The world of sport tracking

Since all dogs have a natural ability to follow a scent, any breed is capable of learning to track. You just need a harness that does not restrict your dogs movement, a 20-to-40 foot lead, a few flags to mark your track, and an open, grassy area.

There are tons of books, articles, and videos out there that break down the process of teaching your dog how to narrow in on a particular scent and follow the track. We’ve compiled our personal favorites here.

How do I get started?

Is my dog eligible to earn a title?

There are many organizations offering different flavors of tracking tests, such as the American Kennel Club (AKC), Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), and Schutzhund/IPO Clubs.

The tests offered through CVTC are through the AKC. To be eligible for those, a dog must:

Any breed can learn to track, and all breeds are welcome to compete through AKC as long as they are properly registered.

Tracking Titles

A dog can earn four AKC Tracking titles, and each has an increased degree of difficulty.

A Tracking Dog (TD) or Tracking Dog Urban (TDU) title must be earned before competing for a Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) or Variable Surface Tracker (VST) title. If a dog earns all three titles, they are awarded an additional title of Champion Tracker (CT).

In each test, the dog is tracking a variety of items made of plastic, cloth, leather or metal. Each item contains the scent of the individual track layer for that route. To earn a title, a dog needs to pass only one test.

  • A dog earns a TD by following a track 440 to 500 yards long with three to five changes of direction.

    The track is laid by a human tracklayer and is “aged” 30 minutes to two hours before the dog begins scenting.

    The goal is to use the scented track to locate an article left at the end of the trail by the tracklayer.

    The owner follows the dog on a long leash and can encourage the dog during the tracking test.

  • The fundamental features of the Tracking Dog Urban (TDU) test are the dog’s ability to follow a track laid by a person under a variety of scenting conditions in an urban environment and to find the articles dropped by that person.

    This is an optional titling event. Clubs are not required to offer this test and dogs are not required to earn the title to enter a TD, TDX, or VST tracking test.

  • The TDX is earned by following an “older” track (three to five hours) that is also longer (800 to 1,000 yard) and has five to seven directional changes with the additional challenge of human cross tracks.

  • In the real world, dogs track through urban settings, as well as through wilderness.

    A VST dog has demonstrated this ability by following a three- to five-hour-old track that may take him down a street, through a building and other areas devoid of vegetation.

How a Tracking Test Works

You can find an AKC tracking event in your area by going to the AKC Event Calendar.

Contact the hosting club to get a premium list, which details all relevant event information, including the entry form.

If there are more entries submitted than there are spots (usually 4-6 per test), a random draw will determine who will be in the test, so get your entry in as soon as possible.

Tracking tests are usually held on Sunday, but the judges and tracklayers (strangers to the dogs) spend most of Saturday plotting a track for each dog.

The judges draw charts of each track indicating landmarks that will allow them to locate the track with flags that mark the turns. The flags will be removed when the tracklayers walk the track the morning of the test.

On the morning of the test, the exhibitors gather for another draw which determines the running order. After the tracks have aged the required time, handlers and dogs begin their assigned track. The dog is not allowed off lead at any time.

The dog must closely follow the path the tracklayer has walked and find the article(s) dropped along the track. Articles are everyday items containing the scent of the tracklayer, made of either plastic, metal, leather, or cloth.

The judges follow the dog and handler to determine if the dog is on or off the track. If the dog is off the track and the judges determine the dog cannot return, one judge will blow the whistle signaling the dog has failed.

There is no time limit as long as the dog is working. If the dog follows the track finding the article(s) placed on the track, it earns the tracking title for the level at which they are exhibiting.

Tips for First Time Exhibitors

  • Become intimately familiar with the AKC Tracking Regulations before the test

  • Attend a test in your area before your testing date to become familiar with the test procedure (you can learn even more if you volunteer)

  • Ask questions! It’s the best way to learn, and the people attending tracking tests are there because they are passionate about the sport

  • If possible, find a tracking class in your area before your test

  • Dress for the weather and plan for the worst; unless the weather is truly dangerous, tracking tests go on as scheduled

Ready to get started?