Tracking
IT'S ALL ABOUT TRUSTING THE DOG!
Tracking is a wonderful event to become involved in as it's one of the few events where the dog has total control.
Tracking is harnessing the dog's ability to scent with his keen nose, find a specific scent track and receive a reward when he finds the end of that scent track.
Any dog that is registered with Dogs Victoria is eligible to enter a tracking trial. No obedience qualifications are necessary. Clearly, it is not advisable to enter a trial until the dog has been trained so that it is likely to pass Test 1 which involves finding the tracklayer at the end of a trail of 400 metres with two turns.
The Bendigo Obedience Dog Club strongly supports our members to attend a tracking workshop before commencing training in Tracking and Track and Search.
WORKSHOPS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATION ON SCENT AND HOW SCENT WORKS ARE RECOMMENDED. This will provide the basis of understanding what your dog is doing. It will also enable you to TRUST YOUR DOG AND NOT TRY TO CONTROL WHAT THE DOG IS DOING.
The club holds tracking workshops and provide support for training and trialling for all our members.
The club has a number of members actively participating in this sport and can offer a lot of assistance to anyone wishing to discover how to train yourself and your dog for tracking trials. We focus on understanding how scent behaves in different environments, learning to read your dog's body language and focus more on letting the dog lead, rather than pushing the dog in the direction you think it should be going. As a handler there are no tricks to learn, just knowing your dog and the scent, and trusting the dog to take the lead and show you the way.
Titles
Tracking Dog (TD) Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) and Tracking Champion (TCh)
TRACKING DOG (T.D.)
Test 1 – Known Person
The dog is required to track a known person for approximately 400 metres, and the exhibitor shall nominate the Tracklayer.
The Track will have two changes of direction of between approximately 90 and 150 degrees, the first change of direction to be a minimum of 100 metres after the start.
One article will be placed on the Track, as nominated by the Judge; this article does not have to be indicated to gain a Pass.
The minimum time for the commencement of the track must be 20 minutes and themaximum 45 minutes, from the time the Track is laid.
The Tracklayer or final article must be found at the end of the Track for the dog to obtain a Pass.
Test 2 - Known Person
The dog is required to track a known person for approximately 800 metres, and the exhibitor shall nominate the Tracklayer.
The Track will have a minimum of 2 changes of direction of between approximately 90 degrees and 150 degrees. Two articles must be placed on the Track.
The minimum time for the commencement of the Track must be 30 minutes and the maximum 60 minutes, from the time the Track is laid.
A minimum of one article must be indicated by the dog to obtain a Pass.
The Tracklayer or Finish Article of the known person must be found at the end of the Track for a dog to obtain a Pass.
Test 3 - Unknown Person
The dog is required to track an unknown person for approximately 800 metres.
The Track will have a minimum of 2 changes of direction of between approximately 90 degrees and 150 degrees. Two articles must be placed on the Track.
Time lapse for Track must be the same as Test 2. A minimum of one article must be indicated by the dog to obtain a Pass.
The Tracklayer or Finish Article must be found at the end of the Track for a dog to obtain a Pass.
TRACKING DOG EXCELLENT (T.D.X.)
Test 4 - Unknown Person
The dog is required to track an unknown person for approximately 1,000 metres.
The Track will have a minimum of 4 changes of direction of between approximately 90 degrees and 150 degrees. Three articles must be placed on the Track.
The minimum time lapse for the commencement of this Track must be 60 minutes and the maximum 120 minutes, from the time the Track is laid.
A minimum of two articles must be indicated by the dog to obtain a Pass.
The Tracklayer or Finish Article must be found at the end of the Track for a dog to obtain a Pass.
Test 5 - Unknown Person
This will be similar to Test. 4 except that the Track must be crossed twice by Cross Tracks and one or two unknown persons may lay these.
The Cross Track/s should be laid approximately 30 minutes after the original Tracklayer has passed.
A minimum of two articles must be indicated by the dog to obtain a Pass.
Test 6 - Unknown Person
The dog is required to track an unknown person for approximately 1,200 metres.
The Track will have a minimum of 5 changes of directions: one of these must be between 45 degrees and 90 degrees. The other changes of directions will be between approximately 90 degrees and 150 degrees
The first change of direction will be in accordance with diagrams 1 or 2. Three articles must be placed on the Track.
The Track shall be crossed twice by Cross Tracks and one or two unknown persons may lay these.
The Cross Tracks must be laid approximately 30 minutes after the original Tracklayer has passed.
The minimum time lapse for the commencement of the Track must be 60 minutes and the maximum 180 minutes, from the time the Track was laid.
A minimum of two articles must be indicated by the dog to obtain a Pass.
The Tracklayer or Finish Article must be found at the end of the Track for the dog to obtain a Pass.
TRACKING CHAMPION TEST
Test 7 – Unknown person
The dog is required to track an unknown person for approximately 1,200 metres.
The Track will have a minimum of six changes of direction; two of these will be between approximately 45 degrees and 90 degrees, all other changes of directions will be between approximately 90 degrees and 150 degrees, the first change of direction to be no less than one hundred (100) metres from the start.
Three articles must be placed on the Track; a minimum of two articles must be indicated by the dog to obtain a Pass
The start must be a minimum of thirty (30) metres from roads, fences, rivers or other permanent barriers. There will be a small marking flag where the Tracklayer will start from to enable them to line up with the next flag on the Track. The Tracklayer will take this marker flag with them. The starting line flags will remain.
A minimum of thirty (30) metres before the starting line, the Tracklayer will place one of his scented articles in a clean sealable bag. He may place this bag in a clean, unscented, individual air-tight container supplied by the Judge or his nominee. The Judge will, when the track has aged sufficiently, take the Handler and Dog to approximately thirty (30) metres from the starting line open the container, if used, and the scented article is removed by the Handler, who is then free to start tracking.
There will be two Cross Tracks that may be laid by one or two unknown persons. Cross tracks will be laid according to the Judge’s direction. The Cross Tracks must be laid approximately 30 minutes after the original Tracklayer has passed.
The minimum time lapse for the commencement of the Track must be 90 minutes and the maximum 180 minutes, from the time the original Tracklayer crosses the starting line.
The Tracklayer or Finish Article must be found at the end of the Track for a dog to obtain a Pass.
Test 8 – Unknown person
The dog is required to track an unknown person for approximately 1,200 metres.
The Track will have a minimum of six changes of direction; two of these will be between approximately 45 degrees and 90 degrees, all other changes of directions will be between approximately 90 degrees and 150 degrees, the first change of direction to be no less than one hundred (100) metres from the start.
Three articles must be placed on the Track; a minimum of two articles must be indicated by the dog to obtain a Pass
The start must be a minimum of thirty (30) metres from roads, fences, rivers or other permanent barriers. There will be a small marking flag where the Tracklayer will start from to enable them to line up with the next flag on the Track. The Tracklayer will take this marker flag with them. The starting line flags will remain.
A minimum of thirty (30) metres before the starting line, the Tracklayer will place one of his scented articles in a clean sealable bag. He may place this bag in a clean, unscented, individual air-tight container supplied by the Judge or his nominee. The Judge will, when the track has aged sufficiently, take the Handler and Dog to approximately thirty (30) metres from the starting line open the container, if used, and the scented article is removed by the Handler, who is then free to start tracking.
There will be two Cross Tracks that may be laid by one or two unknown persons. Cross tracks will be laid according to the Judge’s direction.
The Cross Tracks must be laid approximately 30 minutes after the original Tracklayer has passed.
The minimum time lapse for the commencement of the Track must be 90 minutes and the maximum 180 minutes, from the time the original Tracklayer crosses the starting line.
The Tracklayer or Finish Article must be found at the end of the Track for a dog to obtain a Pass.
For more information on tracking competitions and rules, please refer to the BODC Trials Page - Starting to Trial (Compete).
Contact Details
Bendigo Obedience Dog Club Inc
Training Ground:
Finn Street Recreation Reserve, Bendigo Vic 3550
Postal Address:
PO Box 2396, Bendigo Mail Centre, Bendigo 3554
For enquiries please contact: Heather - 0409 429 972
Alternatively you can email your enquiry.