla has coached teams at Power Dog Training Centre (Italy) and was a popular presenter at the 2021 World Detector Dog Organization Conference (USA). Carla’s dogs hold CKC field and urban tracking titles, and she judges nosework for CKC, K9 ABC Games, and UKC.

Building Motivation to Track

The secret to training great tracking dogs is that training has to be fun. Tracking is like a dance, and you’ll learn the exact steps to succeed, without pressure, from the very first session. Hunter's Heart proven protocols are so clear, powerful, and motivational, a puppy demonstrates the first steps.

Schedule

• April 1, 2022 – 6 - 8 pm - Preparing for Tracking Training - $30,
  • Learn about tracking, tracklaying, indications, and how we use component training to help dogs to succeed.
  • This session is for handlers only (no dogs).
  • Indoors only.
  • Get answers to your tracking questions and learn how to read the tracking maps for the weekend.
• April 2, 1 - 5 pm - $150 for a working spot, $50 for auditing
  • Indoor indication training, followed by outdoor scent pads and tracks.
• April 3, 1 - 5 pm - $150 for a working spot, $50 for auditing
  • Indoor indication training, followed by outdoor tracks.
• Save when you buy a working spot for all three days - $300
  • For the same handler, with a dog.
• Maximum: 6 working spots + 10 auditors.

What to Expect

• No prior experience is required (for beginner teams). Suitable for all levels of trackers, and all ages of puppies/dogs, as long as puppies have at least their second vaccination. We’ll adjust the training accordingly.
• Like tracking tests and deployments, the seminar will run, rain or shine.  Please come dressed for the changing weather.
• All fees are nonrefundable (since the facility will turn away some other renters to accommodate this event).
• It’s a vigorous workout for most handlers and dogs, over uneven fields that may have deep snow, making them slippery or wet. All participants must sign a waiver in order to participate.
• We use rewards only, to build motivation for tracking. We’ll set you up for success with clear communication that minimizes confusion. We will not correct a dog for making mistakes. Instead, we will focus on showing the dog exactly what is right.
• Once you get to the start of the track, pinch collars, e-collars, no-pull harnesses, and head halters are NOT appropriate on tracks because you want your tracking dog to pull ahead on leash, working independently.
• All dogs must wait in the car until it’s their turn to track. All dogs must be on leash and under control at all times.
• Dog-dog interaction is never allowed. Never let your dog approach, sniff, or greet any other animal at the property, including horses and dogs. There may be reactive or aggressive dogs onsite. All dogs must be on leash and under control at all times. Failure to follow the rules may result in being excused immediately, without a refund, entirely at the discretion of your instructor. Let’s play safe so that everyone can have fun!
• Bitches in season are welcome, but must wear panties indoors (for sanitary reasons) and will run last in the run order, where possible.

Required Equipment

• Bring a hungry dog and lots of high-value food rewards, e.g., tripe, steak, rollover. Highly visible, non-crumbling pieces are easiest to work with, e.g., cheese, if your dog loves it. Please bring double the amount of high-value food rewards you expect to use, and water for your dog. (Depending on the size of your dog, many teams require 2 Ziploc bags for the weekend.)
• Do not feed your dog or exercise before the seminar.
• For indication training, you will need 3 to 5 target plates, e.g., top of a yogurt container, food dish, rubber placement, washer, or glove.
• Bring a chair for you to relax, lots of water for your dog.
• All dogs must track in a buckle collar or tracking harness. (Do not use a no-pull harness with an area that tightens and avoid front clips.)
• You’ll need a longline. Most teams use 20-30 ft Biothane longlines without a handle. Taxco makes harnesses and leashes to order in Calgary, and our students get a discount. Email [email protected], and if there’s sufficient time before the event, ask Wendy if she can deliver your order to you at the event. (Please pay Wendy directly for any equipment you order.)
• Panties must be worn by in-season bitches when indoors.
• Newbees will receive ten flags to get you started.

Directions

• Google maps: https://g.page/barrettoffleash?share
• From Calgary, head East on Hwy 22X. Turn Right on Range Road 284 (heading South).
• Park and potty your dog around the parking area. Then come into the building without your dog (past 2 doors), and take a seat. We’ll start inside on all days.
• The only washroom is a chemical toilet inside the facility.
• Next, tracklayers will take flags and maps out to the main tracking field to lay tracks (shown in yellow).
• Stay 30-50 m away from all other tracks to minimize contamination.
• When you get to the end of a track, walk out of the field along the fences (see the white arrows).
• Dogs must wait inside your vehicle until it is their turn to track. Please do not allow your dog to interact with any other dogs or horses.
• Please be careful to pick up all your flags and articles; otherwise, the horses may eat them.

Get Answers to Your Questions

The best way to reach Carla is to email [email protected]. (Sorry, voicemails are only checked once a day (403) 813-9831 so she can give students her full attention.)

Paid students and Alumni are invited to stay connected, get the latest news, and discuss tracking in the Tracking Dog Training Calgary private Facebook Group. To participate, make Carla Simon your friend on Facebook and request and invite at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/763789047681314.

If you have any registration or payment questions, please get in touch with Barrett Dog Sports at (403) 860-5763, [email protected]. If you’re travelling to the seminar, you might enjoy renting the fenced off-leash area for your private or group use after the seminar.