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Next
Meeting |
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September 4, 2008 |
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7:00pm |
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| “Tracking,
by nature, is a vigorous, noncompetitive outdoor sport.
Tracking tests 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." |
The above quote from the American Kennel Club
regulations defines tracking and explains it very simply.
Tracking is a team effort, between the dog and his handler,
to find the missing article at the end of the track. Tracking
is a noncompetitive sport. Everyone encourages the team
to find that article and be successful.
There are three levels of tracking,
and all are noncompetitive, but have increasing levels
of difficulty. The dog must be at least six months of
age on the day of his first test. The team must pass
a certification track prior to entering a tracking test.
A tracking judge observes the team and award them the
certification slips to send in with the entry for the
tracking test.
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The first level is the TD, Tracking Dog title.
The team, composed of dog with the handler following behind
on a 40 foot line, must follow an unknown track of between
440-500 yards which has been aged between 30 and 120 minutes,
has three to five turns and find the glove at the end
of the track. There is a start flag and another flag 30
yards down the first leg of the track to give the team
the direction of the track. Upon successful completion
of this test, the dog may add the initials, T.D. after
his name for Tracking Dog.
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The second level is the TDX, Tracking Dog Excellent
title. This is substantially more difficult, being longer,
having obstacles, more articles to find, and the track
is aged from three to five hours. The team must follow
the scent over extensive terrain and through obstacles
such as woods, plowed fields, crossing roads, ravines
and discriminating between tracks of other humans, and
indicating the four articles that have been left on the
track by the tracklayer. There is only one start flag
so it is up to the dog and handler to find the correct
direction. This track normally has five to seven turns
and is from 700-900 yards long. The dog, upon successful
completion of this test, adds the initials TDX after his
name.
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The
third level is the VST, Variable Surface Tracking title.
This is the newest test and is to simulate more of an
urban search and rescue. The test requires the team to
follow the scent over several surfaces, such as asphalt,
concrete, vegetation, mulch, rocks, bricks, while indicating
plastic, metal, leather, and fabric articles left on the
track three to five hours before by the tracklayer. Upon
completion of this test, the dog may add the initials
VST after his name.
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| The
dogs entering TDX and VST tests must have the TD title.
Upon completion of all three titles, the dog may have
the initials C T added in front of his name for Champion
Tracker. |
For
more information about tracking visit the AKC
web site's tracking page.
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In Kansas City, we are lucky to have the large area at Smithville Lake for our tracking tests. Our TD and TDX tests are on lovely Corps of Engineers property. Our club holds a double TDX test (12 dogs) the last weekend in February, a double TD test (24 dogs) the first weekend in March and a combined test of 4 TD/4 TDX and a full TDX (6 dogs) the first weekend of November. We also hold a spring and fall 5 dog VST test. We have a very close-knit group of folks involved in tracking and are always ready to welcome newcomers. There is assistance available for new trackers, and frequently there will be several informal groups of people tracking on weekends in this area.
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