Tracking Class

What is Tracking?

By Kristie Rasmussen

If you like the outdoors and your dog is always using his/her nose, then train your dog for a tracking title. It’s a lot of fun for both you and your dog. Tracking is a concentrated sport that involves time, commitment, dedication and patience. Many people think that all the dog has to do is put their nose down to the ground and follow a scent. Much training is involved and as more training develops, more time is needed. The feeling of you and the dog arriving to the “glove” at the end of the track is one of the best feelings you’ll ever experience.

Purpose of Tracking Tests

The Purpose of a Tracking Test is to demonstrate the dog’s ability to recognize and follow human scent; a skill that is useful in the service of mankind.

Tracking by its nature is a vigorous, noncompetitive outdoor sport. Tracking Tests should demonstrate the willingness and enjoyment of the dog in its work and should always represent the best in sportsmanship and camaraderie by the people involved.” (Quoted from AKC Tracking Regulations.)

Tracking is a scent left by a human tracklayer that the dog must recognize and follow to the end of the track. There are three levels of tracking: Tracking Dog (TD) and Tracking Dog Urban (TDU), Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX), and Variable Surface Tracking (VST). Once your dog has a TD and/or TDU, your dog can advance for a TDX and/or VST. If your dog accomplishes all three titles, they become a CT (Champion Tracker). AKC introduced the TDU and VST because of areas being lost for TD and TDX. TDU and VST are done in an urban setting; i.e. around university campuses, large parks, etc.

Some of the variables of the Tracking Dog (TD) title are: a track that is laid by a tracklayer between 440 and 500 yards that must consist of three to five turns and aged a minimum of 1/2 hour and a maximum of two hours. The tracklayer leaves a start article and drops a leather glove or leather wallet at the end of the track for the dog to find. In order for your dog to enter a TD test, they have to be certified by a judge that they are ready to pass the variables. It is kind of like having to get two legs (or passing twice) for a TD title.

Once you get the TD or TDU title on your dog, you can move directly to TDX and/or VST; no certifications are needed.

Some of the variables of the Tracking Dog Urban (TDU) title are: a track that is laid by a tracklayer between 400 and 500 yards that must consist of three to five turns and aged a minimum of 1/2 hour and a maximum of two hours. The track will have a minimum of two

different surfaces, vegetated and non-vegetated. The tracklayer leaves a start article, drops an intermediate article, and drops a leather glove or leather wallet at the end of the track for the dog to find. In order for your dog to enter a TDU test, they have to be certified by a

judge that they are ready to pass the variables. It is kind of like having to get two legs (or passing twice) for a TDU title. Once you get the TDU or TD title on your dog, you can move directly to TDX and/or VST; no certifications are needed.

There are a lot of great books and videos to help you get started. Here are some thoughts and ideas I put together concerning tracking, so get your dog and equipment together and get out and do something fun with your dog and build that bond.

Some Things You Should Know Before You Start

The scent trail is there, they become aware of it, and instinct urges them to follow it.
You must generate whatever level of enthusiasm the dog requires; then you may draw on his wholly natural wish to please you. Tracking is a win or lose situation—not a first or second place situation. It gives you a chance to learn from your dog.
A dog’s scent is 40-50% better than a human. Any dog has the potential to track.
Your dog does not have to know obedience for tracking. If you do want to use obedience, the only commands you will probably use are sit, down, stay, leave it, and a retrieve. The retrieve is not necessary for training tracking.

Some of the Dangers Involved in Tracking

The field can be dangerous. Fields are the dumping grounds of unwanted items, i.e. cans, broken bottles, bottle caps, garbage, etc.
There are the dangers of terrain: holes in the ground, small mole hills, and underground springs, grass that can cause problems for the dogs, i.e. foxtails and burrs.
If your dog is out of shape, take it slow and gradually increase his training. If you don’t your dog could end up ill.

Some Things to Start Your Dog’s Training for Tracking

Play hide-the-glove with your dog at home. Start out making it easy for the dog by hiding the glove and helping your dog find it (it would be useful to use a buckle collar on your dog at this point). As soon as the dog finds the glove, reward the dog with lots of praise and/or a food reward. Gradually increase the intensity of hiding the glove. Start hiding the glove at first in front of furniture, making it easy for the dog to find.
When it becomes really easy for the dog to find the glove, make it harder. Hide the glove behind furniture (even try hiding the glove up at a higher level—maybe on the arm of a chair or back of a couch). This is when the dog begins to use their nose.
You can increase the dog’s training at this time by playing hide-the-glove outside. Hide the glove behind bushes and trees (even try hiding the glove inside bushes). When you start the game outside, put a leash on the dog (go ahead and put the dog’s harness on and attach the lead to the harness) and go with the dog to find the glove. Use words at home when you play hide-the-glove that you would use training to track. For example: let’s track, find it, sniff, where’s the glove, go find, track, smell, etc.
Read the AKC Regulations for Tracking—very important! Regulations can be ordered from the AKC website at www.akc.org.

EQUIPMENT FOR TRACKING

Here is a list of tracking equipment to get you started:

Non-restrictive tracking harness to fit your dog made of leather or nylon.
Flags to mark tracks (flags can be made of wood, PVC pipe, or wire—check with sprinkler system supply stores).
Turn stakes (or in a bushy area toilet paper, colored clothes pins, and surveyor’s colored tape can be used).
Tracking lead 30-40 feet long.
Gloves or wallets for the dog to track (preferably leather). You can use your dog’s favorite toy(s) to track with also.
Beginning articles (scarf, sock, eyeglass case, small piece of clothing, anything of a personal nature).
Gloves for yourself to keep your hands from rope burn (yes, some dogs can be very fast).
Clipboard, paper and pencils for mapping trails. Food and/or toy rewards.
Water for your dog and you (a small bottle to carry the water in while out on the track).
Tracklayer
Field
Dog
Your full concentration.
Emergency kit for you and your dog.

Optional equipment:

Fanny Pack or vest (I use a shooting vest)
Vaseline (for tracking in the snow) to put on your dog’s pads.
Compass
GPS
Wind Gauge
Thermometer

Please remember this is the only class that is not held Tuesday or Wednesday evenings at the West Jordan Armory.

What is Tracking?

By Kristie Rasmussen

Purpose of Tracking Tests

The Purpose of a Tracking Test is to demonstrate the dog’s ability to recognize and follow human scent; a skill that is useful in the service of mankind.

Tracking by its nature is a vigorous, noncompetitive outdoor sport. Tracking Tests should demonstrate the willingness and enjoyment of the dog in its work and should always represent the best in sportsmanship and camaraderie by the people involved.” (Quoted from AKC Tracking Regulations.)

Once you get the TD or TDU title on your dog, you can move directly to TDX and/or VST; no certifications are needed.

Some of the variables of the Tracking Dog Urban (TDU) title are: a track that is laid by a tracklayer between 400 and 500 yards that must consist of three to five turns and aged a minimum of 1/2 hour and a maximum of two hours. The track will have a minimum of two

different surfaces, vegetated and non-vegetated. The tracklayer leaves a start article, drops an intermediate article, and drops a leather glove or leather wallet at the end of the track for the dog to find. In order for your dog to enter a TDU test, they have to be certified by a

judge that they are ready to pass the variables. It is kind of like having to get two legs (or passing twice) for a TDU title. Once you get the TDU or TD title on your dog, you can move directly to TDX and/or VST; no certifications are needed.

There are a lot of great books and videos to help you get started. Here are some thoughts and ideas I put together concerning tracking, so get your dog and equipment together and get out and do something fun with your dog and build that bond.

Some Things You Should Know Before You Start

The scent trail is there, they become aware of it, and instinct urges them to follow it.

You must generate whatever level of enthusiasm the dog requires; then you may draw on his wholly natural wish to please you. Tracking is a win or lose situation—not a first or second place situation. It gives you a chance to learn from your dog.

A dog’s scent is 40-50% better than a human. Any dog has the potential to track.

Your dog does not have to know obedience for tracking. If you do want to use obedience, the only commands you will probably use are sit, down, stay, leave it, and a retrieve. The retrieve is not necessary for training tracking.

Some of the Dangers Involved in Tracking

The field can be dangerous. Fields are the dumping grounds of unwanted items, i.e. cans, broken bottles, bottle caps, garbage, etc.

There are the dangers of terrain: holes in the ground, small mole hills, and underground springs, grass that can cause problems for the dogs, i.e. foxtails and burrs.

If your dog is out of shape, take it slow and gradually increase his training. If you don’t your dog could end up ill.

Some Things to Start Your Dog’s Training for Tracking

When it becomes really easy for the dog to find the glove, make it harder. Hide the glove behind furniture (even try hiding the glove up at a higher level—maybe on the arm of a chair or back of a couch). This is when the dog begins to use their nose.

Read the AKC Regulations for Tracking—very important! Regulations can be ordered from the AKC website at www.akc.org.

EQUIPMENT FOR TRACKING

Here is a list of tracking equipment to get you started:

Non-restrictive tracking harness to fit your dog made of leather or nylon.

Flags to mark tracks (flags can be made of wood, PVC pipe, or wire—check with sprinkler system supply stores).

Turn stakes (or in a bushy area toilet paper, colored clothes pins, and surveyor’s colored tape can be used).

Tracking lead 30-40 feet long.

Gloves or wallets for the dog to track (preferably leather). You can use your dog’s favorite toy(s) to track with also.

Beginning articles (scarf, sock, eyeglass case, small piece of clothing, anything of a personal nature).

Gloves for yourself to keep your hands from rope burn (yes, some dogs can be very fast).

Clipboard, paper and pencils for mapping trails. Food and/or toy rewards.

Water for your dog and you (a small bottle to carry the water in while out on the track).

Tracklayer

Field

Dog

Your full concentration.

Emergency kit for you and your dog.

Optional equipment:

Fanny Pack or vest (I use a shooting vest)

Vaseline (for tracking in the snow) to put on your dog’s pads.

Compass

GPS

Wind Gauge

Thermometer

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