Track and Search Dog Trials

To compete in Track & Search, your dog will need to have achieved its Tracking Champion title.

Extracts from the ANKC Rules for Track and Search

The Track & Search Dog tests should be a test of credibility, verifying the dog’s ability to recognize and follow human scent while adapting to changing scenting conditions.
The tests should be as close as possible to a life-like situation, where a dog is used to find a missing person and therefore the test should be as realistic as possible while demonstrating the dog’s willingness and enthusiasm to follow a specific scent.
The tests require the dog to work on varied surfaces including gravel, sand, paved surfaces, and roads as well as bush. Tracks should be laid so as to represent the meanderings of a lost person and not always be ‘straight line’ tracks. Tracks should be as natural as possible, bearing in mind that lost children are drawn to playgrounds, while adults are drawn to buildings to seek help.
 

Tracks may cross small streams or shallow bodies of water, roads [but not include major roads] and may be laid in contaminated areas which may include houses, bridges, shelters, stairs and ramps, parking areas or similar structures. Light Vehicle & Pedestrian traffic including other dogs walking on lead should not be avoided.

Some interesting equipment differences to note

• Articles should represent articles made of substances used in everyday life that an average child or adult might carry and drop; i.e. Wallet, purse, mobile phone, sunglasses, notebook, bunch of keys, soft toy, shoe or cap etc.
• The starting article should be an article of clothing (i.e. T-shirt, cap or shoe).
• For urban night tracks, the handler must wear high visibility clothing and a night light worn on the head.
• A dog must wear safety equipment and may wear protective clothing in a Trial

Differences in relation to surfaces used:

• The tests will require the dog to work on varied surfaces including gravel, sand, paved surfaces, and roads as well as bush. Tests 1-4 shall have a ratio of approximately 75% vegetated surfaces and 25% non-vegetated surfaces.
• Vegetated and non-vegetated surfaces may alternate throughout the track : the ratio of 75% to 25% refers to the totals for the track.
• Tracks should be laid so as to represent the meanderings of a lost person and not always be ‘straight line’ tracks.
• Urban Tracks Tests 5-6 should be as natural as possible, bearing in mind that lost children are drawn to playgrounds, while adults are drawn to buildings to seek help.

Track and Search Dog (TSD)
Test 1

• The dog is required to track an unknown person over a trail of approximately 800 metres of varied surfaces which may include vegetation, sand, gravel limestone or similar.
• The Track will have 4 changes of direction of approximately 90 degrees.
• 30 minutes after the main tracklayer has commenced the track, the first part of the Track will be re-walked by a diversion Tracklayer. The diversion Tracklayer shall follow the Track making a 90 degree turn approximately 100 metres from the start of the Track.
• The start flag and all other flags indicating the direction of the track up to the point where the diversion Tracklayer makes their turn, will be left in position by the main Tracklayer. The diversion Tracklayer will remove the start flag and all other flags up to the point where the main Tracklayer has continued on. The starting line flags will remain.
• The Judge will, when the track has aged sufficiently take the Handler and the dog to approximately 30 metres from the starting line, hand or indicate the unopened bag to the Handler and inform him that he is free to start tracking.
• The dog will be in harness and must hunt for the track by free quartering off-lead or searching on-lead (fixed collar). When the dog has indicated to the handler that it has located the track, the dog must be stopped sufficiently to allow the tracking lead to be fastened onto the harness. The dog must then follow the track to its conclusion.
• The dog must ignore the diversion scent and not depart from the track more than 10 metres and must work to the main Tracklayer. Failure to do so will result in a fail.
• The dog shall be started 60 minutes after the main track has been laid.
• There will be 2 articles placed on the track. The tracklayer must be found at the end of the track to obtain a pass.

Track and Search Dog (TSD)
Test 2

• The dog is required to track an unknown person over a trail of approximately 800 metres of varied surfaces which may include vegetation, sand, gravel limestone or similar.
• The Track will have 4 changes of direction of approximately 90 degrees.
• Part of the Track will be walked or crossed by 2 unknown (diversion) Tracklayers. The main Tracklayer shall follow the Track accompanied by the first diversion Tracklayer, the diversion Tracklayer making a 90 degree turn at approximately 50 metres from the start of the Track while the main Tracklayer continues on. 30 minutes after the main Tracklayer has commenced the track, the second diversion Tracklayer shall cross the track at right angles not less than 150 metres from the start.
• The start flag will be removed by the main Tracklayer. The starting line flags will remain.
• The Judge will, when the track has aged sufficiently take the Handler and the dog to approximately 30 metres from the starting line, hand or indicate the unopened bag to the Handler and inform him that he is free to start tracking.
• The dog will be in harness but and must hunt for the track by free quartering off-lead or searching on-lead (fixed collar). When the dog has indicated to the handler that it has located the track, the dog must be stopped sufficiently to allow the tracking lead to be fastened onto the harness. The dog must then follow the track to its conclusion.
• The dog must ignore the diversion scent and not depart from the track more than 10 metres and must work to the main Tracklayer. Failure to do so will result in a fail.
• The minimum time for the commencement of the track must be is 120 minutes and the maximum 240 minutes from the time the track is laid.
• There will be 2 articles placed on the track. The tracklayer must be found at the end of the track to obtain a pass.

Track and Search Dog (TSD)
Test 3

• The dog is required to track an unknown person over a trail of approximately 1000 metres of varied surfaces which may include vegetation, sand, gravel, limestone or similar.
• The Track will have 5 changes of direction of approximately 90 degrees.
• The Track will be crossed by 2 unknown diversion Tracklayers at any point along the track however the Track cannot be crossed twice on the same leg or on the 1st leg of the track.
• The diversion tracks will be laid as soon as the main Tracklayer has completed the main track.
• The start flag will be removed by the Tracklayer. The starting line flags will remain.
• A minimum of 3 people, including the main Tracklayer will wander over and around the
• general area of the starting line. The main Tracklayer will then commence walking the track,
• while the other remaining members of the group shall move away from the area.
• The Judge will, when the track has aged sufficiently take the Handler and the dog to
• approximately 30 metres from the starting line, hand or indicate the unopened bag to the Handler and inform him that he is free to start tracking.
• The dog will be in harness and must hunt for the track by free quartering off-lead or searching on-lead (fixed collar). When the dog has indicated to the handler that it has located the track, the dog must be stopped sufficiently to allow the tracking lead to be fastened onto the harness. The dog must then follow the track to its conclusion.
• The dog must ignore the diversion scents and not depart from the track more than 10 metres and must work to the main Tracklayer. Failure to do so will result in a fail.
• The minimum time for the commencement of the track must be 120 minutes and the
• maximum 240 minutes from the time the track is laid.
• There will be 2 Articles placed on the track. The tracklayer must be found at the end of the track to obtain a pass.

Track and Search Dog Excellent (TSDX)
Test 4
 

• The dog is required to track an unknown person over a trail of approximately 1200 metres of varied terrain & vegetation. The track should follow a dirt road or trail for a part of the distance, have at least 4 turns and generally meander as a lost person may do. It should cross at least one paved or gravel road, stream or shallow body of water.
• This track should start in a likely contaminated point such as a road-end. If the area is not subject to foot traffic, two deliberate fresh cross tracks are to be laid by unknown Tracklayers who should cross the track just prior to the dog and handler working the track.
• The Judge will, when the track has aged sufficiently take the Handler and the dog to approximately 30 metres from the starting line, hand or indicate the unopened bag to the Handler and inform him that he is free to start tracking.
• The dog should be in harness and search for the track on a long lead and collar and once it indicates the track the handler is to clip the lead on to the harness and follow the dog to the conclusion of the track.
• The dog must ignore the diversion scents and not depart from the track more than 10 metres and must work to the main Tracklayer. Failure to do so will result in a fail.
• The minimum time for the commencement of the track must be 120 minutes to a maximum of 240 minutes from the time the track is laid.
• There will be 2 Articles on the track. The tracklayer must be found at the end of the track to obtain a pass.

Track and Search Dog Excellent (TSDX)
Test 5 [Urban Track]

• The dog is required to track an unknown person over a trail of approximately 800 metres of varied surfaces including tar-sealed roads, pavements, grass and foot trails. It should include distractions such as parked cars, light vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
• The Track should be laid utilizing any and all structures on site to ensure that dogs are able to handle the diffusion of scent created by these structures. Tracks may be laid in close proximity to buildings and fences.
• There should be no more than 5 turns and at least 3 turns shall be on non-vegetated surfaces.
• The exact start point of the track should be known to the handler i.e. a residential gateway, front door or car door. The track should not cross a main road.
• Every care should be taken when working the dog in traffic and to shorten the lead if necessary, ensuring the safety of the dog should it attempt to cross a busy road.
• The dog should work regardless of any distractions.
• The Judge will, when the track has aged sufficiently take the Handler and the dog to approximately 30 metres from the starting point, hand the unopened bag to the Handler and inform him that he is free to start tracking.
• The dog should be in harness and search for the track on a long lead and collar and once it indicates the track, the handler is to clip the lead on to the harness and follow the dog to the conclusion of the track.
• The minimum time for the commencement of the track must be 120 minutes and the maximum 240 minutes from the time the track is laid.
• There will be no articles on this track. The tracklayer must be found at the end of the track to obtain a pass.

Track and Search Dog Excellent (TSDX)
Test 6 [Urban Evening/Night Track]

• The dog is required to track an unknown person over a trail of approximately 800 metres of varied surfaces including tar-sealed roads, pavements, grass and foot trails. It should include distractions such as parked cars, light vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
• The Track should be laid utilizing any and all structures on site to ensure that dogs are able to handle the diffusion of scent created by these structures. Tracks may be laid in close proximity to buildings and fences.
• There should be no more than 5 turns and at least 3 turns shall be on non-vegetated surfaces.
• The exact start point of the track should be known to the handler i.e. a residential gateway, front door or car door. The track should not cross a main road.
• Every care should be taken when working the dog in traffic and to shorten the lead if necessary, ensuring the safety of the dog should it attempt to cross a busy road.
• The dog should work regardless of any distractions.
• The Judge will, when the track has aged sufficiently take the Handler and the dog to approximately 30 metres from the starting point, hand the unopened bag to the Handler inform him that he is free to start tracking.
• The dog should be in harness and search for the track on a long lead and collar and once it indicates the track the handler is to clip the lead on to the harness and follow the dog to the conclusion of the track.
• The minimum time for the commencement of the track must be is 180 minutes and the maximum 240 minutes from the time the track is laid.
• There will be no articles on this track. The tracklayer must be found at the end of the track to obtain a pass.