Sometimes we get so bogged down with “important” titles on our dogs, or the problemswe encounter at shows or trials, or CKC or AKC, or whatever…
I have never been so happy to have a dog earn any tracking title as I was when ‘Jess’ made it to the leather article at the end of the track.

The Shetland Sheepdog Club of British Columbia Rescue received ‘Jess’ from a horrible life when she was 9-1/2 years old. After coming to us, she soon be-came a pet therapy dog, and has been giving joy to some older folks for over five years now.

Jess was always excited when I took the other dogs out to ‘work’ and I decided to get a PEN (Canadian Kennel Club Performance Event Number) for her at age 13 and try Rally-O. She got her CKC Rally Novice title but as she has some arthritis in a shoulder, I didn’t continue, due to the jumping that is required.

In 2008, at 13-1/2 years old, Jess began tracking. She was super keen. It was fun for her, and eventually I even began to consider the possibility of a TD. Unfortunately, she became quite ill in mid-July, and after recovering, just never seemed to track as well. I’m not sure why. She was given a clean bill of health, but seemed to track to the side more than on the track. She had good and not-so-good days, but every day was fun for her. She always wanted to go out; she would hop around and had an excited little cry, and so we continued.

I wouldn’t have taken a place in a test if I felt we were holding back an alternate. However, there was space in a test the first weekend in October, and I figured this might be her one and only chance, mainly due to her age. We entered on closing day.

Jess was only two months and one week short of 15 years old. She is also almost deaf. I work on the lower-limit length of line with her, and have to yell so she can hear me. I made sure the judge was aware of this.

Jess certainly did not do a stellar track. It was a struggle at times, and I was close to calling it a day more than once. However, we did persist. Her track took 41 minutes (a long 41 minutes!). She perked up considerably nearing the final (fourth) corner, and I realized that just maybe, we were really going to do it. Jess couldn’t care less about the articles; she just stops dead when she reaches one. I can’t even begin to express my feelings when I saw her stand still, looking down. I only remember gulping, running up, and bawling and hugging her for so long.

I hope that people will see that a rescued dog – and an old dog – can still work in tracking, perhaps giving them a purpose, and giving them a lot of joy. Jess has certainly given us a great deal of joy, and hopefully is an inspiration to others. She is possibly the oldest dog, or oldest Sheltie, to earn a CKC Tracking Dog title.

I hope Jess’s story will give someone else the push to try tracking with an older dog, just for the joy of it.