Tracking

What is "tracking?"

A dog is "tracking" when he is following the scent trail left by a human being (or other animal) that has passed along a certain route. Following a track is one of the many useful things dogs can do to help humans. Hounds track game, rescue dogs track lost children, police dogs track suspects, well trained pets can find lost items. Many dog owners are involved in tracking with their dogs as a hobby (for fun) or as a sport (to earn titles), or both. In the United States and Canada, tracking titles are offered by a variety of dog organizations.

Tracking Requirements

There are now 4 Tracking titles awarded by the CKC: TD or Tracking Dog, and the more difficult, advanced tests: TDX or Tracking Dog Excellent, UTD or Urban Tracking Dog and UTDX or Urban Tracking Dog Excellent. A TD title is a prerequisite for entering TDX and UTD tests; a UTD is a prerequisite for entering a UTDX test. A dog which has earned all 4 CKC tracking titles (TD, TDX, UTD, UTDX) will be awarded the title of Tracking Champion (TCh).

Unlike obedience where the dog must pass three times before being awarded a CKC title, you need pass only one test to earn a tracking title.

TD & TDX

At the TD level, the dog is required to follow a stranger's track, which must be at least a half-hour old (but no more than 2 hours old). This track is about 450 meters long, has 2 to 4 turns, and has a leather article at the end - usually a glove. The start of the track is indicated by a pole, and there is a second pole that indicates the direction of the first "leg" of the track. The dog must follow the track and indicate that he has found the article in order to pass the test. An "indication" usually means that the dog will sit or lie down by the article. Some dogs are taught to retrieve any found articles. Either is acceptable.

At the TDX level, only the start of the track is indicated by a pole. This track is about 900 meters long and at least 3 hours old (no more than 5 hours old). It has 5 or more turns, is laid over varying terrain, may cross a road, and is crossed in two places by a second track-layer one hour after the primary track is laid. There are two articles along the track, and a third at the end. The dog may not follow the cross-tracks, and must find the last article as well as one of the first two in order to earn a TDX title.

Urban Tracking Tests

The CKC’s Urban Tracking tests provide challenging scenting scenarios for the advanced tracking dog, without the need for 10 acres of farmland for each track. Without the restrictions imposed by farmers’ growing seasons, these advanced tests may be available during months that TD and TDX tests are not feasible.

UTD – Urban Tracking Dog

Prerequisite: TD

Track Length: 300 - 400 m

Track Age: 1 - 2 hours

Articles: 2 (both must be located by the dog). The first article may be fabric, wood or plastic, the last shall be leather. Articles shall be approx. 16 - 24 square inches in size. One article shall be left on a non-vegetated surface. The dog will not be penalized/failed for indicating additional articles that were not left by the tracklayer.

Terrain: Urban areas such as office parks, industrial parks, campuses, schools, etc. Approximately 2/3 of the track shall be on vegetation, the other 1/3 (no less than 100 m) shall be on non-vegetated surfaces such as gravel, dirt, sand, mulch, brick, concrete or asphalt. The first 30 meters of the track shall be on vegetation.

Turns: 3-5, both left & right, at least 2 are 90 degrees, no acutes. One turn shall be on a non-vegetated surface.

Obstacles: none

Crosstracks: none plotted, but naturally occurring crosstracks are to be expected in an urban environment, so if they should happen, they will not invalidate the track.

UTDX – Urban Tracking Dog Excellent

Prerequisite: UTD

Track Length: 600 - 750 m

Track Age: 3 - 5 hours

Articles: 3 (all must be located by the dog). The first and second may be fabric, wood, plastic or metal; the last shall be leather. Articles shall be approx. 16 - 24 square inches in size. At least one article shall be left on a non-vegetated surface. The dog will not be penalized/failed for indicating additional articles that were not left by the tracklayer.

Terrain: Urban areas such as office parks, industrial parks, campuses, schools, etc. A minimum of 1/3 and a maximum of 1/2 of the track shall be on non-vegetated surfaces such as gravel, dirt, sand, mulch, brick, concrete or asphalt. The remaining parts of the track shall be on vegetation. The first 30 meters of the track shall be on vegetation.

Turns: 5 - 7, both left & right, no acute angles less than 45 degrees. One 90 degree turn shall occur in a non-vegetated area with no vegetation, fences or buildings within 25 m of the turn.

Obstacles: guardrails, stairs, open buildings (ie. breezeways, gazebos, parking garages) are permitted. No track may enter a closed building.

Crosstracks: none plotted, but naturally occurring crosstracks are to be expected in an urban environment, so if they should happen, they will not invalidate the track.

Championship Title:

A dog which has earned all 4 CKC tracking titles (TD, TDX, UTD, UTDX) shall be awarded the title of Tracking Champion. The initials TCh may be displayed in front of the dog’s name.