With spring finally here, snow melting and grass peeking through, many dog fanciers start to think about tracking. Tracking is the sport version of search and rescue. Your dog must follow a given person's scent and find the articles dropped by that person along the way.
There are many attractions to tracking. It is a sport where your dog calls the shots - he is the one with a great nose and you are often referred to as "the dope on the rope"! It gets you outdoors with your dog, enjoying a sport that is appropriate for dogs of all breeds, sizes and ages. From puppies to seniors, tracking is fun because it is easy on the joints and allows your dog to use his natural talents without a lot of physical stress.
Another plus to tracking is that it requires minimal equipment. You will need a nonrestrictive harness, a long line (up to 40 feet for actual tests), a flag to mark your start location and an article to find - generally a leather glove to start with.
Harnesses can be deluxe or economical but bright and fun. The Premier tracking harnesses are great for virtually any size and shape dog. These harnesses are made so your dog can pull without cutting off his wind or irritating his shoulders.
This harness is adjustable in five ways so it can truly be used on any body shape of dog from Dachshunds to Great Danes and everything in between. It comes in a variety of sizes - extra petite to large. The Pawmark site has a handy sizing chart so you can be sure you have ordered the correct size.
The harness has double shoulder quick release snaps so it is easy to get on and off. You don't have to fold your dog's leg and pull it through as you do with many harnesses. The quick release snaps are sturdy and easy to use, even one handed.
I admit to enjoying the many bright colors as well. Premier is cutting back on a few colors but have offered 25 different ones in the past. I believe they will be down to 18 soon. With the variety of colors, you can have a different harness for each dog with their own colors.
The harnesses are made of sturdy nylon and hold up extremely well in all kinds of weather and terrain. The material allows easy removal of burdocks and thistles. The harness can be washed by swishing in clean water in the sink and dries quickly. My harnesses have stood up to years of use. Our Premier harnesses have been worn by two Belgian Tervurens and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi to AKC tracking championships.
A great source for these harnesses is pawmark.com. Each harness comes with a matching quick release nylon collar. At $15.95 for the cost, this is a fabulous bargain! At that price you can order a small one for your puppy and an adult size of the same color.
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