Unforgettable Success of Czech Handlers at the IFR World Championships in the IFH Categories

Czech dog handlers achieved the highest success in the IFH categories of the IFR World Championships in the last years. In 2021, Jiří Reizenthaler with his female Catness Ginger Taffy won historically the first gold medal in the IFH1 category for the Czech Republic. In 2022, Pavlína Fialová and her Funny Falko Bonnapo (the IGP3 World Champions) placed third in the IFH1 and they moved up to the second place a year later. That is not all, two Czech ladies achieved great results in the IFH2 category – Jarka Klimešová with her female Gwenn Jistr have participated three times in the IFR WCH so far and they did extremely well. They finished second in 2021, a year later they became the IFH2 World Champions and they won the bronze medal last year. Lenka Woldertová with her female Adele Savalero were awarded silver medal twice – in 2022 and 2023, what a fantastic achievement! Let´s have a little chat with these four competitors and interview them about their tracking success secrets :-) . They all have the same questions, let´s see what the answers will be :-) .

At what age did you start tracking with your dog, what were the first tracks like and what is, in your opinion, the best way to prepare a puppy/young dog for tracking?

JARKA: In fact, we did not start tracking with Gwenn (Agátka) until she was three years old. I still remember our ZM (elementary A/B/C trial according to the Czech National Rules) where she didn´t even finish her short track :-) . So there was no proper track training at her puppy age, it was a fluke that we got involved in tracking. And we are still learning from each

other…

LENKA: Our tracking training started when my puppy was 4 months old. We first trained the scent pads followed by circle tracks. The most important is to take each dog as an individuality and set the appropriate level of training as well as the right motivation according to the needs and nature of the dog. This is the alpha and omega, this is crucial not only regarding the tracking training. Tracking is a natural skill for any dog and as someone once told me, tracking training is all about convincing a dog to track when the dog handler wants his/her dog to do so.

PAVLÍNA: When a puppy settles after arriving to us, I start with the tracking basics right away. Home bred puppies are looking for dry food before they leave to new owners. So I can say that puppies start tracking at the age of five to six weeks. How to prepare a puppy for tracking career? It depends, but the main goal is to make tracking enjoyable as much as possible. I always build and support a desire to search and finish the track in young dogs.

JIŘÍ: My tracking with a puppy starts at the age of about 8 weeks on the scent pads. I like training dogs who are eager to look for food and motivation for searching treats is the best way for them to learn tracking.

How often do you go tracking? What treats do you use and what is the reward after finishing the track?

JARKA: We try to go tracking at least twice a week. Our training sessions are more intense before competitions and we track every day before the IFR. I use regular dry food on the track, some yummy treats for the articles and a full bowl is waiting for Agátka when she finishes the track.

LENKA: Motivation for tracking is all the more important the more often you go tracking and as the difficulty of tracks increases. In our training schedule there are periods when we track daily and when we stagnate (mostly involuntarily). However, training requires a clearly defined order, procedure, and above all regularity, otherwise progress will be very slow or none. Now we are tracking about three to four times a week. When Aďa was younger, we went tracking every day.

PAVLÍNA: The frequency of tracks depends on the individual dog. But I usually do several tracks in a week with a young dog, sometimes I also use a series of tracks and then a break. On the other hand, older dogs do a single track about twice a week. I adjust the frequency according to the need, weather and difficulty of the terrain. As far as treats are concerned, we have tried almost everything. From dry food and meat to various sausages, tins and boxes. Now I always start with kibble that the puppy is used to and I gradually switch to sausages for dogs. As a reward I use something yummy as a bonus at the end of the track. And a favourite toy, of course.

JIŘÍ: I try to go tracking three to four times a week because my dogs don´t mind frequent tracks. On the contrary, they have food and reward there so they are looking forward to tracking. The reward at the end may be a ball if the dog prefers it, my Eico is the example. He could learn to fly to get a ball :-) .

What is your way of teaching article indication?

JARKA: I teach article indication on the track right from the start. The more I am involved in tracking, the more consistent requirements I have regarding article indication.

LENKA: I teach article indication separately off the track by luring. Only when the indication is established, I gradually place the articles into the track and start basically again. I always teach the articles regardless of the material (i.e. I do not use just carpet articles and do not introduce other materials gradually). At a later stage of learning, I ALWAYS correct the dog if the position of indication is not right, and I use contrast in rewards during article indication.

PAVLÍNA: I teach indication of articles off the track first. I explain to the dog what the desired behaviour is. Only then I place the articles directly on the track.

JIŘÍ: I teach it right on the track. I follow the dog tightly, I use lie down command to indicate the article and reward the dog a lot for remaining calm in the correct position.

Is tracking your most favourite discipline?

JARKA: Definitely yes, it is with Agátka. We will see what phase it will be when Agátka “retires”.

LENKA: Yes, it is. I don´t have so much peace and quiet in other disciplines.

PAVLÍNA: To be frank, tracking doesn´t belong to my most favourite phases. And I don´t consider myself a tracking expert. However, thanks to my Funny Falko I have the opportunity to enjoy this fantastic discipline and I have to admit it has a great charm.

JIŘÍ: Well… No, it isn´t :-) . It´s great to have tracking trainings with my buddies and friends, but I don´t enjoy it so much on my own, I need company.

What makes a dog a really excellent tracking dog? Do you think it is possible to train an average dog to the highest level? In other words – is it true that tracking is (mostly) about training and practice?

JARKA: I don´t have an answer to this question yet. Agátka is my first dog with whom I am doing the sport cynology. We are both still learning, so the more tracks finished, the more experience gained for both ends of the leash.

LENKA: Tracking is one of the most natural skills for any dog and every dog has the ability to track. The person holding the tracking line is the most decisive factor. Some dog handlers have a knack for tracking with dogs, some handlers have to learn it over time, and some never get it. Humans or dogs – the same rule applies. Everyone has more talent for something and is less talented for something else. The more regularly we go tracking with our dog, the more likely we are to get some good results. What I personally appreciate are performances that may have a few mistakes, but they are overall stable, that is a tracking dog I can rely on and trust. Performances that go up and down from gaining 100 points into insufficient score are

not my cup of tea.

PAVLÍNA: The handler can influence a lot, however, dog´s inborn traits for tracking are priceless. I think every dog can do tracking to some level. It is not easy to get an excellent evaluation at the competitions nowadays, it is all about something a little bit different. From my experience, you can succeed only with a dog who has some innate abilities. But maybe I am the spoiler.

JIŘÍ: I think you have to go tracking with your dog a lot. You need to do many tracklaying and tracking, but at the same time you have to avoid mistakes that cannot be corrected. If the handler does not control his/her emotions and let them explode, if the handler punishes the dog in any way on the track, well, perhaps your tracking career is over with a sensitive dog…

How often do you train a stranger´s track? Do you lead your dog on the whole length of the tracking line in training? Do you go tracking in winter, do you use a tracking app and do you keep a tracking diary?

JARKA: I use a short leash during training so I can react to the situation. A stranger´s track is a necessity for us, because I have absolutely no sense of direction, I can get lost at the first corner of the track. And yes, I am using a mobile app :-) . Even a tracking diary is on my list, it will be the fourth year I have it.

LENKA: Stranger´s tracks are not a routine for us, in fact they are very rare in our training. According to my tracking diary (yes, I have it) we do about five tracks of this sort a year, including trial tracks. Due to the problems I have been facing on the tracks with Aďa, I am training exclusively on the whole length of 10m tracking line or often even on a longer line (13–14 m). My dog has a well-deserved rest in winter, so we do not go tracking until spring. I don´t use apps, I am not a fan of new technologies in tracking. Plus I already rely on the dog and I know what to do in the given situation. An app would just distract me.

PAVLÍNA: I train stranger´s track occasionally. Mainly in the final preparation before the event, but it depends on the availability of the track layers. I do not use full length of the tracking line very often. If there is snow in winter, I don´t track and I usually give my dogs a winter break even for two months. Regarding applications – I don´t use them. I have tried to keep a tracking diary once, but I don´t use it anymore. So I train my brain, I have to remember everything.

JIŘÍ: I go on a stranger´s track very sporadically, mainly before a trial or a competition. It´s the same with tracking on the full length of the line. A tracking diary? An app? No, that is not my cup of tea, I rely on my head and I know my dogs. I know right away what´s going on and how precise they are on the track.

Do you praise your dog during the track? If you do, in what situations and what voice do you use?

JARKA: I praise my dog in a calm voice during training so she knows she is doing well. But I want her to concentrate on the track not on my praise. I sometimes have normal loud conversion with the track layer during tracking and sometimes we do not say a word. The dog is used to all situations, which is important.

LENKA: I speak to the dog sporadically in track training, I rather praise dog´s work on correctly indicated articles. Aďa solved the silence at trials and competitions (something is happening), so silence on the track is basically another thing that we train in a controlled way. And of course, without exception, I praise and support my dog when she gets in trouble and uncertainty, in this case we have to work as a team.

PAVLÍNA: I am talking to the dog on the track, more often to puppies and young dogs and less often to older dogs. I praise my dogs for intense and precise work or when I need to support them. On the other hand, I correct undesirable behaviour using a firm voice and words that the dog know for it. I do not shout!

JIŘÍ: I only praise in situations when the dog solves some difficulties, I am not praising all the time. I speak in a calm and soothing voice, I don´t want to disturb the dog, I want to support him. I think tracking is about being calm and relaxed, I try to have a clear head. If I am not in a good mood, I prefer not to go tracking. I have experienced several times that my bad mood only spoilt the track for the dog.

How do you teach your dog to work precisely on the track corners? By the way, do you have a recipe for precise tracking work?

JARKA: I do everything through treats, verbal praise or correction.

LENKA: In our case we cannot talk about an absolute precision. I start training corners with kibble on the track and then we move to circle tracks. And of course, “practice makes perfect”. We were dealing with completely different issues on the track, Áďa was getting into anxiety and stress. She refused to work when she got lost on the track. We dealt with this problem for years, unfortunately at the expense of precision. However, in our case both could not be achieved at the same time.

PAVLÍNA: I teach my dogs to track precisely using a targeted treat placement, in this way I achieve the desired accuracy. After we do a few first track, I start also with the corners.

JIŘÍ: At the beginning, I properly scuff my feet on the corner and place many treats there, I do

not let the dog leave the track.

Do you agree that tracking work is in fact a sort of obedience?

JARKA: For me, it is all about trust.

LENKA: Yes, it is. But partially and up to a certain stage. Tracking work is the hardest discipline in dog sport and you cannot do it without obedience. When you get to a certain level of training, more than obedience it is about dog´s inborn traits, well-chosen training and a very good relationship between dog and handler. I prefer a less perfect but relaxed performance to a robotic tracking with signs of stress.

PAVLÍNA: Only partially. It is also about independent and confident work of the dog.

JIŘÍ: To a certain extent yes.

Do you have anybody, who inspired you a lot, who you admire, who is your mentor regarding tracking?

JARKA: To be honest, I do not. I go tracking because we love it.

LENKA: I admire many tracking dog handlers from the Czech Republic, but I will not mention their names if you don´t mind.

PAVLÍNA: There are many people who helped me a lot in tracking, but I don´t have a favourite one.

JIŘÍ: Well, of course – Jaroslav Petráček, and also for example Iva Lžičařová.

How do you recall your IFR IFH World Championships? What memories are still in your hearts, what situations will you never forget?

JARKA: Every championship is unforgettable – to hear the Czech national anthem, to stand under the Czech flag and be a member of the Czech team…

LENKA: The overall atmosphere of the championship and emotions when other Czech team members were on the field – that is unforgettable for me. And also finishing on the podium in a relatively strong competition is something I have never dreamed of. Our goal at the WCH was to finish the track, I honestly didn´t expect us to win a medal. Every event carries some memories and fortunately, after years, the good ones remain. And that´s how it should be.

PAVLÍNA: I love to remember it. The atmosphere in the tracking team has always been very pleasant. Our first IFR IFH World Championship in France was amazing, watching some performances was a really great experience.

JIŘÍ: For me, it is of course our victory at the IFR IFH in Hungary in 2021. Nessie started her track and the terrain was horrible, full of thorns. I had to carry her off the track in my arms because her paws were full of thorns and she couldn´t walk. The fact that she managed her reserve track on the same day with the highest score in the category, well, that was something fantastic, I cried… I will never forget what my brave girl did for me.

What are your plans for the future, do you prepare a new dog for the competitions?

JARKA: We will be tracking with Agátka as long as we can to show that even Rotties are good at it. I kept one of her puppies so we will see what the dog sport future brings to us.

LENKA: Since I live in a region where it is not so easy to practise cynology compared to other regions, I will probably keep on tracking. You can be completely self-sufficient in this discipline up to a certain stage. I certainly do not intend to change the breed, I just hope that more Rottweilers will get to the tracking top and this beautiful sport will not just be an option left for dogs who got “too old” for IGP.

PAVLÍNA: I got involved in tracking disciplines because I wanted to find an entertainment for my older dog Funny. He finished his IGP3 career and he has always been a very good tracking dog. So if his health is fine and he enjoys tracking, we will continue in competitions. But now I am mainly preparing my young female for the IGP3 trial.

JIŘÍ: We are preparing with Nessie for the Czech RTW National Championship and I am also training with my young dog Eico and the youngest member of the pack, a female from Nessie´s last litter.

Do you have time for other hobbies? What else do you enjoy?

JARKA: I don´t have any other hobbies, dog sport is enough for me. I spend a lot of time outside thanks to it, I also have a lot of exercise and I made many new friends. If I am not with my dogs, my sons play football so I spend that time on the football fields.

LENKA: FH tracks are very time-consuming hobby. You also have to maintain the fitness and condition of the dog and find even days for ordinary relaxation. That is why I unfortunately don´t have much time for other hobbies.

PAVLÍNA: I have to say I don´t have other hobbies. I love reading a good book or relaxing in the garden. I can say that dogs are charging me in general, it is not just about the training. Walking them or playing in the garden is great. And relaxing on the sofa together is fine as well.

JIŘÍ: …there is always some time for TV, cold beer and chips ��

Thank you all for the interview, Draha Mašková

Translation: Eva Fiedlerová