One-Stop Shop For AKC Rally Needs

since April 2006

Additional Tracking Information

Follow Us On FaceBook

Home   '17 Rally   Events   Links   Classes   Equipment   Tracking   About

Click Titles to Goto Article

Yard Comparison Chart for Tracking

Keeping Cool in Hot Weather

Tick Prevention

Rattle Snakes

Fox Tails

Flea, Tick, Mosquito, Fly, & Bee Repellant

Keeping Cool in Hot Weather

Cook Neck Scarf: You will need a cotton square neck scarf and "Soil Moist".

I've made these for years using cotton square neck scarves. You can purchase the a product called "Soil Moist" at any garden center. It's used to hold water in planting areas. It absorbs water and expands quite a bit. I fold a cotton neck scarf in half diagonally. I sew a seam 1-1 ½ inches from the folded end. I close up one end and pour 1 Tablespoon of the Soil Moist into the other opening. Then I sew that end closed. Soak the scarf in water for a few hours and WaaLaa! You have a cool neck scarf that will last for a very long time! Be careful not to put too much Soil Moist in the scarf. It absorbs a lot of water!

Scarf before soaking
Scarf after soaking
To Top

Tick Prevention

I use Preventic collars when tracking in the fields.  Follow directions on the box.  I also use Frontlne on my dogs. Both of these do a wonderful job of discouraging ticks from imbedding onto your dogs. I also use the bug repellant below. This is good for both dogs and people.

To Top

Rattle Snakes

Tracking in the fields after the rain starts in the fall and before it gets too hot in the spring is generally safe. Snakes like the warm weather and come out to bask in the sun in the early spring through early fall months.

If your dog gets bitten by a Rattle Snake, he must be treated with an anti-rattlesnake venom. Make sure you know the closest vet that has this available if you are hiking or tracking where rattlesnakes might be present.

Another method to guard your dog against Rattlesnake is to take them to a Rattlesnake Avoidance Clinic. Your local Tracking clubs or an Internet search can give you more information.

To Top

Fox Tails

Dry foxtails in the fields and are dangerous to our tracking dogs. They will go up their noses and get in their fur (especially feet) and imbed into their skin. This is another reason not to track in fields in the late spring, summer & early fall months. Foxtails have sharp points at one end, and microscopic barbs, so that they easily move in the direction of the point, but not the other way. They "work in", but they don't "work out". They can become imbedded in your dog's hair, especially the paws and ears, and in nostrils and even eyes. As they work their way in, they cause infection, and if not treated can sometimes be fatal.

Thoroughly brush and inspect your dog's coat if he has been in a dry grass area with foxtails. Also check feet and ears. If you think your dog has a foxtail somewhere in it's body, get to a vet IMMEDIATELY. The longer you wait, the deeper the foxtail will travel and be more difficult to remove.

To Top

Flea, Tick, Mosquito, Fly, & Bee Repellant

Ingredients are full strength oils: Tea Tree Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Sweet Orange Oil, Pine Needle Oil, Rosemary Oil, Sage Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Peppermint Oil, Citronella Oil.

Directions: Mix 2-3 drops each with 16 oz. Water in a spray bottle. Shake before each application and spray lightly over entire body.

Directions for spraying lawns to prevent bees: 16 drops each/1 gallon. In hot days, may need to spray every 6 hours.

Directions for dog shampoo: Mix 4-6 drops each with 32 oz of any natural shampoo and you now have a natural flea shampoo.

Repels fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, flies, and bees. Spray lightly on dogs and blankets and also makes your van smell great. Use before going into the obedience ring for sits & downs to repel bees, or for tracking or fieldwork to repel ticks. Some people have used it on golf courses and camping to repel mosquitoes. This stuff smells great.

A health food store in your area sells these.

To Top