Tracking




The club conducts two Tracking Trials each year.  Tracking is a fun activity that can be done by people & dogs of all ages.

Please make contact with the club if you are interested in training.  Click here for contact details

What is tracking with Dogs?

Tracking is a sport in which you and your dog follow a scent along a previously laid track to find someone waiting in the bush.  The tracks are marked out according to the Tracking Rules and walked by a tracklayer on the day of the trial.  The only equipment needed is a correctly fitted tracking harness and a lead at least 10 m long.  The tracklayer must have some articles with their scent on to leave on the track, most people use socks for this.

First Track

The first track, called the Tracking Qualification Test, is approx 300 m long with one right angle turn and must be aged for 10 to 30 minutes before the dog starts. The handler and dog are taken to a starting flag and must follow the track from there.

Other Tracks needed to get a title

There are two tracks to be completed for a TD Title, these are approx 800 m long with at least 2 turns and 2 articles to be found by the dog. These tracks must be aged for 30 min to 1 hour. The Track 1 uses a tracklayer known to the dog and the Track 2 uses an unknown tracklayer.  To get a TDX Title the dog must complete 3 more tracks with more turns, unknown tracklayers and longer aging times.

The Ultimate tracking Test !

The ultimate test is the Track 6 for a Tracking Champion Title, which is approx 1200 m long, has at least 6 turns including 2 acute angle turns, has a blind start and an aging time of 90 mins to 3 hours.