I'm interested in FST/sport tracking and am ready to start a new dog (worked a police tracker years ago but never actually taught one). My goal is for the dog & I to eventually earn that AKC Variable Surface Tracking (VST) title after the TD & TDX. The success rate for VST is dismal for the dogs that have tried it. What gives? I recall that Ed mentioned that the VST was poorly conceived, but I don't remember if he offered any details (any light that he could shed on this would be appreciated, too). Does anyone have any suggestions about a particular method to use? From the limited amount of information available about the successful dogs, the Ed Presnall method seems to work the most often. Presnall appears to have had more dogs to succeed, either under his tutelege or by other handlers using his book. Presnall's book costs $50 so I haven't purchased it yet. I have the Leerburg HST tape, but I need something that offers more specific guidance. Could I start with the Patterson book? Even though my interest is in FST/sport, will I need to jump to the Leerburg TTD DVDs to succeed in VST? Many thanks, Jim