Tracking

AKC tracking events are the competition form of canine search & rescue. These Tracking events provide training for dogs and their handlers to meet some human needs for tracking and finding lost humans or other animals, as well as, demonstrating the extremely high level of scent capability that dogs possess.  Unfortunately, at this time the DOCOH is not offering any tracking classes.

There are four tracking titles your dog can obtain, Tracking Dog (TD), Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX), Variable Surface Tracker (VST), and Champion Tracker (CT).

Tracking Titles

Tracking Dog (TD)

The Tracking Dog (TD) test is the entry level test with a short, but challenging track ending with a glove for the dog to find 30 minutes to 2 hours after the track was laid. The fundamental feature of a Tracking Test are the dog’s ability to follow a track laid by a person under a variety of conditions on moderate terrain and find an article dropped by that person.  To earn this title, the dog must be certified by two judges as having passed a licensed tracking test/TD or combined TD/VST.

Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX)

Substantially more difficult, this test requires the dog to follow scent over extensive terrain and through many obstacles, such as woods and plowed fields, while discriminating between tracks of other humans, while indicating 4 different articles left on the track 3-5 hours before.  The fundamental feature of a Tracking Test/TDX is to show unquestionably that the dog has the ability to discriminate scent and possesses the stamina, perseverance and courage to do so under a wide variety of conditions.  The TD title must be earned first.  To earn this title, the dog must be certified by two judges as having passed a licensed tracking test/TDX or combined TDX/VST.

Variable Surface Tracker (VST)

The test requires dogs to follow aged scent over several surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete, bricks, vegetation, etc., while indicating plastic, metal, leather and fabric articles left on the track 3-5 hours before.  The Variable Surface Tracking Test is a test of credibility, verifying the dog's ability to recognize and follow human scent while adapting to changing scenting conditions.  Either the TD or the TDX title must be earned first.  To earn this title, the dog must be certified by two judges as having passed a licensed tracking test/VST, combined TD/VST, combined TDX/VST, or combined TD/TDX/VST.

Champion Tracker (CT)

Once all three of the above titles are obtained, the title of Champion Tracker is awarded.