2025 AKC National Tracking Invitational

Friday Photos

Track Laying & Meet and Greet

Saturday Photos

MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOS
Pictures taken at the Observatory and the evening banquet.

Track 01
Myron Genrich Jr. & CT Mysticmoon Celtic Spirit RE

Track 02
Rebecca Chandler & CT Las Rocosa Rowan Of Blackwatch RI SWE SCM SEM CGC

Track 03
Anouk Dirksen & CT Noor Dirksen RN TD3 TDU2 JH SHU SWA SCE SEE SBE THD CGCA CGCU TKP VSWE

Track 04
Phil Atkinson & CT Backcountry Quickstep to Seawind VCD1 OAP OJP OFP

Track 05
Wendy Zea & CT AGCH PACH5 Isabella Selene Van Meerhout VCD3 BN RA MXP16 MXPS2 PDSP MJP16 MJPS2 PJSP PAX5 MFPG TQXP T2BP5 CGC TKN

Track 06
Julie Fischer & CT Casa Blanca’s Redbird OA OAJ XF CGCA TKA

Sunday Photos

MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOS
Just a couple miscellaneous photos from Sunday!

Track 07
Linda Alkema & GCH TC OC’s Prince Of Peace MS VCD2 BN RE TD2 TDU OAP AJP OFP MXE4 SXE3 EE2 CA BCAT ACT1 SWA SCM SIE SBE SHDN RATM CGCA CGCU TKP ATT

Track 08
Kayelene Hawthorne & CT RACH Dragontails Black Irish Moon VCD1 BN RM5 RAE2 RC PT FDC MXP3 MXPB MJP3 MJPB MFP T2BP SWM SHDN RATN CGCA CGCU TKE ATT FITG FTI

Track 09
Mark Andrus & GCH CH CT Tokai Du Joie De Vie CD RE BCAT RATO CGC TKN

Track 10
Rebecca L Lueth & CT Allstar Jetty On Island Time VCD2 BN RA AJP XFP TKN

Track 11
Anita Raithel & CT Old Oak’s Chance Of A Lifetime VCD1 CDX RN MH OA

Track 12
Rachel Fabrizi & CT Trisorts Starry Night CD BN RA

2025 AKC National Tracking Invitational Catalog

Click here to view the catalog for the event. Exhibitor list, judges’ bios, memorials, photos and bios of many of the entries and much more.

Rita L. Crawford

San Jose, California

My professional background was as a software engineer in the aerospace sector. I started tracking in 1987 and became a Tracking Judge in 2012.

I have had the opportunity to participate in Conformation, Herding, and Obedience with my Shetland Sheepdogs over the years. Tracking is my all-time favorite AKC venue. It always delights me to watch a dog’s “light bulb” moment during a training session or when I judge, to observe a dog and handler team work together to solve a complex scent challenge.

I have been fortunate to have experienced a special bond with my Shelties, that I believe only comes with tracking. The tracking titles my dogs have earned include 2 CTs (1 as a CT/OTCH) and 2 TDXs (both breed Champions). I am now training a young male, newly TD titled.

A fun experience I treasure – I inherited an elderly, food motivated Shih Tsu; a lively little character with a unique and amusing personality. I introduced him to tracking where he immediately learned the meaning of “jackpot” at the end of working short, tiny tracks.

I cherish all the lifelong friendships I’ve made on the tracking fields. Best wishes and good luck to the 2025 AKC NTI entrants!

Stephanie A. Crawford

Binghamton, New York

I started training in 1983 in Obedience as this was the only thing available in Miami, FL besides conformation.

As life has gone on and the things we can do with our dogs has increased I have trained and shown in Conformation, Rally, Agility, Tracking, Barnhunt, and Scentwork. Each one has its own glamour for a team. I judge all levels of Tracking and Scentwork for AKC and have enjoyed awarding titles to many teams over the years. I have presented workshops on Tracking and Scent and worked with many successful teams. Thinking about odor is second nature to me now.

I began learning Tracking in 1991 after we had moved to Binghamton, NY and I got a new Rottweiler puppy. My first instructor was a canine officer. Once I was introduced to the sport and met more people who knew about things like AKC tests and titles, I joined Hudson Valley Tracking Club. I met a host of experienced people who helped me expand my knowledge and convinced me to judge. It has been a long love affair. The people in the sport all over the country are great people. It is a privilege to judge each test and apply the requirements to any terrain presented to use.

As I continue to track and train Scent Work the opportunity to explore odor and its fickle ways continues to be a fascination. I am currently training my 7 year old Rottweiler and my 2 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier in Tracking and Scent Work.

Any day in the field is a great day!

Lois Leidahl-Marsh

Des Plaines, Illinois

I started tracking in 2000. I was quickly hooked. It is the one sport where the dog is in complete control. We humans have to discover what their body language is telling us instead of their having to figure out our body language. I decided to become a judge and applied for the first level in 2010.

I obtained my first Bernese Mountain Dog in 1981. Since then, Berners have always been in my household. I do conformation, obedience, rally, tracking, scent work and draft work with them. In 2014, one of my Berners earned her Champion Tracker title. She was only the fifth Bernese Mountain Dog to earn the title of Champion Tracker. Since then, two others have followed her in earning their CTs. Others have earned TDs and TDXs.

An animal’s olfactory sense has always interested me. I am a retired professor of psychology spending 40 years at Loyola University Chicago. My main research was on pheromones in mammals. With my background, it was not surprising that I became interested in tracking.

It’s an honor to be invited to judge the 2025 AKC National Tracking Invitational.

Jan Wesen

Bow, Washington

I was raised on a dairy farm. My first breed was Working Kelpies in 1985 when I wanted a farm dog and later I enjoyed playing the versatile dog game. Working Stockdog is still my main interest and love, but I’ve added obedience and tracking. In 1999 I trained my first Aussie and eventually they joined my kennel, and I enjoy working with them on a daily basis. I train and compete in herding, obedience, tracking, agility and flyball. I also teach tracking, herding and obedience, and give clinics throughout the country.

My husband and I work our dogs on our 800 cow dairy farm (400 are organic dairy cows) doing a variety of chores: bringing cows in for milking, holding gates, sorting and letting us know when livestock are trying to escape. The dogs have become important working partners in our enterprise.

I have been working with my dogs since 1985 and have competed in trials and performance events. My first TDX was in 1986. 6 TDX 14 TD. Looking forward to seeing the wonderful dogs.