[shallhb]

My Pearl got her TDX on Easter Sunday...there were several cardiac moments, including roads that seemed uncrossable, barbed wire fences to get tangled up in, concrete bridges with drop-offs on either side, and l-o-n-g tracks. But, at 9 and a half, she did it, and wasn't even winded.

Sharon Hall

 

[murraysmom]

Congratulations to you and Pearl on a job well done!!

 

[FloppyToby]

congrats!!

 

[Soundtrack]

Congratulations!

 

[Betsy Iole]

Wonderful! Good job, Pearl!

 

[JerseyFour]

Good job Pearl and Sharon!

 

[gsally]

Congratulations Pearl! Please explain TDX for us non educated basset lovers!

 

[shallhb]

Tdx

TDX stands for 'Tracking Dog Excellent'. In the world of tracking, the entry title is TD (Tracking Dog). TDX is the next step up, and the highest step many tracking dogs attain. It involves tracking over hilly, rough terrain, with multiple obstacles, including barbed wire fences, road, bridges and so forth. Bassets are wonderful trackers, and I'm sure Pearl would have lots of company with that TDX title if more people were to try tracking with their Bassets. There's also a VST title (Variable Surface Tracking), but the pass rate for those titles is very, very low. A dog that has all three titles (TD, TDX, VST) is a Champion Tracker, or CT

 

[CTurtleGirl]

Congrats!! That is an impressive accomplishment! If you have never seen a dog run a TDX track its hard to understand just how long it is, especially with a Basset that can get stuck on places and be stubborn. WTG Pearl!

Erica

 

[gsally]

How is the tracking trail set up for the test? What is used for scent? Which dog organization sponsors these certifications? Is it AKC? Sounds very interesting!

 

[shallhb]

These tests are AKC. The tracks are plotted by two judges the day before the test, then walked by the tracklayer. He or she also walks it the next day before the test, and drops his or her articles.