Ember passed her VST track 4-25-04 Evergreen Valley College, San Jose, CA making her a Champion Tracker!

Ember’s track started out on the top of a knoll of grass and followed along the top of the knoll. Start article was part of a sock. There was no wind at the start, but a slight breeze did come up during the track. She had a beautiful start without any hesitation. A very nice left turn on the track. Some open pavement/road on second leg bringing Ember slightly to right of track closer to vegetation. She came back on track and needed to work out the second turn to the right. It was an open turn that headed between two buildings with grass/vegetation next to buildings and wide cement walk with a fountain in the middle of the walk. She overshot the turn then came back to find the turn. During this search, Ember was joined by several small children walking along the edge of the fountain. She decided to join them being interested in the scent near the water. Trying to walk around the kids, she fell into the fountain. She was able to get out rather quickly, but did enjoy the cool treat. The temperature was about 85 degrees! She then found the third leg and continued between the buildings on the right side slightly weaving from grass to pavement and found her first intermediate article on cement – metal. It seemed like an eternity, and this find was very welcome! She nicely continued on the cement and then worked the next open turn on cement. She then got to the next turn on grass and worked it a bit which went on grass along the side of a large building with outdoor shaded columns next to the grass. When she got to the end of the building, there was an open turn to the right and the building on the left sucked her into the shaded column area. She lost scent and came back, finding the track nicely. Now the track was going from grass into 50 yards of dirt. The second intermediate article – leather - was in the center of the dirt. She had no problem finding this article – another welcome sight!! We had worked diligently up to this point and it was a nice break! Leaving the dirt, Ember entered some tall dry foxtail weeds. This is what us Golden people absolutely try to avoid! Ember has a heavy coat and foxtails love her! She entered the weeds to the left of the actual track and decided to come back and then shot perpendicular to where the track was continuing through the tall weeds! She found the track and followed it finally reaching some grass! The actual track only went straight through a few yards of weeds, but the way scent can travel in tall weeds near flat ground is unbelievable. From then on she followed the track turning right on the grass and one more left turn for 55 yards to the end article –green plastic on green grass!!!

Ember’s VST track was 610 yds., 305 vegetation, 305 non-vegetation and it took 1 hour and 2 minutes! There were 7 turns. Ember is 10 ½ years old. This was a great track and also very challenging!

Ember is the 79^th dog & 13^th Golden to receive a Champion Tracker title since VST titling began in 1995. There are 13 multiple CT titled handlers.

Thanks to my friend, Mary Ann Graziano, for introducing me to tracking 10 years ago and for being my VERY PATIENT first trainer with Ember and helping us to get her TD title!

Judges: Mrs. Karla Y. Curtis, Salem OR, Mrs. Joyce Klamut, Dover, OH

Apprentice Judge: Ron Simmons

Tracklayer: Debi Best

Handler: Bea Moore

Picture: Ron, Karla, Bea, Ember, Joyce, Debi