How to get certified:

To get certified for a TD test you can either contact a Judge, or attend a certification clinic at a Tracking Club. The judge will have you and your dog run a “mock” track in which you must prove that your dog is trained well enough to enter and pass a TD test. Just like a regular test there will be turns to navigate and an article at the end of the track the dog must indicate. If your dog is ready to be certified contact a Judge or local Tracking Club and they will let you know when they can certify your dog.

Certification is only required for the TD level of tracking. With your certification the Judge will fill out four certification forms that are good for one year. If you send out your certification with an entry and don’t make it into the test your certification will be returned to you.    

Helpful Tips to help you during a TD test:

There are two start flags at the beginning of a TD test. The first flag is where the dog and handler start and your start article is located. The second flag indications the direction of the track. The track continues in the same direction for more than 30 yards after the second start flag. So if you make it to the second flag, remember turns aren’t allowed until you go another 30 yards.

Start to follow your dog after they are 20 feet in front of you. This is the distance necessary to keep at all times during the track. Following closer than 20 feet may result in failing. Although you are allowed to get closer then 20 feet to untangle the line if needed, be sure to return to your original position before continuing your track. 

TD tracks can go over small walkways or paths (less than 6 feet in width) . However, tracks cannot go over roads, parking lots etc. So, Fido will be lying if he starts heading towards a parking lot (to go across it), or tries to cross a road.

The Whistle: 

If at any time a fatal mistake is made the Judges will blow a whistle to let you know that you haven’t passed. The tracklayer will assist you and your dog so that you may complete your track. Remember at the end of the track when the dog finds the article he doesn’t know he has failed. Praise him and show him how happy you are that he has reach the end of the track.   

RESTARTS:

If you haven’t passed the second flag yet and Fido is not tracking and seems confused you are allowed to request a restart from the Judges. The restart can begin right where you are at or you may take your dog back to the first start flag. Only one restart allowed. 

How the Draw system works:

When entering any tracking test often there are more entries than tracks available. So a drawing is done to pick names at random to determine who will be in the test, which will be alternates and what order they will be in. On the entry form they will list the time and location of the draw. Preference will be given to dogs that do not have a TD title. At some tests, entries may be limited to or give preference to a certain breed. The test secretary will notify you after the draw by phone or mail to let you know if you are in the tracking test or if you are an alternate. If you can not make it to the test or plan not to attend the test, notify the tracking secretary so she/he can let other people know that they have moved up on the alternate list, or that they will be in the test. *NOTE: if you are picked to be in the test and do not show up and no alternates are there to fill your position, the club may retain the right to keep your entry fee. So if you can’t make it to the test, contact the secretary ahead of time so that you can withdraw your entry.

Things that will result in “not passing” at a Tracking Test:

DO NOT… let your dog off leash at ANY time. This will result in automatic NQ. It does not matter if you have already passed your tracking test, or if you are waiting to take your test. It does not matter if your dog is under control or not. AKC frowns upon dogs running loose, especially at tracking tests and REQUIRES judges to automatically fail a dog that is off leash.

DO NOT…guide your dog through the track, even if you can see where the track goes. Guiding includes pointing to the ground, verbally commanding the dog to a specific direction, pulling the dog, and restraining the dog. I saw one person fail because she untangled her lead that was caught on her dog’s leg. While untangling her dog she had turned the dog around to face the direction of the track. When she told the dog to continue the whistle was blown.

DO NOT… miss the article at the end of the track. No article means you lose the title and it’s heartbreaking to make it through the track and miss the article.

DO NOT… bring food, toys or other motivational objects with you onto the track. “Oops! I forgot I had hotdogs in my pocket ” is all that is needed to have you not pass.

Please remember tracking tests are for you and your dog. There is no first place or last place. There is no time limit as long as your dog keeps working. If you don’t pass the first time do not give up. Many of us had to make multiple attempts before we were able to pass. The only true way to fail at tracking is to give up. One of the truly rewarding experiences is when you reach the end of your track and know you have succeeded.