Southwest Tracking Association

02/12/2026

Photos from our TDU and VST test on February 8.

02/12/2026

It was a foggy, foggy morning for our February 8 TDU and VST test. It was actually a great condition for tracking; few recreationists in the park, cool moist tracking surface. The only downer was it was very difficult to watch the canine/handler teams work their tracks once they got much past their start flags. Our golden retrievers took it in stride, with the only 2 passes of the day. Those were on TDU tracks. The cute Corgi on track #3 was not so successful, and the spaniel on the VST track, well, his handler didn't entirely trust him. Next time y'all, a great effort!

01/10/2026

The results are now in from our STA TD and TDX test on January 4. We were off to a blazing start with 3 in a row TD passes. For their first TD, Denise McClure and her corgi Gizmo. Next up my golden Cora, already a TDX but fun to run as a refresher. She made me sweat but kept on working and voila! There was the glove at the end. Third, and also a TDX veteran, Sally Elkins' English cocker Blu also handled by moi. Once again not a gift and little did we know his final article had gone missing. As he kept going and going, well past what I thought was a reasonable test length, the judges yelled at us "You passed". They couldn't find the glove either but Blu had indicated where apparently it once was. The two TDX contestants followed, unfortunately not with good end results. To the many of us who have also failed TDX attempts, we know the frustration of getting whistled as a fail; only to have the dog finish the track with the tracklayer and do a great job. Next time will surely be a pass for that golden retriever and American cocker spaniel. Mega thank you to our judges Kim Kearfott (from MI), Ginny Conway, and Katrine Voie, and that small army of tracklayers, stand-in Chairman, refreshment folks, flag carriers and an enthusiastic gallery of onlookers. Let's do it again!

Natalie Wiest
Test Secretary

12/31/2025

The first Houston area tracking test of the year happens this Sunday, January 4 at George Bush Park. Three dogs will be competing in the Tracking Dog competition. Tracks will be determined at 7:30 at the Pavilion 1 meeting area. Two dogs will compete in the Tracking Dog Excellent tests, draw to happen at 9:30 a.m. at headquarters. At the conclusion of TDX #2 track, there will be a club meeting. Following the meeting, the group will adjourn to Rudy's Barbecue for a Dutch treat lunch. The address is 21799 Katy Freeway (I-10), Katy TX. If you'd like to join the judges and tracklayers, committee members on Saturday after tracks have been plotted, we'll be at Lomonte's Italian restaurant. Please contact Sally Elkins to let her know so we can reserve a spot. See you soon! Natalie Wiest, Test Secretary

12/17/2025

STA is offering two upcoming tracking tests:

TD/TDX on January 4, 2026

TDU/VST on February 8, 2026

Premium lists are available on the STA web site at

STA Membership Test Results Member Judges Intro to Tracking Certification Questions Answered AKC Tracking Regulations Upcoming AKC Tracking Events Hall of Fame About STA Club Officers  Books & Articles Links & Resources STA Apparel

10/31/2025

10/27/2025

Kathleen Milford presented an informative and interesting workshop for us Sunday October 26, 2025. Many thanks to Ed and Marsha McCaddon for hosting us and feeding a yummy lunch too. Wish you could have been there too!

09/18/2025

STA is hosting a Tracklaying Workshop. Please feel free to share this information to your tracking friends, all are welcome.
When: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Where: Magnolia, Texas
Time: 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Cost: $25 (helping to raise funds for STA)
Presenter: Kathleen Milford
Hosted by Ed and Marsha McCaddon
Come and bring your dogs, your tracklaying tools, and we’ll learn and share techniques for training tracks, proofing tracks, and testing tracks. Lunch is provided! For directions to the site and to make sure you get some food, send an email to Ed McCaddon,
[email protected] so he knows you are coming.

06/18/2025

Congratulations to STA Member, Katrine Voie, who completed the final step by passing her test this weekend and is now, pending completion of paperwork, an AKC TD/TDU Judge. We're very proud of her and can't wait to add her into our test rotation!

04/16/2025

STAs April 13 TD and TDU test at Bush Park is now complete. Judges Sue Boyd and Kathleen Milford plotted very nice TD and TDU tracks. The competitors made great attempts but alas came up empty handed. The GSD on the TDU track had a lovely start, first turn, second turn, then a third onto the parking lot. Unfortunately she lost the track there but had looked so steady and determined I was sure a pass was at hand. The Field Spaniel on the TD track did similarly. He looked like he was on rails, straight on to each leg, first turn, second turn, worked through a multitude of egrets leaping up from the field by his track. The third turn however became problematic. Nice try! Thank you to tracklayers Kathy McLemore and Katrine Voie, and first time chief tracklayer Katie Mc Cullough, and the multitude of additional STA helpers that made the test a "go". It was a gorgeous morning, with the sun rising as the tracks went in and a mist over the fields. The club meeting afterward was very fruitful, watch for more announcements of upcoming events including a seminar September 13 and 14

04/16/2025

STA's TD and TDU test is behind us now. Beautiful day with perfect weather April 13. Judges Kathleen Milford and Sue Boyd put in two lovely tracks. One was TD, the other TDU. Both dogs with lovely starts, first two turns and then, well, we've all been there. No success. Thanks also to tracklayers Kathy McLemore and Katrine Voie; and first time chief tracklayer Katie McCullough who also provided some of these photos.

04/13/2025

Tracks going in for the last test of our season. Good luck everyone.