AKC Tracking

Melgrj7 · 11-11-2010, 12:23 PM

What are the articles used? Also, he trails (SAR) do they have to be right on the track, or is trailing ok? He tends to weave back and forth over the track, but depending on the wind he may 10 feet to one side. On turns he tends to make big circles before committing to a turn (checks the area for scent), is that a problem? He is very good at it, but I was just wondering what the rules are I guess to the AKC tracking.

BlackPuppy · 11-11-2010, 12:32 PM

They don't have to be right on the track, like in Schutzhund. As long as he is working near the track. 10 feet sounds pretty far away, though. I've never seen a dog track that far away.

An article can be almost anything, an article of clothing: socks, gloves, wallet are the most common. One track layer forgot her article while laying a track and took off her bra.

**Samba** · 11-11-2010, 12:32 PM

From my bit of experience, AKC allows for the dog's tracking style. If the dog is working then they are okay. The dog will have to basically follow the track in a general way. Working and circling at the corners is fine. This is normal corner behavior for a lot of dogs.

You will have to make each corner though. The dog can not cut across and just go to the glove at the end.

In the TD there is a start article that is cloth of some kind. The goal is the last article which will be a leather glove.

The TDX track will have more articles and more variation to them but they will be material or leather of some sort. I have always seen a leather glove as the final article in this track also.

Xeph · 11-11-2010, 12:58 PM

IIRC the dog can only cast 2-4 feet from the track

Melgrj7 · 11-13-2010, 06:40 PM

he is not normally really far off the track, but it really depends on the wind, since he is following shed skin cells, not actually the track.

**Samba** · 11-13-2010, 06:55 PM

Tracking judges take into account the wind and its effect on scent work

VaBeachFamily · 11-25-2010, 11:48 AM

I don't want to steal the post, but CAN a dog track in AKC like they do in Schutzhund? Cullen is GREAT at Schutzhund tracking, and if we break for a while, we will be continuing Schutzhund style tracking, but would LOVE to work towards AKC titles.. possible? Or do they have to track differently?

**Chris Wild** · 11-25-2010, 12:01 PM

Yes, a dog trained in SchH style tracking can do AKC tracking. SchH tracking is more precise than AKC and requires greater adherence to the track. In AKC tracking a dog is not going to be penalized for being more precise than the norm. Now a dog trained AKC style may have trouble in SchH tracking if that dog typically tracks in a more free and natural style than what is required for SchH.

kleinenHain · 11-25-2010, 12:04 PM

I got an AKC TD on Max and he was and is a SAR dog and we trained our tracks like Schutzhund. The Judge really enjoyed watching Max track with his deep nose. Now that Max is retired from AKC we are backtracking to do Schutzhund tracking to try for our FH titles.

**Samba** · 11-25-2010, 12:25 PM

I think schutzhund training really helped us on our TD. I start all the dogs foot step tracking even if AKC is the goal. We get good dedication to the track and nice article indication. In AKC you always ease up on your requirements of the dog's track behavior.

11-11-2010, 12:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Melgrj7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 275	AKC Tracking What are the articles used? Also, he trails (SAR) do they have to be right on the track, or is trailing ok? He tends to weave back and forth over the track, but depending on the wind he may 10 feet to one side. On turns he tends to make big circles before committing to a turn (checks the area for scent), is that a problem? He is very good at it, but I was just wondering what the rules are I guess to the AKC tracking. __________________ -Melissa Lloyd (big black mix) Nash (rescue GSD) and the cats Snickers (DSH tortie) Jake (DLH tuxedo blk & Wht)

11-11-2010, 12:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Xeph Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Castle, PA Posts: 4,764	IIRC the dog can only cast 2-4 feet from the track __________________ Jackie S Konzert vom Drachenberg CD, RN, CGC, Service Dog "Strauss" Joplin von Eichenluft SDIT "Mahler" Mana's 5 Cents for Advice Marcato "Wesson" Devine's Gunpowder N Lead RN "Mirada" Barrett, the Woodford rescue kitty

11-13-2010, 06:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
Melgrj7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 275	he is not normally really far off the track, but it really depends on the wind, since he is following shed skin cells, not actually the track. __________________ -Melissa Lloyd (big black mix) Nash (rescue GSD) and the cats Snickers (DSH tortie) Jake (DLH tuxedo blk & Wht)

11-25-2010, 11:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
VaBeachFamily Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,268	I don't want to steal the post, but CAN a dog track in AKC like they do in Schutzhund? Cullen is GREAT at Schutzhund tracking, and if we break for a while, we will be continuing Schutzhund style tracking, but would LOVE to work towards AKC titles.. possible? Or do they have to track differently? __________________ ~Kristi in Virginia Beach Mommy to my 8 year old son... and ~ Cullen Vom Sandstranden, Purebred GSD, Black/Red Male : 12/16/09 ~ Panzer Vom Sandstranden, Purebred GSD, Sable Female : 11/29/10 ~ Gizmo , Amstaff, Brindle/White Female : 5/5/2000

11-25-2010, 12:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
Chris Wild Administrator & Alpha Bitch of the Wild Bunch Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 12,604	Yes, a dog trained in SchH style tracking can do AKC tracking. SchH tracking is more precise than AKC and requires greater adherence to the track. In AKC tracking a dog is not going to be penalized for being more precise than the norm. Now a dog trained AKC style may have trouble in SchH tracking if that dog typically tracks in a more free and natural style than what is required for SchH. __________________ *Wildhaus Kennels* Kaiser ~ SchH3 CGC TDI (HOT) Raven ~ SchH3 AWD2 PD1 P1 PA T1 UCD URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Della ~ SchHA TR1 PD1 P1 PA T1 URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Wulf ~ SchH1 PD1 P1 T1 URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Heidi ~ BH CD UCD RN URO1 (B/HOT) Jazz ~ Superpup In Training

11-11-2010, 12:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
BlackPuppy Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,420	They don't have to be right on the track, like in Schutzhund. As long as he is working near the track. 10 feet sounds pretty far away, though. I've never seen a dog track that far away. An article can be almost anything, an article of clothing: socks, gloves, wallet are the most common. One track layer forgot her article while laying a track and took off her bra.

11-11-2010, 12:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
Samba Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: USA Posts: 6,449	From my bit of experience, AKC allows for the dog's tracking style. If the dog is working then they are okay. The dog will have to basically follow the track in a general way. Working and circling at the corners is fine. This is normal corner behavior for a lot of dogs. You will have to make each corner though. The dog can not cut across and just go to the glove at the end. In the TD there is a start article that is cloth of some kind. The goal is the last article which will be a leather glove. The TDX track will have more articles and more variation to them but they will be material or leather of some sort. I have always seen a leather glove as the final article in this track also.

11-13-2010, 06:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Samba Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: USA Posts: 6,449	Tracking judges take into account the wind and its effect on scent work

11-25-2010, 12:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
kleinenHain Knighted Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,941	I got an AKC TD on Max and he was and is a SAR dog and we trained our tracks like Schutzhund. The Judge really enjoyed watching Max track with his deep nose. Now that Max is retired from AKC we are backtracking to do Schutzhund tracking to try for our FH titles. __________________ CGC Evaluator/ Free testing for Rescue dogs Klenien Hain http://kleinenhain.weebly.com/ U-CD Nomex vom Gebirgshaus SAR,BH,TD-2,VCD2,RAE,CDX,MXJ,AX,VER,NAP,NJP,CGC ( Retired ) Enzo z Blitz vom Kleinen Hain CGC NA,NAJ,OA,OAJ,AX,BN,CD

11-25-2010, 12:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
Samba Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: USA Posts: 6,449	I think schutzhund training really helped us on our TD. I start all the dogs foot step tracking even if AKC is the goal. We get good dedication to the track and nice article indication. In AKC you always ease up on your requirements of the dog's track behavior.

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