Agility Part 3 - Tracking

AKC Tracking is a canine sport that demonstrates a dog’s natural ability to recognize and follow a scent and is the foundation of canine search and rescue work. Unlike obedience and rally trials, where dogs respond to the handler’s commands, in tracking the dog is completely in charge, for only he knows how to use his nose to find and follow the track. For many, the greatest pleasure of tracking is the hours spent outside training and interacting with their dogs. The tracking community is known for its camaraderie and they all share in the excitement of a “pass” and the disappointment of a “fail.”

How Do I Get Started in Tracking?

Getting started in tracking is easy and you won’t find a more willing participant than your dog! A puppy instinctively uses his nose – training your dog to track simply hones his natural ability. And since all dogs have a natural ability to follow a scent, any breed is capable of learning to track. Your first step is finding a tracking class or an instructor who is experienced in the sport. Some AKC affiliated clubs offer tracking classes and some are “Tracking Only” clubs. To find a club in your area, go to the AKC website, Club Search or Training Resources. Tracking requires very little equipment. You just need a harness, a 20-to-40 foot lead, a few flags to mark your track, and an open grassy area free of obstacles such as roads, ditches or woods.

Before you enter a Tracking Dog Test (TD), you must have the dog certified by an AKC-approved or provisional judge. This
certification form must accompany the entry form. Once you and your dog are ready, find a tracking event in your area by going to the AKC Events Calendar on the AKC website. There is a great demand for tracking tests and the number of dogs that can be judged in one day is very limited. As a result, there are more entries than spaces available.

Tracking Titles
A dog can earn four AKC Tracking titles, with three increased degrees of difficulty.The TD (Tracking Dog) or the TDU (Tracking Dog Urban) title must be earned before competing for a TDX (Tracking Dog Excellent) or VST (Variable Surface
Tracker) title. A Champion Tracker (CT) is awarded only to those dogs that have earned titles at all three tracking levels – TD or TDU, TDX and VST. If a dog is awarded the CT title, he is among the elite of those active in tracking. To earn a tracking title, a dog needs to pass the test in which he is exhibiting only once.

Tracking Dog (TD)
The TD track is from 440-to-500 yards long with 3-to-5 turns (or change in direction), and aged from a half-hour to two hours. A dog must indicate a glove or wallet placed at the end of the track. Tracks are plotted in an open field with
uniform cover. There are no obstacles. The start of the track will be marked with a flag. A second flag is placed 30 yards from the start flag to indicate the direction of the first leg of the track. There are no other flags in the field.

Tracking Dog Urban (TDU)
The TDU track is 400-to-5oo yards long, with 3-to-5 90 degree turns, and aged from a half-hour to two hours. Tracks are plotted in an urban environment on paved sidewalks, lightly traveled roads, baseball diamonds, parking lots and other non-vegetated surfaces. The track will have a minimum of two (2) different surfaces, vegetated and non-vegetated. The start is marked with a flag with a second flag set 30 yards from the first to indicate the direction of the first leg of the track. There are three dissimilar articles for each track, one at the start, one about midway on the track and one at the end.

Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX)
The TDX track is 800-to-1000 yards long with 5-to-7 turns, and aged from 3-to-5 hours. The track also has two sets of cross (diversionary) tracks and has some of the aforementioned obstacles. The start is marked with a single flag and the dog must determine the direction of the first leg.