Upcoming events: August 9th - VST, Durham, NH

Results: TD/TDX Sept 2005          Photos: Track Plotting Day 2006 Results: TD/TDX Sept 2006                          TD/TDX 2006

Tracking

Tracking, simply put, is an activity in which a dog follows the scent of a human being. The dog begins at a person's known starting point and follows that person's path. Tracking dogs are used to find lost persons, but tracking can also be a fascinating and enjoyable pastime for you and your dog.

In a tracking test, the dog and handler follow a path laid by a stranger. The track is approximately 450 yards long, contains several turns and is at least one-half hour old. The dog and handler know where the track starts but do not know where it goes. The dog must follow the track and find a glove dropped by the stranger at the end of the track. The dog that successfully completes the track earns the title Tracking Dog (T.D.).

Tracking Equipment

The equipment you need for tracking is minimal compared to other dog sports. You need a dog. A tracking harness, available from some of the pet supply catalogues or pet supply stores; a 30 to 40 foot leash; a couple of articles (a glove and a wallet); a couple of flags (two are enough to start). 3 foot wooden or metal dowels form the lumber yard are fine, just tie some surveying tape at the top for visibility. And some easy-to-eat dog treats. And of course a grassy field.

Tracking Tests

There are three levels of tracking test, the TD, the TDX for excellent, and the Variable Surface Tracking . When you have earned all three you have earned a Tracking Championship. We encourage you to write to the AKC for the current copy of the TRACKING REGULATIONS form The American Kennel Club, 51 Madison Ave. New York, N.Y. 10010. Also an excellent how to book is available from the Tracking Club of Massachusetts: 438 Lowell St, Wakefield, MA 01880.

TRACKING - GETTING STARTED

Step 1
Learn To Walk A Straight Line

Using 2 flags, pick out an object in the distance, put a flag in by your left leg, keep your eye on the object and walk 30 or so paces toward that object, put the second flag in by your left leg, walk another 30 or so paces and turn around. Are the flags in line? Back track to the first flag, are the flags in line with the object? If not keep practicing until the flags do line up. This will be the set up for all beginning tracks. 2 flags about 30 paces apart and continue straight in the same direction.

Step 2
Converting Your Paces Into Yards

Put a stake in the ground at the back of your heel and walk 10 paces, put a stake in at the front of your toe. Turn and walk back to the start, counting your paces. Do this down and back again. Average your paces for the 4 walks. Measure between the stakes in yards and you will know how many yards per 10 paces. Walk naturally, do not shorten or lengthen your normal stride. One way to convert is to divide your total paces by 10 then multiply by the number of yards, example: If 10 paces = 8 yards, and the track is 350 paces. 350 divided by 10 =35 x 8 = 280 yds. Or if you have an easier method for you, use it.

Step 3
How To Lay Basic Tracks

All basic tracks will be straight lines. Try not to have a track go directly into the wind as this will cause the dog to quarter. The first few tracks laid should have the wind coming toward you at an angle, but don't get hung up worrying about wind direction except where noted. All beginning tracks are back-walked and given in groups of three which maybe laid in a straight line one after the other, and on an angle into the wind, or they may be laid parallel with the first track upwind and each succeeding track laid at least 25 paces down wind from the preceding. As aging time increases you will find laying all three tracks before tracking the dog quicker since they can all be aged at once. You will need 6 flags to do this. As you get farther from the second flag note where the article is left. Pick out something different on the ground, color, texture, plant or such. Look to your left and right and line up on something you see in each direction then put your article down. You may want to make written notes. When the dog understands and is lowering his nose to track then lay a straight track without backtracking. After putting down the articles with goodies, walk 15 paces straight ahead then turn and walk downwind 50 paces, turn and return walking parallel to your track until you reach opposite but 15 or more paces beyond the starting flag. Go to your dog who no longer has to see the track laid. Try to track at least twice a week, especially until the dog understands.

Step 4
Starting Your Dog Tracking

Put the tracking harness on your dog when you get to the tracking site or when you leave him while you lay the track. Bring the dog to where you start the first track, put him on a sit stay, or stake him, facing in the direction on the track. Show him the article, in your hand, walk away 5 to 8 ft, plant the first flag, walk 30 paces and plant the second flag. Walk 10 more paces turn and face the dog. Get his attention, wave the glove, put it down, with a bit of food under it and on top of it. Return on the track you walked out on ( this is back-tracking ) , go to your dog, wait five minutes. Hook the lead on the rear D ring of the harness, and take him to the starting flag. Have him sit or down ( preferred ) hang your hand down near the ground in front of his nose ( not touching the nose or the ground ) swing it out in the direction of the track and give the command, Track, or Find It, or Seek. What ever you want to use as a tracking command. If your dog gets up to follow your hand, go with him saying "that's right, good dog." quietly. If he does not go, you start walking and encourage him with a hand signal, always close to the ground, not high, and command" find it", walking beside the track while keeping him on the track, with a short lead if necessary. If he runs off to the side do not follow him, stand still, encourage him back, give hand signal and command. some dogs will run right out straight, go with them but do not run, let the dog pull you. When the dog gets the article, give him lots of animated praise, play with the article, give him a goodie. Give 2 more tracks as above. If the dog is doing well, increase to 15 paces after the second flag on the next track, and 20 paces on the third track; all aged for 5 minutes. Remove the harness after he finds the article of the third track, let him play with the article but not destroy it. Take it from him and let him rest, tell him how great he is. End of first outing.

Step 5
Continuing Tracking

On the next two outings, more if needed, follow the instructions above, except keep the three tracks at 30 yds plus 20 paces and increase the age to 10 minutes for the second outing and 15 minutes for the third. By the fourth time out try leaving your dog in the car while you lay track, instead of letting him watch.. Continue as above for the fourth, fifth and sixth outings, keeping the tracks the same length but increasing the age of the track by 5 minutes. Now the age is 30 minutes. Now start increasing length of the track but keep the age the same. When the dog is doing 50 yards well, lengthen the track and give only one with no backtracking. When the dog can do a 100 yard and more straight track easily, aged for 30 minutes to an hour it is time to introduce corners. This lesson willl be in the next newsletter. Remember, adapt this schedule to your dog, do not hesitate to repeat former tracks and age if the dog is having trouble. Increase the age and distance only of the dog is doing well. Push him on, do not keep him back if he is happy. Do not give him verbal praise while he is tracking, it is distracting. Give encouragement only if he seems at a loss and lots of praise at the end. Keep enough tension on the lead so that he doesn't get jerked when you have to stop him. A note about field trained dogs: when you yell for their attention and wave the glove do not use field type yells, put the glove down do not drop it. Learn to read your dog, watch him closely, know when he is tracking, note his nose down and tail wagging. A sure sign he understands is when he runs across the track, catches scent, stops suddenly, returns with his nose down to the track and moves forward! Good luck, I hope you'll try this.

Many thanks to Ray Desmarais and Mirasol Golden Retrievers for the preceding information and pictures regarding track