Alternate - Jeff Whitsitt
Jeff Whitsitt was introduced to dog sports 15 years ago with Kelsey, a Shetland Sheepdog. They started in obedience competition and when Kelsey was seven Jeff was introduced to tracking. Kelsey went on to earn the TD title.Jeff's second dog was a Belgian Tervuren named Kane. Jeff and Kane started tracking a week after coming together and haven't stopped. Kane passed his TD test on his first attempt at the 2000 American Belgian Tervuren Club's National Specialty in Georgia. In the fall of that same year, he passed his TDX in Nashville, TN. Jeff was skeptical about whether Kane would enjoy Variable Surface Tracking, but he was not ready to stop, so Jeff proceeded with his training. Jeff and Kane entered their first VST test in the spring of 2003. Although Kane performed well, the team failed the VST test three times before succeeding.
On October 31, 2004 CH CT Summerstorm Heart's Desire AX AXJ (Kane) became the fourth Belgian Tervuren to earn the elusive Champion Tracker title when he earned the VST title in Lexington, KY. Since then they both enjoy tracking so much that they have continued tracking almost weekly. Jeff and Kane also enjoy competing in agility and playing frisbee.
Along the way Jeff has enjoyed the camaraderie of many tracking partners, watching many tracking dogs learn the game, and laying tracks for local tests. Jeff lives with his wife and tracking partner, Carolyn, two teenagers and five dogs, a Belgian Tervuren, a German Shepherd Dog, a Standard Poodle, a Doberman Pinscher, and a Dachshund near Nashville, TN.
