Chris, the best long coated german shepherd ever ;) , tracking in Stevensville, Ontario.

CKC Tracking in Canada - Rules and Regulations

Ontario Contacts - Official CKC

CKC Tracking Rep for Ontario - Jane Book

http://www.jbdogschool.com/

CKC Tracking Titles and Tests

We have 4 separate tracking tests. The TD Tracking Dog is the prerequisite for entering TDX - Tracking Dog Excellent and UTD Urban Tracking Dog tests. The UTD is the prerequisite for entering a UTDX Urban Tracking Dog Excellent test.

If you earn all four titles with the same dog, the dog is then a Tracking Champion :) 

Tracking Dog - Basic Rules

The Dog must be on a lead - minimum 3 m to 15 m (meters). Min. handler to dog distance is 3 meters, but the dog should be at the end of the lead most times.

At the Start the dog should be given ample time to take the scent from the trampled starting point.

There is no time limit provided the dog is working. If the dog is off track and clearly not working then there is no requirment to wait the dog will fail the track.

A dog that is 20 meters off the track and still working may be allowed to continue, if the dog is off by more than 20 meters he should receive a fail. In UTD and UTDX this distance is 40 meters.

The article must be found by the dog - the manner of indication - retrieving or indicating is left to the discretion of the handler.

If the dog is wearing a harness the leash must be attached to the harness, if the dog is wearing a slip collar, it must be attached to the dead ring.

The handler can carry a bottle of water (sealed) which can be examined by the judge prior to the start. This water may be offered to the dog at any of the articles, after the article has been shown to the judge.

To restart the dog after watering the handler may only give verbal encouragement.

TD - Track Specifications

Length: 400 meters - 450 meters

Age: 30 mins to 2 hours

Scent/ Article: the tracklayer, who will leave a leather glove, wallet or other leather article (approved by judge) at the end of the track.

Turns: must be away from boundaries that could guide the dog. 5 turns max, 2 must be right angles, no acute angles.

Xtracks: None

Surface: Vegetated surface with minor changes in cover.

Volunteer at a Tracking Trial

Knowing the rules is important; but even more so understanding the work that goes into setting up and running a trial. There is no better preparation for your first trial than volunteering at a tracking trial. If you are ready then volunteer as a track layer; if not then volunteer to help the track layers and judge to prepare the trial.

Before trial day the Judge meets with the local club secretary to review the fields available for the trial. Fields are selected and tracks plotted. This means each track is assigned a tracklayer; judge and tracklayer walk the track together, while the judge designs the track to meet CKC rules and the local needs.

How many field are available? Some fields may not be usable due to flodding or having been mowed, or perhaps the land owner does not wish them to be used. It's not easy to find good fields, so clubs have to make dues with what they can 'get'.

A lot of experience and mental exercise goes into plotting the tracks correctly. Both Judge and tracklayer create their own maps of the track - then on the trial day track layers return to their track at the designated time (see age requirements for tracks) to lay the proper track, remove the stakes and place the articles.

When the team starts their track, the tracklayer and judge follow the team; and the tracklayer may just have to find those articles, if the dog does not. Teams that fail are always given the opportiunity to complete their track - though the judge very likely has to move on to the next track. This means as a tracklayer you may have to help restart the dog, by finding the 2nd or 3rd leg, if the team has strayed far off course.

Little wonder then that when you pass your track, the first one to give you a hug or big pat on the shoulder will your track layer ;) !

---

TDX Track Specifications

Length: 900 meters - 1000 meters

Age: 3 hours - 5 hours

Scent/ Article: article 1 no less than 250 meters from the start, 2nd at irregular interval between first and thrid, 3rd article at the end.

Turns: must be away from boundaries that could guide the dog. 5 - 8 turns - no acute angles less than 45%..

Xtracks: A second person lays the cross track which crosses the main track at two places. One hour after the primary track has been completed. 90 degree angle to track.

Surface: Varying Vegetated Surface, cross a road, use of wooded area is permissible.

Article Indication: The dog must find the last article and one other.

Cross tracks - Dog: The dog must not follow the cross tracks more than 20 meters.

---

Being a Track Layer

Sometimes it is a lot easier to read a dogs body language from further away than if you are at the end of the leash - especially if you know where the track is.

On occasion as I follow the dog handler team with the judge I find myself wanting to shout enthusiastically - go! go with your dog ;)

At one trial though - the dogs first indication to the left was somewhat half hearted - second indication of the corner was far more confident and that's it! the track goes here to the right.

Had I not known the track went the other way, I would have done the same and followed the dog to the right. Perhaps the shallow water to the left had an impact on the dogs descision? The handlers hesitation in following? Perhaps the handler turned right a bit more or looked trying to decide which direction was the mroe likely one?

Nothing gives you better experience for your own training than being a track layer in a trial. I definately train with my dogs for being a dunce on trial day ; )

Just make sure you bring a least one set of extra clothing, it usually rains heavily on Saturdays, when we are out plotting the tracks. ;)

---

Urban Tracking Test UTD Track Specifications

Length: 300 meters - 400 meters

Age: 1 hour - 2 hours

Article: 2 articles. 1st not less than 100 meters from start. 2nd at the end of the track. One article must be left on non vegetated surface. No penalty for indicating additional articles not left by track layer.

Turns: 3-5 turns, left and right, at least 2 are 90 degree turns, none may be acute. One turn on non-vegetated surface.

Xtracks: none except those that will occur in the urban environment.

Obstacles: None, obstacles would be guardrails, fences, stairs (no more than 2 steps) open buildings. The track may go thru underpasses and under bridges.

Surface: 2/3 rd of the track on vegetated surface, 1/3 not less than 100 meters on non vegetated. 1st 25 meters are on vegetation.

Urban Tracking Dog Excellent Test UTDX Track Specifications

Length: 600 meters - 750 meters

Age: 3 hours - 5 hours

Article: 3 articles. 1st not less than 100 meters from start. 2nd at irregular interval between first and thrid, 3rd article at the end. At least one article must be left on non vegetated surface. No penalty for indicating additional articles not left by track layer.

Turns: 5 - 7 turns, left and right, at least one 90 degree turn on non vegetated surfaces and plotted such that the new leg remains on non vegetated surface for at least 25 meters. No acute angles less than 45 degrees.

Xtracks: none except those that will occur in the urban environment.

Obstacles: obstacles are permitted and could be guardrails, stairs, open buildings. No track may enter a closed building.

Surface: 1/3 no more than 1/2 on non vegetated. Remainder on vegetated surfaces. 1st 25 meters are on vegetation.

Restarts

If the handler has reason the believe that their dog has not taken scent properly then you may restart provided the dog has not passed the second marker in the TD and is not more than 5 meters away from the start in the TDX. As well one restart is permitted in UTD and UTDX provided the dog has not gone more than 10 meters from the start.

The most striking mistake handlers make is that they will step up to the start flag; and stand right next to it; effectively trampeling all over the start scent pad. Train yourself to keep well away from the starting flag !